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Power Racks & Cages
Power Racks and Cages for Home Gyms
A power rack, also called a power cage, is a steel frame with J-hooks that hold the barbell and safety bars that catch it when a rep fails. It lets you squat, bench and press heavy at home without a spotter, and the same frame can carry a pull-up bar and add-on stations.
The category at a glance:
| Decision point | What you will find here |
|---|---|
| Rack types | Full cages, half racks, squat and wall-mount racks |
| Combo builds | Racks paired with Smith machines or cable trainers |
| Brands we carry | Body-Solid, BodyKore, TAG Fitness, APE, Vortex, Sunny |
| Add-on stations | Lat pulldown, dip bar, landmine, plate storage |
How to Choose a Power Rack
Fit the room first, then your lifts.
- ✅ Footprint that leaves room to load plates
- ✅ Weight rating above your heaviest lift
- ✅ Safeties that set at bench and squat depth
- ✅ Close hole spacing for exact bench setups
- ✅ Pull-up bar if you train chin-ups
- ✅ Plate storage to keep the floor clear
Are power rack attachments universal? No. Each one is built for a set upright size and hole diameter, so check both before mixing brands. The Body-Solid GPR378, for example, has a 3" x 3" frame of 11-gauge steel.
T-bar row platforms, lifting chains and fat-grip handles live in our rack accessories.
Our rack buying guide covers sizing and safeties in more depth.
Full Cage, Half Rack or Squat Rack?
All three hold the bar for squats and presses. They differ in where you stand and how a miss is caught.
| Feature | Full power cage | Half rack | Squat or wall-mount rack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uprights | Four | Two or four | Two |
| Where you lift | Inside the frame | In front of the frame | In front of the uprights |
| Catches a miss with | Safety bars or straps, both sides | Spotter arms out front | Spotter arms, where included |
| Room for add-ons | Most | Moderate | Least |
| Floor space | Largest | Medium | Smallest |
Lifting heavy alone? Choose a full cage for the most catch coverage. Sharing the rack or want an open front? Pick a half rack. Browse cages and bundles in racks and packages.
Parking a car in the garage? Look at wall-mount rigs, which fix to the wall.
Is a Home Rack Right for You?
It is if a barbell is your main training tool.
A rack suits you if
- You want squats, bench and pull-ups in one frame
- You have a garage, basement or spare-room corner
- You want to add stations over time
Look at other equipment if
- You prefer a guided bar path, like a Smith machine
- Cable exercises matter more than barbell work
- You are equipping a commercial gym or team room
Measure your ceiling before you order: the rack's height plus room for your head above the pull-up bar must fit under it.
Tight on height? Open squat racks without a top crossmember leave more head room.
Outfitting a gym or school weight room? Start with our commercial racks.
Power Rack Questions
How tall is a power rack?
Height varies by model. The Body-Solid GPR378, for example, stands 80" tall, with a 1.5" diameter chinning bar across the top.
Do power racks need to be bolted to the floor?
Follow your model's instructions, since requirements differ. Band work and kipping pull-ups push a freestanding frame sideways, so anchor or weigh down the base if you train that way.
Can you put a power rack on carpet?
You can, but carpet lets the base sink and shift. Set the rack on rubber gym flooring or a platform to keep it level and protect the floor.
Can you deadlift in a power rack?
Yes. Pull from the floor in front of or inside the rack, or set the safeties near knee height for rack pulls.
Plan Your Rack Setup
Unsure how a rack, bench and plates will fit? Book a free 3D home gym design to plan the layout with our team. Installation is available on equipment bought from us.
Body-Solid, TAG Fitness, Spirit Fitness and Vortex equipment ships free, and orders ship from Tennessee to all 50 states. For model questions, call or text 423-458-2453 or browse the Hamilton Home Fitness catalog.
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