How Much Does A Barbell Cost? (All Types Covered)

A barbell is one of the most essential items if you’re looking to build your home gym or upgrade your existing equipment. It’s one of the big three pieces of exercise equipment I advise you to spend most of your equipment budget on.

The other two are bumper plates (if you’re Weightlifting or doing CrossFit) and a power rack.

But how much does a barbell cost? And what are the different types of barbells available on the market? We’ll help you find the best barbell for your budget and goals.

Price By Barbell Type

Barbells come in different shapes, sizes, and features, depending on their intended use and design. Here are some of the most common types of barbells you’ll see in gyms and online stores:

Standard Barbell

A standard barbell should never be a purchase option, and you can read why in my Olympic vs. standard barbells article. However, I’ll include them in this article for comparison.

They are typically 5 – 7 feet long and weigh 3 to 15 lbs. They have a shaft diameter of 25 mm as the entire bar is 1”. They are not suitable for strength training and typically have weight capacities slightly above 100 kg and often below.

Standard barbells range from $30 to $50. There is no performance or quality difference within the price range. The only difference is the length. For example, the CAP 60” Standard Bar is $30, 5 feet long, and made from alloy steel.

The BalanceForm Standard Bar is $50, 7 feet long, and made from cast iron. Neither is suitable for proper training.

Olympic Barbell

An Olympic barbell is the most basic and versatile type for general fitness and strength training making it the perfect barbell for a home gym. It’s typically 7 feet long and weighs 20 kg (44 lbs) or 45 lbs. It has a 28-29 mm diameter and varying knurling aggressiveness to help you grip the bar. 

Most Olympic barbells have a center knurling to prevent the bar from sliding on your back during squats. This center knurling isn’t rough like the rest of the barbell. 

However, multi-purpose or hybrid bars often remove the center knurling so they can be used for high-rep cleans and CrossFit.

An Olympic barbell can cost anywhere from $90 to $400, depending on the quality, brand, and features. For example, a basic CAP Olympic barbell costs around $60 on Amazon, while a higher-end Rogue Hybrid Power Bar costs around $400 on Rogue Fitness.

However, the $90 barbell won’t last and can be a hazard when lifting heavy. There are plenty of videos floating around the internet of barbells snapping under heavy loads. Cheap bars have this potential.

Olympic Weightlifting Bar

An Olympic Weightlifting bar is a type of barbell designed specifically for the sport of Weightlifting, which involves explosive movements like the snatch and the clean and jerk. It’s similar to an Olympic barbell in length and weight, but it has some key differences:

An Olympic Weightlifting bar can cost anywhere from $300 to over $1000, depending on the quality, brand, and features. For example, Fringe Sport has a low-end needle-bearing Weightlifting bar costing around $300, while a premium Eleiko IWF Weightlifting Training Bar costs around $1100.

Typically, the increase in price reflects the longevity and quality of the barbell.

Powerlifting Bar

A powerlifting bar is a type of barbell designed specifically for Powerlifting, which involves maximal strength lifts like the squat, bench press, and deadlift. It’s similar to an Olympic barbell in length and weight, but it has some key differences:

A powerlifting bar can cost anywhere from $300 to over $1000, depending on the quality, brand, and features. For example, a Rogue Ohio Power Bar costs around $300, while a high-end Eleiko IPF Powerlifting Training Bar costs over $1000.

Deadlift Bar

A deadlift bar is designed specifically solely for deadlifting. You wouldn’t use this barbell for any other lift. It’s similar to a powerlifting bar in diameter and knurling, but it has some key differences:

Depending on the quality, brand, and features, a deadlift bar can cost anywhere from $300 to $450. For example, a REP Fitness Hades Deadlift Bar costs around $350 while the Kabuki PR Deadlift Bar costs around $450.

Most lifters don’t need a deadlift bar unless they are competing in a Powerlifting meet or deadlift-only competition using a deadlift bar.

Squat Bar

A squat bar is designed specifically for squats, as the name suggests. It’s similar to an Olympic or Powerlifting barbell with a few key differences:

Most lifters only need a dedicated squat bar if you're training to win squat competitions or hit huge PRs. A squat bar will set you back anywhere from $400 to $700, depending on the brand and quality.

