The best barbells of 2025, tested and reviewed by personal trainers and everyday lifters
Don't underestimate the power of this simple tool to help you meet your strength-training goals.
Barbells aren't just for powerlifters or bodybuilders. The best barbell is a valuable tool to help you develop the full-body strength necessary to support independence and quality of life as you age, powering exercises like chest presses, squats and deadlifts. Noelle McKenzie, CPT and correctional exercise specialist says that barbells are extremely useful in a home gym setting because they allow you to load the body more easily than holding dumbbells and are more practical for heavy lifts.
"Barbells should become a staple in everyone's home gym," says Cassandra Padula Burke, CPT, adding, "They are versatile and allow you to perform a wide range of upper- and lower-body exercises to improve strength, power, endurance and overall health."
Although barbells may seem straightforward — just a long bar with space for adding weight plates on the ends — it turns out that they're not all built alike. In fact, there are some critical differences to be aware of before adding one to your shopping cart. For instance, the spin on a barbell greatly affects which types of exercises it's best suited for. Knurling — the textured grip pattern on a barbell — is also key, as it impacts both your comfort level and safety when lifting.
Like other gym equipment, barbells are designed for specific uses and functions. To help you choose the right one for your home gym, we asked personal trainers, powerlifters and casual gym-goers to test six top-rated barbells in home and commercial gym settings over the course of several months. Their input and feedback helped us determine which ones you should consider. Just remember, it's a good idea to pair your barbell with a weight bench and plate weights — we've tested and reviewed those too.
Best overall barbell
Type: Olympic | Length: 7 ft. | Shaft diameter: 28.5 mm | Weight: 44 lbs. | Weight capacity: 1,500 lbs. | Tensile strength: 194,000 psi | Finish: Black zinc center, chrome grooved sleeve
After reviewing feedback from our testers, including personal trainers, professional powerlifters and casual lifters, the Sole SW111 Olympic Barbell emerged as the best overall pick. This all-purpose bar excels across the board, boasting an impressive 194,000 psi tensile strength — ideal for casual and serious lifters alike — along with a comfortable grip and exceptional build quality.
Jason Wrosch, CPT, head trainer at Eighty Twenty Club in Lapeer, Mich., explains that the barbell has a medium knurling, making it comfortable to use without grips or gloves. He also highlights the barbell's smooth bushing system, which is designed to keep the barbell sleeves steady with minimal spin. This feature is typical of all-purpose barbells like the Sole, which are best suited for controlled, slower movements such as bench presses or squats. While a plus for more traditional weightlifters, this means the bar isn't great if you plan on performing more dynamic powerlifting exercises, like snatches or clean and jerks.
Although Sole recommends pairing this bar with its proprietary weight plates, which we tested, it performed equally well with plates from other brands, making it a versatile option for home gym users who mix and match equipment. Overall, the Sole SW111 Olympic Barbell is an excellent all-around bar, suitable for both casual and serious lifters. Plus, as Wrosch enthusiastically noted, it's also "very pretty!"
One drawback is that the bar weighs 44.09 pounds, just slightly under the standard 45 pounds. Though this isn't a dealbreaker for most lifters, it can be slightly frustrating when calculating for precise lifts, especially if you're used to the 45-pound standard.
- Minimal spin for slow, controlled movements
- High weight capacity
- Spring steel construction
- Comfortable with or without gloves
- Weighs 44 lbs. rather than the standard 45 lbs.
- Not ideal for powerlifting
More barbells we like for 2025
Type: Olympic | Length: 7 ft. | Shaft diameter: 28.5 mm | Weight: 45 lbs. | Weight capacity: 700 lbs. | Tensile strength: 72,000 psi | Finish: Carbon steel
If your training regimen includes a combination of standard and dynamic weightlifting moves, the Centr Olympic Weight Bar is a solid investment. In fact, Tim Strunk, CPT, former head trainer at Eighty Twenty Club in Lapeer, Mich. and a dedicated powerlifter, selected this Centr barbell for his personal home gym, a testament to its exceptional quality and versatility.
