10 Best Powerlifting Barbells in 2023

For all the female readers out there, The Bella Bar 2.0 is the best barbell choice for you.

Also made by Rogue Fitness, it has the same high-quality build as the Ohio bar and excellent performance specs for its size, easily rivaling men’s barbells.

For this list, I specifically chose the Cerakote finish one, rivaling my runner-up pick.

However, I should mention there are also stainless steel, black zinc, and e-coat finish Bella Bars as well.

• Material: Stainless Steel
• Weight: 33 pounds (15 kilograms)
• Length: 79.13 inches
• Diameter: 0.98 inches (25 millimeters)
• Shaft Length: Around 52 inches
• Knurling: Olympic (no center knurling)
• Knurl Marks: Dual knurl marks
• Tensile Strength: 190,000 PSI
• Sleeve Length: 13 inches
• Finish Type: Cerakote

The Titan Series Deadlift Bar was my favorite for using in - you guessed it - deadlift exercises.

The barbell was designed and manufactured in the U.S.A. using quality stainless steel, and comes at a moderate price that won’t break the budget for this style of product.

At surface level, this bar has specs and features mostly resembling an Olympic barbell.

• Material: Stainless Steel
• Weight: 45 pounds
• Length: 90.5 inches
• Diameter: 1.12 inches (28.5 mm)
• Shaft Length: 55.5 inches
• Knurling: Yes, aggressive diamond pattern
• Knurl Marks: Single knurl marks
• Weight Limit: 2,000 pounds
• Tensile Strength: 200,000 PSI
• Sleeve Length: 16.25 inches
• Finish Type: Bright zinc

According to Titan Fitness, the barbell was specifically designed for use in three main exercises - the standard deadlift, Sumo deadlift, and Romanian deadlift.

Both sides of the shaft feature an aggressive diamond knurling texture, which provides a secure grip through the heaviest of movements.

It doesn’t feature center knurl markings found on typical powerlifting barbells.

This helps to avoid abrasions in your neck area in case you decide to do squats.

That said, this also stops the bar from catching onto and tearing your workout clothes while sliding along your body during your maximum capacity deadlifts.

The bar shaft is covered in a bright zinc coating that provides a clean finish and protects it from scratches and corrosion.

The sleeves are covered in hard chrome which helps you slide weight plates on and off, although it can chip over time.

The bar features bronze bushings placed between the sleeves and shafts, giving it a clean and consistent roll without too much rotation.

If you’re in the market for both a lifting barbell and weight plates, save yourself some money by buying a barbell and weights set.

My recommended choice is the BalanceFrom 2" Olympic Barbell Set.

Novice powerlifters want both a strong barbell and durable dumper plates, which is exactly what you’ll get.

• Material: Solid steel
• Weight: Around 45 pounds (20 kilograms)
• Length: 86.6
• Diameter: Roughly 1.1 inches
• Shaft Length: 51.6
• Knurling: Yes, fine diamond knurling
• Knurl Marks: Single 
• Weight Limit: 700 pounds
• Tensile Strength: Not specified by manufacturer
• Sleeve Length: 15.3 inches
• Finish Type: Bright zinc

The barbell included in the set is made in a standardized Olympic-size.

This means roughly 7.2 feet in length, around 1.1 inches in shaft diameter, and fitting standard 2-inch diameter inner ring weight plates.

It has both the center and side knurling, with single knurl marks for easily finding your hand grip position.

On its own, the knurling is surprisingly good, considering this is otherwise an affordable barbell.

The weight set includes two 25lb, two 35lb, and two 45lb plates.

Together with the barbell, they reach a maximum capacity of 255 pounds.

The plates are Olympic-sized and colored in accordance with competitive color coding, making them easily visually identifiable and more appealing than the standard black ones.

The package also includes two collar snap clamps to keep the plates in place once they’re loaded on the barbell.

Another affordable barbell good for powerlifting that’s worth the mention is the Valor Fitness OB-DL Deadlift Bar.

