The 13 Best Power Racks for Your Home Gym, According to Trainers

Nothing transforms a garage or basement into a full home-gym experience quite like a shiny, new power rack. But the internet holds nearly infinite options, and finding the right rig takes research and product comparison — not to mention a whole lot of measuring.

Selecting the best rack demands some critical thinking, too. How much space do you have available? What are your current fitness goals? And how much are you willing to spend?

If you're hunting for the perfect piece of equipment but feel overwhelmed by all the options, we've found the 13 best and expert-approved power racks, cages and squat racks to add to your home gym.

Wondering who makes the best power racks? California-based physical therapist Jereme Schumacher, DPT, places Rogue at the top of that list.

"If you are looking for the best of the best, the RML-390F is the way to go," he says.

The base of the rig is self-stabilizing, so you don't have to bolt it to your floors and damage them. And it only takes up about 16 square feet of floor space. The RML-390F comes with a pull-up bar (you can choose the thickness), safety J-cups and a pipe-based safety system. But what really sets Rogue apart is its customizability, according to Schumacher.

"I love the Rogue Monster Lite series because it offers a wide variety of high-quality attachments that you can add to this power rack to make it as versatile as possible." You can attach a hip thrust bench, landmine or safety strap system to the rig. Just make sure the attachment you choose is compatible with the model you buy.

With its 800-pound weight capacity, this compact, adjustable power rack provides everything a beginner needs in one durable design, Schumacher says.

"It is also a relatively smaller power rack, which will allow you to save space, and possibly move it around easier if needed," he says. Plus, it comes with an attached landmine, offering a little more variety than your average piece of equipment.

With a 1,500-pound weight capacity, adjustable dip bar, pull-up bar and safety hooks, this power cage is a good fit for advanced lifters. And though it sits on the pricier end, it delivers.

"This rack is great for athletes looking to lift a heavier barbell with the comfort of knowing they have two sturdy safety bars as an added spotter," Schumacher says. The attachments are great for adding dips, pull-ups and other moves to your lifting routine.

If you're looking for the best power rack for the money, consider this model from CAP Barbell. The frame is fairly basic, but it still has everything most at-home lifters need: plate storage hooks, a pull-up bar and a double safety catch. (The three resistance-band attachments are a bonus!)

The rack's weight capacity is 500 pounds, so it isn't an ideal fit for competitive athletes. That said, it'll work great for most everyday lifters, Schumacher says.

If you don't have a ton of free space, a folding squat rack is the way to go. And Profile's unique rig easily earns a spot as a best squat rack for small spaces. It folds into the wall to take up just 4 inches of space when not in use.

Plus, it can support about 1,000 pounds. That's great for any lifter, according to Schumacher.

Rogue's squat stand provides all the durability and exercise variety of a power rack in a space-saving frame. It's also compatible with safety bars (sold separately) for extra protection during heavy lifts.

"The Lite squat stand is perfect for any garage gym and any type of lifting ability," Schumacher says. "I really like that it has the ability to connect a wheel system for easy portability around your gym."

This frame mounts on a wall for added stability but still has plenty of space for strict and kipping pull-ups. Plus, this wall-mounted power rack is compatible with a lot of add-on accessories, according to Schumacher. And when your workout is done, you can fold the Titan against the wall to save space.

You may come for the built-in lat pulldown, but you'll stay for the spacious design, as Papababe's power cage is built with a ton of walk-in space. It can also support up to 1,200 pounds. The top of the cage reaches about 89 inches (just under 7.5 feet), so it's best for high ceilings, says New York-based certified personal trainer Mathew Forzaglia, CPT.

This half rack (meaning it has two posts, rather than four, that run from top to bottom) is simple and straightforward. It has storage space for weight plates and enough depth for benching. And even though lifters tend to fear that half racks are going to be less sturdy than full models, this one holds up. Rogue models are consistently strong and durable, Forzaglia says.

If space and budget aren't concerns as you're building the home gym of your dreams, Rogue's RM-6 Monster Rack should top your wish list. Available in three heights and a variety of colors, this hunk of metal is compatible with Rogue's Monster accessories, giving you a totally personalized experience.

"This is the real deal," Forzaglia says. "This is something I would have in a gym or strength and conditioning facility. It has storage, works with different Rogue attachments and it's durable."

Calling this rig "multi-functional" is an understatement. "This is the complete package," Forzaglia says.

Equipped with a built-in Smith machine, cable system, pull-up bar, dip bars and low row station, this machine truly does it all. It even comes with 11 different accessories and endless cable exercise options. (Yep, a lat pulldown is included.)

If you're looking for a reliable, bare-bones piece of at-home gym equipment, the Sunny Health and Fitness Power Cage is worth considering. This cage can support up to 800 pounds and fits a 7-foot Olympic barbell. Plus, it has band attachments on each side, so you can add resistance to your exercises.

"This is a solid rack that doesn't ask for much," Forzaglia says. "It comes with a pull-up bar, which is standard in most racks now but this also comes with safety arms, so this would be high on my list for at home gyms."

If you have low ceilings, short and sturdy options can be hard to come by, Forzaglia says. Fortunately, this stand is a good two feet shorter than most racks without sacrificing stability or durability. And unlike many short squat stands that have independent uprights, this Titan Fitness option has a bolted frame. Plus, it weighs only 144 pounds.

Now that you're familiar with some of the many rack options on the market, take a few factors into consideration before investing.

Although it may seem obvious, the most important thing to consider before you buy is the space you have available, according to Schumacher. You can certainly find space-friendly racks out there, but most are both tall and wide.

"You have to take into account the overall size of the rack including width, length and, most importantly, height," Schumacher says. "Many people tend to overlook the height of the rack, which can lead to a multitude of issues."

Also keep in mind that you don't just need space for the rig. You need at least a few feet of free floor space to easily walk around it.

Different rigs have different weight capacities, which you'll want to factor into your decision based on your current (and goal) strength levels, Schumacher says.

If you're a powerlifter looking to lift heavy, you'll want a piece of equipment that can support more than 1,000 pounds. Most everyday lifters will be good with about 500 pounds.

Some power racks have accessories like pull-up bars, landmines or even cable systems. If you want versatility in your workouts, finding a rig that allows for these add-ons should be a priority, Schumacher says.

Just go in knowing that decked-out rigs are usually costly. If these are out of your price range, opt for a model that can be customized after purchase. Instead of splurging all at once, you can upgrade over time.

"Squat stands are great to keep it simple," Forzaglia says. "You can squat and bench out of it, and it doesn't take up a ton of room." So, if you prefer simplicity and space-saving, a squat stand is the way to go.

While some squat stands don't come with safety bars, adding them to your stand is the best option. They work like spotters, catching the barbell if you get stuck during a lift or drop the weight.

Generally, power racks are a little larger and taller than squat stands, according to Forzaglia. But they do allow for more exercise variety. Most come with built-in pull-up bars and even cable systems or dip bars.

Power cages are the biggest of the big, and you're more likely to see these in commercial gyms than in garages. But if you have the space and budget for one, there's nothing here not to like.