He explains that he chose the Centr barbell for its bearings, which support powerlifting exercises that require more spin on the bar yet still work for more traditional lifts. "You could use this bar for all types of fitness as the bearings also have a medium torque, meaning you could both do a power clean and a heavy squat, and the weight loaded makes no difference in the bar path," he says.
Strunk notes that the barbell provides enough spin so that the weights move with you, and the knurling is also a good mix between heavy lifting and general use. "The double line in the knurling is a nice touch for multiple movements and provides more diversity to auxiliary lifts," he says.
Additional highlights from Strunk include the bar's high-quality steel construction, comfortable grip and standard 7-foot Olympic size, which fits nicely into most squat and power racks.
Last but not least, we liked how the Centr bar came as part of a set with easy-to-load tri-grip weight plates, so it's basically a home gym in a box — or several boxes, in this case. However, it’s worth noting that the bar isn’t available for purchase on its own.
- Bar with bearings and medium torque
- Medium knurling
- Comfortable grip
- Includes 14 weight plates, ranging from 2.5 to 45 pounds
- Bar sold only as part of a set
- Lower psi than other tested barbells
Type: Olympic | Length: 86.6 in. | Shaft diameter: 28.5 mm | Weight: 44 lbs. | Weight capacity: 1,500 lbs. | Tensile strength: 190,000 psi | Finish: Cerakote ceramic coating
The Nike Strength Shield Barbell earns its title as the best training bar thanks to its protective double ceramic coating, which guards against corrosion and ensures durability over time. Not to mention its aesthetic appeal, with color and logo options — including Nike's iconic "Just Do It" — a nice motivational boost for long training sessions.
Nike offers rubber bumper plates specifically designed for this bar, but we also tested it with metal plates. While the metal plates and clips caused slight scratching to the coating, that didn't affect functionality. However, this may be worth considering if aesthetics are a priority for you.
The bar features double knurl lines and a medium volcano knurl, widely regarded in the fitness industry as one of the best knurling patterns. This design provides four points of contact on the hands, enhancing grip and comfort during lifts. As someone with lower grip strength, I found this bar especially user-friendly for dead lifts and barbell rows, allowing for a secure and comfortable hold throughout each exercise.
Furthermore, the bar has two bushings on each side, delivering smooth rotation and excellent stability, making it ideal for a wide range of training movements. Just keep in mind that the bar isn't designed for heavier, more intense powerlifting moves.
This barbell has a 4.2 out of 5-star rating on the Nike website, with many shoppers reporting the same findings we did: an overall solid training bar with smooth rotation and fun colors to keep you motivated.
- Multiple color options
- Versatile design
- High weight capacity
- Comfortable grip
- Metal plates may scratch coating
- Not intended for serious powerlifting
Type: Olympic Hex Bar | Length: 4.6 ft. | Shaft diameter: Not specified | Weight: 22 lbs. | Weight capacity: 400 lbs. | Tensile strength: Not specified | Finish: Powder coated
The Sunny Hex Bar stands out for its dead-lift-specific design. Unlike a straight barbell, a hex bar allows for a more natural and athletic movement pattern, says Strunk. Plus, the hex bar centers the weight load more in the middle of the body during dead lifts rather than the front, which can be helpful for lifters with back problems.
We tested this hex bar in a home gym and found it an excellent option for beginners. Its design made it easy to set up and intuitive to use. I appreciated how the hex bar also encouraged proper form and reduced risks, such as dropping a heavy straight bar — if you drop this bar, your feet and body will remain out of the line of fire.
Compared with similar products, the Sunny Bar is unique in that it has swivel handles, which I found particularly comfortable for someone with smaller hands and lower grip strength. This thoughtful design makes it more inclusive for a wider range of lifters, though I have some concerns about the long-term durability of the handles. Unlike some hex bars with built-in secondary handles, this model relies entirely on the included swivel handles, which could be a drawback if they loosen or break.
