9 Best Folding Squat Racks [Buying Guide]

After over 40 hours of research and comparing 34 folding squat racks, the PRx Profile rack is my top recommendation for most people.

Finding the best folding squat rack is not an easy task.

So I have personally spent dozens of hours researching squat racks (weird I know!) I’ve used some of these myself. But I’ve also asked friends who own them, including multiple personal trainers who are part of the team here at Strong Home Gym for their thoughts. 

I ended up finding over 30 folding or wall-mounted squat racks and created a set of 14 criteria including:

• How easy they are to fold away
• The type of steel used
• How much space they take up
• The practicality of them
• Price

I found that the PRx Profile rack is still the overall best folding squat rack despite the price. Simply because PRx uses patented technology that allows these racks to fold away in seconds, rather than using fiddly pins like all the others. If you can’t fold the rack away easily you probably won’t do it…

So you may as well buy a cheaper, superior quality power rack!! (Check out our best squat rack research here)

If you are looking for value then I’d recommend the REP PR-4100. It uses 3×3” 11 gauge steel, has westside hole spacing, and is cheaper than the PRx version.

But the Rogue RML-90SLIM Door rack is the best space-saving rack. It’s super unique as it fits around a door. But it is still high quality and only has a depth of 13” when in use compared with 20” of the other racks.  

Small Spaces

Rogue RML-90SLIM

Check the price here

Best Overall

PRx Profile Rack

Check the price here

Value Option

REP PR-4100

Check the price here

9 best folding squat racks

Here are the 9 best folding squat racks available currently…

I’ll go into more detail about the criteria I used to give each rack the rating later. But first of all, let’s dive into why these racks made the cut…

1. Best folding squat rack- our pick: PRx Profile Squat Rack With Pull-Up Bar

PRx uses patented technology that allows the rack to fold away much quicker than anything else on the market. 

This is the main reason it’s our top pick for folding squat racks. 

Watch this 2-minute video to see what I mean…

The simple fact is that if your rack doesn’t fold away easily you won’t fold it away! And if you’re buying a folding rack, this should be your main focus. Otherwise, there are cheaper and arguably better quality standard squat stands or power racks you can buy. 

Check out our recommendations for the best squat racks here.

The PRx PRO scored higher against our criteria (11 vs 10). But the reason I chose the PRx Profile rack as the top pick is the price. 

The PRx PRO costs about $300 more. It is more sturdy but unless you are squatting over 500lbs the Profile rack is more than enough for most people. The Profile rack uses 2×3” 11 gauge steel compared to the PRO’s 3×3” steel. It also uses 5/8″ holes instead of PRO’s 1” holes. 

These bigger holes and a larger area of steel do technically make the PRO rack able to hold more weight. 

But the issue with 1” holes is that the accessories such as a dip station or spotter arms end up costing more too. There are typically fewer options available and you will find it harder to buy different brand accessories that fit properly into 1” holes. 

If money is not a concern for you then the PRO rack will be better. But it’s probably not worth the extra costs for most people.

One of the downsides for me is that the Profile rack does not use ‘Westside’ 1” hole spacing around the bench press area. This means that it’s harder to set spotter arms to the ideal position. You will likely either hit the arms on the way down for each rep or you’ll get stuck under the bar if you fail. 

STOP!!

Now read the last two sentences again.

PRx also has a flat fold-away bench or an adjustable bench as an additional option. If you want your home gym to look really cool and are very concerned about saving space then it’s not a bad quality bench at all. You can see what I mean about the way these benches look cool (and save space) in the image below…

However, be sure to check out our picks for the best weight benches. There are many cheaper options than PRx’s and arguably better quality (but they won’t fold on the wall and look as cool as these benches).

I’d recommend buying the rack with a single pull-up bar as pull-ups will likely be part of your training. It’s also a place where you can hang resistance bands to support additional movements.

But you can save around $150 if you already have a pull-up bar or something like a Power Tower.

Pros:

• Patented folding technology- the only brand that can fold the rack away as quickly as this.
• 4 100lb gas shocks- takes some of the weight to help you to lift the rack out and fold it away easily.
• 2×3” 11 gauge steel- strong enough for most people.
• Good customer support- easy to get in contact with the team for any issues.
• Stringers included- no need to run to a hardware store to install the rack.  

