Whether you’re building up a home gym or you're just getting started, you're here because you know that an adjustable weights bench is the focal point of many strength and bodybuilding exercises. From curls to presses and even working the abs, it enables you to reap the benefits of each rep and every set, all while offering support and promoting better posture for injury prevention.
However, picking the correct bench isn’t always as simple as one might think, especially if you live in an apartment or home with limited space. In our article, we’ll look at all the considerations that need pondering and share our 9 favourites to order online right now at Amazon and Decathlon. We've got folding benches, benches with leg curls and cheap benches under £100, so there's something for everyone.
Quick List - Top Workout Benches for Home Use
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Table of Contents
Here, we’ll be taking in the main features of benches and who they’re best suited to. So, we’ll be thinking about the different styles of benches, whether they’re folding, if they have storage and a couple of other practicalities that keep you and your home safe.
First up, we'll look into the different style of benches. While there may be a few other variations, we’ve opted to focus on the main three, so let’s have a look at their advantages and disadvantages separately.
Utility benches are by far the most popular, and this is for many reasons. Firstly, they’re super versatile and can be positioned upright and at an incline or decline (often to varying degrees), which makes it much easier for you to target different muscle groups.
These link up great with a pair of dumbbells, and there’s an argument to be had that if you only had these two pieces of equipment, you could easily get yourself into shape. However, some may also come with attachments like foot props, pads for ab work or resistance bands, which can be really handy depending on your fitness aims.
Of course, utility-style benches are not perfect for everyone. They often don’t feel as secure as a flat bench, so you’ll want to be comfortable using the equipment. Similarly, while you can use a barbell with them, the absence of a rack won't appeal if you lift heavy.
The flat workout bench is the simplest of all benches. It is similar to a utility bench in its design; however, the difference is that it will not be adjustable. Now, you might be thinking, why would anyone possibly want a flat bench? The benefit is that these are far more durable due to the structure not being constantly moved and fiddled with.
This sturdiness ensures that users feel safe and secure whether they’re building muscle, strength training or even using them for step ups, sit ups and other toning exercises. The downside is that they’re less versatile, so you won't be able to attack as many muscle groups as you would with an adjustable bench.
Last but not least, you have the barbell-style workout bench, which is probably the most recognisable of all gym benches. They come in either a fixed or utility form but with a rack attached to the rear frame, making it much easier to safely perform exercises such as bench presses.
Not only do these have additional equipment at the back of the bench, but you’ll often find that they come with a leg extension, making them safer and more flexible when it comes to your workouts.
The biggest downside with these benches is that they’re not as space-friendly, so you’re going to need somewhere at home you can dedicate just to working out. Plus, while you can use them for other exercises, you might need to buy more equipment to utilise them properly, such as various bars and weight plates.
Many people don’t have the luxury of dedicating one room or even one area to set up a complete home gym. Therefore, finding a workout bench that can folded and be stored away is one of the top priorities.
The most likely of all the benches to be folding is either a flat or utility, although there are some barbell options too if you really want one. However, as you’d expect, they’re still larger than the others when closed up, so you’ll need plenty of storage space as a result.
Another feature that can make your workout run more smoothly is storage space for your weights. This usually takes the form of a pole or two on the underside of the bench on which you can balance your dumbells. And of, course, a barbell-style bench will enable this via its rack.
The thing to bear in mind, however, is that, unfortunately, adjustable utility benches will not have this function. This is due to the versatility of the bench, which makes them unable to have a place underneath to store the goods.
That said, professionals recommended that you leave around 45 cm on either side of the bench for exercising. So, you’ll want to add this into your calculations when deciding where you want to place your bench, as well as which style you have the space for.
As a final note, in our specification tables under each product, we’ll be giving the dimensions of the bench when it's set up and open, not when it's folded.
The final consideration is the weight capacity of the bench, as this will determine whether you’re going to be able to use it to complete the workouts you want to.
Take this example – if you’re 90 kg and want to bench press 30 kg dumbbells but the maximum capacity is 100 kg, then you’re going to be endangering yourself. For this reason, it’s vital that you not only consider yourself but also the weights you plan on lifting whilst using the bench.
