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The squat rack is one of the most essential pieces of home gym equipment you can own. A squat rack is not only essential, it’s likely one of the biggest purchases you’re going to make for your home gym. You want to know you’re getting not only a good piece of equipment that will meet your needs and last you a long time, but that it’s the right piece of equipment for your space and budget. Now more than ever, there are so many options out there that it can be a lot for one person to sift through.
There are many things to consider when searching for a home gym squat rack. Some common variables are the footprint the rack occupies, the attachments available that the rack is compatible with, and the weight capacity that the rack can support. Another big ask is how difficult the rack is to put together. Let’s face it, some of us are better with a wrench than others. We’ve thought through all of those things for you and came up with a list of the best home gym squat racks for a variety of situations — no matter your home gym situation, there’s likely a squat rack for you on this list.
Best Home Gym Squat Racks
Best Home Gym Squat Rack Overall
Choosing the best home gym rack required us to take many factors into account. Some specific considerations for home gyms are footprint and versatility. Some racks are designed to save space, while others are built to be loaded with strength and muscle-building attachments. The best racks can do both of those things. We found a rack that fits most spaces without compromising functionality.
Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
A unique aspect of this rack is that it is both free-standing and foldable. Many foldable racks are bolted into the wall, so they can’t hold as much weight as a standard power rack. However, because this stands alone, it is rated to hold up to 2,000 pounds. When you’re done using it, remove the pull-up bar and attachments and fold it up. Speaking of attachments, you can equip this rack with a monolift attachment, extra weight storage, a landmine attachment, and band pegs.
Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
This free-standing rack folds up after you're done training for easy storage. It can also be equipped with various attachments for a more robust squatting setup.
Who Should Buy the Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
Serious strength athletes who want to want to lift heavy and even apply accommodating resistance.
People who want (or need) a rack that folds up to save space.
Folks who want a rack that can hold extra attachments for more robust training sessions.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
Lifters who are really tight on space and need either a wall-mounted rack or squat stand.
People who want a more simple power or squat rack.
If you’re serious about getting strong, this rack — which is 49-inches wide, 41-inches deep, and 86-inches tall — can facilitate the most intense strength-training sessions.
Best Squat Rack for the Money
Outfitting a home gym can be quite costly, but thanks to the boom in popularity of home gyms, there are more companies than ever making commercial-grade equipment at consumer-level pricing. One such company is REP Fitness, and their PR-1100 Power Rack is a great value — that’s why it’s our pick for best squat rack for the money.
REP PR-1100 Power Rack
This power rack from REP Fitness is a full-fledged, four-post power rack that comes with a solid amount of features in a compact package. There’s a selection of eight different attachments that are compatible with it, such as a lat pulldown, weight storage, dip station, and more. The PR-1100 is priced quite competitively, but its weight capacity is lower than a lot of other racks, coming in at only 700 pounds. The steel used is 14-gauge and the size of the uprights is two inches by two inches. Unless you’re training for strength sports, you’ll likely be fine with the less heavy-duty steel, but if you’re an elite-level athlete, this is something to consider.
The REP PR-1100 is available in metallic black, red, blue, or matte black, allowing you to personalize it to match the color scheme of your home gym. This rack only weighs 130 pounds, making it easy to move when you inevitably want to rearrange your home gym as you add more equipment. It has a height of 85 inches, is 58.1 inches wide, and measures 48.5 inches deep. Larger lifters may find this rack somewhat narrow, but the depth is better than many other racks at this price point. You can nab the PR-1100 Power Rack for $379.99 before taxes and possible shipping charges.
REP Fitness PR-1100 Power Rack
This power rack is sturdy, compact, and a great choice for adding multiple kinds of pull-ups to your workout regimen. It’s designed to accommodate low ceilings, so if you’ve got a low-hanging garage or room to work in, this power rack is made for you.
Who Should Buy the REP PR-1100 Power Rack
Anyone who’s looking for a high-quality rack at an affordable price will appreciate the friendly price point and versatility of this rack.
Home gym owners who want a lightweight, yet sturdy rack that they can move around easily — this rack only weighs 130 pounds.
People who want customizable options and add-ons available for their rack, like weight storage, lat pulldown, or a landmine attachment.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the REP PR-1100 Power Rack
Anyone who trains using bands or accommodating resistance may want to look at another option. This rack doesn’t have the option for band pegs.
Those who are lifting really heavy will want a more heavy-duty rack since the weight capacity here is only 700 pounds.
Athletes who want to do kipping pull-ups will want a heavier squat rack that has less of a possibility for tipping.
For those who’re looking to get the most bang for their buck, the REP PR-1100 is a great option. You can choose from multiple colors, tons of attachments, and don’t have to pay through the nose compared to other racks. This power rack is really a great rack for the money.
Best Home Gym Folding Squat Rack
Not everyone has tons of room for a full four-post squat rack in their home gym. If you still want the security of one, but the space-saving features of a folding squat rack, then we’ve got the solution for you. The Force USA Folding Power Rack isn’t your average folding rack. It folds out into a full, four-post squat rack, and still stores away neatly when not in use.
Force USA Folding Power Rack
This squat rack has an innovative design featuring “pop-in” technology. The “pop-in” technology Force USA uses for their bolts makes setup time shorter than it is for comparable folding racks. The plethora of attachments amounts to over 50 different configurations you can make with this versatile piece of equipment. You can choose between three different safety arms, three types of J-hooks, dip attachments, landmines, band pegs, and more. This rack has a 2,000-pound weight rating and a lifetime structural warranty. The 12-gauge steel is heavy-duty, and meant to stand up to anything you can throw at it.
The accessory holes are 5/8-inch (16mm), but the upright tubes are a more specialized 2.4-inch (60mm) size, meaning that this rack has limited attachment possibilities for products from brands other than Force USA. (Other folding racks on the market use a standardized 2×2-inch or preferably 3×3-inch design to ensure external compatibility.) Force USA recommends a ceiling height of at least 96 inches to be able to do a full pull-up on the rack with your head above the bar.
Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
Power racks are the centerpiece of any home gym, and this model proves to be one of the best on the market. It's foldable, durable, and can be equipped with many add-ons.
Who Should Buy Force USA Folding Power Rack
Anyone who wants the security of a four-post power rack, but the space-saving qualities of a folding rack.
Consumers who like to get everything from one place — Force USA offers nine separate attachments and different add-ons that are compatible with this rack.
People who want a quick and easy setup that also feels secure — this rack can support up to 2,000 pounds.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Force USA Folding Power Rack
Anyone who likes to get attachments from a variety of different places — the uncommon upright size of 2.4 inches isn’t compatible with many other manufacturers’ equipment.
Lifters who want to save the most space possible, this rack still comes almost two feet off the wall when folded.
Anyone looking for a plain folding rack — this modular rack is great for customizing but can get complicated quickly with all of the different options and add-ons.
This rack is engineered with a modular design and quick setup in mind thanks to Force USA’s “pop-in” technology. The 12-gauge steel of the uprights and an included multi-grip chin-up bar make this sturdy rack a great deal.
Best Squat Stand for Home Gyms
Squat stands have a level of mobility that many home gym owners will enjoy. You can move them aside when not in use, and pull them out when needed. A lot of people even put them outside when the weather’s nice to get a tan and lift in at the same time. Olympic weightlifters and squat enthusiasts will appreciate this squat stand’s minimal footprint and sound build.
Rogue S-2 Squat Stand 2.0
This squat stand is just 146 pounds, which means you can more easily pick it up at will, and move it wherever you please. It has a footprint of 48 inches by 48 inches and a height of 92 inches to accommodate taller lifters. The S-2 has both one-inch and two-inch hole spacing, so you can find the best height to facilitate bench presses. It supports 1,000 pounds thanks to its heavy-duty, 2×3-inch, 11-gauge steel. You can choose between either a regular 1.25-inch pull-up bar, or a fat bar that’s designed to challenge your grip, as well as your back. The S-2 Squat Stand is compatible with a few attachments too, such as the Matador dip station, safety spotter arms, and landmine attachment.
Rogue S-2 Squat Stand 2.0
The Rogue S-2 Squat Stand is a lightweight, yet heavy-duty squat stand weighing only 146 pounds yet able to support 1,000 pounds thanks to Rogue’s 2x3 inch, 11-gauge steel. You’ll save space with the modest 48 inch by 48 inch footprint and it can accommodate tall lifters at 92 inches tall.
Who Should Buy the Rogue S-2 Squat Stand 2.0
Any lifter who wants just a squat stand and doesn’t need/want a power rack — usually weightlifters like lifting from squat stands.
Folks who redesign their home gyms often and want a mobile squat rack that is easily moved.
Anyone who lives in an area where you can train outside, and wants to be able to move their squat stand in and out of the house easily.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the Rogue S-2 Squat Stand 2.0
Anyone looking for the security of a full power rack will want to look at other options on this list.
Athletes who want a rack that has a ton of attachments. Rogue makes a few attachments, but other options have many more available.
