The 5 Best Deadlift Platforms to Perfect Your Lifts in 2022

The king of all strength exercises is the deadlift. It’s a full body exercise that tests not only your physical strength, but your grit. Simple enough, pick something up, put it down, but anyone who’s trained the deadlift knows it is so much more than that.

But you can’t just deadlift on your regular flooring, and if you try to deadlift outside, the unevenness of the ground will hamper your strength development. 

What’s the Best Deadlift Platform?

The best overall deadlift platform we tested is the Titan Fitness Full Deadlift platform. Titan Fitness creates extremely high quality fitness gear, close to Rogue Fitness, but for about $100 cheaper. Titan Fitness gives you the option to buy the frame separate from the tiles, so you can slowly accumulate your platform.

The platform also comes with band pegs, excellent for increasing athleticism, vertical jump, and bar speed, and crucial if training using the conjugate system. For $500 USD, the Titan Fitness Full Deadlift Platform is the best you can get.

In this round up, we’ve included our thoughts on 5 of the best deadlift platforms on the market. Each of the platforms we’ve listed is the best for one specific use or situation, so take a look and find the best platform for you! We’ve also included FAQ at the end, as well as instructions on some uses of a deadlift platform to get you started!

The Top Deadlift Platforms Reviewed

	Product's name	Dimension	Best For	More Info
	Heavy-duty Rogue Deadlift Platform	4’x8’	Best heavy-duty	View Product
	Most room Rogue 8 x 8 Oly Platform	8’ x 8’	Most room for activity	View Product
[amazon fields="B018XVZ7ZK" value="thumb"]	Price [amazon fields="B018XVZ7ZK" value="title" title_length="75"]	19.69 x 19.69 x 3.94 inches	Price	[amazon fields="B018XVZ7ZK" value="button"]
	Best all around Titan Fitness Full Deadlift Platform	8’ x 4’	Best all around	View Product
	Space and cost Titan Fitness Rubber Floor Tiles 4 Pack	Each tile is 24”x24”x2”	Space and cost efficient	View Product

Find the Deadlift Platform for You

Bill Henniger’s Rogue Fitness, started in 2006, has quickly become a staple in gyms across the world. They made a name for themselves in the realms of Crossfit, PowerLifting, Weightlifting, and Strongman, and of course they would end up on a list of best-of fitness equipment. 

The Rogue Deadlift Platform features a 2×2″ 11-Gauge Steel frame, and ships standard with (2) floor plates. The frame is built to withstand your heaviest deadlift sessions. There are also built-in band pegs which you can wrap bands around for performing speed work. 

The Rogue Deadlift Platform comes with 2 floor plates for an additional $65, and for an additional $265 you can purchase 8 rubbers floor plates for maximum coverage. This platform is made so that it does not need to be bolted to the floors, like some other deadlift platforms. 

The Rogue Deadlift platform sells for $330-$595, depending on how many floor plates you need. For $55, you can also get an optional wooden insert.  

Obviously, Rogue had to show up again on this list. Their penchant for high quality fitness gear makes them hard to leave off any list, and the 8×8 Oly Platform is no exception. 

The 8×8 platform contains the same high quality construction as the deadlift platform, but double the amount of space you have. This can be a plus if you are planning on also doing activities like clean and snatches, or squatting with squat stands which you could put directly on the platform.

The platform is made from 2”x2” 11-gauge steel, and the frame can be purchased separately from the tiles. The 8×8 platform does need to be bolted to the floor, so keep that in mind. 

With the rubber tiles, you’re looking at $785 for the platform. 

Gym Professor is an online retailer of fitness products and publisher of fitness education materials to enhance people’s access to high quality fitness products and information.

The Gym Professor Deadlift Deadener 500 come in pairs. Each deadener goes under the weight plates, and dampens the sound of your deadlift, and cushions the weights, protecting both your weights, and your floors. They are also not too thick where the weights rest, which means that your lift will not be thrown off by excessive padding. 

The Deadeners ensure you have proper alignment while lifting. If you are off, when lowering the weight, the weight will hit the sides of the Deadener instead of the bottom resting position, making this an excellent tool for beginners or trainers who use the deadlift with their clients. 

The Deadlift Deadeners hold up to high weights, evidenced by their use by World’s Strongest Man, Eddie Hall. Together, the pair of Deadeners weighs about 25lbs, so if you have limited space and need to move gear around, the Deadlift Dampeners might be for you. 

