No products in the cart.
Weight Plate Guide For Your Home Gym
kettlebells | March 20, 2021
How’s your home gym setup coming along? It’s easy to focus on big home gym equipment like racks and benches but when we start to set up a weightlifting station we tend to overlook the most important feature: The weights. It’s easy to think that it’s all the same and your focus and budget would be better directed at the big stations you’re installing. Take a look at our weight plate guide to discover that there’s a huge variety of plates and there are some decisions you should make early on that will affect your gym in the long run.
Standard Plates Vs Olympic Plates
If you’re still new to weightlifting then the distinction between a standard and olympic plate might be foreign to you, but it’s a crucial distinction. It refers to the diameter of the hole at the centre of the plate, the part that slides onto the bar. Standard plates have a diameter of 25mm whereas olympic plates have a diameter of 50mm. These plates are only compatible with bars of the same diameter so you’ll want to pick one type and stick with it to get the most out of your home gym workout. Standard plates (and barbells) tend to be better value, letting you get a lot more weight for less money. Olympic plates, while more expensive, are typically easier to load onto the barbell, and the barbells themselves are generally sturdier and can handle a greater load of weight. If your plan is to build a bodybuilding gym and your budget isn’t strict then you’ll want to invest in olympic plates. On the other hand, if the weights are just a small part of your home fitness routine, go with the standard plates.
Bumper Plates
These weights have standardised measurements to meet the olympic requirements of the competitions they’re used in.Bumper plates must have a diameter of 450mm in addition to the hole diameter of 50mm. Their widespread use in competition comes as the result of their incredibly durable design, able to withstand frequent dropping and not causing too much damage to the floor beneath. Bumper plates encase a steel core in heavy duty rubber which is what protects the weight and floor, and allows them to bounce slightly when dropped. If you’re setting up a powerlifting gym you’ll definitely want some bumper plates for deadlifts, clean and jerks; basically anything where dropping the weights could be an issue. If you’re serious about competition lifting you can also grab a set of colour coded competition bumper plates that are precisely calibrated and easily identifiable by the universally recognised colour for each weight increment.
Weight Material
The bumper plates, which are great for big lifts, are specialised weights that excel at competition powerlifting. They’re not going to be perfect for every gym, especially with the price tag associated with them. So what material should you look for in your weight plate? Iron weight plates, which are durable and consistent, are perfect for use around the gym in big lifts like bench press, military press, and squats. They can also be used for deadlifts and cleans as long as you’ve found a way to protect your floor. Another material which has been gaining popularity is the EnduraShell plate. This is a PVC plastic shell with either a cement or loose sand core. They’re very affordable, making them perfect for smaller, isolated exercises and cardio intensive workouts, but they do not have the durability of iron or bumper plates and should not be dropped.
Tri Grip Plates
The shape of the plate doesn’t make a huge difference if you’re just loading them onto a bar for your set. That being said, Tri Grip plates are a lot easier to load and rack with convenient hand holds. They’re made available to both standard and Olympic bars as well as coming in the iron and bumper styles. The greatest benefit of the tri grip plate is in its use as a standalone weight without needing a barbell. You can use these weights as you would a dumbbell or kettlebell for biceps curls, triceps extensions, shoulder raises, and a huge variety of other exercises.
Worth The Weight
There is a lot to choose from when you pick the weight plates for your gym. It’s important for you to have an idea of how you want your weight training to progress before you start buying weights. Make the call now about whether you’ll go for standard or Olympic plates but don’t stress about the other choices. You can always mix and match later.
Latest Posts
Cardio | July 13, 2026
Best Cardio Machines for Winter Home Workouts in AustraliaWinter is a real test of your resilience when it comes to workout consistency. 33% of Australians report that they f...
Read more
Cardio | June 22, 2026
EOFY Home Gym Upgrade Guide: Where to Invest in Treadmills, Bikes & Strength EquipmentThe end of financial year is coming up, which we believe is one of the best times to evaluate your long-term fitness...
