When you reach your best in lifting, you need to take some extra efforts and a technical approach in order to improve your lifting ability. In this case, it becomes very important to know every small detail about your exercises and gym equipment to be able to make the necessary changes.
When you start making progressions or gaining some muscles, then it is very important to know the calibration of the weight plates and you should also know the standard bench press bar weight or weight of the bench press bar that you are using.
Even if you’re experienced in the gym and exercising fast for several years, it still doesn’t mean you’re experienced using the bench press. Many beginners don’t know the bench press bar weight and start the exercises much too high.
So, read the article till the end, you will know everything about how much does a bench press bar weigh and how do you know the bench bar weight!
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Table of Contents
How Much Does a Bench Press Bar weigh?
The type of barbell you use and how much it weighs will help you to choose your starting weight. The most often used barbell is the standard bench press bar which is seven-foot or two meters long and 45-45 pounds or 20kg.
Below are a few other bars that you might see at the gym.
How Much Does a Standard Bench Press Bar Weigh?
A standard bench press barbell is only made in the US and not for international or competition purposes. The standard bench press bar made for beginners at home because of the weaker steel.
The standard straight bar weights 44 to 45 pounds, is about 5ft and 7ft longer. Though the actual weight may vary as per product and make, also will vary between brands. It can be used for most lifts, including deadlifts, squats, overhand presses, bent-over rows and even biceps curls.
The standard bench press bars come with threaded or plain shafts. The threaded shaft can be used with a nut look to secure the weight plats in position.
How Much Does an Olympic Bench Press Bar Weigh?
There are a lot of differences between the standard bench press bar and Olympic bench press bar, but the main difference is that you can load 2-inch hole Olympic weight plates on the Olympic bar and also, compared to standard bars, the Olympic bar is heavy.
The Olympic bars are used in all the competitions and all the international weightlifting competitions, but there are some guidelines for the bars used at the competitions. Most of the manufacturers make bars that are suitable for competitions and follow the guidelines.
The Olympic barbell weighs 45 pounds or 20kgs, which is typical weight for men and Olympic bars that are made for women weigh 33 pounds which is 15 kgs. All the Olympic bars are about 7 feet long and use steel with a tensile strength of 215k PSI.
How Much Does a Women’s Bar Weigh?
In many gyms, you will find 35-pounds women’s bars which are lighter, thinner and slightly shorter, about 6.5 feet. You will find all standard and Olympic women’s bars are smaller and suitable for women.
Since women have smaller hands than men, these bars’ smaller diameter makes them easier to grip.
How Much Does an EZ Bar Weigh?
EZ bars have a W-shape in the middle and usually weigh 20 to 40 pounds. The EZ bars are much shorter than a standard barbell. The EZ bars are typically used for biceps curls, triceps crushers and rowing movements – allowing you to vary your grip.
The bars allow you to focus on different parts of a muscle group because of switching up your grip.
How Do I Know How Much My Bench Bar Weighs?
There are many ways to know how much a bench press bar weighs. Here are a few ways you can check to know the bench bar weight.
- Check side cap: check the side cap on the barbell. Most of the barbells have a side cap installed and you can read the weight written on the side cap.
- Weigh the bar: every gym has a weighing machine or scale. I know that it is not possible to get the exact weight but still you can get a very close number.
Some people by seeing the bar length and type of bar can give you a fair idea about the weight of the bench bar.
FAQ’s
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Is it Necessary to Know the Bench Bar Weight?
When you are an advanced level lifter, you might need to progress in increments as small as 2 to 3 pounds. So, to be able to do it correctly you must know the weight of your bench press bar to avoid incorrect loading and resulting injuries or slowing of the progression.
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How Much Does a 6ft Barbell Weigh?
The standard barbells are 5ft to 6ft long and weight is around 15 to 20ibs. Most of the barbells have a load capacity of 100 to 200ibs.
The Final Thoughts
Choosing the right weight for the bench presses and other exercises is very important when you are lifting the weight. If you go too heavy at the beginning, you will likely get injuries yourself.
Starting slow and progressing with each session is the best way to ensure safety and muscle building consistency.
Talk to your doctor if you are starting out or have any medical concerns that could be affected by weightlifting.
Hopefully, you like this article, if you have any questions and suggestions kindly put them in the comment box below.
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