11 Best Budget Power Racks & Squat Racks For Your Home Gym

After spending 40 hours of research on 127 squat racks, I found the REP PR-1100 to be the best budget power rack for most people.

All of us on the team (including some certified personal trainers and commercial gym owners) have tried and tested many of them.

If you’re in a hurry, the REP PR-1100 is our top-budget power rack pick. For the price, customer service and warranty, it’s hard to find a decent quality rack like this that will suit the majority of people when working out at home.

If you can spend an extra few hundred dollars then I would recommend the REP PR-4000. This rack can be used for the majority of your home gyms thanks to the attachments. Plus the 3×3″ 11 gauge steel is strong enough for anyone in the world.

I’ll show you why these 11 made the list and exactly how we chose them. This will help you make an informed decision to choose what’s right for you.

Looking for the best budget items? Check out this year’s Black Friday gym equipment deals.

Premium Option

REP PR-4000

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Best Overall

REP PR-1100

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Cheap Option

Fitness Reality 180XLT

Check the price here

11 Best Budget Power Racks and Squat Racks for Home Use in 2021

Here is a quick roundup of our top picks.

You can click through on models to find out current prices and to look at other people’s reviews.

We’ll go into more detail about why these are our top picks below. There’s even a comprehensive buyer’s guide later to show you our key review criteria.

We gave all of our favorite picks a rating out of 10. Here’s how they compare with one another overall based on footprint, safety, quality, practicality, and price.

1. Best Budget Power Rack – Our Pick: REP PR-1100

The REP PR-1100 is our top pick for a budget power rack. Based on its value proposition, it’s the best power rack for the money.

This rack is ideal for you if you know you will never lift close to 500lbs and you are on a really tight budget.

It has a weight capacity of 700 pounds. Most people won’t lift anywhere near this much. But to be on the safe side you should probably consider one of our upgrade picks below if you do squat more than 500 lbs.

The REP PR-1100 is also compatible with a range of PR-1000 attachments. So you can adapt it to suit the workouts you’re after and upgrade it over time if budget is your driving factor.

The 14 gauge steel isn’t as thick or durable as our recommended 11/12 gauge steel.

But it simply does the job but at an entry-level price.

Pros

• Pull-up bar – capacity of 400 pounds.
• No need to anchor – safe for use without anchoring the power rack.
• Versatile – additional add ons available.
• Amazing value – great budget option.

Cons

• 14 gauge steel – It can cope with up to 700 lbs but it’s not as strong as 11 gauge steel like to PR-4000.
• 2″ hole spacing- Not as ideal as “westside” or 1″ spacing so you can place the spotter arms at the perfect height for a bench press.

2. Best Budget Squat Rack- Our Pick: REP SR-4000

Our top budget squat rack pick also comes from REP fitness. You simply cannot beat the quality of a squat rack for this price.

The REP SR-4000 is a sturdy, durable model.

It’s recently been redesigned for maximum stability such as the 2×2″ steel is now 3×3″ being strong enough for anyone. There is also “westside” 1″ hole spacing. This means you can position the spotter arms perfectly so you won’t need to wriggle out from under the bar when you fail a lift on a heavy bench press.

Unlike many wobbly squat racks, this model doesn’t need to be anchored for you to use safely. It features a long, flat-footed base for extra stability. Great for a home gym where you might not have a spotter.

REP SR-4000’s high specs make it a great option in the budget home gym squat rack category. It offers many of the features you’d expect from a power rack but at a fraction of the cost.

Pros

• Large weight capacity – suitable for more than 1000 pounds.
• Height options – available in 83”, 96”, and 103”.
• 73″ x 53″ base – the long flat feet means the rack won’t wobble.
• Versatile – suitable for use with most 4000 series accessories.
• Plate storage – keep your weights in one place.
• 11 gauge steel – sturdy for demanding workouts.

Cons

• Not a power rack – some people prefer the added stability of the four pillared power rack.

