The 12 Best Weight Benches for Your Home Gym in 2024

When you factor in the number of great features and detailed thought that went into the REP FB-5000 Flat Bench and compare it to the price point of the competition, it’s no wonder that this bench received over 80 percent of the votes when we initially asked the Garage Gym Community what the “best flat bench for most people” was.

This is a competition-style flat bench with a heavy-duty design capable of handling weights up to 1,000 pounds. REP covered every detail, including grippy vinyl to help push against during the bench press. 

“Whether your max bench press is 135 pounds or 500 pounds, there are few weight benches that I’d say have a better value,” says GGR founder and home gym equipment expert Cooper Mitchell.

Construction-wise, this bench has a 3-inch by 3-inch 11-gauge steel frame, with 7-gauge connecting plates. We rated it a 4.5 out of 5 on construction and durability—this is a bench you’ll eventually pass down to your children’s home gym.

It features a height of 17 inches from the floor to the top of the pad, and, most notably, a three-post design with wheels and a handle for easy maneuverability and the ability to tuck your feet uninhibited under the bench.

“The fact that you can train on something that’s very similar to what you’ll see in a powerlifting competition makes a big difference,” says Coop, who rated the dimensions a 5 out of 5. “I know many hate when they trained on benches that were higher or lower; thinner or wider; whatever the case may be; and then having to go to compete and the bench was different.”

REP absolutely dominates most other companies in terms of great value benches, and this is their magnum opus. 

The thick foam pad is similar to the Rogue Competition Fat Pad and the Thompson Fat Pad, though not quite as big (which is a good thing for most people). “Despite the thicker width, the padding itself is pretty firm—not the same level of firmness as you would get with Rogue, but again, given the price of this bench, which is just under $250, I don’t think you’ll have any complaints about it,” Coop says.

RELATED: REP Fitness Coupon Codes

In addition to all of the specs we listed, the REP FB-5000 also comes in a variety of colors to match your rack. We’re partial to the glossy black version, but the red, blue, and textured versions look great as well.

Read our full and in-depth REP Fitness FB-5000 Competition Flat Bench review to get more details.

If you prefer adjustable weight benches and want to stick with REP Fitness, you can check out the REP Blackwing. Albeit pricey, it’s a true FID bench with solid construction.

Is the Giant Lifting Adjustable Weight Bench the most budget-friendly adjustable bench out there? No, but sometimes it’s worth paying just a little bit more to get more out of your home gym equipment. With this bench, this means having a 3-foot post design for maximum stability, five back pad adjustments (from flat to 90 degrees), and three seat pad positions. It earns a 4 out of 5 for adjustability.

“That’s OK but not as many as other manufacturers,” says certified personal trainer and former professional rugby player Stephen Sheehan. “It easily adjusts with this ladder-style system; I found it worked very similar to my REP AB-3100 bench.”

The listed weight capacity is only 700 pounds, but the three-post design means it can probably withstand a little more than that. Giant Lifting doesn’t state what type of steel it uses, so we’re giving it a 3.5 out of 5 for durability because of the high weight limit and design.

“The cushioning is nice and thick, providing a stable surface that doesn’t deform with a lot of weight on it,” says Stephen, who performed multiple strength training exercises on the bench. “I felt well-supported and the cover material is also fairly grippy and seems like it would be easy to clean.”

That’s a good number of features for a bench that costs under $300 (with free shipping) and is available in two different colors. And it meets the IPF standard for weight bench height at 17 inches. You’ll also get a 10-year warranty for the frame, which is an incredible deal for the price. In other words, the value scores a perfect 5 out of 5.

Stephen also appreciates that it works for all types of lifters. “It provides sufficient room for a larger athlete like myself to fit comfortably,” he says. “Overall, this bench felt solid and my only gripe is with the pad gap between the seat and back pads.”

Giant Lifting appears to be replicating REP Fitness, in that they produce high-value products that perform just as well, if not better than more expensive options. On top of all the aforementioned features, this bench can also be stored vertically, has a knurled handle, and comes with rubber feet to protect your floors.

