Best Squat Racks of 2025

Choose the squat rack that suits your needs. “We are pleased to announce that we are a great opportunity to help you understand how we can help you,” said Steve Stonehouse, Vice President of Education and Programming at Body Fit Training. You also need to check the quality of the machine. “In contrast to personal racks, commercial racks come in different qualities and standards,” he explains. When determining the quality of a rack, what should be considered is the type of steel and thickness of the steel used in the manufacture. You should also consider the amount and frequency of use that squat racks display.

Decide whether to use it for other exercises. You’ll notice that some squat racks are for sale as they are only squat racks with a barbell and two steel beams to hold their bare bones. On the other hand, many power cages act as squat racks, bench racks, spotters, and more. All of these are more versatile compared to basic squat racks. Depending on what you are using, if you want a rack that can be used for squatting, bench pressing, or other exercises, we recommend considering a power cage.

Use a safety bar. The squat rack comes with a “safety arm.” This is supposed to help if the lift fails. Stonehouse recommends choosing a squat rack with a wide range of bases or platforms that prevent the rack from moving around when in use. Additionally, he advises to make sure the steel thickness or “gauge” is sufficient.

“Gages can often be a key indicator of price and quality,” he explains. He points out that commercial gyms usually use racks that use 7 gauge steel, while home-friendly racks use 11 gauge steel. “This is strong enough for almost any home gym scenario and will probably last for you for the rest of your life,” he said.

Bolt the squat rack: Whenever possible, you should aim to bolt the rack to add it to your safety measures. If you can’t bolt the rack, you should make sure it is wide enough to provide adequate stability, even with weight.

Make sure it can hold a lot of weight: It is important to ensure that your chosen squat rack can hold a lot of weight. Especially if multiple people in your home plan to use it. According to Stonehouse, most standard home gym squat racks have a heavy capacity that can handle luggage in the 300-1,000 pound range.