3. Best Budget Half Rack- Our Pick: Titan Fitness X-3 Series Half Rack

Our best budget half-rack pick is the Titan Fitness X-3 Series half rack. This versatile model combines all the great benefits of a single squat rack with the features of a power rack.

It ranks among the best half racks for home gym use, even though it’s a budget option.

While it doesn’t fold away, it does make for a better space-saving option than either of the previous two picks.

The Titan Fitness X-3 Series half rack has many key features of a quality model. It has been built with demanding workouts in mind and uses materials to reflect this. Strong 11 gauge steel combines with a stable base for safe workouts.

Compared to other Titan racks and other racks in general, this particular model is a great option for those working on a budget.

There is also a range of customization options for you to create the best half rack for your needs.

It’s worth bearing in mind that any additional accessories will need to be bought separately.

Pros

• 11 gauge steel – strong and durable.
• Versatile – combines the benefits of a single squat rack with a power rack.
• Westside hole spacing – for more precise safety bar positioning.
• Space-saving – smaller footprint than a full power cage.
• Large weight capacity – more than 1000 pounds.

Cons

• No lengthy warranty – not covered by a lifetime warranty.

4. Best Budget Folding Rack- Our Pick: Titan Fitness T-3 Folding Power Rack

Our best budget pick for folding racks is the Titan Fitness T-3 folding power rack. This model gives you the functionality of a power rack, but with a much smaller footprint.

Folding racks are the perfect choice for home gyms that might not have a lot of space to play with.

What’s great about this particular folding rack is that you can choose the height and depth to suit your home gym. It’s also a great pick if you’re trying to kit your home gym out on a budget.

The Titan Fitness T-3 folding power rack comes with all the hardware you need to install it, too. The manufacturer recommends building the rack with two people.

Something to think about is that this particular Titan power rack doesn’t come with plate storage.

Pros

• 11 gauge steel – strong and sturdy for demanding workouts.
• Space-saving – the Titan Fitness T-3 folding power rack is ideal for smaller home gyms.
• Large weight capacity – supports more than 1000 pounds.
• Versatile – pull-up bar included.
• Westside spacing – more precise safety arms.

Cons

• No plate storage – need to buy an additional storage rack.
• Pins to fold – make it awkward to fold away unlike the more pricey PRX folding rack.

5. Best Cheap Power Rack: Fitness Reality 810XLT

The Fitness Reality 810XLT is a great choice if you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful option. This power rack gives you all the essentials you need to workout at home, all the while fitting the description of an “affordable squat rack”.

This power rack also comes with a pull-up bar, which is a must in my opinion.

While it might not have all the bells and whistles of a more expensive rack, it is still a versatile piece of equipment. It is suitable for use with most strength training exercises.

What’s great about the Fitness Reality 810XLT is that it comes with 2 dual mounted safety bars. The power rack also features flat feet for more stability during your workouts.

One thing to consider is that it doesn’t have as large a weight capacity as other racks.

Pros

• Affordable – #1 among the cheap power racks, with decent specs.
• Safety bars included – for safer solo lifting.
• Versatile – suitable for a variety of exercises.
• Stable – no need to anchor the rack.
• Plate storage – for a more stable rack.

Cons

• Not space-saving – requires more floor space than folding racks.

6. Best Cheap Squat Rack: Titan Fitness T-3 Series Squat Stand

Our pick among the cheap squat racks section is the Titan Fitness T-3 series squat stand. This squat rack can accommodate a variety of heights and exercises but at an affordable price.

It features the Westside spacing for more precise positioning of safety arms. It also comes with reinforced J-hooks for added safety. Thanks to the stable base, there’s no need to anchor this squat rack to your floor or wall.

The Titan Fitness T-3 series squat stand has a weight capacity of 1000 pounds. It also comes with a 1.25” pull-up bar as standard.

Overall, this Titan squat rack is a great choice if you’re working on a budget.

However, it will be worth noting that it doesn’t come with plate storage.

