The invention relates to a modular weighting element that can be assembled with at least one other modular element to form a ballast bar, known as an ingot, for example for creating a counterweight for a lift/elevator and/or goods lift, said modular element being in the form of a generally parallelepiped elongate body. According to the invention, said modular element comprises at least two assembly members, one of them male and the other female, of complementary shapes, arranged on said body in such a way as to allow said modular element to be assembled with at least one other modular element, preferably an identical one aligned in the continuation of one another. The invention also relates to a ballast bar, to a counterweight by superposing such ballast bars and to an assembly comprising the framework carrying such a counterweight.