Are you searching for the best barbell weight plates for the money? In today’s post, we will share the best options available.
Weight plates are a crucial piece of kit for the home gym. You may do just about every exercise you can think of with weight plates.
The best weight plates will be durable, bounce very little or not at all, fit tightly on an Olympic barbell, and look nice while you are breaking personal records left and right.
In reality, the “best” weight plates will vary for each person, and whatever plates are optimal for you will primarily rely on your training philosophy, your objectives, and your financial situation. This weight plate buying guide should assist you in making a wise choice.
There are many weight plates available, and we strongly doubt that anyone has tested as many weight plates as we have, thus there aren’t any other guides to the best weight plates.
Numerous weight plates, including all bumper plates, iron plates, steel plates, and competitive plates have been put to the test.
To put together this thorough guide to the best weight plates for you, we researched pricing, shipping, warranties, and construction.
We also performed squats, deadlifts, and Olympic lifts with these plates, dropping them from the ceiling when necessary.
There is something for everyone, from calibrated steel plates to rubber bumper plates. The best part is that there are now practically limitless options for purchases on the market thanks to improved manufacturing techniques and increased industry competition.
Top 10 Best Barbell Weight Plates
To assist you in making your choice, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of the top weight plates in a variety of categories. The main aim of this guide is to help you make a well informed purchase.
Let us get right into it.
1. Rogue Echo Bumper Plates – Best Rubber Weight Plates
Rogue Echo Bumper Plates are the best rubber-weight plates.
The Rogue Echo Bumper Plates are the only option if you’re searching for a sturdy, timeless set of black bumper plates. These robust bumpers include a stainless steel center ring and virgin rubber construction, which put them at the top of our list right away.
Although we’d prefer to see the Echo bumpers built domestically, we understand it would drive up the cost. We also do not believe that the quality, despite being imported, is inferior in any way.
The Echo Bumper Plates can endure drops from the overhead position as well as ego bar slams after setting a personal record thanks to its Shore A Durometer rating of 88.
You can confidently train with these bumper plates and hit the same numbers in competitions. This is because they comply with International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) specifications with a 450 millimeter diameter and a 50.6-millimeter collar opening. Rogue also guarantees a +/- 1 percent weight tolerance.
You won’t frequently find the dead bounce on these plates on a weight plate at this pricing point, but I adore it.
These bumper plates, which have a sleek matte black surface and dramatic contrast with the raised white writing, are among the cleanest-looking ones I’ve seen.
The Echo Bumper Plates are Rogue’s best-selling bumpers, according to the number of reviews posted on their website. These are also Rogue’s most affordable bumper plates. The three-year warranty on the 25-, 35-, and 45-pound plates as well as Rogue’s low delivery costs make this the greatest bumper plate deals around.
The meager 90-day guarantee on the 10- and 15-pound Echo bumpers is something I don’t like, but other than that, I think these are a win-win.
Features
- Stainless steel center ring
- Virgin rubber construction.
- 3-year warranty on the 25, 35, and 45-pound weights.
- 90-day warranty on the 10 and 15-pound weights.
- Sleek matte black surface.
2. American Barbell Pro Urethane Bumper Plates – Best Urethane Weight Plates
A decent urethane weight plate is my favorite. Urethane is a particularly resilient variety of rubber that yields weight plates that are solid, dense, and impervious to bouncing and skipping.
I’ve used them myself and have confidence in their durability because of American Barbell’s testing procedures: Each bumper is dropped 55,000 times from a height of 8.5 feet. Plates that fail are not shipped.
The Pro Urethane Bumper Plates’ weight tolerance is not specified by American Barbell, but I weighed the bumpers myself and found that they were all quite near to the advertised weight.
The American Barbell Pro Urethane Bumper Plates are made of virgin urethane rubber, a solid cast iron core, and a hard chrome center hub with a chamfer. They are guaranteed to last for many years in your garage gym.
The biggest issue I have with these weight plates is that they are really challenging to pick up from the ground if they are sitting flat due to their lipped, squared-off form. Just getting a finger under the plate to raise it up is difficult.
Additionally, you should be aware that urethane is inherently slippery, thus you may anticipate that these weight plates will lack the grip of typical rubber weight plates.
