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What's inside
This is our review of the best Budget Power Racks for your home gym!
Affordable power racks can be found without compromising on quality. As we all know, managing heavy weights can be dangerous, and staying safe is a top priority.
That’s why I gathered 11 affordable and high-quality power racks so you can train as you would at a commercial gym, but from your home.
In a hurry? Here are the top two budget Power Racks.
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Editor's Choice
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Top Rated
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5.0
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4.5
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$249.00
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$299.00
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11 Budget-Friendly Power Racks
Jump to section:
- Fitness Reality 810XLT Super Max Power Cage
- HulkFit 1000-Pound Capacity Multi-Function Adjustable Power Cage
- Rogue RML-490C Power Rack 3.0
- Rep Fitness PR-1100 Power Rack
- Vanswe Power Rack
- Body-Solid Powerline PPR200X Adjustable Power Rack
- Titan Fitness Short Power Rack T-2 Series
- TDS Mega 1000 lb Rated White Power Squat Rack
- Body-Solid Best Fitness BFPR100 Adjustable Power Rack
- Merax Athletics Fitness Power Rack
- Body Power Deluxe Rack Cage
#1 First choice: Fitness Reality 810XLT Super Max Power Cage
My first pick goes to the 810XLT super max power cage by Fitness Reality. It gathers two main characteristics for a good power cage: it’s high quality and sturdy, holding up the weights perfectly, and it’s very affordable. This is the perfect example of cheap not always meaning bad quality.
The dimensions of this cage give it the perfect size to use as a home gym equipment while giving you enough space and safety to perform exercises like squats, curls, pull-ups, shrugs, and many more.
And the weight capacity is perfect for both experienced and beginner weightlifters, with safety bars included ensuring protection since day one of using, no need to purchase separately.
While some customers don’t like the fact that certain items need to be bought separately, and the fact that the tools provided in the package are not the best, they all conclude that the set-up was fairly easy nonetheless.
Affordable, practical, and high quality, that’s why this is my first choice and it’s one you should see for yourself.
Pros
- It’s small enough to fit any regular home gym but big enough to ensure a comfortable and stable exercise space.
- The weight capacity is also within the common range, ensuring you’ll be able to lift as much as you want, being an amateur or an experienced lifter.
- The rack includes the safety bars and lock-on safety, without the need to purchase them separately.
- Customer reviews rave about how sturdy the cage is, how well it holds the weights, the easy set-up, and the great price.
Cons
- It doesn’t include J-hooks, band pegs, or side holes for storage attachments. It doesn’t have eyes bolts to anchor to the floor either.
- Some customers found it hard to build using the tools provided but had good results building with their tools.
Features
- Cage dimensions: 50.5” L x 46.5” W x 83.5” H
- Set up weight – 133.5 lbs.
- Weight capacity – 800 lbs. (each pair of bars).
- Includes two dual mounted safety bars and two chrome lock-on safety. Doesn’t include an Olympic bar, weight plates, or bench.
- Made from durable heavy-duty 2 inches by 2 inches tubular steel frame construction.
- It has two rear stability bars at the back of the cage.
#2 Runner up: HulkFit 1000-Pound Capacity Multi-Function Adjustable Power Cage
My second choice goes to the HulkFit power cage, but this was a close one. This power cage includes essential items like J-hooks and safety bars, giving you a good deal for your money, which is already very affordable to start with.
You can easily set up this cage at home without it being such a dreadful task, and don’t worry about your floor being ruined.
Even though some reviews state that the power cage doesn’t always have the neatest and most beautiful finish, with chipped paint or sloppy welding, this doesn’t interfere with the quality and functionality of the cage, which is praised by its customers.
Pros
- The dimensions and weight capacity make this a perfect addition to any home gym.
- A lot of very useful things are already included, like J-hooks, safety bars, and dip bars, without the need to spend extra money.
- Doesn’t need to be bolted to the floor and protects the flooring with the rubber feet, making it even better for home gyms.
