Top 4 Folding Wall-Mounted Folding Squat Racks Comparison Guide

Contents

Folding squat racks have changed the game for the home gym market. Over the last decade or so they’ve allowed people to build a home gym you would never have been able to in the past.

As with all things home gym related though… How do you know if you’re buying the right folding squat rack for your needs?

In a world full of poor quality home gym equipment, it takes an experienced eye to spot the quality. Buy a garbage squat rack and your home gym experience will be ruined. Not only will it be hell to use, it’ll be a nightmare to install and won’t make your workouts any fun.

Don’t worry though, I’ve got you covered–I’ve owned a gym for over a decade now, and trust me–I know my folding squat racks.

In this article I’ll run you through the best options on the market, why I think the ones I chose are excellent and the top things to look for when buying your folding squat rack.

By reading the article I’ve written below, I guarantee you one thing: you’ll be an informed buyer and you’ll be able to buy the best folding squat rack for you and your needs, not what the manufacturer tells you.

For those who want a quick overview, below is our comparison table:

 
  
 
Best for...
Why we love it
Ratings
Price (from)
Rogue RML-3W Fold Back Wall Mount Rack
Best for... : ROGUE RML-3W
Why we love it : General fitness users
Ratings : Excellent build quality, functionality, fantastic price and user friendliness.
Price (from): 5*
Middle Ground
PR-4100 Folding Wall Mount Squat & Power Rack
Best for... : Folding Wall Mount
Why we love it : Those who need versatility
Ratings : Great versatility and build quality. Compatible with multiple accessories. Very affordable
Price (from): 4.8*
Middle Ground
Titan Fitness X-3 Series Folding Power Rack
Best for... : Titan Fitness X-3
Why we love it : Those on a tight budget
Ratings : Super cheap, but still very well built and easy to use. Very functional
Price (from): 4.6*
Budget Option
Monster Lite RML-390FULLW
Best for... : Monster Lite RML
Why we love it : Powerlifters
Ratings : Rolls Royce of folding racks. Complete with strap safeties so ideal for powerlifters and maxing out
Price (from): 4.5*
Expensive


#1 Pick – Rogue RML-3W Fold Back Wall Mount Rack – Best quality and value

Folding Squat Rack
Features
Our rating
Rogue RML-3W
product-image
Rogue RML-3W
Features
  • Amazing build quality
  • Great price – starting at $505 for a commercial-grade rack
  • Excellent functionality – opens and closes easily, has Westside hole spacing
  • Easy set up, solid when up
Our Rating
Our #1 Rated
5 out of 5
Rogue RML folding squat rack

If you’re a general gym user and want a great value, high quality and compact squat rack that does everything you need and more, stop your search. You’ve found it. Rogue have been making great racks for years and with this, I think they’ve hit the sweet spot with build quality, functionality and value.

The Rogue RML-3W Rack is built with 3×3” 11 gauge steel uprights, matching what you’d find in a lot of commercial gyms. They’re built like a tank and will be more than capable of withstanding anything you can throw at them during use. They’re around 7.5’ high, so high enough to be useful, low enough to fit in a compact space. Most men will have to adapt pull up technique though.

They’re super functional as well. They have the quick attach pull up bar, Westside hole spacing and monster J-Cups. If you’re a CrossFitter, weightlifter, powerlifter or general gym user, these racks are perfect for you. You can customise the rack, making it stick out 21.5 inches or 41.5 inches, depending on what you need.

One final point (and I think it’s important, given it’s a folding squat rack)… Rogue have thought about how the rack behaves in and out of use. There are plastic feet to protect the floor underneath, and when the rack is folded back it protrudes only 5 inches from the wall. That’s fantastic, because it opens space back up after use.

I’m not the only one who loves this rack. The reviews here are mind blowing…

Rogue RML Reviews
Rogue RML folding squat rack home gym

Pros

  • Amazing build quality
  • Great price – starting at $505 for a commercial-grade rack
  • Excellent functionality – opens and closes easily, has Westside hole spacing
  • Easy set up, solid when up
  • Sits only 5 inches from the wall when closed

Cons

  • 7.5 feet isn’t high for a pull up bar, so tall users may have to adapt

Verdict

In full transparency, I’m struggling to criticize this rack from Rogue. It’s a great price, it’s well-built, it’s super functional. My only gripe is the low nature of it, but that’s a very small price to pay for something of this quality and it’s an easy workaround. It’s a better, cheaper rack than their RML-3WC, which basically allows you to change the color for well over 100 bucks more. I can’t see there being a better overall folding squat rack than this.


