Walking into the weight room, you wouldn’t think you’d need a lot of math to figure out how much weight you’re lifting. Plate math is different from regular math, especially when there are many types of squat bars.
So, how much does a squat bar weigh? A standard barbell weighs 44 lbs (20kg). Men’s Olympic bars weigh the same. Women’s Olympic bars weigh 33 lbs (15kg). Power squat bars weigh 45 lbs (20kg). Special squat bars weigh 55 lbs (25kg). Safety squat bars weigh 45-75 lbs (20-34 kg). Cambered squat bars weigh 35-85 lbs (15-38 kg).
| Bar Type | Weight |
| Standard Barbell | 45lbs, 20.4kg |
| Men’s Olympic | 44lbs, 20kg |
| Women’s Olympic | 33lbs, 15kg |
| Power Squat | 45lbs, 20kg |
| Specialized Squat Bar | 55lbs, 25kg |
| Safety Squat | 45-75 lbs, 20-34 kg |
| Cambered Squat | 35-85lbs, 15-38 kg |
Knowing which barbell you’re using and why you’re using it is important, as each squat bar is designed for a specific purpose. After going through the different types of squat bars, you’ll be able to answer the question of how heavy is a squat bar and be on your way toward mastering the weight room.
There are 7 different squat bars you will find in the gym, which include:
- Standard Barbell
- Men’s Olympic Squat Bar
- Women’s Olympic Squat Bar
- Power Barbell
- Specialized Squat Barbell
- Safety Squat Barbell
- Cambered Squat Bar
Read on to learn all the details.
Know Your Squat Bar Vocabulary
As we go through this article, you’ll see a bunch of words that you may or may not understand regarding what makes up a squat bar. So with that in mind, here’s a list of things to look for with each barbell variation.
- Weight: This is fairly obvious. It’s how much the bar weighs.
- Length: How long the bar is from end to end
- Shaft: The main part of the barbell where you are most likely to grab the bar or where the bar will sit on your back.
- Sleeve: The part of the barbell where you load the weights.
- Knurling: The part of the shaft that is marked up with a cross-hatch pattern for better grip. It can range from being finer with a “smoother” or less aggressive feel to a rougher, more aggressive feel. For the purposes of this article, we’ll rate it medium, moderately aggressive, and aggressive.
- Material: What the bar is made out of, which in most cases is steel.
How Much Does A Squat Bar Weigh?
| Bar Type | Weight | Length (inches) | Diameter (mm) | Barbell Sleeve (mm) | Knurling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Barbell | 44lbs, 20kg | 86 | 25-28 | 50 | Medium |
| Men’s Olympic | 44lbs, 20kg | 86 | 28-30 | 50 | Moderately Aggressive |
| Women’s Olympic | 33lbs, 15kg | 79 | 28-30 | 50 | Medium – Moderate |
| Power Squat | 45lbs, 20kg | 86 | 29 | 50 | Aggressive |
| Specialized Squat Bar | 55lbs, 25kg | Up to 95 | Up to 32 | 50 | Aggressive |
| Safety Squat | 45-75 lbs, 20-34 kg | 85-93 | 38 | 50 | N/A |
| Cambered Squat | 35-85lbs, 15-38 kg | 82-92 | 38 | 50 | Only in center |
In the same way, as you’d want to pay attention to the weight plates you’re using, there are so many different kinds of squat bars that you could try out, so it can be hard to know which one to start with. After this guide, you’ll be better prepared with which bar to choose.
Standard Barbell
You will typically see the standard barbell strewn about your local gym. It’s one of those all-purpose bars that you can use for just about any exercise.
Weight
The standard barbell weighs 20 kg or 45 lbs.
Length
The standard barbell is about 7 ft in length.
Diameter
The diameter of the standard barbell can be from 1 inch or 25mm to 28mm for the shaft. The barbell sleeve is typically a standard 2 inches to fit most weight plates.
Knurling
Most standard barbells will have a finer knurling to accommodate all kinds of lifters. The standard squat bar falls into the medium category with a knurling that is just enough to get a solid grip.
Men’s Olympic Squat Bar
This is where we get into more specificity with the squat bars, as an Olympic bar is specifically designed for the sleeves or the ends of the barbell to rotate. This is so that as you perform exercises like snatches and cleans, the barbell shaft rotates, and the weights stay in one place.
Weight
A men’s Olympic bar weighs 20kg or 44 lbs.
Length
Most Olympic bars come in around 86 inches, give or take a few inches, depending on the brand.
Diameter
The shaft of most Olympic bars has a diameter of 28mm, but sometimes can be as high as 30mm, depending on the brand you find. The sleeve is typically 50mm or 2 inches.
Knurling
The knurling on an Olympic squat bar tends to lean towards being moderately aggressive, depending on the brand. Sometimes, with training bars, however, they will have a medium knurling to not rip up one’s hands.
Women’s Olympic Squat Bar
The women’s Olympic squat bar serves the same purpose as the men’s bar, but with a few small differences.
Weight
A women’s Olympic squat bar weighs a little less than the men’s bar at 15kg or 33 lbs.
Length
Much like the weight is lower for the women’s bar, the length is slightly shorter, coming in at around 79 inches.
Diameter
The diameter is slightly smaller than the men’s bar, with most women’s Olympic squat bars measuring 25mm. The sleeve of the barbell is 2 inches.
Knurling
Much like the same men’s Olympic bar, the women’s Olympic squat bar will range in medium to moderate knurling for a solid grip.
Power Squat Bar
A power squat bar is a bit stiffer than the previous squat bars that we’ve mentioned to accommodate the weight increase that would be used with this bar. This bar is specifically designed for the big 3 of powerlifting.
