Is the bar really 45 lbs?

Asked by: Dylan D'Amore DDS  |  Last update: November 16, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (31 votes)

Standard Barbells Your standard straight barbell weight is 45 pounds, is about 7 feet long, and can be used for most lifts, including squats, deadlifts, bent-over rows, overhead presses, and even biceps curls, says Wickham.

Is the bar always 45 pounds?

Men's Olympic barbells are generally 7.2 ft long (2.2m) with a 28mm thick bar grip and weigh 45lbs (20kg). But women's Olympic barbells are slightly shorter at 6.6ft (2.01m) long with a 25mm diameter grip and weigh 33lbs (15kg).

How to tell if bar is 45 pounds?

If the bar is seven feet long, it probably weighs 44 or 45 pounds.

Is the bar at Planet Fitness 45 pounds?

So, how much does a Planet Fitness Smith Machine bar weigh? Typically, standard Smith Machine bars found in gyms weigh around 15-20 pounds (6.8–9.1 kg) when unloaded. However, it's crucial to note that the Smith Machine bars at Planet Fitness specifically weigh around 20 pounds (9.1 kg).

Why are plates 45 instead of 50?

I think it's because 25, 35, and 45 are very versatile for adding and require fewer plates. Since you use 45 instead of 50, you can use 1 set of plates to hit 135 instead of a 25 and 2 10s per side.

Finally! Olympic Bars & Plates // Weighing 45 lb Weight Plates

15 related questions found

Why are 45 plates so expensive?

Cost Of Materials

Weight plates are generally made out of steel or cast iron. They are heavy and bulky and their manufacture requires a lot of raw material. Materials that need to be mined and processed. And then fashioned into weights and transported.

How many plates is a 225 bench press?

225 pounds: two 45-pound plates on each side. 315 pounds: three 45-pound plates on each side. 405 pounds: four 45-pound plates on each side.

Is a Smith Machine bar 45 lbs?

Smith machine bars can be as light as six pounds and as heavy as 45 pounds. For example, Planet Fitness uses bars that are either 15 pounds or 20 pounds and LA Fitness uses bars that weigh between 15 pounds and 25 pounds.

What are the heaviest weights at Planet Fitness?

free weights there are dumbbells that go up to 75lb and fixed bars and curl bars that go up to 60lb and kettlebells. Theres no Olympic bars or squat racks only smith machines.

Why does the Smith Machine feel lighter?

Many advanced Smith machines come with counterbalance systems or weight reduction mechanisms. These devices, which use pulleys or pneumatic systems, partially offset the barbell's weight, making it feel lighter.

Why do Olympic bars spin?

Spinning sleeves on a barbell is crucial to Olympic weightlifting because it reduces risk of injury and increases comfortability in a lift. Plus, a spinning barbell reduces the amount of force produced off of the ground from the inertia of the bumper plates. Put more simply, spin comes from the sleeve of the barbell.

Do you count the bar when benching?

Yes, because your bench press max is the total weight you're lifting. If you're using a standard Olympic bar, you already know what you're starting off with, but if you don't, check the weight of the bar before calculating your bench press max.

How do I increase my bench?

Other exercises that help increase your bench press strength are:
  1. Dips.
  2. Flat Bench Chest Flys.
  3. Incline Barbell Press.
  4. Close Grip Bench Press.
  5. Pull-ups.
  6. Skull Crushers.
  7. Over Triceps Extension.
  8. Shoulder Press.

What is considered a heavy weight in the gym?

Medium vs. Heavy Weights. For beginners, Ben recommends trying five to 10 pounds for light weights, 10 to 20 pounds for medium weights, and 15 to 30 pounds for heavy weights—or simply starting with five-pound weights for each exercise and working up from there.

How heavy are the bars at Planet Fitness?

The bar is counterbalanced, which can make it lighter than standard Olympic barbells. At most Planet Fitness locations, the Smith machine bar's weight ranges from 15 to 25 pounds (6.8 to 11.3 kg). This variance largely depends on the model of the Smith machine installed at a specific location.

Is the bar 40 or 45 lbs?

Your standard straight barbell weight is 45 pounds, is about 7 feet long, and can be used for most lifts, including squats, deadlifts, bent-over rows, overhead presses, and even biceps curls, says Wickham.

How much is 225 on a bar?

Bar + 35's = 115 lbs. Bar + 45's = 135 lbs. Bar + 2 45's = 225.

Are all Smith machine bars 25 lbs?

The Quick Answer. A Smith machine bar can weigh between 5 to 45 lbs (2.5kg to 20kg) depending on the manufacturer and type of Smith machine. There are a number of factors that influence a Smith machine's bar weight such as the type of Smith machine, materials used and even how well the machine has been maintained.

How impressive is a 315 squat?

Generally, a 315 squat means you're no longer intermediate and you've entered the world of advanced lifters. It's a substantial weight, to say the least, and for many people, it's a big milestone.

Is incline bench harder?

The angle of the bench significantly affects the difficulty of the press. An incline between 30 to 45 degrees shifts the workload to the upper chest and shoulders, areas that are generally less worked compared to the lower chest. This often makes the incline bench press feel harder.