Dumbbells are some of the best pieces of workout equipment you can own. They can be used to perform a huge variety of compound and single joint exercises that help you to build power, strength, and muscular endurance.
They allow you to train unilaterally, work on muscular imbalances and make movements more challenging. If you're building a home gym, dumbbells are a necessity.
When it comes to designing your home gym, space is key. Dumbbell racks allow you to store your dumbbells away safely whilst not taking up much gym space. They also help to protect your weights and help to keep your gym floor tidy. This makes a dumbbell rack a great addition.
With so many different designs and shapes available to buy, it's hard to know which is the best choice. I've taken out the hard work and done a comprehensive review on the best dumbbell racks available to buy now.
Let's take a look at the different Dumbbell racks in more detail.
Top 9 Best Dumbbell Racks Reviewed
- Marcy DBR-86 3-Tier Dumbbell Rack - Top Pick
- Rogue 3-Tier Mass Storage System - Best for Garage Gym
- CAP Barbell A-Frame Dumbbell Rack - Best For Small Space
- Eleiko Dumbbell Rack - Premium Pick
- Elevens Multifunctional Dumbbell Rack
- Marcy DBR-56 Compact Dumbbell Rack
- Powerblock Large Column Stand
- Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbell Stand With Media Rack
- BalanceFrom 2-Tier Dumbbell Rack
1. Marcy DBR-86 3-Tier Dumbbell Rack - Top Pick
Founded in 1982, Marcy is an American-owned gym company that manufactures gym machines, multigyms, weight benches, and storage accessories.
Marcy is owned by IMPEX, a well-known leader in the manufacturing of fitness equipment. The brand is committed to offering high-quality, innovative products to customers at competitive prices.
- Type: 3-Tier Dumbbell Rack
- Length: 37"
- Width: 24.75"
- Height: 33"
- Number of Racks: 3
- Max Weight Capacity: 1000 lbs
- Product Weight: 54.5 lbs
The Marcy DBR-86 3-Tier Dumbbell Rack features a compact, low-profile design with angled racks to make dumbbell placement easier. The multi-level storage gives you lots of space to store a wide range of dumbbells whilst limiting the footprint.
The rack's solid construction can support up to 1000 lbs of weight, catering to all levels of lifters. It's made of 2x2" 14-Gauge heavy-duty steel, regarded as the gold standard for rack construction. The rack is welded together throughout to make it extra durable and finished with a powder coat finish, protecting the rack from rust build-up.
Despite the rack's low price, it can handle up to 1000 lbs of weight. The dumbbells can be stored on three separate angled rack levels, making the weights easily accessible.
Whilst the Marcy 3-Tier Dumbbell rack has a larger footprint than other racks, the 3-tier design lets you store a good amount of dumbbells. If you're storing up to 1000 lbs of weight, the rubberized feet help to protect your home gym floor from scratches and keep the rack stable.
The rack comes with a limited 2-year warranty. Due to the reasons I've discussed above, the Marcy DBR-86 3-Tier Dumbbell Rack gets my top pick.
Positives:
3-tier design
Big weight capacity
Protective coating
Could be better:
Only suitable for larger dumbbells
2. Rogue 3-Tier Mass Storage System - Best for Garage Gym
Founded in 2006, Rogue is a world-leading supplier of commercial and home-gym fitness equipment. They manufacture Weights, Power racks, sleds, and gym accessories.
Rogue has grown to over 1400 team members and is the official equipment supplier of many well-known events, such as the fitness games and the World's Strongest Man competition.
The brand is committed to providing high-quality workout equipment to athletes at all levels.
- Type: 3-Tier Mass Storage System
- Length: 74"
- Width: 14"
- Height: 72.5", 75.75" (With Wheels)
- Number of Racks: 3
- Max Weight Capacity: 1000 lbs
- Product Weight: N/A
The Rogue 3-tier Mass Storage System is a fully customizable, heavy duty dumbbell rack that features three 70" shelves and gets my pick for the best garage gym rack.
The 3-tier mass storage system shelves can be customized to hold bumper plates, medicine balls, kettlebells, and dumbbells. This gives the gym user a great way to store a wide variety of gym equipment on a single rack.
Rogue has made the rack with heavy-duty 11-Gauge Steel that's finished in a black powder coating to protect the rack from wear and tear. The solid construction can handle up to 1000 lbs of weight, enough for most lifters.
The rack offers multiple customization options, including storage wheels to make the unit easily portable and cross members at an extra cost. It's the number of custom choices that makes this rack stand out.
