Whether you’re a climbing enthusiast or you just wanna make ’em say “baby got back (muscles),” there’s no better bodyweight exercise for targeting your back and arms than the totally underrated pull-up.
Pull-ups may be simple, but they’re not easy — and one of the big barriers is actually finding a place to do them safely.
Good news: Whether you’re renting a tiny apartment or assembling your very own pro-level home gym in your garage, there’s a pull-up bar for you. And we’ve pulled (heh) no punches in finding the 10 best ones for any space and any skill level.
Best pull-up bars
- Best overall: Titan Fitness Wall-Mounted Pull Up Bar
- Best reviewed: Rogue Jammer Pull Up Bar
- Best for doorways: JFIT Deluxe Multi Exercise Doorway Pull Up Bar
- Best for on the go: Jayflex RYZE-UPS
- Best freestanding: ProForm Carbon Strength Power Rack XL
- Best ceiling-mounted: Gronk Fitness Ceiling Mounted Multi-Grip Chin Up Bar
- Best for outdoors: Stamina Power Tower Pro
- Best wall-mounted: REP Wall Mount Multi-Grip Pull Up Bar
- Best budget option: Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar
- Best design: Beyond Balance Personal Training Station
How we chose
If the sheer variety of pull-up bars on the market is any indication, the universe is conspiring for everyone in the world to do pull-ups. There are telescoping bars, doorway bars, and ceiling-mounted, wall-mounted, freestanding, and outdoor types — and we’re not pulling your leg.
We made sure to look for the best of the best in all these categories and at multiple price points. We paid close attention to reviews and warranty details and made sure to include info about installation, max weight, and bar length.
Pricing guide
- $ = under $100
- $$ = $100–$200
- $$$ = over $200
10 best pull-up bars
Here’s a closer look at our picks to make it easier for you to decide which bar you wanna pull up on. 😉
Best overall
Titan Fitness Wall-Mounted Pull Up Bar
- Price: $
- How to mount: wall mount
- Max weight: 500 pounds (lbs.) (227 kg)
- Bar length: 53.5 inches (in.) (136 cm)
- Warranty: none
Great reviews, easy installation, good price, and a trusted brand name make this Titan Fitness pull-up bar our top pick. You can mount it on a wall or ceiling, and the width is adjustable up to 53.5 in. (136 cm). Note that Titan Fitness doesn’t provide a warranty for this product, though!
Best reviewed
Rogue Jammer Pull Up Bar
- Price: $$
- How to mount: wall mount
- Max weight: N/A
- Bar length: 43 in. (109 cm)
- Warranty: limited lifetime warranty on structural welds and frame
This bar is designed to be mounted above a doorway, so it’s sturdier than doorway-mounted alternatives but still saves on space. It’s got more than 300 excellent reviews on the Rogue Fitness website, and Rogue is a favorite brand in the fitness community. Although no weight limit is listed, one reviewer claims it held a 360-lb. (163-kg) man doing kipping pull-ups (think doing the “worm” but in the air) without a hint of budging.
Best for doorways
JFIT Deluxe Multi Exercise Doorway Pull Up Bar
- Price: $
- How to mount: doorway
- Max weight: 300 lbs. (136 kg)
- Bar length: up to 40 in. (102 cm)
- Warranty: none
You may have seen some telescoping pull-up bars that use only pressure to stay up in your doorframe, but — let’s be real here — they aren’t sturdy unless you’re pretty tiny. The JFIT gets mounted in the doorway with hardware, so it’s sturdier while still being pretty minimal. When properly installed, the mounting hardware won’t prevent your door from closing (you’ll still need to put the bar away, though).
Best for on the go
Jayflex RYZE-UPS
- Price: $$
- How to mount: doorway (no hardware required)
- Max weight: 275 lbs. (125 kg)
- Bar length: N/A — length between handles is totally customizable
- Warranty: 2 years
These handles from Jayflex are perfect for pull-ups on the go. They attach to nearly any doorway, with no installation required. You can place them as far apart as you want and adjust the handles for a variety of grips. When you’re done, they fold up small, and the whole set weighs less than 4 lbs. (2 kg). We’ve never wanted to do pull-ups on vacay — until now.
Best freestanding
ProForm Carbon Strength Power Rack XL
- Price: $$$
- How to mount: freestanding
- Max weight: 610 lbs. (277 kg)
- Bar length: 67 in. (170 cm)
- Warranty: 90 days
If pull-ups are just one part of your home strength routine, you’re gonna want a rack. This one not only comes with a pull-up and chin-up bar but also provides storage for your weights, resistance band pins, and spotter arms for heavy lifting. If you’ve already got a ProForm bench, this rack is a perfect addition.
