Whether you’re a seasoned lifter or a beginner dipping your toes into calisthenics and bodyweight workouts, investing in a pull-up bar can help you build upper-body strength and get in better overall shape at home. From the classic doorway chin-up bar to the heavy-duty wall-mounted pull-up bar to models with multiple grip positions, there’s no shortage of variety with this underrated piece of fitness equipment.
To help you find the right one for your home gym, we researched and tested more than a dozen pull-up bars on factors such as durability, build quality, and size. Our in-depth evaluation process helped identify the best bars based on category-specific criteria.
Best pull-up bar overall
Constructed from 11-gauge steel, the Titan Fitness Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar is a well-priced strength training tool that offers excellent value and versatility. Learn more about our top overall pick by reading our review below.
Our picks for the best pull-up bars
- Best overall: Titan Fitness Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar
- Best multi-grip: REP Fitness Wall-Mounted Multi-Grip Pull-Up Bar
- Best freestanding: Fringe Sport Unlimited Squat Rack With Pull-Up Bar
- Best wall-mounted: Bells of Steel Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar
- Best budget: Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym Doorway Pull-Up Bar
- Best ceiling-mounted: Stud Bar
- Best doorway: Rogue Fitness Jammer Pull-Up Bar
Compare pull-up bars
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| Titan Fitness Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar | REP Fitness Wall-Mounted Multi-Grip Pull-Up Bar | Fringe Sport Unlimited Squat Rack With Pull-Up Bar | Bells of Steel Wall Mounted Pull-Up Bar | Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym Doorway Pull-Up Bar | Stud Bar | Rogue Fitness Jammer Pull-Up Bar | |
| Rating | |||||||
| Price | $75 | $140 | $499 | $100 | $45 | $229-$289 | $140 |
| Weight capacity | 500 lbs. | 700 lbs. | 700 lbs. | 330 lbs. | 300 lbs. | 600 lbs. | 500 lbs. |
Best pull-up bar overall: Titan Fitness Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar
Key product features
What you should know
The Titan Fitness Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar has a high weight capacity and can be bolted to a variety of surfaces.
- Although you can mount this bar onto a wall or ceiling, you’ll need to buy the mounting hardware separately, as Titan doesn’t include it.
- At less than $100, this pull-up bar represents excellent value, especially since it’s made from 11-gauge steel.
- Anyone looking for a stable, well-priced pull-up bar they can mount just about anywhere will appreciate this model from Titan Fitness.
Why we like Titan Fitness Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar as best overall
The Titan Fitness Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar is our top pick for several reasons, notably because it allows you to do a wide range of exercises, from muscle-ups to hanging leg raises. Rated to support 500 pounds, it’s built from 11-gauge steel—our preferred gauge for strength equipment due to its strength, commercial-like feel, and durability. That should give you confidence about this pull-up bar holding up over time as you incorporate it into your home workout routine.
Besides its competitive price of $75, this bar also stands out because of its versatility. Our top product tester appreciated that you can mount it on wood studs that are 16, 32, or 52 inches apart or on any concrete wall at a width up to 52 inches apart. As long as you purchase the correct mounting hardware, you should have no trouble securing this 25-pound pull-up bar to whatever surface you choose.
“It’s also far enough from the wall that you can use it for kipping muscle-ups, strict muscle-ups, as well as toes-to-bar. There’s even enough room that you can hang rings on it and do dips and rows.”
Team Product Tester
The bar features a 32-millimeter diameter, which is standard for a pull-up bar but thicker than most Olympic barbells with diameters of 28-29 millimeters. However, unlike most barbells and dumbbells, the Titan Fitness Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar has no knurling. Instead, Titan made it smooth with a black powder-coat finish.
Team member Amanda Dvorak doesn’t have this exact bar, but owns a squat rack from Titan Fitness that also has a smooth powder-coat finish.
“In my experience, you can get away without using chalk or gymnastics grips on Titan’s powder-coated bars for a couple of sets,” she commented. “But once your hands start getting sweaty, or if you’re doing kipping movements, you’ll want to use chalk or grips to prevent slipping off the bar or tearing up your hands.”
