Take Your Home Gym to the Next Level With These 9 Power Racks (2024)

This rack offers a rock-solid foundation for various exercises, making it an excellent choice for powerlifting, CrossFit, or simply crushing your home workouts. Designed with limited space in mind, it ensures you don't have to sacrifice your entire room for your home gym. Its relatively compact yet robust design makes it a top choice for individuals without unlimited space while also not sacrificing on the sturdiness of larger frame models.

What Our Editors Say About It

At its core, the PR-4000 boasts a robust steel frame that exudes stability and confidence, even when tackling heavyweights. With an impressive weight capacity of 1,000 pounds, it can handle the most grueling workout sessions. The adjustable spotting arms, pull-up bar, and J-cups seamlessly complement the rack's durability, expanding your exercise possibilities from bench presses to chin-ups.

Samuel sums it up perfectly: "You can't go wrong with this rack, and it's customizable to suit your evolving needs. However, keep in mind that its initial price is just the beginning; additional add-ons can incrementally stack up, so plan your budget accordingly."

Read more: Best Adjustable Dumbbell Sets

Its price point is notably attractive given its sturdy construction and compared to some of our other, similar favorites. Boasting a weight capacity of 1,000 pounds, it caters to those at more advanced fitness levels, providing a secure platform for challenging lifts.

Read more: Best Weightlifting and Strength Training Shoes

It may not be the best choice for renters or those aiming to lift extremely heavy weights, as it relies on the structural integrity of your walls. However, if your fitness goals revolve around comfortably benching and squatting up to 225 pounds, this foldable rack has got you covered.

In our experience using this rack, the heavy-duty steel construction can handle just about anything we've thrown at it. It's built to last and accommodate a wide range of exercises without taking up nearly as much space as a free-standing, 4-post set up, and that it does. And with a weight capacity of 1,000 pounds, you can be sure that this rack is not compromising on stability, either.

Read more: Best Home Gym Equipment

For a power rack, its walk-in design is generous, providing ample room for individuals of all sizes to execute a wide array of exercises efficiently and safely, without feeling confined.

"I haven't come across a power rack with comparable build quality for $400 of less. It's pretty unheard of," says Appleton. "This is one of the few budget options that delivers a reliable performance without breaking the bank and without risking stability."

Potential Drawbacks

Assembling this power rack is no walk in the park, but it's an inconvenience we found minor in the grand scheme of its overall quality and affordability. It's a solid product that offers excellent value for the price., but lacks the user-friendly finishes of more premium designs.

Read more: Best Barbells

While it's true that this power rack comes with a higher price tag compared to some other options on the market, it justifies the investment with its exceptional design and unwavering functionality. As with most racks, desirable features, such as adjustable spotting arms, a pull-up bar, and J-cups, come at an additional cost, too. But if you're looking for a power rack that combines both form and function, this choice is well worth its hefty price.

Read more: Best Weight Benches

Who It's For

If you're in search of a proven, robust option that's a familiar sight in CrossFit gyms, take a closer look at the HR-2 Half-Rack. Built to withstand commercial usage, it's a workhorse that can handle substantial weight.

The HR-2's thoughtful design includes a smaller footprint, making it an excellent choice for individuals dealing with space constraints, too. It's a prime candidate for home gyms, garage setups, and even small apartments.

With numerous height adjustment options for load placement, you can effortlessly pick up a bar for squats or lunges at your preferred height. It also accommodates a wide range of Rogue accessories, adding versatility to your workouts.

What Our Editors Say About It

"Out of all the half-racks I've tested, this is one of my classic favorites," explains Samuel. His hands-on experience with this rack has reinforced its pull-up bar is ultra-sturdy, perfect for explosive movements like muscle ups.

Potential Drawbacks

While the HR-2 Half-Rack offers versatility and customization options, it's essential to be aware of the ceiling height requirement. To comfortably accommodate this rack, your space should have ceilings that are at least 7 feet tall. To do pullups and muscle ups, you'll need even more vertical height.

