The 7 Cheapest Squat Racks for Your Home Gym 2023
June 07, 2023
Building a home gym is a great idea. Say goodbye to wasting time travelling to the gym and queuing up for gym equipment.
To make progress with fitness, you need to be consistent. Many athletes train daily, and although we may not all be athletes needing to perform at the top of our game, we do need to be working out at least 3 times a week to make good progress. If we can shave an hour of each workout, we’re saving at least 3 hours a week, precious hours we can spend with friends and family.
If you’ve leaped into building your own home gym, then great job! Most of us probably don’t have the space (let alone thousands of £’s spare) to fit 20 different pieces of equipment into our home gym so we need to decide on the most important pieces of equipment.
The squat rack should definitely be at the top of your list. Whether your goal is to build muscle or lose fat, the squat exercise is a staple in any training plan – no matter the goal.
We have found the 7 cheapest squat racks that are perfect for any home gym without needing to break the bank.
Starting off with the cheapest squat rack, and getting more expensive as you make your way through the article (they get better too!).
T-Sport Squat Rack Stands
£49.00
The T-Sport squat rack stands are perfect for those with limited space. Because the stands do not have the center brace, you can store them in smaller spaces and only get them out when you need them.
Being able to hold weights of up to 300kg, these small squat rack stands have been manufactured for ultimate support. Not many people in the world are squatting over 300kg, so these stands are perfect for most people (If you do, wow!).
T-Sport are a medium-sized family-run company striving to provide the best customer service possible. These squat rack stands, just like all their equipment are well manufactured and very affordable.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Stored easily
- 300kg max weight
Cons:
- No safety bars
- You must be careful when re-racking to avoid them toppling
Gym Master Squat Rack Stands with Dip Bars
£64.99
Manufactured with 50mm heavy-duty steel, the squat rack can handle weights up to 250kg. The adjustable center brace provides more stability than the previous option and allows the user to adjust the width to a position they’re most comfortable with. It also means the squat rack can be stored in smaller spaces as you can push the centerpiece together.
The addition of the safety bars makes this option a safer option than the first. There’s no denying that squats are hard, and if you want to progress in your training, you’ll need to be taking the body near to failure for adaptations to occur. When training near to failure it’s not uncommon for gym goers to get stuck at the bottom of the squat (after all, it’s the most difficult part of the movement) if this does happen, it’s good to know we can drop the bar onto the safety braces, escaping unharmed.
The dip bars are also a great addition to the squat rack. Dips are great for building the chest and triceps, so if we go for this option, we’re essentially getting 2 pieces of equipment for the price of 1.
Pros:
- Safety Bars
- Dip station
- 250kg max weight
Cons:
- Fixed safety bar height
Body Revolution Heavy Duty Adjustable Squat Rack
£110.49
The body revolution affordable squat rack benefits from adjustable barbell heights and adjustable safety bars. Everyone is different, different in height, bone structure, flexibility, etc. This means people will squat to different heights; being able to adjust the safety bars is a great feature as it allows you to put them exactly where you need them – at the bottom of the squat position.
The safety bars originate from the bottom of the rack, meaning they will be able to handle a larger load and are less likely to topple the squat rack.
Similarly, to the previous squat rack, this rack also benefits from having the dip bars to the rear.
Another great space-saving feature is the weight stands on the back of the rack, you can store your plates exactly where you need them.
Pros:
- Adjustable safety bars
- Added steel supports
- 250kg max weight
Cons:
- 5m height may not work for the taller athlete
K-Sport Squat Stand Power Station
£159.00
The K-Sport squat stand is the only squat rack on our list that has more than 1 fixed position; it has 8! This is great as it allows you to perform many different exercises without needing to adjust the squat rack. The angled design means that if you're struggling at the bottom of the movement you can simply lean forward and re-rack the bar.
The squat rack is extremely sturdy. Unlike other designs, this affordable squat rack features a brace at the top and the bottom. It also has a large base which helps eliminate the chances of the squat rack toppling.