Other than having to purchase mounting hardware separately, the only major knock against our top overall pull-up bar is a short one-year warranty policy. Luckily, Titan used high-quality steel that should hold up as you work on getting stronger and fitter with every rep.
Specs
| Price | $75 |
| Weight capacity | 500 pounds |
| Bar diameter | 32 millimeters |
| Material | 11-gauge steel |
Best multi-grip pull-up bar: REP Fitness Wall-Mounted Multi-Grip Pull-Up Bar
Key product features
What you should know
REP’s Wall-Mounted Multi-Grip Pull-Up Bar provides multiple grip options, including neutral, close-grip, wide-grip, and angled. Here’s what else you should know about this versatile bar.
- The bar has two external bars and six internal short bars, giving you nearly endless options to alter your grip to target specific muscle groups.
- Because of its versatility and impressive build quality, we believe this pull-up bar is priced fairly at $140.
- As long as you have enough space to mount it properly, you can significantly expand your exercise repertoire with this model from REP Fitness.
Why we like REP Fitness Wall-Mounted Multi-Grip Pull-Up Bar as best multi-grip
Also known for making some of the best squat racks, REP Fitness produced another top-tier piece of strength training equipment in the Wall-Mounted Multi-Grip Pull-Up Bar. Built from heavy-duty 11-gauge steel, this bar boasts an impressive weight capacity of 700 pounds. You’ll need a decent chunk of space to accommodate its 17.5” H x 50.75” W x 21.5” D footprint, but you can attach it to a wall or ceiling.
REP designed this pull-up bar with versatility in mind. You can perform traditional, neutral, close-grip, wide-grip, or angled pull-ups with it. Research shows that varying pull-up grips can cause different activation levels of the shoulder girdle muscles. (1) For example, you can incorporate chin-ups with an underhand grip to target your biceps more. Or, you can use a wide overhand grip to target your lats more.
In addition, you can also attach the best resistance bands, gymnastics rings, or exercise straps to the bar for more exercise options. This can be a great way for beginners to work up to their first unassisted pull-up or for advanced athletes to try more challenging movements.
No matter which grip you choose, you shouldn’t have any trouble maintaining control. The 1.25-inch thick steel bar has a high-quality powder-coat finish that should prevent your hands from slipping. Compared to a similar multi-grip bar from Titan Fitness, our product tester preferred the powder-coat on the REP model.
“It’s a little bit more grippy and the finish is a little bit nicer.”
Team Product Tester
Backed by a limited lifetime warranty, this pull-up bar has all the features you need to ramp up your home workout routine.
Specs
| Price | $140 |
| Weight capacity | 700 pounds |
| Bar diameter | 1.25” |
| Material | 11-gauge steel |
Best freestanding pull-up bar: Fringe Sport Unlimited Squat Rack With Pull-Up Bar
Key product features
What you should know
The Fringe Sport Unlimited Squat Rack With Pull-Up Bar features 2×3 11-gauge steel uprights and weighs 145 pounds. This versatile weightlifting tool can upgrade your home gym setup by giving you a platform to perform compound lifts, like squats and bench presses, plus pull-ups.
- The uprights have ⅝” holes and are compatible with attachments from many competitors.
- At about $500, this squat rack/pull-up bar combo is about on par for the market. However, you will need a barbell and weight plates to take advantage of its full potential.
- This is a great solution if you want to crush full-body workouts at home without taking up too much space.
Why we like Fringe Sport Unlimited Squat Rack With Pull-Up Bar as best freestanding
Why settle for just pull-ups when you can crush an entire full-body workout as well? With the Fringe Sport Unlimited Squat Rack, you can seamlessly switch from overhead presses to box squats to pull-ups or chin-ups, making it perfect for the lifter who is short on time. That versatility and functionality helped this $500 rack earn the nod for the best freestanding pull-up bar.
Made from 11-gauge steel, the rack features 2×3 uprights with ⅝” holes that are compatible with multiple attachments. For example, Fringe Sport sells a dip station for $129 (or $84 if you buy it as an add-on for your pull-up bar), which you can use to target your chest, triceps, and upper-back muscles. (2) You can also use attachments from other brands that fit ⅝” holes.
