4 Best Doorway Pull Up Bars Of 2023 (From A Gym Owner)

If you’re looking for a doorway pull-up bar, but unsure which one is best for a price within your budget, you came to the right spot. 

There are a mind-numbing amount of options at different price points that lead you feeling…overwhelmed.

Not to worry, I have you covered. 

I’m a personal trainer and I’ve been a gym owner for well over a decade–so if there’s one thing I know (and I know really well), it’s gym equipment like doorway pull-up bars.

In this review, I outline 4 unbelievable options at different price ranges to fit your budget, and I guarantee that after you’re done reading, you’ll know which pull-up bar is best for your needs. 

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In A Rush? Here’s The Top Option I Highly Recommend

If you’re in a rush and don’t want to read on, the top pick for me is this one from Titan Fitness. There’s zero installation, it’s small and if you use it properly, perfectly safe. For less than $25 it’s a great item to own. Lots of grip variety makes it truly versatile.

If you want to learn more and see the other great options, read on…

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How I’ve Reviewed These Doorway Pull-up Bars

When doing a doorway pull up bar review, there’s a lot of similarities between them, so I’m looking for the nuances. I’m considering build quality, ease of installation, security (you don’t want to end up on a YouTube fail video), price, maximum user weight, price and grip variety.

These are the factors that will separate the good from the bad. There’s a lot of cheap garbage on the market, so anything in this list is good quality and you can trust it’ll do the job for you.

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Our #1 Pick Titan Fitness Extreme Over The Door Pull-Up Bar – Excellent quality, value and versatility

In a home gym each item of equipment has to punch above its weight – either in terms of versatility or value. The Titan Fitness Extreme Over-The-Door Pullup Bar does just that. It’s a simple set up and super easy to use.

Unlike many other pull up bars, there’s a huge amount of grip variety–it offers multiple overhand, underhand and neutral grips for pull ups. You can also use it for push ups and abdominal exercises too. 

The pull up bar hooks onto the doorway – nothing needs to be screwed in at all, so it’s super simple to set up, requiring literally no DIY skills. It also means there’s no damage to property, so if you rent your place, you won’t have to explain the bizarre holes in the doorways!

It costs less than 25 bucks and it’ll support 300LBS, so it’s suitable for a wide variety of wallets and physiques. Just one word of caution–it’s not secured with screws, so could come loose if doing kipping pull ups. 

It maintains a 100% 5-star review score, so others who have bought it are fans as well (I’m not the only one).

Pros

• Great price
• Fantastic construction
• Unrivalled versatility
• No DIY skills required
• Free shipping

Cons

• Not suitable for kipping pull ups

Verdict

Titan has come up trumps again with this doorway pull up bar. It’s affordable, well made, effective and suitable for lots of uses. It’s also super convenient because it doesn’t need to be screwed in, which is a major attraction.

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Our #2 Pick – Tikaton Pull Up Bar – Quick To Assemble, Includes Suspension Straps For Versatility

This bar from Tikaton is a unique doorway pull up bar in the sense that it doubles as a suspension trainer anchor. It’s a simple idea but an effective one–I’m surprised nobody else had thought of it earlier!

There’s multiple grip options, which I like. The other major benefit is the fact it’s a hook-on doorway pull up handle rather than a screw in, which means it’s a rental place and DIY novice friendly. With a max user weight of 440LBS it’s seriously built too.

The major draw remains the versatility though. By using the straps, you can turn this pull up bar into a genuine all-body workout tool, all for less than $60. It’s never going to replace the rest of your home gym, but it’s so versatile, light and easy to move that you could legitimately take this away on a domestic vacation to give you workout options whilst away!

Not being secured with screws means it’s not the most secure for kipping, plus it’s over double the price of the Titan offering. Still though, it’s a great option for a home gym and is well reviewed, which isn’t common at this end of the market…

Pros

• Includes suspension trainer straps
• Fantastic construction
• Unique versatility
• No DIY skills required

Cons

• Not suitable for kipping pull ups
• More than double the price of the Titan

Verdict

If you’re short on space or budget, you could combine your need for suspension training with your pull up bar! The Tikaton bar is sturdy, won’t blow the budget and doesn’t need to be secured – a great combination.

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Our #3 Pick – APRIXIATE Pull Up Bar – Easy To Use, Non-Slip Grip

The APRIXIATE Pull Up bar is a simple bar, but what I like about it is that it has a couple of quirky features that make it stand out from its competitors. 

The first one is that it has a mini bubble level meter inside, so you can adjust it to make sure it’s perfectly level. This is a nice little touch that will ensure your bar (therefore your training) will be balanced. It doesn’t require any screws, so again is a very simple installation and great for rental properties.

With the APRIXIATE  bar being so easy to install, it can be adjusted up and down a doorway to different heights really quickly and easily, so it’s much more than just a pull up bar – you can use it for ab work, push ups and stretching too. It’s a versatile bar in that sense.

The concern with a bar that is wedged in a doorway is that it’s more likely to slip, but this bar gets around this problem with a unique half-arc structure. Basically, as the weight pulls on the bar, the pressure is distributed outwards, making it even more secure. It can take 440LBS at its upper limit, so is suitable for pretty much everyone. 