This Rogue rack comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Positives:
Huge range of custom options
Big weight capacity
Limited lifetime warranty
Could be better:
Add-ons are quite expensive
3. CAP Barbell A-Frame Dumbbell Rack - Best for Small Space
CAP Barbell has been producing weights, fitness accessories, and strength training equipment for over 25 years. They offer over 1000 products in 30 different categories.
The brand aims to provide quality products at competitive prices. They look to place distribution centers in key areas to keep their product costs down.
- Type: A-Frame Dumbbell Rack
- Length: 6"
- Width: 6"
- Height: 27"
- Number of Racks: 1
- Max Weight Capacity: 200 lbs
- Product Weight: 11 lbs
The A-frame small dumbbell rack designed and sold by CAP barbell offers a great space-saving design at a very small price point. The rack measures just 6" L x 6" W x 27" H, making it an ideal choice for those with small gym space and looking for a smaller rack for hand weights. The CAP Barbell rack is my top space-saving rack choice.
The A-frame rack is made from steel and can hold up to 200 lbs, despite its really small footprint. It's designed to hold dumbbells ranging from 5-25 lbs, catering to users who need a smaller dumbbell space-saving option.
On top of this, it's available in 8 different colors, allowing you to match the rack with your home gym or personal style. CAP give a 30-day warranty with all purchases.
Positives:
Super small footprint
Different color options
Caters to smaller dumbbells
Could be better:
Small warranty
4. Eleiko 2-Tier Dumbbell Rack - Premium Pick
Eleiko was founded in 1957 with a vision to create the world's best barbell. Since then, their barbells have set over 1,000 world records in elite competitions. They now manufacture a range of commercial and home gym equipment including weights and fitness accessories.
The brand's purpose is to work towards making people stronger for better performance in sports and life. They want to bring the ultimate lifting experience to a community of like-minded people.
- Type: 2-Tier Dumbbell Rack
- Length: 47"
- Width: 22"
- Height: 25"
- Number of Racks: 2
- Max Weight Capacity: N/A
- Product Weight: 97 lbs
If you're in the market for a more premium dumbbell rack, the Eleiko 2-tier dumbbell rack is my premium pick.
At first glance, the quality of the Eleiko rack is excellent. It's made from high-quality steel that's been manufactured in Sweden. It features a 2-tier design that's able to hold 5 pairs of dumbbells. Each dumbbell holder has a rubber saddle that protects and cradles each dumbbell head.
The rack features feet that can be bolted down to the ground if you're looking for added security. The whole unit weighs 97 lbs and is designed to be compatible with all types of dumbbells.
Overall, this is a great weight rack for home gym set ups and is available in two sizes - 5 and 10 dumbbell pairs. It comes with a decent 2-year warranty.
Positives:
Rubber protective saddles
High-quality rack design
Decent warranty
Could be better:
Higher price point
Elevens produce a wide range of products for the home including furnishings and home-gym equipment. They manufacture fitness accessories that are designed to fit efficiently into any home space.
The Elevens Multifunctional weight stand is a great storage option if you have a variety of home workout equipment. It's designed as a weight rack for dumbbells, kettlebells, weight plates, and curl bars, giving you a convenient whole gym storage option in 1 piece of kit. Even with the multiple storage options, it still has a fairly small footprint.
The rack is constructed from commercial-grade steel that's welded together throughout, meaning it's able to handle larger dumbbell weights without moving or getting damaged.
The rack design consists of 2 racks for dumbbells and a third rack at the top that's specially designed to store kettlebells. Each rack can be easily adjusted to accommodate all dumbbell types, a cool feature that's not seen on most other racks.
The Elevens rack also features 4 plate storage pins and two 1" and 2" barbell holders. The base of the hand weight rack comes with protective rubber feet which help to protect your home gym floor from scratches and reduce the noise when putting the weights away.
It comes in a polished finish and is available in yellow if you fancy a brighter color choice. The Elevens Multifunctional Rack comes with a 30-day warranty.
Positives:
Huge range of storage options
Adjustable rack sizes
Protective rubber feet
Could be better:
Small warranty
The Marcy Compact Dumbbell Rack is another product manufactured by Marcy, the American-owned brand taking my top pick dumbbell rack.
The Marcy DBR-56 Compact Rack offers a compact, multi-storage option. It features space for dumbbells on both sides and the central shelves. The rack combines durable construction with good functionality with the different storage options giving you more choice in the type of dumbbells you can store.
It's made from durable, commercial-grade steel that can withstand heavy loads of up to 400 lbs. The steel is reinforced with a black powder coating that reduces scratching and protects the rack from rust.
The space-saving design of the rack allows you to free up gym space for other equipment. It measures 27" L x 8" W x 21" H and weighs only 14 lbs, making it easy to move around when needed.
The Marcy DBR-56 Dumbbell Rack comes with a limited 2-year warranty.