The pull-up bar can support 700 pounds, which is sufficient for most users. You can also adjust the height of the bar to accommodate athletes of different statures. Since it fits into an adjustable mount on the squat rack uprights, you can easily move it up or down until you find the right fit.
The rack is 90.5 inches tall, 47.25 inches wide, and 53.5 inches deep, so you’ll need sufficient space to set it up. And since it costs about $500, home gym owners with a tight budget may want to choose a standalone pull-up bar rather than a freestanding squat rack.
Specs
| Price | $499 |
| Weight capacity | 700 pounds |
| Bar diameter | 1.25″ |
| Material | 11-gauge steel |
Best wall-mounted pull-up bar: Bells of Steel Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar
Key product features
What you should know
You can mount the The Bells of Steel Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar to a wall or ceiling using the included mounting hardware.
- Bells of Steel sells several useful accessories for this $100 pull-up bar, including grip chalk ($20) and hanging ab straps ($45).
- This budget-friendly bar is built for home gym owners who want the security of a wall-mounted model.
- Because the Bells of Steel Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar consists of bare steel, it can develop rust if it’s exposed to humidity or if you don’t wipe the sweat off it when you’re done exercising.
Why we like Bells of Steel Wall-Mounted Pull-Up bar as best wall-mounted
For about $100, you can have a wall-mounted pull-up bar backed by a limited lifetime warranty. That represents excellent value, especially since Bells of Steel has earned a reputation for building the best weight benches, squat racks, and other strength training equipment.
Constructed from 14-gauge steel, this bar has a max capacity of 330 pounds. The weight capacity is among the lowest we’ve seen and could be a limiting factor for larger athletes who want to perform weighted pull-ups. But it should still support most average-sized individuals who plan on only doing bodyweight pull-ups.
Bells of Steel provides all the mounting hardware you need to secure this 41.65-pound bar to a ceiling or wall. The smooth finish can help prevent blisters and calluses on your hands. This makes it suitable for kipping pull-ups, which can produce more full-body activation than standard pull-ups. (3)
“Kipping pull-ups may help you activate or engage more muscle fibers; however, it’s also certainly a more advanced exercise that may not be suitable for everyone. That said, having the capability to perform this exercise, if it is of interest, is helpful” adds Chris Mohr, Ph.D., RD.
While previous versions of our top wall-mounted pull-up bar had two bar placements, the latest only has one. Still, you can rely on this bar to help you develop strength and confidence in your pull-ups.
We also like that the Bells of Steel pull-up bar has two eyelet anchors. These anchors are compatible with additional accessories, like a pulley attachment. This feature makes the pull-up bar even more versatile. Depending on which attachments you get, you can also use it for exercises like tricep pushdowns, lat pulldowns, and more. And with a limited lifetime warranty, you should also feel confident that this Bells of Steel bar will maintain its structural integrity.
Specs
| Price | $100 |
| Weight capacity | 330 pounds |
| Bar diameter | 32 millimeters |
| Material | 14-gauge steel |
Best budget pull-up bar: Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym Doorway Pull-Up Bar
Key product details
What you should know
Featuring padded handles and a patented door frame guard, the Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym Doorway Pull-Up Bar is well-suited for full-body home workouts.
- You can flip over this portable gym system to perform sit-ups, push-ups, and dips using the ergonomic handles.
- For less than $50, you can get a versatile door-mounted pull-up bar and still have room in your budget for resistance bands or other equipment.
- Lightweight and easy to assemble, this pull-up bar should appeal to people who are on the go and want to be able to get a workout in.
Why we like Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym Doorway Pull-Up Bar as best budget
Portable and affordable, the Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym Doorway Pull-Up Bar costs less than $50—an excellent price for something that offers such a high degree of versatility. You can mount it on a doorway to perform a quick set of pull-ups. Then, you can take it down, flip it over, and use the padded handles for push-ups or dips.
Rated to support 300 pounds, this budget-friendly bar doesn’t offer the same weight capacity as ones that mount to a wall or ceiling. However, most people should still be able to take advantage of its versatility to get in a quick workout at home.
