8 Best Squat Racks For Home Gym That Can Help You Lift Weights Safely

Best Squat Rack for your Home Gym

Our Top 3 Squat Racks

Best Squat Rack for your barbell exercises

Investing in a squat rack for your home or garage gym will open up a new chapter in your training opportunities, allowing you to train safely and build strength and muscle in a way that would not have been possible without a squat stand.

Purchasing the correct rack stand for your gym could be challenging. It will involve countless hours combing the internet and shops, costing you valuable training time.

But we can help. We want to help make things easy for you. Thus to help you make the right choice and invest in the best squat rack for your home gym that can serve you well for many years, our team has analyzed and evaluated what is on the market.

We have selected what we believe are some of the best squat racks on the market based on build quality, durability, size, and features. We hope one of these can meet your weightlifting and strength-building goals and help you build muscle mass safely.

Best Squat Rack Overall: Rogue SML-2C Squat Stand

Look no further than the Rogue SML-2C Squat Stand if you are looking for the best squat rack for your home gym.

The SML-2C is a compact, versatile squat rack with 3×3-inch 11-gauge steel uprights. Like all equipment from Rogue Fitness, you will struggle to find fault in the build quality.

Taking some of the best features from Rogue Fitness’s popular squat racks, the SML-2C is a heavy-duty gym accessory that can be color customized to suit your taste and gym setup.

The USA-made squat stand has an adjustable pull-up bar, allowing you to expand your training opportunities with pull-ups, clean pulls, and similar exercises.

It is sturdily built and comes with a foot base, making it possible to install without bolting it into the floor. And with a rated 1,000-pound capacity, it is solid and stable enough to take whatever weight you throw at it.

Floor mounting accessories are available as an option to give you extra stability.

You get pre-drilled 5/8-inch holes with the stand as standard. The holes do not have any numbering, but you can order with laser-cut numbers to make your life easy.

You get J-Cups with protective UHMW Plastic Inserts with the squat stand. You can also order optional spotter arms with the rack, something we recommend to ensure your safety during training.

Many squat racks have large footprints, taking a big chunk of your gym space. But the compact size of the Rogue SML-2C makes it suitable for different gym sizes.

It comes flat-packed, but installation is not challenging, with all the components in the pack.

The Rogue SML-2C is the best squat rack for home gym. It should fit into any home gym and can support any training regimen. The mid-range price would not leave a big dent in your bank account and should be high on the list of any serious lifter.

Pros

• Color options to suit taste and training environment
• No need for floor bolts
• Easy installation
• High weight capacity
• Keenly priced
• Made in the USA

Cons

• Adding optional extras can make it slightly expensive

Product Weight: 157 pounds | Product Length: 48 inches | Product Width: 49 inches | Product Height: 92.25 inches | Weight Capacity: 1000+ pounds | Steel Notes: 3×3 inches 11-Gauge Steel Uprights and 2×3 inches 11-Gauge Steel Bases

The Rogue SML-2C is available to view and order directly from Rogue Fitness

Best Premium Squat Rack: Rogue SM-2 Monster Squat Stand 2.0

Rogue Fitness equipment is some of the best on the market. Their build quality and durability are hard to beat. The SM-2 Monster Squat Stand 2.0 is no different.

Build quality is exceptional, at the highest level, and with great attention to detail. It is sturdy, well-constructed with some of the highest-grade steel for fitness equipment, and durable.

The heavy-duty, extensively redesigned Rogue SM-2 Monster Squat Stand 2.0 has 11-gauge steel uprights and base, all powder-coated for longevity and to protect the equipment from rust and damage.

It has a larger footprint than other Rogue squat racks on the list but is still compact enough to fit into many garage gyms.

It will require assembly on delivery, but most will not find that challenging. And you get all the installation hardware in the delivery package.

You wouldn’t need to bolt the SM-2 into the floor. It is heavy, and the triangle plates, cross members, and rubber feet at the base ensure it is stable and will not wobble during your training.

The included pull-up bar makes it a versatile gym accessory, allowing you to expand the possible number of exercises.

You also get J-Cups with the stand, the quality of which is unparalleled – powder-coated steel, each weighing about 7.5 pounds. You also get Spotter arms with UHMW plastic to protect your bar.