Positives:
Multiple storage options
Slim space saving design
Small price point
Could be better:
No rubber feet protection
Powerblock was founded in 1993, originally as a small building in Owatonna, Minnesota. The original brand idea was based on the observation that a full set of dumbbells took up way too much space at home.
After years of research, Powerblock designed fully-adjustable dumbbells and dumbbell storage equipment, to give home-gym users much more room whilst still having a wide range of weights at their disposal.
The Powerblock team consists of different professionals who believe in a lifestyle that includes health and fitness. The brand is committed to producing and supporting Powerblock products.
The Powerblock Large Column Dumbbell Rack is designed specifically for the Powerblock adjustable dumbbells and is designed at a height to make picking up the dumbbells easy and convenient.
The Powerblock rack is a convenient way to adjust the Powerblock dumbbell at a comfortable height. It can handle up to 90 lbs and stands at 28" tall, 22" wide, and 18" long.
It has an adhesive tray on each side that helps to keep the dumbbells in place. In the middle of the rack is additional storage space for the Powerblock 2.5 lb weights.
The stand is compatible with the Sport EXP, Powerblock EXP, Pro EXP, Pro 50, and Elite 50 dumbbell sets. It comes in either silver or black.
Positives:
Convenient storage option
Non-slip mats
Simple design
Could be better:
Plastic base
Bowflex states that for over 30 years they have set the standard for home fitness equipment. Founded in 1986, they started developing innovative ways to bring gym-quality results into the home.
The Bowflex team is made up of fitness pros, beginners, ex-athletes, and normal people. The brand aims to create fitness products that achieve results as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Bowflex has designed a convenient storage option that is made specifically for certain Bowflex dumbbell sets. Included in the rack is a built-in media rack and towel bar to add to the workout experience. The media rack fits most smart devices and allows you to listen to music or follow along with your favorite workout.
It’s constructed from heavy-duty steel and weighs 31 lbs, making it easy to move around when needed. Despite the lightweight construction, it can hold up to 115 lbs which is plenty for the Bowflex dumbbells range.
The rack is ergonomically designed to help protect your lower back, giving a convenient height storage option. The rack sits at 25" tall, 27" long, and 26" wide.
The clever rack design makes it a good choice to fit in the corner of your gym whilst taking up a relatively small space. It’s made for the Bowflex SelectTech 552, 560, and 1090 dumbbell sets and included dumbbell straps to keep them securely in place.
The Bowflex dumbbell stand comes with a huge 10-year frame warranty.
Positives:
Media rack included
Compact design
Convenient height for lifting
Could be better:
Dumbbell buckles are awkward to use
Founded in 2012, BalanceFrom has become a leading supplier of fitness equipment. The company founder was frustrated with the quality of current gym products so decided to form BalanceFrom and create his own.
Initially creating a scale, BalanceFrom expanded to start manufacturing weights, yoga mats, racks, and storage equipment. The brand aims to provide high-quality, affordable gear for home gyms.
The BalanceFrom 2-Tier Dumbbell Rack features practical angled shelves so you can easily pick dumbbells from the rack. The shelves are very spacious, providing you with lots of room for ample space between dumbbells.
Constructed from heavy-duty commercial grade steel, the unit has two free weight storage racks, weighs 50 lbs, and can handle up to 600 lbs. For the rack weight this is a great amount of rack capacity. The spacious rack shelves are angled to make picking up the dumbbells much more practical and prevents you from catching your hands.
Once assembled the rack stands at 32" tall, 20" wide and 35" long, making it suitable for most home gym spaces.
A big benefit of the BalanceFrom rack is that it comes with 100% satisfaction support and a 2-year BalanceFrom warranty. It comes in yellow and black.
Positives:
More practical shelf angle
Spacious shelves
Good customer support
Could be better:
Only available in 1 color
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Dumbbell Rack Types
There are several types of dumbbell racks available to buy online. The different rack types include A-Frames, Dumbbell Trees, Horizontal Shelves, and Staggered Shelves. Each rack varies in construction, design, and features.
A-Frame Dumbbell Rack
A-Frame dumbbell racks are shaped like an ‘A’. They feature dumbbell storage racks up both sides of the A and are a good space-saving rack option if you have limited home gym space.
Dumbbell Trees
Dumbbell Trees are similar to A-Frames but instead feature more of a staggered design, like the branches on a tree. Dumbbell Trees are wide at the bottom and narrow at the top, offering another great space-saving option.
Horizontal Dumbbell Shelves
These dumbbell racks come in a variety of sizes which usually determines the weight capacity. Compared to A-frames and dumbbell trees, they are designed to hold a larger weight capacity but are usually much bigger.