Pros:
- A large base footprint eliminates the chances of toppling over
- 8 Fixed bar positions
- Braced at the bottom and the top
Cons:
- No dip bars
Diagor D9 Squat Rack with Pull-up bar
£189.00
Jumping over to the Diagor D9 squat rack. The first squat rack on our list that includes a pull-up bar. Pull-ups are one of the best back building exercises, so opting for a squat rack with a pull-up bar is a sensible idea if you’re looking to build your back at home.
This squat rack has 25 bar position levels making it ideal for squats, lunges, shoulder press, lunges, bench press – basically any exercise that involves racking the bar.
Boasting a massive 400kg max weight, this is the strongest squat rack on our list. Don’t get me wrong, I can’t imagine many of us will need that, but it will give us piece of mind that it can handle the heavier weights.
Pros:
- 25 bar positions
- Huge 400kg max weight
- Pull up bar
Cons:
- No Safety bars
Multifunctional Squat Rack
£211.99
Looking for a squat rack, pull-up bar, and dipping station all in one? We’ve got you covered.
Not only does the multifunctional squat rack have a decent load capacity of 250kg, but it’s also multifunctional meaning you can perform a variety of different exercises.
Like the previous rack, the pull-up bars are a great addition allowing you to perform one of the best back building exercises. And the addition of the dip bars and chest stands allows for a great chest and triceps workout.
This multifunctional squat rack would be the perfect bit of equipment for circuit training. Start off with 10 reps of squats, into Pull-ups (AMRAP (As many reps as possible)), then dips (AMRAP), and finish off with press-ups on the stands (AMRAP). Rest for 2 minutes and go again for 5 rounds, you’ll burn through the calories!
Pros:
- Pull up bar
- Dip station
- Press up station
Cons:
- Shallow safety bars
Gym Master Half Power Cage
£229.99
Last, but by no means least, the Gym Master Half Power Cage; the ultimate affordable squat rack for any home gym.
The reason why this squat rack triumphs over the others is due to its safety aspect. As you’re squatting inside of the cage, if you fail at the bottom of the squat, the safety bars are there to catch you. This is great for either new lifters who haven’t yet built up the confidence when squatting or for those experienced lifters who are working with big weights pushing their body to the limits – rest assured you’ll be safe in the half power cage.
Of course, the half power station comes with a pull-up station. But not a pull-up station like the previous squat racks on our list. The gym master handle means you can either do normal pull-ups, neutral grip pull-ups, or chin-ups, which means you can target different areas of the back by simply adjusting the hand positioning.
And yes, to top it off you’ll also receive adjustable dip bars for your chest and triceps workouts.
Pros:
- 26 different bar heights
- Safer, due to squatting in the cage
- Different grip pull-up handles
Cons:
- Takes up more room
Final Thoughts
Arguably one of the most important pieces of gym equipment is the squat rack, so if you’re building a home gym, it’s a good idea to get your hands on one.
The most important exercises you need to be doing, regardless of your goals are known as the big 5 exercises. These consist of: 1. Squats, 2. Deadlifts, 3. Pull-ups, 4. Shoulder press and 5. Bench press.
Without a squat rack, you can do 1 of these exercises, the deadlift. Whereas if you had a squat rack you’d also be able to add bench press, shoulder press, and depending on the one you go for; pull-ups.
Meaning with one bit of equipment, you’re hitting all the big 5 exercises.
When choosing your favourite affordable squat rack consider how much space you have, what exercises you’d like to use the rack for, and how much you anticipate lifting – and then decide which rack is best for you based on this criterion.
As always, if you have any questions, drop them down in the comment section below!
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Thomas D
Author
Thomas is a dedicated fitness enthusiast with over 12 years of experience in the gym. As a level 2 qualified gym instructor, he combines his passion for working out and nutrition to help others achieve their fitness goals. Thomas stays up to date with the latest fitness research and follows the work of top experts in the field. With a balance of textbook knowledge and real-life experience, he provides practical guidance to help others reach their full potential.