#2 Pick – PR-4100 Folding Wall Mount Squat & Power Rack  Great price and functionality. Excellent value

Folding Squat Rack
Features
Our rating
PR-4100 Folding Wall Mount Squat
product-image
PR-4100 Folding Wall Mount Squat
Features
  • Great build quality
  • Versatile – works with various attachments
  • Great price
  • Excellent functionality – opens and closes easily, has (nearly) Westside hole spacing
Our Rating
Our #2 Rated
4.8 out of 5

One of the things Rep Fitness does really well is value fitness equipment. They seem to have an unrivalled ability to take the important aspects of equipment, discard the fluff and leave you with a high quality, low cost option that suits your needs. This PR-4100 folding squat rack is a great example.

Made from 3×3” 11 gauge steel uprights, it comes complete with a straight pull up bar and (almost) Westside barbell spacing without saying exactly so. Importantly, it’s functional without being fancy. Build quality is excellent as well, so it’ll stand up to whatever you want to throw at it.

What I love about the PR-4100 is the versatility. Even though it’s a folding rack, it’s compatible with the REP PR-4000 Landmine Attachment, PR-4000 J-Cup Options and PR-4000 Dip Attachment. It makes this humble folding squat rack a versatile item of equipment in its own right!

I’ve put this rack in second place simply because REP don’t offer a rack-specific stringer, meaning you have to secure it in place yourself using bolts you buy from a hardware store. Whilst there’s nothing outright wrong with that (it’s cheaper), it does rely on you having some DIY knowledge and not everyone does. It also sits 6.5 inches off the wall, so slightly further than the Rogue rack.

One negative (that isn’t really a negative, but more of a mistake by Rep’s web developers) is that it has no reviews. If you’ve read many of my other product reviews, you’ll know that I value products with great reviews, since it gives validity outside of my own opinion.

But… for some reason, it looks like Rep updated all of their product pages, so now all of their products have 0 reviews.

Honestly weird.

If they hadn’t made a mistake updating their product pages, this one would have significant positive reviews, like nearly all Rep equipment.

Long story short, don’t let the “0 reviews” misguide you. If I were getting a folding rack today, I would get our #1 option from Rogue, but if that happened to be sold out or they discontinued it, getting this one from Rep would be a no brainer.

Pros

  • Great build quality
  • Versatile – works with various attachments
  • Great price
  • Excellent functionality – opens and closes easily, has (nearly) Westside hole spacing
  • Easy fold out

Cons

  • Doesn’t come with a stringer, so you have to source and fit one yourself

Verdict

As a value proposition, the PR-4100 is tough to beat. It’s a great folding squat rack, does exactly what it needs to, can be expanded by using various attachments and folds in and out easily. There’s very little not to like here. If it came with a stringer it’d be fighting pretty hard for top spot. A great rack.


#3 Pick – Titan Fitness X-3 Series Folding Power Rack – Best budget option

Folding Squat Rack
Features
Our rating
Titan Fitness X-3
product-image
Titan Fitness X-3
Features
  • Cheapest price of the racks reviewed here today
  • Different height options depending on the room size
  • Fits very flush to the wall – less than 5 inches protrusion when folded back
  • Westside hole spacing
Our Rating
Our #3 Rated
4.6 out of 5
Titan Fitness X-3 folding squat rack

For those who want fantastic quality on a tighter budget, the X-3 series folding power racks  from Titan are fantastic–and the one you want.

If I was on a tight budget, this is the one I’d be getting.

There’s two very similar ranges that Titan makes, the X-3 and the T-3. I’ve suggested the X-3 here on account of it being the sturdier range. The X-3 is built with 3×3” uprights and the T-3 is built with 2×3” uprights. I don’t think it’ll make a huge difference, but given the price is the same I suggest you go with the thicker rack. The racks are available in a 21.5” or 41.5” depth from the wall. There’s a short (82 inches) and tall (91 inches) model available, and it sits less than 5 inches off the wall when closed down.

