Pandemic or otherwise, having the right fitness essentials in your home gym is always a plus: You’re never too far away from a quality workout. Aside from your regular dumbbells and yoga mats, though, a pull-up bar is yet another one of those nice-to-haves — especially so if you’re looking to build strength and tone your upper body like no other.
According to Men’s Health, “there are no better tests of relative strength … which focuses on how strong you are for your size.” Personal trainer Carlos Concepcion agrees: “Pull-ups and chin-ups are great full body exercises. Pull-ups put emphasis on the lat muscles and shoulders, while chin-ups use a little more biceps and chest,” he adds. “But while both variations work the back muscles, primarily, the whole body has to create tension to be able to pull yourself up.”
Cat Kom, trainer and founder of Studio SWEAT onDemand — a fitness app with one of the largest varieties of workouts — also offers a few tips for mastering the pull-up. “Pull-ups come a lot easier for the guys than for the ladies, but to be fair, it's a pretty tough exercise for everyone. Before you attempt a pull-up, make sure to do a nice dynamic warm-up for your upper body. If you don't, you're risking injury, like a shoulder impingement or tear,” she says. As for workouts she recommends, she specifies lat pull-downs, wide-row swimmer pulls, incline pull-ups, and negatives as the most effective at building strength and endurance.
So, if your goals for this year involve strengthening your back, shoulders, arms, and core, a pull-up bar should be next on the list. An accurate indication of total body fitness, there’s a reason pull-ups are included in most government-mandated fitness tests, including those of the F.B.I. and U.S. Marine Corps. Concepcion says, “The most important factor is investing in a strong piece of equipment that won’t fall or collapse on you!”
The Best Pull-Up Bars
What to Consider
When shopping for a pull-up bar, there are several things to keep in mind to ensure you have a safe and effective workout:
Dimensions: Getting the measurements right is probably the most crucial part before purchase. Measure the width of your doors, as well as the width of the doorframes. Some bars have multiple grips, so factor those into your measurements as well — especially if there are parts that extend over the doorframe edge on either side. That said, consider any obstructions or furniture on any surrounding areas.
Living Situation: Do you own or do you rent? Before purchasing any mounted pull-up bars, consider whether or not you're allowed to affix any mounts or drill into your walls.
Space: Freestanding or dip stations are great for those with larger spaces (your basement, for example, or a dedicated home gym space). For those with smaller spaces, a doorframe bar might be the best choice.
Weight Limit: Last but not the least, consider the bar’s weight capacity. Exceeding the limit is not only dangerous and puts you at risk for a fall, but it can also damage your doorframe, walls, or furniture. A good pull-up bar should be able to easily and securely lift up your entire body via your back, arm, and shoulder muscles without wobbling.
Whether you can do zero, one, or 20 unbroken pull-ups, this exercise isn't easy. Develop your back and shoulder strength by working on your pull-ups each day at home. These bars can help get you there.
1
Best Overall
Multi-Grip Chin-Up and Pull-Up Bar
- 12 handles and grips allow for various forms of exercises
- Easy to assemble
- Affordable
- Some say foam grips can stain lighter doorframes
Key Specs
- Dimensions: 16x41.25x9 inches, 8.7 pounds
- Material: Steel
- Type: Multifunctional
- Weight Capacity: 300 pounds
At just less than $30, this multifunctional pull-up bar provides a well-rounded fitness experience. Hang it over any standard doorframe (24 inches tall, 36 inches wide), screw it in, and you're ready to go.
Its premium-grade steel withstands up to 300 pounds. You can also opt to use it as a floor exercise tool for push ups or as a dip stand. Users love that it is “heavy and sturdy,” and that “you can do wide grip or close grip pull ups and chin ups with this.” “For the price, it delivers on its purpose,” says another 5-star reviewer.
More: Cheap Home Exercise Equipment to Build Your Own Gym on a Budget
2
Best Door-Mounted
XL Doorway Pull-Up Bar
- Elevated bar is 10 inches from the doorframe for a wider range of motion
- No-drill assembly
- 10-year manufacturer's warranty
- Too wide for some doorframes
Key Specs
- Dimensions: 12x36x22 inches, 10.2 pounds
- Material: Alloy steel
- Type: Multifunctional
- Weight Capacity: 300 pounds
Taller folks will appreciate the wider berth and range of motion offered up by this XL bar. Its quality steel hardware comes with ABS couplers for a more secure and sturdy joint fit, and the bar is expandable, making all sorts of pull-up grips — i.e. wide, close, and neutral — easy to achieve. It's also multifunctional, so it can easily be used for floor push-ups. It's also compatible with add-on accessories, and the 10-year warranty is a plus.
Five-star reviews of the bar rave about how it’s great for taller users, and that it doesn’t damage doorframes. “The positioning of the bars being so high and far away from the doorway actually makes pull ups seem easier,” says another. “You get full range of motion, which you’ll never get with a regular doorway bar.”
3
Best Value
Multi-Grip Lite Pull Up and Chin Up Bar
- Six foam grips allow for wide, close, and neutral-grip exercises
- Portable design is practical for smaller spaces
- Very affordable
- Some users report tricky assembling
- Must be removed in order to close the doorway
Key Specs
- Dimensions: 12x36.75x9 inches, 5.5 pounds
- Material: Metal
- Type: Multifunctional
- Weight Capacity: 300 pounds
One of the most straightforward screw-in pull-up bars available, the ProsourceFit Multi-Grip Lite is a practical option for smaller apartments and doorways. Boasting a more compact profile (32 inches, expanded), it's still able to allow for various grip widths, and can withstand up to 300 pounds.
