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- Pull up bars are easy to install, can support your weight without wobbling or bowing, and are pleasant to use as you work toward your fitness goals.
- The Garren Fitness Maximiza Pull Up Bar is our top pick because it has comfortable foam grips and unobtrusively fits in any standard door frame.
Pull ups are not for the faint of heart. When I was a spry young lad, I could crank out a dozen pull ups or more without a second thought. But after years of cheeseburgers and sitting at a computer, the pull ups are harder to come by. Fortunately, there are a number of pull up bars on the market that fit the needs of novices hoping to turn over a new leaf in the new year as well as seasoned bodybuilders looking for a new addition to their home gym.
We must first note that you should consult with your physician before starting any exercise program. I learned this the hard way when I tried to rattle off some pull ups after years of sedentary living and quickly tore a muscle in my shoulder.
For many motivated individuals looking to begin strength training, dips and push-ups may be better stepping stones on your way to performing a pull up. You might also try mounting your pull-up bar lower or standing on a box. Pull yourself up to the bar with your feet on the ground at an increasingly difficult angle. The Greatist has several other tips for building up to doing a pull-up. The good news is the bars we review in this guide are versatile enough to help you work up to your goals.
One of the most popular types of pull-up bars is the cantilever-style, molding-mounted bars. They do not require a permanent alteration to your home and are easy to install and remove. They also feature several grip options. However, when shopping for these door frame pull-up bars, pay special attention to the dimensions of the bar and what size frames they work on to ensure you can get a proper fit.
Next, there is a class of pull-up bar that requires drilling and mounting the unit. We included ceiling-mounted and door-mounted options in our guide. They tend to be rated for heavier weights but are less portable. Wall-mounted bars are also available, but we didn’t find any models worth recommending.
Lastly, there are power towers. These are freestanding units that do not require drilling, and you can generally perform a wide array of exercises with this equipment. The downsides are that power towers usually cost more, have a large footprint, and many models have problems with wobbling when heavier individuals are performing intense workouts.
Before deciding on the best pull up bars, we performed hours of research combing through the ratings and reviews of hundreds of customers and experts. Our guide only features models with a strong track record of durability, versatility, and ease of assembly.
Here are the best pull-up bars you can buy:
- Best pull-up bar overall: Garren Fitness Maximiza Pull Up Bar
- Best ceiling mounted pull-up bar: Ultimate Body Press Ceiling Mounted Pull Up Bar
- Best free-standing pull-up bar: Stamina 1690 Power Tower
- Best door frame pull-up bar: Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym Doorway Pull Up Bar
- Best affordable pull-up bar: Iron Gym Pull Up Bar
Updated on 01/03/2019 by Malarie Gokey: Updated prices and formatting.
Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.
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The best pull up bar overall
Why you'll love it: The Garren Fitness Maximiza Pull Up Bar is easy on your hands, installs effortlessly, and is made of long-lasting chrome steel.
The Garren Fitness Maximiza Pull Up Bar is made of chrome steel and comes with three sets of mounting hardware. Two of the sets can support up to 300 pounds of weight. The medium-duty door mount can support 150 pounds and is not recommended for use above waist height.
You can also use the bar without door mounts for sit-up foot support and other light exercises. The bar is adjustable and fits doorways between 26 and 36 inches wide, and it can be installed so that you can still close the door.
The bar features non-slip, extra-long foam grips. Garren Fitness cautions against using the Maximiza for gymnastics, and they suggest applying your weight cautiously during the first few exercises to ensure the bar is safely installed (a smart practice with any pull up bar.) Garren Fitness provides a “100% Satisfaction Guarantee” so you can get a no-questions-asked full refund if you are not satisfied.
We Weight took the Garren Fitness Maximiza Pull Up Bar for a test drive and appreciated how unobtrusive it is, that it’s sturdy and strong, the grips are non-slip, and you can easily readjust the bar. Healthier Land included this model on its list of the top pull-up bars because it’s heavy duty, affordable, and can hold up to 300 pounds. However, the reviewer didn’t like that there was drilling involved for installation.
