This study investigates the effects of the design of high-density zircon (ZrO2) grinding media (1-3 mm) on dry grinding of barite (BaSO4, d50= 2.83 µm) in a vertical stirred media mill. Grinding experiments were carried out by using different proportions of finer grinding media (20 wt.%, 40 wt.% and 80 wt.%) and different size ratio of finer-coarser media (0.5 and 0.67). Besides, the surface areas (Sbw, m2/kg) of grinding media on grinding performance were investigated. If the best two experimental results are compared, it is found that the Sbw of the bimodal and monosized media are very close together. The experimental results were evaluated based on the product particle size (d50, d90), and the geometric standard deviation of barite particles (d84/d16). The findings showed that the finer grinding media alone was not very effective.