- It’s easy to assemble, they give you all the tools necessary, and even give you extra bolts.
- Customers love how sturdy and good quality it is for an affordable price.
Cons
- Some reviews state that the yellow paint from the cage is chipped off on the edges and that the welds are sloppy.
Features
- Cage dimensions: H 81″ x L 44″ x W 47″
- Weight capacity: 1000 lbs.
- Set up weight: 165 lbs.
- Steel gauge: 11
- It has a free-standing unit with walk-in space and rubber feet to protect flooring
- Includes two safety bars with J-hooks, two dip bars, and two extra J-hooks. Also includes a multi-grip pull-up bar at the front with foam handles and the tools for assembly.
- Add-ons available include lat pull-down and cable crossover attachments, which must be purchased separately.
#3 Rogue RML-490C Power Rack 3.0
Rogue Fitness has come out with some high-quality fitness gear over the last years, and now they’ve come out with an affordable and high-quality option for a power rack you can have at home. This power rack stands out for its incredible versatility and customization options: you can choose the color you want!
Now, since this is more high quality equipment, the price is a little higher than the other options on the list. But, it’s still considered affordable, and customers state that the price is worth it for the value it provides.
Pros
- Rogue Fitness is a widely recognized brand across the USA, with lots of other fitness-related products that have passed the quality test.
- This power rack is no exception to all the other amazing products this brand offers. The cage has incredible quality, and very safe to use.
- Rogue Fitness includes a wide range of custom color options for your rack, which is a feature that isn’t that common among fitness equipment.
- The power rack takes versatility to higher levels, with the ability to include a wide range of accessories and attachments, making this a completely customizable rack.
Cons
- This is one of the most expensive options I chose, which makes it go a little further down the list.
- Even though it has a wide range of attachments options, most of them aren’t included, which makes this rack even pricier.
- Unless you use a stabilizer, this power rack requires bolting to the floor, which isn’t ideal for home gyms.
Features
- Cage dimensions: L 49’’ x W 49’’ x H 90.375’’.
- Set up weight: 340 lbs.
- Steel gauge: 11.
- Westside hole spacing through bench area, 2’’ elsewhere.
- Includes one Monster Lite J-cup and four-band pegs.
- Monster Lite compatible.
- Manufactured in the USA.
- The unit is designed to be bolted to the floor unless a stabilizer is added, and mounting hardware is not included.
#4 Rep Fitness PR-1100 Power Rack
Lots of power racks have the possibility for attachments and accessories, but a lot of the brands sell them separately, which increases the price. The Rep Fitness power rack comes with so many attachments, it makes it a great deal for your money.
While the consensus is that it’s easy to set up (although with some help from your own tools and YouTube) and with good quality, some customers do state that the strength of the rack maybe isn’t as great as it’s described by the brand. With a 14 steel gauge, we recommend using less weight than the advertised weight capacity, but it’s still safe and it will work well for a home gym.
Pros
- Includes a wide range of attachments: J-cups, safety bars, an integrated pull-up bar, weight storage, and a bench.
- The majority of the reviews say it’s a good quality product for the price, and that it’s fairly easy to set up at home.
- It comes with a two-year warranty, so the brand encourages you to buy with full security of a return if the product doesn’t hold up to the test.
Cons
- The steel gauge is a little weaker than most power racks, so some customers say it wobbles a little when using too much weight.
Features
- Cage dimensions: H 84’’ (with pull-up bar) x L 47.5’’ x W 48’’
- Weight capacity: 1000 lbs.
- Steel gauge: 14
- Hole spacing: 3’’
- Includes an integrated pull-up bar, two J-cups, two safety bars, weight storage, and a bench. It doesn’t include barbells or bumper plates.
- Two-year warranty.
- Made in the USA.
#5 Vanswe Power Rack
- 【Updated Version】 We have updated our rack with 4 reinforced plates to increase overall stability! 2 inches x 2 inches steel frame ensures a stable construction for years of use, the total footprint of the rack is 47.6″ W x 56″ L and it is 85.8″ tall.