People who want a foldable rack and want to save as much room as possible with their home gym setup.
Easily maneuverable and still able to support a lot of weight, this rack is great for those who want to save space or do minimalist workouts. This bare-bones squat stand is ideal for anyone who lives in a small space, and wants to stick to basic programming.
Best Power Rack for Home Gyms
A power rack should be durable, efficient, and act as the centerpiece of a home gym. Most power racks offer a lot of versatility and more security than squat stands or half racks. The extra stability and weight allows a wider array of attachments to be put on power racks. This rack hits all the marks.
Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
This full-sized power rack, which features Westside hole spacing, can fit up to 10 attachments — including J-hooks, safety bars (or straps), and band pegs. The coolest feature is that it folds up when you’re done using it. Pull out the pin from one side of the pull-up bar (included), unhook the bar, and then fold the rack up and stow it away. This power rack is forged from 12-gauge steel and comes with a lifetime structural warranty. It is rated to hold up to 2,000 pounds.
Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
Power racks are the centerpiece of any home gym, and this model proves to be one of the best on the market. It's foldable, durable, and can be equipped with many add-ons.
Who Should Buy the Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
Anyone who wants a power rack, which offers more training options than a standard squat stand.
Lifters who want a foldable rack, which saves space.
Lifters who also want a free-standing rack. This power rack folds up, but it stands alone as a rack.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
Athletes who want a more simple setup for just squats and bench presses.
Anyone who wants a thinner power rack.
Folks who prefer wall-mounted racks.
This power rack is both free-standing and foldable, making it a great centerpiece for your home gym that also won’t take up a lot of space.
Best Home Gym Squat Rack for Small Spaces
If you have a small home or apartment, an over-the-door rack could be the perfect option to maximize gains and save on space. An over-the-door rack is also a good way to ensure you have adequate depth to work in since there isn’t a wall in your way — there’s a doorway instead.
Rogue Slim Door Mount Fold Back Rack
A rack that can mount over your door is not only space-saving but can also add variety to your workouts. With no wall to interfere, incline your bench for a more elevated bench press or challenge yourself with some kipping pull-ups since this pick includes a pull-up bar. Once you’ve completed your session, the two uprights can be retracted and folded away from your door for a storing advantage that is sure to benefit any small space.
Rogue Slim Door Mount Fold Back Rack
This rack can fit doors with widths ranging from 28” to 36” and is fully retractable for easy storing. Once mounted this rack has a depth of 13 inches.
Who Should Buy the Rogue Slim Door Mount Fold Back Rack
Anyone who has a smaller living space but still wants to execute their movements meticulously as this door-mounted rack features Westside hole spacing.
Folks who want variety in their pull-ups and bench presses.
Lifters who want to store their rack away for more space to perform other movements like deadlifts and swings.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the Rogue Slim Door Mount Fold Back Rack
People who want a designated area for their squat rack and training.
Big things can definitely come in small packages, and the Rogue Slim Door Mount Fold Back Rack proves it.
Best Home Gym Squat Rack for Garage Gyms
If you’re trying to get your home gym set up in a garage, we have you covered. Versatility is the name of the game when it comes to working with a garage home gym. This pick not only comes at a great price point, but it also comes with free shipping.
Best Half Rack for Home Gyms
Half racks offer many of the same features as power racks, but they take up less space. Their main purpose is to increase weight plate storage, but they also offer more stability and versatility than squat stands. If you’re looking for a half rack for your home gym that’s in it for the long haul, then our pick for best half rack, the Apollo Half Rack from REP, is a great option.
REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack
If you’ve been hitting up the squat rack a lot or you’re tired of not having a place to store your weights, then a half rack might be the solution for you. Half racks generally take up more space than squat stands, but less space than a full power rack. They offer a happy medium for home gym owners because of their footprint, as well as their versatility. The REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack exemplifies this by offering a ton of weight storage on the back posts, as well as a modest 52.4 inch width and 16 inch depth. You can get the Apollo in either 80 or 93 inch heights with a host of colors available like blue, red, black, and green, as well as others.
The 3×3 inch, 11-gauge steel can support 1,000 pounds of weight, and tons of attachments, like a leg roller, lat pulldown, and dip station. Choose your favorite pull-up bar from four different options as well.
REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack
The REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack is a heavy-duty half rack made from 3x3 inch, 11-gauge steel that REP says you’ll “never need to upgrade” since there are so many attachments and it has a 1,000-pound weight capacity.
Who Should Buy the REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack
Lifters who want a squat stand but with additional plate storage. A half rack is a happy medium between a full squat rack and a squat stand that offers more storage.
Anyone who wants the attachment availability and utility of a power rack with a smaller footprint to fit in a home gym will like this product.
People who like to color match their equipment will appreciate that REP allows you to choose from a variety of colors.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack
Folks who want a full power rack. The Apollo is an awesome half rack, but it doesn’t have the security of a full power rack.
People who have more limited space may need to opt for a folding rack or squat stands.
Anyone who already has separate weight plate storage might not need that optional attachment.
This rack boasts storage space, durability, and has a smaller footprint than a traditional power rack. The Apollo Half Rack offers a high weight capacity of 1,000 pounds, along with over 10 attachments. It looks like REP really meant it when they said on their website you might “never need to upgrade” thanks to the utility of this half rack.
How We Chose Our Picks
Most homes won’t provide the same amount of space a commercial gym offers. Even if the room is available, many people who want to work out from home don’t want their equipment to take up too much space. This is one of many features we considered when deciding which squat racks were the best for homes.
Space Saving
Most of the picks on our list offer buyers a way to save space in their homes. Foldable or over-the-door mounted racks work best for smaller spaces, while standing racks might be more suited for larger home gyms or garages.
We also considered the depth of the squat rack. This is important to know since the further out it reaches, the more space it will take. On the other hand, the depth will also determine the amount of space you’ll have to execute movements. If you want to save space, pick a rack with a lower depth. If you want to perform various workouts like bench presses and pull-ups comfortably, choose a higher depth rack.
Added Accessories
You don’t want to sacrifice being able to utilize your squat rack for convenience fully. When choosing the picks for this list, we also considered the various options these squat racks offered. For instance, could you perform movements other than squats?
Some squat racks come with pull-up bars already, while others allow you to perform bench presses and dips. Most of these accessories are sold separately, but the ability to add to your squat rack can help you build out something more versatile. It’s a nice bonus for squat racks to come with accessories like safety straps and other implements, especially if you’re working out from home.
Price
Although squat racks can be a big investment, they don’t have to break the bank. Consider exactly what you need your squat rack to do, and that can determine its price. Opt-out for some of the more affordable picks on our list if some of those bonus features are not needed.
Benefits of Squat Racks
When you decide to buy a squat rack for your home gym, you’re not only buying a squat rack, you’re making a large investment in your fitness and strength journey. Squat racks have unmatched utility and offer the ability to add on attachments to increase that utility even further. Squat racks might be a big investment for a home gym, but there are few other pieces of equipment that you can get such use and versatility from.
Efficient Full-Body Workouts
You can call it a squat rack, but that’s almost doing it a disservice. These hefty pieces of equipment are the central pieces of most home gyms for a good reason — they allow you to get a great full-body workout way beyond just squats. In addition to the vast array of squat variations you can perform with a squat rack, you can do rack pulls, overhead presses, lunges, and even bench press if you grab a solid weight bench for your home gym setup.
Lift Heavier, Safer
Without a squat rack in your home gym, the weight you can work with is limited to how much you can lift off of the floor to get into the proper position. If you want to front squat, you’ll have to clean the bar first. If you want to back squat, you’ll have to clean the bar, press it overhead, then lower it safely onto your traps — or you can try to get good at the Steinborn Squat, but that’s a completely different animal. And you can forget pinning the weight to your back for a proper low bar squat. Not only does this limit the amount of weight you can lift, but it increases your potential for injury because of all of the complex movements.
Image via Shutterstock/Andy Gin
By adding a squat rack to your home gym, you can add on as many plates as you can lift and get after it without doing difficult movements that exhaust you first. Squat racks are also way safer to squat out of because they can have safety spotter arms and safeties that are customizable to your height and squat depth.
Customizable Workout
Owning your own squat rack has a host of benefits above the practical ones. You’ll never have to wait for a rack to be available before you can start your workout. Ever been to a commercial gym at 5:00 pm? You can also do whatever you want with the squat rack, and take as much time as you want there — you can even bicep curl in the squat rack if you really want to.
Due to the fact that a squat rack allows you to do pretty much anything you want to with a barbell, you can customize your workout to what best suits your needs. You can hit a full body workout, or focus on one muscle group at a time — either way, a squat rack in your home gym is a versatile tool to have if you want to maximize your strength gains and keep the intensity high.
What to Consider Before Buying
While there are features we considered essential to decide the best on our list, there are some aspects you still need to consider before you choose the best for you.
Height
One of the biggest factors to consider is how tall the uprights are. The ceiling’s height in the room the squat rack will be in will dictate which squat rack will work in that space.