Around 90% of the people who reviewed the Garren Fitness pull-up bar on Amazon gave it a four- or five-star rating. We encourage you to read the customer reviews on Amazon because some of them are fairly entertaining. Buyers like how easy it is to install, though it may take a little work to get it to the right length. There are several buyers who use it on a daily basis and have not had any problems with it, though there are some reports of the foam grips wearing thin over time.
Pros: Comfortable foam grips, unobtrusive, solidly built
Cons: Installation requires drilling into door jamb, foam grips may wear from heavy-duty use
Buy the Garren Fitness Maximiza Pull Up Bar on Amazon for $36.98 (originally $55)
The best ceiling-mounted pull up bar
Why you'll love it: If you are interested in doing a variety of pull-ups and you don't want to use your door frame, the Ultimate Body Press Ceiling Mounted Pull Up Bar is your best bet.
The Ceiling Mounted Pull Up Bar from Ultimate Body Press has three high-density foam grip positions for standard, wide-grip, and 20-inch parallel-grip pull-ups or chin-ups. This model has a powder-coat finish for added durability. The 14-inch reversible risers are designed to fit either 16- or 24-inch joists.
The mounting kit comes with instructions, a template, and mounting hardware. You will need a drill, tape or pencil, and a step ladder. Ultimate Body Press offers a fairly nebulous 100% satisfaction guarantee with this product.
Dark Iron Fitness featured this Ultimate Body Press model on its list of the best ceiling mounted pull-up bars because of its solid construction and multiple grip handles. However, it lost points because the bars are not welded to the mounting brackets, which could affect long-term durability.
On the other hand, Top Fitness Magazine found this bar to be quite durable and also liked the many grip options. Lastly, Garage Gym Builder ranked this as the “Best Wall/Ceiling Mounted Pull Up Bar Regardless of Cost.” Again, the reviewers were fans of the three padded gripping positions.
Around 77% of the Amazon reviews of the Ultimate Body Press pull-up bar give it five stars. There are several buyer comments about how easy the assembly was to install with the guide for drilling into studs. One buyer said it took longer to get the right tools than the actual installation took. There are a few complaints about inconsistencies in the product. Some verified purchasers report that their bar came with damaged grips.
Pros: Three padded gripping positions, easy installation, sturdy construction
Cons: Some complaints of manufacturer defects
Buy the Ultimate Body Press Ceiling Mounted Pull Up Bar on Amazon for $79.95
The best free-standing pull up bar
Why you'll love it: The Stamina 1690 Power Tower allows you to perform platform push-ups, sit-ups, knee and leg raises, dips, pull ups, and more.
The Stamina 1690 Power Tower is a free-standing full-body workout unit made of durable steel and fitted with padded foam in five sets of grip locations. The overall size of the assembled tower is 49 inches long by 42.5 inches wide by 81 inches high. The base of the tower features no-slip endcaps.
Stamina states that the capacity is 250 pounds, but as noted below, it’s closer to 200 pounds in practice. In addition to pull-ups and chin-ups, this model is designed for tricep dips, sit-ups, push-ups, and leg raises, though there is no backrest to assist with the leg raises.
USA Home Gym had several glowing comments to make about the Stamina Power Tower, including that the handles have comfortable padding, the footprint is relatively compact, and that everything you need for assembly comes in the box. Weight Racks and More found that for its price, the 1690 is a better option than pull-up door attachments.
The Stamina 1690 Power Tower has more than 830 five-star reviews on Amazon. The biggest complaint about this pull-up system is that it can wobble a little bit, especially if you weigh 200+ pounds and your muscles are starting to tire. To counteract the wobble, consider using a socket wrench to really tighten the nuts.
Other than that, buyers report that they have had success using the tower to build up their muscles to the point where they can easily perform pull-ups and chin-ups.
Pros: Wide range of exercises, easy to assemble – no drilling or door frame needed
Cons: Issues with wobbling, expensive compared to traditional bars, takes up a lot of space
Buy the Stamina 1690 Power Tower on Amazon for $122.59
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