If you’re a glute-building baddy, you already know that squat and power racks take up a lot of space, with some towering more than 8 feet tall. Not exactly doable if you don’t have an entire garage dedicated to your home gym.
And if you’re trying to werk it out in a cramped space like an apartment or your bedroom, even a smaller freestanding squat rack is a recipe for stubbed toes and aggravation. Enter: folding squat racks.
These compact squat racks mount right onto the wall and fold completely flat against it when not in use, freeing up some precious square footage and occupying no floor space. And, like their bigger counterparts, they’re not just for squats. You can use them for pull-ups, suspension training, and bench workouts too.
Here are our absolute fave folding squat racks.
Best folding squat racks of 2021
| Our verdict | Folding squat rack | Price | Depth, folded | Depth, in use | Installation type | Included with purchase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Rogue RML-3W Fold Back Wall Mount Rack | $$ | 5 in. (13 cm) | 25 or 44 in. (64 or 112 cm) | wall mount | J-hooks, pull-up bar |
| Most customizable | Burli Hyper Folding Wall Mount Rack | $$$ | 6 in. (15 cm) | 25 or 44 in. (64 or 112 cm) | wall mount | J-hooks, pull-up bar |
| Best budget option | Titan Fitness X-3 Series Folding Power Rack | $ | 8 in. (20 cm) | 24 or 43 in. (61 or 109 cm) | wall mount | J-hooks, pull-up bar |
| Best freestanding | Force USA MyRack | $$ | 20 in. (51 cm) | 41 in. (104 cm) | freestanding | pull-up bar |
| Best for advanced athletes | PRx Performance Profile Squat Rack with Kipping Bar | $$$ | 4 in. (10 cm) | 42 in. (107 cm) | wall mount | J-hooks, pull-up bar |
Our criteria for choosing the best folding squat racks
We don’t know squat about these things, so we spoke with two personal trainers who know all the ins and outs (and ups and downs… because, you know, squats) of folding squat racks to find out what exactly to look for.
Quality and safety
These are absolutely key for a good folding squat rack.
“Safety is paramount to function,” explains Holly Roser, San Francisco-based personal trainer and owner of Holly Roser Fitness.
Dennis Dixon, founder and trainer at DixonFit, Pinterest creator, and former NFL QB, adds that it’s important to check the quality and the type of steel used. He recommends buying U.S. steel above imported and buying only from a solid, established brand with a great track record for quality.
Price
“The better quality is usually the most expensive,” explains Dixon.
And let’s be totally real here: You don’t want a cheapo folding rack that can’t carry a decent amount of weight. If you come across a folding squat rack that seems waaay cheaper than others, that should give you pause.
Versatility
Look for one that’s there for more than just squats.
“Good-quality folding squat racks provide dip stations, landmine stations, and chin-up bar stations,” says Dixon. A good folding squat rack won’t take up a bunch of space, but it will be an awesome multitasker for your home gym.
Pricing guide
- $ = under $500
- $$ = $500–$700
- $$$ = over $700
The lowdown: 5 best folding squat racks
Best overall folding squat racks
Rogue RML-3W Fold Back Wall Mount Rack
- Price: $$
- Weight capacity: 1,000 pounds (lbs.)
- Dimensions, folded: 90 inches (in.) tall, 49 in. wide, 5 in. deep
- Dimensions, in use: 90 in. tall, 49 in. wide, 25 or 44 in. deep
- Installation: wall mount, 4 wood studs required, contractor help recommended
- Accessories: compatible with most Rogue Monster Lite accessories
Rogue Fitness wins our absolute best overall because, in addition to being personally recommended by Roser, it meets all our trainers’ criteria for what to look for in a folding squat rack.
Rogue is a trusted name in fitness, and the rack is made from American steel and other high quality materials. Pricewise, it sits right in the middle of what you should expect to pay for a solid folding squat rack.
It comes standard with a pull-up bar and J-hooks, and it’s compatible with many of Rogue’s 88 different Monster Lite accessories, so it’s a truly multifunctional addition to your home gym.
Best of all, you can choose between a 21- and 44-in. depth, depending on your preferences and how much clearance you have in your home gym space. Both options fold away to less than a 5-in. depth, inward or outward (Roser’s favorite feature).
Reviewers are also overwhelmingly impressed by this rack.
Most customizable folding squat rack
Burli Hyper Folding Wall Mount Rack
- Price: $$$
- Weight capacity: 1,000+ lbs.
- Dimensions, folded: 91 in. tall, 57 in. wide, 6 in. deep
- Dimensions, in use: 91 in. tall, 57 in. wide, 25 or 44 in. deep
- Installation: wall mount, contractor help recommended
- Accessories: optional spotter arms, dip bar, weight tree, landmine
Burli’s products are handmade by certified master craftsmen, so if the as-is dimensions on this rack aren’t exactly what you need, you can have one custom-built to your exact specifications. Like the Rogue model, this rack comes in different depths — 22 or 42 in., both of which fold away to a 6-in. depth.
The rack and fasteners are made with American steel, and it comes with a pull-up bar and J-hooks. You can add optional equipment to your purchase to make the rack even more functional. (Note: Some reviewers who self-installed say installation is a little complicated, so you may want to swing for professional installation.)
The welds, steel, and hardware on the rack are also guaranteed for life. And the reviews? Outstanding.