If your space has low ceilings, it might be better to look for squat racks that do not have pull-up attachments or attachments that are removable. Most squat racks will be in the five to six-foot height range without a pull-up bar or attachment that requires more space above.
Stability
Since you’ll be placing your weights on the squat rack or performing movements like pull-ups, the strength and stability of your pick is important. Prioritize squat racks with a more massive base or added stability features if you plan to lift more weight.
If the space you’re planning to set up your squat rack has flat hard floors, then look at the type of traction the rack is equipped with. If your floor is covered with mats or hardwood, rubber foot-caps, a common feature, should offer enough traction to ensure the rack doesn’t wobble or slide when racking.
Weight Capacity
Almost every squat rack on the market will either note its weight capacity or the weight capacity tested to offer a safe baseline.
If you are a beginner to the squat who doesn’t intend to lift over 500 soon, the market is flush with options from very basic to very advanced squat racks that can accommodate your needs. For advanced lifters who are squatting super heavy, it is in your interest to check your preferred squat rack’s weight capacity to be sure that it will support your workouts without wobbling or increasing the risk of injury.
Final Word
A squat rack is one of the most important pieces of equipment you’ll buy for your home gym, and it’s important to make sure you’re getting the right one for you. It’s worth taking some time to think through how much space you have, what you really need to achieve your goals, and what you can reasonably spend on a rack before clicking that “buy” button. Squat racks are unique because of their versatility to do nearly any exercise, and getting one for your home gym will unlock new possibilities unlike any other piece of equipment. In our opinion, you can’t go wrong with any of the picks on our list to make a squat rack the centerpiece of your home gym.
FAQs
What makes a good squat rack for my home gym?A good squat rack has to first and foremost meet your needs to help you accomplish your goals. If you’re looking to get into powerlifting, then squat stands may not be best for you since you’ll likely be lifting close to maximum effort occasionally, and need optimal security if you have to bail on a lift. A good home gym squat rack should also fit neatly into your space — for some, that means a folding rack since they’re limited on room. For others with the luxury of more space, they can have a full power rack with plate storage. Home gyms require a lot of considerations so envision your purchase in the space before going through with it.
Is it worth it to buy a squat rack for my home gym?The answer to that question is almost always yes. No other piece of equipment will give such a range of options other than an actual barbell and weight plates themselves. There’s a good reason that squat racks are the focal point of most home gyms, that’s where most of the work is done. They may be a large investment relative to other pieces of equipment, but they’re worth it for the utility and safety that they bring.
Should I buy a squat rack or smith machine for my home gym?Ideally, with unlimited money and room, you’d have both because they both serve different purposes, despite looking similar. A squat rack has the option of free range of motion that a smith machine doesn’t usually provide. The squat rack allows you to take the barbell and move about without a track, keeping you in a set pattern. This gives you greater freedom to do different exercises, as well as work on smaller, stabilizing muscles better. Smith machines have their place, and in a perfect world you could get both, but for most people, a squat rack is a better option because of the versatility it provides.
The squat rack is one of the most essential pieces of home gym equipment you can own. A squat rack is not only essential, it’s likely one of the biggest purchases you’re going to make for your home gym. You want to know you’re getting not only a good piece of equipment that will meet your needs and last you a long time, but that it’s the right piece of equipment for your space and budget. Now more than ever, there are so many options out there that it can be a lot for one person to sift through.
There are many things to consider when searching for a home gym squat rack. Some common variables are the footprint the rack occupies, the attachments available that the rack is compatible with, and the weight capacity that the rack can support. Another big ask is how difficult the rack is to put together. Let’s face it, some of us are better with a wrench than others. We’ve thought through all of those things for you and came up with a list of the best home gym squat racks for a variety of situations — no matter your home gym situation, there’s likely a squat rack for you on this list.
Best Home Gym Squat Racks
Best Home Gym Squat Rack Overall
Choosing the best home gym rack required us to take many factors into account. Some specific considerations for home gyms are footprint and versatility. Some racks are designed to save space, while others are built to be loaded with strength and muscle-building attachments. The best racks can do both of those things. We found a rack that fits most spaces without compromising functionality.
Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
A unique aspect of this rack is that it is both free-standing and foldable. Many foldable racks are bolted into the wall, so they can’t hold as much weight as a standard power rack. However, because this stands alone, it is rated to hold up to 2,000 pounds. When you’re done using it, remove the pull-up bar and attachments and fold it up. Speaking of attachments, you can equip this rack with a monolift attachment, extra weight storage, a landmine attachment, and band pegs.
Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
This free-standing rack folds up after you're done training for easy storage. It can also be equipped with various attachments for a more robust squatting setup.
Who Should Buy the Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
Best Squat Rack for the Money
Outfitting a home gym can be quite costly, but thanks to the boom in popularity of home gyms, there are more companies than ever making commercial-grade equipment at consumer-level pricing. One such company is REP Fitness, and their PR-1100 Power Rack is a great value — that’s why it’s our pick for best squat rack for the money.
REP PR-1100 Power Rack
This power rack from REP Fitness is a full-fledged, four-post power rack that comes with a solid amount of features in a compact package. There’s a selection of eight different attachments that are compatible with it, such as a lat pulldown, weight storage, dip station, and more. The PR-1100 is priced quite competitively, but its weight capacity is lower than a lot of other racks, coming in at only 700 pounds. The steel used is 14-gauge and the size of the uprights is two inches by two inches. Unless you’re training for strength sports, you’ll likely be fine with the less heavy-duty steel, but if you’re an elite-level athlete, this is something to consider.
The REP PR-1100 is available in metallic black, red, blue, or matte black, allowing you to personalize it to match the color scheme of your home gym. This rack only weighs 130 pounds, making it easy to move when you inevitably want to rearrange your home gym as you add more equipment. It has a height of 85 inches, is 58.1 inches wide, and measures 48.5 inches deep. Larger lifters may find this rack somewhat narrow, but the depth is better than many other racks at this price point. You can nab the PR-1100 Power Rack for $379.99 before taxes and possible shipping charges.
REP Fitness PR-1100 Power Rack
This power rack is sturdy, compact, and a great choice for adding multiple kinds of pull-ups to your workout regimen. It’s designed to accommodate low ceilings, so if you’ve got a low-hanging garage or room to work in, this power rack is made for you.
Who Should Buy the REP PR-1100 Power Rack
Best Home Gym Folding Squat Rack
Not everyone has tons of room for a full four-post squat rack in their home gym. If you still want the security of one, but the space-saving features of a folding squat rack, then we’ve got the solution for you. The Force USA Folding Power Rack isn’t your average folding rack. It folds out into a full, four-post squat rack, and still stores away neatly when not in use.
Force USA Folding Power Rack
This squat rack has an innovative design featuring “pop-in” technology. The “pop-in” technology Force USA uses for their bolts makes setup time shorter than it is for comparable folding racks. The plethora of attachments amounts to over 50 different configurations you can make with this versatile piece of equipment. You can choose between three different safety arms, three types of J-hooks, dip attachments, landmines, band pegs, and more. This rack has a 2,000-pound weight rating and a lifetime structural warranty. The 12-gauge steel is heavy-duty, and meant to stand up to anything you can throw at it.
The accessory holes are 5/8-inch (16mm), but the upright tubes are a more specialized 2.4-inch (60mm) size, meaning that this rack has limited attachment possibilities for products from brands other than Force USA. (Other folding racks on the market use a standardized 2×2-inch or preferably 3×3-inch design to ensure external compatibility.) Force USA recommends a ceiling height of at least 96 inches to be able to do a full pull-up on the rack with your head above the bar.
Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
Power racks are the centerpiece of any home gym, and this model proves to be one of the best on the market. It's foldable, durable, and can be equipped with many add-ons.
Who Should Buy Force USA Folding Power Rack
Best Squat Stand for Home Gyms
Squat stands have a level of mobility that many home gym owners will enjoy. You can move them aside when not in use, and pull them out when needed. A lot of people even put them outside when the weather’s nice to get a tan and lift in at the same time. Olympic weightlifters and squat enthusiasts will appreciate this squat stand’s minimal footprint and sound build.
Rogue S-2 Squat Stand 2.0
This squat stand is just 146 pounds, which means you can more easily pick it up at will, and move it wherever you please. It has a footprint of 48 inches by 48 inches and a height of 92 inches to accommodate taller lifters. The S-2 has both one-inch and two-inch hole spacing, so you can find the best height to facilitate bench presses. It supports 1,000 pounds thanks to its heavy-duty, 2×3-inch, 11-gauge steel. You can choose between either a regular 1.25-inch pull-up bar, or a fat bar that’s designed to challenge your grip, as well as your back. The S-2 Squat Stand is compatible with a few attachments too, such as the Matador dip station, safety spotter arms, and landmine attachment.
Rogue S-2 Squat Stand 2.0
The Rogue S-2 Squat Stand is a lightweight, yet heavy-duty squat stand weighing only 146 pounds yet able to support 1,000 pounds thanks to Rogue’s 2x3 inch, 11-gauge steel. You’ll save space with the modest 48 inch by 48 inch footprint and it can accommodate tall lifters at 92 inches tall.
