Curl Bar Weight By Type: How Much Does Your Curl Bar Weigh?

Skip to content Curl Bar Weight By Type: How Much Does Your Curl Bar Weigh? Curl Bar Weight Guide

Weight of Popular Curl Bars Compared

By: Jeremy Fox, CNC, CPT – Published: September 8, 2022

A curl bar is a versatile piece of equipment found in nearly every commercial gym. And many people include it in their home gyms as well.

But unlike standard barbells that weigh 45 lbs, curl bars have no universal weight. And it can be hard to know how much weight you’re lifting.

That’s why I’m going to show you curl bar weight by type, size, and brand. Plus, you can try the curl bar weight calculator to see how much the bar weighs with any combination of weight plates added.

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What is a Curl Bar?

Curl Bar Benefits

Why Does Curl Bar Weight Matter?

Curl Bar Weight By Type

Standard Curl Bar

Olympic Curl Bar

Rackable Curl Bar

Super Curl Bar

Hammer Curl Bar

Find Your Curl Bar Weight

Curl Bar With Plates Weight Calculator

What Is a Curl Bar?

A curl bar is a type of weightlifting barbell specifically designed for bicep curl exercises. Generally, it is shorter than a regular barbell and has a curved shaft to make it easier to grip.

For this reason, they are also called EZ curl bars. However, you can use curl bars for tricep exercises and compound movements for other body parts.

Benefits of Curl Bar vs Straight Bar

The main advantage of the curl bar is that the curved grip requires less hand supination and reduces strain on your wrists. While the more neutral hand position helps activate the brachialis and long head of the biceps.

Another benefit of the curl bar is that it ensures your hands are evenly spaced for proper balance from side to side. Also, the smaller size makes maneuvering in tight spaces or crowded areas easier.

Finally, the curl bar’s lower starting weight makes it better for beginners. And advanced lifters have more options for adding weight plates to increase resistance.

• Easier to hold during arm exercises
• Less stress on your wrist and forearm
• More brachialis and long head activation
• Ensures even hand spacing for balance
• Easier to maneuver in small spaces
• Lighter starting weight and more versatile

Importance of Curl Bar Weight

The most important reason for knowing how much a curl bar weighs is so you know how much total weight you’re lifting. Without this information, it’s harder to increase the weight at proper increments for progressive overload.

In addition, knowing how much a curl bar weighs helps you choose the right starting weight for other exercises on machines and cables. Finally, it’s always fun to know how much you lift so you can compare yourself with your friends and other lifters.

Related: See how many pull-ups you should be able to do

Curl Bar Weight by Type

Now let’s get into how much different types of curl bars weigh before you add any weight plates. There are several types of curl bars. So I will go through each curl bar weight individually.

Standard Curl Bar Weight

The standard curl bar is the barbell in most home or garage gyms. It has smaller diameter sleeves with threaded collars that work with 1″ non-Olympic style plates.

Generally, these bars also have a narrower shaft and less robust construction. These design features mean the standard curl bar typically only weighs 5-12 lbs (2.3-5.5 kg), depending on the brand.

Olympic Curl Bar Weight

An Olympic curl bar is what you probably use in a commercial gym. It has larger diameter smooth sleeves that fit Olympic plates as you use on a regular barbell.

Olympic curl bars are longer than standard ones and typically have a thicker shaft. As a result, Olympic curl bars weigh 15-30 lbs (6.8-13.6 kg), depending on the exact specs.

Rackable Curl Bar Weight

The rackable curl bar is much longer than other curl bars at 74-75” from end to end. And it looks like a traditional barbell except with the EZ curl bends in the middle.

This extra-long curl bar fits on most standard power racks. So you can begin your curl exercises directly from the starting height instead of the floor (and be the alpha bro that curls in the squat rack).

However, the larger size adds to the starting weight. And the rackable curl bar typically weighs 35 lbs (15.9 kg).

Super Curl Bar Weight

A super curl bar has an exaggerated curve in the handle that allows for a more neutral hand position, especially when using a narrow grip.

Super curl bars come in both standard and Olympic sizes. So their weight can vary from 5-30 lbs.

Tricep/Hammer Curl Bar Weight

A lesser know type of curl bar is actually called a tricep bar. It has close-together parallel handles ideal for tricep exercises like skull crushers.

However, the neutral grip of the tricep bar is also perfect for hammer curls. And the narrow handles help you further isolate the outer bicep.

With a shorter length, the tricep bar typically comes in at a starting weight of around 15 lbs (6.8 kg).

Now you know the weight ranges for curl bars of various types. I’ve rounded each curl bar weight to the nearest 5 lbs in the table below. So you can get a rough idea of how much your curl bar weighs.

