In the last few decades, pull-ups have become more and more popular as a way to exercise. They’re inexpensive, they can be done anywhere and you don’t need any equipment – just your own body weight.
But not everyone is able to do them – for some people it can even be dangerous if their arms aren’t strong enough or their back isn’t stable enough to support themselves.
So what is the best width, size, diameter and pipe for a pull-up bar? Let’s find out!
What is The Best Diameter for a Pull-Up Bar?
A standard pull-up bar’s diameter is 1.25 inches but if you want to make sure no matter how wide your door frame or stud in the wall are, I would recommend getting 2-inch bars. If you do have some more space to work with, or if your door is set in the wall deeper than normal, then you might want to get even thicker bars.
Common Pull-Up Bar Diameters
There are a few common diameters for pull-up bars. These widths can be used to determine what size of mounting plates or anchors you might need.
The sizes I have listed include the outside diameter. The inside diameter may be slightly smaller to account for manufacturing tolerances, but these measurements should not overly concern you at this point.
- 1.50″ – found on many portable stands, including the Iron Gym Pull-up Bar .
- 2.00″ – standard size for most bars. Standard width on all of these brands/models: Stamina Doorway Trainer Plus, Rogue pull-up bars, Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym, Ironman Gravity 4000, Total Gym GTS, XMark Fitness XM-4434 Heavy Duty Olympic Chin Up Bar & many more!
- 2.25″ – found on the Stamina Power Tower , and some others.
- 2.50″ – standard size for most bars made in USA by Valor Athletics including their Wall Mount Chin Up Bars .
- 3.00″ – standard size found on the ProSource Multi-Gym , XMark Deluxe Commercial, and others.
A common question is “How can I tell if my pull-up bar has 2″ or 3″ outside diameter tubing?” The simple answer is that you probably can’t without actually measuring a piece of tubing from a known bar.
I have scoured the internet and I have seen so many manufacturers measure their bars in so many different ways that it is impossible to determine if a given company is using 2″ or 3″ outside diameter tubing without being told specifically. The best way I can come up with to determine this by just looking at a picture is to look at the ends of the bar.
If you see two circles, then it should be 3″ OD tubing. If you see one circle and nothing sticking out beyond that, then it should be 2″ OD tubing. Sometimes the manufacturer will cut off one or both ends of the bar so there is no way to tell what the OD is by the shape.
Diameter vs Outer Diameter of a pull-up bar, what are the differences?
After having some discussion with other bodyweight fitness enthusiasts, it was clear to me that not everyone is aware of the differences between Diameter and Outer Diameter.
Diameter of a Pull-up/ Chin-up bar
Diameter is measured in inches or centimeters depending on your country. It’s the thickness of a pull-up/chin-up bar, but it’s not always the same at every point along the bar. For example, this means that if you’ve got two bars with identical diameters at one end but different diameter on the other end, they’ll feel differently when you do a pull-up on them.
It’s easy to understand that bars with same Diameter but different Outer Diameter will feel/behave different too even if not as drastically as two bars with different Diameter.
Outer Diameter of a Pull-up/Chin-up bar
It’s the measurement from one side to another of an object (pull-up bar, dumbbell…) but not through its central point. It’s usually given in inches or centimeters depending on your country.You may see that some bars have numbers printed on them which you can use to find Outer Diameter. It’ll look like this:
What is The Best Width for a Pull-Up Bar?
A pull-up bar’s width is usually between 1.25 and 2 inches, with the thickness of the pipe being half an inch higher. Usually, it can be attached to a door frame or a stud in a wall without any problem.
The best width for a pull-up bar is easy to determine – it has to be wide enough so that you can perform your exercises without worrying whether or not the bar will move. If you’re able to do dips, leg raises, push-ups and chin-ups then I would definitely recommend getting a wider bar since that will give you more space for different kinds of exercises.
What is The Best Size for a Pull-Up Bar?
The size of the pull-up bar will depend on the width you’ve chosen, but it should be somewhere between 6 and 14 inches. The reason I recommend getting the longest pull-up bar you can find is that regardless of your height or arm length, you should be able to do at least one exercise.
What is The Best Pipe for a Pull-Up Bar?
To be honest, there’s nothing wrong with making your own pull up bar – as long as you don’t go overboard and it’s something that you can actually do. Just look for a steel pipe – the ones used for curtain rods are perfect – and attach it to your door frame or wall studs by bolting it on with some sturdy metal L-brackets.