For example, the REP Fitness Helios Squat Bar is around $400, while the Kabuki Squat Bar is around $700. The Kabuki Squat Bar is impressive, with 250k PSI tensile strength, so this barbell will never deform or break, no matter what abuse you throw at it.

Trap Bar

A trap bar (also known as a hex bar) has a hexagonal shape with two handles on each side. Newer advancements have turned the hex shape into a half hex with one end removed for easier loading and more versatility when lifting.

It’s used for performing trap bar deadlifts, which involve lifting the bar with your arms by your side rather than from the front. This changes the mechanics of the lift and reduces the stress on your lower back, and is typically easier to learn.

A trap bar can cost anywhere from $90 to $850, depending on the quality, brand, and features. For example, a basic CAP Trap Bar costs around $90, while a premium Eleiko Oppen Trap Bar with an open end costs around $850.

Cheap trap bars are horrible to use as the knurling is usually slippery and too sharp. More expensive trap bars are fine-tuned like a high-end barbell.

Safety Squat Bar

A safety squat bar (also known as a yoke bar) has a curved shape with two padded handles and a neck pad. 

It’s used for performing safety bar squats, which involve placing the bar on your shoulders, holding the handles in front of you, and squatting down. This reduces the stress on your wrists, elbows, and shoulders while increasing the challenge on your core and upper back.

A safety squat bar can cost anywhere from $300 to $800, depending on the quality, brand, and features. For example, a Titan Fitness Safety Squat Bar costs around $300, while a Kabuki Transformer Bar costs around $800.

Safety squat bars are great for athletes with beat-up shoulders and elbows from years of sport. Further, they are versatile, allowing supra-maximal loading as you can hold it on your back with no hands and instead use your hands to support and balance by holding the power rack.

Cambered Bar

A cambered bar is a curved shape. Most are slightly curved the entire shaft, while some older models have almost 90° bends on either side, so it’s like a yoke. 

It’s used for performing cambered bar squats or bench presses, which involve placing the bar on your shoulders or chest and lowering it to a deeper range of motion than a straight bar.

For the bench press, it makes it easier on the shoulders and wrists compared to a straight bar and puts a greater stretch on the pecs leading to more muscle growth.

For squats, the cambered bar is a lifesaver for lifters with beat-up shoulders, wrists, and elbows, allowing you to back squat without pain or mobility restrictions.

A cambered bar can cost anywhere from $300 to $600, depending on the quality, brand, and features. For example, a Titan Fitness Yukon Camber Bar costs around $300, while a premium Kabuki Duffalo Bar costs around $620.

Swiss Bar

A Swiss bar (also known as a multi-grip bar) has multiple sets of parallel handles along its length. It’s used for performing various upper body exercises, such as bench presses, rows, curls, and triceps extensions, with different grips and angles. 

This allows you to reduce the stress on your wrists and elbows. Often, lifters who can’t bench press with a straight bar can with a Swiss bar.

A Swiss bar can cost anywhere from $190 to $500, depending on the quality, brand, and features. For example, a Titan Fitness costs around $300, while a Kabuki Kadillac Bar costs around $500.

EZ Curl Bar

An EZ curl bar is wavy, with two bends in the middle. It’s used for performing various arm exercises, such as bicep curls and tricep extensions, with an angled grip that reduces the strain on your wrists and forearms.

An EZ curl bar can cost anywhere from $40 to $200, depending on the quality, brand, and features. For example, an unbranded, low-strength EZ Curl Bar costs around $40 on Amazon, while a premium Rogue Curl Bar costs about $225.

The problem with cheap EZ bars is the sleeve screws inevitably come loose, allowing your sleeves to fall off if not tightened regularly. My personal favorite is the Titan Rackable Fat Curl Bar. Nothing beats a thick barbell for arm work.

Fat Bars (Axles)

Fat bars, also known as axle bars, are thicker than Olympic bars, typically with a 2" thick shaft diameter. It’d be like lifting and holding the sleeves of your regular barbell. Fat bars emphasize the grip when lifting and are especially useful when doing arm work.