Read more: Best Smith Machines

Who It's For

If you're on the hunt for the king of half racks, a fully featured option that wouldn't look out of place in a commercial gym, then this Hammer Strength design is a great choice. If you're fortunate enough to have a spacious garage or barn home gym structure with ample overhead clearance, this rack is ideal. It delivers a gym-quality lifting experience for a wide range of exercises and is as rock-solid as they come.

The 3" x 3" 11-gauge uprights are crafted for longevity and feature laser-cut holes and numbering for precise adjustments during your training sessions. It's a rack built to last, and the only reason you'll ever need another is if you decide to downsize your gym.

What Our Editors Say About It

"This is the Cadillac of half racks, an ultra-sturdy lifting experience that can take on massive amounts of weight for all movements," explains Samuel. "I can test maxes on this rack with ease.

"I've never felt more comfortable dropping weights in a rack than I do with this one. The adjustable spotter arms are super-sturdy with very little give, making this perfect for advanced training concepts like iso-hold squats and deadlifts."

Potential Drawbacks

As much as we love this rack, it's important to note that it is definitely not for those with limited space. You'll need substantial floor space and vertical real estate to accommodate it.

Another aspect to consider is that the pull-up bar, while versatile with its multi-grip configuration, lacks a standard straight-bar option, which some users may miss. Additionally, the spotter arms are on the shorter side, requiring adjustment in your technique when stepping out of the rack with a load. It's a minor inconvenience but worth noting for those accustomed to specific preferences.

Read more: Best Indoor Rowing Machines

Who It's For

Don't its stripped down footprint fool you–this squat rack delivers on stability and function. Designed to accommodate most home lifters, it boasts a robust build within a small footprint that can handle weights of up to 405 pounds with ease. It also doesn't sacrifice aesthetics in the pursuit of performance.

If you have limited space in your home gym, this small-footprint version of the NX half rack may be ideal for you. It maintains the same level of build quality as its larger counterpart and stands out as one of the sturdiest options among basic squat rack designs.

What Our Editors Say About It

This is essentially the small-footprint version of the NX half rack. It’s a better fit in tight home gyms, and is of similar build quality, and among basic squat rack designs, it’s one of the sturdiest options.

"The spotter arms on this rack are on the shorter side, so keep that in mind," says Samuel.

Potential Drawbacks

While the compact design of this squat rack is ideal for tight home gyms, it does come with a trade-off in terms of weight storage. You'll have less space for plate storage, and the placement of the plates near the ground can be a bit frustrating, particularly when you're fatigued after demanding deadlift sessions. This inconvenience is a minor drawback to consider.

With a price tag just north of $2,000, it may not be the most budget-friendly option in its category. However, it's worth noting that this rack is proudly made in the USA and backed by a 10-year warranty. This level of quality assurance speaks to the rack's durability and long-term reliability, making it a sound investment for your home gym.

Who It's For

The SR-4000 Squat Rack from REP Fitness stands out as our top choice for those seeking a no-frills yet exceptionally stable squat rack. It's a powerhouse designed for individuals looking to elevate their strength training without the unnecessary additions often associated with more extensive racks.

What Our Editors Say About It

In our hands-on experience, the SR-4000 Squat Rack has consistently demonstrated its exceptional stability, even under substantial weight loads.

Assembly is a breeze, even in tight spaces, making it an excellent fit for home gyms, garage setups, or small apartments.

Potential Drawbacks

While the SR-4000 Squat Rack excels in many aspects, its taller design may pose challenges for individuals with low ceilings in their home gym space. It's essential to ensure your space can accommodate its vertical clearance comfortably.

Another consideration is the limited weight storage capacity of this rack. To address this, we recommend investing in a weight tree to keep your weights organized and easily accessible during your workouts.