For the pair, the Gym Professor Deadlift Deadeners sell for $195 USD. 

Titan Fitness pride themselves on providing the highest level of customer service possible, as well as top quality fitness equipment. 

The Full Deadlift platform is a 4’ wide 8’ long deadlift platform. You can buy it with the rubber tiles for $500, or just the frame for $250. This platform is made from 2×2” 11-gauge steel, so it will be around for a long while. 

The frame comes with band pegs for performing speed work, especially valuable if training using the Conjugate system. The frame comes with floor clips, to attach the frame to your floor. This is encouraged, especially if you are using bands. 

This might be the best all around platform on this list. It has the solid construction of Rogue’s platform, and sells for much less. Titan also offers free shipping, and pride themselves on the best customer service. 

If you aren’t quite ready to make the financial investment, or you need something to deadlift on that you can move out of the way when not using, you might want to look at just getting the rubber tiles that would normally go inside a deadlift platform frame. Titan Fitness sells a 4 pack of high quality floor tiles for $129.  

The rubber tiles are 27lbs each, making them easy to move before and after your workouts. They take up about 2 square feet of storage, which could easily go under a couch or bed. 

You won’t be able to (safely) perform oly lifts or band work, but getting the tiles could be a great introduction to deadlifting at home. You can always buy the frame separately later.

Deadlift Platform Buying Guide

What Is a Deadlift Platform

A Deadlift Platform is any surface specifically designed to perform what many consider to be the King of all exercises: The Deadlift. Using a deadlift platform protects your weight plates, and your floors, and dampens the sound of your lifting, crucial if lifting in a home gym and you want to keep your relationship with your partner and/or neighbours. 

The Benefits Of Deadlifting

Full Body Exercise

Many people see the deadlift as just a back exercise, but it’s so much more than that. The deadlift uses the glutes, hamstrings, quads, traps, and back muscles during the lift. In this way, you are getting best bang-for-your-buck, working all these different muscles at once. Full body exercises are also shown to burn calories faster as well. 

Athleticism

The deadlift has been shown to increase athletic tests such as vertical jump, sprints, and medicine ball throws. The ability to recruit muscle fibres all over your body for the short amount of time you would be pulling your deadlift has a massive carry over into all sports. 

Endurance

When people think strength training for endurance, they often think of bodyweight only or pilates type exercises. But recent studies have found that compound movements like the deadlift have tremendous benefits for endurance athletes. If endurance athletes, for example, triathletes, manipulate sets, reps, and rest times, they can avoid excess muscle gain, while enhancing their bone density and physical resilience. Heavy deadlifts can also release more anabolic hormones, to counteract the decrease of hormones that endurance activities can cause. 

Core Strength

Because during the deadlift you need to brace your entire core, you are contracting those muscles throughout the entirety of the lift. Therefore, you are working on your core muscles during the deadlift. This may not give you the 6-pack abs you’re after, but the deadlift will work on true functional core strength. 

Better Posture

During the deadlift, you are forced to ensure that you have perfect alignment, otherwise you will be at risk for damaging your back. The deadlift gives you immediate feedback if you are performing the lift incorrectly. By focusing on your alignment during deadlifting, this awareness carries over into your everyday life. 

Functional

People often throw the term “Functional Strength” around too readily, but the deadlift truly is one of the most functional strength exercises out there. And you can see why. The deadlift enables you to learn how to pick things up with proper technique. Not only does training the deadlift allow you to pick up heavier things, it teaches you how to pick up anything with proper technique. Ensuring that you don’t pull your back when bending over to pick up your child or grandchild!

Variety

There are a number of different types of deadlifts, each with their own specific benefits. Having so many variations ensures that you can continue deadlifting for life and not get bored. 

What To Look For When Purchasing A Deadlift Platform

Size

How much room do you have to deadlift? If you have the room, maybe you want an 8’x8’ platform. If you’re relegated to the corner of your parents basement, a set of deadlift blocks or deadeners might be more appropriate. Measure your space out, and if you have a deadlift platform in mind, tape off an area the same size as your desired platform and figure out if it really works. 

Construction & Weight Capacity

If you’re deadlifting, you need high-quality products to handle the weight. Always check to see if the manufacturer has added a maximum weight, and whether or not that would hinder your training.  