Loading the bar was straightforward, making it easier to handle than a traditional straight bar for deadlifting. Its streamlined profile also stores neatly in a compact space, which is a huge plus for home gyms, especially in smaller areas like my own basement.
While designed for dead lifts, the bar can also be used for a few other movements, such as bent-over rows and carries, though its overall versatility is much more limited than a standard bar.
- High weight limit
- Beginner-friendly
- Relatively affordable
- Swivel handles for a more comfortable grip
- Safety clips
- Limited versatility
- No secondary handles
Type: Adjustable | Length: 5 ft. | Shaft diameter: N/A | Weight: 117.3 lbs. | Weight capacity: 120 lbs. | Tensile strength: N/A
Imagine a barbell that combines the convenience of a Swiss Army knife with the performance of professional-grade gym equipment. That's essentially what our best barbell set — the Bowflex SelectTech 2080 Adjustable Barbell Set with Curl Bar — delivers. It's like having a full rack of barbells in a single, compact package, making it a good option if you're tight on space. The system is designed to replace seven barbells and seven curl bars, thanks to its dial-adjustable flat weights.
Although this set is designed for home gym use, we were pleasantly surprised by its effectiveness and durability, even for advanced lifters. In fact, during our several months of testing, Jason Wrosch repeatedly incorporated the BowFlex into his personal training sessions with a range of clients.
While assembling the bar and its components was slightly tricky, the system is seamless and easy to use once set up. Similar to the brand's SelectTech 552s — our favorite adjustable dumbbells — the SelectTech 2080's bars click into a stationary base, so it's best to designate a permanent storage spot in your home gym. Wrosch noted that while it does take up a bit of space, it's relatively compact compared with traditional barbells and weight plates.
Each bar accommodates up to 120 pounds of the included BowFlex plates. The bar set comes with up to 80 pounds (40 on each side), but you can purchase additional weight plates to reach a maximum weight of 120 pounds. To adjust the weight, you place the bar into the base, then dial to select the weight you want, repeating the process to add or reduce the weight.
My 63-year-old father, who was looking to get back into working out at home, put this system to the test and found it very easy to use after watching a few YouTube tutorials to familiarize himself with the mechanics. He noted that the adjuster dial was intuitive and straightforward to operate. That said, it's crucial to make sure the plates are properly aligned on the platform to ensure they connect securely and adjust safely. Misalignment can prevent the weights from adjusting correctly or, worse, cause them to while lifting.
To that end, during testing, we experienced two instances where a weight plate fell off during use despite making sure to secure it properly. While we can't rule out the possibility of user error, this highlights the importance of double-checking that the weights are securely locked in place before each use.
Durability is another concern. Dropping the barbell from a height (like some people do with traditional barbells during heavier lifting sessions) could potentially damage it, and you may have to replace the entire system if the dial adjustment breaks. That said, as long as you purchase the system through BowFlex, your purchase includes a three-year warranty.
Other than a few potential downsides, we found this system an excellent choice for beginner or casual lifters seeking a streamlined, space-efficient solution for their home gym. As one 5-star Amazon reviewer sums it up, "Works perfectly and saves space. Well-designed."
- Space-saving design
- 7 barbells and 7 curl bars in one
- Beginner-friendly
- Intuitive to use
- Not compatible with free weights
- Weights may come loose
- Limited weight capacity
- May not be as durable as a traditional barbell
Factors to consider when purchasing a barbell
As you can see from our list, barbells aren't cheap — and they're not particularly convenient to return. Plus, choosing the right barbell for your needs can make a major difference in the safety, comfort and effectiveness of your workout. With that in mind, here are some key factors to consider when making your decision:
Training goals
The most important factor when choosing a barbell is your training goals. For example, are you preparing for a powerlifting competition, or do you just need a reliable bar for basic workouts in your basement? Your answer can help you decide which type of barbell to choose and whether you need a heavy-duty bar with high tensile strength or can get by with a less expensive training bar.