Read more: Best Bumper Plates

Power racks (a.k.a. “power cages”) are deceptively simple. Most models look like a durable, rugged steel cage that’s designed to serve as a base for your weighted workout equipment. Most also require adding optional add-ons if you want to use them for non-barbell exercises. There’s a lot to consider when shopping for the best home power rack for you:

Full vs. half rack: You'll want to decide which one you need (and have space for). One is not better than the other—it’s mostly about the training experience you want.

In fact, half racks are actually found more often in commercial gyms than full racks. "The biggest difference is that you can’t train within a half rack. But for many people, training within the full rack can feel restrictive anyway," explains Samuel.

Both are equally capable of 'spotting' you, as long as you pick up a half rack with spotter arms. The main difference in your home gym may come down to sturdiness. Half racks in commercial gyms and pro sports facilities are often anchored to weightlifting platforms, enhancing their solidity. If you can’t do that in your home gym and plan to squat or deadlift more than 400 pounds, err towards a full rack. Just know that it’ll have a massive footprint in your gym. If you’re training under 350 pounds, give serious thought to the half-rack: In most cases, it’ll save you precious home gym space.

Size: If you're tight on space, you might opt for a foldable racks, because they're great. From foot print size to height to additional accessory options, every cage will offers a slightly different level of customization. If you have larger home gym and are interesting in building things out, consider a power rack a strong starting point, and shop closely for the features that matter to you the most.

Make sure you have the floor space for a full rack, plus at least three feet on each side. If you use a bench in your training, you’ll also want at least 10 feet in front of the rack (to accommodate for the bench and have some room to spare.

Make sure you have at least one foot of clearance above you for the height of the rack, especially if you’re hoping to do pullups. If you don’t have that, the rack may still fit, but you won’t be able to do pullups.

Durability and weight capacity: The type of construction is heavily tied in with a rack’s total weight capacity. Almost every model on the market today is made of steel, alloy steel, or powder-coated steel. The true measure of strength is the gauge of steel used. The higher gauge, the stronger the cage. Beginners may not need to worry about this when starting out. But better-quality steel will always be safer, more durable, better equipped to handle heavy weights, and more long-lasting.

Every power rack has a corresponding weight limit with most models ranging between 300 and 1,500 pounds. Always aim for a rack that has at least a 500-pound weight capacity. No, you may never lift 500 pounds on any single movement, but you'll thank yourself for having that margin for error if you ever miss on a squat and lose control of the bar.

Customizability: You'll be tempted to turn your power rack into your entire home gym and pick up every accessory available, such as the cable attachment, the belt squat, etc. But a power rack is best as a power rack. So focus on that, instead of over-adding accessories. If you're tight on space, sure, get the cable attachment, but know that, with rare exceptions, most rack cable attachments don't come close to matching what you've come to experience at commercial gyms.

Attachments: Be careful not to waste money on added accessories and attachments. The only attachments you might want to take seriously for your power rack are a dip bar and jammer arms. Increasingly, today’s power racks offer extra accessories and attachments meant to make the power rack even more all-purpose, but in practice, these accessories are very rarely worth purchasing with your rack, according to Samuel. "The pulley system you add to your power rack simply won’t live up to the lat pulldown you might be imagining, so don’t overpay for added accessories just to say you have them," he says.

The power rack is best used for its intended purpose: setting you up for heavy lifts like bench presses and squats, and offering a home for pullups. The other stuff just isn’t worth it.

As you might've noticed, we've included a few half racks in the list above. There's a distinct difference between power racks and half racks, but we've found that most people either don't have the space for a full rack, or don't really need more than a half rack at their fitness level. It's up to you to decide which would better suit your needs.

"A power rack is a 4-6 post rack you would do most of your lifts IN," explains Otey. Think of a power rack as a cage-like structure. It also features at least two horizontal bars catches on each side, which are adjustable in height and function as mechanical spotters. Most power racks leave room to be outfitted with a variety of accessories like pulleys, a lat pull down bar, etc.