In terms of functionality, it shares much of the same features of the other racks. It’s a strong rack, capable of withstanding 1100 LB of weight, which is more than enough for anyone other than King Kong. There’s the standard in-built pull up bar and Westside hole spacing, so it’ll suit everyone. For the price, you can’t really ask for much more.

The rack loses marks for me on account of the fact that they supply no hardware for fixing the rack to the wall, and this is a bit of an issue. That being said, it’s a budget rack and you get what you pay for in life, so if you’re familiar with a drill, you can save the cash and secure it with your own bolts and stringer set up.

Pros

  • Cheapest price of the racks reviewed here today
  • Different height options depending on the room size
  • Fits very flush to the wall – less than 5 inches protrusion when folded back
  • Westside hole spacing
  • Easy fold out and return

Cons

  • Doesn’t come with a stringer, so you have to source and fit one yourself
  • No bolts to secure it with either

Verdict

If you’re looking for a high quality rack at a great price, the Titan X-3 is a no brainer, in my opinion. The only downside is that the installation is trickier here, but for the price, there is no complaining. If I was looking for a quality rack for my home gym built to last, this is the one I’d be going with.


#4 Pick – Monster Lite RML-390FULLW – Best “if money was no object” choice

Folding Squat Rack
Features
Our rating
Monster Lite RML-390FULLW
product-image
Monster Lite RML-390FULLW
Features
  • Compact yet complete rack 
  • Expandable, so capable of being a full home gym, not just a rack
  • Strap safeties included, allowing you to max out lifts
  • Westside hole spacing
Our Rating
Our #4 Rated
4.5 out of 5
Monster Lite RML folding squat rack home gym

There’s a time and a place for luxuries, and your home gym is one of them. If you’ve got the space and the budget, the Monster Lite RML-390FULLW from Rogue is the go-to choice for me. It’s a fully foldable, 30 inch power rack. If you’re serious enough about your lifting to justify the extra money, it’s a top quality piece of equipment.

You might ask ‘if the others are so good, why do I need to buy this?’ And that’s a good question… I can answer it in a couple of ways. 

  1. If my $5 watch tells the time accurately, why do I need an Omega?
  2. Sometimes, there’s a use case for the more expensive item.

If you aren’t blessed with lots of room but are going hard with your lifting, maxing out as you’re a competitive powerlifter for example, the Monster Lite RML-390FULLW is the perfect solution. It offers you a chance to lift in a cage, without the need for the cage to dominate your space after use.

The rack is made from the usual 3×3” 11 gauge steel, so you know it’s fantastic quality. It has the Westside hole spacing and the strap safeties. You can really push to complete failure on your lifts, knowing the rack will have your back. It’s a legit rack with the benefit that it folds away after use. The protrusion off the wall is 6.5” (7.25” if you include the stringer, which I suggest you do). It has the plastic-capped feet to protect the floor etc, so the details are considered.

The rack is compatible with the Rogue Monster Lite accessories, so you can expand it into a complete home gym if you want to – dip bars, landmines and the like. It takes it from a rack to a complete workout solution. You can choose to have the rack powder coated into any one of 12 colors for an extra 100 bucks if that’s your thing.

Monster Lite RML folding squat rack home set up

It’s easy to install and the appropriate fixing hardware is included. It may sound like an obvious inclusion, but in the budget racks the fixing hardware doesn’t come as standard. This small touch may seem insignificant, but it prevents a trip to the store and a further delay in getting your rack set up and working.

The users love it too…

Monster Lite RML Reviews

Pros

  • Compact yet complete rack 
  • Expandable, so capable of being a full home gym, not just a rack
  • Strap safeties included, allowing you to max out lifts
  • Westside hole spacing
  • Easy fold out and return
  • All fixing hardware included as standard

Cons

  • 3X the price of the winner
  • Color adjustment costs $100

Verdict

Sure, there are much cheaper folding squat racks available, but they don’t match the overall package on offer here. There are racks that are as well built, but they don’t include the cage element or the strap safeties. There are racks that offer the accessories, but not the easy installation. Elsewhere you’re making compromises. With this one from Rogue, there’s no compromise. The build quality… excellent. Installation… easy. Functionality… unrivalled.

