In this article, I've picked the 7 best squat racks for small spaces. I've methodically reviewed each one, looking at stability, versatility, quality, space, and value for money and ranked them so you can make a good addition to your home gym.
When it comes to setting up your home gym, a squat rack is a vital piece of equipment. With a squat rack, barbell, weight plates, and a weight bench, you can perform a big variety of exercises designed to build strength and power at any experience level.
Squat racks allow you to lift more safely, store your lifting equipment and accessorize them to make a true home gym. They vary in size, design, and attachments, making choosing the right one a hard choice.
If you're like most people and you have limited home gym space, you need to factor all these elements in before buying. In this article, I'll take you through the best space saving squat racks available. Let's take a look at my top 7 best squat racks for small spaces.
Top 7 Best Squat Racks for a Small Space Reviewed
1. Top Pick: SML-1 Rogue 70" Monster Lite Squat Stand
Founded in 2006, Rogue fitness has grown from a small garage to over 1400 team members globally. Their equipment has been extensively tested, being the official supplier of the CrossFit games, the World's Strongest Man competition, the Arnold Strongman Classic, and the USA weightlifting team.
Rogue is a world-leading manufacturer of strength and conditioning equipment, including squat racks, dumbbells, barbells, weight plates, and accessories. The brand aims to provide affordable home workout equipment for athletes at any level.
- Height: 72"
- Width: 49"
- Depth: 48"
- Working Area: 49x48"
- Footprint: 72x49x48"
- Rackable Capacity: 1000+ lbs
- Product Weight: 122 lbs
- Material:
11-gauge steel uprights
11-gauge steel base tubes - Finish: Black powder coat with Rogue logos
- Number of Racks: 1
- Hole Spacing: Westside
The SML-1 Rogue 70" Monster Lite Squat Stand gets my top pick for the best compact squat rack. It's compact and durable and has a really small footprint, perfect if you're wanting a high-quality squat rack that will fit easily into smaller home gyms or tight corners.
The rack is manufactured in the USA using US steel. It features two heavy-duty 11-gauge 3x3" steel uprights and 2x3" steel base tubes for stability. The frame is held together using SAE grade 5 bolt hardware.
The high-quality steel construction means the rack can hold 1000+ lbs of weight, more than most racks using thinner steel. The rack weighs 122lbs for the full package.
The rack stands at just 6 feet tall and has a 49x48" footprint, making it perfect for smaller home gym spaces with low ceilings. The westside hole spacing is 1" through the bench and clean pull zone and 2" above and below. The westside spacing allows precise placement of the J cups and spotter arms if you need to use them.
The rack is finished in a black powder coat and features the Rogue logos on each side of the safety arms. It can easily be combined with accessories like spotter arms, wheel brackets, and floor mounting feet, making it easier to store and safer to use.
Each Rogue squat rack is individually inspected at each stage of the manufacturing process to check that it meets quality standards before being sold.
Once in use, the SML-1 is guaranteed for life by Rogue.
Positives:
Small space-saving design
Quality steel construction
Westside hole spacing
1000+ lbs rackable capacity
Could be better:
Can’t be used with certain accessories
Need to purchase attachments separately
2. Runner Up: Rogue RML-3W Fold Back Wall Mount Rack
Another high-quality low profile squat rack from the Rogue brand is the RML-3W Fold Back Wall Mount Rack.
- Height: 90.4"
- Width: 56.2"
- Depth: 21.5 - 41.5"
- Working Area: 24.75/43.75 x 56.2"
- Footprint: 24.75/43.75 x 56.2"
- Rackable Capacity: N/A
- Product Weight: 163-190 lbs
- Material: Two 3x3" 11-gauge steel uprights
- Finish: Black powder coating
- Number of Racks: 1
- Hole Spacing: Westside
The Rogue RML-3W Fold Back Wall Mount Rack gets my pick for the best folding squat rack. The unique design allows the rack to be folded inwards or outwards using a hinge and pin system that's easy to install whilst maintaining the build integrity. When put away, the rack takes up less than 5" of space from the wall.
The folding rack is made from heavy-duty 3x3" 11 gauge steel uprights, held together by SAE grade 5 bolt hardware. The rack weighs 163 or 190 lbs depending on what package you choose.
The fold-back rack is available in 2 depths, 21.5 and 41.5". Both depth sizes fold easily in or outwards against the wall, with a slight overlap when using the longer size. For most gym setups, 21.5" is the better choice with the 41.5" set up used to perform more dynamic movements.
The rack is 7.5 feet tall and has a footprint of 25x56" if using the standard arm attachment. There is 2" on-center westside hole spacing above and below the bench/pull area. The J cups can be easily attached where needed.