Who Should Buy the Rogue S-2 Squat Stand 2.0
Best Power Rack for Home Gyms
A power rack should be durable, efficient, and act as the centerpiece of a home gym. Most power racks offer a lot of versatility and more security than squat stands or half racks. The extra stability and weight allows a wider array of attachments to be put on power racks. This rack hits all the marks.
Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
This full-sized power rack, which features Westside hole spacing, can fit up to 10 attachments — including J-hooks, safety bars (or straps), and band pegs. The coolest feature is that it folds up when you’re done using it. Pull out the pin from one side of the pull-up bar (included), unhook the bar, and then fold the rack up and stow it away. This power rack is forged from 12-gauge steel and comes with a lifetime structural warranty. It is rated to hold up to 2,000 pounds.
Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
Power racks are the centerpiece of any home gym, and this model proves to be one of the best on the market. It's foldable, durable, and can be equipped with many add-ons.
Who Should Buy the Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
Best Home Gym Squat Rack for Small Spaces
If you have a small home or apartment, an over-the-door rack could be the perfect option to maximize gains and save on space. An over-the-door rack is also a good way to ensure you have adequate depth to work in since there isn’t a wall in your way — there’s a doorway instead.
Rogue Slim Door Mount Fold Back Rack
A rack that can mount over your door is not only space-saving but can also add variety to your workouts. With no wall to interfere, incline your bench for a more elevated bench press or challenge yourself with some kipping pull-ups since this pick includes a pull-up bar. Once you’ve completed your session, the two uprights can be retracted and folded away from your door for a storing advantage that is sure to benefit any small space.
Rogue Slim Door Mount Fold Back Rack
This rack can fit doors with widths ranging from 28” to 36” and is fully retractable for easy storing. Once mounted this rack has a depth of 13 inches.
Who Should Buy the Rogue Slim Door Mount Fold Back Rack
Best Home Gym Squat Rack for Garage Gyms
If you’re trying to get your home gym set up in a garage, we have you covered. Versatility is the name of the game when it comes to working with a garage home gym. This pick not only comes at a great price point, but it also comes with free shipping.
Best Half Rack for Home Gyms
Half racks offer many of the same features as power racks, but they take up less space. Their main purpose is to increase weight plate storage, but they also offer more stability and versatility than squat stands. If you’re looking for a half rack for your home gym that’s in it for the long haul, then our pick for best half rack, the Apollo Half Rack from REP, is a great option.
REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack
If you’ve been hitting up the squat rack a lot or you’re tired of not having a place to store your weights, then a half rack might be the solution for you. Half racks generally take up more space than squat stands, but less space than a full power rack. They offer a happy medium for home gym owners because of their footprint, as well as their versatility. The REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack exemplifies this by offering a ton of weight storage on the back posts, as well as a modest 52.4 inch width and 16 inch depth. You can get the Apollo in either 80 or 93 inch heights with a host of colors available like blue, red, black, and green, as well as others.
The 3×3 inch, 11-gauge steel can support 1,000 pounds of weight, and tons of attachments, like a leg roller, lat pulldown, and dip station. Choose your favorite pull-up bar from four different options as well.
REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack
The REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack is a heavy-duty half rack made from 3x3 inch, 11-gauge steel that REP says you’ll “never need to upgrade” since there are so many attachments and it has a 1,000-pound weight capacity.
Who Should Buy the REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack
How We Chose Our Picks
Most homes won’t provide the same amount of space a commercial gym offers. Even if the room is available, many people who want to work out from home don’t want their equipment to take up too much space. This is one of many features we considered when deciding which squat racks were the best for homes.
Space Saving
Most of the picks on our list offer buyers a way to save space in their homes. Foldable or over-the-door mounted racks work best for smaller spaces, while standing racks might be more suited for larger home gyms or garages.
We also considered the depth of the squat rack. This is important to know since the further out it reaches, the more space it will take. On the other hand, the depth will also determine the amount of space you’ll have to execute movements. If you want to save space, pick a rack with a lower depth. If you want to perform various workouts like bench presses and pull-ups comfortably, choose a higher depth rack.
Added Accessories
You don’t want to sacrifice being able to utilize your squat rack for convenience fully. When choosing the picks for this list, we also considered the various options these squat racks offered. For instance, could you perform movements other than squats?
Some squat racks come with pull-up bars already, while others allow you to perform bench presses and dips. Most of these accessories are sold separately, but the ability to add to your squat rack can help you build out something more versatile. It’s a nice bonus for squat racks to come with accessories like safety straps and other implements, especially if you’re working out from home.
Price
Although squat racks can be a big investment, they don’t have to break the bank. Consider exactly what you need your squat rack to do, and that can determine its price. Opt-out for some of the more affordable picks on our list if some of those bonus features are not needed.
Benefits of Squat Racks
When you decide to buy a squat rack for your home gym, you’re not only buying a squat rack, you’re making a large investment in your fitness and strength journey. Squat racks have unmatched utility and offer the ability to add on attachments to increase that utility even further. Squat racks might be a big investment for a home gym, but there are few other pieces of equipment that you can get such use and versatility from.
Efficient Full-Body Workouts
You can call it a squat rack, but that’s almost doing it a disservice. These hefty pieces of equipment are the central pieces of most home gyms for a good reason — they allow you to get a great full-body workout way beyond just squats. In addition to the vast array of squat variations you can perform with a squat rack, you can do rack pulls, overhead presses, lunges, and even bench press if you grab a solid weight bench for your home gym setup.
Lift Heavier, Safer
Without a squat rack in your home gym, the weight you can work with is limited to how much you can lift off of the floor to get into the proper position. If you want to front squat, you’ll have to clean the bar first. If you want to back squat, you’ll have to clean the bar, press it overhead, then lower it safely onto your traps — or you can try to get good at the Steinborn Squat, but that’s a completely different animal. And you can forget pinning the weight to your back for a proper low bar squat. Not only does this limit the amount of weight you can lift, but it increases your potential for injury because of all of the complex movements.
Image via Shutterstock/Andy Gin
By adding a squat rack to your home gym, you can add on as many plates as you can lift and get after it without doing difficult movements that exhaust you first. Squat racks are also way safer to squat out of because they can have safety spotter arms and safeties that are customizable to your height and squat depth.
Customizable Workout
Owning your own squat rack has a host of benefits above the practical ones. You’ll never have to wait for a rack to be available before you can start your workout. Ever been to a commercial gym at 5:00 pm? You can also do whatever you want with the squat rack, and take as much time as you want there — you can even bicep curl in the squat rack if you really want to.
Due to the fact that a squat rack allows you to do pretty much anything you want to with a barbell, you can customize your workout to what best suits your needs. You can hit a full body workout, or focus on one muscle group at a time — either way, a squat rack in your home gym is a versatile tool to have if you want to maximize your strength gains and keep the intensity high.
What to Consider Before Buying
While there are features we considered essential to decide the best on our list, there are some aspects you still need to consider before you choose the best for you.
Height
One of the biggest factors to consider is how tall the uprights are. The ceiling’s height in the room the squat rack will be in will dictate which squat rack will work in that space.
If your space has low ceilings, it might be better to look for squat racks that do not have pull-up attachments or attachments that are removable. Most squat racks will be in the five to six-foot height range without a pull-up bar or attachment that requires more space above.
Stability
Since you’ll be placing your weights...
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There are many things to consider when searching for a home gym squat rack. Some common variables are the footprint the rack occupies, the attachments available that the rack is compatible with, and the weight capacity that the rack can support. Another big ask is how difficult the rack is to put together. Let’s face it, some of us are better with a wrench than others. We’ve thought through all of those things for you and came up with a list of the best home gym squat racks for a variety of situations — no matter your home gym situation, there’s likely a squat rack for you on this list.
Best Home Gym Squat Racks
Best Home Gym Squat Rack Overall
Choosing the best home gym rack required us to take many factors into account. Some specific considerations for home gyms are footprint and versatility. Some racks are designed to save space, while others are built to be loaded with strength and muscle-building attachments. The best racks can do both of those things. We found a rack that fits most spaces without compromising functionality.
Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
A unique aspect of this rack is that it is both free-standing and foldable. Many foldable racks are bolted into the wall, so they can’t hold as much weight as a standard power rack. However, because this stands alone, it is rated to hold up to 2,000 pounds. When you’re done using it, remove the pull-up bar and attachments and fold it up. Speaking of attachments, you can equip this rack with a monolift attachment, extra weight storage, a landmine attachment, and band pegs.
Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
This free-standing rack folds up after you're done training for easy storage. It can also be equipped with various attachments for a more robust squatting setup.
Who Should Buy the Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
Serious strength athletes who want to want to lift heavy and even apply accommodating resistance.
People who want (or need) a rack that folds up to save space.
Folks who want a rack that can hold extra attachments for more robust training sessions.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
Lifters who are really tight on space and need either a wall-mounted rack or squat stand.
