The pull-up is undoubtedly the most effective upper-body bodyweight exercise in existence. It’s well-known by now that if you want a roadmap back, it should be a staple in your routine. Whether you have access to a gym or not, it’s never a bad idea to have some type of pull-up bar in your home.
One of the best options is a pull-up bar stand or free-standing pull-up bar. These come in many shapes and sizes and have a few advantages over the doorway or wall-mounted bars. For example, you can place them almost anywhere, and don’t have to worry about breaking door frames or falling on your butt while exercising. Not to mention, if you don’t have the technical know-how to set-up a wall-mounted variation; this is the perfect option.
It’s also important to note that many of the options that you’ll see on this list offer much more than a bar to perform pull-ups. There’s everything from power towers to power racks, and multi-functional freestanding bars.
Check out these top-rated freestanding bars currently available on the market.
- Relife Rebuild Your Life Power Tower – Buy here Editor’s Choice
- Cap Barbell FM905-Q Power Rack/Squat Stand – Buy here
- Fitness Reality X-Class Power Tower – Buy here
- Fitness Reality Power Rack – Buy here
- Relife Rebuild Your Life Dip Stands – Buy here
- Yoga Body Trapeze Stand – Buy here
- Sportsroyals Power Tower – Buy here
- GoBeast Pull-Up and Dip Station – Buy here
- Stamina Power Towers – Buy here
- KT KHANH TRINH Foldable Pull-Up Bar Stand – Buy here
- Body Champ Power Rack – Buy here
Editor’s Choice- Relife Rebuild Your Life Power Tower
Power towers are some of the best pieces of training equipment simply because of their versatility. This one from Relife Rebuild Your Life is one of the most popular options on the market. It has an angled pull-up bar with dips bars, a leg raise station w/ an adjustable backrest, and armrests, push-up bars, and another adjustable bar between the frame for other uses. The suction cup bottom ensures stability during your workouts and the stand is height adjustable for all sizes.
Overall, this is a fantastic power tower.
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Product features
- Height adjustable for all sizes: 58.5-89 inches
- Adjustable armrest: 20.47-22.44 inches
- Adjustable backrest: 7-9.6 inches
- Basic power tower features/stations
Pros
- Improved design
- Adjustable height
- Adjustable backrests and armrests
- Holds up to 330 lbs
Cons
- Few concerns about product quality
Weight capacity: 330 lbs
Also check out these 10 Best Power Towers Reviewed for 2024
Cap Barbell FM905-Q Power Rack/Squat Stand
A more robust option from a well-known company, this pull-up bar is more like a power rack stand that you can use for anything. It has barbell pegs or J-cup catches so that you can bench presses, squats, rack pulls, rows, and it’s also equipped with plate holders for convenient loading and unloading.
Not to mention, the implant is made from 11 and 12 gauge steel tubing that will stand up to a whole lot of activity.
Product features
- Barbell pegs/supports
- Plate holders
- 85″ height
- 46 inches wide and 50 inches deep
- Durable powder coat finish
Pros
- Great for barbell training
- 500 lb weight capacity
- Various color options available
Cons
- Will take up a little more space than other options
- Few concerns about assembly and design quality
Weight capacity: 500 lbs
Fitness Reality X-Class Power Tower
The Fitness Reality X-Class was our top power tower pick in our review of best power towers; we certainly think it’s worth it for what you get. It offers multiple pull-up handles that allow you to use different grip angles and not to mention, the pull-bars are on the opposite side of the dip bars which is very convenient and provides more room to move around.
What makes this machine unique is that there are adjustable handlebars that you can take out and insert at various heights on the power tower. This opens up tons of possibilities. For example, you can use them for inverted pull-ups/rows which is ideal for those who may not be strong enough to do a basic bodyweight pull-up. And, it has foam rollers to elevate your feet or tuck your feet under to do sit-ups.
The angled backrest and armrests also improve comfort during leg raise variations which is a great feature too.
Product features
- Double-sided design
- 83″ tall
- 2 adjustable bars with foam rollers to train at various heights
- 3-position adjustable stability beam
- Multi-angle pull-up grips
Pros
- Double-side use
- Multi-grip handles offer more versatility
- Adjustable bars allow for many exercise options
- 400 lb weight capacity
Cons
- Few complaints about assembly
- Thin grip bars
- Not height adjustable
Weight capacity: 400 lbs
Fitness Reality Power Rack
If you need a power rack for more heavy-duty use and from the same quality company of our previous mention; this will do the job at a reasonable price point. It has some awesome features, one of which is safety bars so that you don’t need a spotter for the heavier lifts. In fact, it has an 800lb weight capacity which is suitable for almost any use of this power rack.
It has an adjustable pull-up bar and a landmine attachment that completely changes the game as there are so many amazing exercises that you can do with this setup. T-bar rows and landmine presses come to mind; that are amazing back and chest/shoulder exercises respectively.
