The 7 Best Half Racks On The Market in 2023

A half rack is essentially half the size of your traditional squat or power rack.

At first glance, getting one might not seem like a good idea until you weigh out the pros:

• It takes up less space
• Generally costs less money
• It works equally as well for most people

The question is, which is the best half rack in 2023, and what factors should you consider before making a purchase?

Let’s explore the seven best options on the market today and review all the related information.

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The 7 Best Half Racks For Your Home Gym In 2023

1. Best Half Rack: Rogue HR-2 Half Rack
2. Runner-Up Best Half Rack: Titan X-3 Tall Squat Stand + X-3 Half Rack Conversion Kit
3. Best Half Rack On a Budget: CAP Barbell FM-8000F Deluxe Power Rack
4. Best Premium Half Rack: Fitness First Half Power Rack
5. Most Customizable Half Rack: REP Fitness Apollo Rack Builder
6. Best Folding Half Rack: Rogue RML-3W Fold Back Rack
7. Best Half Rack With Weight Storage: Sunny Health & Fitness Power Zone Half Rack

1. Best Half Rack: Rogue HR-2 Half Rack

Despite being a half rack, the HR-2 is an impressive product by Rogue Fitness. It comes with a relatively compact footprint of 48” by 49”, which is a great way to save space, but it is also large enough to provide decent stability during your training.

Rogue rarely disappoints in design, and this product is no exception. It comes in all black and has a rugged look that makes it a pleasure to own.

To make your workouts even more flexible, the HR-2 comes with a pull-up bar. You can use it for pull-ups, chin-ups, hanging knee raises, and many other effective workouts. If you want to make your half rack more useful, slap a Rogue dip bar on it.

The only real drawback of the product is its price, but Rogue is synonymous with quality, which means the half rack will last for many years, even under heavy use.

You can read my review of the HR-2 half rack here.

2. Runner-Up Best Half Rack: Titan X-3 Tall Squat Stand + X-3 Half Rack Conversion Kit

Despite its mixed reputation among gym enthusiasts, Titan Fitness has made some great products, and the X-3 squat stand combo is one prominent example.

First, the obvious drawback:

Titan Fitness doesn’t offer a half rack you can order and have shipped to your home. Instead, you must purchase two products (the squat stand and conversion kit) and make them into a usable half rack.

Fortunately, that’s no big deal. Sure, it feels like extra work, but it isn’t. The only difference is that you must add two items to your cart. Besides that, the assembly process doesn’t differ much from any other half rack you decide to get.

Like the HR-2 half rack by Rogue, the one by Titan Fitness comes in black and comes with their standard pull-up bar for a more varied training experience.

Thanks to the hole spacing, you can set the J hooks at the perfect height for every exercise. Specifically, the holes are an inch apart in the bench and clean pull zone and two inches apart above and below.

Plus, the squat stand and conversion kit cost $572, which is a good deal for such a good half rack. You can order the conversion kit with four weight plate holders, which I recommend if you don’t have a weight plate stand.

Storing weight plates on your half rack would make it sturdier and reduce the risk of instability when racking or unracking a loaded barbell.

3. Best Half Rack On a Budget: CAP Barbell FM-8000F Deluxe Power Rack

CAP Barbell FM-8000F is the perfect budget solution for everyone looking to get a decent half rack at an affordable price. The half rack has a 49” by 43” footprint, which means it doesn’t take up much space but is still durable, even on intense sets.

In terms of design, it is rather minimalistic, with a pair of upright beams connected by a foundation and a straight pull-up bar on top. You can pick from several colors, including blue, grey, green, and red.

The half rack features three band holders (pegs) on both sides near the bottom, which you can use as anchor points for band exercises or loop over your barbell for power training.

For added versatility, the FM-8000F has a weight plate holder on each side, making it easier to organize your training equipment. Plus, storing plates on the rack would make it heavier and sturdier, which is an added benefit.

The bar catches are rated to hold up to 300 lbs, so this will generally be a good half rack for beginners and intermediate-level lifters. Folks beyond that point might want to look elsewhere.

4. Best Premium Half Rack: Fitness First Half Power Rack

The half rack by Fitness First is genuinely awesome. It is compact enough to fit inside a smaller gym but large enough to feel spacious while doing a set. The rack is also quite sturdy and is rated to hold up to 500 lbs (227 kg).

In addition to the J hooks for your barbell, the half rack comes with a pair of adjustable spotter arms that keep you safe when training solo. You can adjust the hooks and spotter arms to the perfect height and feel secure even on your heaviest sets.

The rack’s pull-up bar is also unique and offers two grip options: inner handles at a slight angle, perfect for chin-ups, and angled outer ones, ideal for pull-ups.

On top of that, you get six weight plate holders (three on each side), which is quite practical and makes the half rack even sturdier.

There’s also a loop on top of the rack, right behind the pull-up bar. You can use it to tie your suspension kit or resistance bands for greater training flexibility.

The only real drawback of the half power rack by Fitness First is the price––$1650 at the time of writing.

5. Most Customizable Half Rack: REP Fitness Apollo Rack Builder

REP Fitness is a company that provides a ton of customizability for many of its products, and the Apollo Rack is no different.

Here are some of the things you can customize before placing an order:

• Rack height - 80” or 93” (203.2 or 236.2 cm)
• Upright colors - four options
• Crossmember colors - seven options
• Weight plate holders (optional) - five on each side
• Pull-up bar - pick between multi-grip, globe-grip, and some standard options
• J-cups to hold the barbell - 4 options

You can also pick attachments:

• Dip bar
• Landmine
• Spotter arms
• Band pegs

Of course, each addition bumps the price, but you get plenty of options to put together the ideal half rack for your home gym.

