7 Best Budget Power Racks and Squat Racks in 2024

Having a versatile home gym right at your place is the best solution for busy but passionate lifters. Though equipping it with everything needed may be a tough experience, you can get the best budget power rack and make your life much easier at once.

In this article, I will walk you through the most important points to consider while choosing an affordable power rack for your home gym. Find out about the most popular cheap weight racks on the market. Maybe, our winner will take some space at your home soon!

Our team of certified experts and professional athletes has extensively tested 25 budget power racks to handpick the best for you, and they came up with a list of 7 outstanding products. The power racks were rigorously examined over 5 key factors, with our team dedicating over 500 hours to testing them. In addition to our hands-on approach, we’ve also sifted through hundreds of online reviews from users. We keep our list up to date, so please add your comments, share your insights, and let’s interact!

Top 7 Budget Power Racks & Squat Racks Reviewed

In order to choose the best budget squat rack, I put scores for different qualities of each option: stability, welding, versatility, convenience, and price-quality ratio. Find a brief summary in the table and dive into all the details below.

1. Rep Fitness 1100 Power Rack – Best Overall
2. Titan-2 Series Power Rack – Runner-Up
3. Rogue RML-3W Fold Back Wall Mount Rack
4. Titan-3 Series Short Squat Stand
5. Rogue SML-2C Squat Stand
6. Sunny Health & Fitness Power Zone Strength Rack
7. CAP Barbell FM-905Q Stand Power Rack

Product	Total	Stability	Welding	Versatility	Convenience	Price/Quality
Rep Fitness 1100	49	9.5	10	10	9.5	10
Titan-2	48.5	9.5	9.5	10	9.5	10
Rogue RML-3W	48.5	10	10	10	9	9.5
Titan-3	47.5	9	9.5	9	10	10
Rogue SML-2C	47.5	9.5	10	9	10	9
Sunny Health & Fitness	47	9	9.5	9.5	9.5	9.5
CAP Barbell	46.5	9	9	9	9.5	10

1. Rep Fitness 1100 Power Rack – Best Overall

Rep Fitness 1100 comes in the first place if you want to purchase a reliable but cheap power rack. For its reasonable price, it offers great versatility and plenty of first-level features.

• Height: 85”
• Width: 58.1”
• Depth: 48.5”
• Steel: 14 gauge
• Footprint: 58.1” x 48.5”
• Rackable capacity: 700 lbs.
• Product weight: 130”
• Finish: powder coat
• Number of racks: 2
• Hole spacing: 3”

First of all, let’s talk about versatility. It comes in a fairly full set of almost everything needed for a good home workout: j-cups, a pull-up bar for different grips, and safeties. If you are a beginner, it might be enough for your training, but you can expand the rack anytime with some additional equipment. It will be easy to do with plenty of compatible bars and attachments on the market.

Another upside is the price. Frankly, it is a great deal in terms of price-quality ratio. You can come across some other racks at a similar price point, but few of them really offer the same versatility, opportunities, and features. For example, not all options have a protective layer on j-cups to save bar knurling.

As for the drawbacks, the first one that stands out is 14-gauge steel. The middle ground in the thickness is 11 gauge, and Rep Fitness falls short a bit. Remember that the steel gets thinner as the number goes up. Therefore, the weight capacity is only 700 lbs. 

As for the convenience, I gave only 9.5 points to it because of the hole spacing. It is 3 inches which makes it hard to adjust the height precisely.

All in all, Rep Fitness-1100 is a decent power rack that may become a whole gym for a very reasonable price.

2. Runner Up: Titan-2 Series Power Rack

Titan-2 becomes the runner-up on my list. It is very similar to the winner, though it falls behind in terms of overall quality.

• Height: 71”/83”
• Width: 46”
• Depth: 42”
• Steel: 12 gauge
• Footprint: 57” x 50”
• Rackable capacity: 2,200 lbs.
• Product weight: 130/140 Lbs.
• Finish: powder coat
• Number of racks: 2
• Hole spacing: 2”

This brand is well-known for making an affordable power rack for sale that has already become a part of many home gyms. The main benefit is the price-quality ratio. Perhaps, you won’t get first-class features for this money but you will make a reasonable long-term investment in your training.

Now, you may ask me why I put Titan-2 in second place. The reason is that the welding needs a little bit of improvement. Obviously, you shouldn’t expect the same quality as from pricy racks, still, you can rely on Titan-2 if you treat it mindfully.

Also, the uprights are only 2”x2” which may seem a huge drawback at first. But I have to say that 12-gauge steel compensates significantly for this downside, taking into account that most racks of this level are made of thinner steel.

