- Pull-up bars are easy to install, can support your weight without wobbling or bowing, and are a great addition to anyone's home gym setup.
- Adding a pull-up routine to your weekly workout program helps strengthen your upper body, builds muscle, and improves your grip strength.
- Our top pick, the Garren Fitness Maximiza pull-up Bar, features comfortable foam grips and unobtrusively fits in any standard doorframe.
Pull-ups aren't for the faint of heart. I remember the days of easily cranking out a dozen or so pull-ups while hardly breaking a sweat. But after years of cheeseburgers and sitting at a computer, easy pull-ups are harder to come by. Fortunately, there are a number of pull-up bars on the market that fit the needs of anyone looking for a new addition to their home gym.
We highly recommend first consulting with a 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. Don't be like me.
Why you should start doing pull-ups
The benefits of incorporating pull-ups into your weekly routine are many. From improving upper body strength to building muscle, pull-ups can have a significant impact on your fitness goals. According to the New York City-based personal trainer, Brad Baldwin, pull-ups are "the king of back exercises."
"[Pull-ups] force you to work at a higher intensity," Baldwin told Business Insider. "They're great for creating that coveted V-shaped torso and for getting stronger."
For anyone looking to begin strength training, it's smart to start with dips and push-ups 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. Thankfully, the bars we picked for this guide are versatile enough to help you work up to your goals.
How to shop for a pull-up bar
At-home pull-up bars aren't a one-design-fits-all market, as there are several different styles to choose from, each with their own advantages. Here's a quick breakdown of each pull-up bar type:
Cantilever
One of the most popular pull-up bar variations is the cantilever-style, molding-mounted bars. They don't require permanent alteration to your home and are easy to install and remove. They feature several grip options, too. However, when shopping for these doorframe pull-up bars, pay attention to the dimensions of the bar and what size frames they work on to ensure you get the proper fit.
Mounted
Then there's a class of pull-up bar that requires drilling and mounting of 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.
Power towers
The final group of pull-bars is called power towers. These are freestanding units that do not require drilling and are often compatible with a wide array of exercises. However, power towers typically cost more, have a large footprint, and many models have problems with wobbling when heavier individuals are performing intense workouts.
To help you find a pull-up bar fit for both your home setup and your lifestyle, we've compiled the following list of the best pull-up bars currently available.
Editor's note: Click here for insight into our testing methodology.
Here are the best pull-up bars:
- 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 pull-up bar for beginners: Iron Gym Pull-Up Bar
- Best doorframe pull-up bar: Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym Doorway Pull-Up Bar
- Best budget pull-up bar: Sunny Health & Fitness Doorway Pull-Up Bar
- Best freestanding pull-up bar: Stamina 1690 Power Tower
Updated on 9/28/2020 by Rick Stella: Updated the section on how to shop for a pull-up bar, added a rundown of how we tested each product, checked the availability of all recommended pull-up bars, and updated the prices and links where necessary.
The best overall
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 which support up to 300 pounds of weight. The medium-duty door mount supports 150 pounds and isn't 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 can be installed so that a door is still able to close.
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 full satisfaction guarantee, so you can get a no-questions-asked full refund if you're not satisfied for any reason.
Pros: Comfortable foam grips, unobtrusive, solidly built
Cons: Installation requires drilling into door jamb, foam grips may wear from heavy-duty use
The best ceiling-mounted pull-up bar
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. The fact the bars aren't welded to the mounting brackets could affect long-term durability (though perhaps the satisfaction guarantee would cover it).
Pros: Three padded gripping positions, easy installation, sturdy construction
Cons: Some complaints of manufacturer defects
The best pull-up bar for beginners
If you are interested in doing pull-ups but don't want to spend a lot of money, the Iron Gym Pull Up Bar is an excellent solution for beginners.
The Iron Gym Pull Up Bar works much like the Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym. It hangs on a doorframe and stays in place through leverage. You can also remove the pull-up bar to perform sit-ups, push-ups, and dips.