This makes Horizontal Dumbbell shelves ideal for those who have more gym space and need to store a larger amount of weight.
Vertical Dumbbell Shelves
Vertical dumbbell shelves are dumbbell racks that go straight up instead of out horizontally or at an angle. They feature vertical dumbbell racks and can often hold a decent weight capacity despite their smaller footprint.
Vertical dumbbell shelves are designed to fit in smaller gym spaces with lots of height.
What to Look For in a Dumbbell Rack
Construction
Dumbbell racks need to hold a decent amount of weight for long periods. Therefore, the materials used and the quality of construction is an important factor.
Most racks are made from steel, but they come in different thicknesses (gauges). The steel thickness will affect the durability and amount of weight the rack can hold. When purchasing a rack, 14-Gauge steel is considered good quality.
Space
Another important factor to consider when choosing a rack is your available space. Dumbbell racks are designed to be efficient storage solutions, saving valuable gym space. Make sure to check the rack footprint against the available space you have at home.
If you have limited space, look for a space-saving design that doesn't need much floor space. Whilst a compact rack may be a better option, it won't be able to hold as much weight as a full-size rack can. Also, make sure the rack is deep enough to hold bigger dumbbells.
Rack Versatility
Whilst most dumbbell racks are designed to hold primarily dumbbells, some feature options to store medicine balls, weight plates, and barbells. If you have other gym equipment you want to store efficiently, look for a rack that has these storage features.
Some racks also have rubberized feet to protect your gym floor, angled shelves to make weight access easier, and wall brackets for support.
FAQs
How much weight can a dumbbell rack hold?
The amount of weight a dumbbell rack can hold depends largely on the construction and design. Dumbbell shelves constructed from thicker steel will be able to hold a much bigger load. Horizontal dumbbell shelves often feature a bigger footprint but are designed to hold more weight when compared to vertical or other rack types.
Some higher-quality dumbbell racks can hold up to 1000 lbs, providing a great storage option for a lot of dumbbells.
How do I choose a dumbbell rack?
When considering what dumbbell rack to choose, first decide the purpose that you need it for and your available budget. Once you've figured this out, consider the amount of weight you need to store, your available home gym space, and other gym equipment you may have.
Is a dumbbell rack worth it?
Dumbbell racks are definitely worth it. They offer a convenient way to safely store your dumbbells, giving you space to buy other equipment or move around easier.
Purchasing a dumbbell rack for home-gym set-ups also helps to increase the lifespan of your weights and looks good.
Which Dumbbell Rack is the Best?
There are many great dumbbell stands available to buy online. The best choice for you depends on your home gym space, amount of dumbbells you need to store, other workout equipment, and available budget.
The Marcy 3-Tier Dumbbell Rack is my top pick Dumbbell rack. It's durable, versatile, and available at a great price.
The Rogue 3-Tier storage system is a great choice for a garage gym. If you want a space-saving rack design, go with the CAP Barbell A-frame dumbbell rack.
If you've got more money to spend, the Eleiko dumbbell rack is my premium pick.
What do you think of the dumbbell racks I've reviewed? Do you want more home gym space? Let me know down below!
Also read:
References:
- Benefits of A Dumbbell Rack // Fitness Avenue:
https://www.fitnessavenue.ca/blog/post/2019/03/18/why-you-need-dumbbell-rack
My name is Ihor and I have been a professional weightlifter since 1996. With over 20 years of competition experience, my resume includes European Champion in 2009 and the silver medalist at 2011's Senior World Championships – 105kg division.
I competed at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.
After hanging up my own competitive lifting shoes, I decided to share my huge background as a coach. I am currently coaching multiple athletes who are competing at national and international competitions.
Torokhtiy Team
Hi @Paco!
Dumbbell racks can be a worthwhile investment if you’re serious about your weightlifting routine. They help you keep your dumbbells organized, easily accessible, and prevent clutter in your workout space. Additionally, having a dedicated rack can also help protect your dumbbells from damage and extend their lifespan. However, if you only use a few lightweight dumbbells, it may not be necessary to invest in a rack. Ultimately, it depends on your specific fitness goals and needs.
Paco
Are dumbbell racks worth it?
Lily
With regular training, the Marcy DBR-86 3-Tier dumbbell rack stand is a fantastic addition to my home gym setup. The angled racks make it easy to place and grab the dumbbells, while the three-tier design gives me plenty of storage space without taking up too much room. The rack’s sturdy construction easily handles heavy weights, and the powder coat finish protects it from rust. I highly advise this dumbbell rack stand for any serious weight lifter. The only downside is that it has a slightly larger footprint than some other racks, but the extra storage space makes up for it.