- 【10 Extra Accessories for Free】2 safety bars, 2 solid steel chrome adjustable weight bar supports, 2 dip handles, T bar row landmine, clip collars, 2 adaptor sleeves for 2 inches Olympic plates. The Vanswe power rack E-workout poster which contains 26 different exercises will be sent to you via Email.
The power rack offered by Vanswe it’s another great cage that comes with free accessories, making it another good deal for the money you’re paying. Plus, the cage is already pretty affordable, while customers say the quality is pretty good for the price.
There are some faults with the equipment, but generally, customers are satisfied with the quality of this power rack considering the price, making it an affordable and good enough option for home gyms.
Pros
- Good dimensions for a home gym power rack.
- The amount of accessories included is far greater than the ones offered by most racks on the market, making it a great deal for your money.
- Customers say it’s easy to assemble and good quality for the price and rave about the customer service.
Cons
- Weight capacity is not as high as other power cages on the market, it will work better for beginners.
- Some customers state that the cage it’s a bit unstable laterally, wobbling side to side while doing some exercises.
- Another fault pointed out by users is that the pulley systems aren’t as smooth, and sometimes don’t work properly.
Features
- Cage dimensions: L 56″x W 47.6″ x H 85.8″
- Weight capacity: from 250 to 650 lbs depending on the accessory:
- 250 lbs for lat pull-down.
- 330 lbs for a pull-up bar.
- 380 lbs for dip handles.
- 500 lbs for bar catchers outside the cage and 650 lbs for bar catchers inside the cage.
- Includes 10 free accessories: two safety bars, two weight bar supports, two dip handles, two clip collars, and two adaptor sleeves for 2’’ Olympic plates.
- It has rubber feet.
#6 Body-Solid Powerline PPR200X Adjustable Power Rack
The power rack offered by Body-Solid has great value for your money. It’s another excellent example of how you can find incredibly high-quality equipment for not a lot of money.
This power cage has impressed users who didn’t expect it to have such quality and last that long, by 5+ years later, are still using it as if it was new.
Now, as great as the power rack is, Body-Solid doesn’t give you much more than just that: the rack. With a great possibility for customization, almost every attachment or frill must be purchased separately.
Pros
- Users are usually impressed at how sturdy and good quality this power rack is for the price.
- Customers have used this equipment for long periods (5+ years) and still testify to it not losing quality and passing the test of time.
Cons
- Doesn’t include much. It’s an incredibly high-quality rack for the price, but it doesn’t offer much more than just the rack.
Features
- Cage dimensions: L 44’’ x W 46’’ x H 82’’ with 18 adjustment levels
- Weight capacity: 600 lbs.
- Steel gauge: 12
- Includes two adjustable lift-offs and two safety bars, an integrated chin-up bar.
#7 Titan Fitness Short Power Rack T-2 Series
Another good option for a high-quality and affordable rack comes from Titan Fitness. This brand offers a solution for low ceiling home gyms that can’t fit regular-sized power racks. This rack has a smaller height than most, perfect for situations like the aforementioned.
Again, this high-quality rack doesn’t offer much more than just the cage itself, with all the accessories sold separately. And the smaller height can be an issue for taller users, so you might want to consider this.
Pros
- This power rack accommodates better for those who want to build a home gym but have low ceilings, with a height that is smaller than regular power racks.
- Despite the size being smaller, reviews from adult men state that they felt safe doing pull-ups and that the rack was sturdy enough to do so.
- Most users find it to be a good quality for the price they paid.
- Customers testify to it being easy to assemble, including all the pieces necessary.
Cons
- This power rack doesn’t include any accessory or attachments other than J-hooks and safety bars.
- The height being smaller might be an inconvenience for taller users. Some people say they have to bend their heads to enter the cage.
Features
- Cage dimensions: L 48’’ x W 58’’ x H 71.5’’
- Weight capacity: 700 lbs.
- Set up weight: 132 lbs.
- Includes hardware for installment, J-hooks, and safety bars.
