Which pullup bar is best?

Gym memberships can be expensive, especially when some of those gyms may not have the space or equipment you’re looking for. You may not even have a gym near your home, and you just want to be able to work out in your private space.

Pullup bars aren’t just useful for pullup exercises — many models can be used as pushup stations, dip stations and more. If you’re looking for a sturdy yet easily adjustable pullup bar, the Stud Bar Ceiling or Wall Mountable Pullup Bar is the top choice.

What to know before you buy a pullup bar

Installation

Pullup bars can be installed with four main types of mounts: tension mounts, leverage mounts, wall mounts and ceiling mounts. Other pullup bars are freestanding.

Tension mount bar: A tension mount bar is similar to tension shower curtain rods, using tension to keep it in place and allowing it to be adjusted to various heights.
Leverage-mounted bar: A leverage-mounted bar uses your door frame to keep it stable and can be great if you have a stable door frame.
Wall-mounted bar: Wall-mounted bars attach to the wall and can be more stable than tension and leverage-mounted bars.
Ceiling-mounted bar: Ceiling-mounted bars can be helpful if you don’t have the space to place a pullup bar anywhere else; just keep in mind how high your ceiling is.
Freestanding bars don’t have any mounts at all; they just stand on their own.

Weight limit

Look for pullup bars that can handle your weight and then some, as you don’t want to get a bar that’s too close to your weight. Also, take into consideration if you want to do weighted pullups and how much weight you’ll be using if you’ll be doing weighted exercises. There are pullup bars that have weight capacities over 500 pounds, which can give you more than enough comfort when using them.

Height

If using a tension- or leverage-mounted pullup bar would be too low to do pullups, go with a wall or ceiling-mounted bar, which will likely give you more height to work with, but consider what heights you can reach in your home.

What to look for in a quality pullup bar

Different grips

Having a pullup bar with different grips can be helpful if you want to work out different muscles and add more variety to your workouts. The different grips can also allow you to do different workouts on the ground with the bar. Grips such as boulder grips can make pullups more difficult.

Padded grips

Most pullup bars with padding on the grips are made of soft materials such as foam, silicone, or rubber. Having padded grips can make pullups feel more comfortable. However, thicker grips can make pullups more difficult than having no grips on a bar, as larger grips place more work on the forearms.

How much you can expect to spend on a pullup bar

You can find some simple doorway-mounted or tension rod pullup bar designs for $10-$30. If you want a bar that can be more multipurpose and durable, those cost $30-$100. More advanced models with extra features cost from $100-$200.

Pullup bar FAQ

Is there a proper form for pullups?

A. Yes. The proper form consists of placing your hands with an overhand grip on the bar slightly wider than your shoulders. Have your thumbs next to your hands with the grip, not wrapped beneath the bar, and lift yourself up. Keep your shoulders back and maintain an arch while leading with your chest going up to the bar.

The pullup bar that I’m interested in doesn’t offer too many options. How important is my grip?

A. Even with the most basic pullup bar, you can do chin-ups using an underhand grip, and pullups using an overhand grip. However, for other grips such as a hammer or neutral grips, you’ll have to look for models that offer those grips. These grips can be less strenuous on the wrists and can be effective if you can’t do chin-ups or pullups yet.

What are the best pullup bars to buy?

Top pullup bar

Stud Bar Ceiling or Wall Mountable Pullup Bar

What you need to know: Giving you a gym-quality feel, this pullup bar can be placed either on the ceiling or wall of your home.

What you’ll love: The bar is adjustable, so you’re able to adjust it whether it’s mounted to the wall or ceiling. It has a great 600-pound capacity and comes with a lifetime warranty.

What you should consider: The bolts that come with the bar may weaken considerably after frequent use.

Top pullup bar for the money

Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym Pro Doorway Pullup Bar

What you need to know: Providing versatility with its multiple uses, this pullup bar can be adjusted to fit different door frame sizes.

What you’ll love: Along with being able to do pullups with the product, you can place it facing down toward the ground to perform pushups, situps, and more. It has a reliable 300-pound weight capacity.

What you should consider: The grips are on the thinner side.

Worth checking out

Stamina X Boulder Doorway Trainer

What you need to know: This pullup bar is quick to attach to your door trim with no installation needed, giving you quick access to your workouts.

What you’ll love: This item is supported by an audio coaching app that lets you integrate the equipment with the app. It offers various types of grips, including a unique boulder grip.

What you should consider: With no adjustable capabilities, you’ll need to have a sturdy doorway trim for this item to be useful.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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