“Building a home gym does not have to be overly complicated or expensive, and the Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym Doorway Pull-Up Bar proves this,” adds Mohr.
“For less than $50, you have a multi-functional tool that allows you to do a variety of compound movements, such as pull-ups, pushups and dips offering a well rounded program, without the bells and whistles of expensive equipment.” (4)
Chris Mohr, Ph.D., RD, Fortune Recommends Advisor
The bar fits door frames up to 33 inches wide and six inches deep. A rubberized door frame guard protects against scratches, and curved ergonomic handles offer three grip options for wide-, close-, and hammer-grip pull-ups. The padded handles and overall quality of this Perfect Fitness bar impressed our product testers, especially considering the price.
However, remember that doorway pull-up bars rely on tension mounting. This can be a slippery slope, as these types of bars are prone to coming unsecured. Luckily, our team didn’t encounter any such issues with the Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym.
“The problem you can run into is thin steel that can then break,” our product tester noted. “But this one uses higher-quality components.”
Specs
| Price | $45 |
| Weight capacity | 300 pounds |
| Bar diameter | N/A |
| Material | Aluminum, foam |
Best ceiling-mounted pull-up bar: Stud Bar
Key product features
What you should know
Designed with CrossFit kipping pull-ups in mind, the Stud Bar can be installed into your existing ceiling or wall studs.
- You can select between three sizes (small, standard, and large) to account for different ceiling heights and wall mounting applications.
- The small size costs $229, and the standard one costs $249. The large version checks in at just under $300.
- If you have limited wall space or want to focus on CrossFit-style exercises, this is the pull-up bar for you.
Why we like Stud Bar as best ceiling-mounted
If you have limited wall space and still want to prioritize pull-ups, the Stud Bar is an excellent solution. It’s available in three different sizes, and you can mount it to a ceiling or wall using existing studs—a useful feature that should make it easier for home gym owners and fitness enthusiasts to get started.
Constructed of 14-gauge steel tubing, this bar supports up to 600 pounds. Once you’ve mastered bodyweight pull-ups, you can ramp up the difficulty by using a belt and bumper plates or even a weight vest for weighted pull-ups. This is an example of progressive overload, which can enhance muscular growth and development. (5)
Originally designed with CrossFit kipping pull-ups in mind, the Stud Bar comes in small, standard, or large sizes. The small model is suited for 8-foot ceilings and hangs 10 or 14 inches below the ceiling. Meanwhile, the standard size is made for 9-foot ceilings and can hang 14 or 22 inches below the ceiling. The large version is designed for 10-foot ceilings and can hang 31 or 39 inches below the ceiling.
Our team also appreciated the straightforward installation process. You’ll need a stud finder, drill set, screwdriver, and ratchet set (and likely a ladder). However, once you drill the bar into ceiling or wall studs, it’ll be well-secured and ready to handle pull-ups, chin-ups, muscle-ups, and whatever else you throw its way.
This isn’t exactly a budget-friendly bar. Depending on which size you select, expect to pay between $229-$289. That’s not terribly expensive, but it’s also a decent investment for a piece of equipment that doesn’t offer the same versatility as many other similarly priced pieces, or others that some may feel are foundational to a home gym, like a squat rack or Smith machine.
Specs
| Price | $229-$289 |
| Weight capacity | 600 pounds |
| Bar diameter | 1.25″ |
| Material | 14-gauge steel |
Best doorway pull-up bar: Rogue Fitness Jammer Pull-Up Bar
Key product features
What you should know
The Rogue Fitness Jammer Pull-Up Bar is available in different colors to suit your preferences and gym aesthetic.
- The knurled version of the Jammer Pull-Up Bar has dual knurl marks that match the spacing on many barbells.
- There’s a wide price range depending on which finish you choose. The cheapest version (textured powder coat) costs $135, while the most expensive (knurled stainless steel) costs $245.
- This USA-made product is best suited for athletes who don’t plan on performing kipping movements.