As the name suggests, the manufacturer intends for this barbell to be used specifically for deadlift exercises.

• Material: Alloy Steel
• Weight: 45 pounds
• Length: 90.5 inches
• Diameter: 1.05 inches (27 millimeters)
• Shaft Length: 60 inches
• Knurling: aggressive knurling, no center knurl
• Knurl Marks: Single knurl marks
• Weight Limit: 1,200 Pounds
• Tensile strength: 165,000 PSI
• Sleeve Length: 14.5 inches
• Finish Type: Black zinc

Valor Fitness made some intentional design choices when making this barbell.

Whether these choices are good or bad will depend on how you intend to use the bar.

For example, the bar is intentionally longer, the sleeves are further apart, and it’s slightly thinner than usual barbells.

Combined with a 165,000 PSI tensile strength, this means the bar has an intentional bend and whip to it.

This can make engaging in some exercises such as deadlifts easier, since the bar will start bending before the plates lift from the ground, making your grip tighten before you feel the force of the weight.

However, this also means the barbell is more prone to snapping under heavier weight.

Luckily, the maximum capacity is fairly high, meaning this is hardly going to occur, but it’s still something to keep in mind.

The shaft is covered in a black zinc coat.

The coating provides good protection against corrosion and rusting, and the black color gives the bar a nice looking finish.

The sleeves on this barbell are etched with fine grooves, which prevents weight plates from sliding around.

Last, but not least, we have CAP Barbell’s The Beast.

Just because it’s technically the last, I’d still value it higher than the thousands of other bars that haven’t made the list.

Cap Barbell is a global pioneer in the fitness industry with over 30 years of experience, and this barbell is just one of their line of quality products.

• Material: Alloy steel
• Weight: 44 pounds
• Length: 86 inches
• Diameter: 1.12 inches (28.5 mm)
• Shaft Length: 51.5 inches 
• Knurling: Yes, medium-depth
• Knurl Marks: Single marks
• Weight Limit: 1,200 pounds
• Tensile Strength: 110,000 PSI
• Sleeve Length: 15 inches
• Finish Type: Black Phosphate

The newest version of The Beast by Cap Barbell is a male Olympic bar with solid specs at an average to below average price point, depending on where you shop.

It is built from cold-rolled Japanese alloy steel, which gives it an impressive 1200-pound maximum capacity, and a slightly lower but satisfactory 110,000 PSI.

The standard version shaft is coated with a slick black phosphate finish which looks smooth and protects the barbell from corrosion, scratches, and other types of wear and tear that can occur from use.

The polished chrome sleeves allow you to smoothly add or remove weights plates.

The bar features diamond-shaped medium-depth knurling that provides a tight grip and prevents it from slipping out of your hand during high-intensity exercises.

A powerlifting barbell is a specialized type of barbell designed specifically for powerlifting workouts.

The three main exercises in powerlifting include the squat, bench press, and deadlift.

Powerlifting barbells are easy to identify based on some key specs.

For starters, they’re noticeably longer than standard barbells - usually around 7 feet in length. 

A powerlifting or bench press bar has a thicker shaft diameter, typically around 1.1 inch (29-32mm).

This increased thickness reduces the chance of the bar bending or warping during heavy lifts, and is excellent for developing grip strength.

The best barbell for powerlifting is designed to handle much heavier loads than standard barbells.

Typically it has a weight capacity of around 1,500 pounds, which is necessary for lifters who are attempting record setting or compete at the highest levels of powerlifting.

Powerlifting barbells also have more aggressive knurling than standard barbells.

Apart from the standard Olympic knurling spots on the left and right side of the shaft, they have a middle knurl as well.

This middle knurl can help with some narrow grip exercises, but it’s most important for keeping the barbell from slipping off your body during squats.

On average, a powerlifting barbell is higher quality than commercial barbells, however, it’s often more expensive as a result.

A standard barbell is a common type of barbell found in commercial gyms and public exercise centers, used for general weighted exercises.

