How Much Does a Squat Rack Cost? [120+ Racks Research]

Finding out how much a squat rack costs is not as simple as I thought. There is a huge variation in prices and factors to consider. 

So the Strong Home Gym team, including certified personal trainers, has researched over 120 squat racks on the market. Here’s what we found…

The average price of a squat rack is $650. But you can buy a good quality squat stand for $300 or a high-end power rack for $600. Some cheap squat stands cost around $100, but these are not ideal if you plan on lifting over 300 lbs of weight. Yet some of the most expensive power racks cost over $7,000.

You can find our buying guide and recommendations for the best squat racks here.

Or keep reading to find out how much each type of squat rack costs as well as some of the surprising factors that affect the price.

Average squat stand cost

The average price for a squat stand is $418. You can buy a 3×3” 11 gauge steel squat stand for around $400 that could last you a lifetime. Or you can pick up a decent 2×2” 11 gauge steel stand for around $250, which would be fine for most people that don’t lift more than 500 lbs.  

The table below shows the range of prices you can buy a different type of squat rack for…

There are 4 main types of squat racks that exist…

Many manufacturers call these types of racks a slightly different thing. And many people refer to a squat rack as any type of these racks.

The rest of this article will show you the differences in cost and what to expect to pay for a rack.

Entry-level squat stand price range

You can buy an entry-level squat stand made from 12-14 gauge steel for between $100 and $240. These types of squat stands are the cheapest options to purchase a squat rack of some sort. They are ok for people that do not plan on lifting more than 300lbs. 

However, it’s a good idea to lift with a spotter if you plan on lifting any weight that you may struggle with.

You can sometimes buy spotter arms with these budget squat stands but they are not the strongest.

These racks are usually very light. They weigh under 100 lbs due to the thinner steel used to construct them. This means they can also wobble quite a lot and could even fall if you do not bolt them down.

Despite this, many of these racks will come with a pull up bar. They are fine if you weigh under 200lbs and want to do standard pull ups. But you will struggle to do any muscle ups or kipping pull ups using these racks as they will wobble too much. 

Mid-range squat stand price range

Mid-range squat stands cost between $250 and $650. The average price in this research is $370. If you want a cheap squat rack but would like the benefit of using stronger 11 gauge steel, this may be the rack for you. 

This means it weighs more than the entry-level rack, usually around 150 lbs. This makes it a bit sturdier and can comfortably take 500 lbs of weight. However, if you are squatting this amount of weight on your own, you really do need to make sure these squat stands are bolted down to the floor. You also should probably consider a power rack.

Mid range squat stands tend to use 2×2” or 2×3” steel tubing instead of the 3×3” creme de la creme racks.

High-end squat rack price range

A high-end squat rack costs between $400 and $3,000, with an average price of $742. These squat racks will have a pull up bar and won’t wobble as much as the cheaper alternatives. This is because they are made from at least 3×3” 11 gauge steel and weigh around 200 lbs or more. 

Many of these squat racks come with some additional add ons such as a dip bar or weight plate holders. They normally have a larger base, which also helps the racks to not wobble as much. 

These racks may be ideal for you if you are tight on space but want a high quality rack that can support any weight you can lift. 

Note: Alternatively, some individuals prefer a separate dip bar as standalone equipment, rather than relying on a dip bar add-on for their squat rack.

The standalone dip bar may offer improved stability and reliability in the long run. Read more about dip bars in our in-depth best dip bars guide.

Average power rack cost

The median average power rack costs $925 from the 67 power racks in this research. However, you can buy a high-end 3×3” 11 gauge steel power rack for $600, which will last you a lifetime. Or you can buy an entry-level power rack with 2×2” 14 guage steel for around $200 if you will not lift more than 350 lbs. 

Entry-level power rack price range

You can buy an entry-level power rack for under $200. However, these racks typically use 14 gauge steel and weigh under 150 lbs. This means they wobble more than racks that use thicker steel. 

They are suitable for people that do not plan on lifting weight over 350 lbs. 

Also, if you plan on doing mainly Olympic weightlifting movements of CrossFit lifts then a rack like this will be more than enough for you. Your money is better spent on a good quality Olympic barbell and bumper plates if this is the type of lifting you do. 

Mid-range power rack price range

The average mid-range power rack costs $831. However, you can buy a 2×2” 11 gauge steel power rack for under $500. These racks are strong enough for most people but they may need to be anchored down if you plan on lifting anything over 400lbs of weight. 

The Titan T3 is an example of a mid-range power rack that you can pick up for under $500. Its 2×3” 11 gauge steel is very strong and can support any weight you’ll be able to lift. 

High-end power rack price range

The median price of a high end power rack is $1,200. You can spend over $7,000 on a rack of this quality. But it’s also possible to buy a 3×3” 11 gauge steel power rack for under $600.

The Titan X3 is an example of a high-end rack that costs about this amount. You do need to bolt this down too, but the flat foot version can also be purchased for under $700 if you’d rather not bolt the rack down. 

High end power racks typically have 1” or Westside hole spacing around the bench press area. This makes it possible to position the safety arms in the perfect spot to avoid being crushed under the bar if you fail a heavy bench press. It also helps to prevent banging the safety arms on the way down of each rep. 