That’s great for a piece of budget home gym equipment. The one downside is that it utilizes a ladder-style adjustment, which isn’t quite as secure as a lock pin. Still, we don’t think there will be many issues.

Read our full Giant Lifting Adjustable Weight Bench review for more information.

For another budget-friendly adjustable bench with some added versatility, check out the Force USA MyBench.

The Rogue Monster Utility Bench 2.0 has a soft spot in GGR founder and home gym equipment expert Cooper Mitchell’s heart. After an initial review in which he rated it “pretty average,” Rogue redid the bench based on his recommendations. Is it perfect? Of course not, but it’s a sweet bench and well worth the $300 price tag. If you’re asking, “How could it be worth that much?” let us tell you. 

Right off the bat, it’s made in the USA from U.S.-sourced steel. It uses 3-inch-by-3-inch steel throughout, including the frame, the cross member, and the legs. That’s 11-gauge steel, which is the same as what’s on a Rogue Monster Rack.

What this translates to is being able to put as much weight on it as you’d like. Whether you’re benching or doing another sort of strength training, the bench won’t budge.

“This is the most stable or one of the most stable flat benches I’ve ever used,” Coop says, giving it a 5 out of 5 on stability.

The Monster Utility Bench 2.0 uses multiple pad options, including the almighty Rogue Thompson Fat Pad, with a three-post design, wheels on the back, and a handle on the front, as well as the ability to stand up to store away.

One thing about the standup option: It’s not very secure. Coop has the Fat Pad on his, and if you walk by it in the gym it teeters and totters, making you nervous it’ll fall over. It wobbles because the pad is so thick and there isn’t enough weight.

Rogue also has a Shorty Version designed for a Thompson Fat Pad, or their Competition Fat Pad. This allows the bench to sit 17 inches from the floor to the top of the Fat Pad.

Now, this is the Monster bench, which means it’s Rogue’s top-of-the-line, crème de la crème bench—the best offering they have—but they use the same textured powder coat they use on the Infinity line. We don’t get why you would use a textured powder coat on this when you could use gloss black or other colors.

See our full Rogue Monster Utility Bench 2.0 review for more information.

Want an adjustable bench that’s American-made? Check out the Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0, built with the same quality construction as the Monster Utility Bench.

When it comes to home gym equipment, sometimes less can be more. The no-frills Fringe Sport Flat Bench is easy to assemble and sturdy, with a weight capacity of 880 pounds. Not bad for a budget-friendly option.

While our testers haven’t gotten their hands (or backs) on this specific bench, we have tested similar models from the Fringe Sports lineup and have found the black powder coating to be durable and able to withstand wear and tear—like rusting—with an adequate amount of padding for the price. 

RELATED: Fringe Sport Comp Flat Bench Review

If you’re looking for a solid flat weight bench to add to your home gym—especially if cost is a factor—you can’t really go wrong with the Fringe Sport Flat Bench. It currently sits at a 4.7 out of 5 for customer satisfaction. 

Stronger or higher weight athletes may want a larger frame on their bench. For those people, the Fringe Sport Comp Flat Bench may be a good alternative.

The Titan Fitness TITAN Series Bench is our No. 1 adjustable weight bench for most home gym owners because it offers just about the same amount of back pad and seat adjustments as more expensive options, has a 1,000-pound weight capacity when flat (600 pounds when angled), and has zero pad gap.

That last feature is important because adjustable benches have a gap between the seat and the backrest when laid flat (this allows it to be adjusted), and it can be up to two inches on some benches and might make it uncomfortable to use as a flat bench. With the TITAN Series adjustable bench, you simply extend the back pad closer to the seat to eliminate the pad gap.

All that for under $500 with free shipping makes this a no-brainer for those who need an adjustable bench. The only major downsides are there’s no decline option and the bench does not meet the International Powerlifting Federation’s standards (except for the height).

On the bright side, it has a three-post design that allows lifters to have optimal foot placement during a flat bench or shoulder presses.