Cons:

• No Westside hole spacing- not ideal for when you bench press. 
• Pricey- you can buy cheaper folding racks- but you cannot buy a cheaper rack that folds away as easily as this.

2. Best door mount folding squat rack for small spaces: Rogue RML-90SLIM Door Mount

The Rogue RML-90SLIM Door Mount is the best folding squat rack I’ve found for really small spaces. 

It has a depth of 13 inches when in use, and only 5” when folded away. This is far more compact than any other racks I could find. The Sorinex Off-Grid and RML-90SLIM rack have a depth of 13.5” and 14” respectively but they do not fold. The next closest folding rack is the adjusted PRx Profile at 18” deep or the Rogue R-3W with a depth of 20.5”. 

One of the issues in having a rack attached to the wall with such small depth is that it can impede a workout. For example, it’s possible to do an incline bench press with 14” depth but you do feel very tight against the wall. 

But this rack is over a door! 

That means you can open the door when you work out to give you a lot more depth than a rack attached to a wall. It even makes kipping or muscle-ups possible!

There is something to be aware of before you make the purchase… The max-width of the door and trim is 42.25”. So if you are planning on using this on a weirdly wide door it may not fit. Be sure to measure this first!

Overall, I think this is a really smart design at a great price. It just looks super cool, is unique, and is very practical if you are tight on space. 

Pros:

• 13” depth when unfolded- the most space saving folding rack available.
• 3×3” 11 gauge steel- very strong and durable rack that can hold a lot of weight. 
• Westside hole spacing- ideal for placing the spotter arms at the correct height for the bench press. 
• Stringers are included- no need to buy additional items to fit this to the wall. 

Cons:

• Locking pin and hinge system- slower to fold away or pull out ready for use than the PRx versions. 

3. Best value folding squat rack for kipping pull-ups: REP PR-4100 Folding Rack

If you are looking for a rack that you can do kipping pull ups or muscle ups, the REP PR-4100 is ideal for you. 

It’s the most affordable option with 3×3” 11 gauge steel and 41” depth from the wall. 

The thicker the steel tubing is for a rack, the less it will wobble. 

The PRx racks only come out 26.75” from the wall, which makes space a bit tight to do swinging pull-ups. But they do offer a variation with “kipping pull-up bars”. However, if this is the main reason you’re buying the rack, the PR-4100 is far more affordable than the PRx version. 

This rack also comes with 1” Westside hole spacing around the bench press area. This makes adjusting the height of the spotter arms to the ideal height even better than the PRx version. 

The downside compared to the PRx version is that you will need to use the locking pin and hinge system. This makes it slower and harder to fold the rack away and get ready for use. 

You’ll also need to buy plywood yourself from a DIY store to attach the rack to stringers on the wall. Use stringer dimensions of 2” thick, 10” wide and 56” long for this installation. This video also will help for installation…

Overall, if you don’t mind having to use the locking pin system, this is the rack I would recommend for most people. 

Pros:

• 41” depth option- the deeper working area allows you to do swinging pull-ups.
• Westside spacing- ideal placement for spotter arms when bench pressing. 
• 3×3” 11 gauge steel tubing- the thickest option on this page, makes it extra sturdy. 
• REP customer support- very quick to respond to any issues. 
• Overall value- you can’t find a folding rack for this price with 3×3” 11 gauge steel. 

Cons:

• Locking pin and hinge system- slower to fold away or pull out ready for use. 
• No stringers available- you need to buy these additionally to attach to the wall (see video above)

4. Best folding squat rack for an apartment: PRx PRO Squat Rack

A folding rack can be ideal if you live in an apartment. 

But the ease of folding is super important here, which is why the PRx PRO is our top pick for apartments. 

It also gets our pick over the profile rack here. Mainly because a sturdy rack is extra important. If a rack buckles under the weight in an apartment it could cause much more damage compared to in a garage. This is where the PRO versions 3×3” 11 gauge steel and extra strong 1” hole diameter come in. 