Table 1. Typical Curl Bar Weights

Type	Average Weight
Standard EZ Curl Bar	10 lbs (4.5 kg)
Olympic EZ Curl Bar	25 lbs (11.4 kg)
Rackable Curl Bar	35 lbs (15.9 kg)
Super Curl Bar	20 lbs (9.1 kg)
Tricep/Hammer Curl Bar	15 lbs (6.8 kg)

How to Weigh Your Curl Bar

If you’re a numbers nerd like me, you probably want to know exactly how much your gym’s curl bar weighs. Of course, the easiest way to find out is to throw it on a scale!

You can use your bathroom scale for your home gym. And most commercial gyms have scales for checking your weight. Just make sure you have permission before moving a scale at your gym.

I used a small analog scale from the locker room. First, I weighed 10, 20, and 30 lb dumbbells to verify calibration. But you can skip this step if you’re looking for a ballpark number.

Then I put the curl bar on the scale, ensuring I balanced it in the center and the ends weren’t touching the ground. As you can see in the images below, this Olympic EZ curl bar weighs 18 lbs.

Curl Bar Weight with Plates

Now you know the empty curl bar weight for various barbell types. But what about when you add weight plates?

If you have a curl bar with an even and exact weight, like 20 lbs, then adding the weight plates is pretty straightforward. You multiply each weight plate by two and add that to the bar weight.

However, the mental math gets much more complicated if you have one of those bars with a funky starting weight, like 22.8 lbs. So here’s a calculator to make it easier for you to find the weight of the curl bar with weight plates.

Curl Bar Weight Calculator

This calculator helps you find the weight of your curl bar plus any combination of weight plates.

First, select the units and enter the starting weight of your curl bar. Then choose the number of plates on each side of the bar and the weight of each plate.

curl bar weight calculator

Unit Of Measure lb kg Empty EZ Bar Weight (lbs)Type a number or use the slider.Empty EZ Bar Weight (kg)Type a number or use the slider.Number Of Plates On Each Side One Two Three Plate Weight (lbs)2.5510253545Plate Weight (kg)1.252.55101520Second Plate Weight (lbs)2.5510253545Second Plate Weight (kg)1.252.55101520Third Plate Weight (lbs)2.5510253545Third Plate Weight (kg)1.252.55101520

Total EZ Bar Weight

lbskg

Curl Bar Weight FAQ

So far, we’ve covered the basics of curl bar weight. But you might be thirsty for more information. So here are some quick answers to a few other common questions.

How much does an empty curl bar weigh?

An empty curl bar could weigh anywhere from 5-35 lbs (2.3-15.9 kg), depending on the brand. Here’s a table of various curl bar weights by type and brand to help determine how much your curl bar weighs.

Table 2. Curl Bar Weight By Size & Brand

Brand	Type	Length	Weight
Marcy	Standard	47″	5 lbs (2.3 kg)
CAP	Standard	47″	11.4 lbs (5.2 kg)
Elevens	Olympic	47″	18 lbs (8.2 kg)
XMark	Olympic	47″	24 lbs (10.9 kg)
CAP	Olympic	57″	30 lbs (13.6 kg)
Marcy	Super	47″	12 lbs (5.5 kg)
Synergee	Super	47″	20 lbs (9.1 kg)

The weights in this table are based on the manufacturers’ specifications. Actual weight may vary.

How much does the average man curl?

The average intermediate-level male lifter can curl 103 lbs (46.8 kg). That’s a little more than an Olympic curl bar with 35 lb plates on each side.

For comparison, the average beginner male lifter can curl 38 lbs. Or a little less than an Olympic curl bar with 5 lb plates on each side.

Can you bench with a curl bar?

You can use the curl bar for more than just curls. For example, the curved shaft is ideal for doing a close grip bench press for the long head of the triceps.

And you could even use the curl bar for a standard bench press in a pinch. For this variation, you will need to hold the straight part of the curl bar near the shafts.

Related: Incline Bench Press vs Flat Bench Press for Chest

Smith Machine Bar Weight

Do you want to know the weights of other bars in your gym? One of the most confusing bars is on the Smith machine, which can vary in weight even more than the curl bar.

Click here to learn how much a Smith machine bar weighs.

Smith Machine Bar Weight

Leg Press Starting Weight

As with the weight of a curl bar, it’s also important to know how much your leg press weighs. But the starting weight of the sled varies between leg press types and manufacturers.

So click here to learn how much a leg press weighs before you add any weight plates.

Leg Press Weight

As always, if you enjoyed this article, you should share it and check out my other great content below. You’ll find information on everything fitness-related, including nutrition, workouts, and supplements.

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By Jeremy Fox|September 8, 2022|Calculators, Workouts|0 Comments

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About the Author

Jeremy Fox founded Nutritioneering and is a NASM-Certified Nutrition Coach / Personal Trainer with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering. He is also a former college athlete, powerlifter, and competitive bodybuilder.

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