Best pull-up bars to complete your home gym and make you stronger

There are a wide variety of weight-training exercises to develop and strengthen your back muscles, from barbell rows to lat pulldowns to deadlifts. Then, there are the classic pull-ups. What’s best about pull-ups is that you can use your own body weight and generally get the same results that the aforementioned weighted movements deliver. It’s a good idea, then, to have a sturdy pull-up bar in your home gym.

Many bars on the market are easy to install in a small corner of your home, or even a doorway. I spoke with a fitness expert to get advice on how to choose the best pull-up bars for your home gym. Follow these tips, and you’ll be on your way to a chiseled back and stronger arms.

Our top picks for the best pull-up bars

What to consider when buying a pull-up bar

Weight capacity

There are different types of pull-up bars to consider for your home gym. Whether you purchase a freestanding rig, a wall-mounted unit or a simple bar to install over a doorway, you’ll need to make sure the equipment’s maximum weight capacity can safely sustain your body mass. Finding the right bar for yourself should be relatively easy, as most units range in capacity from 350 pounds all the way up to 600 pounds. But check the unit’s maximum weight capacity before you buy it to be sure it can carry the load.

Mounting type

The next thing you want to consider is the type of mount the equipment has. If your home space is limited, a wall- or door-mounted unit might be a good choice. For a more spacious home gym, you can think about a floor-standing design that would increase your range of motion and be more sturdy.

“You’ll also want to select the area or doorframe of where you’d like it to go in advance,” says veteran personal trainer Stan Kravchenko, founder of OneFit, a personalized digital fitness company. “This will assist with sizing and narrowing down the mounting type.” Whichever you choose for your space, be sure the equipment can be mounted securely for safety purposes.

Materials

The materials used for pull-up bars can vary. Many are made of steel, but some of the simpler units designed for a doorway or wall can be made of plastic, fiberglass or metal. You also want to consider the bar’s grip options. Some bars offer multiple grips to target your muscles from different angles for a more diversified workout. Some can have foam-covered grips, while others are knurled, so pick the grips that will be most comfortable for your hands.

Price

Unlike the best treadmills, best exercise bikes or best rowing machines, purchasing a good in-home pull-up bar doesn't have to break the bank. Durable, well-constructed bars designed for your wall or doorway can be bought for under $100. Larger, freestanding rigs are often made of steel and can increase in price from over $100 up to $500 or more. If your home space is smaller, a less expensive unit for your wall or doorway should be just as effective as freestanding equipment.

How we selected the best pull-up bars

Along with extensive market research, I enlisted a veteran physical trainer to explain the criteria of how to choose and install the best pull-bars. I also screened multiple customer reviews for each of the picks here.

How to install a doorway pull-up bar

Before making a purchase, choose the doorway you’ll use to install the pull-up bar. Take height and width measurements of the door frame so you can compare those measurements with the dimensions of the bar you’re considering. Once you’ve narrowed down your type of pull-up bar according to the measurements (wall mount, doorway mount or freestanding), carefully follow the installation instructions in the package and be sure you have the right tools to safely and securely install your pull-up bar.

Tips for using pull-up bars

Pull-ups have more to do with technique and practice than strength, so Kravchenko instructs that you should have patience while you progress over time. “Regardless of where you’re at in your pull-up journey, proper form is vital,” he says. “Start slow and build up your strength using various assistance methods, like dead-hanging, or different level resistance bands. Once you’ve achieved a body weight rep, continue to advance with quantity or by adding weight.”

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What type of pull-up bar is best?

The best type of pull-up bar for you depends on your needs and your space, Kravchenko says. “Are you building out a larger home gym space and can utilize a freestanding rig, or are you looking for something smaller like a door attachment for your apartment between gym visits? Will it be multifunctional, or are you looking for an apparatus for simple reps? Whatever your purpose is, what’s most important is that you have a solid bar that can bear your weight.”

Are pull-up bars suitable for beginners?

Pull-ups are considered a more advanced exercise, so if you’re new to them, don’t be discouraged. “Very few people can jump onto a bar and instantly do plenty of pull-ups without serious practice,” says Kravchenko. So, as stated previously, technique and practice are pivotal to improving your pull-up regimen.

Is a knurled or smooth pull-up bar better?

“A pull-up bar that has knurling definitely makes for a better grip,” says Kravchenko. “Knurled finishes increase friction on the bar surface, preventing hand slippage. Because of this, it’s my preferred selection for pull-up bars.”

Which pull-up is more effective?

“Both pull-ups and chin-ups are great exercises and equally effective,” Kravchenko says. “The difference, however, is in the muscle groups you may be targeting. With chin-ups, you’re focusing more on working the muscles on the front of your body, such as your biceps and traps. With pull-ups, you’re targeting your back and trapezius muscles and less the biceps compared to chin ups, so it really just comes down to which muscles you’re focusing on training.”