Each Fold Back Rack comes with a quick-attach pull-up bar, 4 mounting brackets, and the necessary hardware. The rack can be used as a small squat rack, pull-up rig, and power rack.
The rack is finished in a black powder coat and can be bought alongside optional Rogue stringers that help to mount the top and bottom brackets.
Once in use, the RML-3W is guaranteed for life by Rogue.
Positives:
Unique fold away design
Multiple possible uses
Quality steel construction
Two arm length options
Could be better:
Stringers sold separately
No mention of rack capacity
Titan Fitness aims to follow one rule - to provide customers with the highest quality of customer service. They want to build the brand by making sure each customer has a positive experience.
The company manufactures a wide range of high-quality strength and strongman equipment, including squat racks.
- Height: 82-91"
- Width: 42"
- Depth: 20.5-40.5"
- Working Area: 42x20.5/40.5" (depending on model)
- Footprint: 82/91x42x20.5/40.5" (depending on model)
- Rackable Capacity: 1100 lbs
- Product Weight: 123 lbs
- Material: 2x3" 11-gauge steel
- Finish: Black powder coating
- Number of Racks: 1
- Hole Spacing: Westside
The T-3 Series Folding Power Rack manufactured by Titan Fitness is an excellent wall-mounted option giving you the functionality of a small power rack with a small footprint. The folding rack is offered in short and tall models with 2 depth options of 21.5 and 41.5" and folds flat against the wall.
The compact power rack is constructed from heavy-duty 2x3" 11-gauge square steel uprights with reinforced J hooks. The bottom of the uprights are finished with UHMW plastic.
The T-3 series can hold 1100 lbs of weight and weighs 123 lbs for the full package. The rack stands at 82 or 91" depending on the model chosen, giving you different options depending on your home gym space.
The rack features westside hole spacing throughout, 2" above and below the pull zone, and 6" side hole spacing through the entire upright. The unique pin and hinge rack system allow the rack to be folded 5" away from the wall when not in use.
It comes with a 1.25" single pull-up bar and a 1-year warranty upon purchase.
Positives:
Space saving design
Lower price point
Offered in 2 models
Holds 1100 lbs of weight
Could be better:
No branding
Need to purchase some attachments separately
Founded in 2012, REP Fitness was founded by two brothers with a passion for fitness who saw a need to provide high-quality fitness equipment at affordable prices.
The brand focuses on exceeding customer expectations when it comes to innovation, customer service, and value for money when purchasing high-quality gym equipment.
If you're looking for the best space saving power rack, REP fitness might have the answer.
- Height: 72"
- Width: 58"
- Depth: 48"
- Working Area: 44.1x26"
- Footprint: 72x44.1x26"
- Rackable Capacity: 700 lbs
- Product Weight: 123 lbs
- Material: 2x2" 14-gauge steel
- Finish: Black powder coating
- Number of Racks: 1
- Hole Spacing: 2"
Manufactured by REP Fitness, the RP-1050 Short Power Rack is a high-quality, mini squat rack designed for small spaces and low ceilings. The rack is 6 ft tall and 4" wide and deep, giving it a really small footprint.
Constructed from 2x2" 14-gauge steel uprights, the rack can handle up to 700 lbs of weight and weighs 123 lbs.
The upright holes are spaced 2" apart, giving you a wide range of barbell height options. Each hole is numbered to provide a reference point for quick height adjustments. The J-cups are lined with plastic to protect the barbell from scratches and rust.
The rack includes chrome-coated safety bars that can hold an extra barbell, rear base weight horns to hold weight plates, and 1.25 and 2" pull-up bars.
The rack is compatible with a wide variety of attachments, including dip bars and landmine attachments, providing a wide range of workout options.
The power rack comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Positives:
Very small footprint
Numbered J-cup holes
Compatible with a wide range of attachments
Extra barbell and weight plate spaces
Could be better:
Limited warranty
Rackable capacity missing
Another high-quality product manufactured by world-leading brand Rogue making my top 7 best squat racks for small spaces is the RML-90Slim Rack.
- Height: 90.4"
- Width:
- Depth: 15"
- Working Area: 49x15"
- Footprint: 90x49x15"
- Rackable Capacity: N/A
- Product Weight: 165 lbs
- Material: 3x3" 11 gauge steel
- Finish: Textured black
- Number of Racks :1
- Hole Spacing: Westside
The RML 90-inch slim rack manufactured by rogue combines a simple and efficient design to create a minimal footprint, with the front face of the uprights extending just 15" from the wall.
