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I’ve been to a handful of gyms. Every time I would visit a new one, the experience is unique. The feeling of the bar can vary based on the actual weight, the material, and the size of the barbell plate.
How do you choose the best barbell plates and collars for your home gym? It’s crucial to understand the different types of barbell plates and collars that exist for specific purposes. Some barbell plates are best for the dead blow, and others calibrated with accuracy in mind. As for collars, some are more reliable to keep weight on the bar than others.
Keep reading for a buying guide that will help you navigate the market based on your goals.
Table of Contents
Barbell Plates
The type of barbell you choose will help to filter your options for plates. If you haven’t already selected a barbell, check out the Buying Guide For Barbells. Once you’ve picked the barbell, you will have a better idea of your preferences and the barbell sleeve diameter to find plates that fit.
There are three sizes of center holes for plates.
- Studio plates have a 30 mm diameter opening that fits a 30 mm diameter bar sleeve. These plastic or rubber plates are much lighter than they look and typically used for group exercises.
- Standard plates have a 1″ (25 mm) diameter opening that fits a 1″ (25mm) diameter bar sleeve. These are often only used in home gyms, rarely commercial.
- Olympic plates have a 2″ (50 mm) diameter opening that fits a 2″ (50 mm) diameter bar sleeve. These are standard in most gyms because they are the most durable. There are various kinds of Olympic weight plates – Technique, Training, and Competition.
Different Types Of Barbell Plates
#1. Best Standard Plates
Standard plates are best suited for beginners or individuals seeking to barbell train for functional purposes only.
The CAP BARBELL STANDARD PLATES are solid cast iron plates that have a 1″ center hole to accommodate standard bars. The 3-hole grip allows for easy and safe handling. The weights are limited to 2.5, 5, 10, and 25 pounds, so this equipment would not support heavier lifts.
Get your standard plates on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004741RCA?tag=homestrengt0c-20
#2. Best Traditional Iron Plates
Traditional iron plates are best suited for those looking to build a noisy gym; these plates often clang and bang. Raw iron also rusts and corrode over time but can be prevented with coating.
The CAP BARBELL OLYMPIC PLATES are solid cast iron plates with a 2″ center hole to accommodate Olympic bars. The weights are available in 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 35, 45, and 100 pounds.
Get your traditional plates on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VST7PLV?tag=homestrengt0c-20
#3. Best Traditional Iron Rubber Coated Plates
Rubber-coated plates help to prevent damaging equipment and reduce noise in the gym. They last long but scratch easily, making them look damaged quickly.
The REP V2 RUBBER COATED OLYMPIC PLATES are made from solid cast iron and covered in rubber to protect the weights, floors, and equipment. The weights are available in 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 35, 45 pounds.
Get your traditional iron/rubber plates on REP: here
#4. Best Technique Bumper Plates
If you’re looking to get into clean, snatch, or deadlift, technique plates have the same diameter as a standard Olympic bumper plate but within a lighter weight range. The dimensions allow beginner and rehabbing athletes to practice starting movements from the proper height off the ground.
The ROGUE TECHNIQUE PLATES consist of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic. The plates are available in 2.5 & 5 KG, 5 & 10 LBS.
Get your technique bumper plates on Rogue here: https://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-technique-plates
#5. Best Training Bumper Plates
Training bumper plates enable safely dropping weight without damaging the floor, bar, or plates themselves during deadlifts, Olympic Weightlifting, Crossfit, or general training.
The ROGUE ECHO BUMPER PLATES V2 offers a consistent dead blow on the drop while being thinner than other bumpers out there. When more bumpers are loaded, the thickness of the bumpers will affect the distribution of weight on the barbell.
I have the Echo bumper plates in my home gym, and they are excellent for squat, bench, deadlift, rows, cleans, you name it! Most importantly, they are super home and neighbor-friendly. I love them.
Get your training bumper plates on Rogue here: https://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-echo-bumper-plates-with-white-text
#6. Best Training Change Plates
For those looking to lift with the perfect amount of weight to safely increase weight from one workout to another or lift for PR’s with accuracy, change plates will be necessary.