#8 TDS Mega 1000 lb Rated White Power Squat Rack
Another good and affordable power rack comes from TDS Fitness, offering a positively reviewed power rack that represents a good deal for your money.
Yet another example of quality not equating to price. And yet, another example of a brand offering only a good rack, with the accessories being sold separately.
However, the high weight capacity and sturdiness of this power rack outweigh (no pun intended) the lack of accessories included. The packaging could also be better, but it doesn’t affect the quality of the final product, which is easy to assemble by yourself at home.
Pros
- It has an impressive weight capacity of 1000 lbs, more than most racks offer.
- The power rack offers versatility for lots of attachments like Olympic bars, plate holders, and dip bars.
- In general, reviews state that the product offers incredible quality for its price, it’s sturdy enough for a home gym, and that the assembly was fairly easy.
Cons
- Doesn’t include any accessories or attachments other than safety bars and J-hooks.
- Packaging has been reported as not-so-great by customers, and say pieces might come peeled off or dented because of this.
Features
- Cage dimensions: L 48.5″ x W 48″ x H 82.5″
- Weight capacity: 1000 lbs.
- Hole spacing: 31 holes 2’’ apart.
- Includes J-hooks and safety bars.
#9 Body-Solid Best Fitness BFPR100 Adjustable Power Rack
Body-solid has another great affordable option. This power rack is mainly intended for use by beginners, so if you’re looking to start your weightlifting journey with a safe, good quality, and affordable option, this is a good rack to start.
As we said, professionals or experienced lifters might not find this rack particularly useful, but for people who are just starting to build their home gym, this is the perfect addition.
Pros
- This is a good option for people who are wanting to get started on weightlifting and are not going to lift as much weight.
- Customers say that the quality of the product correlates well with the price, and it’s sturdy and functional.
Cons
- The weight capacity is limited, so this rack isn’t recommended for more experienced weight lifters or professionals.
- The steel gauge isn’t as strong as most power racks on the market.
- The majority of the accessories are sold separately.
Features
- Cage dimensions: L 45’’ x W 47’’ x H 83’’
- Weight capacity: 500 lbs.
- Set up weight: 117 lbs.
- Steel gauge: 14
- Hole spacing: 3’’
- Includes two adjustable lift-offs, an integrated chin-up bar, and two safety bars.
#10 Merax Athletics Fitness Power Rack
Another option for beginners comes from Merax Athletics. This rack does have a good weight capacity, holding up to 800 lbs on the safety bars, ensuring a good protection range against potential injuries. And this rack stands out because of all the accessories it already includes, which makes it even a better deal.
Even though some customers have said that the rack can shake a little, especially with heavier weights, reviews are generally positive in regards to the quality and the assembly.
Pros
- This power rack includes several attachment pieces and accessories, without the need to buy them separately.
- The lifetime warranty for the frame and the two-year warranty for the parts is a good deal to test out if this passes the quality test.
- However, the majority of the customers testify that it does indeed have a very high quality, especially for the price.
- Users also love the easy and quick assembly process, without the need of any professional help.
Cons
- Some users do say that it can shake a little when adding too much weight, so maybe not the best option if you are more experienced with weight lifting.
Features
- Cage dimensions: L 57’’ x W 47’’ x H 85’’
- Weight capacity: from 500 lbs to 800 lbs depending on the accessory used:
- 500 lb for the bar catchers outside the cage
- 650 lb for the bar catchers inside the cage
- 800 lb for safety bars
- Includes built-in pull-up bar, safety spotter, lat pull-down, and a low row attachment.
- Has a lifetime warranty on the frame, and a two-year warranty on the parts.
#11 Body Power Deluxe Rack Cage
Lastly, at the bottom of the list, we find the Body Power deluxe rack cage. This cage comes with several accessories, which makes it an even better deal.
This cage is also a little narrower than regular power cages, which can be either a pro or a con, depending on your personal preferences.
It takes the last spot for having the least amount of reviews, but the majority of them are still positive, praising the quality of the cage and the price.