According to our experts, an Olympic barbell is an excellent all-around choice for most people due to its versatility. However, older adults or those with limited strength might benefit from a lighter weight standard barbell. Burke also suggests planning for your future needs by selecting a barbell with a weight capacity that allows you to lift heavier as you progress. A few of the most common types of barbells include:
Standard barbells: A standard barbell is usually around 7 feet long, weighs between 15 and 25 pounds and has a 1-inch diameter. It typically has smaller, non-rotating sleeves and is best for holding lighter weights.
Olympic barbells: Olympic barbells have a standard length of at least 7 feet, though some are slightly longer. They typically weigh 45 pounds, have a larger 2-inch diameter and are used for heavy compound lifts, including squats, hip thrusts, dead lifts, overhead presses, chest presses and rows. Olympic barbells are also subdivided into men's and women's bars, which have a grip diameter of about 28 mm and 25 mm, respectively. Regardless of men's versus women's, Olympic barbells are designed to hold between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds and have large rotating sleeves.
Fixed barbells: These bars, which can be curl or straight bars, are already weighted and cannot be adjusted. They're typically used for arm exercises, such as curls or lighter presses, though they can also be used for lower-body exercises like squats and dead lifts as well.
Trap/hex bars: These barbells are hexagonal shaped instead of straight and fit around the body for dead lifts, squats and carries.
Tensile strength
McKenzie advises selecting a barbell with a tensile strength that matches the amount of weight you plan to lift. For durability, she recommends a tensile strength of at least 150,000 psi, especially for heavy lifters.
Knurling
"Knurling is a textured grip on the barbell that helps you hold on securely, even when your hands get sweaty," says Umo Callins, CPT and board-certified sports dietitian. "It's key for stability, especially with heavy lifts," she adds. Knurling comes in three main styles — hill, mountain and volcano — each providing a different level of grip:
Hill knurling: This style typically looks like flat surfaced diamonds and offers the smoothest grip. While less likely to leave your hands calloused or blistered, bars with hill knurling are harder to hold, especially when your hands are sweaty.
Mountain knurling: This pointy pattern provides the most aggressive texture for maximum traction. It's typically reserved for one-rep powerlifting moves, though some serious lifters like it for dead lifts too.
Volcano knurling: Often considered the ideal style, volcano knurling has rounded, rather than pointy, peaks that allow for a relatively comfortable yet still secure grip.
If knurling options are limited, weightlifting gloves offer a good solution for improving your grip and protecting your hands.
Finish
The finish of a bar contributes to its durability and use. McKenzie recommends a stainless steel finish, which she says is naturally grippy and rust-resistant. The finish is especially important for home gyms where temperature and humidity can fluctuate. Callins also cautions against barbells with cheap coatings, as these can flake and wear down quickly, leading to rust and reduced grip.
Spin rotation
"Spin performance refers to how smoothly and quickly the sleeves of the barbell rotate," McKenzie says, adding that spin performance is especially important for dynamic lifts such as snatches and clean and jerks.
Callins notes that the spin performance of a barbell is primarily determined by the type of mechanism in the bar sleeves. "Bushings provide smooth rotation for general lifting; ball bearings offer a faster spin for Olympic lifting and needle bearings provide the most precision, ideal for serious athletes," she says. For general strength training, Callins recommends looking for a model featuring either bushings or bearings, though she adds that high-spin barbells are intended more for Olympic lifting and aren't essential for general strength training.
For optimal versatility, look for a barbell that combines bushings and bearings in a composite design.
Whip
Callins says that a barbell's whip allows the bar to bend when being moved at high speed with a heavy load. "It redistributes the load toward the edge of the bar, which makes it easier to lift," she says.