In terms of specs, it’s typically shorter, lighter, and has less maximum capacity than barbells used in competitions.

However, it’s also much cheaper too.

The specs of standard barbells can vary, since they’re not subjected to any sort of standardization for dimensions or material quality, unlike bars used in competitions which have strict sizing rules.

The usual maximum weight capacity of a standard barbell can differ depending on the quality.

The average is usually around 200-300 pounds, with higher-end ones going for 600 pounds.

A standard bar is sometimes referred to as a one-inch or 1-inch bar due to it having a shaft and sleeve diameter of one inch.

Standard barbells typically have threaded sleeves that fit screw-on weight plates with a 1.1 inch inner diameter.

As the name suggests, an Olympic barbell is designed for competitive weightlifting and is primarily used in the Olympic Games.

Olympic bars are made in accordance with the International Weightlifting Federation rulebook, so they have to follow strict dimensions and quality standards.

There are two recognized versions - the “male” and “female” Olympic barbells.

The male version is slightly longer, heavier, and thicker, and has a higher weight capacity than the female barbell

Their measurements are as follows:

• Male barbell - 7.2 feet (2.2 meters) long, weighing 44 pounds (20 kilograms), shaft diameter typically 1.1 inches (28 mm)
• Female barbell - 6.9 feet (2.1 meters) long, weighing 33 pounds (15 kilograms), shaft diameter typically 1 inch (25 mm)

At first glance, it’s easy to mistake a powerlifting barbell or barbell for bench press for an Olympic barbell and vice versa.

Indeed, both visually and in terms of specs they’re very similar, with only slight differences in the powerlifting bar.

Powerlifting barbells feature similar dimensions as the male Olympic barbell - usually slightly shorter at 7 feet in length and roughly the same diameter (1.1 inches), with high maximum capacity and tensile strength.

The main powerlifting exercises, and those found in competitive powerlifting, are the squat, deadlift, and bench press.

For this reason, you may hear some athletes refer to it as a bench press bar, too.

As mentioned above, powerlifting bars have sets of knurling on the sides and in the middle, which are mandatory in competitive powerlifting according to the IPF rulebook.

Specialized barbells are a broad term encompassing all kinds of barbells that have special designs or features that make them great for specific exercises.

The most common specialized barbell you might have run into at the gym or recreational center is the curl bar or EZ bar.

Curl bars are designed primarily for use in arm exercises, such as biceps curls, skull crushers, triceps presses, and others. 

This shaft of this bar is designed in a “W” or zig-zag shape, which is meant to provide a better angled grip for the palms, resulting in less stress on the wrists and a more precise muscle hit.

Another specialized bar worth noting is the Trap bar or Hex Bar.

It has a hexagonal shape with a large opening in the middle, as the lifter is meant to stand in the center of it.

The Hex bar lets the arms stand naturally to the side of the body, putting the weight in line with the athlete’s center of gravity.

This noticeably puts less stress on the lower back and allows the user to reach higher weight maximums.

It can be used in various exercises, including deadlifts, farmer walks, squats, etc.

This goes as a general benefit for barbells, but they’re quite versatile as a general exercise tool.

The three primary exercises a bar for powerlifting is used in are the deadlift, squat, and bench press.

That said, a powerlifting bar can be used in place of any barbell for all kinds of lifting exercises.

Use your powerlifting barbell for rowing, overhead lifts, lunges, and more - you’re only really limited by your creativity.

The only exercises where I would not recommend it, and this is specifically if your sleeves don’t rotate, are the two primary Olympic lifts - the Snatch and Clean & Jerk.

Powerlifting barbells are designed for heavy lifting exercises.

For this reason, they’re guaranteed to have a higher quality build, maximum capacity, and tensile strength than the majority of commercial barbells.

Powerlifting barbells follow strict standards when it comes to the shape and size of the barbell.

This means that, whichever powerlifting/barbell for bench press you pick up, you can expect to have the same performance.

This is especially beneficial if you practice for the sake of competing, as you’ll always know your results and limits.

