How Much Does a Squat Rack Cost? Low, Mid and high-end Options and Examples

A good squat rack can cost as little as $150 and as much as $2000 or more. How much you’ll need to spend on a squat rack depends on how you’ll use it and which features you’re looking for.

Below, you’ll find which features and materials affect the costs, as well as examples of low, mid and high-end options.

2 Important Rack Specs

Two things I pay attention to when looking at a Squat Rack are the column size, also known as ‘tube’ (2×3 on this stand), and the gauge (which may be found on the specifications page of any squat rack).

Rack columns

The 3″x3″ columns will be the largest and most structurally sound. A squat rack with 3″x3″ columns is virtually certain to be durable enough to withstand any workout you can throw at it. Although 3″x3″ columns are preferable, many customers will be fine with 2″x3″ columns as

Why should you care? – There are two reasons. Above all, the larger the columns, the better they will be at supporting weight and remaining upright. Second, many rack attachments, such as J-Hooks and Dip Attachments, are meant to fit a 3×3 rack.

Steel Gauge

The most massive, beefiest, and by far the most costly racks are constructed of 7 gauge steel (the smaller the number, the thicker the steel). That’s 3/16″ thick steel. While this sort of rack is virtually unbreakable, it may be excessive for household usage. I wouldn’t pass up a rack because of this.

A commercial gym would require a 7 gauge rack. If you’re opening your gym to the general public, a 7 gauge rack is something to think about. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother spending extra money.

The ideal home usage thickness will be 11 gauge steel, according to most experts. Most of your higher-end rack makers use 11 gauged, which is 0.25” thick. This is more than sufficient for 99 percent of home purposes. A 3′ x 3′ 11 gauge rack will last you a lifetime.

You can also eliminate most low-cost racks on Amazon that lack a gauge since they are all 11 gauge. The selling feature of 11 gage is very significant. If the gauge isn’t specified, it’s probably thinner and not worth your time.

What Are the Main Features Squat Rack?

The choice of options obviously depends on you. So if you are a pull-up enthusiast, you can choose to have handles on the pull-up bar that can be normal, cushioned, or even non-slip.

You can also opt for a model with pulleys to work your abs and back. 

You should also make sure that the hooks are adjustable and removable for the entire height of the sidebars. This option would allow you to do bench press on your rack. In short, you are the only one entitled to choose the options that will be the most useful to you. Some options will be more important than others depending on your training objectives and/or your budget.

The dimensions of the cage

Before you rush to buy a model, make sure that its dimensions are adapted to your space. Indeed, unlike other sports training products, most squat racks cannot be folded. They must remain in the same place continuously. That’s why it’s imperative to take the measurements of your space before buying a cage. For maximum comfort, plan on a free surface of at least 2 meters by 1.5 meters and a ceiling height of 2.5 meters.

Safety first

The first thing to do is to check that your equipment is safe. Since you will have no one to assist you, you will need to take the necessary precautions to be able to use your equipment safely. You should know that most racks have pins on the sides where you can put the bar at any time in case things get out of hand.

Squat Rack Cost Analysis

How much does an Entry-level squat rack cost?

You can get a semi-decent rack for between 150$ and 300$. Here are 2 options, if you’re starting out.

In general, they are quite compact for easy storage with basic functionality. In addition, it is important to understand that an entry-level cage is limited in terms of maximum load and does not have safety hooks. If your goals are to lift heavier and heavier weights, it would be prudent not to look at this squat cage option. The adjustment options are limited. However, there are always exceptions. If you’re lucky, if you look hard enough, you may come across a quality entry-level squat rack.

Here are 2 good options if price is the most important factor for you.

CAP Barbell FM-905Q

For example, the CAP Barbell FM-905Q is a squat rack that is a good option for a small home gym, and a weight lifting hobbyist.

This squat rack has three different bar holders to allow for multiple users using the equipment at once. Additionally, it can hold Olympic plates up to 500 pounds. This plate storage provides convenience and security for gym members who assemble there regularly.