For those of you who want an actual commercial product, you can’t go wrong with this one (it’s the same that I use in my home) – it’s sturdy and very easy to install. It’s secure enough for most types of exercises and is definitely worth its price.
So, what is the Best Size for a Pull-Up Bar?
I’d say it’s between 24″ to 36″ wide.
Home gym owners love a well-designed wall mount pull up bar because they look good and are very sturdy. But which size do you need? 24 inches, 30 inches, 38 inches or 48 inches? The best pull up bar size for your home gym will depend on the width of your wall, ceiling height and desired hanging position.
Wall Mounted Pull-Up Bar Widths (Measured from Wall)
While 23 to 33 inches should be sufficient for most people, if you happen to be taller than 6 feet or have a larger build (a waistline of 42 inches or more) you will need a wider bar. Standard closet doors are only 27 inches wide, so be sure to measure if your door is in-between sizes. The wall mounted pull up bars below fit standard 24 inch and 32 inch walls and include the following:
Wall Mounted Pull Up Bar Height (Measured from Ceiling)
Most of the wall mounted pull up bars on this site have a height range from 36 to 44 inches. This is because standard 8 foot ceilings are between 84 and 96 inches tall, so if you have a taller ceiling or want to do extra wide pull ups you will probably need a taller bar.
What is the Best Type of materials for a Pull-Up Bar?
There is a wide range of different materials and finishes available for pull-up bars. For the most part, any grip style you like should be achievable on most bars. With that in mind, we’ll run through all the major types of materials and discuss which might be best for your needs.
Wooden Pull-Up Bars
These are the most “natural” looking type of pull-up bar, and have a lot of aesthetic value. You can choose between several species, although many people seem to opt for Maple. This is probably because it looks nice but is also pretty inexpensive compared to more exotic varieties. On the downside wooden bars are not known for their durability, nor are they easy to adjust.
Metal
Obviously, bars made of metal are strong and durable, but they tend to be difficult to move around when compared to other types. Unless you have a dedicated area for working out at home, it’s probably not the best choice in most cases. You can get some really cool designs that are sure to stand out though.
Aluminum
Aluminum bars are lighter than steel but still very durable. However, you probably won’t get the same kind of raw power from these as with iron bars. Aluminum is also better at being adjusted, so it’s a good choice if you frequently track your strength gains by changing grip styles or repetitions.
What are Wide Grip Pull-Up Bars?
Wide Grip Pull-Up bars diameters are typically between 45mm (1.75 inches) and 100mm (4 inches).
The main purpose for using a wide grip pull-up bar is to increase your range of motion during an exercise, which in turn will allow you to complete more reps.
They’re typically used by advanced fitness enthusiasts, who have already mastered their pull-up technique. However, it is important that wide grip bars are only used after one has become proficient at standard pull ups. Once you can comfortably perform 7 or 8 reps of standard pull ups, you could consider using them.
The wide grip pull-up is very challenging because it forces you to use muscles in your back that are not normally used, when doing standard pull ups. The difference between the two types of pull up bars is simply one has a wider position while holding on with your hands while performing the exercise. With the wider grip, the biceps, shoulders, and back muscles are all forced to work much harder than they normally would.
The wide grip pull-up is considered an “advanced” exercise by many trainers because of the amount of upper body strength it takes to perform them correctly. Most people will find this variation difficult to do at first but doing these exercises often will help improve your strength and muscle endurance.
What muscles do Wide Grip Pull-Up Bars work?
The wide grip pull up is a great exercise for building upper body strength because it focuses on the back, biceps, shoulders and abs. If you feel this type of workout in your lower back too, then that’s a good sign – it means you are activating your core muscles when performing this exercise.
Pull-up bars FAQ
Do I Need a Pull-Up Bar with Multiple Grips?
There are some bars that offer more than the usual handles – and if this is what you’re looking for, then you can find them easily. However, it’s worth mentioning that during regular vertical pull ups your hands will be in slightly different positions every time – depending on your strength and the type of exercise you’re performing.
This is especially true if you’re using a thick bar – and even if you’re not, it tends to move around a lot and that can sometimes make things difficult. With time your grip will become stronger but it’s still worth mentioning this drawback since some people find the rotating bars too challenging in the beginning.