6 Best Squat Racks for Small Spaces [2024 Upd.]
You want a high quality squat rack for your small home gym, right?
After doing a ton of research, I found the 6 best squat racks for small spaces in 2024. I chose only the most compact and high quality squat racks I could find. Each rack is broken down by category and need.
IN A HURRY? HERE ARE MY TOP PICKS…
6 Best Squat Racks for Small Spaces in 2024
Best Squat Rack – Rogue SML-2 Monster Lite Squat Stand
Product Specifications
Dimensions | 49″L x 48″W x 92″H |
Weight | 167 pounds |
Weight Capacity | 1,000 pounds + |
Features
- Rogue Fitness quality guarantee (best in the business)
- Super high (1,000+ lb) weight capacity
- Strong and durable structural design using heavy duty 11-gauge steel uprights and tubes
- Pull-up bar included (can choose between single standard bar or a “fat” and “skinny” bar)
- Functionally equivalent to a power rack – can use for bench press as well
- Safety spotter arms
- J-cup barbell holders
Who is this Squat Rack Designed for?
Serious lifters who want a durable, strong, and compact squat rack for small spaces.
At this point, does anyone even question the quality of Rogue Fitness products? Rogue is known ubiquitously in the industry for producing the highest quality home gym equipment on the market – and the Rogue SML-2 Monster Lite Squat Stand is no exception.
Built with signature Rogue Fitness quality materials, this beast of a rack can handle over 1,000 pounds of weight, making it suitable for pretty much any lifter (advanced or otherwise).
Despite the sturdy build, the footprint is only 49″ x 48″, making it a viable option as a compact squat rack for home gyms. The only real drawback with the SML-2 is its height and weight. It’s 92 inches in height, so if you have low ceilings, you might want to look at another option, but for most people this will still work. And, while still capable of fitting in a small apartment, it’s heavy weight (167 lbs) will make it difficult to move around.
Furthermore, this rack comes with two options for a pull-up bar: you can choose to have one fat and one skinny bar, or or one regular-grip bar. Awesome!
See the Rogue SML-2 Monster Lite Squat Stand in action here (from As Many Reviews As Possible):
Best Budget Squat Rack – Yes4All Multi-Function Squat Rack
Product Specifications
Dimensions | 28″-46″L x 26″W x 43-62″H |
Weight | 50 pounds |
Weight Capacity | 500 pounds |
What I Like
- Plenty of adjustable height and width settings
- Solid build quality
- Easy and quick assembly
- Dip/pull-up bar handles with rubber pads
- Small and compact
What I Don’t Like
- Some reviews mention welding issues including concerns about dip handles
- Not the strongest or must durable rack
Features
- Multiple adjustable height levels + adjustable base width
- Solid and strong build for the low price point
- Rubber padded dip/pull-up bar handles
- Weight plate holders in back of rack
- Safety spotter arms with rubber pads to reduce friction
- J-hook barbell holders
Who is this Squat Rack Designed for?
Beginners and intermediates looking for a simple, compact, and effective squat rack for small spaces.
The Yes4All multi-function squat rack is the perfect rack for those looking for a low-cost, yet effective option. The beauty of this rack is it’s size, simplicity, and customizability. Both the height and width are adjustable, making it effective not only for squats, but also for bench presses. And adjusting the height/width is easy, unlike many other racks which make it unnecessarily complicated.
The rack has a max height of 62 inches and max width of 46 inches, making it small and compact. Unlike many other racks, there are no extra supports or overly long legs which take up too much space.
The build quality and welding of the frame is solid for the price. This isn’t a cheaply made piece of junk, like you might expect from the low price. However, it is definitely thinner than more expensive racks, so it is not as strong or likely as durable. A few reviews mentioned that the welding was not too great in some places, so make sure to give it a quick look when it first arrives to make sure it all looks okay.
This rack isn’t the best option if you’re moving serious weight around. The safety spotter arms are pretty short, and the weight capacity (500 lbs), while good enough for most, is one of the lowest on the list.
I recommend this rack for those on a tight budget and for those not moving serious weight around. This is also an excellent squat rack for beginners.
Best Folding Squat Rack – PRX Performance Murphy Folding Squat Rack
Product Specifications
Dimensions | 49″L x 27.5″W x 90″H |
Weight | 123 pounds |
Weight Capacity | 1,000 pounds |
Features
- Wall-mounted
- Foldable
- 1,000 pound weight capacity
- Adjustable pull-up bar
- J-cup barbell holders
Who is this Squat Rack Designed for?
Lifters who want the ultimate space-saving, wall-mounted option.
The PRX Performance Murphy Folding Rack is a wall-mounted rack which folds down to 6.5″ off your wall. This obviously makes it one of the best space-saving options if you have the ability (and patience) to bolt it to your wall.
Structurally, the powder-coated steel frame on this rack boasts an awesome 1,000 pound weight capacity. And this is more than enough for almost any lifter.
Additionally, an adjustable height pull-up bar is included. I appreciate the adjustability here, as many pull-up bar attachments to racks are fixed.
There are a couple of drawbacks to be aware of. For one, this rack only works mounted on a wall. It does not function as a normal free standing rack. And this means there is a longer assembly process. Honestly, I’m not a handy guy, so this might be a deal breaker for me! But for those who don’t mind setting it up, the investment is only a few hours.
Another drawback to note is the lack of safety spotter arms. This is really unfortunate, because it does take away one of the primary features I look for in a squat rack.