People who want a more simple power or squat rack.
If you’re serious about getting strong, this rack — which is 49-inches wide, 41-inches deep, and 86-inches tall — can facilitate the most intense strength-training sessions.
Best Squat Rack for the Money
Outfitting a home gym can be quite costly, but thanks to the boom in popularity of home gyms, there are more companies than ever making commercial-grade equipment at consumer-level pricing. One such company is REP Fitness, and their PR-1100 Power Rack is a great value — that’s why it’s our pick for best squat rack for the money.
REP PR-1100 Power Rack
This power rack from REP Fitness is a full-fledged, four-post power rack that comes with a solid amount of features in a compact package. There’s a selection of eight different attachments that are compatible with it, such as a lat pulldown, weight storage, dip station, and more. The PR-1100 is priced quite competitively, but its weight capacity is lower than a lot of other racks, coming in at only 700 pounds. The steel used is 14-gauge and the size of the uprights is two inches by two inches. Unless you’re training for strength sports, you’ll likely be fine with the less heavy-duty steel, but if you’re an elite-level athlete, this is something to consider.
The REP PR-1100 is available in metallic black, red, blue, or matte black, allowing you to personalize it to match the color scheme of your home gym. This rack only weighs 130 pounds, making it easy to move when you inevitably want to rearrange your home gym as you add more equipment. It has a height of 85 inches, is 58.1 inches wide, and measures 48.5 inches deep. Larger lifters may find this rack somewhat narrow, but the depth is better than many other racks at this price point. You can nab the PR-1100 Power Rack for $379.99 before taxes and possible shipping charges.
REP Fitness PR-1100 Power Rack
This power rack is sturdy, compact, and a great choice for adding multiple kinds of pull-ups to your workout regimen. It’s designed to accommodate low ceilings, so if you’ve got a low-hanging garage or room to work in, this power rack is made for you.
Who Should Buy the REP PR-1100 Power Rack
Anyone who’s looking for a high-quality rack at an affordable price will appreciate the friendly price point and versatility of this rack.
Home gym owners who want a lightweight, yet sturdy rack that they can move around easily — this rack only weighs 130 pounds.
People who want customizable options and add-ons available for their rack, like weight storage, lat pulldown, or a landmine attachment.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the REP PR-1100 Power Rack
Anyone who trains using bands or accommodating resistance may want to look at another option. This rack doesn’t have the option for band pegs.
Those who are lifting really heavy will want a more heavy-duty rack since the weight capacity here is only 700 pounds.
Athletes who want to do kipping pull-ups will want a heavier squat rack that has less of a possibility for tipping.
For those who’re looking to get the most bang for their buck, the REP PR-1100 is a great option. You can choose from multiple colors, tons of attachments, and don’t have to pay through the nose compared to other racks. This power rack is really a great rack for the money.
Best Home Gym Folding Squat Rack
Not everyone has tons of room for a full four-post squat rack in their home gym. If you still want the security of one, but the space-saving features of a folding squat rack, then we’ve got the solution for you. The Force USA Folding Power Rack isn’t your average folding rack. It folds out into a full, four-post squat rack, and still stores away neatly when not in use.
Force USA Folding Power Rack
This squat rack has an innovative design featuring “pop-in” technology. The “pop-in” technology Force USA uses for their bolts makes setup time shorter than it is for comparable folding racks. The plethora of attachments amounts to over 50 different configurations you can make with this versatile piece of equipment. You can choose between three different safety arms, three types of J-hooks, dip attachments, landmines, band pegs, and more. This rack has a 2,000-pound weight rating and a lifetime structural warranty. The 12-gauge steel is heavy-duty, and meant to stand up to anything you can throw at it.
The accessory holes are 5/8-inch (16mm), but the upright tubes are a more specialized 2.4-inch (60mm) size, meaning that this rack has limited attachment possibilities for products from brands other than Force USA. (Other folding racks on the market use a standardized 2×2-inch or preferably 3×3-inch design to ensure external compatibility.) Force USA recommends a ceiling height of at least 96 inches to be able to do a full pull-up on the rack with your head above the bar.
Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
Power racks are the centerpiece of any home gym, and this model proves to be one of the best on the market. It's foldable, durable, and can be equipped with many add-ons.
Who Should Buy Force USA Folding Power Rack
Anyone who wants the security of a four-post power rack, but the space-saving qualities of a folding rack.
Consumers who like to get everything from one place — Force USA offers nine separate attachments and different add-ons that are compatible with this rack.
People who want a quick and easy setup that also feels secure — this rack can support up to 2,000 pounds.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Force USA Folding Power Rack
Anyone who likes to get attachments from a variety of different places — the uncommon upright size of 2.4 inches isn’t compatible with many other manufacturers’ equipment.
Lifters who want to save the most space possible, this rack still comes almost two feet off the wall when folded.
Anyone looking for a plain folding rack — this modular rack is great for customizing but can get complicated quickly with all of the different options and add-ons.
This rack is engineered with a modular design and quick setup in mind thanks to Force USA’s “pop-in” technology. The 12-gauge steel of the uprights and an included multi-grip chin-up bar make this sturdy rack a great deal.
Best Squat Stand for Home Gyms
Squat stands have a level of mobility that many home gym owners will enjoy. You can move them aside when not in use, and pull them out when needed. A lot of people even put them outside when the weather’s nice to get a tan and lift in at the same time. Olympic weightlifters and squat enthusiasts will appreciate this squat stand’s minimal footprint and sound build.
Rogue S-2 Squat Stand 2.0
This squat stand is just 146 pounds, which means you can more easily pick it up at will, and move it wherever you please. It has a footprint of 48 inches by 48 inches and a height of 92 inches to accommodate taller lifters. The S-2 has both one-inch and two-inch hole spacing, so you can find the best height to facilitate bench presses. It supports 1,000 pounds thanks to its heavy-duty, 2×3-inch, 11-gauge steel. You can choose between either a regular 1.25-inch pull-up bar, or a fat bar that’s designed to challenge your grip, as well as your back. The S-2 Squat Stand is compatible with a few attachments too, such as the Matador dip station, safety spotter arms, and landmine attachment.
Rogue S-2 Squat Stand 2.0
The Rogue S-2 Squat Stand is a lightweight, yet heavy-duty squat stand weighing only 146 pounds yet able to support 1,000 pounds thanks to Rogue’s 2x3 inch, 11-gauge steel. You’ll save space with the modest 48 inch by 48 inch footprint and it can accommodate tall lifters at 92 inches tall.
Who Should Buy the Rogue S-2 Squat Stand 2.0
Any lifter who wants just a squat stand and doesn’t need/want a power rack — usually weightlifters like lifting from squat stands.
Folks who redesign their home gyms often and want a mobile squat rack that is easily moved.
Anyone who lives in an area where you can train outside, and wants to be able to move their squat stand in and out of the house easily.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the Rogue S-2 Squat Stand 2.0
Anyone looking for the security of a full power rack will want to look at other options on this list.
Athletes who want a rack that has a ton of attachments. Rogue makes a few attachments, but other options have many more available.
People who want a foldable rack and want to save as much room as possible with their home gym setup.
Easily maneuverable and still able to support a lot of weight, this rack is great for those who want to save space or do minimalist workouts. This bare-bones squat stand is ideal for anyone who lives in a small space, and wants to stick to basic programming.
Best Power Rack for Home Gyms
A power rack should be durable, efficient, and act as the centerpiece of a home gym. Most power racks offer a lot of versatility and more security than squat stands or half racks. The extra stability and weight allows a wider array of attachments to be put on power racks. This rack hits all the marks.
Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
This full-sized power rack, which features Westside hole spacing, can fit up to 10 attachments — including J-hooks, safety bars (or straps), and band pegs. The coolest feature is that it folds up when you’re done using it. Pull out the pin from one side of the pull-up bar (included), unhook the bar, and then fold the rack up and stow it away. This power rack is forged from 12-gauge steel and comes with a lifetime structural warranty. It is rated to hold up to 2,000 pounds.
Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
Power racks are the centerpiece of any home gym, and this model proves to be one of the best on the market. It's foldable, durable, and can be equipped with many add-ons.
Who Should Buy the Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
Anyone who wants a power rack, which offers more training options than a standard squat stand.
Lifters who want a foldable rack, which saves space.
Lifters who also want a free-standing rack. This power rack folds up, but it stands alone as a rack.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
Athletes who want a more simple setup for just squats and bench presses.
Anyone who wants a thinner power rack.
Folks who prefer wall-mounted racks.
This power rack is both free-standing and foldable, making it a great centerpiece for your home gym that also won’t take up a lot of space.
Best Home Gym Squat Rack for Small Spaces
If you have a small home or apartment, an over-the-door rack could be the perfect option to maximize gains and save on space. An over-the-door rack is also a good way to ensure you have adequate depth to work in since there isn’t a wall in your way — there’s a doorway instead.