The TITAN Series Bench has nine back pad adjustments and three for the seat, which is enough for it to earn a 4.5 out of 5 on adjustability (we would’ve rated it a 5 out of 5 if it had a decline adjustment). That’s only one fewer back position than the much more expensive Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.0. In other words, you get a lot more bang for your buck with this bench. 

We’re also big fans of this bench’s storing capabilities, which scored a 5 out of 5 on our rating scale. For one, it comes with a knurled handle and rear wheels for easy portability. Without those, moving this 120-pound bench would be a pain in the tuckus. Beyond that, it can be stored upright without fear of it falling over.

The maximum weight capacity is listed as 1,000 pounds when laid flat, which is strong enough for even the strongest benchers, and 600 pounds when angled. Those numbers combined with the 11-gauge steel frame are enough for it to earn a 5 out of 5 on durability.

You can read more in our Titan TITAN Series Adjustable Bench review.

For an American-made heavy-duty weight bench, you can check out the Rogue Manta Ray Adjustable Bench.

If you’re looking for a highly versatile weight bench that can withstand even your heaviest PRs, go for the Force USA Pro Series FID Bench. As its name implies, it’s a flat, incline, and decline weight bench that can also be used for military presses and abdominal crunches. It earns a 5 out of 5 on adjustability because the back pad goes from -10 to 75 degrees, and the seat has six adjustment points (most benches only have three).

GGR Senior Director of Content and weightlifting coach Kate Meier has this bench in her home gym and appreciates the simple adjustment mechanism. “It’s similar to a chaise lounge. All you have to do is lift and lock it into place. Plus, the laser-cut numbers at each adjustment are awesome, especially for beginners, because you can jot down the angle you use and easily remember where you need to set it to for your next workout,” she says.

While decline presses are a hotly debated and controversial topic among weightlifters and bodybuilders, some people like doing them for lower-chest workouts. Even if you only do decline movements once in a blue moon, this is still a worthwhile bench for many home gym owners.

It has a lifetime structural warranty and comes with commercial-grade upholstery for ultimate comfort no matter what movement you’re doing. That said, the pad requires more maintenance than that of other benches. “The pad and cover are pretty high-quality, but the cover is sort of matte, so it shows more sweat and chalk than other benches we have in my gym. The sweat and chalk do wipe away easily, but you may find yourself cleaning this bench often,” Kate warns.

We’re not sure what steel the frame is made of—they only say “heavy-gauge steel”—but we’re giving it a 5 out of 5 on durability because of the 992-pound weight capacity. Kate adds, “One of the strongest bench pressers I work with has lifted more than 120 kilograms on this bench, and he weighs over 100 kilograms. We haven’t had any significant issues with wobbling, but there is a potential for some movement to occur since there’s no true locking mechanism.”

RELATED: What Muscles Does The Bench Press Work?

The three-post design is key, especially since this bench is advertised as a military press (utility) bench. When doing a military press, otherwise known as an overhead press, it’s a good idea to get a good leg drive. This requires the proper foot placement, which is better done with a single post than a double post that would put your legs in front of your body, rather than directly beneath it.

Force USA doesn’t advertise the bench’s weight, but it comes with rear wheels and a knurled handle, which Kate called “lovely,” so you can move it when needed. It can’t be stored upright, but we still give it a 4 out of 5 for portability.

Some of us have the challenge of having to play Tetris every time we want to use our home gym, which is where a product like the PRx Profile Folding Bench comes in handy. Right off the bat, this thing is pretty compact at just 45 inches in length (the lower end of the 45- to 50-inch industry standard) and 12 inches in width. 

But its main drawing point is that it can be mounted to the wall and folded flat when not in use. This can also be seen on PRx’s folding squat racks, which similarly give you back a good amount of floor space when not in use. 

“The PRx folding flat bench accomplishes something rare in most weight benches: providing a sturdy platform for bench presses without taking up an ungodly amount of space when no longer in use,” says home gym equipment expert Cooper Mitchell, who gave this bench’s dimensions a perfect 5-out-of-5 rating. “Space is one of the most important features in a home gym, and having a piece of equipment that is used maybe one time a week taking up necessary real estate is pretty unfortunate.”

