Best Doorway Pull Up Bar Reviews
The pull up has rightly been called the upper body squat. The pull-up is one of the simplest and most effective exercises you can do to carve up your upper body—back, arms, chest, and shoulders—as well as firm up your core. You can perform the exercises with the best doorway pull up bars almost anywhere! Ignite a complex blend of muscle groups to raise your fitness to new levels.
A simple chin-up bar hung over a closet door or mounted to the wall can be used for a muscle-sculpting workout that takes only a few minutes, three days a week. If you’re looking to boost your strength, muscle tone, and overall fitness, pull-ups are one of the easiest exercises to understand and complete. Check out our list and find the best door pull up bar for your needs!
- Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar
- Ultimate Body Press XL Doorway
- YOGABODY Naturals Trapeze Door Frame
- Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym Doorway Pull Up
- Sunny Health & Fitness Pull Up Bar
- ProsourceFit Multi-Grip Chin-Up/Pull-Up Bar
- Gorilla Gym Power Fitness Package
- Sportneer Pull Up Bar
- JFit Deluxe Doorway Pull-Up Bar
- Beachbody P90X Chin-up Bar
In a Hurry? The test winner after 14 hrs of research
Mounts quickly
5 total quip positions
Can be used for situps too
Safety brackets included
10 Best Pull Up Bar for Home
1. Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar
Mounts quickly
5 total quip positions
Can be used for situps too
Safety brackets included
Tools that come with it are flimsy
The Iron Gym Extreme is the best pull up bar for doorway. It's a hugely popular door jamb pull up bar and the reasons are obvious. It offers the user an impressive variety of workout options, sets up with ease and looks good.
The Iron Gym Extreme door pull up bar is packed with features that allow you to extend your workout beyond the basics of pull-ups and chin-ups. It comes completely disassembled, but assembly is quick and easy.
Read moreThis Iron Gym product is the best at home pull up bar and is also a breeze to put up and remove from your door frame. The bar offers an extra-wide pull up as well as grips to allow for a variety of angles to work lats from every conceivable angle. There’s also a narrow grip option to put the focus on your biceps. It even offers a couple of hammer grip options to target the delts and forearms. This provides a truly impressive number of training options in one device.
Once you’re done with hitting the back through pull up variations, simply take the bar down and you’ve got an accessory to allow you to perform elevated push-ups, dips, and crunches safely and effectively.
The Iron Gym Extreme door frame pull up bar has a maximum load capacity of 300 pounds. The unit comes with a safety pin to hold the chin-up bar in place when not being used.
2. Ultimate Body Press XL Doorway
Thick steel tubing
Wide foam pads
Range of gripping options
Max weight 300 pounds
Foam padding not thick enough
The Ultimate Body Press XL Pull Up Bar is an impressive unit that ticked all of our requirements, including not leaving any footprint on the door jamb. It uses unique flat molding contact points that are gentler on the door frame than anything else we’ve encountered.
Read moreThis stylish black and the white unit are constructed with steel tubing, foam, and plastic. The unit comes unassembled with a separate bag consisting of screws, nuts, and washers, along with a wrench and Phillips screwdriver. The doorway pull-up bar is very securely held by the door frame alone, without the need for drilling or screwing. It fits a standard door frame from 24” to 36” wide. There are three contact points to ensure that the chin-up bar is totally secure.
This home pull up bar features thicker than standard steel tubing to provide for a superior level of stability when exercising. It has a variety of mounting positions to ensure that it fits your door perfectly. The back bar can also be adjusted to provide more ground clearance for taller people. The foam pads give an even weight distribution to provide more stability and give longer life to your door trim. The protruding foam gives you a tremendous variety of wide grip options when performing your pull-ups. The foam padding on this pull up bar actually extends across the entire length of the bar. The extended lateral bars also allow you to perform palms facing each other pull-ups as well as leg lifts and raises to work the muscles of the core.
The versatility of the Ultimate Body Press XL is another major plus for this product. When not attached to the door, it can be used to perform elevated push-ups, sit-ups, and dips. The maximum user weight on this doorway pull up bar is an impressive 300 pounds.
3. YOGABODY Naturals Trapeze Door Frame
Max load 300 pounds
Very solid and reliable
Easy to fit
Only one side rotates
The YogaBody door workout bar is easy to install in a matter of minutes and you can take it down when you are not using it. It is nice and simple and will get the job done.
Read moreThe YogaBody Natural Pull Up Bar is the best home pull up bar that we found under $25. It is a telescopic unit that extends to be enclosed within the top of your door frame. The chrome tubing will fit between a door that is up to 36 inches wide. The YogaBody telescopic bar will allow you to do the standard pull up or chin up with a variety of hand spacings. It does not, however, allow for the range of hand placements that higher priced models feature.
The YogaBody Natural Pull Up Bar is a piece of cake to install. It has a maximum load of 330 pounds. When you are not doing pull-ups, you can use it to hang a yoga trapeze.
After your workout, the chin-up bar comes down with a simple twisting motion.
4. Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym Doorway Pull Up
Offers a variety of grips
Designed for larger users
Can be used for floor exercises
16 bolt connections
Not a very good instruction manual
The Perfect Fitness pull up bar fits in most doorways and is attached securely which makes it the second-best door frame pull up bar on our list. You can also use it on the floor for pushups or situps. It is a compact design made of quality durable material.
Read moreThe Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym Doorway bar is perfect for doorway pullups but it does even more. You can put it on the floor and use it for pushups, dips, and situps. The handles are padded and will help you keep your correct form.
The handles have a nice wide grip with three different grip options. This is such a handy little portable workout gym. It has a 300-pound weight capacity and an adjustable design.
5. Sunny Health & Fitness Pull Up Bar
Nice simple design
Weight-bearing brackets
Foam hand grips
Slip-resistant handles
No locking mechanism
The simplicity of this unit is the best feature. Because the chin-up bar extends from both sides, you’ll always be gripping bars of the same width. And because the chin-up bar utilizes turn-buckle technology, you can get tremendous tension very quickly by simply turning the ends in opposite directions. At under twenty bucks, this one is great value for money and it does a great, if somewhat limited, job.
Read moreThis simply designed doorway pull up bar will be all you need to train like a pro. It is made of chrome-plated steel which makes it sturdy, tough, and secure. It can hold up to 220 pounds when installed correctly.
This door pull-up bar is very convenient because it has an adjustable length so you can take it with you and set it up anywhere. The comfortable grips will protect your hands and minimize slipping, and if you install it lower to the ground you can use it for situps too.
6. ProsourceFit Multi-Grip Chin-Up/Pull-Up Bar
12 comfortable foam grips
Made of steel with foam grips
Easy to put together and use
Includes exercise guide
Can leave marks on the doorway
This is a heavy-duty unit with an impressive range of grip variety, offering parallel as well as conventional options. The extra-wide pull up bar is great for people with longer arms. The door pull-up bar is a cinch to assemble and install. However, you will need to have molding above the doorway to be able to install the unit without screws.
Read moreThis rod has lots of different handles that give you 12 different grips for a wide variety of exercises. It is perfect if you want to strengthen your upper body and is sturdily made of steel with foam grips.
You can easily put this chin-up bar together and slip into a standard doorway. It has optional foam covers for the outer handles to help protect your doorway. The design is nice and portable so you can slip in a good workout anywhere and includes a workout guide.
7. Gorilla Gym Power Fitness Package
Comes with ab straps and pullup extender
Fits in a standard doorway
Installs easy and stays put
Patented vice grips and stabilizers
Does not fit a lot of doors
The Gorilla Gym is the only pull-up bar that is rated for use by children by the ATSM. It’s also the only doorway pull up bar that is designed for you to swing on, which comes in handy for kipping pull-ups and a number of core moves. The Gorilla Gym is much more than a pull-up bar, with attachments that turn it into a full-on kid’s playland. Don’t let that fool you though - this unit will allow you to perform a pull-up workout that is anything but child’s play.
Read moreThe Gorilla Gym package includes the unit plus ab straps and a pull-up extender. It is designed for core workouts and upper body exercises. This chin-up bar is made to be strong enough and safe enough to support any stature.
This bar is stable and sturdy with more hand positions and a wider range of motion. There is no drilling, holes, or bolts required. It installs quickly and will not fall, fitting most standard doorways.
8. Sportneer Pull Up Bar
One piece main bar
Foam guard pads protect the doorway
Can use for exercises on the floor
Easy to install and use
Will not fit under 32-inch doorways
The Sportneer Pull Up Bar is made with premium quality material. The bar is steel tubing, the handles are high-density foam, and it includes quality hardware. The main bar is one piece and is designed to avoid bending.
Read moreThe pull-up bar from Sportneer is one piece and will support up to 300 pounds. It has foam pads that are high density and will not slip. There are also two foam pads on the back to protect the door frame.
This chin-up bar will fit in wide doorways. It is designed to fit any doorway with a quick installation that does not need to be bolted. It will also work on the door frame. This is an inexpensive way to get a great workout.
9. JFit Deluxe Doorway Pull-Up Bar
Longest bar on the market
Can be used at multiple positions
Adjustable and removable hand grips
Has a safety bar
Velcro makes an irritating bump
JFit offers a telescopic door frame pull up bar extension that is premium grade strength and very easy to put up and take down. It has two adjustable grips and easy install safety caps which attach to the door frame with three small screws. This bar has a longer than standard telescopic reach, making it perfect for odd spaces that don’t fit the conventional standard door width. In fact, the J-Fit is the only telescopic door frame pull up bar that we’ve encountered that can accommodate a 40-inch door width!
Read moreThe J/Fit will extend out to 40 inches and is the longest door frame pull up bar available so it is perfect for wide doorways. It has adjustable handgrips so you can put them where they are most comfortable for you. They have easy velcro closures.
You can use this for a variety of exercises, not just pull-ups but also comes with mounting dots so you can do situps and crunches.
10. Beachbody P90X Chin-up Bar
Lots of grip options
For wide doors
Supports up to 300 pounds
Comes with Chin-up Max
Some orders shipped incomplete
The P-90X Pull Up Bar is an over the door trim leverage mounted bar that can be fitted together and mounted in just a couple of minutes. It offers an impressive range of grip options, including a parallel grip, extra-wide grip, and narrow grip. The chin-up bar is very secure meaning that it won’t sag or bend, even after years of use. With a recommended retail price, the P-90X is a little more expensive than the competition.
Read moreThis chin-up bar will help you build a strong back and arm muscles. It will support up to 300 pounds so it is good for most people. It will also fit in fairly wide doorways at a maximum of 32 inches.
The Chin-up Max offsets the weight of your body and is adjustable to give you good resistance. It is specially designed to use with the chin-up bar.
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Durability
Durability is vital when it comes to choosing the best pull up bars for home. You want one which is going to stay in place and not bend when you are using it. The most important consideration is that you need the best pull up bar because it will be expected to hold your body weight. If it does not hold you, that could cause an injury.
Ease of Use
It is nice to have a chin-up bar you can just set up in a few minutes and use. Hopefully, it comes mostly assembled so you do not have to hassle with it. Also, make sure the bar fits your door without having to adjust it a bunch and that the handholds are in areas that are convenient to your workout.
Features
Take a look at what features your home pull up bar comes with. What kind of handles? Any extra equipment? Does it have an instruction guide? Does it come with all the needed hardware?
Portability
When it comes to finding the best indoor pull up bar portability is necessary because you want to be able to easily set it up, use it, and take it down. It is also handy to be able to take it with you so you can do your workout anywhere.
Effectiveness
To be effective, it needs to do its job. It should go easily into the doorway and securely hold your weight and stay in place. It is also nice if you can use a home pull up bar for floor exercises as well.
If you travel a lot and want to take a bar with you, be sure to find one that is designed for travel. You want an easily portable pull up bar that is compact, lightweight and that clips together with no tools. Quick spin big knob bolts are a handy feature to make assembly quick and easy. It’s also important that the bar fit a variety of door sizes and that it leaves absolutely no markings on the door frame.
It doesn’t matter how many grip variations a bar provides; if it isn’t going to securely hold your body weight workout after workout, then it’s not worth your money. Pull-ups are a confidence exercise, and, unless you have total faith in the safety of your bar, you will never be able to perform to your max. Obviously, you can’t do a trial workout on a bar you purchase online, but you can read testimonials and reviews like this one!
Frequently Asked Questions
q: Why do some bars have different grip variations?
A bar that offers more than the basic straight bar grip will allow you to work your muscles in a variety of ways. Some bars allow you to use a hammer grip, as well as a neutral, reverse and angled grip.
q: Are these pull up bars good for kipping?
Kipping is popular among cross-fitters, helping them to complete their reps faster and to do more of them. It involves actively pushing away from the bar as you lower yourself. Try doing this on a doorway pull up bar and you’re likely to dislodge the bar from its mounting position above the door frame. There are a number of advanced pull-up movements that are impossible on a doorway pull up unit because they involve working above the level of the bar. Muscle-up is a prime example. This is a great strength and muscle developer that is best performed on outdoor equipment.
q: Is there any way to reduce any doorway damage with doorway pull up bars?
In most cases, a doorway pull-up bar will not do any damage to your door surrounds. If you use an over the top leverage mounted bar, you may, over time, end up with some tension marks or even slight scratches around the door trim. This problem can be alleviated by placing a piece of plywood behind the top plate of the bar which makes contact with the door trim. This will spread the load over a wider area, relieving the stress on any one area of the door trim.
q: What is the difference between a pull up and a chin up?
A lot of people get confused between pull-ups and chin-ups. In some parts of the world, they actually mean the opposite of what they mean elsewhere. When we refer to the pull-up, we’re talking about the movement that involves a pronated grip with your palms facing away from your body. This exercise primarily targets the latissimus dorsi muscles of the upper back.
Chin-Ups involve a supinated grip where the palms are facing toward the body. Chin Ups are generally easier to perform than pull-ups. They place more targeted emphasis on the biceps and forearms.
q: Can a pull up bar break a door frame?
It is true that the doorway models seem completely unsafe with a 200 lb person hanging from them, but they are designed to take the weight and be fine. They are designed to keep most of the weight off the actual door frame.
Sources
- 6 Benefits of Doing Pullups, Article ,
- How to Do Pullups, Article ,
- 3 Benefits of Installing a Pull Up Bar in Your Room, Article ,