A fully specced-out Apollo half rack will cost well over $2,000, but you can cut the price in half by only going with the mandatory additions.

6. Best Folding Half Rack: Rogue RML-3W Fold Back Rack

Mounting a squat rack to the wall isn’t an option for everyone, but it can be a fantastic way to save space, especially if you get one that folds, such as the RML-3W by Rogue Fitness.

As with any of their products, the folding half rack is a high-quality product with a fantastic design. It comes in all black and features a large Rogue logo on both brackets you install on the wall.

The tricky part is installing it on the wall, but most users report that the job is relatively straightforward. If you haven’t done anything like that, hire a professional. It costs extra, but peace of mind and safety are well worth it.

In terms of use, you can fold the rack in both directions, depending on your preference. Folding it in means the footprint is smaller, but since it is against the wall, it won’t take up much space either way.

Unfolding the half rack is also straightforward. You have safety latches on the bottom and top and adding the pull-up bar in-between also takes about 30 seconds. As a whole, folding and unfolding don’t take much time, which means you’re free to jump straight to your workouts and go about your day once you’re done.

When installed correctly, the RML-3W is incredibly sturdy and should be able to support well over 500 lbs.

7. Best Half Rack With Weight Storage: Sunny Health & Fitness Power Zone Half Rack

The Sunny Health & Fitness Power Zone Half Rack is another excellent solution for everyone looking to save space without sacrificing functionality. It only costs around $550 but provides many advantages you would get from more expensive products.

For one, it is incredibly durable and made of high-quality materials. It is rated for up to 1,000 lbs (454 kg), which is enough for anyone.

Second, it has a great design and an interesting pull-up bar that offers three height options.

Third, it comes with three weight plate holders on both sides, making it easier to organize your weights, even if you don’t have a weight stand in your home gym. Plus, adding weight on top would make it even more stable.

Still, this is a half rack, so be careful when racking a loaded barbell after a heavy set. It can rock if you slam the bar against the uprights hard enough. Be careful and always put safety first.

The half rack features three resistance band pegs on both sides (near the bottom). Use these as anchor points for resistance band exercises or loop bands over a barbell for extra resistance.

Half Rack vs. Full Rack: Which One Should You Pick?

The primary difference between a full and a half rack relates to their dimensions. A full rack is larger, sturdier, and generally has a higher weight capacity. It also typically features a square footprint.

In contrast, a half rack is smaller, less stable, and cannot always support as much weight. It has a rectangular footprint, which largely affects its stability.

Both offer unique benefits and drawbacks, so let’s look at some of them now. 

Full Rack

Pros:

• It is stabler
• It can generally support more weight
• It comes with spotter arms to catch the barbell if you fail a rep
• Offers more options for upgrades: landmine attachment, pulley system, etc.

Cons:

• It is generally more expensive
• It takes up more space
• Some models still need to be bolted to the floor for optimal stability

Who should get one:

A full rack is typically the better option, and you should consider one if you:

• Are serious about strength training
• Have enough free space in your gym
• Can afford it

Half Rack

Pros:

• It is generally less expensive
• It takes up less space
• It can be just as versatile as a full rack
• It allows for spotter arms and other safety features to be added
• It can support a decent amount of weight, enough for most trainees

Cons:

• It might require bolting to the floor to be stable
• It generally can’t support as much weight as a full rack
• It doesn’t come with many options for upgrades
• You probably have to buy spotter arms separately

Who should get one:

Buying a half rack generally means settling for slightly less, but that doesn’t mean the training experience has to suck.

You should get a half rack if:

• You enjoy traditional strength training
• You don’t have as much space at your home gym for a full rack

Best Half Rack Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Should I get a half rack or a full squat rack?

Refer to the previous point in this guide. I’ve done my best to break down the information in a simple format to make it easier for you to decide which option might be better.

2. Can I have equally as good workouts using a half rack?

In most cases, yes. A half rack is typically a more compact version of a full rack, so there’s no reason you wouldn’t be able to have productive workouts.

Most products come with adjustable J hooks (or similar), an option to add spotter arms, and a pull-up bar.

3. Do I have to bolt my half rack to the floor for stability?

It comes down to preference and what half rack you decide to get. In some cases, it’s good to bolt your rack to the floor for added stability. But if you don’t want to damage your floor or go through that hassle, consider a half rack with a bigger and stabler base, such as the Rogue HR-2 Half Rack.

4. Are there any significant drawbacks of a half rack?

Here are three drawbacks to keep in mind if you decide to purchase a half rack:

• Smaller size
• It could be less stable than a full rack
• It might not hold as much weight as a full rack

Best Half Rack: Conclusion

Half racks come with unique benefits and drawbacks. Because of their smaller size, they might not feel as stable and could support less weight.

But on the plus side, a half rack is more compact, works just as well as a full rack for most people, and can even come with weight storage.

The above are 7 of the best half racks on the market in 2023, but it is always best to do your research before making a purchase.

Here are a few similar lists:

• The 8 Best Budget Power Racks, Cages & Squat Stands (2023)
• The 6 Best Powerlifting Belts For 2023
• The 8 Best Adjustable Dumbbells Sets On The Market (2023)
• The 7 Best Dip Bars On the Market In 2023