Rogue Slim Door Mount Fold Back Rack
A rack that can mount over your door is not only space-saving but can also add variety to your workouts. With no wall to interfere, incline your bench for a more elevated bench press or challenge yourself with some kipping pull-ups since this pick includes a pull-up bar. Once you’ve completed your session, the two uprights can be retracted and folded away from your door for a storing advantage that is sure to benefit any small space.
Rogue Slim Door Mount Fold Back Rack
This rack can fit doors with widths ranging from 28” to 36” and is fully retractable for easy storing. Once mounted this rack has a depth of 13 inches.
Who Should Buy the Rogue Slim Door Mount Fold Back Rack
Anyone who has a smaller living space but still wants to execute their movements meticulously as this door-mounted rack features Westside hole spacing.
Folks who want variety in their pull-ups and bench presses.
Lifters who want to store their rack away for more space to perform other movements like deadlifts and swings.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the Rogue Slim Door Mount Fold Back Rack
People who want a designated area for their squat rack and training.
Big things can definitely come in small packages, and the Rogue Slim Door Mount Fold Back Rack proves it.
Best Home Gym Squat Rack for Garage Gyms
If you’re trying to get your home gym set up in a garage, we have you covered. Versatility is the name of the game when it comes to working with a garage home gym. This pick not only comes at a great price point, but it also comes with free shipping.
Best Half Rack for Home Gyms
Half racks offer many of the same features as power racks, but they take up less space. Their main purpose is to increase weight plate storage, but they also offer more stability and versatility than squat stands. If you’re looking for a half rack for your home gym that’s in it for the long haul, then our pick for best half rack, the Apollo Half Rack from REP, is a great option.
REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack
If you’ve been hitting up the squat rack a lot or you’re tired of not having a place to store your weights, then a half rack might be the solution for you. Half racks generally take up more space than squat stands, but less space than a full power rack. They offer a happy medium for home gym owners because of their footprint, as well as their versatility. The REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack exemplifies this by offering a ton of weight storage on the back posts, as well as a modest 52.4 inch width and 16 inch depth. You can get the Apollo in either 80 or 93 inch heights with a host of colors available like blue, red, black, and green, as well as others.
The 3×3 inch, 11-gauge steel can support 1,000 pounds of weight, and tons of attachments, like a leg roller, lat pulldown, and dip station. Choose your favorite pull-up bar from four different options as well.
REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack
The REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack is a heavy-duty half rack made from 3x3 inch, 11-gauge steel that REP says you’ll “never need to upgrade” since there are so many attachments and it has a 1,000-pound weight capacity.
Who Should Buy the REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack
Lifters who want a squat stand but with additional plate storage. A half rack is a happy medium between a full squat rack and a squat stand that offers more storage.
Anyone who wants the attachment availability and utility of a power rack with a smaller footprint to fit in a home gym will like this product.
People who like to color match their equipment will appreciate that REP allows you to choose from a variety of colors.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack
Folks who want a full power rack. The Apollo is an awesome half rack, but it doesn’t have the security of a full power rack.
People who have more limited space may need to opt for a folding rack or squat stands.
Anyone who already has separate weight plate storage might not need that optional attachment.
This rack boasts storage space, durability, and has a smaller footprint than a traditional power rack. The Apollo Half Rack offers a high weight capacity of 1,000 pounds, along with over 10 attachments. It looks like REP really meant it when they said on their website you might “never need to upgrade” thanks to the utility of this half rack.
How We Chose Our Picks
Most homes won’t provide the same amount of space a commercial gym offers. Even if the room is available, many people who want to work out from home don’t want their equipment to take up too much space. This is one of many features we considered when deciding which squat racks were the best for homes.
Space Saving
Most of the picks on our list offer buyers a way to save space in their homes. Foldable or over-the-door mounted racks work best for smaller spaces, while standing racks might be more suited for larger home gyms or garages.
We also considered the depth of the squat rack. This is important to know since the further out it reaches, the more space it will take. On the other hand, the depth will also determine the amount of space you’ll have to execute movements. If you want to save space, pick a rack with a lower depth. If you want to perform various workouts like bench presses and pull-ups comfortably, choose a higher depth rack.
Added Accessories
You don’t want to sacrifice being able to utilize your squat rack for convenience fully. When choosing the picks for this list, we also considered the various options these squat racks offered. For instance, could you perform movements other than squats?
Some squat racks come with pull-up bars already, while others allow you to perform bench presses and dips. Most of these accessories are sold separately, but the ability to add to your squat rack can help you build out something more versatile. It’s a nice bonus for squat racks to come with accessories like safety straps and other implements, especially if you’re working out from home.
Price
Although squat racks can be a big investment, they don’t have to break the bank. Consider exactly what you need your squat rack to do, and that can determine its price. Opt-out for some of the more affordable picks on our list if some of those bonus features are not needed.
Benefits of Squat Racks
When you decide to buy a squat rack for your home gym, you’re not only buying a squat rack, you’re making a large investment in your fitness and strength journey. Squat racks have unmatched utility and offer the ability to add on attachments to increase that utility even further. Squat racks might be a big investment for a home gym, but there are few other pieces of equipment that you can get such use and versatility from.
Efficient Full-Body Workouts
You can call it a squat rack, but that’s almost doing it a disservice. These hefty pieces of equipment are the central pieces of most home gyms for a good reason — they allow you to get a great full-body workout way beyond just squats. In addition to the vast array of squat variations you can perform with a squat rack, you can do rack pulls, overhead presses, lunges, and even bench press if you grab a solid weight bench for your home gym setup.
Lift Heavier, Safer
Without a squat rack in your home gym, the weight you can work with is limited to how much you can lift off of the floor to get into the proper position. If you want to front squat, you’ll have to clean the bar first. If you want to back squat, you’ll have to clean the bar, press it overhead, then lower it safely onto your traps — or you can try to get good at the Steinborn Squat, but that’s a completely different animal. And you can forget pinning the weight to your back for a proper low bar squat. Not only does this limit the amount of weight you can lift, but it increases your potential for injury because of all of the complex movements.
Image via Shutterstock/Andy Gin
By adding a squat rack to your home gym, you can add on as many plates as you can lift and get after it without doing difficult movements that exhaust you first. Squat racks are also way safer to squat out of because they can have safety spotter arms and safeties that are customizable to your height and squat depth.
Customizable Workout
Owning your own squat rack has a host of benefits above the practical ones. You’ll never have to wait for a rack to be available before you can start your workout. Ever been to a commercial gym at 5:00 pm? You can also do whatever you want with the squat rack, and take as much time as you want there — you can even bicep curl in the squat rack if you really want to.
Due to the fact that a squat rack allows you to do pretty much anything you want to with a barbell, you can customize your workout to what best suits your needs. You can hit a full body workout, or focus on one muscle group at a time — either way, a squat rack in your home gym is a versatile tool to have if you want to maximize your strength gains and keep the intensity high.
What to Consider Before Buying
While there are features we considered essential to decide the best on our list, there are some aspects you still need to consider before you choose the best for you.
Height
One of the biggest factors to consider is how tall the uprights are. The ceiling’s height in the room the squat rack will be in will dictate which squat rack will work in that space.
If your space has low ceilings, it might be better to look for squat racks that do not have pull-up attachments or attachments that are removable. Most squat racks will be in the five to six-foot height range without a pull-up bar or attachment that requires more space above.
Stability
Since you’ll be placing your weights on the squat rack or performing movements like pull-ups, the strength and stability of your pick is important. Prioritize squat racks with a more massive base or added stability features if you plan to lift more weight.
If the space you’re planning to set up your squat rack has flat hard floors, then look at the type of traction the rack is equipped with. If your floor is covered with mats or hardwood, rubber foot-caps, a common feature, should offer enough traction to ensure the rack doesn’t wobble or slide when racking.
Weight Capacity
Almost every squat rack on the market will either note its weight capacity or the weight capacity tested to offer a safe baseline.
If you are a beginner to the squat who doesn’t intend to lift over 500 soon, the market is flush with options from very basic to very advanced squat racks that can accommodate your needs. For advanced lifters who are squatting super heavy, it is in your interest to check your preferred squat rack’s weight capacity to be sure that it will support your workouts without wobbling or increasing the risk of injury.
Final Word
A squat rack is one of the most important pieces of equipment you’ll buy for your home gym, and it’s important to make sure you’re getting the right one for you. It’s worth taking some time to think through how much space you have, what you really need to achieve your goals, and what you can reasonably spend on a rack before clicking that “buy” button. Squat racks are unique because of their versatility to do nearly any exercise, and getting one for your home gym will unlock new possibilities unlike any other piece of equipment. In our opinion, you can’t go wrong with any of the picks on our list to make a squat rack the centerpiece of your home gym.
FAQs
What makes a good squat rack for my home gym?A good squat rack has to first and foremost meet your needs to help you accomplish your goals. If you’re looking to get into powerlifting, then squat stands may not be best for you since you’ll likely be lifting close to maximum effort occasionally, and need optimal security if you have to bail on a lift. A good home gym squat rack should also fit neatly into your space — for some, that means a folding rack since they’re limited on room. For others with the luxury of more space, they can have a full power rack with plate storage. Home gyms require a lot of considerations so envision your purchase in the space before going through with it.
