Using the gravitational torque indicator Qb, we derive the distribution of bar strengths for a sample of early-type disk galaxies. The sample is part of the Near-Infrared S0 Survey (NIRS0S), designed to examine the properties of bars, bulges, and disks in galaxies classified as types S0- to Sa. Although the survey is only partly finished, we find that the distribution of bar strengths in S0 galaxies differs from that in spirals by lacking an extended tail to high values of Qb. No S0 in our current sample has Qb > 0.25, while spirals extend to Qb ≈ 0.7. Bars having Qb > 0.25 first appear among S0/a to Sa galaxies.