Pros
- The rack comes with a great range of different accessories, so you don’t have to purchase them separately.
- The narrowness of the power rack can be beneficial for people who don’t have that much space and need smaller cages than the regular ones.
Cons
- The narrowness of the rack can be too tight of a space for certain people who are bigger or taller, or that just simply enjoy a more spacious weightlifting area.
- Users say that, if not bolted to the floor, it may tilt and be unstable, which is not ideal for home gyms.
- Customers also say that the storage posts are not sturdy enough, so investing in additional storage accessories might be necessary.
Features
- Cage dimensions: L 63’’ x W 45’’ x H 85’’
- Weight capacity: 800 lbs.
- Set up weight: 97.4 lbs.
- Includes dip-bar attachments, safety bars, safety rods, interchangeable band pegs, weight plate storage posts, and built-in anchors.
Alternatives
Half Rack
You may have guessed this from the name, but the half rack is very similar to the power rack (also known as the full rack). The main difference is that the half-rack has two supportive feet instead of four, making it less spacious.
This is a good option for people who don’t have as much space to build their weightlifting area, and they are also cheaper than full power racks, but they are less stable.
One good option for the half rack is the HulkFit Multi-Function Adjustable Power Rack
Squat Stand
Squat stands are typically another name for half racks. They are stands with two supportive feet from which two bars extend up, and in squat stands, these bars tend to be smaller in height.
These stands also usually come with a bench for doing squats. An example of a good squat stand is the Valor Fitness BD-58 Squat Rack
Wall Mounted Rack
Racks that can be mounted to the wall are another great solution to the limited space problem. The grand majority of these racks are foldable as well, making your home gym much easier to organize and less crowded.
You can even install them in any room of your house and practice your weightlifting there without it being an inconvenience. Here’s a good option for a wall-mounted rack, the Rogue RML-3W Fold Back Wall Mount Rack
Smith Machine
The Smith machine is a very specific type of weight lifting machine. They are very similar to full power racks, but they have a barbell that is fixed within steel rails, allowing only vertical movement.
This makes the Smith machine a self-spotting device since the weights move on a fixed rack and can be secured at any point in the movement. If this alternative interests you, here’s an example of a high-quality Smith machine, the Valor Fitness BE-11 Smith Machine
How to choose the best budget power rack buying guide
1.
YOUR HOME GYM AREA, SPACE & HEIGHT
One of the main features and differences between the power rack and its alternatives is that this is a more spacious device. It’s important to make sure you have enough space to fit your power cage without it being too cramped.
2.
WEIGHT CAPACITY
Power racks with a good weight capacity are crucial to feel safe and to know how much you can add to it. Even though every model is different, most cages can handle between 500 to 1500 lbs.
3.
SIZE
This aspect goes along with the first point we talked about, which is your home gym area. The size of your power rack needs to be chosen in relation to your exercise area dimensions.
Most racks are around 7 feet tall and 4 feet in-depth, but this varies from model to model, and you can make your decision based on the size that will fit best at home.
4.
HOLE SPACING
Hole spacing is important because it will determine the accuracy with which you adjust j-hooks or safety pins, and any other accessory you want to add to your power rack.
5.
ANCHORINGABOUT
Some power racks need to be bolted down to the floor for it to stay put. These are very common in commercial settings, but for home gyms, bolting a rack to the floor can be an inconvenience.
Changing the placement of your cage will be a huge problem if they are bolted to the floor.
Freestanding racks are usually the best choice for home equipment, but you need to make sure that it stays put and won’t move around.
6.
STRENGTH
The strength of a power rack is defined by the steel gauge, which refers to the thickness of the steel used when manufacturing the equipment.
The thicker the steel, the smaller the number indicating the gauge. A steel gauge of 11 is generally considered to be strong enough for home power racks.
7.
SAFETY
Managing weights can be very dangerous, especially if you’re just starting and don’t have that much experience. A power rack that already comes with safety bars or J-hooks (also known as J-cups) is a big plus since you don’t have to get them out separately.