The trade off is you’re paying top dollar for those benefits. If you can afford it though, I’d urge you to go for it.


What is a foldable squat rack?

A foldable squat rack is a wall-mounted rack that opens out for use, then can be closed in on itself when it is not being used. It’s a space-efficient way of owning a squat rack, because it takes up around 5 inches of room space when folded back. They’re usually significantly cheaper than many other squat rack options.

A foldable squat rack is made from high quality materials, so don’t confuse the lower price point with a reduction in quality. They’re very well made, just smaller than other options on the market.

Foldable squat racks are a perfect solution when you’re short on space at home but would like a home gym. They can transform the function of a room, then allow it to be returned to its original use in a few moments.


Is a folding squat rack worth it?

Absolutely. For a lot of home gym owners, space is a premium and a folding rack allows your garage to be multi-functional. It can help make the decision of whether or not to build a garage gym for you, knowing you won’t lose all of your space to a gym.

With the quality of folding rack construction available to the garage gym owner now, your workout won’t suffer in the slightest. The folding racks are easy to install, are capable of holding plenty of weight, give you a huge variety of workout options and are surprisingly cheap. They’re a complete win/win solution.


Which squat racks are best?

This is purely down to a use case. If you’re in a tight space, the best squat racks are the foldable ones that give you a lot of functionality in a small footprint.

If you’re a competing powerlifter, you might like the specific bar placement available via the Westside barbell spacing and the safety of spotter straps on the rack. If you’re not, that might not be as important to you.

The point is, there’s no ‘best squat rack’ there’s the best one for you and your needs, whatever they may be. There’s an option for everyone out there, so you’ll never be without something suitable. Just shop for quality, functionality and something that suits your space, budget and training style.


How to Choose a Folding Squat Rack  

The internet is full of choice, so what should you be looking for in a folding squat rack? Here’s my go-to guide on what you should be looking for in a rack…

Materials and construction

I wouldn’t look at anything made from less than 3×3” 11 gauge steel. That’s the industry standard – by all means go above that (although it’s completely unnecessary), but don’t bother with anything less.

The companies I’ve mentioned here all make great equipment, but if you decide not to buy from Rogue, Rep or Titan, check out what the construction of the items you want is like if you can. Look at the stability of the racks and pins. Look at the welding quality. Research what the fitness community is saying about the items.

Folding squat rack set up

You’ll see that some brands supply stringers and fixing hardware for their folding squat racks. Some stupply the fixing hardware, but no stringers. Others supply no fixing hardware at all.

Your DIY competency will determine how important this is. If you aren’t comfortable with a drill and you don’t know your nuts from your bolts, ALWAYS buy a folding squat rack with the appropriate fixing hardware supplied.

If you’re comfortable with tools and know exactly what you’re doing, you can save some money and make your own stringer and buy your own bolts. It’s a $90+ saving if you can.

Ease of use

The good news is that all of the folding squat racks reviewed here are super easy to use. They all operate with a version of the pin system, so they fold out and back quickly and easily.

They secure in place in a matter of seconds, then can be folded back out of the way just as quickly. The pull up bars secure on very quickly too, so you can be fully set up and ready to train in a couple of minutes.

Functionality and training style

The type of training you do will largely determine the type and dimensions of the rack you’re going to need. If you’re into general strength training then it won’t really matter so much which one you go for.

If you’re a powerlifter where you’ll regularly be maxing out and want to be lifting in a cage with safety straps, you’ll want a more comprehensive rack like the Monster Lite RML-390FULLW from Rogue.

If you do a lot of CrossFit or need the extra depth for muscle ups or kipping pull ups, you’ll need a rack that can be set to a 41+ inch depth. Trying to do kipping pull ups with only 21.5 inches of rack depth to play with could prove painful!

Buy for what you need, not for what you like.


5 Benefits of a Folding Squat Rack 

If you’re on the fence about buying a folding squat rack, here’s a number of the benefits you’ll get from buying the rack…

1. Unrivalled room versatility

Folding squat racks are perfect for allowing a room to become multifunctional. If you don’t have the space for a gym AND a garage for example, a folding squat rack allows you to have both. Once your workout is complete, fold it back away and use the space for its other purpose. It gives you the ability to make spaces multi-use.

