The old adage “buy nice or buy twice” definitely applies to basement and garage gyms. But it doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune on everything either!
It’s easy to fall into the trap of spending too much on home gym gear. It’s also easy to go the other way and go too cheap. In a sea of hyperbolic marketing, it’s hard to figure out what you should actually spend your money on and what might be a waste.
Barbell cost is no exception. There are so many on the market that it can be incredibly tough to pick one out in the first place. Add to that the wide range of prices and it becomes very easy to spend too much or too little.
While there are a lot of barbell buying guides out there designed to help you make the right decision (you can check out mine here), a great place to start your search is by determining just how much you should spend to get a quality Olympic barbell for your garage gym.
How Much Does A Good Barbell Cost?
A well-made, multi-purpose Olympic barbell ideal for garage and basement gyms will cost between $350 and $450. This range is perfect for most people training at home. Premium barbells can cost $900 or more but are often overkill. Budget models can be found for under $200 but may not last.
Are there quality barbells in the budget price range? Yes, but they are few and far between. If you are on a tight budget and simply can’t afford the $400ish price range, tread carefully.
To me, it doesn’t make sense to go cheap on a barbell.
First, if you get a well-made bar, store it properly, and maintain it, it will last you a lifetime. A budget bar will not.
Second, your barbell is one of the only things in your gym that you actually touch. It is the connection between you and the weight you are lifting. If you need to save money, try to trim the budget on other things like plates or accessories.
As for high-end models that come with a correspondingly high-end price tag, I rarely recommend them for people training at home.
There is almost no discernable functional difference between a $400 barbell and a $1000 barbell to 99.5% of people training with weights.
What’s the Least You Should Spend on a Barbell For Your Home Gym?
Spending less than $200 on a barbell is usually not a good idea. Barbells in that price range are made of low-quality steel and may bend or break easily. These budget bars also have almost no grip due to poor knurling as well as limited or no sleeve spin, which can make them dangerous to use.
“What’s the least I can spend on X and still get something good” is one of the most common questions I get asked. And it’s a good one! No one wants to spend more than they have to. And no one wants to go so cheap that they regret it later, either!
Please understand that positive Amazon reviews do not mean you are getting a good barbell. Along with the abundance of paid and fake reviews found online these days, many of these reviews are posted by people who have never owned a quality barbell and have no frame of reference.
While there is an abundance of low-priced barbells on Amazon, most are a waste of money. My favorite budget barbell is the Rep Fitness Sabre bar (with center knurl, see why here). It’s usually under $200 if you buy directly from Rep.
Are Premium Barbells Worth the Money??
Premium barbells are a waste of money for most people training at home. Expensive finishes, unnecessarily high tensile strength, and complex bearing systems are features lost on most lifters. These much more expensive barbells are best suited for competitive Olympic and powerlifters.
I believe brand loyalty and aesthetic appeal are the only other reasons to buy a premium barbell. Excellent examples of this are the barbells by Kabuki Strength.
Are they excellent quality bars? Yes! Do they make your training sessions better than a $400 bar? Nope!
In the strength training world, a Kabuki bar is a status symbol. You are paying for the name and unique finish option