The Best Squat Racks for Your Money
If you have the space at home to have a squat rack, it’s one of the best pieces of equipment you can own. It doesn’t have to be large to hold a barbell, which can be used to perform some of the key weightlifting strength exercises including the squat, deadlift, and bench press, among numerous other exercises. However, the best squat racks can be pricey, so it’s important to understand what you’re looking for and to understand the difference between a squat rack and a power rack. If spacing-saving is a consideration, note the difference in folding squat racks as opposed to free-standing.
The great thing about a squat rack is it can be used for any number of strength training exercises. Interested in purchasing one of the best squat racks for your personal home use? We’ve rounded up quality options at a variety of price points for you to choose from.
Our Top Five Recommended Squat Racks
Model
Rating
Dimensions
Material
Weight Capacity
Pricing
Reviews
Rogue SM-1 Monster Squat Stand 2.0
54" L X 50" W X 73" H
11-gauge Steel
Tested At 1000 Lbs
Merax Barbell Rack Adjustable Squat Stand
27.5”~45.5” L X 19.5” W X 43.5”~67.5” H
11-gauge Steel
650 Lbs
Yaheetech Standard Solid Steel Adjustable Squat Rack
21" L X 19" W X 44-70" H
55mm Steel Tube Frame
441 Lbs
What Is a Squat Rack?
A squat rack is probably one of the biggest pieces of equipment you’ll purchase for your home gym (including other machines like the treadmill, elliptical, etc.). It isn’t a motorized machine but more of a support stand for a barbell. It’s made up of two adjustable metal posts that have hooks or J cups on each where the barbell actually rests. Often times you’ll see a bench near or under a squat rack, to perform exercises like the bench press, but the bench is sold separately. With a squat rack, generally the bar is always lifted and moved forward to perform exercises.
What Is a Power Rack?
Also referred to as a power cage by some, this piece of equipment is made up of four metal posts, connected by horizontal bars making it appear to look like a “cage”. See our review here of Best Rigs and Wallmounts for examples The metal posts have safety spotters or safety bars which can be connected at various heights, designed to catch the bar in case you fail at a movement. This is the main difference between the squat rack ad power rack—a power rack can eliminate the need for a spotter when doing heavy lifts. Many also have a pull-up bar as the top horizontal connecting bar, and sometimes dip bars as well.
Benefits of a Squat Rack
So why would you want a squat rack over a power rack? Great question! For starters, a squat rack takes up a lot less space. It is smaller than a power rack and can be shoved against a wall or into a corner if need be. Squat racks also don’t require a certain ceiling height—they can fit in most rooms. And squat racks are cheaper than power racks, too.
Versatility is Key
Whether using heavy weights or light, you can get a gym-quality home workout using a squat rack. What type of squat rack you want depends on whether you have low ceilings or high, concrete floors or wood. Check the specs to determine just how heavy-duty a steel you need to get the job done. And as always, know before you go shopping.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Rogue SM-1 Monster Squat Stand 2.0
A sweet little squat rack that fits just about anywhere. Fully redesigned, the Rogue Monster Squat Stand 2.0 is constructed with 3×3″ 11-gauge steel uprights, 1″ hardware, and an easy bolt-together base with triangular plates. Heavy-duty steel for sure.
The Rogue Fitness unit features 73″ uprights which contain keyhole design holes for better flexibility in terms of attachments. Satin black powder coating makes for a great look,. The smallest of the Rogue Fitness Monster Series, this unit is affordable and easy to move about. And yet with a 1,000-pound weight capacity, it’s good to go for any level of user. This also allows it to double as weight storage.
2. Merax Barbell Rack Adjustable Squat Stand
Move the spotter arms up or down the 13 different adjustment heights depending on whether you’re doing squats, incline or flat bench. The width between the two metal posts is also adjustable, so you can move them closer and use the dip bars up top to help train your triceps. There’s a place on the bottom of both posts to store weight plates, too.
Engineered with 2″ hole spacing on the barbell rack, the adjustability of the unit allows for many sized users. The Merax unit allows for 13 different height adjustments, which affords not only squats, but bench presses at all angles, curls, rack pulls, and shrugs. A 650-pound weight max means it would be tough to outgrow this easy-to-move unit.
3. Yaheetech Standard Solid Steel Adjustable Squat Rack
Suitable for both standard and multi-grip Olympic sized bars, this steel squat rack adjusts from 45-inches to 70.5 inches, depending on how high you need it. It can hold up to 441 pounds of weight and don’t worry about the rack moving around as you lift and drop the bar on it, thanks to the anti-skid feet pads.
Two separate stands without a crossbar, the upside is users can move this around quite easily. This is good for small spaces. One downside is you’ll have to get the two bars spaced properly yourself. Made from 50mm (1.97-inch) steel tubing. The space-saving uprights feature 14 adjustable safety pins spaced 2 inches apart.
4. Weider Platinum Squat Rack
The Weider Platinum Squat Rack is manufactured by iFit, the parent company of NordicTrack and ProForm. Measuring 32.5″ x 49.5″ x 63″ the unit can handle up to 310 pounds. Manufactured using a steel alloy, this rack can be utilized with any number of Olympic barbell exercises, and could be combined with the iFit app for virtual strength workouts.
This unit comes with a 90-day parts and labor warranty.
5. Rage Fitness Adjustable Squat Rack
A bit more expensive, but reliable, this adjustable steel rack has hooks or J cups that can also be adjusted to whatever height you need in order to be able to lift a barbell safely. It’s durable, but also easily portable if you need to move it around your gym space. Bonus: It comes with a year warranty!
Constructed using 11-gauge, 2×2 steel, the Rage Fitness Adjustable Squat Rack utilizes 3″ hole-spacing and is compatible with Rage-brand spotter arms.