2. Saves Space

We’re going to nail down this advantage because it’s so crucial. You probably don’t have a ton of room to construct your gym. A folding squat rack stays close to the wall — shocker. This means once you have finished your rack work you can fold it back and open up the space for different exercises.

3. Creates a gym you couldn’t have had before 

This benefit is next-level. When you can fit a squat rack into your house, whether it be the garage, a spare bedroom, the basement, or the backyard, you’re set for life. Being able to squat and deadlift and bench without leaving your property gives you zero excuses… better go and do your workout!

4. Better weight capacity than portable squat stands 

The only other option for home gym squat racks are portable stands. These present issues such as lower weight capacity and clunky feet that you could trip over (while holding your body weight on your shoulders). In short, wall-mounted racks are a better bet for squatting at home.

5. Saves money

Even if you have plenty of space, a folding squat rack can still be a wise purchase. A standard squat rack can cost anything from $700 for a cheap mid-market rack through to many thousands of dollars for a top-spec one. You can buy a fantastic folding squat rack from this list for a few hundred bucks and it has all of the same functionality!


Do folding squat racks cause wall damage?

No. These machines have high-quality attachments so you can secure these racks to the wall without worrying about wall damage. As well, you can use additional brackets — extra security to attach the rack to the wall — to ensure the integrity of the wall doesn’t get wrecked.


Can I mount my folding squat rack outside?

The quick and dirty answer is yes, but there is one thing to keep in mind. Most of these racks aren’t built to withstand the elements; they will inevitably rust and break down faster than if they were mounted indoors.

However, there are ways to curtail this. You can use a sealant of some sort to protect the frame coating or, if you have an outdoor area that is covered by an awning or overhang, you should be okay for most of the year. Our suggestion? Do both just to be safe.


How much weight can a folding squat rack hold?

Seeing as most squat racks are made out of 11-gauge steel or stronger — and 11-gauge steel is mighty strong — a folding squat rack can hold a significant amount of weight. Whether you have a normal wall-mounted rack or a folding squat rack, it should be able to handle anything up to around 1000 LB.


How do you mount a folding squat rack?

Thankfully, each of our options above come with instructions on how to safely and correctly mount your folding squat rack. This will make sure you mount this exercise equipment the right way onto your wall, protecting both the wall and the rack.

If you want more information, check out That Tech Teacher explaining how to DIY-install your home gym folding rack. (He’s installing a Rogue Fitness Monster Lite RML-3WC folding weight rack, which is similar to the top pick listed above.)


Wrapping It Up: What Is The Best Folding Squat For Your Home Gym?

Now that you have your options narrowed down to four, go ahead and choose the folding squat rack that feels right to you and works within your budget.

As I said earlier, I’d recommend the Rogue RML-3W Fold Back Wall Mount Rack. It’s built like a tank and ticks all the boxes you would want from a perfectly made folding squat rack. If you’re on a tighter budget and don’t mind sourcing your own fixing hardware then you will love the Titan Fitness X-3 Series Folding Power Rack. That said, any of the 4 racks in the article would be a great choice.

A folding squat rack is a fantastic addition to a home gym and can help transform the functionality of your space for a relatively small amount of money.


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

  • Rogue RML-3W Fold Back Wall Mount Rack: This folding squat rack is the best overall choice for general fitness users due to its excellent build quality, functionality, fantastic price and user friendliness.
  • PR-4100 Folding Wall Mount Squat & Power Rack: This folding squat rack is best for those who need versatility due to its great versatility and build quality. It is also compatible with multiple accessories and very affordable.
  • Titan Fitness X-3 Series Folding Power Rack: This folding squat rack is the best budget choice for those on a tight budget. It is super cheap, but still very well built and easy to use. It is also very functional.

Daniel Maman

Daniel is a certified personal trainer (ACE), has a Bachelors of Science degree in Sports, Exercise, and Wellness, and spends his free time keeping up to date with the latest research in health and fitness. In his free time, you can find him playing basketball, doing muay thai, camping, traveling, reading, and eating tomatoes like they're apples.

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  • Written by: Daniel Maman
  • ACE Personal Trainer
    BSc Sports, Exercise, & Wellness
  • Last Updated on August 3, 2023

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