The Best Budget Power Racks – Quality yet Affordable Cage Options

Any serious workout enthusiast will tell you that a power rack plays an important role in helping you achieve your fitness goals. Power racks offer plenty of benefits, including the freedom to diversify your workouts. 

Unfortunately, power racks can sometimes be quite expensive.  Finding a cheap power rack that provides all of the standard safety features you expect in a quality cage can be a daunting task.

To help you in your search for an economical rack, I have compiled a list of the best budget power racks on the market.  As I review each of these racks in detail below, you'll see that these cages are reputable, versatile, and cheaper than 90% of comparable cages on the market.  

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Budget power rack comparison table

You can click on any of the product links in the comparison table below to quickly check their price.

How to purchase a quality rack on a budget

Power racks can be pricey, but they are a crucial piece of gym equipment for people looking to safety lift at home.  As such, it's common for people with home-based gyms to pursue a cheap power rack that gets the job done.

Here are a couple factors to consider when searching for a reputable, yet economical power rack.

Define your must-have power rack features

Power Rack Must Haves

To find the cheapest power rack that can fulfill your specific needs, you first need to know what you require in a rack. For a home-based rack, I think that most important features you should consider are stability and reputation.

A power rack is no good if it shakes and sways during usage.  Above all else, you want your cage to be study so that it can adequately protect you during lifting.

Also, just because a rack is cheap doesn't mean it's cheaply made.  But for inexpensive racks, you definitely want to check customer feedback to be sure it has stood-up to scrutiny.  As such, I link to the customer feedback for every rack in this review.

Target a base rack that is easily extensible

Start with a small power rack

Sure, it'd be great to purchase a cheap power rack with tons of extras out of the box.  But that's just not realistic if you're pinching pennies.

Most low-priced power racks are standard cages with maybe one or two extra features.  As such, if you start with an affordable power rack that is bare-bones (and I think you should if you're on a budget), it's important to target a rack that can be extended in the future to include any add-on accessories that you deem important.

Remember that safety is #1 when lifting alone, so there is nothing wrong with buying a cheap, basic cage when getting started.  For lifters looking to save a few bucks, I think starting with a bare-bones power rack is your best option.  Then purchase add-on features as your budget allows. 

The most affordable power racks for lifters on a budget

TDS is another solid brand that has been in business for more than 20 years, designing racks that help you train with maximum intensity. It was founded by weightlifters who understand what it takes to make quality gym equipment. 

This power rack from TDS aptly fits this bill as it can conform to compact spaces, yet boasts a 1000 lb weight capacity.  With 31 adjustment safety holes (each numbered with large, bold text), it has the best flexibility of any rack in this review when it comes to bar placement.

The designers at TDS got the details right with this high-quality, yet affordable power rack.  All of those outstanding customer reviews can't be wrong. 

What I Like...

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    Highest weight capacity in this review
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    Many, numbered safety bar positions
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    Lifters will appreciate the attention to detail
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    Designed to support many attachments

Not so much...

  • Some customers report paint can chip easily

CAP Barbell is famous for its range of quality strength training equipment. What makes this company different that they consistently manufacture affordable equipment without compromising quality. 

The is a full 7 ft cage constructed entirely of over-sized steel tubing.  It also features a powder-coated finish that will protect the rack during heavy usage.

My favorite feature of this rack (besides the fact that it is extraordinarily inexpensive) is its floor attachment holes.  By anchoring this cage to this floor, you can be certain there is no swaying during usage.  

What I Like...

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    Powder-coated finish for added protection
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    Anchor holes add extra stability
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    Most affordable power rack in this review
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    Available through Amazon Prime

Not so much...

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    Low weight capacity on safety bars (300 lb)

This budget power rack from Best Fitness combines value and quality to give you one of the most popular (and cheapest) power racks for strength training.  Like the cage from Cap Barbell, this rack has a durable powder-coat finish.  However, it has a capacity of up to 500 lb.

This rack doesn't come with anchor holes for securing it to the floor.  But customers report it is a sturdy cage that can easily accommodate 300+ lb without moving.

It should also be noted that this cage can be extended to support lat and dip attachments.  For trainers on a budget, you'd be hard-pressed to go wrong with this cage from Best Fitness.  

What I Like...

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    Can be extended with lat & dip attachments
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    Rack is super-simple to assemble
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    A sturdy cage that doesn't sway
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    Impressive reviews for such a basic rack

Not so much...

  • No anchor holes

This affordable rack from Fitness Reality has fantastic customer reviews and a couple interesting features.  It's also available through the Amazon Prime program.

One feature that I love about this cage is the multi-position, overhead pull-up bar.  This bar style allows you to target specific muscle groups not possible with a standard, straight bar. 

I also like the fact that this rack is extra wide.  This makes getting into and out of the cage very easy.  If you're looking for a cheap rack with unique features and an above-average weight capacity, this could be the cage for you.   

What I Like...

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    Multi-position pull-up bar adds versatility
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    A budget power rack with above-average weight capacity (800 lb)
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    Lots of optional add-on attachments

Not so much...

  • Pull-up bar could make rack too tall for some ceilings

My pick for the best budget power rack

I chose the TDS power rack as the best budget cage because of its attention to detail.  This isn't the cheapest power rack in this review, but it is the most extensible. 

TDS is a company founded by weightlifters, so it only makes sense that they would produce a quality power rack with sensible features:

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    Many large, numbered safety holes
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    The highest weight capacity in this review
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    Support for extensive add-on accessories

Most importantly, this budget rack is priced modestly and won't break the bank.

About the Author Brad Pinch

I started building a home gym out of necessity following my divorce. I quickly learned that I could build-out a complete workout space for cheaper than it would cost me for a multi-year gym membership. I enjoy trying out new equipment and evaluating different products to expand my gym and learn more about home-based workouts.

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