10 Best Bumper Plates (Reviewed For Garage Gyms)

You want to add bumper plates to your home gym setup, but you're unsure what you should buy. Bumper plates are available in a variety of types, suited for different workouts. If you'd like to determine the best bumper plates (for your needs and budget), then this comprehensive buying guide will tell you everything you need to know! 

10 Best Bumper Plates Compared

1. Rogue Echo Bumper Plates V2  

Specifications 

The Rogue Echo Bumper Plates V2 is a firm favorite for many (including us!), and for good reason. The Echo V2 is a budget-friendly bumper plate that offers the quality and dead bounce of a more premium-priced bumper. In fact, they're Rogue's cheapest option after their crumb bumpers. The V2 bumper plate is perfect if you're looking to fully equip your home gym on a tight budget. This makes them our top pick for the best bumper plate! 

Taking a look at the design, the Rogue Echo V2 bumper plates are made using virgin rubber. They feature a matte black finish with high-contrasting white labeling. Additionally, the Echo V2 offers a slim profile, falling somewhere in between the thickness of a competition bumper and a crumb bumper plate.  

With a diameter of 450mm (17.72”), the Echo V2s are made according to the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) guidelines for diameter. However, the IWF stipulates that the tolerance should be +/- 1mm, and the Echo V2 feature a tolerance of +/- 3mm. These bumper plates are not marketed as competition plates, though, so they're not expected to meet all of the IWF standards. With that said, Rogue advertises a weight tolerance of +/- 1% of claimed weight, which is excellent. If you are interested in having the precision and accuracy of a competition bumper plate, the Rogue LB Competition bumper plates are a perfect choice! 

Other than that, the Rogue Echo V2 bumpers feature a collar opening of 50.6mm, which will fit onto an Olympic barbell. The collar itself is made of stainless steel. The Echo V2 has a durometer reading of 88, which means they have a low bounce. To give you an idea, Rogue's competition bumpers have a durometer reading of 94, while their hi-temp bumpers have a 75 durometer reading. The higher the reading, the lower the bounce. This means the Echo V2 offers a far lower bounce than the average crumb bumper, but they will be a bit louder. 

The Rogue Echo V2 is available for purchase in sets of either 160lb, 230lb, or 260lb. Additionally, each weight plate can also be purchased individually (in pairs). These include their 10lb, 15lb, 25lb, 35lb, and 45lb bumper plates. The Echo V2 is also available in a color option. However, it's important to note that while the black Echo V2 bumper plates are approved for the US Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), the color version is not. Additionally, the Echo V2 bumpers are only available in pound plates. If you’re a Rogue fan and specifically want Rogue plates (but in kilograms), you can check the Rogue Black Training KG bumper plates featured further down on our list!  

2. Titan Urethane KG Bumper

Specifications 

If you’re looking to buy the best urethane bumper plates, you won’t go wrong with the Titan Urethane KG bumper plates. You should expect to pay more for these plates than you would for rubber bumpers since they are made of urethane. However, these Titan Urethane plates offer excellent value for money compared to other urethane plates on the market.  

If you’re competing in powerlifting or even Olympic weightlifting, you’ll want to stick to using kg plates. This is because only kg plates are used at these competitions, and you always want to stick to training with the same equipment you’ll be competing with. If competing isn’t your goal, but you just like the look and feel of urethane bumpers, these bumpers are available in a pound plate version too. Just remember that a 45lb plate is not the same weight as a 25kg plate. Although very similar, every pound (or kg) matters when weightlifting.  

Urethane bumper plates, by default, are extremely durable plates but often have a very smooth/slippery texture. To counteract this, Titan has incorporated a slightly textured finish to the bumper plate. They’ve also added a raised lip edge, making it easier to grip. Titan did advise that there may be a slight sheen present on the finish when unboxing, but this was easily removed with regular dish soap. 

In terms of color vibrancy, urethane bumpers never disappoint! Each plate is color-coded according to the IWF standards, except the 5kg plate. In terms of the IWF guidelines, 5kg plates should be white, but these Titan Fitness Urethane plates are black. Other than that, the rest of the plates match up as follows: 10kg Green, 15kg Yellow, 20kg Blue, and 25kg Red. The benefit of urethane bumper plates is that their color does not fade over time as rubber bumper plates do. Instead, they stay as vibrant as the day you purchased them. 

The Titan Urethane KG bumper plates can be bought in a set of 150kg, or you can purchase each bumper plate weight separately (in pairs). Titan lists a weight tolerance of +/- 1% on their plates, which we found accurate. With a durometer reading of 90, these Titan urethane bumpers offer a very low bounce. However, this does make them slightly louder when dropped. The center hub is made of durable chrome-plated steel, with the collar opening size compatible with Olympic barbells. It should be noted that all of the bumper plates are the same diameter (450mm), except for the black 5kg plate. This plate is smaller than the rest and measures 415mm.  