Similar to our winner, it offers high versatility. The set is just the same and can also be expanded with compatible equipment.

One of the biggest benefits is the opportunity to choose the height. If you don’t have much space at home or want to make a gym in your garage with low ceilings, you can pick a rack that fits your room and requirements best.

All in all, if you are a beginner or intermediate athlete who won’t overload your future power rack, have a look at Titan-2.

3. Rogue RML-3W Fold Back Wall Mount Rack

Rogue RML-3W is one of the sturdiest options offered by this brand. Because of its qualities and first-class materials, it can be safely used even by advanced lifters to hit extreme weights in their home gyms.

• Height: 90.4”
• Width: 49”
• Depth: 21.5”/41.5”
• Steel: 11 gauge
• Footprint: 24.75"/43.75" x 56.1875"(On Wall)
• Rackable capacity: 1000 lbs.
• Product weight: 163/190 lbs.
• Finish: powder coat
• Number of racks: 1
• Hole spacing: 1”, 2”

The biggest benefit of this rack is its stability and reliability. First, 11-gauge steel and 3”x3” uprights make Rogue RML-3W one of the sturdiest options out there. It means that even heavy lifters can use it for their top sets and be sure about their safety. 

Another peculiarity that makes this power rack special is its folding mechanism. If you struggle with little space but still can’t get rid of the dream to have a home gym, Rogue RML-3W may become a sight for sore eyes. It can be folded after every workout to take only 5 inches from a wall. It might also be a final argument to convince your family members to arrange a home gym.

Another benefit is the Westside hole spacing. Unlike most affordable power racks, Rogue RML-3W is really convenient for all exercises, including those that need precise height adjustment. It means that you have all holes really close to each other from the center almost to the very bottom and more distance between them at the top. 

As for the drawbacks, the price is higher than our previous budget options. Yet, it is understandable because of the steel quality and folding mechanism that Rogue offer. If you have some savings to make a long-term investment in your training, check it out.

Another downside of this power rack made me put only 9 points for convenience. On the one hand, it is easy to adjust and is really beneficial for a small house, but the folding mechanism might not work as you imagine. It can be really difficult and time-consuming to install the whole rack at first and then fold and unfold it every time. There are some more convenient options on the market but their price will be significantly higher. So while having limited space, you have to choose between money and time.

All in all, Rogue RML-3W will be a great choice for heavy lifters, especially if they have little space at home.

4. Titan-3 Series Short Squat Stand

Titan-3 short squat stand may be a smart choice for those who already have some sport equipment at home and need only a cheap squat rack.

• Height: 72”
• Width: 48”
• Depth: 47”
• Steel: 11 gauge
• Footprint: 48” x 47”
• Rackable capacity: 1000 lbs.
• Product weight: 144 lbs.
• Finish: powder coat
• Number of racks: 1
• Hole spacing: 1”, 2”

First of all, it is different from the previous options. In this case, you get only a stand that is used for squats, the bench press, overhead press, jerk, etc. Unfortunately, you can’t make it an all-purpose power rack that can replace a whole gym.

Still, it might be a very smart decision if you already have some basic equipment (for example, pull-up and dip bars) at home and don’t want to spend money on it once again. In this case, you can save some cash on versatility but invest in high-quality steel and convenience.

The main benefit of the Titan-3 affordable squat rack is the material quality. It is made of 2”x3” 11-gauge steel which is an outstanding feature in the world of power racks. Thus, it is reliable enough to handle up to 1000 lbs. easily. 

On the other hand, such a stand isn’t a so-called ‘cage’ that provides undeniable stability and safety. In this case, you might need a spotter for the heaviest sets as there are only 2 upright columns and no safeties at all. I recommend using this option for a home gym only if you work with moderate weights, have a spotter, or are a very experienced careful lifter.

The last benefit that I want to mention is the hole spacing. The rack has most holes really close to each other for the most precise adjustment. It makes the stand very convenient for the bench press, especially if it is hard for you to find the best height on standard racks.

All in all, the Titan-3 inexpensive squat rack is a great choice for minimalists who love barbell exercises.

5. Rogue SML-2C Squat Stand

Rogue SML-2C squat stand is a sturdy rack for those who lift heavy but don’t really need excessive versatility.

• Height: 92”
• Width: 49”
• Depth: 48”
• Steel: 11 gauge
• Footprint: 49” x 48”
• Rackable capacity: 1000 lbs.
• Product weight: 157 lbs.
• Finish: satin powder coat
• Number of racks: 1
• Hole spacing: 1" through bench and clean pull zone, 2" spacing above and below

The only attachments that this option offers are j-cups and a pull-up bar. Basically, that can be enough if you already have some sport equipment or are just fond of barbell exercises. 