The width of the frame is compatible with barbells that have a 46 inch (collar to collar) grip width.
This is a great value in our opinion.
Product features
- Adjustable to 19 height levels
- Safety bars
- J-cup catches/barbell pegs
- Resistance band attachment
- Elevated push-up bar
- Height adjustable pull-up bar (78 inches or 81 inches)
- 19. 5-inch long spotter arms
- Weight plate holders
Pros
- Feature-rich
- Landmine attachment
- Comes with tools
- 800 lb weight capacity
Cons
- Will require decent space
Weight capacity: 800 lbs
Relife Rebuild Your Life Dip Stands
These are more like inverted pull-ups bar(s) designed for bodyweight dips but the perfect choice when you can’t do a basic pull-up. The bar legs attach together for more security while training and you can do a ton of different exercises.
Plus, it’s height-adjustable and the foot covers are also adjustable so that you can fix any shakiness while exercising. The 4-hole legs/rods are also easily adjustable using a knob which makes things a bit easier.
Product features
- Height adjustable: 31.11-35.04 inch
- Handlebars Distance: 20.1-26.8in
- Connecting rods join bars together
- Double bar design
- Stability feature/non-slip rubber feet
- Soft handles for optimal comfort
Pros
- Height adjustable
- Better quality than other similar options
- Perfect for those with less upper body strength
Cons
- Several complaints about missing assembly instruction
- Few concerns with the design quality
Weight capacity: 300 lbs
Yoga Body Trapeze Stand
This is definitely not an option for everyone but it certainly stands out from the rest. It’s a trapeze bar that is ideal for multiple uses including pull-ups, hanging a punching bag, swinging, hammocks, and more. It’s great for indoor and outdoor use. It can also be put together in minutes by a few people.
Product features
- Size & Specs: 9.8 ft (3 meter) wide x 9.8 ft (3 meter) deep x 9.8 ft (3 meters) tall. 59.7 lbs (27.1 kg) weight.
Pros
- Easy assembly
- Great for indoor or outdoor use
- Multi-use design
- Supports up to 600 lbs
Cons
- Heavy to carry around
- Few complaints about assembly process
- Not ideal for short ceilings
Weight capacity: 600 lbs capacity
Sportsroyals Power Tower
The Sportsroyal power tower was also featured in our best power towers review and it’s a bestseller.
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It’s equipped with a basic straight pull-up-chin-up bar, dipping bars, and a leg raise station. You can also do push-ups with the base handles.
The “T” frame provides more stability with 8 anti-slip foot covers to prevent sliding during any form of intense exercise. It’s a very rugged design that offers everything you’d need to get a good bodyweight workout.
Product features
- Adjustable height: 64.5-88.1 inches
- 43.2-inch long size H-shaped base offers more loading points
- 1.2-6.7″ adjustable backrest
- “T” frame and 8 anti-slip foot covers for stability
- Adjust backrest (7 positions)
- 10-degree tilted armrests
Pros
- Adjustable height and backrest
- Ergonomic armrests add comfort and improved functionality
- Supports up to 400 lbs
Cons
- Few complaints about assembly/design
Weight capacity: 400 lbs
GoBeast Pull-Up and Dip Station
The Go Beast pull-up station is much more than just a pull-up bar. In fact, you can do over 35 exercises and it only weighs 20kg/44 lbs and comes with a carrying bag to easily tote it around. So whether you’re going on a vacation, want to train in the good outdoors, or prefer to train at home; this is a great option.
Product features
- Multi-workout design
- Downloadable instruction manual
- Carrying bag w/ strap
- 190cm pull-up bar height
- 115cm dip stand height
- Gap in between inner bars for more move ability
Pros
- Multi-functional/ over 35 exercises
- No tools needed
- Easy to assemble
- Only takes 2 minutes to dismantle
- Used and trusted by personal trainers
Cons
- May be too heavy for some to carry around
- Only supports up to 150kg/300lbs
- Few complaints about assembly
Weight capacity: 300 lbs
Stamina Power Towers
Stamina power towers offer a few different variations of these popular workout stands. The basic version (1690) comes with the necessities (pull-up bars, dip bars, push-up bars, and foam rollers for sit-ups. Then if you want the next tier up you can have a padded back cushion, longer dip bars, padded loops for hanging leg raises, and a curved pull-up bar for multiple grip angles.
Product features
- Various pull-up grip angles
- Dip station
- Pushup bars
- Anti-skid end caps
Pros
- Different versions available
- Lightweight design
- User height up to 6’6″
Cons
- Few complaints about stability
- No backrest and forearms bars for leg lifts
- Only supports up to 250 pounds
Weight capacity: 250 lbs
KT KHANH TRINH Foldable Pull-Up Bar Stand
This bar was designed by a pull-up pro for extensive use and it’s foldable and portable. You can swing from it, do kipping pull-ups, and more, and you can rest assured that it’ll hold up to anything. It supports heavy and tall users.
It’s super durable with a high-quality frame and the non-slip rubber pads keep you in place. The wide handles allow you to emphasize certain back muscles better and the form grips provide comfort during exercise.
It’s a unique design that is probably the best option for the pull-up enthusiast.
Product features
- Height adjustable: 76.7” to 100.4”
- Foldable design
- Foam handle grips
- Non-slip rubber pads
Pros
- Good for taller people too
- Great for swinging, kipping pull-ups
- Foldable/space-saving design and portable
- Supports up to 485 lbs
Cons
- May be too heavy for some people to move around (63.9 lbs)
Weight capacity: 485 lbs; max load capacity: 771.6 pounds
Body Champ Power Rack
Rounding out our list of best pull-up bar stands is another power rack from the company Body Champ. It has an angled knurled pull-up bar to ensure you maintain a firm grip with sweaty hands. It’s also perfect for barbell squats with 2 sets of pegs and comes with plate holders too.
One thing that really stands out with this stand is that it has built-in floor anchors if you want to mount it for maximum stability during training. This is a great option for the more hardcore exercisers who cannot afford to have any little instability.
Product features
- 82″ height
- 2 sets of pegs to hold a barbell
- 2 weight plate holders
- Knurled grip pull-up bar
- Built-in floor anchors
- Rubberize feet prevents sliding
Pros
- Great for barbell exercises like squats, bench press, etc
- Plate storage option
- Mountable for maximum secureness
Cons
- Few design flaws
- Only holds up to 300 pounds
Weight capacity: 300 lbs
How To Choose A Pull-up Bar Stand
There are a few things to consider before purchasing a pull-up bar stand.
Budget
First, you want to consider your budget. You can sacrifice certain features and still get a solid option that won’t break the bank. But the great thing about many of the options available on the market is that you can get a few useful features at a very affordable price. Obviously, the more features you want the more the unit will cost but you’ll have to weigh your options.
Design/features
What features are you looking for? You obviously want a pull-up bar (otherwise you wouldn’t be here). But other common features that are extremely useful are dip bars/hanging leg raise station. These features are more common with power towers and typically cover the basics.
There are also other excellent features that may cost you a little more, but that will also provide you with more options that you can really appreciate, especially if you take training seriously and don’t want to train at a gym or just prefer to train from home. Something like a power rack stand that allows you to do various barbell exercises and still do your pull-ups is a great option in this case. Plus, you can train heavy without a spotter.
Then you have other features that improve comfort and functionality such as an angled backrest and forearms support pads, adjustable height feature, and a double-sided setup that allows for more room to train.
Also, don’t forget to check the weight capacity of a pull-up bar stand. You want to feel safe and confident that you can perform your exercises without the thing breaking on you!
Size
How much space do you have to accommodate a pull-bar stand? If you have decent space or use your garage as a gym; the power rack might be your best option if you want to train with heavy poundages. But if you already have a power rack or a weight set, power towers and any of the options on this list make a great addition to any home gym.
You also have to consider the height of an individual and the adjustability of a pull-up bar stand. Make sure to check the product description for size and compatibility. You want there to be room for your head to move above the bar so also make sure your ceiling is high enough to accommodate your setup.
Quality
We always recommend buying from reputable companies that have a good track record of making acceptable products. You also want to purchase from companies that will make things right if they’re not, especially because you’re dealing with machined parts. So you want to know that you’ll receive a replacement if needed or your money back due to a poor experience. We consider this when making our picks.
Related: 10 Best Pull-Up Bars On The Market in 2021
FAQs
What's the best type of pull-up bar?
There is no “best” pull-up bar but rather, there are different pull-up bar variations that serve a specific use.
Why should I choose a pull-up bar stand instead of a doorway pull-up bar?
Most pull-up bar stands come with more features, are more versatile, and you don’t have to worry about weak door frames breaking or the bar slipping and falling on your butt. You also don’t need a door frame.
Are pull-up bar stands more expensive?
Not necessarily because remember, a pull-up bar stand can include power towers, and dipping bars too. But if you want more features and better quality, they can get pricey.
Can I build a lot of muscle using just a free-standing pull-up bar??
You can build an impressive back and biceps however, to reach your muscular potential, you’ll need to add weight over time to keep progressing (e.g., weighted backpack, weighted belt, or hold a dumbbell between your feet).
Wrapping Up
Our list of 11 best pull-up bar stands offers something for everyone and is composed of some truly great and useful options that range from power towers, to basic free-standing pull-up bars, dipping bars, and power rack stands. Choose one that you feel is best suited towards your goals and efforts and consider the buying guide to make the best possible decision.
Have any questions about our best picks or want to share your favorite option? Leave your comments below. Also check out our list of 13 Best Home Gyms Reviewed for 2024.
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