You want a high quality squat rack for your small home gym, right?
After doing a ton of research, I found the 9 best squat racks for small spaces in 2023. 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…
9 Best Squat Racks for Small Spaces
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 – Doeplex Multi-Function Squat Rack
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 30.3″-48″L x 26″W x 46.8-70.1″H |
| Weight | 50 pounds |
| Weight Capacity | 550 pounds |
Features
- 12 adjustable height levels + adjustable base width
- Solid and strong build for the low price point
- Weight plate holders on the 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 Doeplex 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.
As far as size, the rack only weighs 50 pounds, so moving it around won’t be too much of a hassle. And the 48″ x 26″ footprint makes it incredibly compact. Which is excellent for a small apartment situation.
The build quality and welding of the frame, using heavy duty steel, is surprisingly strong. This isn’t a cheaply made piece of junk, like you might expect from the low price.
On the other hand, 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 (550 lbs), while good enough for most, is one of the lowest on the list.
Best Squat Rack With Pull-up Bar – ZENOVA Squat Rack Pull-up Station
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 42.42″L x 40.18″W x 84.65″H |
| Weight | 70.4 pounds |
| Weight Capacity | 800 pounds |
Features
- Multi-grip pull-up bar (neutral grip handles)
- Dip bar handles
- 800 pound weight capacity
- Safety spotter arms
- J-hook barbell holders
Who is this Squat Rack Designed for?
Lifters looking for a sturdy rack with a versatile pull-up bar and dip station.
The ZENOVA squat rack is one of the more unique options on the list.
Strong, durable, and well-constructed (with an 800 pound weight capacity), this rack also contains a multi-grip pull-up bar and two inner-facing dip handles. This adds a lot more exercise capability to this rack than the others on this list.
Despite the increased versatility, this rack maintains an incredibly small footprint (42.42″ x 40.18″), making it an excellent squat rack for small spaces.
One issue to watch out for is the shipping. Unfortunately, the rack is shipped in separate boxes, meaning they could arrive at different times, which is frustrating. Another minor drawback is there are only a few positions the safety bars can be set in. And it would have been nice to have a couple more so you can get them in the precise position you want.
Still, despite these issues, the pull-up bar, dip handles, and overall sturdy construction make this rack an excellent all-around option for anyone.
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 Power Rack for Small Space – papababe Power Cage
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 48″L x 47″W x 82″H |
| Weight | 118 pounds |
| Weight Capacity | 1200 pounds |
Features
- Full power cage with solid steel safety bars
- 1,200 pound weight capacity
- Multi-grip pull-up bar
- Heavy duty steel construction
- J-hook barbell holders
Who is this Squat Rack Designed for?
Lifters who want the safety and support of a full power cage, with a small enough footprint for small spaces.
If you’re looking for a full power cage for small spaces, papababe has you covered. Constructed with heavy duty steel, this power cage has a whopping 1,200 pound weight capacity, making it one of the strongest racks on the list.
Despite that, the small footprint (47″ x 48″) makes it a viable option as a squat rack for small spaces.
Instead of safety spotter arms, like the regular squat racks on this list, the papababe power cage has solid steel safety bars. These bars offer an even safer option for lifters doing heavy bench presses and squats.
Another great aspect of this rack is the multi-grip pull-up bar, which offers the ability to do neutral grip, regular grip, and angled wide grip pull-ups.
The only real downside is the assembly process, as it takes a few hours. And just know this is a power cage, so it’s going to be bigger and bulkier than the other racks on this list.
Still, for the low price point and strength of this cage, it’s an excellent option.
Best Squat Rack for Low Ceilings – Merax Adjustable Squat Stand
Product Specifications
| Dimensions | 27.5″-45.5″L x 27″W x 43.5″-67.5″H |
| Weight | 48.5 pounds |
| Weight Capacity | 550 pounds |
Features
- Adjustable length (27.5″-45.5″) and height (43.5″ – 67.5″)
- 550 pound weight capacity
- Two weight plate holders in back
- Dip bar handles
- 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 Merax 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.
There are some nice perks with this rack as well. One of them being the adjustable height and length of the rack.
Another perk is the dip bar handles. Because the length is adjustable, this means you can shorten the rack so you can actually perform dips without the handles being too far apart. A definite advantage compared to many other racks with dip handles.
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 will wobble and potentially tip if you push the weight limits (550 lb capacity), so keep that in mind when you are considering it. And the safety spotter arms only extend out six inches, 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.
Best Squat Rack With Bench – Fitness Reality Squat Rack and Bench Combo
Product Specifications
| Dimensions (Rack) | 50″L x 50″W x 81″H |
| Dimensions (Bench) | 59”L x 23.5”W x 48.5”H |
| Weight (Rack) | 70 pounds |
| Weight (Bench) | 35 pounds |
| Weight Capacity (Rack) | 800 pounds |
| Weight Capacity (Bench) | 800 pounds |
Features
- Squat rack: 800 pound weight capacity
- SuperMax FID (flat-incline-decline) adjustable and foldable weight bench
- Pull-up bar
- Landmine attachment for barbell
- Weight plate holders in back
- Safety spotter arms
- J-hook barbell holders
Who is this Squat Rack Designed for?
Beginning home gym builders who want a solid, sturdy squat rack and bench combo at a low price point.
If you’re also in the market for a bench, you really can’t do much better than this squat rack/bench combo from Fitness Reality. Both the bench and rack are sturdy, strong, and well-made (both with an 800 pound weight capacity).
One feature which stands out for the rack is the safety spotter arms. They are 19.5″ long, which is more than most of the racks on this list. And this allows you to lift more safely and adjust the placement of the bench when performing bench presses.
On the flipside, the safety spotter arms are angled slightly up (away from the rack). The reason for this comes straight from the Fitness Reality website product description: “Spotter arms are angled to make sure a loaded barbell will roll back towards the upright posts when place on to them, to avoid tipping issue”.
Still, having the barbell roll back towards your head can be unnerving to some lifters. So, you’re going to have to decide whether this is a make-or-break feature for you. Personally, I feel this design works, you just have to know to keep your head flat on the bench and set the bench far enough back in the rack so the bar won’t roll into your chin.
Two more features I like are the landmine attachment and the pull-up bar. The landmine allows you to do exercises like t-bar rows and landmine presses.
All in all, this is a fantastic combo deal at a low price point with a quality rack and bench.
Want more information on the bench? Check out the details and reviews on the product page here.
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 9 awesome racks to choose from.
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