Standard VS Olympic Weight Plates – Buying The Right Ones For Your Needs (2024)

FAQs

Standard VS Olympic Weight Plates – Buying The Right Ones For Your Needs? ›

Olympic weight plates holes are just under 2” in diameter and the bars are also just shy of 2” in diameter on the ends. Standard weight plates have a one inch or 25mm diameter hole and the bars are one inch in diameter on the ends and middle shaft. The standard weight bar will have a limited load and weight capacity.

Because of their adaptability and larger size and weight, Olympic weight plates and barbells are often favored by advanced lifters and those training for competition, while standard weight plates suffice for beginners and casual lifting.

Olympic plates have a 2 inch hole, whilst standard ones only have a 1 inch hole. Because of this displaced space, Olympic plates are generally slightly larger than standard ones of the same weight. The ends of Olympic bars are generally revolving, which means that they roll independently of the bar.

The factor which separates Olympic competition plates from training plates and all other kinds of free weights is the calibration. Official IWF Competition rules mean that plates need to be accurate to +0.1% and -0.05%. This means that production of a 25kg plate only has a 25 gram margin for error.

Additionally, since the diameter is different between the two bars, you cannot use regular weight plates on an Olympic barbell (1-inch holed plates), but you can use an Olympic sleeve adapter to put Olympic plates on a regular barbell.

Olympic lifts can be used to improve strength, speed and power as well as enhance high-intensity exercise endurance, recover more quickly and handle higher amounts of training. With greater work capacity, you can do more exercise each session and reach your health and fitness goals faster.

The Cost Of The Materials

The high-density rubber, colouring and steel core used in the manufacturing of bumper plates, are more expensive to produce than iron. Therefore the end result is more expensive than traditional cast iron weight plates.

A good set of bumper plates can last anywhere from 7 to 15 years or even longer with proper care and usage. The lifespan of bumper plates depends on factors such as the quality of materials, frequency of use, the type of exercises performed, and how well they are maintained.

Olympic plates were designed to protect lifters. Olympic sized plates were standardized at 450 millimetres (17.72 in) in diameter so the heavier plates (45 lbs / 20kg and heavier ) would be wider than any normal human skull. This was to prevent peoples skulls from getting crushed between the barbell and the ground.

Why do weights feel heavier at home? ›

Others explain this difference by saying home weights may be older or rustier than the weights at the gym and this rust adds to the weight fo home weights. It is true that rusty metal may weigh more because rust is formed when metal reacts with oxygen.

Why do calibrated plates feel heavier than other types of weight plates？ Calibrated plates, by design, provide a greater weight accuracy compared to Olympic Plates so might really feel larger.

Olympic barbells are commonly used for power and Olympic lifting in commercial gyms, but also at home. These barbells are best for advanced lifters because they're able to handle more weight. Standard barbells, on the other hand, are smaller and work well in home gyms.

Olympic bars are ideal for bench pressing due to their sturdy design, standardized dimensions, and compatibility with Olympic bench press benches.

Good olympic bars will typically carry higher weight ratings and can handle much higher weight than standard bars, that are made from a cheaper steel and often carry only entry level weight ratings of 100 - 150kg. Choose Olympic if you want to lift heavy.

Heavy Weights. For beginners, Ben recommends trying five to 10 pounds for light weights, 10 to 20 pounds for medium weights, and 15 to 30 pounds for heavy weights—or simply starting with five-pound weights for each exercise and working up from there.

Standard bars are a lot lighter than Olympic bars due to the difference in steel, and the addition of thicker end sleeves. The weight of different bars vary with material and size, but typically we see standard bars coming in at 5 - 12kg (10 - 25lbs) and Olympic bars weighing 12 - 20kg (25 - 50lbs).

Although we dive into the details below, at the highest level, the biggest difference is that standard weight sets are ideal for the beginner fitness enthusiast. On the other hand, olympic weight sets provide a higher weight capacity and are intended for those who have goals of lifting heavier weights.

Olympic weightlifting focuses on performing two ballistic lifts overhead with good technique known as the clean and jerk, and the snatch. Powerlifting, on the other hand, is less technical and focuses more on completing three, controlled, heavy lifts known as the squat, bench press, and deadlift.