Whenever possible, she recommends avoiding barbells with low whip grading, as they're more likely to bend. Instead, if you plan on lifting heavy weights, she recommends choosing an Olympic barbell, which is designed to have high tensile strength and increased whip.
Cost
Our experts recommend investing in a high-quality bar that meets your needs. "Quality bars last a lifetime with proper care, so they’re a solid investment," says Callins. To extend the life of your barbell, she recommends storing it upright to reduce exposure to dust and moisture.
How we chose
To determine the best barbell for every lifter, we tested six barbells in home and commercial gym settings. For a comprehensive view of pros and cons, each barbell was tested by professional trainers, powerlifters and casual gym-goers of varying ages and fitness levels. Barbells were evaluated based on their performance, durability and comfort. Tester feedback combined with expert insights from personal trainers and our own lifting experience, helped us determine the best barbells, including options for a range of training goals and preferences.
FAQs
What type of barbell is right for me?
A standard Olympic barbell is a good option for most people looking to increase their strength as it accommodates nearly every exercise, from squats to benching to overhead presses. However, if you plan on doing mostly quick, more dynamic movements, like snatches or clean and jerks, look for a barbell with spin-rotation bearings.
How much weight can a barbell hold?
All barbells are different, but a standard barbell usually can hold up to 500 pounds, while Olympic barbells typically accommodate 1,500 to 2,000 pounds.
What's the difference between bushings, ball bearings and needle bearings?
Bushings, ball bearings and needle bearings refer to the spin rotation of a barbell's sleeves, which are the ends of the barbell that hold the weights. A barbell needs to spin to offset the torque movement of weights being loaded on the bar, especially during fast movements. Bushings are standard on bars intended for more stable movements, like straight bench presses or squats, because the bar doesn't need to spin as much. Ball bearings, on the other hand, allow for more spin and are suitable for faster movements, like snatches. A needle-bearing barbell has total free spin and is often used for Olympic-style or CrossFit movements.
How do I maintain my barbell and prevent rust?
Regular maintenance is essential to keep your barbell in mint condition. While it’s always best to follow the manufacturer’s specific care instructions, most barbells benefit from a simple routine:
Cleaning: Wipe down the barbell with a cloth or use a nylon brush to remove chalk, sweat and debris that can accumulate during workouts.
Oiling: Apply a non-corrosive oil periodically to protect the metal and keep it functioning smoothly.
Rust prevention: If you live in a humid climate, consider using a dehumidifier in your gym space to reduce moisture and prevent rust from forming on the bar.
Proper care extends the life of your barbell and ensures optimal grip.
What safety precautions should I take when using a barbell?
The first step is purchasing equipment you trust from a reputable manufacturer and regularly inspecting your bar for any signs of damage, like cracking or wear. If you're new to using a barbell, it's a good idea to learn proper form and technique from a certified fitness trainer to reduce the risk of injury.
When using a barbell, it's best to start with lighter weights and only increase weight if you're able to maintain proper form. It's also important to use appropriate safety measures, such as using clips or collars to keep your weight plates from sliding off. Safety bars, squat racks, bumper plates and rubber flooring can also help create a secure lifting environment. Finally, never skip a proper warm-up — it’s essential for preparing your body and preventing strain during barbell exercises.
Meet our experts
Raymond Agostino, DPT, sports performance coach and owner of Agostino Athletics in Fort Myers, Fla.
Cassandra Padula Burke, MFS, RDN, CPT, owner of Catalyst Performance Lab in Finksburg, Md.
Umo Callins, MS, RD, LD, CSSD, CPT, board-certified sports dietitian and fitness coach in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Noelle McKenzie, correctional exercise specialist, certified personal trainer and co-founder of Leading Edge Personal Trainers in New York City.
Tim Strunk, CPT, former head trainer at Eighty Twenty Club in Lapeer, Mich.
Jason Wrosch, CPT, head trainer at Eighty Twenty Club in Lapeer, Mich.
Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.