The quality of steel used in powerlifting barbells is an important factor in determining the barbell's overall performance and durability.

High-quality steel can make the barbell stronger, more durable, and more resistant to bending and breaking.

While most commercial barbells are made from alloy steel, which is good enough for most people but not the highest quality, powerlifting barbells are made from high-strength steel - most commonly stainless steel.

Stainless steel and similar higher quality steel types are known for their high durability, tensile strength, and resistance to corrosion.

A well-made powerlifting barbell made from high-quality steel can last for many years and withstand heavy use without bending or breaking.

Tensile strength is measured in pounds per square inch (PSI).

It can be found on any barbell specification sheet and is often one of the things pointed out by manufacturers, as PSI is quite high in powerlifting barbells.

Typically what you’ll see on the best power bar is anywhere from 150,000 to 250,000.

The higher the number, the higher the quality of the barbell will be.

That said, high tensile strength can be an unnecessary budget trap, as most people won’t push the highest-end barbells to their limits.

For the majority of people, 80,000-210,000 PS is a good range, and those numbers are quite common.

For example, my favorite bar for powerlifting is the Rep Alpine Weightlifting Bar, which has 200,000 PSI.

Barbell knurling is the pattern carved onto the metal in places where you’re meant to hold the bar in most exercises.

Knurling can come in a variety of patterns and sizes, which determines the quality and grip of the bar.

Generally, the finer the knurling pattern, the easier it will be on the hands, but also raises the cost of the barbell.

If you find your barbell knurling causes abrasions, consider using powerlifting gloves or hands grips.

Powerlifting barbells use an Olympic sleeve that can “spin” around the shaft.

This reduces the centrifugal force during lifting exercises, which allows the athlete to perform cleaner movement.

As a result, athletes are able to lift more and they’re also safer, as the bar will put less strain on pressure points such as the joints.

Different types of bars will feature different spin levels, however, neither too much nor too little spin is necessarily good.

Most experienced athletes prefer a healthy middleground where they can feel the bar spin adapting to their movement without rotating on its own when the athlete is still.

If you don’t have the experience to tell what would be the best spin level for you, look for bars that have “Olympic sleeve” markings on them.

Crushing resistance refers to the barbell's maximal total carry load before getting damaged from the excess weight.

In simple terms, it measures how much weight you can add to the sleeves before the bar starts to bend, crack, or break.

Compared to the various other barbell styles, powerlifting/bench press barbells are made to carry the most maximum weight.

Most commonly, the best bench press barbell can carry anywhere from 1000 to 1500 pounds.

We’ve listed the maximal manufacturer specified load for each barbell and rated its crushing resistance based on it.

That said, it’s always a good idea to look at the user manual and check if there are any recommendations from the manufacturer, before loading the bar with its maximum capacity.

Powerlifting barbells are primarily designed specifically for powerlifting competitions, which typically include three lifts: the squat, bench press, and deadlift.

While powerlifting barbells are excellent for these three lifts, they can be used in various other workouts and lifting styles.

You can use a powerlifting bar to do exercises like overhead presses, rows, hip thrusts, and similar exercises in place of specialized equipment.

Keep in mind though that powerlifting barbells are typically longer and thicker than standard barbells, so they’re not a perfect substitute for all exercises.

Note that the most expensive barbell, while often the highest quality, does not always mean the best value for money.

To help you make the best purchase for yourself, I listed 10 different bars for you, described them in detail, and gave their pros and cons.

The best “value for money” Safety Squat Bar in my opinion is the 1# pick - the Rep Alpine Weightlifting Bar.

If you’re on a budget, the Titan MAXXUM and CAP Barbell are good choices.

If you want to focus more on deadlifts, the Titan Series Deadlift Bar and Valor Fitness OB-DL are great choices.

If you want the best of the best without caring about price, the Eleiko IPF Powerlifting Competition Bar is the way to go.

A barbell set is almost always going to be better value than buying individual barbells