The capacity does vary from bench to bench, but you shouldn’t see any under 100 kg, which should be plenty for most people. In our ranking, we have products that can take up to 350 kg, so there’s plenty of scope for those who want to lift the heavy stuff.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Naspaluro Adjustable Weight Bench | ![]() | A Workout Bench for Everyone | |
2 | Onetwofit Flat Weight Bench | ![]() | Space Saving Without Folding | |
3 | Flybird Adjustable Weight Bench | ![]() | Small but Mighty From a Trusted Brand | |
4 | Winnow Folding Weight Bench | ![]() | Ideal for Those With Smaller Homes and Tighter Budgets | |
5 | Domyos Collapsible Incline Bench | ![]() | Ultra-Compact, Stable and Space-Conscious | |
6 | Perlecare Adjustable Weight Bench | ![]() | Seemingly Never-Ending Positional Options | |
7 | DTX Fitness Flat Weight Bench | ![]() | From a Company Known to Produce High-Quality Goods | |
8 | Opti Bench with 30kg Weights | ![]() | A Great Set to Start Building Your Home Gym | |
9 | JX Fitness Adjustable Weight Bench | ![]() | Features Both an Adjustable Backrest and Seat |
When it came time to choose a number 1 product, instinctively we were attracted to the utility-style benches. We believe this style is the most practical and has the best balance between function and application. With that in mind, we chose the Naspaluro bench, and this is for many reasons.
One feature many people will be happy with is the high weight capacity. This makes the bench a solid option for various types of people with different goals. Add to that the abundance of backrest adjustments, the mid-ground dimensions, the free bands and the excellent folding capabilities, and really, it was the clear winner.
This flat bench from Onetwofit has a couple of unique features that we want to touch on. The first one is that it is considerably longer than any other bench in our ranking. While that may make it that little more cumbersome to store, it's advantageous if you're on the taller side as it will support you more appropriately.
Secondly, we like the inclusion of the dumbbell rack underneath, which makes keeping your equipment in one place much easier. Okay, it doesn't fold away, but the fact you can store your weights and bench in the same place should save you some floor space as it is.
Before we dive into the specs, it's worth pointing out that this beach is on the shorter side. Therefore, if you're a taller person, this might not be the most suitable option. For everyone else, though, this smaller back and seat rest could save you even more space, which can be helpful if your workout real estate is at a premium.
While it might be small, the weight bench can take over 250 kg before reaching capacity, and we think this is a testament to the quality of the materials used in the construction. Furthermore, there are six varying incline angles and a support bar to ensure you can exercise safely and efficiently.
Another classic flat bench here, only this time it's foldable, which is why you find it higher up the list than the previous DTX Fitness offering. You don't have to worry about this compromising your safety though, as the frame is built from very sturdy steel tubing.
We also really like the addition of a carry handle on the underside of the bench, which makes manoeuvring it around the home to your workout area that little bit easier. On top of that, this is the cheapest option in our ranking, making it a good choice if you're tight on cash.
Domyos are a well-respected company that produces good home fitness equipment that doesn't break the bank, just like this barbell bench. Ultra-compact yet stable, it's built for use when completing standard or incline presses. This may seem limited, but it does tick several other functionality boxes.
As well as the quality, this bench is also surprisingly space-conscious, being able to fold and be store easily. Our only concern is that it has a maximum capacity on the lower side; this might not be a problem for most casual users, but those who want to pump some serious iron might want to look elsewhere.
This is a bench that comes with seemingly never-ending options for adjustability. For example, the backrest and core pad have seven different heights each, making it more than likely you'll find the perfect position to exercise comfortably. Plus, you'll also get some resistant bands thrown in for free with your purchase.
The company have used a solid and sturdy steel frame, and this comes with additional rubber feet to protect the equipment from slipping, sliding and damaging your floor. Some people have questioned the welding, stating that it complicated the assembly process, so you'll want to take that into account when purchasing.
With mentions in trusted magazines like Men's Health, you know DTX is a company that produce the goods. Here, we have their take on the flat weights bench. It's a no-frills design, but you can rest assured that everything is high quality, from the steel frame to the thick 7.5 cm padded seat.
In addition to, or because of, the quality, this more compact bench can take 250 kg of weight, which is surprising given the size. We do wish it was foldable, although due to the nature of flat benches, it shouldn't be too hard to find space for it – even if you're living in a city centre flat.
This multi-function barbell workout bench helps bring the gym to your home. The backrest itself has three different positions: 90-degrees, one incline and one decline. However, the standout feature is the inclusion of 6 x 5 kg weight plates, making it perfect if you're at the start of your home fitness journey.
One potential downside is that this is the largest of all our benches, and you'll need to ensure you have the room for it as there is no option to fold it up. That said, if you do have a permanent space, this is excellent value.
Getting our ranking started is this utility-style bench from JX Fitness. The brilliant feature of this design is that both the backrest and the seat are adjustable. This provides you with even more versatility when it comes to the exercises you'll be capable of performing.
However, some people have found that when you decline the bench, the gap between it and the seat is a little too wide, which can result in some discomfort. There are some questions about the quality of the upholstery used, although the fairly reasonable price reflects that.
No. 1: Naspaluro|Adjustable Weight Bench
No. 2: Onetwofit|Flat Weight Bench
No. 3: Flybird|Adjustable Weight Bench
No. 4: Winnow|Folding Weight Bench
No. 5: Domyos|Collapsible Incline Bench
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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