Best budget folding squat rack
Titan Fitness X-3 Series Folding Power Rack
- Price: $
- Weight capacity: 1,100 lbs.
- Dimensions, folded: 80 or 90 in. tall, 48 in. wide, 8 in. deep
- Dimensions, in use: 80 or 90 in. tall, 48 in. wide, 24 or 43 in. deep
- Installation: wall mount, contractor help recommended
- Accessories: X-3 compatible accessories available to purchase
Titan Fitness is another reputable name in fitness equipment, and this folding rack happens to be the least expensive on our list. Translation: This joker is often sold out.
Roser is a big fan because the depth and rack height are customizable.
“This is excellent for someone who needs more room for their lifts,” she explains. This rack is available in a height of 80 or 90 in. and a depth of 21 or 42 in. — so if you’re really short on space, you can go for the shorter rack with a shallower depth.
Your purchase includes J-hooks and a pull-up bar, and Titan offers a full line of X-3 compatible accessories to beef up the functionality of your rack. However, there are no reviews on this particular model at the moment, so it’s hard to say what users think.
Best freestanding folding squat rack
Force USA MyRack
- Price: $$
- Weight capacity: 2,000 lbs.
- Dimensions, folded: 84 in. tall, 52 in. wide, 20 in. deep
- Dimensions, in use: 96 in. tall, 49 in. wide, 41 in. deep
- Installation: freestanding, DIY
- Accessories: several available for purchase, plus barbell, flooring, and bench
The Force USA MyRack is the only freestanding folding squat rack that made our list. The fact that it stands freely makes installation a lot easier, but it takes up way more space — 20 in. of depth when folded away — than wall-mounted racks.
One other downside: While J-hooks come with our other picks, they’re an add-on (with an additional cost) with the MyRack.
But Force USA also offers a number of other add-ons, including gym flooring, a barbell, and a weight bench — just in case you wanna get your home gym fully equipped in one fell swoop. The rack also comes with a multigrip pull-up bar.
The MyRack currently has only a handful of reviews, but they’re all positive.
Best folding squat rack for advanced athletes
PRx Performance Profile Squat Rack with Kipping Bar
- Price: $$$
- Weight capacity: 1,000+ lbs.
- Dimensions, folded: 90 in. tall, 52 in. wide, 4 in. deep
- Dimensions, in use: 90 in. tall, 52 in. wide, 42 in. deep
- Installation: wall mount, contractor help recommended
- Accessories: many available for purchase through PRx’s “Build Your Own Package“
If you’re a CrossFit devotee or an otherwise extremely fitness-minded individual, you’re gonna want the impressive features that this rack from PRx Performance offers.
Folded away, it sits only 4 in. out from the wall, but the included kipping pull-up bar offers a whopping 3 feet of forward clearance, so you can get your CrossFit pull-up on in the comfort of your home. It comes standard with J-hooks too.
The rack has nearly 300 reviews on the PRx website, with an overwhelming number of 4- and 5-star stellar reviews.
If you’re looking to outfit your whole home gym, buy the BYO Package and simply check off everything you need. A final note: PRx can customize the dimensions on any of their bars, so reach out to ’em if you need a custom fit for your space.
Benefits of folding squat racks
So, what’s so great about these racks anyway? Well, according to Roser and Dixon, aside from doing everything a freestanding, full-size squat rack can do, folding squat racks have three benefits that make them a worthwhile addition to any space-challenged home gym:
- Space savings. First and most obvious, they save on space. “Folding squat racks are an excellent way to save precious space in your garage or gym area without sacrificing quality and function,” says Roser. Since they fold against the wall, you can install one anywhere — so you can literally squeeze in a workout.
- Multiple functions. A folding squat rack is “more versatile than most traditional squat racks,” says Dixon, adding that good quality folding squat racks allow you to do way more than just squats — think dips, pull-ups and chin-ups, and suspension training.
- Cost savings. Folding squat racks can be a little less expensive than their full-size counterparts, too, which is a bonus when you’re investing in a high quality, well-made, and versatile piece of equipment like the ones on our list.
Before you drop that cash: Shopping tips
Ready to buy? Here’s some pre-purchase advice you may want to keep top of mind:
- Take measurements. Before you hit “place order,” you’ll need to know the size of your space vs. the rack’s dimensions, the distance between the studs in your wall (for installation purposes), and how much space you’ll have to use the rack. While squats won’t take up too much space, you’ll need some leeway if you plan to use a weight bench or suspension trainer in combo with the rack.
- Know its limits. Make sure you know the weight capacity of your folding squat rack, especially if you’re going to be storing weights on it or using it to do pull-ups. This is another reason it’s important to choose a high quality squat rack. Most of the ones we listed can hold 1,000 lbs. or more.
- Think ahead. Even if you’re a beginner, opt for a rack that can grow with you. Take a look at the attachments you can buy for the rack down the line and see if it will be able to continue to provide a challenge as you get stronger. Go for the gains!
- Go pro. If you have any doubts about your ability to install the rack correctly and safely, Roser says, “Find a professional to mount it for you in your home.” Remember: Safety first (even if it costs a few extra bucks)!
The bottom line
Folding squat racks are a cost-saving and space-saving alternative to full-size or freestanding squat racks, and they offer just as much workout variety. Make sure to buy one from a trusted brand that uses the highest quality materials around.
With a folding squat rack, the only thing that’s gonna be taking up more space in your home gym is them glutes. 😏
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