The TITAN LB BLACK CHANGE PLATES have a durable rubber coating for a firm hold on any Olympic barbell. The weights are available in pairs of 1.25 LB, 2.5 LB, 5 LB, 10 LB increments, and a full set of 37.5-pounds.
Get your training change plates on Titan: here
#7. Best Competition Bumper Plates
For a higher price tag, competition plates offer superior durability and accuracy from the calibration.
The ROGUE KG COMPETITION PLATES (IWF) is the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) approved for competitive use. These plates feature a gloss-matte-gloss color finish with chrome-plated steel disc inserts and offer a consistent dead blow for less bounce when dropped.
Get your bumper plates on Rogue here: https://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-kg-competition-plates-iwf
#8. Best Competition Fractional Plates
For serious lifters, fractional plates will offer the incremental adjustment in weight.
ROGUE KG FRACTIONAL PLATES have an exterior rubber coating for a firm hold on any Olympic barbell. The weights are available in 0.125, 0.25, and 0.75 KG.
Get your fractional plates on Rogue here: https://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-kg-fractional-plates
#9. Best Competition Powerlifting Plates
If you decide on the competitive powerlifting direction, calibrated steel plates are the best option.
The ROGUE CALIBRATED KG STEEL PLATES are the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) approved to offer precision within 10 grams in each weight. There are also calibration plugs on the back of each plate for even greater precision. These durable cast-iron plates have a 50 mm center hole for a snug fit on the power barbell. The weights are available in 0.25, 0.5, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50 KG, as well as various sets of plates.
Get your powerlifting plates on Rogue here: https://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-calibrated-kg-steel-plates
Barbell Collars
What Is A Barbell Collar?
The purpose of barbell collars is to prevent barbell plates from sliding off the barbell sleeve when in motion.
I don’t know about you, but the thought of moving weight on a barbell without collars in my home gym gives me anxiety. What if the plates slide off the barbell?!
How Much Do Barbell Collars Weigh?
The weight depends on the type of collars.
Here are three collars that you’ll typically find in a gym.
#1. Spring Clips
Spring clips are the go-to quick and inexpensive collar. To secure and remove the spring clips on the barbell, you must squeeze the handles together. If you’ve been to a commercial gym, you’ve seen them around the squat racks. The drawback of spring clips is sometimes they will loosen over time.
TITAN OLYMPIC BARBELL SPRING CLIPS comes in a pair for an affordable price. These spring clips are 0.5 pounds each and rust-proof because of the chrome finish.
Get your spring clips on Titan: here
#2. Lockdown Barbell Collars
Lockdown barbell collars are another popular collar that you’ll find in most gyms. Typically they’re plastic, but it varies. You use these by sliding them along the barbell sleeve and securing and removing them with the lock-open lever.
The ROGUE ALUMINUM COLLARS come in a solid pair of durable collars that you can count on for every rep, whether you’re a weightlifter, powerlifter, or any lifter. These collars weigh 0.25 pounds each and measure 1.5″ in width.
Get your lockdown collars on Rogue: https://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-usa-aluminum-collars
#3. Competition Collars
Competition collars are 2.5 kg discs that tightly secure weights on the barbell for weightlifting or powerlifting competition. These can be a little more complicated for someone unfamiliar. There’s a knob that you twist to tighten the collar; you want to keep that on the outer part of the barbell sleeve.
ROGUE IWF KG COMPETITION COLLARS are sold in pairs, each weighing 2.5 kg. These are IWF-approved to meet strict calibration standards.
Get your competition collars on Rogue: https://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-iwf-olympic-kg-competition-collars
Related Questions
How much does a set of barbell plates cost? In 2021, you can expect barbell plates to go for approximately $1-4 USD per pound of weight depending on the type and quality. You can get a low and high-end estimation from multiplying the set of weights in pounds by $1-4 USD.
| Set Of Weights (Pounds) | Low-End Price (USD) | High-End Price (USD) |
| 100 | $100 | $400 |
| 500 | $500 | $2,000 |
| 1,000 | $1,000 | $4,000 |
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