3. REP Fitness Black Bumper Plates

Specifications 

Another solid contender on our list of the best bumper plates is the REP Fitness Black Bumper Plates. Designed specifically for CrossFit training and Olympic lifting, REP Fitness brings something different to the table with their extra thick 10-pound plates. A common issue with the 10-pound bumper plate is that it’s prone to ‘tacoing .'To reduce the risk of this happening and increase their durability, REP Fitness has added some extra width to their 10-pound bumper plate. 

When it comes to weight tolerance, a non-IWF-certified plate can have up to a 5% variation, sometimes more. Although the REP Fitness Black Bumper Plates have a slightly higher weight tolerance range than the Rogue Echo V2, at 3%, this is still acceptable for a training bumper plate. Plate diameter measures in at a standard 17.7-inches, with hooked steel inserts molded into the bumper plate. These plates have been factory tested to withstand over 12 thousand drops from an 8-foot height. You can increase this lifespan by always using rubber mats or a lifting platform, as well as ensuring that your bar collars are secured tightly to prevent your bumpers from moving on the bar.  

The REP Fitness Black Bumper Plates fall into the mid-tier budget category, and REP Fitness offers some great warranty options too. These include 6 months on their 10-pound and 15-pound plates (for both home and commercial use), and then a 3-year warranty for all other bumper plates for home use or 1-year for commercial use. However, it's worth noting that this warranty will be void if you combine hi-temp bumper plates with these on your barbell. This is because hi-temp plates are smaller in diameter, causing these plates to bear the entire load rather than share it. Keep this in mind when you're lifting various-sized bumper plates.  

The REP Fitness Black Bumper Plates are available for purchase as a set or individually (in pairs). These include 160lb, 190lb, 210lb, 230lb, 250lb, 260lb, and 370lb sets. Individually, they offer 5lb, 10lb, 15lb, 25lb, 35lb, and 45lb bumper plates. Learning correct form and technique is important, and REP Fitness' 5-pound plate is extremely useful for this purpose. Although designed to be set down gently rather than dropped from overhead, REP Fitness have ensured that their 5-pound plate is extra firm to hold up over time. For kilogram plates, Rogue only offer this variation in their competition bumper plates. 

4. HulkFit Color Coded Rubber Bumper Plate

Specifications 

A relatively new kid on the block, HulkFit was founded in 2018. Compared to Rogue Fitness bumper plates, these HulkFit bumpers fall into the same budget-tier price category. Although these bumper plates are color-coded, it's worth mentioning that the colors aren't according to IWF specifications. If you just want bumper plates that have different colors for easy identification, then these will still do the job just fine. Additionally, these can be classified as pound plates, but they do have the corresponding weight in kilograms listed on the plate as well.  

Although HulkFit doesn't specifically list their weight tolerance, when we checked our 45lb plates, they were only off by 0.3 and 0.2 pounds each. This is less than a 1% weight tolerance variation, which is excellent for a budget bumper plate. The insert is made of stainless steel, and with a collar opening of 2 inches, these plates will fit your Olympic-sized barbell. They also have a standard diameter of 450mm/17.72". It's worth noting that these bumper plates are not made using virgin rubber but rather composite rubber. This means that the rubber is reinforced to make it more durable.  

The HulkFit Color Coded Rubber Bumper Plates are available in 10lb, 15lb, 25lb, 35lb, 45lb, and 55lb. You can either buy each size individually (in singles) or purchase a whole set. Their sets include 160lb, 210lb, 260lb, and 370lb options. Additionally, HulkFit offers a 2-year warranty on all of their bumper plates. However, their 10lb and 15lb plates should only be used when paired with larger bumper plate sizes, especially if you’ll be dropping the bar. If used individually (and dropped repeatedly), they will most likely taco.  

In terms of plate thickness, we're quite impressed! The 45lb bumper plate measured in at just under 2.4 inches thick. As with the weight tolerance, HulkFit doesn’t specify the durometer reading of their plates either. However, they have a decent bounce and aren't super loud when paired with rubber mats. Comparing the bounce to other bumper plate types, they bounce more than your competition bumper but less than your crumb bumper plates. Overall, the HulkFit Color Coded Rubber Bumper Plates offer excellent value for money! 

5. RAGE Fitness Olympic Bumper Plate 

Specifications 

The best budget bumper plate on our list is the RAGE Fitness Olympic Bumper Plate. They’re an excellent option if you’re just starting out and your budget is tight! They offer everything a bumper plate needs to have and will get the job done. RAGE Fitness is a family-owned business that has been around since 2012, making their products locally in Denver, Colorado. 