This rack weighs 133 pounds and measures 54 x 43 x 46 inches.

This does not mean that the CAP Barbell FM-905Q is fully adjustable. The height of this rack can accommodate users up to 6 feet 9 inches, which is great for taller lifters.

The CAP Barbell FM-905Q is made of heavy duty steel. Since it has weight holders that secure your weights, this product will last for a long time. Additionally, it is affordable and you can buy from a reputable brand, as well as companies that have been in business for years to ensure your satisfaction with the purchase.

It costs about $140 on Amazon right now, with free shipping. 

So if this squat rack is so useful, why should you buy it? If you are looking for a reliable place to lift weights or find out if buying a squat rack like this one is right for you, contact us today! We have a team of experts who can give you more information about buying from suppliers and companies that have been in business for years.

Fitness Reality Squat Rack Power Cage

Not only does this squat rack provide a safe environment for squats and deadlifts, but it’s also very adjustable.

There are 5 different height positions (with 3 holes each) that you can use for pulling exercises like pull-ups, bent-over rows, etc. You can also adjust the width of the rack itself to accommodate wider stances like box squats, hyperextension, etc.

The bar holder is pretty basic, but it does the job. There are also 2 safety bars that you can put under the bench during bench presses or military press to ensure safety while exercising.

One thing I don’t like about the rack is that the coating chips off very easily when you are adjusting it. The locking mechanisms are plastic so that’s probably why it happens.  Also, the padding on the J-hooks and on the bar holders is not ideal…it would be nice to have them with a bit more cushioning.

Overall this rack does exactly what I bought it for: squats and deadlifts. It’s pretty simple as far as racks go, but that’s exactly what I wanted.  I don’t mind that the edges of the J-hooks are sharp and the bar holder isn’t padded…those things don’t affect its functionality.

It’s currently about 300$ on Amazon.

How much does a Mid-range squat rack cost?

A mid-range rack could go anywhere between 500$ to 1000$.

These racks will typically be larger than the entry level, but far from complete. In this price range, you’ll get a stronger, safer model with mounting brackets for added stability. Some mid-range squat cage models come with additional features such as at least one pull-up bar and safety bars.

You can also expect more adjustability as well as a nicer design. This kind of squat cage is suitable for weightlifting enthusiasts. A mid-range model will allow you to perform a wide range of exercises in addition to squats. If you’re looking for a squat rack to use for a long time on a limited budget, you’ll want to look into this category.

Titan Fitness T-3 Series Power Rack

Titan Fitness’s T-3 Series Folding Power Rack is a great squat rack. It offers the wide walk in design that is perfect for those looking to do squats, bench press and even overhead press. 

The T-3 is a single pull up bar power rack that supports over 1000lbs of weight. It’s manufactured with 3″ x 3″ steel tubes for extra strength and features spotter bars at the bottom. The feet of the power rack can be adjusted to level it on uneven surfaces. The Titan Fitness T-3 Series Power Rack is a complete rack that includes a chin up bar, dip handles and J-hooks. It also includes band pegs for performing resistance bands or cable exercises. The T-3 Series Power Rack is easy to assemble with nothing more than a wrench required.

The T-3 Series Power Rack is manufactured with anti-rust hardware and comes with a 5 year warranty. The maximum weight capacity on the pull up bar is 1000lbs and it has a cage width of 50″. If you need more than just a pull up bar, we offer many other options which can be found by typing “T-3 power rack” into the search bar.

Some features of the T-3 Series Power Rack are:

• Manufactured with 3″ x 3″ steel tubes for extra strength
• 1″ holes on safety bars, 2″ spacing between horizontal bars
• Easy assembly with nothing more than a wrench required
• Includes pull up bar, dip handles, J-hooks, band pegs and safety bars
• Over 1000 lbs. weight capacity
• Cage width: 50″

It’s about 500$ on Amazon.com

ROGUE HR-2 HALF RACK

The Rogue HR-2 Half Rack is a great squat rack. 