However, you can purchase spotter arms separately from PRX which work with this rack here.
All in all, this rack made the list because of it’s structural integrity, high weight capacity, and space-saving (foldable) ability.
Best Wall Mounted Squat Rack – Titan Fitness T-3 Space Saving Squat Rack
Product Specifications
Dimensions | 42″L x 24″W x 80-98″H |
Weight | 123 pounds |
Weight Capacity | 1,000 pounds |
Features
- Wall-mounted
- 1,000 pound weight capacity
- Heavy duty steel construction
- Pull-up bar
- Safety spotter arms
- J-hook barbell holders
Who is this Squat Rack Designed for?
Lifters who want an incredibly strong and durable wall-mounted rack without breaking the bank.
The Titan Fitness T-3 Wall Mounted Squat Rack is one of the best wall-mounted options available on the market. And being wall-mounted, it will naturally be an excellent squat rack for small spaces. It will protrude only 24″ off your wall.
Constructed impressively with heavy duty steel, this beastly rack has an awesome 1,000 pound weight capacity.
One of the best aspects of this rack is the low price point. Titan Fitness isn’t on the same brand level as Rogue Fitness, but rest assured they make fantastic gym equipment, and this is no exception.
A pull-up bar is also included, and although it isn’t easily adjustable, you can set the height (upon assembly) up to 98″.
Speaking of assembly, the only real drawback with this rack is it takes a few hours to set up. Unfortunately, instructions are not included, but the process is intuitive and most people don’t have a lot of trouble setting it up.
Best Squat Rack for Low Ceilings – BangTong&Li Adjustable Squat Stand
Product Specifications
Dimensions | 36.6″-42.5″L x 27″W x 50″-57″H |
Weight | 35 pounds |
Weight Capacity | 500 pounds |
What I Like
- Adjustable height and width settings
- Surprisingly strong build quality
- Straightforward and quick assembly
- Weight plate storage
- Super small and light
- Budget friendly
What I Don’t Like
- Although well built, need to be careful when lifting heavy
- Height adjustability is a bit limited
Features
- Adjustable length (36.6″-42.5″) and height (50″-57″)
- 500 pound weight capacity
- Two weight plate holders in back
- Strong alloy steel build
- Safety spotter arms
Who is this Squat Rack Designed for?
Lifters who are not lifting intensely heavy weights and who want the smallest free standing squat rack for small spaces.
The BangTong&Li squat stand is not the strongest rack on this list, however it does have the smallest footprint. It’s also the lightest rack, and these factors make it one of the best space-saving options.
However, don’t let any of that fool you. This little squat stand packs a punch. It is actually quite strong and durable considering its size. Unlike many other racks in this price range, there are very few reports of poor welding or bad construction. So, that is a huge plus for this little rack.
While the height and length are adjustable, there aren’t quite as many options as some of the other racks on this list. Some people may struggle to find just the right setting for them.
The two weight plate holders in the back are also a nice touch. And I would recommend keeping weights there at all times to keep the rack from tipping forward.
Speaking of which, this rack is not designed for heavy or intense lifting. It may wobble and potentially tip if you push the weight near or beyond its capacity (500 lbs), so keep that in mind when you are considering it. And the safety spotter arms is pretty short, so you have to be aware of where your body is in relation to these when lifting.
Despite these drawbacks, this is still an excellent option for those lifters looking for a lighter-duty rack to maximize space-saving.
Best Squat Rack for Beginners – HulkFit Multi-Function Power Rack
Product Specifications
Dimensions | 46″L x 44″W x 81″H |
Weight | 110 pounds |
Weight Capacity | 800 pounds |
Features
- 800 lb weight capacity
- Heavy duty steel construction
- Two pull-up bars included
- Dip handles on both safety spotter arms
- Safety spotter arms
- Two weight plate holders in back
- J-hook barbell holders
Who is this Squat Rack Designed for?
Beginners who want a solid, strong, multi-function squat rack with a small footprint.
The HulkFit multi-function squat rack is a great overall option for those just starting out because it’s strong, reliable, and compact. Like other HulkFit products, this rack is sturdy and well-made. With an 800 pound weight capacity, beginners can’t go wrong.
Although I’m not sure exactly how far the safety spotter arms extend out, they look to be quite long, which is paramount for safety and something beginners should prioritize when considering a squat rack.
Now, one drawback is the adjustability of the safety spotter arms. HulkFit could have (and should have) included more holes so you can more finely adjust the height of the arms. As is, it’s going to be hard for some people to get the arms exactly where they should be for the bench press.
There are two pull-up bars included as well as two dip handles on both safety spotter arms.
Unfortunately, some people are reporting the dip handles are too narrow for them. So, if you are a larger human, those might not work for you!
Despite that, the overall build quality, small footprint, and multi-functionality of the rack makes it an excellent choice for beginners.
Do You Really Need a Squat Rack?
Short answer: not really.
Of course, you don’t need any one piece of gym equipment, as there are always others to get the job done. But, a squat rack does allow you to do two extremely important things:
- Bench press and squat safely and without a spotter
- Squat without having to power clean the weight up and over your head
And, let’s be honest, you aren’t going to be building tree trunk legs unless you are squatting (and squatting heavy).
But, you can also use a squat rack for:
- Shrugs
- Rows
- Military Press
- Curls (yes, even curls)
So, while a squat rack isn’t necessary to make any progress, it is necessary if you want to reach your ultimate potential in terms of strength and size.
And, luckily, you have 6 awesome racks to choose from.