Pros

• 11 gauge steel – strong and sturdy for demanding workouts.
• Large weight capacity – supports up to 1000 pounds.
• Stable base – no need to anchor to the wall or floor.
• Pull-up bar – suitable for a variety of exercises
• Westside spacing – adapt to your workout needs.

Cons

• No plate storage – you’ll need to buy an additional storage rack.

7. Best Power Rack for Small Space: Rogue RML-90SLIM Rack

The Rogue RML-90SLIM is a good choice for smaller spaces. This slim-fit design can be mounted to your wall to fit in with smaller home gym spaces.

What’s great about this squat rack is that it features Westside spacing. This gives you the 1” spacing you need for the bench press.

There is the option of buying the Rogue RML-90SLIM rack with a pull-up bar. We would advise going for the added pull-up bar so you can do a variety of exercises.

All in all, this is a great value rack that would be better suited for those who are limited by their home gym space.

Pros

• Space-saving – better suited for smaller spaces.
• 11 gauge steel – strong and sturdy US or CAN steel.
• Westside spacing – for a smoother, more comfortable workout.
• Plate storage – keep everything all in one place.
• Lifetime warranty – a good indicator of quality.

Cons

• Wall-mounted – has to be anchored to the wall.

8. Best Power Rack for Low Ceiling: Rep PR-1050

Our best pick for a low ceiling is the Rep PR-1050 power rack. This compact squat rack has been designed with small spaces in mind and measures 72” tall.

If you have a smaller space with limited ceiling room, this rack will be a good fit.

The strong, stable base of the power rack means that it doesn’t need to be anchored for you to use it safely.

There’s also the possibility of adding safety arms, bars, or straps if you wanted to use the power rack on your own.

While this rack doesn’t have a massive weight capacity, it can support up to 700 pounds. However, this still gives you plenty of room for maneuver in terms of exercises.

And it’s got many other great specs to make up for the smaller weight capacity.

Pros

• Space-saving – ideal for rooms with low ceilings.
• Pull-up bar – a greater variety of exercises.
• Plate storage – for added stability.
• Safe for solo use – doesn’t need to be anchored.
• Value for money – reasonably priced.

Cons

• Smaller weight capacity – not suited to exercises above 700 pounds.

9. Super Cheap Option: Cap Barbell Squat Stand

If you’re kitting out your home gym but don’t have a lot of money spare, then our super cheap option is the Cap Barbell squat stand. 

This squat stand gives you all the essentials you need for working out at home. It’s also a great pick if you’re more of a beginner and aren’t sure what to look for in a rack.

The stable base of the Cap Barbell squat stand means you don’t need to anchor it to the floor or wall. But it certainly does wobble more than our other squat stands above.

Overall it’s a good quality rack. But the weird plate storage (see cons below), poor customer service and low weight capacity are why it doesn’t feature higher on our list.

Pros

• 11 gauge steel – strong and sturdy.
• Pull-up bar – for a greater variety of exercises.
• Strong and stable base – no need to anchor the rack for safe usage.
• Budget option – a great choice for beginners.

Cons

• Smaller weight capacity – only suitable for up to 500 pounds.
• Plate storage – only on one side. The other side is to store your barbell. It can mean the rack is off balance so beware before you buy!

10. Squat Rack Upgrade: Rogue SML-3 Monster Lite

Our top pick for a squat rack upgrade is the Rogue SML-3 Monster Lite. This particular squat rack can be fully customized to your needs.

You can choose which type of pull-up bar you get with this rack, as well as if you’d like to add a bench or bumper plates. Great if you want to get everything you’ll need for a home gym, but as a result, it makes this more of a luxury option.

The Rogue SML-3 Monster Lite is a versatile squat rack that can be used for a wide range of exercises. It comes with most of the high-end specs that you’d expect at the price tag.

Strong 11 gauge steel, large weight capacity, Westside spacing, safe for use without anchoring, and many more.

Pros

• 11 gauge steel – strong and sturdy.
• Westside spacing – for more precise lifting.
• Pull-up bar – choose between a fat/skinny or a single pull-up bar.
• Compact footprint – measures 49” x 48”.
• Versatile – can be used for a variety of exercises.