Is it worth it to buy a squat rack for my home gym?The answer to that question is almost always yes. No other piece of equipment will give such a range of options other than an actual barbell and weight plates themselves. There’s a good reason that squat racks are the focal point of most home gyms, that’s where most of the work is done. They may be a large investment relative to other pieces of equipment, but they’re worth it for the utility and safety that they bring.
Should I buy a squat rack or smith machine for my home gym?Ideally, with unlimited money and room, you’d have both because they both serve different purposes, despite looking similar. A squat rack has the option of free range of motion that a smith machine doesn’t usually provide. The squat rack allows you to take the barbell and move about without a track, keeping you in a set pattern. This gives you greater freedom to do different exercises, as well as work on smaller, stabilizing muscles better. Smith machines have their place, and in a perfect world you could get both, but for most people, a squat rack is a better option because of the versatility it provides.
The squat rack is one of the most essential pieces of home gym equipment you can own. A squat rack is not only essential, it’s likely one of the biggest purchases you’re going to make for your home gym. You want to know you’re getting not only a good piece of equipment that will meet your needs and last you a long time, but that it’s the right piece of equipment for your space and budget. Now more than ever, there are so many options out there that it can be a lot for one person to sift through.
There are many things to consider when searching for a home gym squat rack. Some common variables are the footprint the rack occupies, the attachments available that the rack is compatible with, and the weight capacity that the rack can support. Another big ask is how difficult the rack is to put together. Let’s face it, some of us are better with a wrench than others. We’ve thought through all of those things for you and came up with a list of the best home gym squat racks for a variety of situations — no matter your home gym situation, there’s likely a squat rack for you on this list.
Best Home Gym Squat Racks
Best Home Gym Squat Rack Overall
Choosing the best home gym rack required us to take many factors into account. Some specific considerations for home gyms are footprint and versatility. Some racks are designed to save space, while others are built to be loaded with strength and muscle-building attachments. The best racks can do both of those things. We found a rack that fits most spaces without compromising functionality.
Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
A unique aspect of this rack is that it is both free-standing and foldable. Many foldable racks are bolted into the wall, so they can’t hold as much weight as a standard power rack. However, because this stands alone, it is rated to hold up to 2,000 pounds. When you’re done using it, remove the pull-up bar and attachments and fold it up. Speaking of attachments, you can equip this rack with a monolift attachment, extra weight storage, a landmine attachment, and band pegs.
Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
This free-standing rack folds up after you're done training for easy storage. It can also be equipped with various attachments for a more robust squatting setup.
Who Should Buy the Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
- Serious strength athletes who want to want to lift heavy and even apply accommodating resistance.
- People who want (or need) a rack that folds up to save space.
- Folks who want a rack that can hold extra attachments for more robust training sessions.
- Lifters who are really tight on space and need either a wall-mounted rack or squat stand.
- People who want a more simple power or squat rack.
Best Squat Rack for the Money
Outfitting a home gym can be quite costly, but thanks to the boom in popularity of home gyms, there are more companies than ever making commercial-grade equipment at consumer-level pricing. One such company is REP Fitness, and their PR-1100 Power Rack is a great value — that’s why it’s our pick for best squat rack for the money.
REP PR-1100 Power Rack
This power rack from REP Fitness is a full-fledged, four-post power rack that comes with a solid amount of features in a compact package. There’s a selection of eight different attachments that are compatible with it, such as a lat pulldown, weight storage, dip station, and more. The PR-1100 is priced quite competitively, but its weight capacity is lower than a lot of other racks, coming in at only 700 pounds. The steel used is 14-gauge and the size of the uprights is two inches by two inches. Unless you’re training for strength sports, you’ll likely be fine with the less heavy-duty steel, but if you’re an elite-level athlete, this is something to consider.
The REP PR-1100 is available in metallic black, red, blue, or matte black, allowing you to personalize it to match the color scheme of your home gym. This rack only weighs 130 pounds, making it easy to move when you inevitably want to rearrange your home gym as you add more equipment. It has a height of 85 inches, is 58.1 inches wide, and measures 48.5 inches deep. Larger lifters may find this rack somewhat narrow, but the depth is better than many other racks at this price point. You can nab the PR-1100 Power Rack for $379.99 before taxes and possible shipping charges.
REP Fitness PR-1100 Power Rack
This power rack is sturdy, compact, and a great choice for adding multiple kinds of pull-ups to your workout regimen. It’s designed to accommodate low ceilings, so if you’ve got a low-hanging garage or room to work in, this power rack is made for you.
Who Should Buy the REP PR-1100 Power Rack
- Anyone who’s looking for a high-quality rack at an affordable price will appreciate the friendly price point and versatility of this rack.
- Home gym owners who want a lightweight, yet sturdy rack that they can move around easily — this rack only weighs 130 pounds.
- People who want customizable options and add-ons available for their rack, like weight storage, lat pulldown, or a landmine attachment.
- Anyone who trains using bands or accommodating resistance may want to look at another option. This rack doesn’t have the option for band pegs.
- Those who are lifting really heavy will want a more heavy-duty rack since the weight capacity here is only 700 pounds.
- Athletes who want to do kipping pull-ups will want a heavier squat rack that has less of a possibility for tipping.
Best Home Gym Folding Squat Rack
Not everyone has tons of room for a full four-post squat rack in their home gym. If you still want the security of one, but the space-saving features of a folding squat rack, then we’ve got the solution for you. The Force USA Folding Power Rack isn’t your average folding rack. It folds out into a full, four-post squat rack, and still stores away neatly when not in use.
Force USA Folding Power Rack
This squat rack has an innovative design featuring “pop-in” technology. The “pop-in” technology Force USA uses for their bolts makes setup time shorter than it is for comparable folding racks. The plethora of attachments amounts to over 50 different configurations you can make with this versatile piece of equipment. You can choose between three different safety arms, three types of J-hooks, dip attachments, landmines, band pegs, and more. This rack has a 2,000-pound weight rating and a lifetime structural warranty. The 12-gauge steel is heavy-duty, and meant to stand up to anything you can throw at it.
The accessory holes are 5/8-inch (16mm), but the upright tubes are a more specialized 2.4-inch (60mm) size, meaning that this rack has limited attachment possibilities for products from brands other than Force USA. (Other folding racks on the market use a standardized 2×2-inch or preferably 3×3-inch design to ensure external compatibility.) Force USA recommends a ceiling height of at least 96 inches to be able to do a full pull-up on the rack with your head above the bar.
Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
Power racks are the centerpiece of any home gym, and this model proves to be one of the best on the market. It's foldable, durable, and can be equipped with many add-ons.
Who Should Buy Force USA Folding Power Rack
- Anyone who wants the security of a four-post power rack, but the space-saving qualities of a folding rack.
- Consumers who like to get everything from one place — Force USA offers nine separate attachments and different add-ons that are compatible with this rack.
- People who want a quick and easy setup that also feels secure — this rack can support up to 2,000 pounds.
- Anyone who likes to get attachments from a variety of different places — the uncommon upright size of 2.4 inches isn’t compatible with many other manufacturers’ equipment.
- Lifters who want to save the most space possible, this rack still comes almost two feet off the wall when folded.
- Anyone looking for a plain folding rack — this modular rack is great for customizing but can get complicated quickly with all of the different options and add-ons.
Best Squat Stand for Home Gyms
Squat stands have a level of mobility that many home gym owners will enjoy. You can move them aside when not in use, and pull them out when needed. A lot of people even put them outside when the weather’s nice to get a tan and lift in at the same time. Olympic weightlifters and squat enthusiasts will appreciate this squat stand’s minimal footprint and sound build.
Rogue S-2 Squat Stand 2.0
This squat stand is just 146 pounds, which means you can more easily pick it up at will, and move it wherever you please. It has a footprint of 48 inches by 48 inches and a height of 92 inches to accommodate taller lifters. The S-2 has both one-inch and two-inch hole spacing, so you can find the best height to facilitate bench presses. It supports 1,000 pounds thanks to its heavy-duty, 2×3-inch, 11-gauge steel. You can choose between either a regular 1.25-inch pull-up bar, or a fat bar that’s designed to challenge your grip, as well as your back. The S-2 Squat Stand is compatible with a few attachments too, such as the Matador dip station, safety spotter arms, and landmine attachment.
Rogue S-2 Squat Stand 2.0
The Rogue S-2 Squat Stand is a lightweight, yet heavy-duty squat stand weighing only 146 pounds yet able to support 1,000 pounds thanks to Rogue’s 2x3 inch, 11-gauge steel. You’ll save space with the modest 48 inch by 48 inch footprint and it can accommodate tall lifters at 92 inches tall.
Who Should Buy the Rogue S-2 Squat Stand 2.0
- Any lifter who wants just a squat stand and doesn’t need/want a power rack — usually weightlifters like lifting from squat stands.