A half rack, on the other hand, is a shallow 4 post where lifts are executed on the outside of the rack, Otey told Men's Health. Half racks are comprised of 2 vertical posts and can also feature horizontal safety bars. That being said, the stability and maximum weight capacity associated with a half-rack is typically inferior compared to a power rack. If you are limited on space or are a beginner, a half-rack could be a solid choice for you. If you only have room for a half rack and are concerned about stability, look for one that gives the user an option to anchor or bolt the equipment to the ground.

If you’re getting a half rack or squat rack, don’t even think about the accessories (i.e. belt squat, dip bar etc.). Squat racks generally lack the stability to support those accessories at a high level. Consider a squat rack as a way to do squats, pullups, and presses. If you want to lift super-heavy (think: rack pulls) opt for something else.

It all comes down to one thing according to Otey: safety.

Yeah, you can lift a barbell at home without a power rack, but when it comes to lifting safely without a human spotter, we highly recommend using it. "The key to working out at home is ensuring you are safe and there is no better way than having a power rack," he says.

It's not a substitute for a human spot on your heaviest lifts (that's how injuries happen!), but it does offer you security and assurance you might not have otherwise. The right power rack can also set you up to do pull-ups, hanging abs movements, and much more. Especially in this era, when racks are expandable and have added attachments that can push you farther.

As our Fitness Director Ebenezer Samuel puts it, "This is the centerpiece of your home gym and it insures you're pushing yourself with leg training."

With a home power rack, you can have access to more weight and versatility compared to dumbbells and other home-gym accessories combined, allowing you to progress your lifts without scrambling to find heavier dumbbells or compound movements.

Many power racks offer a selection of accessories that allow you to perform additional strength training exercises straight from the rack. These add-ons will cost you in addition to the cage itself, but if you want to get the most out of your home gym investment, you'll use a good power rack in a variety of ways.

A power rack can be used for virtually any barbell exercise you can think of. Think squatting, deadlift, bench pressing, all of the major lifts, says Otey. "A power rack can be a one-stop gym where everything can be accomplished."

It's important to note that benches are often sold separately, and may not be included with a purchase of a cage. Depending on a rack's specifications and add-ons, you may be able to use it to perform a variety of non-barbell strength exercises such as lat pull downs, pull ups, and pulley exercises. Although many of these accessories are compatible with various racks, it’s important to use them only with the equipment they were designed for.

Additionally, be sure to only shop for a power rack that your space can accommodate. Power racks should only be utilized on an even, non-slip surface (check out these best home gym flooring options), away from stairs.

At Men's Health, we take great pride in providing our readers with reliable and trustworthy product recommendations. We believe that our readers deserve the best, which is why we always make sure to conduct thorough research and testing before making any recommendations. Our writers and editors thoughtfully select experts for collaboration on product recommendations, and are also experts in their own right, using their informed opinions to select products and ensuring that our content is of the highest quality.

Our product recommendations are purely editorial, and while we may receive free products to test and review, we only recommend the products we are most impressed by. We never let retailers or public relations contacts dictate our content or product coverage. Which is why you can trust us to provide you with reliable and unbiased product recommendations.

Our in-house fitness experts and staff, including certified trainers Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., MH Fitness Director, and Senior Fitness Editor Brett Williams, NASM, have tested dozens of power racks throughout the years. Through our extensive testing process, we considered every essential feature from construction and durability to overall dimensions and weight capacity, plus any extra features, such as delivery, warranties, ease of assembly, and aesthetic.

Each rack was put to the test with powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting exercises, with a minimum of 10 sets and 100 reps performed at both comfortable and near-max weights for each movement. Attachments including pull-up bars and spotter arms were utilized and considered in testing as well. We consulted with both our MH Advisory Board, and our Strength in Diversity trainers to poll them on their experiences with the top racks, too.