Supports

Does the platform you are looking at bolt to the floor? Does it have band pegs? Do you need band pegs? These are all important questions that will help guide you to the correct platform for you.

Other Deadlift Variations

Depending on your goals, there are a number of different deadlift variations. Below are just a few of the different variations you can try. 

Sumo

The sumo deadlift has the lifter place their feet outside of their hands. This deadlift requires better hip mobility than the conventional deadlift. The sumo deadlift places more force on the quads and glutes than a conventional deadlift, and can be a great option if heavy squatting is not currently possible. Some claim the sumo deadlift to be more functional than the conventional deadlift, because it better mimics how people naturally pick up heavy objects. 

Trap Bar/Hex Bar

The trap bar, or hex bar, deadlift uses a trap bar or hex bar. These bars usually have two height options for pulling. The trap bar allows the lifters to utilize more quad strength, but still works on the back. This is a great variation of the deadlift for anyone not training to compete in powerlifting. The trap bar is also excellent for anyone newer to deadlifting. 

Farmer’s Carry

The farmer’s carry involves placing weight in one or both hands. This can be done with specialty farmer’s carry bars, dumbbells, kettlebells, or a trap bar. The lifter lifts the weight and then walks for a set distance or time. The added challenge of moving with the weight can be extremely powerful in training core and trunk stability. This movement can also add a cardio aspect to your deadlift training. 

Single-Leg Deadlift

Like it sounds, the single-leg deadlift involves the same deadlift motion, but on one leg. This is generally done with a dumbbell or kettlebell. This movement is excellent in targeting the hamstrings, core, and balance and coordination. 

Rack Pulls

Rack pulls, also known as block pulls, involve resting your weight at a higher than normal height. This could be an inch off the floor, at your knees, wherever. Rack pulls allow you to lift a higher weight than normal, because you are not completing the bottom of the lift, often the toughest part of the deadlift. Rack pulls are also great for lifters who don’t yet have the mobility to get all the way into the bottom position of a deadlift. 

Stiff-Leg and Romanian Deadlifts

The stiff-leg and romanian deadlifts have a lifter complete the deadlift with completely straight legs. This puts a greater stress on the low back and hamstrings. SLDL and RDLs are most effective in the hypertrophy rep range for building muscle. 

Other Deadlifting Equipment

Maybe you already have a deadlifting surface? Maybe you’re looking for other ways to up your deadlifting game? Check out these other deadlifting accessories and options below for some ideas to change up your routine.

Wagon Wheel Pulling Blocks

You might not be familiar with Wagon Wheels for lifting if you haven’t been exposed to the sport of Strongman, but these are a seriously underrated piece of gym equipment. 

Each wheel weighs 45lbs, and they slip onto the bar before adding the rest of your weight. The wheels raise the weight higher than traditional plates. This allows you to max out the top end range of the lift. You can also overload the amount of weight you hold at the top of the lift, which can increase your confidence before trying to max out your deadlift. 

The Wagon Wheels are also great for taller lifters, who may have issues getting all the way down into a traditional deadlift bottom position. 

For Wagon Wheels, we recommend the Titan Fitness Wagon Wheels Pulling Blocks. These sell for $250 USD per pair, and come with Titan’s renowned customer service.

Deadlift Pulling Blocks

Similarly to the Wagon Wheels, deadlift pulling blocks allow you to work on the top end range, overload your maximum weight, increase your confidence, and protect your low back if you’re a taller athlete. Pulling blocks come in all different forms, from wooden boxes, similar to jerk boxes, to more industrial, metal apparti. 

We recommend the Titan Fitness Deadlift Pulling Blocks. These metal blocks sell for $70 USD per pair, and have a combined weight of 25lbs. The Titan blocks fit over the end of a 2” barbell collar, and have their own rubber feet, almost like having a platform and pull blocks combined! The thing we love most of the Titan blocks is that they are adjustable. You can easily change the height between 13” and 17.5”. You can change the height of the deadlift for comfort, or you can change the height to manipulate the stimuli. 

Another great advantage of these blocks is the limited footprint they’ll take up in your home gym!

Crash Mats

Like the name suggests, crash mats are thick mats that dampen the sound and vibration of dropping weights. These pads are a great option for anyone who doesn’t quite have the room for a full deadlift platform. Crash mats are also great if you have a garage gym and you don’t want to wake your family during your late night or early morning workouts! 