- Folks who redesign their home gyms often and want a mobile squat rack that is easily moved.
- Anyone who lives in an area where you can train outside, and wants to be able to move their squat stand in and out of the house easily.
- Anyone looking for the security of a full power rack will want to look at other options on this list.
- Athletes who want a rack that has a ton of attachments. Rogue makes a few attachments, but other options have many more available.
- People who want a foldable rack and want to save as much room as possible with their home gym setup.
Best Power Rack for Home Gyms
A power rack should be durable, efficient, and act as the centerpiece of a home gym. Most power racks offer a lot of versatility and more security than squat stands or half racks. The extra stability and weight allows a wider array of attachments to be put on power racks. This rack hits all the marks.
Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
This full-sized power rack, which features Westside hole spacing, can fit up to 10 attachments — including J-hooks, safety bars (or straps), and band pegs. The coolest feature is that it folds up when you’re done using it. Pull out the pin from one side of the pull-up bar (included), unhook the bar, and then fold the rack up and stow it away. This power rack is forged from 12-gauge steel and comes with a lifetime structural warranty. It is rated to hold up to 2,000 pounds.
Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
Power racks are the centerpiece of any home gym, and this model proves to be one of the best on the market. It's foldable, durable, and can be equipped with many add-ons.
Who Should Buy the Force USA MyRack Folding Power Rack
- Anyone who wants a power rack, which offers more training options than a standard squat stand.
- Lifters who want a foldable rack, which saves space.
- Lifters who also want a free-standing rack. This power rack folds up, but it stands alone as a rack.
- Athletes who want a more simple setup for just squats and bench presses.
- Anyone who wants a thinner power rack.
- Folks who prefer wall-mounted racks.
Best Home Gym Squat Rack for Small Spaces
If you have a small home or apartment, an over-the-door rack could be the perfect option to maximize gains and save on space. An over-the-door rack is also a good way to ensure you have adequate depth to work in since there isn’t a wall in your way — there’s a doorway instead.
Rogue Slim Door Mount Fold Back Rack
A rack that can mount over your door is not only space-saving but can also add variety to your workouts. With no wall to interfere, incline your bench for a more elevated bench press or challenge yourself with some kipping pull-ups since this pick includes a pull-up bar. Once you’ve completed your session, the two uprights can be retracted and folded away from your door for a storing advantage that is sure to benefit any small space.
Rogue Slim Door Mount Fold Back Rack
This rack can fit doors with widths ranging from 28” to 36” and is fully retractable for easy storing. Once mounted this rack has a depth of 13 inches.
Who Should Buy the Rogue Slim Door Mount Fold Back Rack
- Anyone who has a smaller living space but still wants to execute their movements meticulously as this door-mounted rack features Westside hole spacing.
- Folks who want variety in their pull-ups and bench presses.
- Lifters who want to store their rack away for more space to perform other movements like deadlifts and swings.
- People who want a designated area for their squat rack and training.
Best Home Gym Squat Rack for Garage Gyms
If you’re trying to get your home gym set up in a garage, we have you covered. Versatility is the name of the game when it comes to working with a garage home gym. This pick not only comes at a great price point, but it also comes with free shipping.
Best Half Rack for Home Gyms
Half racks offer many of the same features as power racks, but they take up less space. Their main purpose is to increase weight plate storage, but they also offer more stability and versatility than squat stands. If you’re looking for a half rack for your home gym that’s in it for the long haul, then our pick for best half rack, the Apollo Half Rack from REP, is a great option.
REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack
If you’ve been hitting up the squat rack a lot or you’re tired of not having a place to store your weights, then a half rack might be the solution for you. Half racks generally take up more space than squat stands, but less space than a full power rack. They offer a happy medium for home gym owners because of their footprint, as well as their versatility. The REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack exemplifies this by offering a ton of weight storage on the back posts, as well as a modest 52.4 inch width and 16 inch depth. You can get the Apollo in either 80 or 93 inch heights with a host of colors available like blue, red, black, and green, as well as others.
The 3×3 inch, 11-gauge steel can support 1,000 pounds of weight, and tons of attachments, like a leg roller, lat pulldown, and dip station. Choose your favorite pull-up bar from four different options as well.
REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack
The REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack is a heavy-duty half rack made from 3x3 inch, 11-gauge steel that REP says you’ll “never need to upgrade” since there are so many attachments and it has a 1,000-pound weight capacity.
Who Should Buy the REP Fitness Apollo Half Rack
- Lifters who want a squat stand but with additional plate storage. A half rack is a happy medium between a full squat rack and a squat stand that offers more storage.
- Anyone who wants the attachment availability and utility of a power rack with a smaller footprint to fit in a home gym will like this product.
- People who like to color match their equipment will appreciate that REP allows you to choose from a variety of colors.
- Folks who want a full power rack. The Apollo is an awesome half rack, but it doesn’t have the security of a full power rack.
- People who have more limited space may need to opt for a folding rack or squat stands.
- Anyone who already has separate weight plate storage might not need that optional attachment.
How We Chose Our Picks
Most homes won’t provide the same amount of space a commercial gym offers. Even if the room is available, many people who want to work out from home don’t want their equipment to take up too much space. This is one of many features we considered when deciding which squat racks were the best for homes.
Space Saving
Most of the picks on our list offer buyers a way to save space in their homes. Foldable or over-the-door mounted racks work best for smaller spaces, while standing racks might be more suited for larger home gyms or garages.
We also considered the depth of the squat rack. This is important to know since the further out it reaches, the more space it will take. On the other hand, the depth will also determine the amount of space you’ll have to execute movements. If you want to save space, pick a rack with a lower depth. If you want to perform various workouts like bench presses and pull-ups comfortably, choose a higher depth rack.
Added Accessories
You don’t want to sacrifice being able to utilize your squat rack for convenience fully. When choosing the picks for this list, we also considered the various options these squat racks offered. For instance, could you perform movements other than squats?
Some squat racks come with pull-up bars already, while others allow you to perform bench presses and dips. Most of these accessories are sold separately, but the ability to add to your squat rack can help you build out something more versatile. It’s a nice bonus for squat racks to come with accessories like safety straps and other implements, especially if you’re working out from home.
Price
Although squat racks can be a big investment, they don’t have to break the bank. Consider exactly what you need your squat rack to do, and that can determine its price. Opt-out for some of the more affordable picks on our list if some of those bonus features are not needed.
Benefits of Squat Racks
When you decide to buy a squat rack for your home gym, you’re not only buying a squat rack, you’re making a large investment in your fitness and strength journey. Squat racks have unmatched utility and offer the ability to add on attachments to increase that utility even further. Squat racks might be a big investment for a home gym, but there are few other pieces of equipment that you can get such use and versatility from.
Efficient Full-Body Workouts
You can call it a squat rack, but that’s almost doing it a disservice. These hefty pieces of equipment are the central pieces of most home gyms for a good reason — they allow you to get a great full-body workout way beyond just squats. In addition to the vast array of squat variations you can perform with a squat rack, you can do rack pulls, overhead presses, lunges, and even bench press if you grab a solid weight bench for your home gym setup.
Lift Heavier, Safer
Without a squat rack in your home gym, the weight you can work with is limited to how much you can lift off of the floor to get into the proper position. If you want to front squat, you’ll have to clean the bar first. If you want to back squat, you’ll have to clean the bar, press it overhead, then lower it safely onto your traps — or you can try to get good at the Steinborn Squat, but that’s a completely different animal. And you can forget pinning the weight to your back for a proper low bar squat. Not only does this limit the amount of weight you can lift, but it increases your potential for injury because of all of the complex movements.
By adding a squat rack to your home gym, you can add on as many plates as you can lift and get after it without doing difficult movements that exhaust you first. Squat racks are also way safer to squat out of because they can have safety spotter arms and safeties that are customizable to your height and squat depth.
Customizable Workout
Owning your own squat rack has a host of benefits above the practical ones. You’ll never have to wait for a rack to be available before you can start your workout. Ever been to a commercial gym at 5:00 pm? You can also do whatever you want with the squat rack, and take as much time as you want there — you can even bicep curl in the squat rack if you really want to.
Due to the fact that a squat rack allows you to do pretty much anything you want to with a barbell, you can customize your workout to what best suits your needs. You can hit a full body workout, or focus on one muscle group at a time — either way, a squat rack in your home gym is a versatile tool to have if you want to maximize your strength gains and keep the intensity high.
What to Consider Before Buying
While there are features we considered essential to decide the best on our list, there are some aspects you still need to consider before you choose the best for you.
Height
One of the biggest factors to consider is how tall the uprights are. The ceiling’s height in the room the squat rack will be in will dictate which squat rack will work in that space.
If your space has low ceilings, it might be better to look for squat racks that do not have pull-up attachments or attachments that are removable. Most squat racks will be in the five to six-foot height range without a pull-up bar or attachment that requires more space above.
Stability
Since you’ll be placing your weights...
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