Weight
This bar can be found weighing 45 lbs or 20kg, depending on the company you go with.
Length
Much like the standard squat bar, the power bar is about 7 feet long.
Diameter
The diameter of the shaft for the power bar is around 29mm, and 2 inches for the sleeve.
Knurling
The knurling on a power bar will be aggressive, so you can get a great grip on the barbell when lifting. This is especially useful for squatting to keep the bar pinned to your back.
Specialized Squat Bar
This is a specialized bar that is specifically designed for the squat and for handling large amounts of weight. This is one of the first variations in how much weight a squat bar is.
Weight
The weight of a squat bar is typically heavier than other bars, coming in at 55 lbs or 25kg.
Length
To accommodate lifters’ ranges of motion, the length of a squat bar can range up to 95 inches to create more room to grab the bar.
Diameter
Because these barbells are subject to large amounts of weight, the diameter of the shaft is sometimes wider than other bars, reaching up to 32mm.
Knurling
This squat bar might have the most aggressive knurling out of the bunch, as it has to have a good grip to stay glued to your back during a squat and also be able to hold onto the bar itself.
Safety Squat Bar
The safety squat bar is unlike your standard squat bar as it has padding on the shoulders, and you’re gripping the handles in front instead of the actual bar. This is a good option if gripping a squat bar is hard on your shoulders.
Weight
Depending on the brand that you look at, the weight of a safety squat bar will range from 45 lbs to 70 lbs.
Length
Much like the weight of the safety squat bar, the length will vary depending on the brand, with some as low as 85 inches and all the way up to 93 inches.
Diameter
The shaft diameter is larger than most squat bars. Still, it will vary depending on the brand, but the most common diameter is 38mm or 1.5 inches.
The sleeve diameter is the same as the other squat bars on this list, coming in at 2 inches.
Knurling
The safety squat bar has no knurling on it as you are not grabbing onto the bar itself. You are holding onto the handles that are in front of you.
For a full guide of the best safety squat bars, check out our full review of the 8 best safety squat bars
Cambered Squat Bar
As we get further into the specialty bars, we hit the cambered squat bar as one to improve your squat technique and strength, among other benefits. The weights on this bar sit lower than any other squat bars, making it harder to balance the weight. However, it can benefit those struggling with shoulder mobility as you grab it on the sides of the camber and not the bar shaft.
Weight
The weight of a cambered squat bar will vary by brand, as some start out at 35 lbs and go up to 85 lbs.
Length
Depending on the brand you are looking at, the length can be anywhere from 82 inches to 92 inches.
Diameter
The diameter of the shaft is most commonly 1.5 inches, with the sleeve diameter measuring 2 inches.
Knurling
Most, if not all, cambered squat bars come with no knurling as you grip the sides of the bar. However, some have knurling in the center for better grip on the upper back.
How to Choose the Right Squat Bar
Picking the right squat bar for your training comes down to more factors than just how much a squat bar weighs. Other factors to consider include goals, strength levels, and what fits within your budget.
What is Your Goal?
If your goal is more aligned with general strength training than powerlifting or Olympic lifting, then the standard barbell will suit all of your needs no matter what exercise you’re looking to do.
If the goal is geared towards more Olympic lifts, like the snatch or clean, where you need to perform explosively without the weights spinning, then the men’s or women’s Olympic squat bar would be your choice.
If your training goal is to increase your powerlifting numbers or your squat numbers, then the power bar or the squat bar will be your best bet.
What is Your Current Strength Level?
Being honest about your current strength level can help inform you on which squat bar to start out with. Starting with a standard barbell will be more suitable if you are beginning your lifting journey.
As your strength increases and the need to load more weight on the bar increases, leveling up to more specific squat bars can be an option for you.
What is Your Budget?
Your choice of a squat bar will ultimately come down to what you can afford, but that doesn’t necessarily mean if you go with a low budget, you’ll sacrifice quality. There are plenty of options on lower-budget bars that will get you to your goals.
However, as your need for specialty rises or if you plan on competing in a lifting sport, you may need to invest in another bar.
FAQ
What If The Squat Bar is Too Heavy?
If the squat bar is too heavy, a good place to start would be building your strength using dumbbells or kettlebells. Then you can work your way up to using a squat bar.
Are Squat Bars 45 pounds?
Most squat bars are 45 pounds, but several specialized bars vary in weight from 33 pounds up to 85 pounds.
How Much Does A Woman’s Squat Bar Weigh?
A woman’s squat bar weighs 33 pounds.
Is a Squat Bar Heavier Than A Bench Bar?
While some of the specialized squat bars will be heavier than a bench bar, the standard squat bar and Olympic squat bar weigh the same.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there isn’t one correct answer for picking the right barbell, nor is there one correct answer for the question, how much do squat bars weigh?
The weight of a squat bar varies by option, but in many cases, the weight of a squat bar depends on what brand you are picking out. All these choices, options, and variations can confuse where to start.
However, the best tradesman knows how to pick the right tool for the right job. The same goes for picking the right squat bar for your training, which starts with knowing how much a squat bar weighs. Armed with this info, you’ll be able to concentrate on what really matters, and that’s how much you’re squatting.
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbell
- https://iwf.sport/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2020/01/IWF_TCRR_2020.pdf
- https://www.usapowerlifting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/USAPL-Rulebook-v2021.1.pdf
About The Author
Chris Cooper is a certified personal trainer through the NSCA and a massage therapist in New York. He has over 17 years experience blending the two worlds to work with clients in their pursuit to get stronger and move pain-free as they return from injury. He runs his coaching services through CoachChrisCooper.com.
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