The RAGE Fitness Olympic Bumper Plates are a standard 17.72-inches in diameter, except for the 10-pound plate (which is 17.5-inches). Having a smaller-sized 10lb plate helps prevent bending and breaking since it's only an inch thick. These plates aren't designed to be used alone on the barbell either unless you’ll be placing them down gently.  

Like the HulkFit bumper plates, these RAGE Fitness plates are also made of composite recycled rubber. This makes them feel a bit stiffer than their virgin rubber counterparts. In addition, the steel insert is bonded to the rubber, which means it's unlikely to pop out over time. As you'd expect from a budget bumper plate, RAGE Fitness doesn't list their weight tolerance or durometer reading. However, the composite rubber used exerts an excellent low bounce.  

The RAGE Fitness Olympic Bumper Plates are available in 10lb, 15lb, 25lb, 35lb, and 45lb plate options. Their bumper plates are sold individually, and they don't have any pre-made set options. At 3.1-inches, their 45-pound plate is an average thickness. While not the thinnest plate option on our list, it’s also not the thickest either. All of their bumper plates are available in a plain all-black design and come with a basic 1-year warranty. 

8. XMark Fitness Hi-Impact Bumper Plates 

Specifications 

Perhaps a lesser-known brand (compared with Rogue and Fringe Sport), XMark was founded in 2010 and is a division of BTXCorp. The XMark Fitness Hi-Impact Bumper Plates are middle-of-the-range bumper plates, perfect for your garage gym setup.  

The XMark Fitness Hi-Impact Bumper Plates are 17.7-inches in diameter, except for the 10-pound plate (only 14-inches). Having a smaller-sized 10lb plate helps prevent it from bending or breaking. Added to this, XMark went one step further and increased the width of their 10lb plate to match the 15lb plate (which is 1.31”). This added even more stability and durability to the plate. With that said, these size plates still should only be used alone on the barbell if you’re placing them down gently. If you’re dropping the bar from a height, they're still likely going to taco or even break.  

Like all the other mid-tier bumper plates on this list, these XMark Fitness Bumper Plates are made of virgin rubber and a stainless steel insert. Additionally, the collar opening will fit your 2-inch Olympic barbell. Unfortunately, XMark doesn’t provide any durometer reading or weight tolerance. However, when tested on rubber mats, they deliver a very minimal bounce. The bumper plates have a matte black appearance with IWF color-coded labeling. 

The XMark Fitness Hi-Impact Bumper Plates are available in 10lb, 15lb, 25lb, 35lb, and 45lb plate options. All of their plates are sold in pairs, and they have some set options too. These include 120lb, 160lb, 230lb, 280lb, 300lb, 320lb, 370lb, or 410lb sets. Additionally, XMark offers a 3-year warranty for home use or a 1-year warranty for commercial use. However, this warranty is not afforded to the 10lb or 15lb plates.  

9.  X Training Equipment Premium Black Bumper Plates

Specifications 

Next up on the list, we have the X Training Equipment Premium Black Bumper Plates. Based in Jacksonville, Florida, X Training Equipment was founded in 2012, and they offer a variety of fitness equipment in their catalog. They're in the mid-tier in terms of pricing and have similar features to other bumper plates in this category.  

The X Training Equipment Premium Black Bumper Plates are a standard 17.7-inches in diameter. They are made with virgin rubber and feature a stainless steel collar. The collar opening size is 50.4mm, which offers a secure and snug fit on a 2-inch Olympic bar. This model is all-black in color, but X Training Equipment also has a non-IWF color-coded plate variation and an all-pink option.  

Many of these middle-of-the-range bumper plates don’t provide their durometer reading. However, X Training Equipment goes against this trend and has provided a durometer reading of 91 for these bumper plates. This means they have almost the same bounce as the Titan Urethane bumpers, which is impressive. Unfortunately, they do deliver a louder thud when dropped since they have such a low bounce.  

Looking at the plate and set options, the X Training Equipment Premium Black Bumper Plates are available in 10lb, 15lb, 25lb, 35lb, and 45lb plate options. All of their plates are sold in pairs, and their 45lb plate can be bought individually. Added to this, set options are available. These include 160lb, 230lb, 260lb, and 350lb sets. X Training Equipment offers a 3-year warranty for their 25lb, 35lb, and 45lb bumper plates. The 10lb and 15lb plates are afforded a 6-month warranty only.  

10. Everyday Essentials Color Coded Olympic Bumper Plates

Specifications 

Last but not least, we have the Everyday Essentials Color Coded Olympic Bumper Plates. The cheapest bumper plate option on our list, they're ideal for newbies just starting or anyone on an extreme budget!  

Like all the other bumper plates featured on our list, the Everyday Essentials are 17.7-inches in diameter. Made with solid rubber, they also have a stainless steel collar that fits a 2-inch Olympic barbell. This particular model is Non-IWF color-coded, but if you prefer having black bumper plates, there is also an option for black plates with color labeling.  

