Best Pull Up Bar For Calisthenics (Buyer’s Guide)

Disclaimer: Our content doesn't constitute medical or fitness advice. We may be earning money from companies & products we review.  Learn more

A solid calisthenic pull-up bar is a great addition to your home gym because they help develop strength and target many muscles through variations of pulling exercises. Best of all, there’s no gym or weights required.

The tricky part is that finding the best pull-up bar can prove to be a serious challenge. Pull-up bars come in all sizes (a doorway, wall mounted, and freestanding) and materials, so finding the perfect pull-up bar for your needs can be hard. Fortunately for you, we’ve simplified everything you need to know and created a handy list of the best pull-up bars for your home workout. 

In this guide, we’ll run down the best pull-up bars for beginners, and advanced calisthenics practitioners, as well as for specific benefits such as stability and versatility. Read on for a full list of the five best pull-up bars.

Why Do You Need a Pull Up Bar?

A pull-up bar is simple and effective fitness equipment that allows you to practice calisthenics fundamentals and skills using body weight as resistance. The benefits of training with pull-ups include:

  • Develop the back muscles
  • Improve grip strength
  • Improve muscular strength and endurance
  • Improve mental health 
  • Improve bone density
  • It allows you to practice compound exercises that also work the core, shoulders, triceps 
  • Endless versatility of exercise variations

Best Pull Up Bars Upfront

What You Should Assess When Choosing The Right Pull Up Bar?

Right Size

The measurements of a pull-up bar are measured by Length x Width x Height for your available space at home and your target exercises. Check the specification of each manufacturer in the listing below. 

Generally, if you’re tight on space you should go for doorway pull-up bars, whereas if a full range of motion is what you require, then freestanding and wall-mounted pull-up bars are great choices.

Grip Comfort

During an intense session, your grip could suffer as your hands get sweaty which reduces grip, or calluses start to form in your hands making it painful to crank out reps. Some pull-up bars will come with foam grips to absorb sweat and reduce strains in your palms, and some will come without. 

Versatility

Pull-up bars can be attached to your door frame, mounted to a wall or ceiling, or freestanding. Each option will have distinct benefits and drawbacks, but ultimately, the most versatile training equipment is the freestanding pull-up bar such as the Sportsroyal Power Tower Dip Station. This is a combination of pull-ups, dips, push-ups, and hanging abs workout stations.

On the other hand, doorway pull-up bars can almost be placed anywhere and they are often a more price-friendly choice. Some will have over 4 grip combinations including neutral grip handles on them. However, there’s a tendency to restrict your range of motion.

Mounted pull-up bars are more versatile and rigid than their doorway counterparts. They have higher weight capacity which is great if you want to do weighted pull-ups down the line, and they’re also more rigid. However, they require a little DIY expertise in drilling holes into the wall. 

The effect of exercise variation has a scientifically-proven positive effect on improving motivation to train while extending improvements in muscular adaptations.

Maximum Weight Capacity

One of the ways to know if a pull-up bar is safe for you is to know how much weight it can support. This could easily narrow down the list and help you avoid possible injuries. According to recent research, the ideal bar should handle 1.5 times your weight. Therefore, if you weigh 150 lbs, you should choose a bar that has a weight limit of at least 225 lbs, and even more so if you want to add weight on top. 

Best Pull Up Bar (2022)

1. Best Doorway Pull Up Bar: Iron Gym Pull-Up Bar

Price: $27.99

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3qOpkvG

Specifications: No screws needed, removable, mounts on the door frame.

Max weight recommendation: 300lbs/136kg

Item dimension: ‎12.99 x 36.61 x 11.02 inches (LxWxH)

Pros:

  • Easily assemble and disassembledissemble
  • Affordable
  • 4 types of pull-up grips (pronated, supinated, wide, and neutral)

Cons:

  • May make a mark on your doorframe
  • It may not be compatible with a thick doorframe

Work your upper body in the comfort of your home with Iron Gym’s total upper body workout bar. This lightweight, sturdy, and budget-friendly equipment allow you to do pull-ups, chin-ups, push-ups, dips, and sit-ups. 

You can install the Iron Gym in seconds. It is a perfect fit for door frames that are from 24 to 32 inches wide. You do not need any screws to install this bar as it uses leverage to hold against the doorway, so you don’t have to worry about any possibility of damage to your door.

A pull-up is a fundamental exercise in bodyweight training that will help you develop strength and endurance in your upper body muscles, especially in your back and biceps. You can learn how to unlock your first pull-up and do them in perfect form by reading this standard pull-ups tutorial.

2. Best Wall Mounted Pull Up Bar: Yes4All Multifunctional Wall Mounted Pull Up Bar

Price: $26.90 

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3LncDS2

Specifications: Multi-grip position, high weight capacity, solid steel construction

Max weight recommendation: 300lbs/136kg

Item dimension: ‎40.25 x 7.25 x 3.25 inches (LxWxH)

Pros:

  • Cheap
  • Multi-grip position padded with soft foam
  • 1-year warranty

Cons:

  • Grip pads can rip easily 

The Yes4All wall-mounted pull-up bar is the best overall in this list if you want value for money. It’s the cheapest option and it provides a good range of grip options thanks to the multi-grip option. 

You can do close grip, neutral grip, wide grip pull-ups, and chin-ups with comfort to your hands as the padded foam will prevent slippage caused by sweat during a workout. It’s easy to install with clear instructions and you’ll be ready to go in under 10 minutes.

