Does Planet Fitness have barbells? The answer is yes, but the details depend on the club you visit. Planet Fitness now lists free-weight barbells alongside Smith machines, while selected locations also offer power racks, deadlift platforms, and bumper plates.
That means the old idea that every Planet Fitness lacks barbells no longer reflects the full picture.
In this guide, you’ll learn what types of barbells you may find, which verified clubs currently list them, why conflicting information still appears online, whether you can bench press with a barbell, how much different bars may weigh, and how to check your local club before visiting.
If barbells matter to your training, this guide will help you avoid assumptions and know exactly what to verify.
Does Planet Fitness Have Barbells
Yes. Planet Fitness does have barbells, but the exact barbell setup can vary by club. Planet Fitness’s current official equipment information lists “Free Weights (Dumbbells & Barbells)” separately from Smith machines, so it is no longer accurate to make the blanket claim that Planet Fitness has no barbells.
The important distinction is what type of barbell equipment a particular club provides. For example, Planet Fitness Ann Arbor (Briarwood Mall), Michigan officially lists free-weight barbells, power racks, and deadlift platforms with barbells and bumper plates.
By comparison, Planet Fitness Appleton (West), Wisconsin lists free weights, including dumbbells and barbells, along with Smith machines, but its published equipment list does not show power racks or deadlift platforms.
So, if you are asking whether Planet Fitness barbells exist, the answer is yes. What you should not assume is that every location has the same racks, platforms, or barbell-training setup.
Read Here: what does planet fitness have
What Types of Barbells Can You Find at Planet Fitness
Planet Fitness can have several types of barbell setups, and they should not be treated as interchangeable. Its official equipment page currently lists free weights, including dumbbells and barbells, as well as Smith machines.
A free-weight barbell moves independently rather than along a fixed track. By contrast, the bar on a Smith machine is attached to the machine and travels along a guided path with built-in locking points.
Planet Fitness itself describes the Smith machine as having a sliding barbell, confirming that this is a different setup from a free barbell.
Some clubs offer more traditional barbell-training equipment. For example, Planet Fitness Bakersfield (Seven Oaks), California officially lists power racks and deadlift platforms with barbells and bumper plates, in addition to free weights and Smith machines.
So, seeing “barbells” on a Planet Fitness equipment list does not automatically mean every club has the same racks, platforms, plates, or barbell setup. Check the equipment listing for the specific Planet Fitness location you plan to use.
Does Any Planet Fitness Have Barbells
Yes. Some Planet Fitness locations have free-weight barbells and more traditional barbell-training setups.
For example, Planet Fitness Ann Arbor (Briarwood Mall), Michigan officially lists Free Weights (Dumbbells & Barbells), Power Racks, and Deadlift Platforms (Barbells & Bumper Plates).
Planet Fitness Bakersfield (Seven Oaks), California lists the same combination of power racks and deadlift platforms with barbells and bumper plates.
However, those examples should not be treated as the standard setup at every club. Planet Fitness San Francisco, California, for instance, lists free weights including dumbbells and barbells plus Smith machines, but its current published equipment list does not show power racks or deadlift platforms.
This difference between official club listings shows why barbell availability should be checked location by location. If a particular barbell, power rack, or deadlift platform is essential to your workout, review your club’s official equipment page and contact that Planet Fitness directly if the listing is unclear.
Some Verified Planet Fitness Locations That Have Barbells
The following Planet Fitness clubs currently list barbells or barbell-based equipment on their official Planet Fitness location pages. This is a sample, not a complete list, and equipment can vary by club.
| Planet Fitness Location | Barbell Availability | What the Official Club Page Lists |
| Planet Fitness Ann Arbor (Briarwood Mall), Michigan | Yes | Power racks and deadlift platforms with barbells & bumper plates. |
| Planet Fitness Fenton, Missouri | Yes | Power racks and deadlift platforms with barbells & bumper plates. |
| Planet Fitness Bakersfield (Seven Oaks), California | Yes | Power racks and deadlift platforms with barbells & bumper plates. |
| Planet Fitness Los Angeles (Crenshaw & Slauson), California | Yes | Power racks and deadlift platforms with barbells & bumper plates. |
| Planet Fitness San Diego (Euclid Ave), California | Yes | Power racks and deadlift platforms with barbells & bumper plates. |
| Planet Fitness Oakland, California | Yes | Power racks and deadlift platforms with barbells & bumper plates. |
| Planet Fitness Great Neck, New York | Yes | Free Weights (Dumbbells & Barbells). |
| Planet Fitness Nashville (Charlotte Pike), Tennessee | Yes | Free Weights (Dumbbells & Barbells) and Smith machines. |
Important: These verified examples show that barbells are available at some Planet Fitness clubs, but they do not establish that every location has the same barbell setup.
A club may list free-weight barbells without listing power racks or deadlift platforms, while another club may provide all three. You should check the official page for their exact Planet Fitness location before planning a workout around specific equipment.
Read here: how to use planet fitness equipment
Why Do People Say Planet Fitness Doesn’t Have Barbells
People often say Planet Fitness does not have barbells because that description matched the traditional image and equipment mix of many Planet Fitness gyms more closely than it does today.
Planet Fitness has long positioned itself as a welcoming, non-intimidating gym for beginners and experienced members alike, with extensive cardio equipment, strength machines, free weights, and prominent Smith machines.