Although these plates have American Barbell’s distinctive pebbled appearance, it is impossible to avoid the reality that urethane is a slippery material.
Additionally, I discovered that these weight plates made a little bit more noise than previous rubber weight plates I’ve used, but not a lot.
The vivid hue of these weight plates is one of my favorite features. Photos don’t do them justice, and I struggle to convey how startlingly vivid these plates are. They are a distinctive addition to any home gym, and I may have liked unwrapping these plates as much as I do use them now.
Features
- Incredibly robust virgin rubber
- Pebbled surface to improve grip
- The brightest colors I’ve ever seen
- Solid cast iron core.
- Hard chrome.
- Center hub with a chamfer.
3. Fringe Sport Black Bumpers – Best 10 Pound Bumper Plates
10-pound bumper plates come in different weights. The 10-pound weight plates should be the ones to which you pay special attention.
Make it a point to buy decent-weight plates and treat them well because they are the most delicate ones in your collection of bumpers.
10-pound bumper plates are prone to bending, flexing, cracking, and deforming, as all bumper plate fans are aware. It’s difficult to put 10 pounds of rubber into a 450-millimeter hole. However, Fringe Sport has performed admirably.
The top bumpers we tested weigh 10 pounds and are made by Fringe Sport. Since the Shore A Durometer value of the Fringe Sport bumpers is higher than that of Rogue’s Echo 10-pound bumpers, they naturally don’t bend or flex as easily. The middle hub is made of stainless steel and is hooked.
Furthermore, Fringe Sport provides an almost unheard-of one-year warranty on its 10-pound black bumper plates. The Rogue Echo 10-pound bumper plate warranty is only 90 days, for example.
Without the 10s, we have no difficulty advising purchasing the entire set of Echos and going to Fringe Sport for your 10-pounders. I genuinely believe that this is the best option, while some home gym owners who are particular about having coherent sets of equipment may find it irritating.
We strongly advise you to try these out even if you just want to add a set of 10s to your current collection. The diameter of the Fringe Sport 10-pound bumper plates is just a tiny bit smaller than the diameter of the other plates in this collection, which is our only gripe with them:
The collection as a whole is 17.7 inches in diameter, while the 10-pound plates are 17.5 inches. Although it’s a little distinction that most people probably won’t notice, we believe it merits mentioning.
Features
- Rogue 10-pound bumpers have a higher Shore A durometer.
- 10- and 15-pound plates come with a one-year warranty.
- Stainless steel middle ring with hooks
- 7 inches diameter collection
- 10-pound plates are 17.5 inches.
4. Rogue Competition Bumper Plates – Best Competition Bumper Plates
Many people believe that training bumper plates and Olympic competition bumper plates are interchangeable. That is untrue.
Competition bumper plates are thinner so you can fit more weight on the bar, constructed to IWF specifications (including color), and have tighter weight tolerances than ordinary bumpers. They also have a steel center plate instead of just a center ring.
The Rogue Competition Bumper Plates in particular have an official IWF logo, raised white text, a chrome-plated steel center plate, and a gloss-matte-gloss finish in IWF colors. IWF specifications are met by the 450-millimeter diameter.
These competition bumpers have a collar opening of 50.4 millimeters, which fits an Olympic barbell very snugly but may not fit less expensive, non-specified barbells.
Competitors may securely practice with these Olympic weight plates and match their lifts in competitions thanks to the tight weight tolerance of just +/- 15 grams of the declared weight.
Rogue Competition Bumper Plates are among the densest bumper plates on the market thanks to their absurdly high Shore A Durometer rating of 94. You will experience a dead bounce when you drop these weight plates, regardless of how much or how little weight is on the bar.
When placing many plates on your barbell, I appreciate that Rogue placed a raised flange around the metal disc to prevent direct metal-to-metal contact.
This avoids the steel underlying the chrome coating from rusting and scuffing prematurely, but it’s still possible, especially if you don’t.
With these plates, the adage “you get what you pay for” is applicable. I’d even suggest that Rogue Competition Bumper Plates are a luxury item rather than a low-cost one.
Most people simply can’t afford them, and I sincerely wouldn’t advise them to anyone who doesn’t intend to compete.
However, if you do participate in weightlifting competitions, this plate set is the ideal choice for you.
Features
- Steel center plate instead of a center ring.
