The 7 Best Short Barbells For Your Gym (2024)

Picking the right type of equipment for your home gym can be a challenge, and things are no different when it comes to short barbells.

There are plenty of options on the market, which can make the purchasing process frustrating and overwhelming.

To that end, we’ve put together a list of the seven best short barbells on the market for 2024.

Let’s discuss.

We may earn a commission if you buy something through our links. Check out the affiliate disclaimer.

The 7 Best Short Barbells For Your Home Gym

1. Best Overall Short Barbell: Rogue Fitness C-70S Bar
2. Best Short Barbell For Women: Rogue Fitness C-68S Bar
3. Best Premium Short Barbell: Eleiko XF Short Bar
4. Best Budget Short Barbell: Titan Fitness Short Bar
5. Best Short Barbell For Beginners: REP Fitness Technique Barbell
6. Best Short Barbell On Amazon: RAGE Fitness Training Barbell
7. Best Compact Short Barbell: RitFit 4FT, 5FT, 6FT Olympic Barbell

1. Best Overall Short Barbell: Rogue Fitness C-70S Bar

If price isn’t that big of an issue, the C-70S is the obvious option for most people. It is long enough for you to rack in any squat rack but not too long that it is basically a regular barbell.

It weighs 33 lbs (15 kg), which is 12 lbs less than the weight of a standard bar, which means it is lighter and easier to move around in your home gym.

The loadable sleeves are 8.8” (22.3 cm), which shouldn’t be an issue for most people. Still, you might consider a bar with longer sleeves if you want to load more weight or only have bumper plates at home.

Speaking of weight, its capacity is 400 lbs, which is okay if you primarily want to use it for assistance exercises but could be insufficient for some compound exercises.

As a whole, the Rogue Fitness C-70S is a fantastic bar made of high-quality materials. It feels great during training and will last many years of regular use.

2. Best Short Barbell For Women: Rogue Fitness C-68S Bar

In addition to the C-70S, Rogue has developed a fantastic short barbell for women: the C-68S.

This bar isn’t that different from other options on the market, but several things set it apart. First, its diameter is only 25 mm, which means it is thinner and grippier than other bars. If you have smaller hands or shorter fingers and struggle with your grip, the C-68S is probably a great option.

Second, it is 68.25” long, which means it is relatively compact, but the short sleeves mean a longer shaft that allows you to rack it inside a squat rack. Speaking of the sleeves, 7.75” doesn’t seem like much, but it still allows for decent loading that will be more than enough for most women.

Third, like any Rogue product, the bar is of excellent quality and feels great to use. The knurling isn’t too aggressive but enough to support a solid grip.

These advantages are tied nicely with the lifetime warranty that offers peace of mind. 

3. Best Premium Short Barbell: Eleiko XF Short Bar

Eleiko is a company known for making premium-grade weightlifting equipment, and its XF short bar is no different.

Despite only weighing 35 lbs (15.8 kg), it comes with a staggering 3306 lbs weight capacity, which means it is virtually unbendable and highly unlikely to curve even after years of heavy use.

The overall quality and attention to detail are impeccable, and using the XF is a pleasure. It has long loadable sleeves that can support multiple plates on each side, and the knurling is aggressive enough to support your grip, even if your palms get sweaty.

Of course, the bar has some drawbacks––most notably, its price. It is much more expensive than other options.

The shaft length is also less than that of other bars, which means it generally isn’t rackable and, therefore, not as usable. 

4. Best Budget Short Barbell: Titan Fitness Short Bar

What I like best about the Titan Fitness short bar is that it gets the job done well enough and only costs $100.

The bar is 60” in length, which makes it quite compact and easy to carry around in a small home gym. Its loadable sleeves are 10.7”, allowing for decent loading, even if you only have bumper plates. It can hold up to 500 lbs––enough for most trainees to have a great workout.

Despite the excellent loading capacity, the bar only weighs 25 lbs, which is light enough for beginners. For instance, you can slap a pair of 10-lb bumper plates and learn to deadlift as a beginner with just 45 lbs (20 kg).

The Titan short bar is of decent quality, and the knurling supports your grip, even when using more weight.

On top of all that, it comes with a one-year warranty, which is impressive for a product in that price range.

5. Best Short Barbell For Beginners: REP Fitness Technique Barbell

The technique bar by REP Fitness has a slightly different design from what we usually see. It has a pair of black loadable sleeves contrasting sharply with the shaft.

It only weighs 15 lbs, which is incredibly light to carry around in your home gym, and its 9” sleeves allow for decent loading, even if using bumper plates.

Unfortunately, the maximum capacity of the bar is 200 lbs, which is a bummer. Stronger trainees and those planning to use their short barbells for compound lifts should consider another bar that can carry more weight safely.

Aside from that, the bar is of good quality and has medium knurling to support your grip. It is 72” long, which means you can rack it with no issues and use it for various compound exercises: overhead press, bench press, squat, etc.

The bar is also quite affordable and a fantastic choice for people building a home gym on a tight budget.

6. Best Short Barbell On Amazon: RAGE Fitness Training Olympic Barbell

Coming in at the same length as the REP Fitness technique bar and the Rogue Fitness C-70S Bar, the short barbell by Rage Fitness is another excellent option. You can easily rack it on almost any squat rack, and the loadable sleeves are long enough to support several weight plates.