The SM-2 is one of the best squat racks to have. But it is expensive. Thus it is geared more toward seasoned weightlifters than casual lifters.

It is one of the best squat racks, movable and compact, so it will not take much gym space.

It should be an ideal squat rack for lifters with plans to lift heavy. And with a rated 1000-pound weight capacity, it will meet all your powerlifting ambitions.

Pros

• Unparalleled build quality with great attention to detail.
• Movable and sturdy with no need to bolt to the floor
• Powder-coated for durability and longevity
• Made in the USA

Cons

• Price at the high end
• Suitable for seasoned than casual lifters

Weight capacity: 1000+ pounds | Product Length: 54 inches | Product Width: 50 inches | Product Height: 93 inches | Steel Notes: 3×3 inches 11-Gauge Steel

The Rogue SM-2 Monster Squat Stand 2.0 are available to buy directly from Rogue Fitness

Best Foldable Squat Rack: Rogue RML-3W Fold Back Rack

Are you struggling with gym space? No need t worry. You can opt for a wall-mounted fold-back stand, and the Rogue RML-3W is the best squat rack with folding capabilities to consider.

The Rogue RML-3W is a wall-mounted squat rack that can fold outward when needed for your workout and folds inward and out of the way when not in use. The rotating hinge system ensures you can do this smoothly. That means you can install one in your and still be able to pack your car inside.

Unfolding allows you to do your presses, squats, and other barbell exercises. And there is enough gap between the uprights and the wall to ensure you can work out comfortably.

Installation is not challenging, thanks to the hinge-and-pin system it uses, but you need a solid wall to bolt it on to ensure it is secure.

Aside from stringers that are available as optional extras, you get all mounting hardware with your package

The build quality is exceptional and not different from other Rogue squat racks. It is a USA-made squat rack, well-designed and sturdily built.

It uses 3×3 inch 11-gauge steel uprights, just like the Monster Series racks, and uprights are powder-coated for durability and longevity. And you get j-cups and a pull-up bar with the squat stand.

The Rogue RML-3W is the best squat rack that can be wall-mounted and folded out of the way when not needed.

It can share the same space with your car or other equipment and help take your weight lifting and strength training to another level. And with over 1000 positive reviews, you will be making a good choice when you opt for the RML-3W.

Pros

• Wall-mounted, foldable, and space-saving design.
• High build quality
• Keenly priced
• Made in the USA

Cons

• Expensive. Price on the high side

Product Weight: 163 or 190 pounds | Product Length: 24.75 or 43.75 inches | Product Width: 49 inches | Product Height: 90.4 inches | Foot Print: 24.75 or 43.75 x 56.1875 inches (On Wall) | Steel Notes: 3×3 inches 11 gauge steel uprights

You can view the Rogue RML-3W Wall Mount Rack and order directly from Rogue Fitness.

Best Squat Rack For Small Space: Rogue SM-1 Monster Squat Stand 2.0

The Rogue SM-1 Monster Squat Stand 2.0 is another popular and well-constructed squat rack from Rogue Fitness.

It is one of the shortest in its collection, and thus it has no pull-up bar due to its height.

It is also compact, making it the best squat rack for small spaces.

Despite its height and small footprint, it can handle squats, bench and overhead presses, and other barbell exercises.

It is a USA-made heavy-duty squat stand with the same components and build quality as the Rogue squat racks. Thus it is sturdy, durable, and well-built.

Its 3×3 inch 11-gauge steel upright with powder coating ensures it will serve you well for many years.

The bolt-together base helps to keep it stable during your training. Thus you would not have to worry about bolting the SM-1 into the floor. But Rogue offers floor-mounting optional hardware if required.

As with the other Rogue squat stands, you get J-Cups with protective UHMW plastic inserts with the rack, but no safety spotter arms, which are available at an extra expense.

It comes flat-packed, but all the hardware for installation comes with the package.

Despite its compactness, the SM-1 can handle 1000+ weights, putting it at par with other Rogue squat stands and much more dependable than many others on the market.

The small footprint, sturdiness, weight capacity, and high build quality make the Rogue SM-1 the best squat racks for small home and garage gyms.

