What Is a Barbell?

A barbell is a piece of weightlifting equipment with a cylindrical shaft where weight plates can be attached to the ends. There are various barbells for unique training purposes, such as bodybuilding, powerlifting, and strongman sports.

This article will focus on the differences between the Olympic and standard barbells.

Olympic Bar

An Olympic barbell is used in competitive weightlifting, where athletes perform compound movements with heavy loads. As such, these bars are designed with precision details and quality materials.

Standard Bar

A standard barbell is most often used in a home gym where someone would perform more isolation exercises with lighter weights. This type of bar is generally smaller and less expensive.

Olympic Bar vs Standard Bar Differences

When it comes to weight training, the size and dimensions of a bar can significantly impact its performance and the type of weights you can use with it.

Olympic bars differ from standard bars in that they are longer, have a thicker shaft, and have larger sleeves designed for weight plates with a 2″ center hole. In contrast, standard bars are shorter and thinner with smaller sleeves that can only accommodate weight plates with a 1″ hole.

As a result, Olympic bars can handle much heavier loads than standard bars. To help illustrate these differences, the table below provides a more detailed comparison of the dimensions and weight capacity of both types of bars.

Olympic Bar vs Standard Bar Size

The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) provides guidelines for the weight and size of Olympic barbells. In contrast, standard barbells have no specific measurement guidelines and can differ in size and weight.

Men’s Olympic bars weigh 20 kilograms (44.1 pounds) and are 2.2 meters (7.2 feet) long. They have a shaft diameter of 28 millimeters (1.1 inches), with outer ends measuring 50 millimeters (1.96 inches) in diameter.

A women’s Olympic bar is slightly shorter and lighter at 2 meters (6.6 ft) and 15 kilograms (33.1 pounds). It also has a smaller shaft diameter of 25 millimeters (0.98 inches), but the sleeves are the same diameter as the men’s bar.

On the other hand, standard barbells generally weigh between 4 and 9 kilograms (10-18 pounds) and are 1.5 to 2.1 meters (5-7 feet) long. Their shafts and ends are usually of the same diameter, measuring 25 millimeters (1 inch).

Olympic Bar vs Standard Bar Features

Olympic barbells also have other design features that make them better-suited for competitive weightlifting compared to standard barbells.

One key feature is that the ends (sleeves) of the bar rotate on needle bearings, making for smoother motion. This is in contrast to standard barbells, which do not rotate at all and can feel clunky during use.

Additionally, Olympic bars have deeper knurling for a better grip. As well as grip marks spaced 910 millimeters (36 inches) apart to ensure proper hand positioning.

Olympic Bar vs Standard Bar Uses

It’s crucial to understand that a bar’s dimensions and stiffness impact its flexibility or “whip.” Olympic bars have more elasticity and whip, resulting in smoother movements during lifts from the floor and overhead.

Therefore, Olympic bars are excellent for exercises like cleans, jerks, and snatches. In contrast, the stiffness of standard bars is better for curls, squats, or presses.

In addition, the superior construction of Olympic bars enables them to endure frequent drops on the floor, whereas standard bars are unsuitable for such wear and tear.

Therefore, Olympic bars are best for competitive weightlifting or Crossfit style workouts, while standard bars are fine for light-duty training or smaller home gyms.

Olympic Bar vs Power Bar

It’s worth noting that most commercial gyms don’t have genuine Olympic bars or standard bars. Instead, the traditional gym bar is usually a power bar, which is used for powerlifting exercises like squats and bench press, among others.

Like the Olympic bar, the power bar has 2″ sleeves for conventional weight plates. And it is generally larger and more durable than the standard bar.

The main difference between the Olympic bar and the power bar is stiffness. Specifically, the power bar is designed with a thicker shaft and higher tensile strength that create a more rigid feel.

Furthermore, power bars are not required to meet the same meticulous specifications as Olympic bars, resulting in a lower cost that makes them more accessible for the average gym owner.