Read more
Cardio | June 09, 2026
Low-Impact Cardio Machines for Home: Best Options for Joint-Friendly WorkoutsAre you someone who's avoided running because you're worried about your knees? Maybe you've taken a break from cardi...
Read more
gift | May 05, 2026
Mother’s Day Gift Ideas 2026This year, get your Mum a gift that's functional and life-enhancing. If you've got a Mum who likes early morning jog...
Read more
Training | May 01, 2026
Lifespan Fitness Customer Transformations: Bec ChristensenFor most people, a fitness journey starts with a simple goal. For Bec Christensen, her initial drive to get her fitn...
Read more
Exercise | April 24, 2026
How to Stay Consistent with Home Workouts Over Long Weekends & HolidaysMost people will say that they lose motivation over long weekends, but that's rarely the real issue. What actually d...
Read more
Cardio | April 15, 2026
Treadmill vs Exercise Bike vs Cross Trainer: Which Is Best for Your Home?Treadmills. Exercise Bikes. Cross Trainers. These are the big 3 when it comes to home cardio equipment. While most o...
Read more
Treadmill | April 02, 2026
Scott Clark’s 24-Hour Marathon JourneyOn the morning of 15th March, a battered Scotty Clark was lowered into an ice bath, feeling the cool sting calm his ...
Read more
Training | March 10, 2026
Meet the Man Who’s Running for 24-Hours StraightThis former AFL sports trainer is taking ultra-marathons to another level with his 24-hour treadmill challenge.
Read more
Ice baths | February 20, 2026
A Cold Plunge to HealthIn 2002, British long-distance runner Paula Radcliffe won the 10,000m gold medal at the European Athletics Champions...
Read more
Cardio | February 06, 2026
Effects of Exercise on Mental HealthDid you know that regular physical exercise can actually increase the volume of parts of your brain? Namely, the par...
Read more
Cardio | January 12, 2026
Belt Slipping: Cause and CureBelt slipping is what happens when the belt moves out of sync with the treadmill motor and rollers. This can happen ...
Read more
gift | December 19, 2025
Christmas Gifts for Gym Lovers: The Ultimate Holiday Fitness Gift GuideDo you have someone in your life who's a meal-prepping, gym-obsessed, endorphin-chasing fitness junkie? Then you hav...
Read more
Cardio | December 08, 2025
12 Days of Christmas Fitness: Unwrap Your Best Self with These Holiday WorkoutsThe 12 Days of Christmas Fitness is a simple, engaging way to stay motivated during the holidays. Each day introduce...
Read more
November 06, 2025
Your Questions Answered: Our Most Common Service & Product QueriesEvery day, we hear so many interesting and unexpected questions from customers in-store, online and over the phone. ...
Read more
November 05, 2025
Kettlebells vs Dumbbells - Which is Best for You?They may look the same (and have very similar names), but dumbbells and kettlebells can create very different workou...
Read more
October 20, 2025
The Different Types of Weight Plate (and How to Tell them Apart)If you're at all serious about building a solid home fitness setup, you can't skip on weight plates. They have a spe...
Read more
Exercise | October 02, 2025
Gym Rubber Flooring: How Good Is It for Home GymsTo build the home gym of your dreams, you've got to start from the ground up. Gym flooring often gets overlooked, as...
Read more
Treadmill | September 22, 2025
Lifespan Fitness WalkingPad M2 Featured on SunriseOur WalkingPad M2 treadmill was recently featured on Sunrise, where wellness expert Lizzie Williamson showed just h...
Read more
pilates | September 12, 2025
Lifespan Fitness Contour Pilates Reformers Featured on The BlockWeek 6 of The Block saw police-officer duo Britt & Taz take a bold leap: transforming their rumpus room into a P...
Read more
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Join our subscribers list to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly in your inbox.
Connect with us