The HR-Series of half racks are Rogue’s most popular models. They are very sturdy and can be used for many purposes (weightlifting, powerlifting, CrossFit). The HR stands for half rack. These racks are half the size of their full-sized counterparts (HR = Half Rack).

It looks good and comes at an affordable price. On top of that it has many features that you will love:

The HR-2 is very sturdy and built really well. The main frame consists of 11 gauge steel (3/4″ thick). Thanks to the 51″ height it can be used for both, squatting and bench press. Not every rack has this feature! Aside from that the Rogue HR-2 comes with adjustable J-hooks and band peg.

The Rogue HR-2 Half Rack is a great squat rack that will provide you with everything you need to lift heavy weights for many years to come. You can use it for bench pressing, squats and barbell rows etc. The dimensions of the HR-2 are: 96″ Length x 48″ Width x 82″ Height.

The HR-2 is also available with a Westside hole pattern. This makes it compatible for those who want to attach the optional Westside Bar Holder as well as an adjustable monolift post! That’s great news as not every squat rack is compatible with those attachments. In the end that means the Rogue HR-2 Half Rack is a great choice.

To sum it up: The Rogue HR-2 Half Rack is a solid, sturdy and affordable squat rack that will fulfill your strength training needs for years to come. It is THE rack for those who are on a budget but want to lift heavy nevertheless.

It’s about 800$ on Rogue Fitness

How much does a High-end squat rack cost?

A highend rack could go anywhere between 1200$ to 3000$.

The models in this category have all the features that a squat cage should have. In general, it is a robust and resistant construction with a perfect finish.

This is the kind of equipment that is suitable for commercial use or intensive use at home. If you really want to do weightlifting, you should invest in a complete product. It is a big investment, but it is worth it. Just estimate how much you will spend on a gym in a year to see for yourself.

If you’re looking for a great power rack without breaking the bank, here’s one I’d recommend:

ROGUE RML-490C

The Rogue RML-490C power rack is a 4 by 3 feet Monster Lite Rig, which means it has 3 inch x 3 inch 11 gauge steel tubes. The total height is 90 inches and the depth of the uprights measures 40.5 inches. It consists of single pull up bar with two different heights (46mm or 50mm) for multiple options, two 43 inches long bar catchers that are spaced 92 centimeters apart.

The weight is 450 pounds.

The width between the tube sets measures 62 inches outside to outside and the distance between J-hooks at their bottom position measures 50 inches inside to inside. The uprights have numbers every 10 inches horizontally.

From the lowest height setting to the highest, it will measure 51 inches inside, 51 inches outside and up to 76″ inside. There are many different accessories that can be purchased separately which fit within the power rack. These include plates storage for bumper plates or steel plates up to 2.5 inch thickness, plate holders for Olympic barbells, a matador attachment for plate storage at waist level and a dip bar attachment.

The safety bars made of steel weigh 90 pounds total and the weight horns that hold standard Olympic 45 pound plates are each 8 inches high x 14 inches long. Each leg has adjustable foot peg capability to change its position either 4 inch or 12 inch from the ground. It provides a 3 point leveling system on the base frame which can be turned to level specifically for uneven surfaces.

The rack is built of 11 gauge steel, has 4 inches of solid material between upright tubes and also features 2 J-Cups that are 47 millimeters in diameter with UHMW plastic protection on each side. They are modular j-cup design compatible with either standard or stainless steel safety bar catches.

The crutch/squat rack has 2 inch diameter holes between upright tubes. The urethane band on the pull up bar is textured for good grip and is different than the Rogue Echo Bar, which has smaller hand spacing. It can support weight up to 7 foot ceiling and has weight plate storage capacity of up to 2,000 pounds.

It is made in the USA and comes with a lifetime warranty on the frame and a one year warranty on parts.

The rack ships unassembled but contrary to popular belief it is not difficult to put together. There are only 5 pieces that must be assembled and the instructions are easy to follow.

It goes for about 1200$ on Rogue Fitness

Squat Rack Costs FAQ