- IWF-certified
- Durometer rating of 94.
- Collar opening of 50.4 millimeters.
5. Vulcan Alpha Bumper Plates – Most Durable Bumper Plates
You might assume that our top option for the greatest weight plates overall would be the most resilient bumper plates.
However, that is simply not true. Even though it is a crucial one, durability is only one of the factors you should take into account while shopping for weight plates.
Of course, there are a lot of other factors you should take into account, like pricing, warranty, shipping, diameter, width, and more.
However, if durability is what ultimately determines your purchase, get these Vulcan Alpha Bumper Plates without a doubt.
These bumper plates not only have a fantastic appearance and feel when in use, but they also have one of the finest, if not the best, warranties I’ve ever seen for weight plates.
You can use any of the Vulcan Alpha Bumper Plates on your concrete driveway without worrying that Vulcan would reject a warranty claim because they are all rated for and covered under a guarantee for outside use.
The 10-, 15-, and 25-pound plates have a one-year warranty, a three-year warranty for the 25-pound plates, and a four-year warranty for the 35-, 45-, and 55-pound plates.
The fixed steel center hub is one part that increases durability. The majority of bumper plates have a pressed-in hub, which has a higher propensity to lose with time and eventually fall out entirely.
The Vulcan Alpha Bumper Plates’ anchored center hub is embedded in the rubber, making it less prone to deterioration over time.
I find it odd that Vulcan makes so many claims regarding these bumpers that, as far as I know, are unsupported. For instance, according to Vulcan, the Alpha Bumper Plates are 25% quieter than similar bumper plates.
The manufacturer also makes it clear that these plates are more durable than those of the competition. However, it is a little odd that they withhold the Shore A Durometer grade from the public.
Despite all of that, based on our personal experience with a set of Vulcan Alphas, we are confident that the Vulcan Alpha Bumper Plates will endure a lifetime of use and abuse in any home gym setup.
They have undergone extreme conditions and have been used both inside and outside.
Features
- Virgin rubber.
- Four-year warranty for the 35-, 45-, and 55-pound plates.
- A three-year warranty for the 25-pound plates
- The 10-, 15-, and 25-pound plates have a one-year warranty
6. Rogue Deep Dish Plates – Best Cast Iron Plates
Get your hands on the Rogue Deep Dish iron plates if you enjoy retro workout culture. At Muscle Beach in Venice, these bad guys just scream Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The additional surface area, the clang of cast iron, and the gunmetal e-coat finish. Everything reminds me of the height of weightlifting.
These cast iron weight plates are not only downright hot, but they are also very practical. They are extra-wide, single-sided, and have a deeper lip than Rogue’s ordinary iron plates.
In the past, when cast iron plates were still used for Olympic weightlifting, the larger surface area prevented damage to the plates and wooden platforms, as Rogue points out on the website.
With so many excellent bumper plates available now, iron weight plates are no longer the ideal choice for Olympic lifts.
However, you can get away with using the Rogue Deep Dish plates as your primary method of moving weight if you primarily engage in powerlifting or bodybuilding-style workouts.
Deep-dish plates, with their additional grip space, have been used other than conventional barbell exercises. With the proper grip, you may use these for reverse curls, halos, and farmer’s walks.
The Rogue Deep Dish Plates fit together beautifully on the bar, but due to their breadth, an Olympic barbell sleeve can only hold a maximum of five 45-pound plates (450 pounds total on the bar).
You can likely smash some change plates on there even without barbell collars. Elite powerlifters should not use this, to put it mildly. However, it is more than enough for the typical home gym owner.
Despite how much I adore these plates for their appearance and usability, I must admit that I was somewhat let down by their quality when they first arrived.
Features
- Construction using ductile iron and an e-coat for durability
- Lovely gunmetal hue finish.
7. REP Fitness Equalizer Urethane Coated Iron Olympic Plates – Best Weight Plates With Handles
Most frequently, big-box commercial gyms may be seen with this kind of weight plate. This is justified because cast iron weight plates are a cheap option that will last for a very long time.
Members are theoretically—emphasis on theoretically—less likely to drop weights on their toes thanks to the six-hole design of these REP Fitness Equalizer Plates, which also makes them simpler than other kinds of plates, grasp, and move more easily.