But the Rogue SM-1 Squat Stand 2.0 will also fit into any large training outfit, and the height will make it easy to install in low-height ceiling rooms.

Pros

• Exceptional build quality
• Compact for small garage and home gyms, and larger training and affiliate facilities
• High weight capacity
• Suitable for low-ceiling rooms
• Made in the USA

Cons

• Expensive
• No pull-up bar included
• Compact design could restrict or slow down some activities

Product Weight Capacity: 1000+ pounds | Product Length: 54 inches | Product Width: 50 inches | Product Height: 73 inches | Foot Print: 50 x 54 inches | Steel Notes: 3×3 inches 11-Gauge Steel

You can view and order the Rogue SM-1 Squat Stand 2.0 directly from Rogue Fitness.

Best Budget Squat Rack: CAP Barbell FM-905Q

The CAP barbell is a no-frills budget squat rack geared more toward lifters looking for something to start their barbell training.

The build quality is acceptable but not spectacular. Cap barbell uses steel tubing with powder coating for durability.

It comes with a pull-up bar, J-cup catches to hold the barbel, and a weight plate storage facility.

One limitation is that the pull-up bar is not adjustable, which may not be convenient for some lifters. Thus ensure the height is good enough for your workouts.

The FM-905Q has a maximum weight capacity of 500 pounds. Aside from that being at the lower end, users complain it is much lower than that in reality. Thus Cap Barbell squat rack will be much more suitable for beginners.

The price is at the low end, and the FM-905Q will be a reasonable choice for beginners with a low budget who want to have a taste of working with a barbell.

The FM-905Q is available in different color options to suit your taste and surroundings.

Pros

• Acceptable build quality
• Low price point
• Different color options

Cons

• The fixed-height pull-up bar will not suit everybody.
• Quality control issue
• Low weight capacity makes it more suitable for beginners.

Product Weight: 59.51 pounds | Product Length: 56 inches | Product Width: 46 inches | Product Height: 85 inches | Maximum Weight Capacity: 500 pounds | Steel Notes: 11 and 12–Gauge Steel Tubing

The Cap Barbell FM-905Q is available on Amazon

Best Squat Rack With Pull-Up Bar: HULKFIT Pro Series Squat Rack

The HulkFit has a weight rating of 800 pounds, which seems high for the build quality and the materials.

It is versatile and can serve as a weight rack and squat rack. You also get a couple of pull-up bars for your pull-ups and similar exercises.

The pull-up bars are adjustable, so you can fix them at a convenient height to meet your needs.

The build quality is acceptable. It uses heavy-duty 11-gauge steel with powder coating for durability and longevity.

It is sturdy, and storing your weight plates on the built-in holders can help make it more stable and stop any wobbling during your workout.

You also get resistance band pegs on each side of the rack to expand your exercise possibilities.

It is compact and should work reasonably for many beginners and novices.

The 81-inch height of the squat rack s not spectacular but should be acceptable to many beginner and intermediate lifters.

The build quality is nowhere near those of Rogue Fitness, but the unit is reasonably priced and should meet the needs of many casual lifters.

Pros

• Acceptable build quality
• Good weight capacity
• Safety bars supplied with the squat rack
• Weight storage facility
• Reasonably pricedSuitable for casual lifters

Cons

• Rated weight capacity may be exaggerated
• Not for seasoned lifters
• May not stand the test of time.

Product Weight: 110 pounds | Product Weight capacity: 800 pounds | Product Length: 49.6 inches | Product Width: 46 inches | Product Height: 80.5 inches | Steel Notes: 2.35×2.35 inches 11-Gauge Steel

You can view and order the HulkFit Pro Series Squat Rack on Amazon.

Best Squat Rack With Plate Storage: Sunny Health & Fitness Power Zone Squat Stand

The Sunny Health & Fitness Squat Stand features an 8-position adjustable angled pull-up bar with multi-grip hand positions.

Build quality is good the equipment is sturdy. The steel construction can hold a maximum weight of 805 pounds, making it suitable for many lifters.

But unlike the other squat racks on the list, Sunny Health & Fitness uses 14-gauge steel, which is inferior. Thus durability could be an issue, especially for those looking for a unit that can serve them well for many years.