Why we like Rogue Fitness Jammer Pull-Up Bar as best doorway
Also known for making some of the best dumbbells, Rogue Fitness knocked it out of the park with the Jammer Pull-Up Bar. Unlike most doorway pull-up bars, this one boasts a high weight capacity of 500 pounds. That can be attributed to the bar being installed into wooden studs and that it’s built from 11-gauge steel that’s nearly half an inch thick.
“This is the most secure doorway pull-up bar I’ve found.”
Team Product Tester
The USA-made Jammer Pull-Up Bar is highly customizable to suit your preferences. For example, you can choose between a smooth or knurled bar. The knurled version features dual knurl marks on each end that match the spacing on most Olympic barbells. Rogue describes the knurl pattern as “firm enough for a reliable added grip, but non-abrasive.”
In addition, you can select from multiple finish options, including standard textured black, stainless steel, or Cerakote color coatings. The latter is a versatile ceramic-composite coating known for its durability.
One callout from our testing team is that the bar only extends 7 inches from the wall. Due to the lack of depth, you don’t have nearly as many exercise options and certainly wouldn’t attempt kipping pullups, unless you want some dented drywall or a broken knee. This doorway bar allows you to only perform strict pull-ups or chin-ups, which are nothing to scoff at and very effective exercises in and of themselves
“Pull-ups and chin-ups can be made considerably more challenging, if necessary, by simply changing your grip, changing the tempo, shifting your body’s position, adding weight, or using a towel as a handle,” Mohr adds. (6)
There’s also a wide price discrepancy depending on which finish you choose. The cheapest option (non-knurled textured black powder coat) costs $135. A stainless steel knurled bar costs $245.
So, even though you can tailor this high-quality doorway bar to match the aesthetic of your home gym, it can get pricey. Plus, the limited training possibilities are another factor to consider before you purchase the Jammer Bar
Specs
| Price | $140 |
| Weight capacity | 500 pounds |
| Bar diameter | 1.125″ |
| Material | Steel |
How we tested the best pull-up bars
Our team tested more than a dozen models to put together our list of the best pull-up bars. With different build materials, bar diameters, grip options, and other key features, each pull-up bar had to meet certain criteria.
Below is a breakdown of the factors that go into our scoring process. You can also read more about our strength equipment testing methodology here.
Performance—30%
A pull-up bar isn’t a complicated piece of equipment. However, some perform better than others due to their construction and overall design. We gave higher scores to bars that offered multiple grip options, as you can target specific muscle groups.
Plus, we carefully examined the type of build materials used by each manufacturer. Bars that met our quality standards earned high marks for durability.
Here’s everything we evaluated in this category:
- Material quality
- Durability
- Versatility
Customer experience—30%
Customers should feel good about investing in a piece of fitness equipment. They should also feel confident that they’ll receive top-notch customer service if problems arise. From free shipping to lifetime warranties to hassle-free delivery, we assess what each manufacturer brings to the table.
Here are the five areas we analyze that affect the customer experience:
- Warranty
- Shipping costs
- Equipment setup
- Packaging and delivery
- Customer service
Value—15%
Customers expect to get a durable, dependable bar at a fair price. We assign higher value scores for models made with top-notch materials (like 11-gauge steel) yet remain affordable.
Size—15%
How much space does the pull-up bar command? Are you able to mount it to a wall or ceiling to save space? Since some home gym owners have limited room, we evaluate the dimensions and overall footprint as part of our scoring process.
Extra options—10%
Does the pull-up bar include any accessories? Are you able to attach it to a squat rack or other piece of equipment? Extra options can give you more versatility with your workouts.
How to choose the best pull-up bar for you
When we test a new mattress, we (not surprisingly) lie on it to give you our personal opinions on its feel, but we don’t ask you to take our word for it. Once we’ve tried the mattress ourselves, we test it with a pressure map, seismometer, and more methods to give you objective measures of a bed’s motion transfer, pressure relief, bounce, and edge support capabilities. We also evaluate our test mattresses layer by layer to examine their materials and cooling tech. This helps us ensure each brand is living up to its marketing promises.