The rack is constructed from two wall-mounted Monster Lite uprights using 3x3" 11-gauge steel. The uprights can be attached to the wall using the 4 bracket or crossmember mounts provided, with the latter allowing a range of attachment options.
The slim rack is well suited to most home and garage gyms, standing at 90.4" tall with a minimal footprint, extending just 15" from the wall with the crossmount bracket option.
The westside hole spacing is 1" through the bench and clean pull zone and 2" above and below. The rack comes with a pair of Monster Lite J cups and UHMW plastic feet, designed to protect the home gym floor.
The rack can be further customized by adding a 43" single pull-up bar and Rogue stringers that feature the Rogue branding.
The rack is finished in a textured black coat and comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Positives:
Small footprint from the wall
Different mount options
Customizable
Solid steel construction
Could be better:
No mention of rackable capacity
Stringers need to be bought seperately
Titan Fitness manufactures a wide range of strength and strongman equipment, priding itself on offering exceptional customer service at every level of the supply chain.
- Height: 91/102"
- Width: 42"
- Depth: 12,18 and 24" options
- Working Area: 42x12/18/24"
- Footprint: 91/102x42x12/18/24"
- Rackable Capacity: N/A
- Product Weight: 113-152 lbs depending on model
- Material: 2x3" 11 gauge steel
- Finish: Powder-Coated black
- Number of Racks: 1
- Hole Spacing: Westside
The T-3 series space-saving rack aims to give the functionality of a power rack with a super small footprint and comes at a very small price to match. The rack is available in various models, giving a wide range of options for different sized gym spaces.
Constructed from 2x3" 11 gauge square steel uprights, the rack comes with 4 brackets and uses mounting bolt hardware to firmly secure it to the wall.
The T-3 series comes in short and tall models and has 3 depth options of 12,18 and 24", providing a good range of choices to suit different home gym spaces.
The rack has laser-cut keyholes spaced 2" on the center and westside hole spacing throughout the front of the uprights and sides.
Included are two reinforced J-hooks with UHMW plastic and a 1.25" single pull-up bar.
Positives:
Short and tall models
Three depth options
Low price point
Adjustable pull up bar
Could be better:
Need to buy hardware separately
No mention of rackable capacity
Rounding out my Top 7 best squat racks for small spaces is the RML-90Slim Door Mount Fold Back Rack produced by Rogue.
- Height: 90.4"
- Width:
- Depth: 13"
- Working Area: 49x13"
- Footprint: 90.4x49x13"
- Rackable Capacity: N/A
- Product Weight: 170 lbs
- Material: 3x3" 11-gauge steel
- Finish: Black texture powder coating
- Number of Racks: 1
- Hole Spacing: Westside
The RML-90Slim Door Mount Rack is a fold-back version of the 90'' slim rack and features a rather unique split-stringer design, allowing the unit to be mounted around a door frame.
Without a wall behind the rack, users can perform more dynamic exercises such as kipping pull-ups and add a weight bench, not possible with most standard racks.
The rack offers the minimal depth of the Slim rack and uses the same hinge and pin system as the foldback rack whilst opening up a range of workout options by taking away the back wall.
The split-springer rack design is compatible with 28,30,32 and 36" standard door widths and is best utilized on a frame without a door.
The door mount rack features two 3x3" 11-gauge Monster Lite uprights with protective UHMW plastic feet. The 19.5" split-stringers mounting the uprights around the door are made from 11-gauge steel and can be adjusted in 2" increments.
The rack comes with black zinc mounting hardware, bright zinc bolts for the hinge brackets, and a set of standard Monster Lite J-cups.
The Monster Lite adjustable pull-up bar that is included attaches with a pin and swing down method. This locks the bar into position and makes disassembling easier following a workout.
The rack is finished with a texture black powder coat and comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Positives:
Split-stringer door design
Folds flat against the wall
Adjustable pull up bar
Could be better:
No mention of rackable capacity
Numbered uprights cost more
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How to measure your gym space correctly
Before purchasing a squat rack for your home space, there are some factors that you need to take into account to make sure it's suitable for the space you have available.
You want a space that allows you to move freely and perform the exercises you want to do. This makes measuring your gym space correctly very important.
Height
This is probably the most important consideration when purchasing a squat rack. Most home gym ceilings are constructed to suit a standard person's height with some home gym spaces featuring extra small ceiling heights.
When measuring the height of your gym space, make sure to take into account what you'll be using the squat rack for. Alongside the height of the squat rack uprights, decide if you want to use a pull-up bar attachment and if you will be performing standard or kipping pull-ups, both of which means you'll need extra height allowance.