Assembly is not challenging, and all installation hardware comes with your purchase.

It has facilities to store weight plates on the uprights. Doing so makes it more stable and ensures you can work out safely without the squat rack wobbling or sliding.

Other features include resistance band pins to expand your exercise options, J-hooks, and adjustable spotter arms to ensure your safety while training. There are various options available to upgrade it into complete gym equipment.

It is compact and should be a good buy for starters looking for a no-frills squat rack.

Pros

• Adjustable angled pull-up bar with multi-grip positions
• High weight capacity
• Sturdily built
• Reasonable priced

Cons

• Durability could be an issue
• Uses 14-gauge steel

Product Weight Capacity: 805 pounds | Product Length: 38 inches | Product Width: 53 inches | Product Height: 87 inches | Foot Print: 53 x 38 inches

The Sunny Health & Fitness Squat Stand is avalable on Amazon

Best Squat Rack For Low Ceilings: Titan Fitness T-3 Series Squat Stand

The Titan Fitness T-3 Series, our choice of best squat rack for low ceilings, is only 72 inches high, making it suitable for many garage gyms.

Build quality is good. The heavy-duty frame is sturdy. It is powder-coated to prevent rust.

Assembly is not complicated, and all the installation hardware comes with your purchase.

The unit can stand alone without the need to bolt it into the floor. Thus you can move it out of the way or relocate it if necessary.

The rated capacity of 1000 pounds is high and should work for many lifters. It is compact with a small footprint, making it suitable for many training environments.

Like the Rogue racks, it comes with no spotter arms, but you can order some at an extra cost.

Pros

• High user capacity
• Acceptable build quality
• Reasonably priced
• Suitable for low ceilings and small places

Cons

• No installation instructions supplied

Product Weight: 144 pounds | Product Weight Capacity: 1000 pounds | Product Length: 47 inches | Product Width: 48 inches | Product Height: 72 inches | Foot Print: 47 x 48 inches | Steel Notes: 2×2 inches and 2×3 inches 11-Gauge Steel

The Titan Fitness T-3 Series Squat Stand is available to purchase on Amazon.

How to choose the best squat rack for your home gym – A buyers guide

Below are some factors to consider before choosing the best squat rack for your gym.

• Build Quality
  The choice of material and build quality differ between manufacturers.
  Manufacturers of the best squat rack use high-quality and heavy-duty steel and components. That is what to look want.
  We recommend units built with 11-gauge steel with powder coating as a minimum for home gym equipment. These are more durable, will not rust, and will serve you well for longer. 7-gauge steel is much better but is expensive and reserved for commercial gym equipment.
  High build quality, sturdiness, and durability are some of the features of the best squat rack you choose for your gym.
• Size and Gym Space
  The available room in your gym will influence the size of the best gym rack you choose.
  You need to ensure you have enough room, especially in front of the unit and around it when installed, to enable you to move and exercise comfortably.
  You may need to use an exercise bench in front of the squat rack for some exercises. Ensure you make provision for that as well.
• Weight Capacity
  All squat racks hold weight. That is their purpose.
  The higher the weight capacity of the squat rack, the more weight you can load and lift. Thus you can lift more weight with a 1000-pound rated unit than with a 500-pound rated equipment.
  Remember, the weight you can lift will increase as you build more strength and muscle. You want the best squat rack that can serve you well for a long time. Thus ensure you aim for a unit that fits your future goals.
  Units that can take more weight will command a high price and vice versa, but you will be better off buying the best squat rack with an extra weight tolerance at a higher price than a cheaper one with a low weight capacity that you will discard after a few years.
• Extras and Accessories
  Safety spotter arms are essential to ensure you train in safety. Some manufacturers may not include them in the base price but will offer them at an extra cost.
  You will also need a weight bench for bench presses and similar exercises
  Make provision in your budget for such extras if necessary.

Final Words from LiveLIfe

The best squat rack will allow you to perform many bar exercises, including squats, floor presses, and bench presses, with a low risk of injury.

It will also expand the possible exercises available to you.

The best squat rack could take a significant proportion of your gym setup budget. Thus it is necessary to ensure you make the correct choice.

We are confident this guide will put you on the right path and help you choose the best squat rack that can serve you well for many years.