The Profile rack will be fine for most people. But the design and security of the PRO rack may be a top priority if you’re using the rack in a living space. It also comes in 10 different color options to suit the layout of your apartment. 

Scoring 11 out of 14 against our criteria it is the highest-scoring rack on the list. The reason it’s not our overall top pick is because of the price. The 1” hole diameter, 3×3” steel and additional colors are not needed for most people.

But these are all the little added extras that make this rack ideal to have in your living space.  

Pros:

• Stringers included- no need to find the right size wood to DIY the installation.
• 3×3” 11 gauge steel- stronger than 2×2” or 2×3” steel tubing. 
• 1” hole diameter- allows thicker attachments, which are stronger than 5/8″ holes. 
• 10 colors to choose from- ideal to match the layout of the room. 

Cons:

• No Westside hole spacing- not ideal for when you bench press (stronger 1” holes don’t allow for this though as it will impact the integrity of the steel).
• Expensive- the PRx profile is still good enough for most people and you’ll save $300 or more. 

5. Best Rogue folding squat rack: Rogue R-3W Folding Rack

The best overall Rogue folding squat rack has to be the R-3W. 

Some people always stick with a certain brand for their gym equipment. Rogue seems to be one of those brands. Mainly because they are renowned for a company based in the US with affordable products made in the US. 

But they often are slightly more pricey than REP or Titan alternatives, who often source their steel abroad. 

In this case, there really isn’t too much difference. The R-3W is around $100 more expensive than the PR-4100 or $150 more than the Titan T3 after adding spotter arms. 

However, it’s the only option out of the three that comes with an option to add a pair of stringers to attach to the wall. This makes it look far more classy than the other options. It also means you don’t need to search around for the right size wood. 

It also will be under 6” off the wall when it’s folded away with the stringers compared to 6.5-7” for the other brands. That difference may not seem like much but can make a big difference if you are very tight on space or need to park a car when it’s folded away.  

Pros:

• Stringers available for $50- looks smart and makes it easier to install.
• Westside hole spacing- ideal placement for spotter arms when bench pressing. 
• Made in the USA with US steel- some people prefer to stay patriotic. 
• Under 6” when folded- takes up minimal space.

Cons:

• Locking pin and hinge system- slower to fold away or pull out ready for use than the PRx versions. 
• Allow 11 feet of wall space for the 40.5” option- the rack takes up a lot of wall space when folded away (see image above).

6. Best folding power rack: Force USA MYRACK Folding

The Force USA MyRack could be ideal for you if you want a folding power rack that you don’t have to bolt to a wall. 

The 2.5×2.5” 12 gauge steel is not as thick as most other options on this list. But because it is a full power rack it is more than sturdy enough for most people. You can squat 500lbs on this rack and feel supported, which is more weight than the vast majority of people will lift. 

I personally prefer a full power rack when I’m working out alone. This is because you can lift weights inside the rack and it just feels more secure. The MyRack allows you to do this unlike the majority of folding racks. 

It also has “easy to pop-pin technology”. Whilst this is not as easy to fold away as the PRx versions, I still think it’s far better than the fiddly pin designs on most other folding racks. 

So if you don’t have a ton of space you can fold this rack so the depth is only 20”. It’s nowhere near as compact as the 5” alternatives on this list. But all of the alternatives need to be bolted to the wall. 

This rack works perfectly well without needing to anchor it to anything (although it is possible to bolt it to the floor). So if you’re not very handy or you don’t have appropriate walls to drill into, this could be a great option for you. 

See the rack in action in the 2 minute video below…

Pros:

• Full power rack- more sturdy than squat stands and allows you to lift inside the 4 uprights for safety. 
• Westside hole spacing- position the spotter arms to the ideal height when bench pressing. 
• Doesn’t need to be fixed to a wall- ideal if you don’t have wall space or strong enough walls to take a folding rack. 
• Easy to pop-pin technology- quicker than the standard pin design folding racks. 
• Weight plate storage accessories- an issue with most folding racks is where to store your plates. Simply buy the plate storage accessory and store your plates on the rack!