Its older official workout content also regularly taught strength exercises using machines and Smith machines.
More importantly, Planet Fitness CEO Colleen Keating said in a January 2026 feature that a couple of years earlier the company did not have rigs and racks in its gyms, while describing its newer push toward more strength-training space and equipment.
That history helps explain conflicting answers online. Older articles may describe previous club layouts, while current official club pages can show free-weight barbells, power racks, and deadlift platforms. Therefore, “Planet Fitness has no barbells” should not be treated as a chain-wide current rule.
Has Planet Fitness Changed Its Strength-Training Equipment
Yes. Planet Fitness has been expanding its strength-training offering. In January 2025, the company reported that new plate-loaded strength equipment was already available in more than 1,700 locations, with plans at that time to expand it across its club network.
Plate-loaded machines are not the same thing as free barbells, but the rollout reflects the company’s broader move toward additional strength options.
The change now extends beyond machines at some clubs. For example, Planet Fitness Fenton, Missouri currently lists Free Weights (Dumbbells & Barbells), Smith machines, Power Racks, and Deadlift Platforms (Barbells & Bumper Plates) on its official club page.
This does not mean every Planet Fitness has received the same equipment. It means barbell information should be checked against the current individual club listing, rather than relying on older generalizations about the chain.
Read Here: planet fitness machines for cardio
Can You Barbell Bench Press at Planet Fitness
You may be able to barbell bench press at Planet Fitness, but it depends on the equipment at your specific club.
Planet Fitness now lists free-weight barbells as part of its broader equipment offering, and selected locations also have power racks. For example, Planet Fitness Bakersfield (Seven Oaks), California officially lists Free Weights (Dumbbells & Barbells) and Power Racks.
However, an official club page listing barbells or power racks does not automatically confirm that a dedicated free-barbell bench station is available or configured for bench pressing. If a traditional barbell bench press is important to your workout, verify the setup with that specific club before visiting.
The more consistently available option is the Smith-machine bench press. Planet Fitness’s official guidance describes Smith machines as available at most PF locations and provides instructions specifically for bench pressing on them.
Is a Smith Machine Bench Press the Same as a Barbell Bench Press
No. Both involve pressing a loaded bar from a bench, but the bar moves differently.
With a traditional free-barbell bench press, the bar is not attached to a machine, so the lifter controls its movement. A Smith-machine bar is secured inside a fixed track and travels along that guided path. Planet Fitness describes its Smith machine as essentially a barbell positioned within a fixed vertical track.
That distinction matters when someone asks whether Planet Fitness has a “barbell bench.” A Smith-machine bench press is still a bench-press variation using a bar, but it should not be described as the same setup as bench pressing with a freely moving barbell and rack.
Planet Fitness’s own bench-press guide treats the Smith-machine press as a separate bench-press variation.
How Much Do Planet Fitness Barbells Weigh
There is no single verified weight that can be applied to every Planet Fitness barbell. Planet Fitness lists both free-weight barbells and Smith machines among its strength equipment, but its public equipment information does not specify one chain-wide bar weight.
A free barbell and a Smith-machine bar should also not be assumed to weigh the same. Smith machines can use counterbalancing or other mechanisms that change the resistance you actually lift.
Manufacturer specifications show how much this can vary: a Life Fitness Smith Machine lists a 20 lb (9 kg) bar, Matrix’s Magnum model has a 25 lb (11.3 kg) bar takeoff, while a Hammer Strength Smith Machine lists 30 lb (13.6 kg) starting resistance.
These examples demonstrate variation; they do not establish which model is installed at a particular Planet Fitness.
For an accurate number, check the machine’s manufacturer/model label or ask staff at your specific Planet Fitness club. Do not automatically count a Smith bar as 45 lb simply because a traditional Olympic barbell commonly uses that weight.
How to Check Whether Your Planet Fitness Has Barbells
The most reliable approach is to check your specific club’s official Planet Fitness page, rather than assuming every location carries the same equipment.
Planet Fitness’s general equipment information includes free weights such as dumbbells and barbells, but individual club pages provide a better picture of what is listed at that location.
On the club page, look under the strength-equipment section for terms such as:
- Free Weights (Dumbbells & Barbells)
- Power Racks
- Deadlift Platforms (Barbells & Bumper Plates)
- Smith Machines
For example, Planet Fitness Bakersfield (Seven Oaks), California currently lists free-weight barbells, power racks, and deadlift platforms with barbells and bumper plates on its official page. In contrast, other clubs may list barbells without those additional setups.
If the page does not clearly identify the barbell or rack you need, call the club directly before visiting. That is more dependable than relying on a chain-wide assumption.
Conclusion
Planet Fitness does have barbells, but availability and setup can differ from one club to another. Some locations list free-weight barbells, while selected clubs also provide power racks, deadlift platforms, and bumper plates.
Smith machines remain a common option, but their guided bars are not the same as freely moving barbells. Because equipment varies, there is no reliable chain-wide answer for every club or for bar weight.
The best approach is to check your specific Planet Fitness location page and contact the club if the equipment list is unclear. That way, you can confirm whether the barbells, rack, bench setup, or platform you need is actually available before planning your workout.
Related Articles
does planet fitness have squat racks
how much are the bars at planet fitness
do planet fitness treadmills have a time limit