The 9 Best Pull-Up Bars for Your Home Gym, According to Trainers

Exercising at home (and working from home and going to medical appointments from home) is the new normal. Busy setting up your own sweat studio? We're here to help you find the best chin-up bar and pull-up bar for your home workouts.

"Most pull-up bars take up little to no space; it's a great piece of equipment to work your back, biceps, arms, shoulders and core; and it's a convenient reminder to get your workout in at home," says Lindsey Clayton, CPT, cofounder of the Brave Body Project and senior instructor at Barry's in New York City.

But with so many options and styles, where do you start? Luckily, you can skip the extensive research — we've got you covered. Browse the best home pull-up bars for your home and learn how to choose the best one.

We consulted several fitness professionals to weigh in on their favorite at-home pull-up and and chin-up bars. We selected products based on their criteria, including:

• Mount type
• Grip options
• Weight capacity

This versatile pick comes recommended by Chris Powell, CSCS and Heidi Powell, CPT, personal training couple and founders of TransformHQ. It can be used as a doorframe pull-up bar or taken down and used for push-ups (holding the bars) and triceps dips (holding the bars behind your back).

It does rest solely on your door (though the company says it can support up to 300 pounds), so you want to make sure your frame is plenty sturdy.

Also recommended by the Powells, this three-in-one doorway gym adds a little more versatility to your workouts.

This one mounts on the door and has two attachments, including a dip bar for triceps dips and handles for body-weight rows, assisted squats — basically any suspension trainer exercise. This bar can attach to any standard doorframe within seconds, and holds up to 300 pounds.

Afraid to mount on your doorframe? This pull-up bar is a great standalone option if you have a bit of extra floor space.

This stand-up workout station features a multi-grip pull-up station, a push-up station, a vertical knee-raise station and a dip station. Bonus: The entire setup weighs just under 100 pounds.

If you already have a power rack or rig in your home gym, this pull-up bar is a great addition.

Recommended by Devon Levesque, CPT, the Batwing bar is one of the best you can get for your home gym. However, it needs to be bolted to a power rack, rig or bridge. With the Batwing bar, you can perform wide- and narrow-grip pull-ups and chin-ups, or use suspension straps, rings or ropes for a more versatile workout.

Place this pull-up bar on any standard doorframe and you can do narrow-, normal- and wide-grip chin-ups or pull-ups — your choice.

"It's simple: no bells and whistles, but gets the job done," says Bobby Gallant, CPT, a New York–based Barry's instructor. "Today especially, as working out in our living room has become the norm, this is the best pull-up bar for home as it gives me the opportunity to get in a great workout and doesn't take up too much space in my apartment."

If you have the space and want something sturdy that will be able to support up to 500 pounds, consider this freestanding power rack.

"I'm a bigger guy. I need the security that this standing bar provides so that I don't have to worry about getting hurt because the bar can't support my weight and it falls off a doorway," says Alonzo Wilson, CPT, founder of Tone House in New York.

You can also use the rack with a barbell to perform lifts like a chest press or squat to round out your routine. The rack may take up space but they're one of the most versatile home fitness equipment options out there.

This brand is known for its high quality and performance, so mount this bar securely to a wood stud, ceiling joist or concrete wall (the brand recommends having a general contractor help), and start counting your reps. It's the perfect addition to a garage or basement gym.

This is a high-quality option that's ideal for a garage gym, says corrective exercise specialist Yusuf Jeffers, CPT, a coach at both Tonehouse and Mile High Run Club in New York. "The wall mounting gives enough space away from the wall to allow many variations of pull-up exercises without taking up lots of room or tipping over as some standalone units are at risk of doing."

Don't let a wall get in the way of your pull-ups. Mount this bar on the ceiling where you have enough space around you to not only do pull-ups, but ab exercises like L sits, too.

"Calisthenic workouts and mastering body-weight movements will always be a pillar of personal fitness," says Trevor Franklin, CPT, a New York–based group fitness instructor and personal trainer. "This bar is versatile because you can do so many body-weight exercises on it, and because it's mounted to the ceiling, it doesn't take up much space or get in the way."

The angled bar allows for a more natural grip position, too.

If you're a gym rat with a more advanced at-home gym set up and you already have a rack or rig, add these steel attachments to create the perfect pull-up bar. The handles rotate a full 360 degrees, allowing you to choose from seven different width positions.

"You can perform so many pull-up and chin-up variations thanks to the rotating arms and handles," says Meghan Hayden, CPT, a New York City–based personal trainer. "It's a very sturdy bar that will last years and will cover all your pull-up needs as you advance and want to progress your movements a bit further — the challenges are endless!"

You'll need to consider the amount of space you have at home before you purchase a pull-up bar. If you live in a small apartment and are thinking about a doorframe option, measure your doorframe to ensure the bar will fit and lie flush against the frame.

If you have a basement or garage gym with concrete walls or steady wood beams you can anchor a bar into, you may want to consider a ceiling or wall-mounted option.

The last thing you want is to fall mid-pull-up. So, if you're unsure whether it's safe to mount a bar on your door or wall, it's best to consult a contractor and read the instructions very carefully.

When it comes to working out and using any type of gear or equipment, safety is a top priority. That's why you need to consider your size and weight when purchasing a pull-up bar.

"I'm 240 pounds, so I hate doorframe bars because they can't support my weight," Wilson says. "They can become dangerous and people can get hurt on them if they don't pay attention to the weight capacity."

Always check how much weight the pull-up or chin-up bar says it can support. If you're on the lighter end, a doorframe bar might work for you, but if you're heavier, a wall- or ceiling-mounted option or a freestanding bar are probably your best bet.

Not only do you need to consider the type of mount you want for your home, but you also need to make sure you're able to install the bar safely.

While a doorframe bar is simply placed on the frame with relative ease, mounted bars are meant to be secured in place and never move — that means you need some extra tools. Some pull-up bar manufacturers even recommend having a general contractor help you install your chin-up or pull-up bar in order to ensure it's done properly and is safe to use.

Before you buy, look through the product info to get the full scoop on installation details and requirements.

If you're just starting out with chin-ups and working up to a pull-up, a simple bar with one grip will do.

However, if you're a fitness fiend who can knock out sets of pull-ups, make sure you're getting a bar that offers multiple grips or has rotating arms or handles so you can position different grips manually.

But multiple grips isn't always necessary. According to the Powells, there are plenty of quality pull-up bars that don't include neutral grip, so don't consider it a make-or-break feature. Instead, consider your favorite exercise variations and go with that.