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A power rack is the most important part of a home gym. But how much will one set you back? I’ve looked at a lot of racks and their prices and here’s what you can expect to pay.
An entry level power rack will cost from $230 to $350. A mid-range cage costs from $350 to $700 while High end racks costs $700 up to $1300 or more. Most people will be best served with an entry level rack that costs about $300. Unless you lift really heavy (500lbs+), a more expensive rack is not necessary.
What can you expect from differently priced racks and do you need this? Keep reading to find out. Or you can click here to find my favorite.
| Image | Brand | Model | Load Limit | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Titan Fitness | T-3 | 1100 LBS. | Buy on Amazon |
  | Fitness Reality | 810XLT | 800 LBS. | Buy on Amazon |
How Much Does A Power Rack Cost?
There are roughly three price levels; entry level, mid-range and high end. All these prices points are for just the power rack without add-ons, without current discounts and without shipping costs.
I’ve only looked at power racks with 4 upright posts. There are bigger racks with more posts available and in general they are significantly more expensive.
Entry Level Power Rack Prices
The cheapest power racks cost roughly $230 – $350. For that amount of money you’ll get a basic rack without any bells and whistles.
A rack like this will have 2” x 2” upright posts. This will be strong enough to support up to about 800 lbs. Production tolerances and quality control are often not as good as with more expensive products. This can cause racks to not fit perfectly and not feel as solid as you’d like.
Adjustment options are limited and add-ons might not be easy to get although there are a few brands that actually provide really good support.
In the entry level there is actually quite a bit of difference in quality between the different brands and models. Even within this range, you get much more rack for $350 than you do for $230.
Mid-Range Power Rack Prices
For a mid-range rack, you can expect to pay $350 to about $700. Manufacturers can go in two directions with the extra production budget.
Some producers put the extra money in a stronger construction while other give you extra features. And of course there are some who do a little of both.
The upright posts are often 2”x3” giving a definite strength advantage over the smaller 2”x2” ones. Combine this with stronger hardware and you’ve got a rack that should be much sturdier and can handle more weight. Looking at the ratings this is true with most of these rack rated from 700 lbs. to 1200 lbs.
You can also expect a few more features like more adjustability, better/more add-ons and a nicer look.
High End Power Rack Prices
The high end power racks can be purchased for $700 to $1300+. This is where you get everything you could wish for. All the features, super sturdy and heavy duty construction, great fit and finish and also a really cool look.
These racks will stand up the super heavy lifting all day every day for many, many years. They have enough options to keep everyone happy.
The upright posts are often 3” x 3” creating a super strong rack that can easily hold well over 1000 lbs. without issues. There is more adjustability for the hooks and pins. Because of the stronger steel and construction, there can be more holes in the posts without compromising the strength of the rack. The holes are often numbered to make it easy to get the adjustment right on both sides.
The fit and finish will be on spot. Where cheap racks might have bigger tolerances, causing a rack to become slightly wobbly, on a high end rack you shouldn’t expect any of that. It’ll all be super tight, strong and stable.
High end rack makers also spend some time on making their products look great. Often there are choices for colors and different configurations. Of course for all the add-ons you have to pay a price that is in line with the base price of such a rack.
Power Rack vs. Squat Stand?
Power racks can get pretty expensive but do you need something that costs $1000+? As always, that depends on your budget but especially what you do in your home gym.
- How heavy do you lift?
- How ‘risky’ do you lift?
- How hard handed do you re rack the weight?
The most important is how heavy you lift. While cheaper racks are rated for 700 lbs. or even more, actually racking that weight on most of the entry level might not make it feel too solid. It might hold it, but you won’t feel really secure if you might have to drop the weight.
A power rack is mainly there for safety. If you’re not feeling absolutely sure your power rack can hold the weight if you fail a lift or have to put it down hard, it’ll subconsciously limit your lifts. Realistically, if you’re lifting under 500 lbs. and the rack is bolted down, it’s not going to be a problem.
Looking for a great rack for a great price? Click here to find my favorite home gym rack.
If you’re lifting heavier or are planning to in the future, it’s worth it to pay the +-$100-$150 for a sturdier rack. For that extra money you can get something that’s stronger but still has limited features.
The extra money will give you thicker steel, bigger hardware and often a better looking rack as well. The stronger construction will give you a stronger rack that moves less when you put heavy weight on it, even if you put the bar down hard. This will give you more confidence while lifting.
Most people that lift seriously but not extremely heavy, an entry level rack that’s around $300 will be a great choice. Such a cage can support more than enough weight for most lifters.
If you’re really lifting heavy, 500-600/ lbs. or more, I’d step up to a rack that’s on the higher end of the mid-range or lower high end. Meaning roughly $600 – $900. For that amount you get a rack that is super solid and can handle plenty of weight, even for the strongest lifters. Being a very strong lifter also means you’ve been doing it for a long time and will likely be training for a long time after. So you might as well get something that will last you for a very long time and leaves nothing too be desired. Sure you can get something even nicer if you pay $1300 but you really hit a point of diminishing returns.
Related questions
How tall is a power rack? The average height of a power rack for home use is 84” The majority of power racks ranges from 81” to 86” although some are as tall as 91” or as short as 71.5”. Getting a lower power rack doesn’t have many drawbacks as long as the person using it doesn’t hit his/her head on the top bar.
Suggested post: How tall is a power rack?
How wide is a power rack? The vast majority of power racks is 46” to 49” wide. 49” is the widest a power rack should be since this allows you to rack a normal length barbell. There are narrower racks (44”) that can be used with shorter barbells.