The stability earned a respectable 4 out of 5 rating, with Coop’s only complaint being that the bench pad is slightly uncomfortable for the price. That said, it’s more stable than other flat benches and can be used for lifts up to 1,000 pounds.

Of course, if you live in a place where you can’t drill into the wall, this might not be the best pick. If you fall into that category, we recommend checking out what we think is an ideal weight bench for small spaces, which happens to also be our pick for the best ultra-budget incline weight bench: the FLYBIRD Adjustable Weight Bench. 

As a bench, this thing will help you get the job done. The frame and vinyl padding are not the best, but they’re good enough that you’ll feel comfortable during heavy lifts. 

RELATED: PRx Performance Profile Squat Rack and Bench Review

There is an incline bench version as well, but it’s close to $1,000 and not worth the price, in our opinion. 

At 47 inches long, the Ironmaster Super Bench Pro V2 is more compact than most flat benches but has the advantage of being a fully adjustable flat, incline, and decline bench. It comes with a bench handle rear wheels, and only weighs 69 pounds so it earns a 5 out of 5 on portability.

All told, this bench has 11 different lock-out angles that are super secure, so you don’t have to worry about the bench moving on you while you’re using it (if you’ve ever had that happen to you, you know how scary that can be). 

If that wasn’t enough, Ironmaster sells several attachments that can be added to this bench such as a leg curl attachment. There are also crunch sit-up, dip bar, and preacher curl attachments. Essentially, this thing can act as its own home gym. That earns it a 5 out of 5 score for versatility.

The one downfall of this bench is that the seat is always at a 90-degree angle, but Ironmaster has made the seat detachable to increase its versatility. “Definitely a positive upgrade over the original,” says home gym equipment expert and GGR founder Cooper Mitchell. “It’s actually my personal favorite now and the one I use in my garage. They’re minor improvements, but overall they add up to a great product.”

Coop admits he wishes the bench was a little heavier to add extra stability, though it was stable enough to earn a 4 out of 5 rating on perhaps one of the most important factors.

“It remains solid throughout,” Coop notes in our Ironmaster Super Bench Pro V2 Review.

As versatile as the Ironmaster Super Bench Pro V2 is, the seat can be awkward at certain angles. For a more traditional adjustable weight bench, check out the REP Fitness AB-4100.

At under $200, first-time home gym owners can’t do much better for an adjustable bench than the FLYBIRD Adjustable Weight Bench. It comes with seven back pad positions, four feet pad positions, and three seat positions. That’s more than some benches on this list that are double, and even three times, the cost. 

For those looking for compact exercise equipment, this bench is at the top of our list. It’s only 49.2 inches in total length (most are 50 or a little more), and when folded it goes to around 30 inches in total length. 

Certified personal trainer and home gym owner Nicole Davis felt pretty stable on this bench whether she was using it as a flat or incline bench, and the lockpin system gave us peace of mind that it wasn’t going to budge on her.

“I don’t think this is a good option for serious weightlifters (definitely not as durable as a REP or Rogue bench), but it would do the trick if you just needed something for small daily lifts,” she says, scoring it a 3 out of 5 for stability (the weight limit is 800 pounds and it only weighs 29 pounds).

Where the FLYBIRD Adjustable Weight Bench falls short, so to speak, is its height. From the ground to the pad it’s 18.8 inches tall, which is actually shorter than the bench used to be (it was reduced based on customer complaints stating shorter users had trouble using it). 

RELATED: Dumbbells Vs Kettlebells

Even after that adjustment, 5-foot 3-inch Nicole still had trouble getting enough foot drive on this thing and had to press with her feet on the pad. 

“Doesn’t feel as supportive as a more expensive bench but still sturdy,” she says, rating the training experience a 3.5 out of 5.

There’s also a pad gap of about 2 inches, which you’ll always have on an adjustable bench unless you have the REP Fitness AB-5000 Zero Gap Adjustable Bench. 