8.
WEIGHT PLATE STORAGE
Having a place to store your weight plates is important for any type of weightlifting activity. Power racks that come with weight storage, offer a lot more value for their price, in contrast with ones that don’t include the storage. Plus, you need to make sure the storage is efficient and practical.
9.
ATTACHMENTS
Power racks have the benefit of being very versatile and having the possibility of adding many different accessories that can either come with the power rack or you can add. Some of these attachments include:
- Step-up platforms
- Lat attachments
- Dip stations and handles
- J-hooks
- Dumbbell holders
- Spotter arms or safety straps
- Sphere grip pull-up bars
- Band pegs
- Rope attachments
Product Evaluation Criteria
Brand
When searching for the options on this list I focused a lot on the brand. The reputation of the brand on the fitness and weightlifting world is very important, as well as how long the brand has been manufacturing high-quality products.
Reviews
The best and most honest description you can get about a product will come from its customers. Power racks with a high number of reviews, where most of them are positive, were the ones elected to be a part of this list.
Versatility
Power racks have the pro of being a piece of versatile equipment, giving you the chance to perform a lot of different exercises and with the possibility of adding attachments and accessories. The greater the versatility a power rack offers, the better it will be, that’s why I considered this.
Quality
A power rack is an investment in your health and weightlifting goals. Choosing a high-quality cage that will last you a very long time and will hold up to extended use is one of the main goals you should aim for.
Safety
Handling weights can’t be done without proper safety measures. When choosing a power rack, you need to make sure it has safety attachments and accessories, and that the quality of the equipment itself is very high.
Price
Even though a power rack is an investment, many affordable options don’t lower the quality and the versatility of the product.
Finding a good price with good value is the key not only for this type of equipment, but for any purchase you make, and I focused on affordable racks that were a good investment.
Best brands
Fitness Reality
Fitness Reality is a brand located in Southern California, founded in 2007. With over 10 years of experience on the market, their motto “Real People. Real results” prove to be true with their excellent customer service and their focus on designing products for everyone.
HulkFit
HulkFit Products Inc is a part of a larger Chinese supply chain. Their products include other types of fitness equipment, like benches and other types of racks.
Rogue fitness
Founded in 2007, Rogue Fitness is already an established fitness manufacturer on the American market. Based in Columbus, Ohio, they are also one of the main suppliers for CrossFit boxes worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between squat rack vs power rack/cage vs half rack vs squat stand?
The term squat rack is usually used to refer to a power rack, so there’s no difference between these two devices.
A half rack and a squat stand are also usually used as interchangeable terms, so they are synonyms for the most part but, as we mentioned earlier, squat stands can refer to devices that have smaller bars extending from the feet, that usually come with a bench.
The main difference between all these options is the presence of two or four support feet.
A power rack or cage (or a squat rack) has four feet from which four bars extend upwards, making it a more stable and spacious device. The other two options have two feet, making them take up less space and be less expensive, but aren’t as stable.
Another big difference is the presence of safety bars. Power racks come with safety bars included, while half racks can have spotter arms as an add-on feature since they don’t usually come with them.
Versatility is another difference between the power/squat rack and the half rack/squat stands.
Power cages are designed for performing a lot of different exercises, not only squats.
You can do pull-ups, squats, and expand your exercise range with different types of add-ons, which are not an option for squat stands/half racks.
Are cheap power racks safe?
The price of a power rack doesn’t always correlate with its quality. You can find incredibly expensive power racks that don’t have the best quality, and you can find affordable racks that are completely safe to use.
Should I buy a squat stand instead?
Power racks have the great advantage of being versatile. You can perform a wide variety of exercises, including squats. Doing squats on a power rack is safer because of the safety bars.
With squad stands, you’ll need a spotter for safety, which is not always an option on home gyms.
Wrap up
Fitness Reality offers the best affordable option on the list. It gathers the perfect balance of quality, price, brand reputation, and a high number of positive reviews by customers.