Cons

• Expensive – pricier than other options.

11. Power Rack Upgrade: REP PR-4000

For the ultimate power rack upgrade, the REP PR-4000 is our top pick. This particular rack is fully customizable, so you can pick and choose which features you’d like.

It’s been designed with demanding heavy-duty workouts in mind and has a large weight capacity of 1000 pounds to match. The rack itself is commercial-grade, so you’ll know it can withstand the heavier workouts.

The versatility of this power rack makes it a great choice for those who are serious about their workouts. However, depending on the equipment you choose to go with it, the price tag will differ.

Pros

• Large weight capacity – suitable for up to 1000 pounds.
• 11 gauge steel – strong and sturdy.
• Plate storage – keep everything in one place.
• Westside spacing – for more comfortable, precise lifting.
• No anchoring needed – safe for use without anchoring.

Cons

• Expensive – more of a luxury option.

Best Budget Power Racks & Squat Racks Buyer’s Guide

There are 4 main things to consider when buying a power rack or squat rack.

1. How much space do you have?
2. Safety & quality of the rack
3. Practicality & type- what do you need it to do?
4. Your budget

Once you’ve considered all 4 of these criteria you should have a better idea of which power rack or squat rack will be the best fit for your home gym. 

To help you more with the decision-making process, here are the criteria that we used for our tests.

These are worth thinking about when it comes to choosing the best power rack or squat rack for your home gym.

1. Folding or space-saving

Depending on the room you want to set up your home gym in, and the equipment you want to get, you may be limited in terms of space.

Not everyone has massive rooms free to deck out with countless pieces of equipment.

If this is the case for you, opt for a model that is space-saving or capable of folding like the RML-90SLIM rack. These can help you make the most of your available space to create the best gym for your needs.

Quality & Safety

2. 11 gauge steel or better

The type of steel a rack uses is important. You’ll want to choose a steel that is strong and durable enough to cope with demanding workouts. Especially if you prefer the heavier weights!

The general rule of thumb is that the lower the gauge of steel, the thicker it is. And the thicker it is, the stronger it is. 11 gauge steel is about ⅛” thick, and is very strong.

11 gauge steel or better is considered to be more than enough for the majority of gym users. It’s why the SR-4000 is our top budget squat rack pick.

However, steel gauge is one of the big things that is a factor in the price. 12 or 14 gauge steel is generally fine if you don’t lift anything over 400 lbs. Or if you take precautions such as working out with someone else.

3. 1000 pounds+ weight capacity

The weight capacity of your chosen rack will be another important factor to consider.

It’s important to bear in mind that not all products will share their weight capacity. Many companies tend to overstate how much weight the products can take.

So if your chosen rack states it can take 1000 pounds or more, that’s a good sign. A good indicator for this is 11 gauge steel. This type of steel can take up to 1000 pounds of weight on it, so will suit your needs.

Another indicator is if the rack weighs less than 110 pounds, it probably uses weaker steel.

The Rogue SML-3 Monster Lite is a rack that definitely takes more than 1,000 lbs!

4. Can spotter arms/bars/straps be used?

If you’re looking for a rack to add to your home gym so you can workout alone, then this is a crucial thing to look for. Safety or spotter arms is one of our essential recommendations.

Some racks don’t come with spotter arms or straps. If you know you’ll be working out alone in your home gym, avoid these.

Opt for a different model that will have your safety in mind. Trust us – it’s not worth the potential damage you could suffer. Especially if it keeps you from using your new rack.

It’s worth bearing in mind that some folding racks do not recommend using spotter arms with them. The Titan T-3 folding rack doesn’t recommend this (although people do still use them) but it’s something to be aware of.

5. Lifetime warranty

You might not think much about a warranty. But if the manufacturer is offering a lifetime warranty, this is often a good sign that they take their racks seriously.

If they take their racks seriously, you’ll know you’re not buying a rack that’s going to break easily and leave you out of pocket. It gives you peace of mind that you can get it replaced if something goes surprisingly wrong with it too!

