If you need to pump up your home gym weight options, look no further.
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If you’re serious about strength training, there are few pieces of workout equipment that make more sense to buy than a barbell. These versatile instruments work for people of all age and at every stage of your fitness journey. Barbells allow you to lift as light or heavy as you want, and can help you train virtually any area of your body.
Barbells are designed to work with plates of different types and sizes, making them customizable for you and your entire at-home workout crew. Below, find our picks for the best barbells on the market, each ideal for maximizing the results of your workout routine.
A barbell may seem like a straightforward purchase, but there’s a lot to consider. Keep the following in mind and you’ll end up with a great barbell for you and your space.
Sleeve length refers to the length of the ends of a barbell where your weight plates will be located. Grip diameter measures the thickness of the bar itself. The barbells you'll find below come in a range of sleeve lengths and grip diameters that will suit people of different heights who want to tackle lifts both large and small.
How much do you realistically want and need to lift? We have several options for those interested in light lifts (under 100 pounds), medium lifts (in the 300-pound range), and heavy lifts (700-plus pounds).
We found barbells with multiple knurl types, extra cushioning, spring clip options, and more, and have highlighted the most important features in every model listed below.
We reviewed hundreds of barbells, seeking out the widest range of options with different weight capacities and designs. We also consulted expert assessments of barbells, and read through hundreds of consumer reviews before picking the models you'll find below, all of which have average customer ratings of at least 4 out of 5 stars.
For more great additions to your workout space, check out our picks for the best adjustable dumbbells, weight benches, and power towers.
This Olympic Bar is 7.2 feet long and built to last. The barbell is made from high-quality steel with an oxide finish. It is suitable as a general-purpose bar, and can be used for Olympic-style mega-lifts as well as slower power lifts. The Volcano knurling on the grip provides great friction, and all 2-inch weight plates can be used with this barbell. RitFit also offers smaller sizes (4, 5, and 6 feet in length) if you want a shorter bar.
In addition to being versatile, this model is a customer favorite, with more than 80 percent of reviewers on Amazon giving the RitFit Olympic Barbell Bar a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
This Olympic-style aluminum barbell is a great starter barbell for beginners and lifters under the age of 18. This durable barbell can hold up to 300 pounds, and spins freely with a gentler grip style for newbies. The bar alone weighs just 15 pounds and has 52.5 inches of space between the sleeve collars. The barbell is designed for use with Olympic-style plates with 2-inch center holes.
More than 82 percent of reviewers on Amazon gave this barbell 5 out of 5 stars. Reviewers love this “lighter, shorter barbell," saying it's a great choice for anyone with a limited amount of workout space.
The Bowflex Barbell and Curl Bar is an all-in-one strength-building system that adjusts from 20 to 80 pounds in 10-pound increments with the swivel of a dial.
You’ll be able to quickly switch from one exercise to another, and the space-saving design of the two 20-pound bars included in this set replaces up to seven barbells and seven curl bars, plus it has a 3-year warranty. If you're eager to lift something a bit heavier, you can buy a separate upgrade kit that jacks the bars' weight up to 120 pounds.
Reviewers give this barbell and curl bar set a 4.7- out of 5-star average rating, praising its high quality.
This solid steel barbell features a chrome finish, and medium-depth knurling for a solid grip that doesn’t tear at your skin. The Olympic-style bar is 47 inches long, with a 6.5-inch loadable sleeve length. It weighs 14 pounds and holds up to 150 pounds, and comes with two spring collars so you can easily and quickly change weights.
The ergonomic, curved bar enables you to remain in a more natural position that reduces strain; the rotating sleeves also promote smooth lifting motions that reduce stress on your arms. The bar is made to last and will fit 2-inch plates with 50-millimeter openings.
This heavy-duty weight bar is made of alloy steel, and comes with everything you need if you’re looking for a complete light-lifting package. The wallet-friendly set includes 55 pounds of weight, an upgraded bar, and two spring-locking clips.
The set includes two 5-pound weights and four 10-pound weights, all of which are designed to be rust-resistant and easy on floors. The bar is powder-coated for durability. The set is made in the U.S.A. and backed by a 90-day manufacturer’s warranty.
Buyers call this set an "awesome bargain," with 88 percent of reviewers giving it a 4-star rating or higher.
This barbell set offers everything serious lifters need to pump up to 700 pounds. The set comes with two 2.5-pound weights, four 5-pound weights, two 10-pound weights, two 25-pound weights, two 35-pound weights, and two 45-pound weights.
The bar features multiple knurl positions and lengths for your convenience and safety, with a 700-pound total capacity. The plates are made of solid cast iron with a 2-inch center hole.
Reviewers call this a "great set" of weights, praising its high quality.
This heavy-duty chrome steel set is built to withstand serious wear and tear. The kit comes with one standard-sized bar, two 20-inch dumbbell handles, and six Olympic spring clip collars. This versatile set will allow you and your at-home workout crew perform a variety of arm and upper body strengthening exercises.
The nonslip weightlifting bar is equipped with an easy-grip tube and non-marking end caps that protect your floor from scuffs.
The set comes with a 2-year warranty. Reviewers call this the “best curling bar around,” praising it as “lightweight but sturdy.”
This 5-foot alloy steel bar also comes in 6- and 7-foot lengths, and models of each length can accommodate up to 700 pounds. The bar and ends come together as one unit, making it longer-lasting and more durable than competitors. The bar's knurling is designed to make using it safe and comfortable.
Reviewers love this “well-made” bar, with many saying that while it is on the heavier side at 25 pounds, it's built to last and comes at a great price.
This set has a cushioned bar that is easy on your hands and neck when you’re lifting and squatting. The barbell comes with two spring collars, two 5-pound weights, four 2.5-pound weights, and two 1.25-pound weights.
The handles on the weights give you even more versatility when it comes to your lifts and also make it easier to put weights on the bar or take them off. The contemporary design and teal-and-black color scheme make the set nice enough to leave out all the time.
Reviewers say the set offers great value for the price and say that the fact it can be taken apart into three pieces makes it great for travel.
This Olympic bar is a fantastic option for anyone who’s super serious about powerlifting and is designed with comfortable knurling for long, sweaty workouts.
The bar is built from high-quality steel with a chrome finish, which makes it extremely durable and resistant to rust. The barbell includes copper sleeves and bearings that increase the rolling lubrication of the sleeve and also help prevent wrist injuries. This barbell is best for bench presses, bicep curling, piggybacking, overhead pressure, and lunges.
Reviewers say the bar is thoughtfully designed and offers “excellent quality.”
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