Cons:

• 12 gauge steel- not as thick and strong as 11 gauge steel, but this is more than enough for 99% of people. 
• 20” depth when folded- it will take up more space than most other racks on this list. But it’s much less space than a standard power rack.

7. Best folding squat rack for low ceilings: PRX Profile 80” Rack

The PRX Profile is so good that this is its second mention. 

The quick folding rack is hard to ignore when it comes to folding racks as no other brand can currently compete thanks to the patented technology. 

But this time I recommend the 72” tall Profile rack without a pull-up bar if you have a low ceiling. If you look on the sales page on the website you will see that they recommend you to have at least 91” high ceiling. This is to allow for the rack when it’s folded up and back against the wall. 

However, I got in touch with the team at PRx as a customer at [email protected]…

Not only were they super quick to respond but they went above and beyond what I asked them. They even shared the instructions manual…

As you can see, you can fit the rack into a ceiling height of as low as 80” by moving the brackets down the wall on installation.

This does mean the rack will now only be 18” deep from the wall when in use. But Rachael assured me that testing had been done on the modified rack height. It is still just as structurally sound as mounting the rack at the regular height.

Pros:

• Fits 80”-91”+ ceiling heights- ideal for anyone with low ceilings. 
• Stringers included- all installation materials are included. 
• Patented folding technology- very quick to fold away and use. 
• 4 100lb gas shocks- takes some of the weight to help you to lift the rack out and fold it away easily.
• 2×3” 11 gauge steel- strong and sturdy rack. 

Cons:

• No westside spacing – spotter arms may not be at the ideal height when bench pressing. 

8. Best budget folding squat rack: Titan T-3 Folding Rack

The Titan T-3 is more than enough for most people and ideal if you are on a budget. 

After comparing over 20 folding racks on the market this is the cheapest option I could find that is currently available. When you include the spotter arms (an absolute must in my opinion) the 91” height version comes in around $60-$100 cheaper than the REP PR-4100. And the 82” version is $40 cheaper!

The PR-4100 does have 3×3” 11 gauge steel uprights compared to the Titan’s 2×3” 11 gauge steel. But in reality, most people will not notice the difference of this extra 1” wide steel. 

The T-3 also only has a 1-year warranty, whereas every other rack you see on this page has a lifetime warranty. 

Despite these small differences the T-3 rack pretty much offers everything the more expensive alternatives do. It does have a slow-to-change lock and pin hinge system, unlike the quick PRx system. 

But when you compare this to the PRx “cheap” Murphy rack option you can see how much better Titan is… 

Despite the thicker steel and Westside hole spacing, the T-3 is about $110-$150 cheaper than the Murphy. The Murphy doesn’t use the patented folding rack technology unlike the Profile or PRO versions so there really is no point in buying the Murphy rack. 

This explains why some people claim that PRx is expensive. But you simply cannot argue that PRx PRO and Profile are the easiest to fold folding racks around!

Pros:

• Value- the most affordable folding rack on the market.
• 11 gauge steel- super strong steel making it very sturdy and able to hold a lot of weight. 
• Westside hole spacing- ideal spotter arm placings for bench pressing. 
• 82”/91” height and 21”/41” depth option- to suit your own height, space available, and budget.

Cons:

• Lock & pin hinge system- slow to fold out or fold away. 
• No stringers available- it’s recommended to buy 2”x10”x56” wood stringers from a hardware store. 

9. Our “if money was no object” pick: Rogue Monster Lite RML-390FULLW

The Monster Lite RML-390FULLW is for you if you want all the bells and whistles and if money is no issue. 

As it’s a full power rack you can work out inside the 4 posts. This provides more security thanks to the safety straps that are included. If you drop the bar when squatting or bench pressing you know these straps will be able to catch the weight. Whereas you still need to make sure you drop the bar on the spotter arms, which are used on the other racks in this list.

The RML-390FULLW comes with:

• 30” Monster Lite Strap Safeties
• Set of Monster Lite J-Cups
• Quick-attach Pull-Up Bar – 85.375″ height
• 5/8” x 4” Hitchpins w/ Lanyard for locking in Pull-Up Bar
• Plastic Caps to protect floor
• Stringer Pair

It’s just as good as a standard power rack and you can buy all the additional accessories such as:

• Hip thruster bench
• Lat pulldown seat
• Pulley attachment
• Dip station (matador)
• Different pull up stations
• Landmine attachment
• Plate storage

This rack has everything that the other racks on this list have such as 3×3” 11 gauge steel with Westside hole spacing (unlike the PRx Profile). 

