The Short Answer

Quick Reference:

🔹 Spring Clips: 0.5-1 lb each (negligible)
🔹 Standard Olympic Collars: 2.5 lbs each (5 lbs total)
🔹 Competition Collars: 2.5 kg each (5 kg / 11 lbs total)
🔹 Heavy-Duty Collars: 3-5 lbs each (varies by brand)

Should you count them? It depends on your goal. Competition lifters must count them. Casual trainers usually don't. We'll explain exactly when it matters.

Types of Barbell Collars

1. Spring Clips (Spring Collars)

Specifications:

• Weight: 0.5-1 lb each (0.25-0.5 kg)
• Total (pair): 1-2 lbs (0.5-1 kg)
• Material: Spring steel with plastic coating
• Mechanism: Spring-loaded clamp

Use Cases:

✓ Casual home gyms
✓ Light weight training
✓ Quick plate changes
✗ Not for heavy lifts (can slip)
✗ Not competition legal

⚠️ Safety Note: Spring clips are convenient but less secure than Olympic collars. Use them only for controlled lifts (bench, squat), never for lifts you'll drop (Olympic lifts).

2. Olympic Collars (Standard Gym Collars)

Specifications:

• Weight: 2.5 lbs each (1.1 kg)
• Total (pair): 5 lbs (2.2 kg)
• Material: Aluminum or plastic with metal inserts
• Mechanism: Quick-release clamp or screw-type

Use Cases:

✓ Most commercial gyms
✓ Home gyms (serious lifters)
✓ All training styles
✓ Suitable for drops
⚠️ May not be competition spec

Most Common Type: These are the standard collars you'll find in 95% of gyms. When people say "collar weight," they typically mean these 2.5 lb collars.

3. Competition Collars (IWF/IPF Standard)

Specifications:

• Weight: 2.5 kg each (5.51 lbs)
• Total (pair): 5 kg (11.02 lbs)
• Material: Machined aluminum or steel
• Standard: IWF (Olympic) or IPF (Powerlifting)

Use Cases:

✓ Competition platforms only
✓ Elite training facilities
✓ Serious competitive athletes
✓ Must be counted in total weight
✓ Color-coded (often red)

✓ Competition Rule: In sanctioned competitions, collar weight is ALWAYS included in the total lift. A 140 kg lift includes the 5 kg collar weight (bar + plates + collars).

4. Heavy-Duty Collars (Lock-Jaw, OSO, etc.)

Specifications:

• Weight: 3-5 lbs each (1.4-2.3 kg)
• Total (pair): 6-10 lbs (2.7-4.5 kg)
• Material: Heavy-duty plastic or aluminum
• Mechanism: Cam-lock or squeeze-clamp

Use Cases:

✓ CrossFit gyms
✓ Heavy Olympic lifting
✓ Commercial facilities
✓ Extremely secure grip
✗ May be heavier than expected

Brand Examples: Lock-Jaw Pro 2 (5.5 lbs each), OSO Barbell Collars (3 lbs each), Rogue USA Aluminum (2.5 lbs each)

Should You Count Collar Weight?

YES, Count Collar Weight If:

1.
You're competing in powerlifting or Olympic weightlifting. Competition rules require collar weight to be included in the total. The bar + plates + collars = your lift.
2.
You're training for competition. Practice how you compete. If your gym's collars are 2.5 lbs each and competition collars are 2.5 kg each, that's an 11 lb difference in total weight.
3.
You use heavy collars (5+ lbs each). A pair of heavy Lock-Jaw collars adds 10+ lbs to the bar. That's significant enough to count.
4.
You're tracking precise training volume. If you log weights for progressive overload or volume tracking, include collar weight for accuracy.

⚪NO, Don't Count Collar Weight If:

1.
You use spring clips (1-2 lbs total). The weight is negligible—less than measurement error on most gym scales.
2.
You're a casual lifter not competing. Most people say "I benched 225" referring to the bar + plates, not including collars. This is standard gym convention.
3.
You switch between different gyms/collars. If collars vary (2 lbs here, 5 lbs there), counting them adds inconsistency. Track bar + plates only.
4.
Social media / comparing lifts. Standard convention is to report bar + plates. If you say "I lifted 315," people assume that's 3 plates per side on a 45 lb bar.

Practical Examples

Example 1: Bench Press at Local Gym

Setup: 45 lb bar + 2×45 lb plates per side + spring clips (1 lb each)

Math: 45 + (45×4) + 2 = 227 lbs actual weight

What you say: "I benched 225"

Why: Spring clips are negligible, and 225 is the standard way to report this lift (bar + plates).

Example 2: Competition Deadlift

Setup: 20 kg bar + 4×25 kg plates per side + 2.5 kg collars each

Math: 20 + (25×8) + 5 = 225 kg total

Official lift: 225 kg (includes collar weight)

Why: Competition rules require collar weight to be included in the total.

Example 3: CrossFit Clean & Jerk with Heavy Collars

Setup: 45 lb bar + 2×45 + 2×25 lb per side + Lock-Jaw collars (5 lbs each)

Math: 45 + (70×2) + 10 = 195 lbs actual weight

What you log: 195 lbs (include collar weight)

Why: Heavy collars add 10 lbs—significant enough to count for accurate volume tracking.

Collar Weight Quick Reference

Collar Type	Weight Each	Pair Weight	Count It?
Spring Clips	0.5-1 lb	1-2 lbs	❌ No
Standard Olympic	2.5 lbs	5 lbs	⚠️ Optional
Competition (IWF/IPF)	2.5 kg (5.5 lbs)	5 kg (11 lbs)	✅ Yes
Lock-Jaw Pro 2	5.5 lbs	11 lbs	✅ Yes
OSO Collars	3 lbs	6 lbs	✅ Yes
Rogue USA Aluminum	2.5 lbs	5 lbs	⚠️ Optional

Best Practices

1. Be Consistent

Whatever method you choose (counting collars or not), stick with it. Consistency matters more than the exact method for tracking progress.

2. Weigh Your Collars

If you train at multiple gyms or use different collar types, weigh them once so you know what you're working with. Some "Olympic" collars are actually 3-4 lbs each.

3. Know Competition Standards

If you plan to compete, practice with competition-weight collars (2.5 kg each). Don't wait until meet day to discover your gym's collars are 6 lbs lighter than comp collars.

4. Use a Calculator

Our barbell calculator can account for collar weight if you choose to include it. Input your target weight and collar weight for accurate plate calculations.

Collar Buying Recommendations

Budget Option

Spring Clips: $5-15/pair

Perfect for home gyms with light-moderate weights. Quick on/off. Not suitable for dropping.

Best All-Around

Standard Olympic Collars: $20-40/pair

Secure, durable, affordable. Works for all training styles. Most common in gyms.

Premium Choice

Lock-Jaw / OSO Collars: $50-80/pair

Lightning-fast setup, extremely secure, built to last decades. Popular in CrossFit gyms.

Competition Standard

IWF/IPF Certified Collars: $80-150/pair

Required for sanctioned meets. Practice with these if you compete regularly.

The Final Verdict

For Competition: Always count collar weight. It's part of the lift.

For Training: Count them if they're 5+ lbs total or if you want precise volume tracking. Otherwise, it's personal preference.

For Casual Lifting: Don't count spring clips. They're negligible.

Remember: Consistency beats precision. Pick a method and stick with it for accurate progress tracking.

Calculate Your Barbell Load

Include or exclude collar weight—your choice. Our calculator handles both.

Open Calculator