If a high-end rack does not have this spacing, it’s because they will tend to use 1” diameter holes instead of the more common ⅝” holes. 

They also use at least 11 gauge steel and usually have 3×3” steel tubing or thicker. 

High end racks usually come with additional add ons or you can purchase a range of additional items such as:

How much does a folding squat rack cost?

A folding rack costs $626 on average. You can buy a folding rack for between $350 to $1,350 before shipping or tax. 

Folding racks need to be bolted to the wall. But they are great space savers if you need to use your home gym for something else, such as parking your car. 

PRx stands out compared to most other brands thanks to their patented technology that allows you to fold the rack away in seconds. Most other folding racks use pins to store the rack which takes longer to fold the rack away.

How much does a half-rack cost?

The 8 half racks in this research cost over $1,500 on average. Half racks can cost under $550 but they are more rare to find than power racks or squat stands. 

Some people love a half rack as it takes up less space than a power rack, but provides more stability than a squat stand. More and more brands, such as REP Fitness, are discontinuing their half racks though so they are becoming harder to find. 

What factors affect the price of a squat rack?

Looking through the data of the 120 squat racks there were some interesting factors that affect the price more than others. 

Squat racks taller than 93” cost more

The Titan T3 costs around $350 and is 92.5” tall. The cheapest squat rack over 93” is the REP SR 4000 at around $450 with a height of 96”. 

89” was the average height of the squat racks and there are many brands that have options for around this height. But if you’re on the taller side and want a rack that can allow you to do pull ups without having your feet touch the floor you need to be aware it will likely cost you more.  

Folding racks that are easy to fold away are more expensive

As I mentioned earlier, PRx has racks that are so much easier to fold away than any other folding rack. Their patented technology means they are the only brand that doesn’t use the fiddly pins to hold the rack in place when in use. 

However, the cheapest PRx model you can find costs around $550. But if you’re looking to save space and money then you can buy the Rogue RML-90Slim for around $350 or get the Titan T3 Folding rack for about the same price.

Note: If you want to learn more about the most notable manufacturers’ range of racks, check out our in-depth guides on:

• Best Rogue Fitness power racks
• Best REP Fitness power racks
• Best Titan Fitness power racks

Half racks are harder to find and more pricey

One of the cheapest half racks you can buy is the Titan T3 model. But you will need to buy the T3 squat stand and the half rack conversion kit, which will set you back a total of around $500. 

Half racks are a lot less common than squat stands or power racks. Therefore, the price seems to be reflected due to the low supply. 

Some brands, like REP Fitness, have even stopped producing a half rack model. This suggests that most people tend to go with a squat stand, power rack or folding rack. 

Squat racks that use 11 gauge steel or thicker cost more 

It’s possible to pick up a squat stand for around $100. But the cheapest squat stand we could find that only uses 11 gauge steel or better was the Titan T3 for over $300. 

Gauge steel is a measurement for how thick the steel is. The lower the gauge steel number the thicker the steel is and therefore the stronger it is.

11 gauge steel is strong enough for 99.9% of people. But even 12 gauge steel is more than enough if you know you won’t be squatting over 500lbs. The only thing you may need to consider is how much the rack weighs as this can affect how sturdy it is…

Squat racks that weigh more than 170lbs are more expensive

The weight of a squat rack directly correlates to the gauge steel used. The thicker the steel, the heavier the rack will be. The cheapest squat rack that weighs more than 170lbs is the Titan T3 at around $350. 

There are also other factors affecting the weight of the rack, such as the size of the steel tubing used i.e. 2×2” or 3×3”. 

The heavier a squat rack the less wobbly it will be and the more weight it will be able to support. 

Power racks are more popular so the price is more competitive 

Power racks are much more expensive than squat stands. This makes sense as a squat stand only has 2 upright steel tubes compared to the 4 uprights on a power rack. 

Therefore, it will cost more to produce power racks than squat stands.

But the price is getting more and more competitive for power racks. New brands are bringing models out. The improvement of technology means that you can buy squat racks for a few hundred dollars than used to cost over $1,000 just a few years ago. 

How to choose the right squat rack for you

Before you decide on a squat rack it’s important to be aware of your own fitness goals. You need to consider what types of lifts you will be performing. 

An Olympic weightlifter or someone that mainly performs CrossFit workouts may not even need a squat rack. Focusing your money on a quality barbell, bumper plates and flooring is much more important. 

But if you are a powerlifter or someone that wants to be able to bench press or squat from home (that’s most people), a squat rack is an essential piece of equipment. A rack allows you to squat using the full range of motion, which is essential in reducing injuries and building more muscle.

No piece of equipment is more important for your safety. It’s a good idea to make sure you have a squat rack that can hold the weight you lift and won’t wobble or fall if you plan on lifting heavy weights by yourself. 

Our team of certified personal trainers has researched over 120 squat racks and tested many of them. We have ranked them based on quality, versatility, and value to find a rack for any budget or experience.

Be sure to check out the best squat racks with a buyer’s guide here.