But it still doesn’t come with the easy to fold away technology that PRx has.

I personally think this rack is perfect if you intend on leaving it set up most of the time. But you have it in a garage or room when you may need to fold it away every now and then i.e. really cold winter days to avoid the cars from freezing.  

The personalization and extra accessories are what make this rack stand out. 

For overall safety, visual appeal, and practicality, this rack gets my “if money was no object” pick. 

Pros:

• Full power rack- safer than squat stands & provides a ton of attachments to do additional movements and adds storage space.
• 12 colors to choose from- personalize your rack to suit your taste. 
• Everything you need to install is included- no need to run to a DIY store. 
• 11 gauge steel- super strong and sturdy steel. 
• Westside hole spacing- position these straps at the perfect height for a bench press. 
• Safety straps included- no need to pay for additional spotter arms.

Cons:

• Expensive
• Locking pin and hinge system- slow to fold away.

Folding squat rack buying guide

There are five main things to consider before you buy a folding squat rack:

1. Size of the rack
2. How easily it folds away
3. Quality 
4. Practicality
5. Price

I looked into all of these factors and broke them down into 14 criteria to assess each of the racks…

How we assessed the folding squat racks

I spoke to numerous friends who have used or have their own folding squat rack. I also used the dozens of years of experience the personal trainers and team members at Strong Home Gym to get their opinion. 

But I also ran every squat rack against 14 main criteria checkpoints.

This gave me a score out of 14 for each rack, which helped to make the final picks for this list. 

Here are the criteria we used…

Folding squat rack dimensions

1. Does it save space?
   • If it is under 30” off the wall it scores a point & under 7” when folded away.
   • Are there depth options i.e. 21” or 41”?
   • Are there different height options to suit your space and budget?

How easy is the rack to fold away?

2. Ease to fold away
   • If it takes a long time to fold away and uses the pin and hinge system it doesn’t score a point.
   • Currently, PRx holds a patent and is the only folding rack that is effortless to fold away thanks to the gas shocks (you know… like the trunk of your car has!) 
3. Ease to fold away
   • I found this is the most important factor for a folding rack… so there are 2 points to be had for this!

Folding squat rack quality

4. Gauge steel 
   • 11 gauge steel (⅛” thick) or better (lower) scores a point.
5. Size of uprights
   • 3×3” is typically the thickest metal you’ll find on squat racks.
   • 2×3” or thicker scores a point. 
6. Weight capacity
   • 1,000 lbs+ capacity scores a point.
7. Can spotter arms be used?
   • One of the main benefits of a squat rack is that you can lift alone. Some racks mounted to the wall do not recommend using spotter arms. 
8. Stringers & installment
   • If there are stringers that come with the rack it scores a point. 
   • You need to get the right piece of wood and follow the installment instructions if stringers are not provided. This is more fiddly to install.

Folding squat rack practicality 

9. 1” or “westside” hole spacing
   • Allows more accurate placing of spotter arms and J-hooks.
   • This is super important if you want to bench press alone. It means you won’t hit the spotter arms on the way down but the arms can still catch the weight if you fail.
10. Pull up bar included
    • If it comes with a pull up bar it scores a point.
11. Plate storage
    • If plate storage is possible to add to the rack it scores a point. 
12. Safe without anchoring/ can it be moved easily
    • It scores a point if it doesn’t have to be bolted to the wall. 
    • 99% of folding racks need to be bolted to the wall. This can be an issue if you don’t have good walls or your floor is uneven.
    • Only the Force USA MyRack fits this out of any folding racks I found.

Folding squat rack price 

13. Value
    • If the folding rack is under $600 it scores a point. 
    • The average price of the 35 folding racks we compared is $682.
14. Warranty
    • Lifetime warranty shows the manufacturers take care of their equipment.