It’s no surprise that a bumper plate at this budget-price point doesn’t specify durometer readings or weight tolerances. However, when we tested their 45lb plates, we found them to be within 2lbs of their listed weight. One plate was 46-pounds, and the other was 47-pounds. Unfortunately, you're unlikely to find bumper plates with a 1% weight tolerance at this price. 

When it comes to plate and set options, the Everyday Essentials Color Coded Olympic Bumper Plates are all available individually (in singles), and there are no set options either. The individual weights include 10lb, 15lb, 25lb, 35lb, 45lb, and 55lb plates. Their 45-pound plate is only 2.83-inches thick, which is great for its price! As with many of the other brands featured, the 10lb plate should not be used by itself on the barbell. If you do, you should ensure that you place the bar down gently rather than let it drop. These plates will not withstand such force if dropped and will taco or break. A standard 2-year manufacturer's warranty is included with all of the Everyday Essentials Color Coded Olympic Bumper Plates. 

How To Choose The Best Bumper Plates (Complete Buying Guide) 

Quality & Construction 

Since your bumper plates will be dropped often, the difference between a budget bumper plate and a more premium bumper is often observed here. Cheap bumper plates aren't made to the same quality and construction standard as expensive bumper plates are. If you want a bumper plate that will last, look for brands that list their factory 'drop testing' results. If a bumper plate held up to over 10-15 thousand drops at an 8ft height in the factory, you'll be able to expect a similar lifespan (if cared for correctly) at home.  

Durometer 

The durometer reading relates to the amount of bounce the bumper plate exerts. When a bumper plate has a high durometer reading, it will bounce less. Conversely, a low durometer reading means it will bounce more. When a bumper plate is said to have a 'dead bounce,' it barely bounces at all. Oftentimes a high-quality bumper plate will list a high durometer reading, while a lower quality plate usually doesn't list the durometer reading whatsoever. 

Width, Collar Opening & Diameter 

The benefit of bumper plates (over iron plates) is that they are generally all the same diameter. This helps when you’re in the starting portion of a lift as you don’t have to bend down quite as far. Almost all bumper plates will be 17.7-inches in diameter, with the exception of 10lb and 5lb bumper plates. These are sometimes only 14-inches.  

Similarly, the collar opening of bumper plates must all fit an Olympic-sized barbell (which is 2-inches). We do see some variations, though. The bumper plates on our list either feature a 50.44mm or a 50.6mm collar opening. The smaller opening will mean that it fits snug on the barbell.  

The width of each bumper plate varies between each weight and each brand. Premium-priced bumper plates are often thinner, while cheaper plates are thicker. A thinner bumper plate allows you to fit more weight on the barbell.  

Rubber Odor 

Almost all rubber bumper plates have a significant odor when unboxing. This is where the benefit of urethane comes in, as they tend not to have a smell at all. Bumper plates made using recycled rubber rather than virgin rubber tend to produce a stronger odor. Unfortunately, you'll probably experience this regardless of the brand or the price. Leaving your bumper plates to air out for a few days and washing them with mild dish soap can help reduce the odor.  

Bumper Material 

Bumper plates are all made from some form of rubber. These include 100% virgin rubber (used in training and competition bumper plates), recycled rubber (used to make crumb bumper plates), or urethane. While urethane is not a natural rubber, it does fall into the rubber category and can be thought of as a bridge between rubber and plastic. Each bumper type offers a different bounce, thickness, and durability to suit your specific needs.  

Aside from the type of rubber used, bumper plates also feature a metal hub. Depending on the quality of the bumper plate, these metal hubs can be made from either steel, stainless steel, chrome, or other types of metal.  

Weight Accuracy 

If you’re adding a 45-pound plate to your bar, you’ll want it to be as close to 45lbs as possible. Competition bumper plates offer the most accurate weight tolerances, usually within half an ounce. Similarly, a premium training bumper will have a weight tolerance of within +/-1%, while low-quality bumpers could have a tolerance of +/-5%. Middle-of-the-range bumper plates generally list their weight tolerance at around +/-3% but are often much closer to 1% when weighed.  

Price & Warranty 

Since even the most budget bumper plates aren't cheap, price will probably play a significant role in your purchase decisions. However, going for the most expensive option isn't necessarily the best option. A realistic budget should be based on your specific needs. If you're just looking to do casual weightlifting at home, you can opt for a middle-of-the-range bumper plate. However, if you're looking to train with the intent to compete, you'll want to train with the same plates you’ll be using in the competition. This is, of course, going to cost you more.  

The warranty should also be factored into your consideration. Different brands offer varying lengths of warranty, with smaller weights often having a separate warranty period. The warranty can also be specific to use (home vs. commercial). Make sure that the bumper plate you're going to buy offers a decent warranty to fit your intended use.