Note: It’s huge, so you’re gonna need plenty of space — and at least 8 feet (244 cm) of vertical clearance — for this rack to be at home in your home gym.
Best ceiling-mounted
Gronk Fitness Ceiling Mounted Multi-Grip Chin Up Bar
- Price: $$
- How to mount: ceiling mount
- Max weight: 800 lbs. (363 kg)
- Bar length: 27 in. (69 cm)
- Warranty: lifetime warranty for home use
We appreciate ceiling-mounted pull-up bars because we love just hangin’ out, and this one’s giving us serious monkey bar vibes (which is a definite plus). But for real, this highly rated pull-up bar features a variety of grips so you can target different muscle groups. It’s also great if you’re tight on space because… your ceiling? It’s free real estate.
Best for outdoors
Stamina Power Tower Pro
- Price: $$$
- How to mount: freestanding
- Max weight: 300 lbs. (136 kg)
- Bar length: 24.5 in. (62 cm) between handles
- Warranty: none
OK, this one’s just fun! We love seeing outdoor fitness equipment at parks, and now you can bring it to your own backyard. This super-heavy-duty tower is great for a total-body outdoor bodyweight workout and built to withstand even the most elemental of the elements.
Best wall-mounted
REP Wall Mount Multi-Grip Pull Up Bar
- Price: $$
- How to mount: wall mount
- Max weight: 700 lbs. (318 kg)
- Bar length: 48 in. (122 cm)
- Warranty: limited lifetime warranty
This wall-mounted bar from REP Fitness is a wildly popular choice that sells out fast. REP has a good rep in the industry, and this bar has a variety of grips to allow you to target different muscle groups and really get a thorough workout. It’s also got a max weight capacity of 700 lbs. (318 kg) when installed correctly.
Best budget option
Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar
- Price: $
- How to mount: doorway (no installation required)
- Max weight: 300 lbs. (136 kg)
- Bar length: 36 in. (91 cm)
- Warranty: 1 year
Need something really cheap with absolutely zero installation required? This bar fits easily on nearly any doorway and offers three different grip positions. Note that while this type of bar is wildly popular and really cheap, it’s not as safe or reliable as heavy freestanding, wall-mounted, or ceiling-mounted versions.
Best design
Beyond Balance Personal Training Station
- Price: $$$
- How to mount: wall mount
- Max weight: 350 lbs. (159 kg)
- Bar length: 32 in. (81 cm)
- Warranty: none
If you’re looking for beauty and function in your home gym, opt for this Beyond Balance personal training station that looks like it would be at home in a yoga studio. It’s pricey but eco-friendly and made from sturdy, thick wood.
Why get a pull-up bar?
Pull-ups are a solid addition to any at-home strength workout, regardless of your fitness level. While you may not be able to start churning out pull-ups right off the bat (er, bar?), there’s no better resistance than your own body weight.
A pull-up bar also has other benefits. You can use it to anchor a suspension trainer like a TRX system, opening up a whole new world of workout possibilities.
Because several decent installation-free pull-up bars are available pretty cheap, we think they’ve earned a spot in any home gym.
How to choose the right one
Aside from budget, the most important things to consider when choosing a pull-up bar are safety and installation. Look for a pull-up bar that:
- Accommodates your size. You want a bar wide enough to allow you a comfortable grip. If you’ve got broad shoulders, you’ll probably want a longer bar. You also want one that can hold your weight, so make sure to check the max weight before buying.
- Can be installed in your home. No matter what kind of pull-up bar you’re eyeing, make sure it’ll work for your space. For a freestanding bar, check the dimensions and make sure you have room to set it up. For a doorway or telescoping bar, make sure your doorway isn’t too wide or narrow. For a wall-mounted bar, you’ll need to know where the studs in your wall are so you can correctly install the bar.
- Has good reviews re: safety. It’s always a good idea to check out the reviews. In our search, we found some cheap pull-up bars that had great reviews and some expensive ones that had numerous reports of injuries on the very first page of reviews — so a higher price doesn’t necessarily guarantee a safer product. Make sure to do your research so you don’t end up on the floor!
The bottom line
A pull-up bar is a foundational piece of equipment for your home gym, no matter how tricked-out (or how tiny and cramped) it is or what your skill level is.
Pull-ups aren’t just for showing off — they’re actually one of the best bodyweight moves you can do to build some serious strength, even if you need some assistance to do one. So grab a bar and 🎵 ahh, pull it — pull it real good! 🎵
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