Anyway, if you don’t like having to deal with bumpers or metal plates that are difficult to pick up from the ground, REP’s Equalizer urethane-coated iron Olympic plates are a perfect option.
Everybody has been there: attempting for five minutes to squeak a finger underneath a dish that was either stacked or flat on the ground.
They are incredibly simple to load onto bars. This is because of their narrow width (45s measure just 1.8 inches).
You can fit up to eight 45-pound plates on each barbell sleeve while still having room for collars. These are a good option for a powerlifting bar because they can support 720 pounds on the bar.
You won’t be able to accommodate as many plates if you’re using a 15-kilogram bar, such as the Bella Bar because the barbell sleeves are shorter.
Rubber-coated weight plates like these have greater durability compared to naked steel or iron weight plates, thus they should resist damage longer. The thin rubber coating may eventually begin to peel, but by that time you’ve used it for many years without even noticing it.
Always keep in mind that these are not bumper plates. You cannot drop these from above, from the front rack, or from anywhere else despite the rubber coating.
These plates are covered by a lifetime warranty from REP, but dropping is not covered. So don’t let them go.
These plates have a machine-drilled, rather than a cast, center hole for an incredibly tight fit on the barbell sleeve, in addition to a weight tolerance of no more than +/- 2% of the specified weight.
Features
- Narrow width.
- 3-year warranty.
- Good pricing.
8. Rogue Calibrated Steel Weight Plates – Best Calibrated Steel Weight Plates
Expect a high-quality product if the name contains the word “calibrated.” Double your expectations if the name contains the word “Rogue.” These steel weight plates are by far the greatest I’ve ever had the pleasure of using.
When a plate is calibrated, the difference between the claimed weight and the actual weight is reduced. For instance, some weight plates may list 45 pounds.
However, if you weigh it, you might obtain an accurate result of 40 to 50 pounds (typically, inaccurate plates are lighter, not heavier). Weight plates that have been calibrated are expertly manufactured.
These Rogue Calibrated Steel Weight Plates, come in kilograms and pounds and are manufactured to IPF specifications. They feature a precise weight tolerance of just 15 grams over or under the advertised weight.
The 50.4-millimeter center opening is tight enough to accommodate Olympic barbells, but it may be difficult to put on less expensive bars that don’t entirely meet IPF requirements.
These plates are among the list’s best options for weight plates for powerlifters because of their remarkable thinness. Since the 55-pound plates have a diameter of just over an inch, you can load more than 1,000 pounds onto a typical Olympic barbell.
I should mention that these plates don’t have the best coating. Although we haven’t used these plates as much as some others, the paint easily chips, and they appear more worn than they should.
However, when the paint is fresh, they do appear smooth.
Features
- IPF approved.
- 1-inch diameter.
- Smooth paint.
9. REP Fitness Old School Iron Plates – Best Budget Weight Plates
The Rogue Deep Dish Plates are comparable to REP Fitness Old School Iron Plates. The REP Old School Iron Plates are single-sided with a single deep lip, just as the Deep Dish Plates.
To complete the traditional vintage look, they are made of solid cast iron that has been coated with a matte finish and raised silver lettering.
They are less expensive than the beloved urethane-coated REP Equalizer Plates since they are made of bare metal. Overall, they are a wonderful option at reasonable pricing.
In terms of design or operation, these weight plates are not very unique, but if you’re seeking value, you’ve found it.
The Deep Dish Plates and many other iron plates are more expensive than the REP Old School Iron Plates, despite the fact that they may not initially appear to be a budget option. Here, REP’s free shipping is extremely useful.
The Old School Iron Plates are entirely cast, much like REP’s regular iron plates. You may anticipate some minor variations between the plates you receive since there are no precision-drilled or machined pieces. Small flaws, in my opinion, do not cause concern, but they should still be noted.
Regrettably, REP Fitness only offers a 12-month warranty on these iron plates. This doesn’t give me a lot of confidence in the product, but most bare metal plates don’t have a great warranty, so I guess that makes sense.
Features
- Superior matte finish
- It comes with a single side and a deep lip
10. CAP Barbell Olympic Grip Plates – Best Weight Plates On Amazon
The low prices of CAP Barbell and their availability at big-box retailers like Academy Sports & Outdoors and Dick’s Sporting Goods have made them well-known.
