The cheapest weight plates per pound, and when cheap isn't worth it
The cheapest way to buy weight is usually a set of cast iron or rubber bumper plates. Urethane, calibrated competition plates and small change plates all cost more for each pound, some of them quite a bit more.
What a pound of plate costs, by type
| Plate type | Pairs and singles | Sets | Cheapest per lb now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cast iron and steel | $2.86/lb | $2.51/lb | Gray Mighty Grip Olympic Weight Plates ($1.87/lb) |
| Rubber bumper | $2.78/lb | $2.69/lb | Crumb Bumper Plates ($1.86/lb) |
| Urethane | $4.00/lb | $4.58/lb | Equalizer - Urethane-Coated Plates ($3.11/lb) |
| Competition and calibrated | $4.11/lb | $3.42/lb | Calibrated Powerlifting Plates - KG ($2.12/lb) |
| Change and fractional | $6.80/lb | $4.13/lb | 25 KG Set Black Change Plates ($3.54/lb) |
Bumpers and iron are much closer in price than they used to be. The typical bumper pair now costs within a few percent of the typical iron pair, so if there’s any chance you’ll drop the bar, choosing bumpers costs you almost nothing extra.
Urethane costs significantly more per pound than iron or bumpers. For that you get a tougher coating, no rubber smell and a cleaner look, but not more weight. Calibrated competition plates cost about the same as urethane, and what you pay for there is accuracy: they’re made to within a few grams of their stated weight. That matters at a competition, but makes little difference in your garage at home.
Change plates are where the per-pound price really climbs. A 2.5 lb plate takes nearly as much machining and handling as a much bigger one, so it ends up costing two to three times as much per pound as a standard plate. Buy the few you’ll use for small jumps and leave it there.
Sets are typically cheaper than pairs
| Item | Option | Total weight | Price | Per lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 230 LB Set Economy Bumper Plates | Standard · Titan Fitness | 230 lb | $464.97 | $2.02/lb |
| 260 LB Crumb Rubber Bumper Plate Set | Standard · Titan Fitness | 260 lb | $554.97 | $2.13/lb |
| Force USA Rubber Coated Olympic Weight Plates - LB | Starter Set (180 LB) · Force USA | 180 lb | $404.00 | $2.24/lb |
| Force USA Rubber Coated Olympic Weight Plates - LB | Home Gym Set (390 LB) · Force USA | 390 lb | $877.00 | $2.25/lb |
| Force USA Rubber Coated Olympic Weight Plates - LB | Power Set (640 LB) · Force USA | 640 lb | $1,440.00 | $2.25/lb |
| 230 LB Set Economy Color Bumper Plates | Standard · Titan Fitness | 230 lb | $524.97 | $2.28/lb |
| Black Bumper Plate Sets | 460lb: 10/ 15/ 25/ 45/ 45 / 45 / 45 · Fringe Sport | 460 lb | $1,049.00 | $2.28/lb |
| Force USA Color Rubber Coated Olympic Weight Plates - LB | Starter Set (250 LB) · Force USA | 250 lb | $574.00 | $2.30/lb |
For most plate types, a set works out cheaper per pound than buying the same plates in pairs. Urethane is the exception at the moment, so if that’s what you’re after, compare the two columns in the first table.
The downside of a set is that you can’t customize which plates are included. It’s usually some combination of 10s, 25s, 35s and 45s, which suits most people, but read the breakdown before you buy. A pair of 35s you never load is wasted money however good the per-pound price looked.
The cheapest pairs and singles right now
| Item | Option | Total weight | Price | Per lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crumb Bumper Plates | 35 LB (Pair) · Bells of Steel | 70 lb | $129.96 | $1.86/lb |
| Gray Mighty Grip Olympic Weight Plates | 15 LB (Pair) · Bells of Steel | 30 lb | $55.96 | $1.87/lb |
| 45 LB Cast Iron Olympic Plate - Single | Standard · Titan Fitness | 45 lb | $84.97 | $1.89/lb |
| Old School Iron Plates | 45lb Pair · REP Fitness | 90 lb | $169.98 | $1.89/lb |
| Patriot Bumper Weight Plates | 160lb Bundle · PRx Performance | 160 lb | $314.99 | $1.97/lb |
| 25 LB Cast Iron Olympic Plates - Pair | Standard · Titan Fitness | 50 lb | $99.97 | $2.00/lb |
| 25 LB Crumb Rubber Bumper Plates - Pair | Standard · Titan Fitness | 50 lb | $99.97 | $2.00/lb |
| 25 LB Pair Economy Bumper Plates | Standard · Titan Fitness | 50 lb | $99.97 | $2.00/lb |
Pairs are for filling gaps: another set of 45s once your deadlift outgrows what you have, or 2.5s for adding weight slowly to a press.
When the cheapest plate is the wrong one
If you’ll be dropping the bar, from Olympic lifts or just lowering heavy deadlifts fast, get bumpers and put something under them, either thick rubber mats or a platform. Iron dropped onto a bare floor damages the floor first and the plates eventually.
Thickness starts to matter once the weights get heavy. A 45 lb bumper is far wider than a 45 lb iron plate, and budget bumpers tend to be the widest of all, so you run out of sleeve sooner. For big squats and pulls, iron or a slimmer high-density bumper leaves you room.
Cheap bumpers are usually low-density rubber with a thin steel insert. They bounce more, and when they fail it’s typically by cracking around the insert. Plenty of home gyms use them without trouble, but it’s worth reading reviews on exactly that before you buy the cheapest one on the list.
Be sure to factor in shipping! Check the total at checkout, and look for free-shipping minimums or local pickup. I bought a set of Fringe Sport bumpers during the pandemic and drove to their warehouse to collect them, which saved a lot on freight. If you live near a manufacturer or distributor, ask about pickup.
How much weight do you need?
Most starter sets fall somewhere between 185 and 255 pounds. You can buy one as a package or build it up a pair at a time as your budget allows.
The cost per pound page ranks every plate, dumbbell and kettlebell we track, and weight plates shows current deals and price history.
How we compared
Prices come straight from each store’s website, checked every few hours, and don’t include shipping. Kilogram plates are converted at 2.20462 lb per kg, listings with an unclear weight are left out, and only in-stock options count, since a low price on something you can’t buy doesn’t help anyone. More on our method: how we track prices.