3. Best Free Standing Pull Up Bar: Sportsroyal Power Tower Dip Station

Price: $209.98 

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3Ln3Xez

Specifications: Multi-functional equipment, 4-in-1 station fitness equipment, sturdy construction with extra long H-shape base support

Max weight recommendation: 400lbs/181kg

Item dimension: 39.7 x 39.7 x 64.56-88.18 inches (LxWxH)

Pros:

  • Extremely versatile equipment
  • Adjustable pull-up bar height
  • Comfortable and durable leather pads to give users a comfortable workout

Cons:

  • Can be wobbly 
  • Assembly can take time 

For a home gymer whos looking for a simple and versatile workout station, a Sportsroyal power tower is a great option. It has sturdy construction with a double stability H-shape base that provides eight support points to reduce instability. 

With this power tower, you’ll be able to perform pull-ups, chin-ups, vertical leg raises, and push-ups. Also, it will accommodate most heights with its 6 adjustable bar levels so that you can fully extend your legs. The only drawback with this, however, is that it could take you a while to build as it has many nuts and bolts. 

4. Best Ceiling Mounted Pull Up Bar: Ultimate Body Press Ceiling Mounted Pull Up Bar

Price: $97.99

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3QTRHmV

Specifications: 4 padded grip positions, 20-inch neutral grip spacing, ultra-stable rigid mount, 

Max weight recommendation: 300lbs/136kg

Item dimension: ‎16” or 24” ceiling joist, and the bar drips 14” from your ceiling

Pros:

  • Full range of motion for every exercise
  • Easy installation: comes with hardware, template, and instructions for easy mounting
  • 10-year limited warranty

Cons:

  • The foam grips are bad quality (they barely stay on the bar)

If you fancy doing pull-ups or chin-ups with a full range of motion, then this ceiling-mounted pull-up bar is a great option. This comes with patented reversible risers that fit between 16 inches and 24 inches ceiling joists for total placement flexibility. 

The bar features grip angles to provide a more natural hand position during chin-ups, parallel grip and wide grip pull-ups the finely honed angled grips help you prevent over-articulation of the shoulders and reduce strain on your wrists and elbows. This bar is also robust enough to hang a punching bag if you want to extend your workout with a cardio finisher.

5. Best For Beginners: Iron Age Pull Up Bar

Price: $52.99

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3qQq6si

Specifications: Removable, mounts on the door frame, and three different grip options (close, shoulder-width, and wide grip)

Max weight recommendation: 400lbs/200kg

Item dimension: ‎‎38.6 x 11.2 x 2.3 inches (LxWxH)

Pros:

  • Easily removable 
  • Study and foldable for easy storage
  • An adjustable strap is included for more variety of workouts

Cons:

  • Rubber pads can leave back marks on the doorframe
  • Won’t fit on all doorframes

The Iron Age portable pull-up bar requires zero assemblies. You can simply hook it onto a door frame and you’re ready to go. All you need to do is put on two plastic sleeves to protect the door frame and prevent markings and damage. You can use this in multiple ways, the flexible design allows you to use it for pull-ups, chin-ups, push-ups, and sit-ups. Fits a door width of 22.83”- 6.22”(58-92 cm) and a depth of 8.27” (21 cm).

6. Best for Advanced Athletes: Titan Fitness Wall Mounted Pull Up Bar

Price: $99.99

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3DDVsK6

Specifications: High weight capacity, solid steel construction, robust

Max weight recommendation: 500lbs/226kg

Item dimension: ‎53 x 32 x 31 inches (LxWxH)

Pros:

  • Solid and robust
  • Great for muscle-ups
  • Ideal for taller and heavier users

Cons:

  • Bad quality bolts (bolts are cheap)
  • It can be too big for a home gym

The Titan Fitness wall-mounted pull-up bar is top-notch quality equipment made of steel that will give you a solid feel and stability like in your favorite gym. The matte black powder coating keeps the grip from becoming slippery like chrome or glossy bars. It is ideal for advanced users who can do harder skills such as the muscle-up, front lever, and back lever. Check out these tutorials below to learn how to unlock these moves:

7. Best Portable Pull Up Bar: Cap Barbell FM-905Q Stand Power Rack

Price: $124.00

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3xyI5XK

Specifications: Multi-functional equipment, high-quality steel construction for safety and reliability, color variety options

Max weight recommendation: 600lbs/272kg 

Item dimension: 50 x 46 x 85 inches (LxWxH)

Pros:

  • Budget-friendly 
  • Can perform a variety of exercises
  • Great for small apartments

Cons:

  • Not ideal for intermediate/advanced lifters
  • Instructions are not straightforward

This barbell stand power rack is one of the best and cheapest free-standing pull-up bars you can find on Amazon. It’s designed with heavy use in mind and it has multiple features giving you a wide range of exercise options such as pull-ups, bench presses, shrugs, squats, hanging leg raises, and more.

It is stable enough that you can do muscle-ups and pull-ups with no problem without being mounted to the floor. For extra stability, you can load it with weights or sandbags. Budget-friendly equipment that is powder coated and ideal for those who live in apartments or have less space.  

At Home Pull Up Bars

There are different pull-up bar variations you can choose from ranging from door-way, wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted, and freestanding pull-up bars We highly recommend you check out our top picks for these different types of pull-up bars:

The Takeaways: Best Pull Up Bar


Now that you’ve chosen the best pull-up bar for your home workout, you can check our list of nine pulling exercises to transform your health and physique. Pull-ups are one of the best upper body exercises you can do. We have also compiled a list of the best equipment for your home training:

For a step-by-step training program that contains all of the best exercise progressions for your fitness level to build muscle and lose fat, just book a free consultation and speak to one of our expert coaches today to achieve your dream body.


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *