Buying Guide For Squat Rack: Squat Stand Or Power Rack?

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When I walk into a gym, the centerpiece is always the squat rack. And it’s not because it’s the biggest item in the gym, but a squat rack is needed for important barbell movements like the squat, bench, and overhead press.

How do you choose the best squat rack for your home gym? First, determine why you need a squat rack, the space available, and your budget. Then decide if a squat stand (2-upright posts) or a power rack (4-upright posts creating a cage) is more suitable.

Keep reading so I can help you choose the squat rack that best suits you.

Table of Contents

How To Choose The Perfect Squat Rack?

To help navigate, here are three questions you should consider when buying a squat rack.

#1. Why are you using the squat rack?

Safety	Versatility
The rack assists the progression of your lifts by providing a means to load incremental weight on the barbell.	The squat rack isn’t only useful for the obvious lift, the squat. There’s so much more!
1. Weight capacity: You want to make sure the rack that you select supports the weight you will lift. Check the weight capacity of the rack and the hooks that hold the barbell. 2. Safety pins, arms, or straps: To safely lift at home alone, you need safety pins, arms, or straps to be your spotter for the lifts that you miss.	1. Different barbell exercises: Having a rack for your barbell enables you to squat (back, front, box, tempo, partial), bench press, overhead press, rack pull, barbell lunge, good mornings, and more. 2. Attachments a) Pull-up bar: You can find racks that come with a bar above to support pull-ups, muscle-ups, chin-ups, hanging knee raises, hanging leg raises, toe-to-bar, L-sits, and all sorts of callisthenic exercises. b) Dip station: You can attach parallel bars to racks for dips, knee raises, leg raises, L-sits, and more. c) Plate storage posts: There are power racks that store barbells, plates, and collars. The alternative to storing weights on a power rack is on a separate weight tree that will take up space elsewhere.

#2. How much space do you have for a squat rack?

The maximum space you might need is 12′ wide by 13′ deep by 8′ high for a large rack with attachments.
The minimum space you might need is virtually none with a collapsible wall-attached squat rack.

Later, we’ll explore different types of squat racks that fall in between these dimensions.

#3. What’s your budget for a squat rack?

Lastly, calibrate your desired squat rack with the budget available for the squat rack.

Types Of Squat Racks

Now you can check to see if any of these three types of squat racks meet your requirements. For each squat rack, I’ve gathered my experiences coupled with user experiences from forums to determine the best affordable option and the best overall.

#1. Squat Stand

Squat stands have two adjustable metal posts that support the barbell.

✓ Space-saver!
✗ The squat stand isn’t as stable as a power rack (to be discussed later).

Which Squat Stand Should You Buy?

Here are two great options for squat stands at different price points.

A) Best Affordable Squat Stand Option | $

For a budget squat stand, the CAP BARBELL FM-8000F DELUXE SQUAT STAND offers everything you would need from a squat rack for those lifting less than 300 pounds.

Design: This is a 103-pound squat stand with 12 and 14-gauge steel thickness.
Features: (2) J-hooks, (2) safety spotter arms, (3) band posts on each side for added resistance, (2) weight plate posts, pull-up bar
Dimensions: 47-inches deep x 61-inches wide (possible typo on Amazon) x 85-inches tall
Overall footprint: 43-inches x 49-inches
Maximum weight capacity: 300 pounds

Get your squat stand on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I04Z52G?tag=homestrengt0c-20,aps,157&sr=8-2&linkCode=sl1&tag=homestrength-20&linkId=bceb4ba2927fc4601e4edbfe063aa9fc&language=en_US

B) Best Overall Squat Stand Option | $$

The ROGUE S-2 SQUAT STAND 2.0 offers such versatility in a compact and durable frame that will last you a lifetime.

Design: This is a 146-pound squat rack with 2-inch x 3-inch, 11-gauge steel, making it sturdier than most off-brand squat stands, including the CAP Barbell.
Features: (2) J-hooks, (2) safety spotter arms, fat/skinny or single pull-up bar
Dimensions: 48-inches deep x 48-inches wide x 92-inches tall
Overall footprint: 48-inches x 48-inches
Maximum weight capacity: 1,000 pounds+

I have the Rogue S-2 Squat Stand and it’s extremely durable for any exercise – it won’t rock or sway. You can tell that this squat stand was made to last a lifetime. My only complaint is the Westside hole spacing isn’t numbered but you can make your markings or use stickers. 🙂

Get your squat stand on Rogue here: https://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-s2-squat-stand-2-0

#2. Power Rack

The power rack, also known as “power cages” or “squat cages,” consists of four upright posts that create a steel cage with two adjustable horizontal bar catches on each side.

✓ Power racks are the most durable and safe racks for heavy weights and attachments galore.
✗ Compared to the squat stand, the power rack is more expensive and requires more space.

Which Power Rack Should You Buy?

Here are two great options for power racks at different price points.

A) Best Affordable Power Rack Option | $$

The TITAN X-3 SERIES FLAT FOOT POWER RACK is a heavy-duty power rack offered at an affordable price point.

Design: This is a 280-pound power rack with 3-inch x 3-inch, 11-gauge steel, making it a solid power rack.
Features: (2) J-hooks, (2) safety spotter straps, (4) weight plate holders, 1.25-inch single & 2-inch fat pull-up bars
Dimensions: 30-inches deep x 42-inches wide x 91-inches tall
Overall footprint: 48-inches x 50-inches
Maximum weight capacity: 1,650 pounds

Get your power rack on Titan: here

B) Best Overall Power Rack Option | $$$$

The REP PR-5000 V2 POWER RACK offers everything you’ll ever need for unlimited configurations – making it the last power rack you’ll need to buy in your lifetime.

Design: This heavy-duty power rack consists of 3-inch x 3-inch, 11-gauge steel, and it looks and feels like a premium quality rack.
Features: (2) J-hooks, (2) safety spotter pin, weight plate holders, pull-up bars, lat/low row, leg roller, dip attachment, band pegs, landmine attachment, front foot extension for working outside
Dimensions: 36 or 47-inches deep x 47-inches wide x 80 or 93 or 100-inches tall
Overall footprint: 50-inches x 50.5-inches
Maximum weight capacity: 1,500 pounds

Get your power rack on REP: here

#3. Folding Power Rack

Folding power racks are power racks that mount on the wall and collapse into a smaller footprint when it’s not in use.

✓ Space-saver!
✗ How and what the rack secures on the wall should be checked by a contractor before utilizing safety spotter arms, and the folding power rack makes it harder to install attachments.

Which Folding Power Rack Should You Buy?

Here are two great options for folding power racks at different price points.

A) Best Affordable Fold-Away Squat Rack Option | $

The TITAN T-3 SERIES FOLDING POWER RACK gives you the functionality of a power rack, but it comes with a pin and hinge system that easily folds the power rack into a closed position for a smaller footprint. The space-saving and affordable qualities of the short-rack make it the more popular option and often sold out.

Design: This is a 145 or 175-pound squat rack with 2-inch x 3-inch, 11-gauge steel, making it a sturdy option.
Features: (2) J-hooks, 1.25-inch single pull-up bar
Dimensions: 21.5 or 41.5-inches deep x 42-inches wide x 82 or 91-inches tall (when not in use, the rack takes up less than 5-inches of space from the wall)
Overall footprint: 22.5 or 42-inches x 46-inches
Maximum weight capacity: 1,000 pounds

Get your folding power rack on Titan: here

B) Best Overall Fold-Away Squat Rack Option | $$

The ROGUE RML-3W FOLD BACK WALL MOUNT RACK is one of the heavy-duty fold away squat racks that Rogue offers for optimal space-saving.

Design: This is a 163 or 190-pound squat rack with 3-inch x 3-inch, 11-gauge steel, making it an even sturdier option than the Titan T-3.
Features: (2) J-hooks, (4) mounting brackets, (4) detent pins, (2) UHMW plastic caps to protect floor, quick-attach pull-up bar
Dimensions: 21.5 or 41.5-inches deep x 49-inches wide x 90.375-inches tall (when not in use, the rack takes up less than 5-inches of space from the wall)
Overall footprint: 24.75-inches x 43.75-inches x 56.1875-inches (on wall)
Maximum weight capacity: 1,000 pounds

Get your folding power rack on Rogue here: https://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-rml-3w-fold-back-wall-mount-rack

Rogue also has a full fold-away squat rack called ROGUE MONSTER LITE RML-3FULLW FOLD BACK WALL MOUNT RACK, which takes up a larger footprint when it’s in use. The Monster Lite Racks are well known for the durability and versatility.