Important features to look for are the barbell weight and if it has knurling. Poor quality fat bars have no knurling and weigh 25 lbs. You’re typically looking at a price range of $100 to $450. For example, the REP Fitness Axle Bar is around $80 but doesn’t have knurling and weighs 22 lbs.

On the other hand, the EliteFTS El Gordo Fat Bar is around $450 but has knurling and weighs 70 lbs. It is much better quality and will give you much better workouts.

Triceps Bar

Triceps bars are not essential barbells. Having this in your collection makes little sense unless you love collecting every barbell type possible. You can get the same exercises with a Swiss bar, which provides more training versatility.

But I digress. When performing extensions, the triceps bar puts your hands into a neutral position, making it easier on your wrists, elbows, and shoulders.

Prices range between $50 and $70, depending on the brand. For example, the CAP Triceps Bar costs $50, and the Titan Fitness Triceps Bar costs $65.

What Factors Influence Barbell Price?

Material & Construction

High-quality barbells are typically made of steel, with the quality varying based on the type of steel used and its manufacturing process. For example, Eleiko uses proprietary steel from Sweden developed from years of testing.

Cheaper barbells may use less durable materials or have less rigorous quality control, affecting their performance and longevity. Further, specialty barbells can be more expensive due to their unique designs. 

Tensile Strength

Tensile strength refers to the maximum weight a barbell can support before it deforms or breaks. The higher the tensile strength, the more weight the barbell can handle. 

Barbells with high tensile strength are usually more expensive as they require high-quality materials and manufacturing processes to ensure strength and durability. High tensile strength is typically above 190,000 PSI.

Many budget Olympic bars have a lower PSI, like the Titan Performance Series bar, which sits at 165,000 PSI.

It’s worth investing in a high PSI barbell as it will last longer and not deform as you get stronger. Further, high tensile strength is needed for Olympic Weightlifting and Powerlifting barbells so they don’t deform and break when being dropped or with over 500 lbs on them. 

Coating

The coating is applied to barbells to protect them from rust and enhance longevity. Various coatings, such as black oxide, zinc, chrome, or Cerakote, have different costs, appearances, and durability characteristics. 

For example, chrome and Cerakote coatings are often found on more expensive barbells due to their superior durability and rust resistance. However, Cerakote wears off and is more of an aesthetic use due to being colored.

Hard chrome or stainless steel coatings are typically the best options as they last the longest and don’t wear with use. 

Sleeves

Regarding the sleeves, you’re looking for bushings or bearings. Bearings are more expensive than bushings, but which you pick depends on the training you’re doing. Bearings are more expensive as they allow faster spin important for Weightlifting and CrossFit.

Bushings are better for heavy strength exercises where you don’t want a lot of spin, so you have maximum control. Many multi-purpose bars are bushing, bearing, or a combination.

Knurling

While knurling may not directly influence the barbell price, higher quality barbells have better quality knurling. Cheap barbells have knurling that is too smooth and wears quickly. High-quality knurling will give you a grip and not fade.

For example, my Eleiko IWF Training bar still has a great grip after a decade of use.

How to Choose the Best Barbell for You

Now that you know the different types of barbells available, how do you choose the best one? Here are some factors to consider:

Your Goals 

What are you training for? If you’re competing in a specific sport like Powerlifting or Weightlifting, you’ll want to get a barbell that matches the standards and specifications of your sport. 

This would be a stiff 29 mm diameter barbell for Powerlifting and a whippy 28 mm diameter (for men) or 25 mm diameter (for women) barbell for Weightlifting.

If you’re training for general fitness or strength, you'll want a multi-purpose barbell that can handle various exercises and loads.

Your Budget

How much are you willing to spend? As with most things, you get what you pay for regarding barbells. Higher-quality barbells will have better materials, construction, durability, performance, and warranty than lower-quality ones. 

However, that doesn’t mean you must break the bank to get a decent barbell. You can find some good options at reasonable prices, as shown in this list.

Your Space

How much room do you have? While all Olympic barbells are around the same size, if you work out in a small home gym, you may opt for something other than large specialty barbells. You’ll also want to ensure you have enough space to perform your exercises safely and comfortably.