However, Amazon also sells a wide variety of CAP items. I’ll be the first to admit that, in general, I wouldn’t choose CAP Barbell weight plates over those made by other companies, but if you’re determined on buying gym supplies from Amazon, these are your best option.
CAP has been in business for a while and produces adequate, but not outstanding, workout gear. These plates have a semi-gloss enamel painted finish and are made of solid cast iron.
They include bigger grips for simple loading onto the bar and silver weight indications that are prominently indicated.
I concur with Amazon’s main opinion, which is that these plates are what they are. They are standard iron weight plates that you can use for all-purpose strength training. Nothing about them is exceptionally excellent or exceptionally bad.
However, you should be aware of a few small flaws with these plates. They aren’t made to IPF specifications, so if that matters to you, skip them.
The IPF criterion of 17.7 inches is not met by the 45-pound CAP plates’ diameter. Just something to keep in mind, these are around 16.75 inches, which only really matters when you’re deadlifting.
You can find both positive and negative reviews of these products online. I got the impression that everyone who gave positive reviews had realistic expectations and knew what to expect from a cheap weight plate they bought on Amazon.
People who submitted negative reviews appeared to believe they were placing orders from Eleiko or Rogue Fitness. If your expectations are realistic, you will have no trouble enjoying these weight plates.
Features
- Semi-gloss enamel painted finish.
- Solid cast iron.
Factors to Consider When Shopping for The Best Barbell Weight Plates
Here are the important factors you need to keep in mind:
Durability
We go back to the subject of building materials once more. As you might anticipate, more expensive weight plates typically (but not always) prove to be more durable.
For instance, urethane rubber plates cost more than crumb rubber plates, despite the fact that urethane is far more resilient and will last for many more years.
To prevent scratching and rusting, it is worthwhile to spend more on rubber, plastic, or powder-coated metal plates.
Materials and construction
Any weight plates you are considering should have the material of the center ring visible. For longevity and durability, a stainless steel center ring is the ideal option.
Any type of finished steel, including zinc-coated steel, will scratch over time and perhaps rust if it is not kept in a climate-controlled environment or is not properly maintained.
Some center hubs are composed of soft brass, which is readily scratched.
Consider the subcategory of resources you need after you’ve made that decision. Will recycled rubber materials such as crumb rubber work for you if you choose bumper plates? Or do you require a material like urethane rubber that has a higher density and less bounce?
If you choose metal, learn the distinctions between cast iron and steel plates. If you participate in competitive powerlifting, look for calibrated metal plates.
Budget
Of course, the weight plates you can purchase ultimately depend on your budget. Superior weight accuracy, increased durability, and better materials are all available for more money.
If money is short, you may have to forgo some desirable qualities of a weight plate, such as weight precision or, in the case of bumper plates, a little bounce.
Weight Plates: Calibrated vs. Uncalibrated
You should think about purchasing calibrated weights if you participate in powerlifting or Olympic lifting competitions. The finest options for powerlifters are calibrated iron or steel weights.
Competition bumper plates are the greatest for Olympic lifters. No matter what sport you play, seek for plates that differ from the advertised weight by no more than 15 grams.
Your Fitness Objectives
You will require bumper plates if you participate in CrossFit or Olympic weightlifting. It’s that easy. You have a lot more alternatives for everyone else.
If lifters aren’t pounding bars to the floor, they can use whichever plates they choose, whether they are powerlifters, bodybuilders, or recreational lifters.
As a result, you might potentially save a lot of money. However, if you want to splurge or require a top-of-the-line item to prepare for competitions, there are also several high-end traditional plates available.
Conclusion
A dependable set of lifting plates is a no-brainer for lifters looking to add strength and muscle because they are mostly responsible for your results.
Although it may appear at first look that plates are simply plates and that you should get whichever is the cheapest, we advise against falling into the trap of this oversimplified analysis.
It is very worthwhile for you to take the time to do some research, consider your training, and spend enough money to purchase a set of plates that will not break after a year of severe training.
The right set of plates may very well last you a lifetime, saving you money and time over time.
We hope that this post helped you to find the best barbell weight plates for the money. You can also check the best powerlifting equipment for home gym.
Video Review
Here is a video review of the best barbell weight plates: