When considering the equipment you would need when building or improving their home gym, a solid workout bench should be at the top of your list. While you can still perform a lot of strength work on a floor mat, a bench allows for more depth in your rows, a more stable base for your flyes, and the opportunity to build muscle in your lower body with step-ups. You also get upwards of two-inches of padding compared to half an inch from most floor mats.The list of exercises a home gym bench can enable is exceptionally long, many of which don’t need any resistance aside from bodyweight, like hip thrusters or incline and decline push-ups for example.
When it comes to choosing a weight bench, you should consider things like adjustability, accessories, and weight capacity. Flat benches allow for basic strength circuits, while adjustable ones add incline and decline for many exercises. Some benches have accessories like leg developers, while other benches offer attachments for exercises like preacher curls. And if you’re doing any amount of heavy lifting, heavy duty benches can accommodate over 1,000 pounds of weight.With all of these options in mind, we’ve done the hard digging for you when it comes to finding the best weight benches, and we’ve compiled them right here.
Best Workout Benches
Best Weight Bench Overall: Finer Form Adjustable Weight Bench
Best Weight Bench for Home: Rogue Bolt Together Utility Bench
Best Foldable Weight Bench: Finer Form Foldable Flat Bench
Best Weight Bench with Squat Rack: Titan Fitness Competition Bench and Squat Rack Combo
Best Weight Bench with Preacher Curl and Leg Developer: Force USA MyBench
Best Weight Bench for Sit-Ups: Finer Form Semi-Commercial Sit Up Bench Elite
Best Heavy Duty Weight Bench: Monster Utility Bench 2.0
Best Weight Bench Overall
Our top pick is versatile, adjustable, and won’t break the bank, making it a great pick for pretty much any home gym.
Finer Form Adjustable Weight Bench
This bench snags our top spot for its versatility. It has eight adjustable positions that range from a decline of -15 degrees to an incline of 90 degrees, so you can use it for a wide variety of incline and decline lifts, as well as flat bench work. It’s built for athletes who are really pumping the pounds since its weight capacity is almost double the average at 1,000 pounds. It features a comfortable 2.55-inch pad, and is fairly small and easy to move around your space using its two back wheels.
The Finer Form Adjustable weight bench offers eight adjustable positions for incline and decline strength work. It can accommodate up to 1,000 pounds, and has a 2.55-inch thick pad for comfort.
Who Should Buy The Finer Form Adjustable Weight Bench
- Users who want to incorporate incline and decline into their strength work.
- Customers who want something quick to assemble — this takes about 15 minutes.
- Heavy lifters who need a higher weight capacity.
Who Shouldn’t Buy The Finer Form Adjustable Weight Bench
- Athletes who want a weight rack included with their weight bench
- Anyone who just wants a flat space for work — there are cheaper non-adjustable options on the market.
If you want a bench that keeps things pretty basic but can still adjust to suit your needs, the FID Adjustable Weight Bench will be a great option for you.
Best Weight Bench for Home
In need of a bench that can slide into a tight space? Our top pick for home is great for small home gyms or apartment living.
Rogue Bolt Together Utility Bench
The Rogue Bolt Together Utility Bench is a basic flat bench without any added flare or accessories, but it holds up and gets the job done. Its 11-gauge steel frame is wrapped in a high-quality black vinyl and built to last. It can also support weights of up to 1,000 pounds for when the pre-workout kicks your morning lift into a high gear. But what makes it great for home is that you can squeeze it pretty much anywhere — behind the arm of a couch, or in the corner of your bedroom, for example. It’s worth noting that this bench does not fold up though, so it’s meant to stay out in your space, not store away in a closet.
The Rogue Bolt Together Utility Bench has an 11-gauge steel frame wrapped in a high-quality black vinyl that supports up to 1,000 pounds of weight. It's basic and durable, which makes it a great fit for any home gym space.
Who Should Buy The Rogue Bolt Together Utility Bench
- Customers who are living in an apartment and need something that doesn’t take up a lot of floor space.
- Anyone who just needs a flat space to work and doesn’t want to mess with incline or decline adjustments.
- Users who want a sturdy bench that self levels on uneven surfaces.
Who Shouldn’t Buy The Rogue Bolt Together Utility Bench
- Anyone who wants a light piece of equipment — the 11-gauge steel makes this bench around 50 pounds.
- Customers who want a product that costs less than $200.
- Athletes who want a soft pad — though thick, this pad feels rock solid.
You won’t take up a lot of space in your home with this flat bench, and it will hold up through years of heavy use and lifting, making it well-worth its $215 price tag.
Best Foldable Weight Bench
A bench made for closets and underbed storage — this pick squeezes into almost any space when it’s not being used.
Finer Form Foldable Flat Bench
Not only does the Finer Form Foldable Flat Bench fold up tightly for storage in small spaces, but unlike many other foldable benches, it doesn’t wobble while it’s in use. Its 4-way frame structure holds steady and supports up to 1,000 pounds of weight. While it’s just a flat bench and doesn’t offer adjustability for incline or decline training, you can still bank on it for all your bench press, single-arm row, and Bulgarian split squat needs. Don’t worry about comfort — the Foldable Flat Bench is extra padded, measuring a full 3-inches thick.
Durable, compact, and boasting comfortable padding, Finer Form's bench can be folded up after use.
Who Should Buy The Finer Form Foldable Flat Bench
- Users who want a small bench that folds up for storage when not in use.
- Anyone who wants a bench with a higher weight capacity — this one can support up to 1,000 (vs. the average 600)
- Athletes looking for a bench with comfortable padding.
Who Shouldn’t Buy The Finer Form Foldable Flat Bench
- Folks who want a bench that offers incline and decline options.
- Anyone who wants added accessories, like a squat rack or arm rest for preacher curls.
For any studio apartment dwellers or athletes with a small room for their training equipment, this pick will stow away to keep your gym space clear for other equipment or furniture when you’re not using it. And when you need it, simply pull it out, unfold, and get to work.
Best Weight Bench with Squat Rack
If you’re looking for a full body burn when you’re working with your weight bench, this pick has a squat rack, as well as a basic flat bench.
Titan Fitness Competition Bench and Squat Rack Combo
If you’ve had enough of single leg bench squats and step-ups, the Titan Fitness Competition Bench Squat Rack Combo adds an extra space for your lower body work. Simply remove the safety pin from the bench and roll it back to make use of the squat rack alone. In addition, the squat rack can assist in bench pressing and spotting — easily customize the spotter arm length, the bench press j-hook height, and the squatter j-hook height with the pop-pin on the rack. However, this bench is not meant to squeeze into a small space — it’s 225 pounds on its own and measures 81 inches wide, 59 inches deep, and has a 61-inch max squat height.
This bench acts as a squat rack and bench press, allowing competitive powerlifters to train with the same equipment they'll experience at a meet.
Who Should Buy The Titan Fitness Competition Bench and Squat Rack Combo
- Athletes looking for a full-body burn with both bench work and a squat rack.
- Customers looking for a sturdy, heavy-duty piece of equipment.
- Heavy lifters who need a bench that can handle 1,000 pounds.
Who Shouldn’t Buy The Titan Fitness Competition Bench and Squat Rack Combo
- Customers looking for a steal — this bench costs just under $1,000.
- Apartment dwellers who need a smaller piece of equipment.
- Users who want incline and decline options on their bench.
Though this bench is one of the larger options on the market, it offers a wider variety of lower body work options that can only be done with the addition of a squat rack. If you have the space, the occasional full-body burner won’t hurt.
Best Weight Bench with Preacher Curl and Leg Developer
This pick has attachments for both preacher curls and leg work to create the opportunity for more versatile workouts.
Force USA MyBench
If you enjoy the occasional preacher curl or leg developer workout, but you don’t want to commit to buying a separate piece of equipment for either, the Force USA MyBench has attachments for both. Whenever you want to work your curls or legs, you can pop on either attachment and pop it off when you’re done to go back to using your bench on its own. As for the bench itself, the back adjusts to six positions that range from a -25-degree decline to a 75-degree incline. The seat also adjusts to three different positions for comfort. The weight capacity is just a little over average at 705 pounds, so if you load up for your bench presses, you’ll have to be conscious of that number.
The Force USA MyBench comes with flat, incline, and decline settings, and also offers preacher curl and leg extension attachments.
Who Should Buy The Force USA MyBench
- Customers who want a fully adjustable bench that ranges from -25 degrees decline to 75 degrees incline
- Athletes who want to incorporate both leg work and/or preacher curls into their bench routine.
- Users who need an above average weight capacity for heavy lifting — this bench accommodates 705 pounds.
Who Shouldn’t Buy The Force USA MyBench
- Athletes who are just looking for a basic, flat bench for the occasional upper-body strength session.
- Folks working with a very tight space — the adjustments add to the footprint of this bench.
Though this machine takes up a little more space than your basic adjustable bench, the addition of the attachments allows for more versatile workouts without having to buy extra equipment for your home gym.
Best Weight Bench for Sit-Ups
For the core work aficionados, this pick will have your abs working and core burning much more than an average flat bench.
Finer Form Semi-Commercial Sit Up Bench Elite
While you can still do some basic crunches on an adjustable or flat bench, the Finer Form Semi-Commercial Sit Up Bench Elite has a high-grade steel crunch handle for leg lifts and reverse crunches, along with 3-level, 4” padded rollers for leg anchoring. The rollers can adjust to your height and weight to create the ultimate comfort level, and the backboard has an extra-long build to accommodate tall users. It’s worth noting that this bench does not lay flat — it’s always in a decline, so if you want a bench that you can use for more typical bench presses or dumbbell flyes, you’ll want to add an additional flat bench to your home gym stash.
The Finer Form Semi-Commercial Sit Up Bench Elite is built to target your core. It has a high-grade steel crunch handle for leg lifts and reverse crunches, along with 3-level, 4” padded rollers that can adjust to your height and weight. Plus, the backboard is extra-long to accommodate taller users.
Who Should Buy The Finer Form Semi-Commercial Sit Up Bench Elite
- Users who want a bench that can enhance their core workouts more than your average flat bench can.
- Tall athletes who need a bench with some extra length.
- Anyone who wants a bench that can adjust to an angle that matches their individual height and weight.
Who Shouldn’t Buy The Finer Form Semi-Commercial Sit Up Bench Elite
- Heavy lifters who need a bench with a super high weight capacity.
- Customers who want to focus more on basic arm, shoulder, and back work and less on core exercises.
The Finer Form Semi-Commercial Sit Up Bench Elite is ideal for users who are honing in on their core work. Though you can still work your upper body on a decline, this bench is built for crunches, leg lifts and other ab-burners you can’t work as easily on a flat bench.
Best Heavy Duty Weight Bench
Our top pick here is as sturdy as they come, eliminating all wobbles or instability when you lift extra heavy.
Monster Utility Bench 2.0
The Monster Utility Bench 2.0 has a 3×3” 11-gauge steel and a 26.5” rear base for added stability. The sturdy single column front foot allows for more comfortable and stable foot placement during bench presses, as well. The pad is 2.5” to 4.5” inches thick, depending on the option you select, and the weight capacity is over 1,000 pounds. You won’t have to worry about this bench falling out from under you, but its sturdy build does make it a bit heavier, so you’ll need to use the rear wheels and built-in handles to maneuver this machine around comfortably. Though stable, this bench stays laying flat and does not feature any adjustments for incline or decline lifts.
The Monster Utility Bench 2.0 is made of 3x3” 11-gauge steel, and has a 26.5” rear base and sturdy single column front foot for stability. The weight capacity is over 1,000 pounds, and you can easily rear maneuver it using the two back wheels and built-in handles.
Who Should Buy The Monster Utility Bench 2.0
- Users who want a sturdy, durable bench without any accessories to distract from their strength work.
- Customers who want extra padding on their bench for added comfort during heavy lifting.
- Anyone who needs a bench that can support upwards of 1,000 pounds in weight.
Who Shouldn’t Buy The Monster Utility Bench 2.0
- Athletes who want a bench with incline and decline adjustments.
- Folks who want a squat rack, leg developer, or other added accessories included with their bench.
- Anyone looking for a light bench they can easily pick up and move around.
For a basic flat bench that can support heavy weight and remain steady throughout, the Monster Utility Bench will not disappoint.
Before Buying a Weight Bench Consider
As with most home gym equipment, weight benches don’t come cheap. So when you’re making a decision on which bench is right for your gym space, you’ll want to consider what kind of bench you need for your typical workouts, how much weight you’ll be lifting, and how much space you have.
Flat vs. Adjustable
When it comes to the two main types of weight benches, you’ll be choosing between a flat bench and an adjustable bench. Flat benches offer a lot of versatility at the most basic level. You can perform bench presses, pecs flyes, dumbbell pullovers, iso-dumbbell holds and much more, all without needing to raise or lower your back for incline or decline. A flat bench is great for anyone who wants to take their upper body dumbbell work up off the yoga mat on the floor and onto a more comfortable surface.
An adjustable bench takes these basic moves to the next level by adding options for incline and decline. While you can still use the bench laying flat, you can also opt for a range of different angles, and work more exercises like shoulder press, dumbbell fly, and the incline versions the same exercises you can perform flat. If you’re considering an adjustable bench, expect to spend a little more money, but know you’ll get a wider variety of exercises you can perform on your bench out of it.
Weight Capacity
Since your bodyweight and the pounds you are lifting are both supported by the bench underneath you, you’re going to want to make sure your bench can accommodate both. The average weight capacity for a weight bench is around 600 pounds, but many benches can support upwards of 1,000 pounds.
Typically, the listed capacity is referring to the overall weight, which includes both the user’s weight and the weights they are lifting. There are some who list their weight capacities differently, so before you commit, make sure you’re retaining the proper information from what you’re reading. After all, the last thing you need to worry about when you’re pressing hundreds of pounds over your head is if your bench is going to hold up or come crashing down on you.
Space
Though most benches are fairly small, taking up only the space you need for the bench itself and its supporting legs, some come with added accessories that require a lot more room. At the top of that range are benches that come with a full squat rack. With these, you’ll need more horizontal space to accommodate the width of the rack, as well as vertical space for the rack’s height.
If you like the idea of having equipment that works both your upper and lower body, but you don’t necessarily want a piece of equipment that requires half of your garage space, there are benches that come with leg developer and preacher curl attachments. These options still need more space than your basic bench does, but they won’t take up as much as a squat rack, offering a nice in-between.
How We Decide the Best
We understand that it’s easy to search “weight benches” on Amazon and “add to cart” the cheapest option you find. This isn’t necessarily the option that’s going to be the most worthwhile purchase, and it’s definitely not the option that’s going to hold up if you’re lifting anything more than light dumbbells. When pulling this list together, we selected only reliable picks, so you know your money spent will be worth it.
Durability
Sometimes cheaper adjustable benches can break along the fold after a good amount of use. We made sure that the options on here — in both the low and high price ranges — will hold up for their full lifespan, which tends to be around 20 years. As long as you clean and care for your equipment properly, wiping away any excess sweat, our picks won’t break on you.
Additionally, some of the padding on cheaper benches can be super thin — like 0.25 inches thin. You won’t want a bench whose pad is less than one inch thick (trust us), but no pad on this list is less than two inches thick. Rest assured these benches will not only be comfortable, but their padding won’t deflate down to the hard frame as you use them.
Price
While you may be able to find some $50 benches on Amazon, these tend to be less durable, and they may even break before you even get your money’s worth. Our picks range anywhere from $100 to $1,000, but with each selection, you’re going to get a product that will last you years, instead of breaking within a few months. In other words, some of these picks may be more expensive, but they’re well-worth the price.
Range of Products
Different athletes have different needs, so we wanted to have benches on this list that could meet a range of these needs. Many of the options you’ll find on here have different offerings, from basic flat benches all the way up to benches with squat racks. Whether you have a lot of space and want a bench with more accessories, or you live in a studio apartment and want something basic that folds up and slides under your bed, we’ve included a solid pick for you.
Final Word
A bench may not be the biggest piece of equipment in your gym, but it’s still a key resource for a great workout. While you can utilize your floor for some upper body and core work, a bench takes everything to the next level and adds comfort and support for your back, as well as extends your range of motion during certain movements (think floor press vs. bench press) as you work. From chest flyes and skullcrushers to box jumps, a bench provides much more versatility than a basic floor mat.
As you’re going through your wants — flat or adjustable? Squat rack or no squat rack? Preacher curl or leg developer attachment? Or maybe both? — simply weigh them up against this list, pick what’s right for you, and add a lift to your at-home workout routine.
FAQs
How long will a weight bench last?
Weight benches can last up to 20 years. If you keep your bench clean and try not to bang it around too much, you won’t need to peruse the web for a replacement for that full two decades. Just be conscious of the fold on adjustable benches — these tend to wear faster, so if yours starts feeling unstable after only 15 years, don’t ignore it.
Is it worth it to buy a more expensive weight bench?
In the long run, yes. While you may be spending more money upfront, these benches will last a full 20 years and won’t wear down nearly as quickly as the less expensive options. Some benches that come with a lot of accessories may cost upwards of $1,000 though, so if you’re considering one of those, make sure you’ll make use of each accessory you’re getting — otherwise, it won’t be worth that expensive price tag.
What’s the difference between using a flat bench vs. a mat on the floor?
Though you can still perform dumbbell chest presses, flyes and skullcrushers on the floor, a bench allows you to hone in on your technique by adding extra comfort and helping to anchor your lower body as you work. In addition, you can use a flat bench for lower body work — like step-ups — that you simply can’t do on the floor.
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