There are some other factors that could be considered. Things like if the holes are numbered on the rack so it can help you quickly place your j-hooks or spotter arms.

Personally, I don’t think this is a super important factor when buying your rack. You can easily use a piece of tape to mark the holes you use and I don’t think this should be a purchasing decision. 

It’s important to note that there are a lot more options if you are in the market for a squat stand or power rack. So why do people even consider a folding rack?

Folding squat rack benefits

Folding squat racks are still quite a new concept to the gym space. 

There are many more squat stands and power racks available than wall-mounted racks. This means there are more affordable high-quality options available for racks that do not need to be mounted. 

But they certainly offer a lot of value for people building their own home gym who are tight on space. Or maybe you have space but want the equipment to be tucked away so you can still use the space for something else when you’re not working out.  

Here are some of the main benefits…

Squat racks allow you to squat and bench press

Without a squat rack, you cannot perform these movements with heavy weights. 

Sure you can use dumbbells or kettlebells for variations. But without a rack of some sort, you won’t be able to use a heavy barbell and overload these two vital movements. 

There are dozens of studies that have found the benefits of squatting. This is why we include this in our beginner weight lifting routine.

Folding squat racks are space savers

This is the main benefit a folding rack has over the standard squat racks.

Folding racks are fixed to the wall and can often fold to within 5” off the wall as the PRx Profile does. If you do not have a lot of space to fit a big 20 square foot power rack, then a folding rack is ideal.

This means that you can work out in a room or garage that also gets used for something else…

Use the area for something else with a folding rack

If you are building a home gym in an apartment or in a spare room you can still easily use the room for something else. 

If you have a small spare room you could use it as a home gym most of the time, but also use a sofa bed for when guests come to visit. If it’s in a small garage you can still park a car in there when it’s folded away. 

If you are buying a rack to be used inside the house, it’s wise to get one that is extra sturdy and easy to fold away. That is why the PRx PRO is our top pick for folding racks in an apartment. 

Folding squat racks look good

Folding racks just look really cool. 

There’s something special about seeing the steel uprights folded away against a wall. Especially a design like the Rogue R-3W, which comes with Rogue’s own stringers and can fold inwards or outwards. 

If you want to show off your home gym (who doesn’t?!), then a folding rack is a great feature that everyone comments on. 

Folding racks are fixed (around 48” wide)

Have you seen the single-legged squat stands? 

They are becoming much less popular thanks to squat racks with pull-up bars affordability.

They are cheap but really fiddly to set up to get the perfect width. Too narrow and you can bump the rack. Too wide and the barbell won’t fit. Not in line and you have a skewed bar.

But a folding rack has a fixed width which is perfect for doing squats, bench press and so much more. 

Even the space-saving RML-90SLIM door rack has an inside width of 43” with an outside width of 49”.

Best folding squat rack final tips

Check the installation instructions

You need to be aware if the rack comes with a set of stringers or not. It’s not always necessary to use stringers especially if you are installing it onto a brick wall.

But be sure to check the installation instructions as a poorly installed rack can impact its stability. You can usually find instructions on the company’s website, and there are many great YouTube videos for this now.

Make sure the flooring is in place before installing the rack

It is crucial to make sure you have put any rubber mats or flooring in place before installing your folding rack. Once your rack is installed it is not easy to adjust the height.

It’s also wise to check to see if your floor is on a slant as this can mean the feet of the rack are in the air or may not be able to fold out fully. 

Folding squat rack FAQs

The bottom line

Folding squat racks are a great way to save space. They can transform your home gym space into a completely separate space when you are not working out. 

However, there are some important factors to consider before you make your purchase. 

The PRx Profile rack is our top pick purely for the fact that it uses patented technology to fold the rack away in seconds. Every other folding rack uses the slower-to-use pins and hinges. It is more pricey than some other options out there, but this is worth the investment in my opinion.

If price is your main concern I would personally recommend the REP PR-4100. It offers westside hole spacing and uses 3×3” 11 gauge steel, unlike the Profile. It’s also cheaper than the PRx version.

Check out our best squat racks buying guide if you’d like to learn more about the other types of squat racks. We compared over 120 racks in this extensive guide and whittled it down to the best options on the market.