One of the biggest benefits is the 11-gauge steel and first-class welding. Altogether, it makes this rack more stable, durable, and reliable than the previous option. Yet, I put it lower on the list because of the price. If you are a beginner or intermediate athlete, there might be no reason to splash out that much on a squat stand. Still, if you are a fan of really extreme weights, you better check out this option.

Another benefit of the Rogue squat stand is its size. It takes really little space and won’t stand out too much at your place. Yet, remember about the height – this option won’t fit a low ceiling, so you better scroll up and have a look at Titan.

Finally, the spacing is great – you can adjust the bar placement easily to make your exercises as comfortable as possible. It is especially handy if you don’t have a spotter to help you unrack the bar.

All in all, the Rogue SML-2C squat stand is a great option for minimalists who love to lift heavy.

6. Sunny Health & Fitness Power Zone Strength Rack

Sunny Health & Fitness power rack under 1000 can become a good choice for beginners or intermediate athletes. It has everything needed – good versatility along with a great price.

• Height: 82.9”
• Width: 65.1”
• Depth: 50.4”
• Steel: 14 gauge
• Footprint: 65.1” x 50.4”
• Rackable capacity: 1000 lbs.
• Product weight: 134.5 lbs.
• Finish: powder coat
• Number of racks: 2
• Hole spacing: 2”

First of all, you can choose plenty of additional equipment designed specifically for this rack on Amazon. Everything will fit perfectly well so you can choose a whole gym for your place right away.

As for the drawbacks, the rack isn’t stable enough. It can sway from one side to the other. It makes this option not suitable for extreme weights that demand first-class safety and reliability. On top of that, the rack is made of 14-gauge steel – not the best choice for the heaviest sets. 

Still, it may come in handy for amateurs who don’t put too much pressure on the rack but want to purchase plenty of affordable equipment. If you choose a standard set, you get j-cups, safeties, a pull-up bar, bars for storing plates, and safety clips all at once. And by paying some more cash, you can get a flat or incline bench press and a pull-down attachment.

All in all, the Sunny Health & Fitness rack is a good cheap power cage for versatile amateurs.

7. CAP Barbell FM-905Q Stand Power Rack

CAP squat stand finishes the last on my list. Yet, it is the cheapest squat rack for beginners who are on a tight budget.

• Height: 85”
• Width: 46”
• Depth: 50”
• Steel: 11, 12 gauge
• Footprint: 46” x 50”
• Rackable capacity: 500 lbs.
• Product weight: 59.51 lbs.
• Finish: powder coat
• Number of racks: 1
• Hole spacing: 2”

First of all, don’t expect first-class quality from it. Obviously, it isn’t as sturdy and stable as most options on my list. Moreover, the weight capacity is only 500 lbs. It means that you can’t use this stand for heavy sets above this point. For someone, it might be a red flag but beginner athletes can easily use CAP for light workouts.

Similar to most squat stands, this one also takes little space and won’t bother you at home much. On top of that, it is really light and highly portable. For example, if you need to hide it and make some room for guests, it is not a big deal to do that.

All in all, having the CAP squat stand at home can make any beginner happy as well as their wallets.

How Have I Chosen the Best Power Rack?

While choosing the best power rack, I took into account different qualities, and I will explain all one by one.

1. Stability

Stability is one of the basic requirements for power racks. Basically, it depends on the number of upright columns and their thickness. I gave 9 points to those cages that lack sturdiness and can sway from one side to the other. It may not be a great problem for light weights but can cause a lot of problems while lifting your PR.

2. Welding

Welding determines a rack’s stability and durability. It also influences the overall look. Still, I recommend paying more attention to the welding quality rather than aesthetic issues. If you want to purchase a rack that will stay in your gym for a lifetime, have a look at those who got 10 points.

3. Versatility

Having a versatile power rack at home can easily replace a whole gym. You can buy a basic set and then invest in it in the future. 

Options that have 10 points are highly compatible with plenty of attachments, so you can go for them to develop a whole training area right at your place. Have a look at our winner REP as well as different Rogue or Titan power cages to be able to add some installments in the long run.

Racks that got only 9 points are suitable for a limited number of exercises. Still, they are great for minimalists on a tight budget. For example, Titan or CAP squat stands can be great options in this case. Yet, choose the Rogue stand if you work with heavy weights on the daily basis and need the highest reliability.

4. Convenience

A convenient power rack must be easy to adjust. I took into account hole spacing – the closer holes are placed, the more precise you can be. Apart from that, the Rogue wall rack gets a low score for being difficult to fold and unfold.