One reviewer says that this simple bar has all three: “cost, quality, and value.” Another user says, “It also does not need to be screwed into the wall or door frame,” making it great for renters.
4
Best Freestanding
Power Tower Dip Station
- Robust, gym-quality frame
- Angled forearm rests are a plus
Key Specs
- Dimensions: 41.2x39.7x64.56 to 88.18 inches, 62 pounds
- Material: Steel alloy
- Type: Freestanding
- Weight Capacity: 400 pounds
Coming in at almost 7 feet tall, this heavy-duty tower is actually pretty easy to assemble (no drills necessary!), and serves as a one-stop shop for getting your upper body gains in. Aside from your regular pull-ups, this sturdy-not-bulky station nails those vertical knee raises, push-ups, and dips — no problem.
Obviously sitting at the higher end of the spectrum price-wise, users praise its “very good quality,” and say that the size of the station is “perfect.”
5
Best Basic Bar
Doorway Chin-Up and Pull-Up Bar
- Easy to set up
- Foam grips minimize fatigue
Key Specs
- Dimensions: 36x3x3 inches, 3 pounds
- Material: Chrome-plated steel
- Type: Doorway
- Weight Capacity: 220 pounds
Set-up is a cinch with this bar: Hang it in your doorway and start working on upper-body strength, and the weight-bearing brackets keep in securely in place. Its adjustable length (from 24.5 to 36 inches) means it's versatile enough to fit most doorways, and can even collapse for easy closet storage.
If you can't do a full pull-up yet, beginners can start slow and steady by just practicing hanging. The bottom line, as per one 5-star reviewer? "Great price. Bar was easy to install. It's very sturdy."
6
Best for Cornered Doors
Pull-Up Bar for Doorway
- Angled top grips provide wrist protection and a smaller machine profile
- Includes suspension straps
Key Specs
- Package Dimensions: 38.6x11.2x2.3 inches, 9.3 pounds
- Material: Iron
- Type: Door-mounted
- Weight Capacity: 400 pounds
The main draw of Iron Age's pull-up bar is a shorter upper bar with an angled handle, which makes it a better fit for corner doors — a common feature in many apartments. It can also be folded flat for easy underbed storage, and as a bonus, it also comes with suspension straps to add more variety and spice to your workouts.
Reviewers consider this “the perfect exercise tool,” praising its sturdy construction. One user said that in terms of bars for cornered doors, “this one fit the bill.”
7
Best Wall-Mounted
Wall-Mounted Pull-Up Bar
- Eyelets and hooks for extras, like punching bags
- As stable as it gets
- Only works with concrete, cement, tile, or brick walls
- Detailed assembly
Key Specs
- Dimensions: 38.1x25.5x21 inches, 12.75 pounds
- Material: Alloy steel
- Type: Wall-mounted
- Weight Capacity: 440 pounds
If the idea of pitting your bodyweight up against your doorframes gives you anxiety, then consider a mounted option. Made of thick alloy steel pipes, the frame of Onetwofit's pull-up bar isn't going anywhere (provided you install it on the correct surface — only cement, brick, and tile will do; alternatively, studs on lumber will also hold up).
All in all, it’s the sturdiest choice, and, as one reviewer says, is definitely “built to last.” Expect it to become a solid part of your home gym, especially once you’ve outfitted it with some bells and whistles. It also comes with eyelets for straps, along with a punching bag hook.
8
Best Locking Mechanism
Doorway Pull-Up and Chin-Up Bar
- No-screw installation
- Allows for doors to close even while installed
- Narrower grip offers fewer workout variations
Key Specs
- Package Dimensions: 29.25x3.8x2.3 inches, 5.75 pounds
- Material: Stainless steel
- Type: Door-mounted
- Weight Capacity: 400 pounds
On the lookout for something simple, effective, and pretty foolproof upon installation? This doorway-locking option from Feierdun is as close as you can get, with an anti-slip locking mechanism that also leaves your frames damage-free. The bar adjusts via a telescopic system, meaning it can extend to accommodate most door frames from 28 inches to slightly over 36 inches.
The only drawback is the bar offers little to no variety for grip, which means taller people might find it a bit constrictive ... especially with wider-grip pull-ups.
However, for most people, it’s an incredibly easy-to-install pick. It was “exactly what I was looking for,” says one reviewer, with another saying that “it holds super firmly.”
9
Best Ceiling-Mounted
Ceiling Mounted Pull-up Bar
- Four grip options
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Detailed assembly and installation
Key Specs
- Dimensions: 42x8x16 inches
- Material: Steel
- Type: Ceiling-mounted
- Weight Capacity: 300 pounds
Free up wall and doorway space with a ceiling pull-up bar that's as ergonomic as it is unobtrusive. Designed to offer a more natural hand position during pull-ups and chin-ups, its angled grips reduce shoulder, elbow, and wrist strain, while also giving you a wider range of motion. The 20-inch space between the grips is also a comfortable fit and width for most.
Many reviewers, in particular, rave about the “perfect” distance between the ceiling and the bar, and that they “couldn’t be happier.” At just over 16 inches, it gives taller folks plenty of room as well.
Eunice Lucero-Lee
Senior Editor
Eunice Lucero-Lee is the Senior Editor for Best Products, and is a beauty, astrology, and pop culture obsessive whose work has been featured in publications such as Cosmopolitan, Esquire, The Numinous, and woman&home, among many others.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io
