While the fundamental purpose of a squat rack is to keep those leg gains creeping upwards, they’re also one of the most versatile pieces of gym equipment. Depending on which type you buy, you'll be able to work on many different compound movements from bench presses to pull-ups, as well as having the option of using resistance bands for other workouts.
The hard part is finding the best squat rack for your garage, home or other potentially small space! In the name of keeping everyone in shape, we’ve put together this simple guide to help you identify the most important features. From there, we’ll show you our ten favourites to buy on Amazon and eBay, many of which are suitable for those on a budget of under £200 or under £500.
Quick List - Top Squat Racks
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Without further ado, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. It’s worth mentioning that some manufacturers use the term 'power rack' instead of (or interchangeably with) 'squat rack', but we are talking about the same piece of equipment throughout this article!
It’s reasonable to suggest that your workouts won't go very well if the squat rack doesn't fit in your space. So, with that in mind, the first thing you need to do is consider the dimensions.
Of course, we don’t know the dimensions of your house. But it's recommended that as well as the necessary room for the rack, you should have an additional 45 cm on either side for the barbell. This should leave you enough space to load the plates without difficulty.
In addition to this, you’ll want to make sure the ceiling height isn’t too low, as some squat racks can be as high as 8ft (243 cm), so you’ll want to make sure you have space.
The next feature to consider is the type of rack you want. While there are many variations, in this article we’ll be looking at the three central ones – squat racks, full cages and half cages. Let’s take a look at each individually.
The squat rack is the most economical when it comes to space and price. So, if you’re looking to keep the size and cost of your equipment down, this is the way to go. Also, they’re shorter than cages, so if you’re building a home gym in, say, a garage with a low roof, again, this is probably your best choice.
Generally speaking, squat racks use two adjustable metal posts that support the weight when doing various squat rotations. To get into place, you position yourself under the bar, lift it off the stands, then once you’ve finished, you step back and place it back on the bars.
There are some things to note with a rack, though. Firstly, if you get stuck, you have to dump the weights on the floor, which could cause problems over time. They’re also not quite as sturdy, especially when it comes to heavier weights.
While it might be the biggest of the options, a full cage is also the safest. Therefore, if you’re new to working out from home or this is your first time building a home gymnasium, a full cage is a wise choice.
They consist of four standing posts with stabilisers at both the top and the bottom, so you can see why it is safer. As well as the extra bars, they’ll likely use tougher and sturdier metal, which again increases their stability. It’s also why those who lift heavy weights prefer them too.
The downside is they take up the most space and weigh the most, so it can be troublesome to assemble them. Moreover, they're the most expensive option too.
The next best space-saving option to a rack is a half cage. These consist of two standing posts along with an enforced base which is used to stabilise the whole piece. As you’d expect, these are much smaller and easier to construct than full cages, plus they’re about half the price. They also have a less restricted workout area, so there's less restriction with your movements.
However, again, they are not as sturdy as the full cage. This is usually down to thinner material, so if you plan on lifting heavier weights, they might not suffice. There is also a lot less in terms of safety, as there are fewer security bars. For these reasons, we’d only recommend half racks if you have experience using this equipment already.
Next up, you’ll want to think about the weight capacity. Of course, if you’re not going to be lifting or loading the piece of equipment with anything over 100 kg, then we think it’s fair to say it can hold it, even if it doesn’t stipulate that.
For those that are all about the gains, you’ll likely want to continue pushing yourself further, so maximum capacity is essential. As you’d expect, the bigger the rack, the more weight it will hold.
Generally speaking, squat racks and half cages can take up to about 250 kg, which is ample for most people. If you do want to go heavier, then you’ll be shopping for a full cage.
The gauge or thickness of the steel used to build the rack or cage is a good indicator of how sturdy it will be. However, the information isn't always provided by the company. If it is, then the higher, the better. After all, you can never be too safe when it comes to lifting weights.
Unless you're buying professional-grade gear, most manufacturers will use 5 cm gauge posts, which is a good figure to look for. If it isn’t specified, then looking at the style of the squat rack and the maximum weight will give you some indication as to what you can expect.
Finally, you’ll want to see if any extras come with your purchase. Our top recommendations are a pull-up bar and a dip station; however, you’ll only really get these if you opt to purchase a half or full cage.
The lack of additional equipment shouldn’t put you off squat racks, though, as many other accessories can be purchased alongside all of the styles to enhance and evolve your workouts, such as resistance bands.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | JX Fitness Multifunctional Squat Rack | ![]() | The Best Home-Ready Rack | |
2 | Fitness Reality 810XLT Super Max Power Cage | ![]() | Take It to the Limits With a Full Cage | |
3 | RIP X Heavy Duty Half Power Cage | ![]() | A Safer, Slimline Half Cage | |
4 | HOMCOM Squat Stand and Barbell Rack | ![]() | Ideal for Those Short on Space | |
5 | K-Sport Adjustable Squat Rack with Spotters & Dip Bars | ![]() | Perfect for Pairing With a Bench With 15 Different Barbell Heights | |
6 | Hardcastle Adjustable Squat Rack with Spotters | ![]() | An Adjustable Width Makes This Great for Ever-Growing Home Gyms | |
7 | Gym Master Heavy Duty Half Power Cage | ![]() | Get Ready to Feel the Full-Body Burn | |
8 | WHKL Multifunctional Squat Rack | ![]() | A Hybrid Squat Rack Cage With Pull-Up Bar | |
9 | Hammer Strength Athletic Series Power Rack | ![]() | A Piece Equipment Fit for the Fanciest of Gyms | |
10 | DTX Fitness Adjustable Height Squat Rack | ![]() | Probably the Most Simple and Straightforward of All Squat Racks |
The complete adjustability in both height and width make this squat rack absolute ideal for home use. It also comes with a stabilising bar at the bottom – a feature that helps with the balance of the whole apparatus, which in turn establishes a safer experience for the user.