5. Price-quality ratio

At this stage, the REP power cage is the leader. It offers decent quality and doesn’t make you give away all your savings. It is also versatile enough and can be expanded in the long run. 

At the same time, the Rogue squat stand gets the lowest score for being fairly overpriced. Frankly, it offers first-class quality and is highly reliable but there is nothing groundbreaking about the rack. 

What to Look for in a Budget Rack?

Choosing an inexpensive squat rack may be a very stressful experience. It is a huge investment and a serious decision if you want to build a home gym and get the most out of it. Therefore, I have prepared a brief guide on how to find your one and only rack.

1. Type

There are several main types of racks on the market. I will walk you through all of them.

The power rack is the most stable and reliable option. It consists of 4 uprights and often includes safeties, pull-up bars, bar-holding bars, etc. It can also be expanded by plenty of attachments, such as lat pull-down installations, additional bars, benches, etc. It can literally be transformed into a whole gym.

It is also 100% safe and convenient for home use. Unfortunately, such an option costs a lot as well. Still, I recommend this particular type for most home gyms. Believe me, it will pay back in the long run.

Another type of barbell racks is a squat stand. This option is less reliable and stable than the first one. It consists of only 2 uprights and, therefore, can often sway from one side to the other, especially if the overall construction falls short.

Another disadvantage is low versatility. It can’t be expanded that much, so you can use it only as one part of your home gym. Still, you can do squats and various presses with it successfully. On top of that, the price of this type is much lower than a power cage costs.

A folding rack is usually designed to be attached to a garage wall. The main purpose of this type is to save space by folding away. Such a rack can be a real relief for those who lack space at home but still want to have a training spot there. As for the drawbacks, this type is not as versatile as a standard power rack. Of course, you can attach some bars to it but it will make you spend quite a while removing everything and folding a rack away.

2. Working space

If you want to build a home gym by only purchasing a rack, you will need a lot of working space. Choose a bigger option that gives you more opportunities to expand it in the future if your home space allows that. For example, you may want to add a bench press, a dip bar, a lat pull-down bar, etc.

If you want something small and transportable to squat or bench press, you don’t need to splash out on a huge power cage with a lot of working space. In this case, you better choose a simple stand that will meet your requirements. And if you want something in the middle, just mind the width and depth to pick the most suitable option.

Analyze your needs, training, and equipment that you already have to make a reasonable choice.

3. Metal quality

Metal quality determines sturdiness and durability of a rack. Basically, the thicker metal is, the more reliable and stable a rack will be.

There are different steel gauges from 7 to 14 (remember that 7 is the thickest while 14 is relatively thin). If you are looking for a rack for your home gym, you may not need thick 7-gauge metal. The middle ground is 11-12 which provides enough stability and safety. 

Still, many budget brands use 14-gauge steel. They work well for beginners or intermediate lifters but don’t use such racks for extreme weights. Always keep in mind the rackable capacity suggested by a manufacturer.

FAQ

What's the difference between a power rack and a squat rack?

A power rack is a more stable and safe option because of 4 upright columns. Also, it is more versatile and can be significantly expanded. A squat rack can be used only for barbell exercises, such as squats and various presses.

Do I need Westside spacing?

If you often use a power rack for the bench press, you may need Westside spacing. It makes it easy to adjust the barbell height more precisely. If you often struggle to find the right level, Westside spacing can be really helpful as well.

How much does a decent squat rack cost?

The cheapest basic power racks cost around 400$ and more. They can be also expanded by more equipment for an additional price. As for the simplest squat stands, they are more affordable – you may find a good option for around 200$ and more, depending on the weight capacity and the brand.

Is buying a power rack worth it?

If you want to build a home gym, buying a rack is definitely worth it. You won’t be able to do basic barbell exercises, such as squats, bench presses, overhead presses, etc., without at least a squat stand.

My Verdict

All in all, if you want to develop your own affordable versatile gym right at home, go for our winner – the REP Fitness power rack – or the runner-up – Titan-2. They will improve your physique year after year and won’t put too much stress on your budget. 

And if you are an advanced heavy lifter, have a look at all Rogue products. They are not that affordable but their quality speaks for itself.

Do you have a home gym at your place and what equipment do you use in it? Share your experience in the comment section!

Also read:

• Best Power Rack Attachments
• Squat Rack Price
• Best Folding Squat Racks
• Best Power Racks With Lat Pulldown
• Squat Rack Types
• Smith Machine Vs Squat Rack
• Smith Machine vs Free Weights
• Power Tower Workout

References:

1. What Is A Power Rack And Does My Home Gym Need One? // Home Gym:                    https://the-home-gym.com/what-is-a-power-rack