How Much Does a Smith Machine Bar Weigh?

One commonly used piece of equipment in the gym is the Smith machine, which provides stability and safety for a variety of exercises. A key question that often arises among gym-goers is, “How much does a Smith machine bar weigh?”

In this blog post, we’ll delve into the specifics of the Smith machine bar, exploring its typical weight, variations across different models, and how this knowledge can help you better plan your workouts.

We’ll also look at how to account for bar weight in various exercises that use the Smith machine, a few bar weights of common Smith machine brands and look at Smith machine bar weight vs. free barbell weight. 

This should help you make an informed decision on which weight type or machine to use when it comes to strengthening moves like squats, bench presses, lunges or deadlifts. 

How Much Does the Bar Weigh— Smith machine

Smith machine bar weight can vary depending on the specific model and manufacturer. Standard ones usually range between 15 and 45 pounds (6.8 to 20.4 kg). The most common weight is around 20 to 25 pounds (9 to 11.3 kg).

Here are some factors that influence the weight of a Smith machine bar:

1. Counterbalance 

Some Smith machines have counterbalanced bars to offset the weight of the bar, making it feel lighter. These counterbalanced bars can weigh around 15 pounds or even less, ranging down to as little as 5 pounds! 

The pulley system on a counterbalanced Smith machine helps reduce a lot of weight during your lifts, making it a convenient beginner option. 

If you’re new to the Smith machine, consider trying out a counterbalanced apparatus while you find your footing in terms of weight and get familiar with the Smith machine technique. 

2. Bar Material and Design

The material and design of the bar can also affect its weight. Commercial-made Smith machines usually have heavier Olympic bars while lighter bar models are usually used for more common Smith machines. 

3. Attachments 

Features like safety hooks, bearings, or other machine attachments can increase the weight of a Smith machine. Any additional bells and whistles that touch your bar attachment can all impact how heavy it is and how easily it glides. 

To know the exact weight of the bar on a specific Smith machine, it's best to check the manufacturing details or use a scale to weigh your bar directly if it’s able to detach. 

Is a Smith Machine Bar Heavier Than a Regular Barbell?

A regular barbell (called an Olympic barbell) and a Smith barbell often weigh about the same amount. However, in some models, the Smith bar can be a bit lighter. Many Smith machine barbells weigh up to 45 lbs. However, there are many lighter versions, too. 

Since the Smith machine works with pulley weights, unlike a free-weight barbell, it can feel lighter if you’re lifting the same amount of load. 

Do Different Smith Machines Have Different Bar Weights?

Yes! 

You can get a lot of bar weight variations on different types or brands of Smith machines. Let’s check out the common Smith machines and how much their bars weigh. There are also other factors you may need to think about when considering how much you’re lifting on your Smith machine. 

1. Hammer Strength Smith Machine

Hammer Strength is one of the most common commercial Smith machines you’ll see in a gym. The bar on a Hammer Strength Smith machine weighs 20 lbs as a starting point. 

You can add a load of up to 650 lbs on this machine. 

2. HOIST Smith Machine Bar Weight

The MiSmith Duel Action Smith Machine from HOIST Fitness reduces the weight of your barbell to only 30 lbs. 

This puts it at around the mid-range for possible Smith machine bar weights. 

3. Counterbalanced Smith Machine

As mentioned before, counterbalanced Smith machines have specialized pulley systems that assist your bar on its glide path.

The pulley feature can make your Smith machine’s bar feel as light as 5 lbs! This is one of the easiest Smith machines to lift with on the market, giving you a ton of assistance for lifts that feel like a breeze. 

Many manufacturers that make counterbalanced Smith machines include: 

• Valor Fitness
• Power Body 
• UnoFive  

These machines typically reduce your bar weight the most significantly, making them a good option for beginners. It’s why you’ll see a lot of counterbalanced Smith machines in commercial gyms too! 

4. Linear Bearing Smith Machine

Unlike the counterbalanced Smith machine, the linear bearing Smith machine doesn’t use a pulley system to help you get your weight up. 

It’s a lot trickier to use than its counterbalanced counterpart, which is why you won’t see these machines in your gym quite often. 

If you’ve got some gym experience, though, linear bearing machines are still a great way to get your workouts in when they’re available.  

How Does a Smith Machine Work?

Smith machines offer an alternative to your traditional weighted barbell. The main difference is that they use a barbell attached to a machine frame with two side rails that move along a fixed up-and-down movement path. 

They’re commonly used for exercises like: 

• Squats
• Stiff leg deadlifts and RDLs
• Lunges

Unlike free-weight barbells, where you can also move your bar forward and backward if you tilt your torso, the Smith machine doesn’t allow you to move along the back-forth or right-left planes. 

There are just as many Smith machine detractors as there are devotees. 

The main criticism? Smith machines don’t follow a natural path of human movement. 

When you squat, deadlift, bench press, or lunge, your body naturally has little discrepancies that are out of step with the “perfect” technique. 

These can be different than the way that another person lifts too. Although Smith machines standardize the way that people lift and aim to help you keep your back straighter when you lift, it can alter your natural technique so much so that you use alternate muscles to compensate. 

On the plus side, Smith machines can help your movement feel more controlled. If you struggle a lot with stability or balance, the Smith machine can be a great option to help you understand what straight up-and-down movement should feel like in your body. 

That way, you can hopefully replicate it when you move away from the Smith machine to lift with a barbell. 

Smith machines can also be good if you’re coming back from an injury and want a bit less impact on your joints than a barbell would give you. 

What Muscles Do Smith Machines Work? 

It depends on what move you’re working on! Smith machines can work anything from your quads, glutes, and hamstrings in a squat to your chest and shoulder muscles while you bench press. 

Popular exercises you can try are Smith Machine Hack Squats. You can even do squats and deadlifts (the same day?) on the Smith machine!

We’ve got a full guide to Smith Machine Workouts to show you how to maximize your time under the weight of your Smith machine bar. 

Typically,   Smith machines are best at targeting your prime movers. These muscles are the main muscles involved in a lift, not your stabilizers. So, for instance, in a squat, the glutes and the quadriceps would be the prime movers since they mostly power this movement. Your abdominal muscles, however, would be stabilizers in this move. 

You can learn more about the types of actions your muscles perform here: Calculating Set-Volume for the Limb Muscles with the Performance of Multi-Joint Exercises. 

Big Picture

With all these types and styles of Smith machines on the market— counterbalanced, HOIST Smith machines, Hammer Strength Smith machines, linear bearing machines and more— clearly you get a lot of wiggle room when it comes to Smith machine bar weight. 

Many factors can influence how much your Smith machine weighs like additional attachments, hooks and other things that would touch the bar. 

Always make sure to lift safely with your Smith machine. Ensure that the bar stays locked in place when you’re not using it and that it’s properly released when you’re coming into your lifts. 

It’s a good idea to try both Smith machine exercises and traditional free weight barbell lifts. This is a great way to A) discover your preferred lifting style and B) give your muscles the variety of stability and agility work that they need to grow!

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