As well as being adjustable and sturdy, it also has a very respectable weight capacity and even a dip station thrown in for extra flexibility when it comes to your workout routine. For these reasons alongside the great price, this home-ready rack is our number one product.
With 363 kg load capacity, this is for the fitness gurus out there who want to take things to the next level, even when they're at home. The full cage has a large walking space for easy side-to-side movement, two long chrome safety bars and 19 adjustable heights, so you can legitimately personalise your workout.
Included is a multipositional pull-up bar over the top, just in case the 363 kg was a little too easy. Surprisingly, this is remarkably cost-effective for what you're getting too. It might be overkill for most, but if you want to push yourself to the limits, then this will be right up your street.
This half cage is suited to all manner of training styles, but thanks to its narrow width, it is also well-suited to the limited space some of us have in our homes. The heavy-duty half cage ensures your safety as it remains stable when you're working out and it comes with two full-length safety bars and two chrome barbell rests.
The apparatus can hold up to 200 kg of plates and a maximum pull-up weight of the same capacity, which is easy to remember. 20 rack positions in 5 cm increments at the front and 26 at the rear top its credentials off nicely.
Made strictly with barbell training in mind, this easy-to-use squat rack from HOMCOM is ideal for those with limited space because each stand can be stored away when not in use. Not only this, but it can still load 200 kg, which is plenty for your average gym-goer.
The tubes are made from solid, heavy-duty steel and come with an additional J-shaped bracket to hold up to three barbells at the same time – another great storage hack if you have more than one bar. Though some of the brackets are plastic and this is one of the simpler racks, this is reflected in the price.
This rack is perfect for training all the large muscle groups, so it will no doubt soon become an essential piece of gear for your workout goals. The dumbbell bar has 15 adjustable levels, one every 10 cm, and there is also a dip station that will target the chest, triceps and back.
Furthermore, when paired with a weight bench, the whole thing becomes even more versatile. The apparatus is stable thanks to the reinforced steel construction and the inclusion of rubber feet to ensure it never slides around.
This is one of the best space-saving racks you can get hold of online as it has an adjustable width. This means that it is more flexible, which could be handy when the home gym begins to fill up with even more gear throughout your fitness journey.
The rack can be used with both 1" and 2" Olympic barbells and has a frame that uses the regular 5 cm gauge tubes. It is worth noting that if you're over 6 ft, it can be troublesome to replace the barbell once you've finished the set as its apparatus is pretty low.
This half cage will have you developing and completing dynamic workouts as you become stronger and more confident. We can attest to this thanks to the wide variety of training that is capable of being done here, as in addition to the rack there is also a pull-up bar and dip station. We hope you're ready to feel the burn!
The cage is built using a 5 cm heavy-duty reinforced steel tube frame, so you can feel confident that it won't collapse any time soon. The only concern is that it could take a long time to assemble, so you'll want to make sure you have someone around who knows what they're doing.
This multifunctional apparatus is a hybrid between a squat rack and a half cage due to the addition of the pull-up bar across the top. The stands are adjustable, although we couldn't find the exact dimensions, which is a shame. Furthermore, it has double outer eight-shaped bases, which are supposed to provide greater stability.
Not only do you have the rack that can help with exercises such as squats and bench presses, but, as we mentioned, the company also include a pull-up for additional upper body training. The downside is we just don't know how big it is, which can be a gamble if you haven't much room to play with at home.
From the simplest piece of gear to a piece of equipment that wouldn't look out of place in a high-end, professional gym, this full cage from Hammer Strength is as elite as they come. It offers plenty of versatility and many holes for you to customise your apparatus however you like.
As you'd expect, there is a large weight capacity of just over 300 kg. That said, we were surprised we couldn't find any information on the gauge or thickness of the material, which is usually prominent in equipment this exclusive. It's big and expensive, but if you have the money and space, we're sure you won't be disappointed.
The first product we have is quite possibly the simplest and most straightforward. The DTX fitness squat rack does what it says on the tin, it's adjustable from 109 - 169 cm in height and can hold up to 200 kg at any one time.
It is, however, quite wide when compared to similar racks. This is probably the reason it can support more weight, but that does mean that it's going to require more real estate. Depending on your home gym situation, this could be a problem.
A squat rack will probably be one of your biggest purchases when kitting out your new fitness space, so with that sorted, you can move on to the smaller, less expensive ones. Hooray! We've linked three more of our gym equipment articles below to help you get what you need.
Once you've decided to curate a home gym, the basics become essential, and one of those is undoubtedly a squat rack. We hope that you found the information valuable and it has pointed you in the right direction of what will work best for your goals and your home. Here's to getting shredded!
Author: Lewis Clark
No. 1: JX Fitness|Multifunctional Squat Rack
No. 2: Fitness Reality|810XLT Super Max Power Cage
No. 3: RIP X|Heavy Duty Half Power Cage
No. 4: HOMCOM|Squat Stand and Barbell Rack
No. 5: K-Sport|Adjustable Squat Rack with Spotters & Dip Bars
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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