The bar is made of a combination of plastic and steel, and it comes with everything you need to assemble the unit, including a hex open wrench. There are foam grips for standard and wide pull-ups. However, the parallel grip handles are fairly small and awkwardly positioned. Lastly, this model comes with a comprehensive workout and nutrition guide.
Pros: Inexpensive, versatile, easy to mount and remove, 300-pound capacity
Cons: Contains plastic parts
The best doorframe pull-up bar
If you are looking for a pull-up bar that you can effortlessly attach to your doorframe and take down when you're done, the Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym Doorway Pull Up Bar will serve you well.
The Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym Doorway Pull Up Bar has three padded grip positions for hammer grip, close grip, and normal grip pull-ups. The 300-pound weight capacity makes it so you can use this model with a weight vest. There is some assembly required, and all of the tools needed are included with the bar.
The Multi-Gym Pro adjusts for height and works with doorframes that are up to 6 inches deep and 33 inches wide. The bar can be placed on the floor to assist with push-ups and sit-ups. And, Perfect Fitness stands behind the quality of this model with a one-year warranty.
Pros: Three grip locations, 300-pound capacity, unlikely to damage your doorframe
Cons: Wide grip may be too wide for some, recent quality concerns, doesn't fit all doorframes
The best budget pull-up bar
At under $30, the Sunny Health & Fitness Doorway Pull-Up Bar is not only a bargain but a quality pull-up bar that's easy to install and won't hinder being able to open or close your door.
The Sunny Health & Fitness Doorway Pull-Up Bar may not have many bells and whistles, but it's basic nature (and wallet-friendly price tag) is what makes this product so attractive. Installing the bar requires the drilling a couple of brackets into either side of the doorframe you wish to use it on, then the bar's telescoping arm extends to fit snugly into place.
Brackets may seem like overkill but they work wonders in making sure you don't end up slamming into the ground should the bar come loose. Even with the brackets and bar installed, any door is still able to fully shut without being interfered with — which adds even more to this bar's ease of use.
It's worth pointing out that the bar only supports weight up to 220 pounds, and its position on the door could create a situation where hit the top of your head on the doorframe if you're not careful. With a price tag south of $30, however, these are minor drawbacks to an otherwise impressive budget pull-up bar.
Pros: Securely installs into a doorframe and allows the door to still shut completely, costs less than $30, features padded grips
Cons: Only supports weight up to 220 pounds
The best freestanding pull-up bar
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.
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
How we test
Each pull-up bar featured in this guide went through an array of tests to see how well it compared across these four categories: Ease of installation, build quality, versatility, and value. Here's how each category specifically factored into which pull-up bars made this guide:
- Ease of installation: How easy an at-home pull-up bar is to install is a vital feature as you not only want to avoid fumbling with a confusing setup, but you also want to be confident that once it's installed (and installed correctly) that it'll keep in place. It's reasonable to doubt the reliability of a pull-up bar that sits precariously in your doorway, so this was one of the first things we assessed for when testing.
- Build quality: Relying on a pull-up bar to hold your weight comes down not just to the above category but to its build quality, as well. If it's susceptible to being easily bent or its components are shoddily built-on and likely to fall off, the pull-up bar will be far less comfortable, and safe, to use.
- Versatility: A pull-up bar's versatility is sort of an extension of its ease of installation as most will require you to take them off if you intend to shut the door whose door frame it resides in. There are some, however, (like our top pick) that allow you to still close the door even after they're installed. This category also refers to the actual build design and if it allows for multiple grip positions or not.
- Value: A pull-up bar's value comes down to a combination of the three categories above, as well as how much it actually costs. It's not always about spending the most money to get the best pull-up bar, though it is better to shop for a premium, well-built product. While it may be expensive at first, it does save you the hassle of having to buy several, cheaper options more often.