Barbell squats,bench presses, and otherclassic barbell liftsare hallmarks of the typicalgym workout. But these lifts require more than just technical knowledge — they also require specific equipment that most people don’t have lying around their living room or garage.
Power racks — aka power cages or squat cages — can create a safe framework forbarbell workoutsin the comfort of your home. They’re made with four upright poles with two horizontal bars between them.
While a power rack is not essential for doing barbell lifts, it makes them infinitely safer. Bar catches and safeties prevent falls and drops that could cause serious injuries if youlose your balanceor fail a lift.
Bodybuilders and gym rats aren’t the only ones who can take advantage of a power rack — it’s an excellent addition to ahome gymbecause it creates a safer place to perform lifts that challenge all your body’s major muscle groups.
Keep reading for our list of some of the best power racks on the market, plus tips to help you choose a rack that fits within your space, budget, andfitness goals.
Best power racks
How we chose the best power racks
We consulted withSimon Byrne, a Precision Nutrition Level 1 coach and Level 2 fitness instructor, andMarvin Nixon, a certified health and wellness coach and personal trainer, about what they look for when recommending power racks for their clients.
Here are the main features they say to look out for:
We also put every brand we recommend through a thorough vetting process that checks for unsupported health claims, a solid company reputation, and whether they engage in shady business practices. Only brands that passed made our list.
Pricing guide
The best power racks
Best overall power rack
Rogue RML-390F Flat Foot Monster Lite Rack
The Rogue RML-390F Flat Foot Monster Lite Rack gets the best-overall spot because it’s the perf balance of quality, safety, durability, and performance.
This flat (aka freestanding) rack doesn’t require bolts, so it’s an option forapartmentsor rooms where you may’t attach it to the floor. That also means you can move it around if you need to — but grab a buddy or two, because it clocks in at a not-so-lightweight 295 lbs.
This full-height rack has room for tall users, but the 48 x 49-in. footprint is still doable if you’ve got limited floor space. Plus, the 3 x 3-in. 11-gauge steel can take some serious weight — there’s no maximum weight on this thing, so go wild (safely!), friends.
It comes with a standard pin/pipe safety system, which catches the bar if you drop it mid-lift. You can also add on Rogue’sMonster Lite Strap Safety Systemfor $220 if you want to be able to adjust the height depending on the lift you’re doing.
The 5/8-in. holes are fairly standard, which means Rogue isn’t the only place you can get accessories. Whilewe love Rogue,it’s not the cheapest option, so saving a few dollars on accessories is a big plus.
Reviewers who want a power rack as the centerpiece of their home gym find the Flat Foot the right balance of quality and expandability. The price might be a little high for beginners, but for devoted lifters, it’s worth the investment.
Other than price, the only issue we have with this rack is that the weight storage horns aren’t included as part of the standard package. But they’re def worth adding on for the extra storage space and stability they provide.
Best half power rack
Marcy Home Gym Cage System Workout Station
The Marcy Home Gym gives you a safe, professional-quality gym workout without a full power cage. The half rack creates an area to safely catch the bar. It also acts as barbell storage space.
We like this model because it comes with some pretty legit extras. It features a high and low pulley system — perfect for lat pulldowns and ab crunches — and apull-up barfor greater workout variety. It also includes a lot of weight storage space forplates, kettlebells, and dumbbells.
The downside is that it’s not designed to expand. Luckily, you won’t need to expand too much because of all the extras that it comes with. The other issue reviewers mention is the assembly — some say it’s a pain in the a$$.
Lastly, the Marcy isn’t designed for heavy weightlifting. If you’repushing over 400 lbs.on your squats or bench press, this isn’t the power rack for you.
Best squat stand
Fringe Squat Rack with Pull-Up
The Fringe Squat Rack with Pull-Up keeps things basic and has a pretty compact footprint, so it works well for peeps who might be tight on space. This model makes the cut for the sturdy build and freestanding base that lets you lift up to 450 lbs. But it also has holes so you can bolt it to the floor for added stability if you need it.
Its 5/8-in. holes are compatible with many other lifting systems, making it easy to expand or add on as your abilities grow. Storage horns let you keepweight plateson the stand, helping you stay organized and adding even more stability.
It also has a built-in pull-up bar and comes with J-hooks to get you started with barbell workouts right away (the barbell’s not included, tho).
The downside is that it doesn’t come with much else. If you want extra J-hooks or storage horns, you gotta buy ’em separately.
Best power rack for beginners
REP PR-1000 Home Gym Power Rack
The REP PR-1000 Home Gym Power Rack provides the stability beginners need and offers some expansion options, all without breaking the bank. The 83-in. height also works for taller lifters.
A nice perk of this model is the number label on every fifth hole on the uprights, so you may say byeee to accidentally placing the safeties in the wrong holes. That little added feature makes it easier to get started with your workouts. The safeties also have an extended bar holder, giving you extra places to store or place the bar while you work out.
The REP also features onboard storage horns. These not only help keep your workout space organized but also act as a counterweight when you’re doing pull-ups.
Reviewers appreciate the easy setup, although there are some reports of shipping issues. Every now and then, the unit arrives with chipped or damaged parts.
Best power rack for heavy lifting
Rogue R-6 Power Rack
The Rogue R-6 Power Rack is professional gym-quality equipment for the home, and it’s a true behemoth. This huge rack offers extensive plate and fitness equipment storage. you’re able to easily use it to set up a suspended bodyweight system or store resistance bands, and you can use it by yourself or with a partner.
The R-6 works well for heavy lifting because it doesn’t have a maximum weight capacity. It also weighs a whopping 300 lbs. With all that weight, especially if you’re storing plates, it doesn’t need to be bolted down. It’s huge. It can counterbalance itself.
For theserious weightlifter,the R-6 provides everything you need and then some. Reviewers love the quality and workout options. They’re not so hot about the price, assembly, or footprint, though. You need a lot of space for this model, and it’ll take two people to assemble.
Best power rack for small spaces
PRx Profile ONE Squat Rack with Kipping Bar
The PRx Profile ONE Squat Rack with Kipping Bar takes the prize forsaving space. This wall-mounted unitfoldsout to act as a half rack and takes only 4 in. of space when fully folded. If you’re hurting for space, that’s gonna let you get your workout on without a rack taking up the whole room.
But if you’re going to take advantage of the kipping bar, you need at least 9-foot (ft.) ceilings unless you install the pull-up bar a little lower (which you’re able to). In case you don’t know what a kipping pull-up is, it’s a type of pull-up madefamous by CrossFit.Basically, you use your body’s momentum to do pull-ups in quick succession.
This bad boy comes with all the hardware you need to secure and anchor it to the wall. Once installed, it can hold up to 1,000 lbs.
On the downside, it doesn’t have quite as many safety features as a full power rack — there’s no safety bar in case you drop the barbell.
Best folding power rack
Force USA Myrack Folding Power Rack
The Force USA Myrack Folding Power Rack provides a full power rack in a compact design. The sides extend to a full-size rack but fold down to a 20-in. depth. Many folding designs offer only a half rack, but this model provides a full-size option with a 2,000-lb. maximum weight limit. Uh, pretty sure that will work for 99 percent of people.
The Myrack is also a modular design. That means you can buy a whole range of accessories to configure the power rack exactly the way you want and need it. You can purchase different types of J-cups, dip handles, band pegs, and storage horns initially or later on as you develop your weightlifting routine.
This compact model is freestanding, so you don’t have to anchor it to a wall or the floor.
Reviewers love the versatility and customization they can get with the Myrack. However, all those accessories don’t come free. It can get pricey very quickly if you get a little accessory happy.
Best custom power rack
Sorinex XL Series Power Rack
The Sorinex XL Series Power Rack lets you design your power rack from start to finish. Even if you order just the basic package, you’ll end up with a modular power rack that can expand as you grow.
The basic package includes storage horns, two pull-up bars, J-cups, and safety straps. The Uber Package includes spotter bars, band pins, and a utility seat (among a whole lot of other things).
But the cool part is that you may completely customize your order from the very beginning to make it exactly what you want and need.
Beginners, this isn’t the power rack for you since you probably don’t know exactly what you need just yet. But if you’re looking to invest in a home gym long-term, you can’t go wrong with a model that’s built to your specifications.
The 3 x 3-in. 11-gauge steel provides the stability and weight (561 lbs.) for pros to work through tough training sessions. You pay for that stability, durability, and customization, though. Like, a lot. So check out other options unless you’re ready for a true investment.
Best outdoor power rack
GETRX’D Powder-Coated Backyard Titan RMU Rig
The GETRX’D Powder-Coated Backyard Titan RMU Rig transforms outdoor spaces into a serious training area.
The modular design allows you to customize it forcross-training,weight training,ninja course training, or gymnastics workouts. For example, the uprights adjust to anywhere between 9 and 12 ft. for gymnasts or people who climb fitness equipment like mountain goats.
Holes on all four sides of the uprights let you get creative in how you use the rack too. In total, you’ve got more than 60 accessory options, although you’ll have to buy most of them separately.
The powder-coated steel works in most climates. But if you live in a wetter climate, you can upgrade to galvanized steel for added weather protection.
Finally, reviewers love that you get some color choices in the accessories. Just know that this model doesn’t come cheap, and it’s complex enough that beginners should probably start somewhere else.
Best budget power rack
Sunny Health & Fitness Power Zone Squat Stand Power Rack
We don’t all have $1,000 to drop on a power rack, so thank goodness for models like this squat stand/half rack by Sunny Health & Fitness. This model has an impressive 805-lb. maximum weight limit despite its relatively small footprint and freestanding design. Storage horns keep weights organized and help counterbalance the rack too.
It also includes a pull-up bar and band pegs. And it comes with safety arms, but they’re pretty short. Don’t expect them to do much if you step too far away from the rack.
Side-by-side comparison
How to choose a power rack
We just gave you 10 amaze options, so how on earth do you choose between them? Here’s what to keep in mind.
Size and dimensions
Step 1: Find a power rack that fits your space and needs.
“…ensure you measure every dimension twice. Then check that any accessories are not outside of those measurements,” suggests Nixon. Consider add-ons like pull-up and kipping bars — you’ll need extra room to accommodate those.
“Also, keep in mind that the rack is not the only thing that needs to fit in the space you have. That rack is only about 4 ft. wide, but an Olympic bar is 7 ft. long. You not only need 7 ft. of width, but you also need enough space to maneuver your own body and the plates to load the bar,” he adds.
Also think about how you’ll use the rack. “Some racks are made with an increased depth to allow for Olympic weightlifting exercises… while others are adapted for powerlifting and allow space for power rack monolift attachments and for multiple spotters to fit inside the rack,” says Byrne.
Safety features
Check to see which safety features come with the rack and which ones you’ll need to purchase separately. Safety features and accessories could include:
You probably only need one or two, but the more the merrier (and safer).
Expandability
Some power racks are modular and can expand or be adjusted with different attachments. Others come with everything built in, with little adjustability. Yourfitness goalswill help you decide what kind you need.
For basic weightlifting and fitness, you probably don’t need too much expandability. If that’s all you’ll do, a structural design works.
However, if your goal is to spend the rest of your life getting bigger, faster, and stronger, you might need a power rack that grows with your abilities.
Fitness goals
Whatkind of lifter are you?
Beginnersandgeneral fitness enthusiastsmight just need a safe way to do classic barbell exercises. That probably means they don’t need extra storage horns, band pegs, or twopull-up bars(one is def enough).
But powerlifters and Olympic weightlifters have different needs. Experienced weightlifters might want a power rack with all the bells and whistles to help them reach their weightlifting #goals.
Freestanding vs. bolt
Power racks become more stable when bolted to the floor. Bolting prevents flexing and lets you lift with confidence that the rack will stay in place throughout your workout. But not everyone has a space that can accommodate a power rack that’s permanently attached to the floor.
Freestanding models are the answer to this problem. While some aren’t as stable as a model that bolts to the floor, the quality of the build makes more of a difference. Many freestanding power racks can take heavy use without moving or flexing. They often have storage horns that add stability when they’re used to store weight plates too.
Frequently asked questions
Is a power rack worth it?
Power racks let you do “big” lifts without a spotter. A bobble while doing a bench press can lead to a crushed airway, but a safety arm will catch the bar before it touches your body. The same holds true for squats and other barbell lifts.
A power rack can also save you money in the long run. Depending on the cost of agym membership, you might recoup the cost of the power rack by investing in your home gym instead.
Finally, a power rack gives you the chance to do yourheavy lifting in private.
What is a power rack vs. a squat rack?
Great question. Here’s the difference between ’em:
You might have also heard of a power tower, which isn’t designed for use with a barbell. It has a pull-up bar, push-up handles, triceps dip handles, and a station for leg lifts.
What do you need for a power rack?
The best power rack attachments vary, depending on your fitness goals. They may include cardio and plyo attachments, like a step-up platform or a drop-down station for triceps dips, ormultiple pull-up bars. However, the most useful accessories are:
Are Rogue and Titan the best power rack brands?
Rogue and Titan are definitely two of the most well known, if not the best, power rack brands. Both brands made Byrne’s shortlist of the best power racks.
Rogue enjoys a reputation for the high quality of their models. But you pay for that quality (and the reputation).
Titan offers less expensive power racks. Our list doesn’t include a Titan model, but that doesn’t mean they don’t make great power racks. There’s a growing number of high quality players in the industry, making the competition fierce.
The bottom line
The addition of a power rack to your home gym can safely open yourhome workoutsto barbell exercises, which might be the last thing you need tosay goodbye to a gym membershipforever.
Make sure to measure your available space, be clear on your fitness goals, and decide which attachments you need before buying. A little work up front will make sure you end up with a power rack that keeps you lifting for years.