Titan Fitness is a great budget brand, but they only offer a 1 year warranty.

REP and Rogue both offer lifetime, which is why the PR-4000 is our upgrade pick.

Practicality

6. Is a squat rack safe without anchoring?

If you live in a rented building, you might not have the freedom to anchor your gym equipment to your wall. Or perhaps you just don’t want to potentially damage your home with some amateur DIY!

Whatever the case, there are plenty of power racks and squat racks that are safe for use without anchoring. Find a model that features flat feet. These are normally safe to use without having to anchor them to anything.

It’s a big reason by the PR-1100 is our top pick for a budget power rack.

Another thing to look out for is a model that uses good steel and weighs more than 150 pounds. That tends to be a good sign that the rack is safe without the need to be anchored.

If it comes with plate storage this also helps to weigh it down and stabilize it.

7. 1” or “Westside” hole spacing

Westside spacing is more practical than standard 2” hole spacing. This features 2” spaces between the holes on the rack, but uses 1” spaces in the bench press area, which is the part that matters most.

This allows for more precise positioning of your safety arms. When you bench press, you don’t want to have your spotter arms too high.

Otherwise, you’ll hit them on every rep. However, if they’re too low, they will be pointless. Plus it will still be painful when you can’t lift that last rep!

The Titan T-3 squat stand is super cheap and has 1″ hole spacing!

8. Pull-up bar included

This is a great addition to look for in a power rack and a squat rack. An included pull-up bar will save you hassle in the long run.

It means you don’t need to spend more money on equipment like a power tower.

A power rack or squat rack that comes with a pull-up bar will be more versatile than one without. It will give you more exercises that you can use it for!

9. Does it have plate storage?

If you want a power rack or squat rack that’s able to help you keep everything in one place, plate storage will be an essential feature.

Plate storage helps you keep all your weights right where you need them. 

This will also help to weigh the equipment down when you’re using it. Ideal if you’re worried about the rack wobbling or falling when you use it.

If your chosen power rack or squat rack doesn’t come with plate storage, you’ll need to buy additional storage racks. Which could be more costly in the long run and will take up more precious space in your home gym.

Squat rack vs power rack cost

10. Good value

When it comes to choosing the best model for you, cost will be an important factor to consider.

Of course, you’ll want to choose the best model possible – but can you afford it? Similarly, is your ideal power rack or squat rack good value for money?

Think about what you need to use it for. Then take a look at the points above and consider whether your chosen power rack or squat rack gives you value for money.

You should aim to buy the best model you can afford that meets all or most of our criteria. But if you just want the cheapest squat rack possible then the Cap squat stand is for you.

Types of Squat Racks

There are four main types of squat racks:

• Power racks
• Squat racks
• Half racks
• Folding racks

Choosing the best one for you will depend on what you want to use it for.

There are benefits and drawbacks to all four types of squat racks. We’ve put together this table to help you weigh the pros and cons of each. This should help you choose the best squat rack for the money (and your needs).

Exercises for Power Racks and Squat Racks

Both power racks and squat racks are popular choices of home gym equipment because of how versatile they are. Not to mention the benefits of squatting exercises!

Power racks allow you to lift heavy weights safely. They also allow you to do front squats, back squats, deadlifts, bench press, and many more exercises. Squat racks can be used for a variety of squats as well as many other exercises.

Here are a few videos to get you started.

Best budget power rack – Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line for Budget Power Racks & Squat Racks

After testing and reviewing 127 different racks against our 10 criteria, there are some clear winners.

Our top pick for a budget power rack is the REP PR-1100. This power rack met a lot of our key criteria. It covers a lot of essential workout basics, but with the lower price tag of a budget rack.

The REP PR 4000 is what I would personally recommend to most people if you can afford it though. The strength and versatility of this rack can grow with you and your home gym over time., which can actually save you money in the long run.

You can find a summary of all the racks we picked at the top of this page. Check out our full best squat racks guide if you’d like to see what other options there are on the market.