Want to learn more about this bench? Our FLYBIRD Adjustable bench review has all the details you need to know. 

Beginners will get a lot of use from using this adjustable bench with the FLYBIRD Adjustable Dumbbells, too, which reach a max weight of 55 pounds.

The Bells of Steel Flat Utility Bench is a budget-friendly flat bench that’s perfect for people who don’t plan on lifting heavy weights. That said, it still has some impressive features for a bench that costs under $200.

RELATED: Bells of Steel Promo Code

There’s a 2-inch thick pad, a 661-pound weight capacity, and a stable design. A quick note on the design: benches with four legs are not best for people who plan to focus on pressing movements as you can’t get your feet in the perfect position to amplify your foot drive (which helps generate power).

“On the bright side, the pad is grippy and thick,” says GGR founder and home gym equipment expert Cooper Mitchell.

If you’re simply looking to do some light dumbbell presses, step-ups, or other movements that simply need a bench then you can’t go wrong with this one. We mean this in the best way possible, but there’s not much else to say about this bench.

There are no transport wheels, though we’re sure most able-bodied people will be able to pick up this 37.2-pound bench and move it when needed so we’ll rate it a 3.5 out of 5 for portability.

Read more in our Bells of Steel Flat Utility Bench review.

Looking for a setup for bench press? Pair this flat bench with the Titan T-2 Series Rack for another high-value product.

Alright, you can’t do a bench press on the Shogun NORD-EX but you can use it to strengthen your posterior chain. It’s actually two machines in one: a back extension and a Nordic curl bench.

Cooper Mitchell, home gym equipment expert and founder of Garage Gym Reviews, says he doesn’t often recommend machines like this but was pleasantly surprised at how much he liked it. “This feels pretty much like any other Nordic curl board except, honestly, better,” he says.

He’s been able to progress with Nordic curls because the machine can be used at three angles—15, 30 and 45—which is not something you see in many Nordic benches. The back extension ranges between 35 and 55 degrees and remains stable when used for weighted back extensions.

“While using it, I’ve never worried about it not holding up to the weight,” Coop says in our Shogun NORD-EX review. He rated the bench’s overall stability a 4.5 out of 5.

One of the reasons Coop loves this machine so much is because it’s so durable. It uses high-quality steel, including 4-gauge steel for the side plates and 8-gauge steel on the footplate (the lower the number, the stronger the steel), which is enough to give the construction a 4.5 out of 5.

And while it weighs 126 pounds and isn’t the easiest thing to schlep around your home gym, the compact profile means it will stay out of the way when not in use.

The Sogun NORD-EX isn’t a traditional weight bench; if you’re looking for a weight bench that allows for Nordic curls, check out the Tib Bar Guy Nordic Weight Bench instead.

The AmazonBasics Flat Weight Bench is one of the most surprisingly good pieces of equipment we’ve used. It’s under $60 with Prime Shipping, has a good height, a decent weight capacity for most users, and assembles quickly.

RELATED: Building a Budget Home Gym on Amazon

Amazon lists the total weight capacity of the bench at 220 pounds. This means that between the user weight and the barbell/dumbbell weight, the bench isn’t recommended for a weight higher than 220 pounds. Don’t scroll away just yet, heavy lifters.

Home gym equipment expert and GGR founder Cooper Mitchell has tested the bench at a much heavier weight and experienced no flexing or issues. In fact, he’s dropped a 1,000-pound barbell and dragged this bench with his truck and it still holds up.

“It’s just ridiculous how strong these are despite them saying they can only hold a little bit of weight,” Coop says, giving it 4 out of 5 stars for durability.

Understand that this is still an ultra-budget bench. The dimensions and size are pretty small for a utility weight bench. Also, it’s not adjustable, which means there are no decline or incline features. The foam padding isn’t outstanding and neither is the vinyl, and though it’s sturdy, in comparison to some of our other picks, it’s not quite there. 

The construction and comfort are solid, but this is something you’d find in a home gym and never in a commercial gym setting.