Unfortunately, like the technique bar, it is only rated to hold 200 lbs (90 kg), which can be a problem for stronger trainees looking to do compound lifts. If that’s the case with you, consider another bar.

The bar comes with medium knurling, which is great for your grip, and it only weighs 16 lbs (7.2 kg), so you can carry it around easily.

Plus, thanks to its affordable price and warranty (one year), it is a no-brainer for people wanting to get a decent short barbell they can use for accessory and compound exercises. Also, since it weighs only 16 lbs, it can be fantastic for beginners getting started with gym training.

7. Best Compact Short Barbell: RitFit 4FT, 5FT, 6FT Olympic Barbell

RitFit offers great short barbells. You can pick from three lengths (4, 5, or 6 feet), the build quality is quite decent, and all of these are rated to hold up to 350 lbs (158.9 kg).

Of course, the shortest bar comes with 7.9” loadable sleeves, which aren’t enough for you to add that much weight. Still, the longer ones have 10” and 12.5” sleeves, which is enough to hold multiple weight plates on each side.

These bars come with standard knurling, feel balanced during training, and have a lifetime warranty.

We recommend getting the 4 ft option if you need something compact, but keep in mind that you won’t be able to rack it or add much weight. You’ll mostly be able to use it for accessory exercises and movements where you lift the barbell off the ground.

The 6 ft version is ideal for most people because you can rack it, load more weight, and do compound exercises.

What Are The Benefits of Short Barbells?

1. More Compact

The most obvious advantage of short barbells is their size. Whereas a traditional barbell is 7 feet long (84” or 213 cm), short barbells can be as short as 4 feet (48” or 121 cm).

Their smaller size makes short barbells easier to handle and move around, especially if your home gym is small.

2. Beginner-Friendly

Beginners and younger trainees often lack the strength to handle a 45-lb barbell. Fortunately, a short barbell provides a solution, as these are much lighter (as light as 15 lbs or 6.8 kg).

Newbies can use these to start weight training and master proper form safely without using loads they can barely handle. For instance, trainees can pair a 15-lb short barbell with a couple of 10-lb bumper plates, which have the same diameter as 45-lb iron plates, to learn activities like deadlifts.

3. Decent Weight Capacity

Despite their smaller size and the advantages for beginners, short barbells can handle plenty of weight, often well over 300 lbs (136+ kg).

4. Cheaper

Aside from a few options on the market, short barbells are cheaper than standard ones. This is something to consider if you’re working with a limited budget to build a home gym.

Short Barbells Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Should I get a short barbell or a regular one?

It’s up to you. A standard barbell will probably be of more use if you have enough space to move around in your home gym and can afford it.

But if you’re limited on space or money and plan on lending the bar to a newbie, getting a short one might be a better solution.

In any case, it doesn’t hurt to get both types in time, as each offers benefits.

2. How do I pick the right short barbell?

Picking the right short barbell isn’t a huge challenge, but there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Shaft length (the distance between the loadable sleeves on both sides) - make sure it is long enough for you to rack on your squat rack unless you only want to use it for exercises where you lift the bar off the floor (e.g., deadlift, shrug, clean, bicep curls, etc.)
  
  
• Weight - short barbells are lighter but pay attention anyway, especially if you, or whoever is going to use the bar, is a newbie or still a teenager
  
  
• Weight capacity - make sure the short barbell can handle enough weight, especially if you plan on doing compound exercises with it; as a rule of thumb, it should be able to hold at least 300 lbs
  
  
• Knurling - each bar comes with a unique texture, and you should consider one that fits your preferences; aggressive knurling supports your grip for heavy weight training, but it can also tear your skin more than light or medium knurling
  
  
• Loadable sleeve length - consider how much actual space the bar provides for weight plates; doing so is especially important if your home gym only has bumper plates, which are wider than iron ones

3. What exercises can I use a short barbell for?

You can use a short barbell for various exercises, including overhead presses, bicep curls, clean & jerk, skullcrushers, etc. If the bar is long enough to rack, you can use it for rack pulls, heavy squats, and much more.

4. Does the short barbell length matter?

In most cases, yes. Take your time to pick the right short barbell for your needs. For instance, you might want the shortest available bar, but remember that these can hold less weight and aren’t long enough for you to rack inside a power cage or squat rack/stand.

5. How much does a short barbell weigh?

Most short barbells on the market weigh between 15 and 35 lbs (6.8 to 15.8 kg).

Short Barbells: Final Words

Short barbells are a fantastic addition to any home gym, especially for people with less space.

A regular barbell offers distinct advantages but is also heavier and longer, which might not be ideal in some situations. For example, a short barbell will probably be a better option if you have a teenager at home and want to get them started with weight training.

The above are 7 of the best options on the market in 2024. Take your time to understand your needs and pick the one that best fits your needs.

Here are a few other lists you might like:

• The 7 Best Multi-Grip Bars in 2024 (Budget, Premium, and More)
• The 7 Best Trap Bars For Your Home Gym
• The 7 Best Safety Squat Bars For Your Gym in 2024
• The 9 Best Curl Bars On The Market