Some squat racks feature short and tall versions that may suit your space better depending on your ceiling height.
Depth
Depth is an equally important consideration when measuring your home gym space. The depth of a squat rack is the amount of space you need for the squat rack to fully extend out from the wall or suitable for a door frame.
Alongside the depth of the squat rack, consider the space you need to perform the gym exercises correctly and safely. This means you'll need to add a certain amount to the rack depth measurement at both the back and front.
Whilst most squat racks are built with consistent depths, some are purposely designed with a smaller footprint and can fold inwards or be placed over a door. Some brand models also have shallower depth options that can be chosen upon purchase.
Width
Most squat racks have a universal width of 45-48". When measuring your gym space, make sure to consider the width of your barbell, as this is likely to extend further out at both sides. Olympic barbells can be as wide as 7+ feet. When measuring the width of your workout space use the length of your barbell plus extra room for loading your weight plates and the movement of the bar.
How to pick the best compact rack
Type
Power racks
For most, power racks are the most common type of rack. They are known to be versatile and very safe due to the often numerous built-in safety features.
They usually come with multiple add-ons, making them suitable for a wide variety of exercises.
Squat racks
Squat racks are similar to power racks but primarily designed for squat variants and bench presses. Squat racks are typically made for you to walk in and out of the rack without spotter arms.
The addition of a pull-up bar has now become very popular with most lifters.
Folding racks
Folding racks are a newer type of squat rack that feature a unique design. The hinges allow you to fold the rack flat against the wall when not in use, making them a great option for those who need to use the gym space for other activities.
Wall-mounted racks
Wall-mounted racks usually consist of two metal uprights that mount to a wall and may be separated by a pull-up bar. Wall-mounted racks can also be folded and mounted around a door, reducing the footprint and saving space in a smaller home gym.
Available space
Probably the most important factor that needs to be considered when choosing a squat rack is the amount of space you have available vs the footprint of the squat rack.
As I mentioned above, when measuring your home gym space there are certain factors to think about. Consider what you will use the rack for, how much space you need to perform the movements correctly and safely, and the extra width of your barbell.
Metal quality
Make sure you take the metal quality into account and check the rackable capacity before purchasing. If you're a higher-level lifter, you'll likely need a large rack capacity that some smaller racks won't support.
Racks constructed from thicker steel usually go up to 1000 lbs, which should be plenty for most lifters. If the rack is constructed from better quality materials, it's likely to be more durable and stable.
Adjustability
Squat racks can often be adjusted as needed. Consider the hole spacing on the uprights, important when setting the J-cups at the correct height. Most racks feature 2" hole spacing which allows the rack to be correctly adjusted as needed.
Some racks are also available in shorter or taller models and different depth options suitable for different exercises.
Additional features
Squat racks are now used for much more than just squatting. Some models come with pull-up bars, landmine stations, dip attachments, and plate storage areas, allowing a variety of exercises to be performed and making storage more convenient.
FAQ
What can I use instead of a squat rack?
If you don't have a squat rack, you still have plenty of suitable equipment options to choose from. Dumbbells, Barbells, Sandbags, and Kettlebells can all be used effectively to work your lower body in a similar way a squat rack would.
Holding a Dumbbell or Kettlebell in a goblet position, performing single-leg dumbbell squats, and using a sandbag on your back are all suitable alternative options.
How much space is needed for a squat rack?
The space needed depends on the specific squat rack dimensions and features. Once you have your dimensions, measure the space in your home gym and allow a little extra to get into your squat position.
Consider the height of your rack and room, especially if your rack features pull-up attachments. You also need to think about the width of the barbell and if you're able to load and unload weights easily with enough space.
How far from the wall should a squat rack be?
When deciding how far your rack should be from the wall, consider the dimensions of the weight plates when loading them onto the rack and what type of movements you'll be doing.
Most wall-mounted racks have the options of 21.5 and 41.5 inches of wall room, making these good starting points if using a stand-alone or other rack type.
Which Squat Rack is the best?
The addition of a space-saving squat rack to your home gym space is a great idea if you're looking to take your home workouts to the next level. The different rack designs now available to buy allow a variety of exercises to be performed and cater to different gym spaces and lifter needs.
If you're looking for a well-designed squat rack for your small gym space, the SML-1 Rogue 70" Monster Lite Squat Stand gets my top pick.
What do you think of the squat racks I've reviewed above? What's your favorite design and why? Let me know down below.
Also read:
References:
- 15 essentials for the home gym // Financial Times:
https://www-ft-com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/content/7290e15a-a183-4d73-b50e-144942f057b2
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.