When searching for a pull-up bar for your home gym, consider these key factors:
Mount type
You have four options for setting up your pull-up bar:
- Ceiling-mounted
- Wall-mounted
- Door frame-mounted
- Freestanding
Wall and ceiling mounts offer the most stability, while door frame options are cheaper but less durable. Freestanding bars—such as the Fringe Sport Unlimited Squat Rack With Pull-Up Bar—offer the most versatility since you can train multiple muscle groups.
Grip options
More grip options mean more opportunities to target specific muscles. For example, the REP Fitness Wall-Mounted Multi-Grip Pull-Up Bar allows you to perform traditional, neutral-grip, close-grip, wide-grip, or angled pull-ups, giving you a chance to engage your lats, rhomboids, rear delts, and biceps differently depending on which grip you choose.
Weight capacity
Make sure the pull-up bar has a sufficient weight capacity to support your body weight and additional weights for weighted pull-ups. Otherwise, you could damage the bar and suffer an injury.
Workout versatility
Do you only need a bar to perform pull-ups? Or do you want to keep your options open for other exercises? Depending on the grip options and dimensions, a pull-up bar can be versatile or limited in functionality. The greater the depth between the bar and the mounting site, the more room you’ll have to work on kipping pull-ups, muscle-ups, and other movements.
Stability
The type of build materials—especially the gauge of steel—will have a major impact on the stability and durability of a pull-up bar. Even if you don’t need a heavy-duty model, you should feel confident that it will provide a safe workout experience.
Price
Set your budget based on how often you prioritize pull-ups. If you only plan to use the bar occasionally, go with a cheaper option. However, if you routinely pencil pull-ups into your workout regimen, you shouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger on one with a higher price tag.
FAQs
Is it worth buying a pull-up bar?
Investing in a pull-up bar is worthwhile for anyone looking to enhance their upper-body strength and overall fitness. It offers a versatile workout option that targets multiple muscle groups with just one piece of equipment.
Is a thick or thin pull-up bar better?
While thicker bars will challenge your grip strength more, thinner bars may be more comfortable for some users, especially those with smaller hands. (8) Ultimately, it comes down to a matter of personal preference.
Can beginners use pull-up bars?
Beginners can use pull-up bars to practice their pull-up technique and build upper-body and grip strength. Tying a resistance band around the bar can make it easier to perform the movement until you can do unassisted pull-ups.
Where is the best place to put a pull-up bar at home?
The ideal location for a pull-up bar at home is a sturdy door frame or a wall with sufficient space around it for movement. Ensure the chosen spot allows for a full range of motion during exercises and is securely anchored to support your weight.
Our experts
Christopher Mohr, Ph.D., RD
Christopher Mohr, Ph.D., RD is an internationally recognized subject matter expert and speaker and performance coach. Through his facilitation and online resources, he works closely with some of the largest corporations in the world including Deloitte, Delta Airlines, Johnson & Johnson and more to help busy executives all over the world, develop the energy to thrive personally and professionally.
Jen Roper, Ph.D., CSCS
Dr. Jen Roper is an associate professor of Health and Human Sciences at Loyola Marymount University. She received her Ph.D. in Physical Education, Sports and Exercise Science in 2015 from the University of New Mexico, with a specialization in Exercise Science and Biomechanics. She has been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association since 2014.
Amanda Dvorak, CPT
Amanda Dvorak is a Fortune Recommends writer and editor. A garage gym owner who is passionate about working out and healthy living, she has four years of experience writing product reviews for fitness and nutrition websites. Amanda is a certified personal trainer through the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA).
Harry Neale, Ph.D.
Dr. Neale holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied languages and literature. He has taught language courses, as well as writing-intensive literature and history courses, worked as a translator and researcher, and has 10 years of experience editing and fact-checking academic and B2B content.
Stephen Sheehan, CPT
Fortune Recommends Writer
About Author
Stephen Sheehan is an ISSA-certified personal trainer and nutritionist who uses his fitness expertise to review products for Fortune Recommends™. A two-time University of Florida graduate, he has a diverse writing and editing background that’s primarily focused on sports, health and fitness, and e-commerce content. His work has been featured in Runner’s World and Keto Magazine, as well as Bulletproof, Breaking Muscle, and YouFit Gyms.