We like the Rogue Crash Cushion best.  Each Cushion is 30”x24”x6” and comes in at 23 lbs. The 6” height, less when the weight sinks in, is minimal enough that it won’t affect your lifting much. The Crash Cushions are made with high quality vinyl, so they’ll be durable enough for your workouts. The Crash Cushions also come with a 1 year warranty. 

Can I Make My Own Deadlift Platform?

YES! You absolutely can build your own deadlift platform. You can customize your platform so it fits your space perfectly. You’ll also get the satisfaction of building a piece of your gym, and you’ll have extra cash to spend on other gear!

Materials

• 4 pieces of ¾”  4’ x 8’ particle board ($25×4=$100)
• ¾” 4’ x  8’ hardwood plywood (~$60)
• ¾” Horse Stall Mats 4’ x 8’ (~150)
• Screws
• Tape (optional)
• Drill
• Tape Measure
• Saw

Steps

1. Measure an 8’ x 8’ square where you want the platform to go.
2. Optional: place painters tape on the floor around the outside of where you want the platform to go. 
3. Place 2 of the 4’x8’ pieces of particle board inside your square. The end cuts (the shorter sides) should be flushed against the wall. 
4. Place the other 2 pieces of 4’x8’ particle board on top of the first two, lain the opposite way. 
5. Ensuring both layers are flush with one another, screw the top layer onto the bottom layer. Use a minimum of 16 screws. 
6. Lay the 4’x8’ hardwood plywood down the centre of the top layer of the particle board. Using 8 screws, secure the plywood onto the base. 
7. Cut your horse stall mats to fit either side of the plywood. 
8. Lay your horse stall mats on either side of the plywood. 
9. Get lifting!

FAQs for Deadlift Platforms

How Do I Deadlift?

How to Deadlift With Mark Rippetoe | The Art of Manliness

1. Stand with feet hip distance apart. Stand close enough to the bar so that when you look down, the bar crosscuts your shoes.
2. While standing, brace your core, then grab the bar just outside of your legs. Maintain a neutral spine, and do not allow your low back to round.
3. Get rid of any slack in the bar before lifting. Unless you are highly trained, you should not be “jerking” the bar. 
4. Begin pulling by pushing your feet into the ground. Maintain a neutral spine as you pull. Keep the bar close, without skinning your shins. 
5. Stop when you are standing straight up. DO NOT lean backwards. Exhale. Inhale, brace your core, and reverse the movement, starting by pushing your hips back. When the bar passes your knees, you can begin to bend them until the bar is on the ground. Exhale in the bottom, inhale, brace your core, repeat. 
6. Unless told otherwise by a trainer, do not bounce the bar in the bottom position. Reset after each deadlift.

How Do I Get Better At Deadlifting?

Start small. Pick a weight that is tough, but doable, for 5 reps. Perform 3 sets of 5 reps each week at that weight. Each week, increase the weight by 5lbs. Once you’ve stopped progressing for 3 weeks straight (unable to add weight), you can start on a program like 5/3/1. 

Conclusion

When choosing a deadlift platform, there are many factors to consider. The room size and height, budget, your fitness level, and overall space.

However, out of the options we tested, the Titan Fitness Full Deadlift Platform is our all-around favourite option. The Titan Fitness platform combines quality construction, excellent customer service, easy assembly, and a fair price tag. We recommend buying the platform with the 8 tiles ($500) but they also offer the frame separate from the tile for $250. The Titan platform also comes with band pegs, so you can train speed deadlifts with bands. Excellent if you are using the conjugate system or looking to improve your speed. 

If you’re a beginner, or a beginner to deadlifting at home, we recommend the [amazon link=”B018XVZ7ZK”] These deadlift deadeners will hold your weight on the floor, so it won’t roll away on you. They’ll also protect both your weights and your flooring. The deadlift deadener will ensure that you aren’t bugging your neighbors too much with your weights hitting the ground constantly. The Gym Professor Deadlift Deadeners have a reasonable price tag of $195. 

If you’re looking for the most cost-effective and space-saving option, you might want to just start with the Titan Fitness rubber mats. This will effectively dampen the sound of your lifting, and protect your equipment. Plus, you can store the mats in a small space. The benefit to getting the mats instead of the Deadlift Deadeners is that eventually, you could upgrade by purchasing a deadlift platform frame, because you already have the mats!