Pros

• Easy installation
• Strong – high max use weight
• Can be adjusted up and down easily
• No DIY skills required
• Won’t damage door frame

Cons

• Only a straight bar, so limited grip versatility
• Not cheap

Verdict

The simplicity of the APRIXIATE is both a blessing and a curse – it’s a blessing in that it’s easy to install and easy to move up and down the door frame. It’s a curse in the sense that it lacks the grip versatility of others. That being said, it’s a good bar at a mid-range price point.

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Our #4 Pick – PERLECARE Pull Up Bar – Very Strong, Cheap To Buy

In all honesty there’s not a great deal that separates numbers 3 and 4 in this review, you could rearrange them either way. The PERLECARE bar came in fourth on account of it being thicker than the APRIXIATE, which might make it slightly less comfortable for users with smaller hands. 

That being said, it’s a super strong bar–by far and away the strongest I’ve reviewed here. You could argue the 660LB limit is overkill, but if it gives you extra peace of mind it’s worth it. I also think it’s a testament to the build quality of the PERLECARE bar.

In terms of usability, it’s not going to break new boundaries, it’s just a well made, straight bar. It has the same benefits and limitations of the APRIXIATE bar, the only difference being the thickness might be an issue for the users with smaller hands. If a small woman or child is likely to be using the bar, opt for the APRIXIATE. If not, it’s a toss up (but this one is 11 bucks cheaper).

The drill-free installation and the easy adjustability are plus points too. Uniquely for a pull up bar, the whole thing is rubberised, which could be an issue if you prefer the feel of the metal. Still, it’ll make it more comfortable if you use it for stretching.

Pros

• Super strong – huge max user weight
• Non-slip set up
• Can be adjusted up and down easily
• No DIY skills required
• Won’t damage door frame

Cons

• Only a straight bar, so limited grip versatility
• Fully rubberised, so doesn’t offer any difference in feeling

Verdict

The PERLECARE Doorway Pullup Bar is simple, strong and does the job well. It’s thick and sturdy, so won’t be out of place being used by even the biggest, strongest guys out there. It’s thick grip will be better suited for men or women with bigger hands, so think carefully about the user before buying this. That being said, it’s a useful bar and won’t break the bank.

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Why I Love Using Doorway Pullup Bars–And You Should Too

Legendary strength coach Dan John refers to ‘greasing the groove’ exercises – movements that are always useful to practice daily, just to maintain an ability to do them. 

One of those is pull ups. A simple way to include pull ups into your daily routine is with a doorway pull up bar. I have one at home. It’s in my office doorway, so I don’t have any excuse to not use it. 

On days when I’m working at my desk, I make a point of doing 5 pull ups each time I walk in and out of my office. When you include drinks, lunch, toilet trips or whatever, I may accumulate 50-100 pull ups throughout a long working day.

It helps to offset the sitting on my butt for hours at a time, that’s for sure.

A doorway pull up bar is a useful addition to a home gym. It’s perfect if you don’t have the room or the wall quality to hang a wall-mounted pull up bar (hang one of those on drywall and you’ll be taking a trip to the doctor a few seconds later!)

There’s a bunch of doorway pull up bars on the market, and it’s important that you understand the qualities of each and what kind of assembly/installation is required before you make a purchase… Because picking the wrong one can cause big headaches! (reference hilarious 20 second pullup bar fail below)

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What To Look For In A Doorway Pullup Bar

Consider these features before you click that by button – you don’t want to make an expensive mistake!

Hanging mechanism 

Some doorway pull up bars hook over the door frame, some grip the insides of it, others need to be screwed in. Make sure you look at how it hangs before you buy, because if your place is rented, your landlord might not be too happy about the holes in the door frame!

Max user weight 

If you’re a big guy, or have a big guy in your family who is going to use the bar, take a note of the max user weight. Most bars will allow at least 300LBS, but check before you buy.

Ease of movement 

If you’re buying a straight bar that grips the insides of the door frame, see how easily it can be moved up and down to increase its usability. The ones in this review are easy to adjust, making them functional.

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Doorway Pull Up Bar Verdict

Considering all of the above, I think the Titan Fitness Extreme Pull Up Bar is the one to go for. It’s the cheapest of them all reviewed here, but it gives you a lot of different grip options, hangs up in a second, can be taken down in a second when not in use.

It’s got a pretty low max user weight at 300LBS, but that’s still plenty for most people who will be using a doorway pull up bar. For a touch under 25 bucks you’re buying a functional item of home gym equipment that can give you a quick, easy and cheap pull up bar option.
In my opinion, I prefer wall-mounted or ceiling pull-up bars, but if budget or walls don’t allow, any one of these bars on this list will give you a good quality pull-up option.

If you’d rather build your own pullup bar, you’ll find some great ideas for little to no cost in our article: 9 Creative Ways To Build A DIY Pullup Bar

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Still Unsure Which Option Is Best For You? Here’s The Recap, Based On Our Testing & Research

• Titan Fitness Extreme Pull Up Bar: Best for value and versatility. This pull-up bar offers great value, super easy installation, and lots of versatility.
• Tikaton Pull Up Bar: Best for quick installation. This pull-up bar is quick to install, doesn’t need DIY skill and includes suspension trainer straps.
• APRIXIATE Pull Up Rar: Best for easy installation. This pull-up bar is easy to install, quick to adjust up and down the doorframe and has a good max user weight.