Once you’ve invested in a reliable pair of adjustable dumbbells or a set of barbells for your home gym, it’s not hard to see that only these can get you there. Adding one of the best weight benches helps you improve your workouts at home by doing different exercises and more importantly, different muscle groups. With the right weight bench, you can do bench presses, overhead bench presses, sit-ups, and more. but filtering through benches of different weights to find the one that best suits your needs can be difficult.
There is no shortage of options available when shopping online. Whatever you buy, you should make sure you scan the specifications of the bench for the weight they can support, shock absorption, adjustability (for flat angles, tilt and even drop) and how high they are from the ground. You’ll also want to check the reviews for user feedback—no one wants to face a shaky workout bench in the middle of that last brutal rep.
Are adjustable weight benches worth it?
With many high-quality, affordable weight benches, they are definitely a worthwhile investment to make in your home gym. Even if you’re the gym type who prefers standing exercises like squats, lunges, and military presses, it’s surprising how many exercises require a bench.
Common strength exercises where having a weight bench comes in handy include:
- Chest: flat, with dumbbell or barbell incline and decline
- Shoulders: seated dumbbell or barbell presses
- Back: one-arm dumbbell rows
- Triceps: one-arm dumbbell lunges and bench dips
- Biceps: incline curls with dumbbells
- Upper Table: prone dumbbell shrugs
- Abs: reduce abs and crunches
- Feet: steps on the bench
All major muscle groups can be worked using an adjustable weight bench. Additionally, some benches include accessories for leg extensions, preacher curls, and more. With a single purchase, you can add dozens of new exercises and movement variations to your home workout repertoire.
How to choose a weight bench
When choosing the best weight bench for a home gym, first think about how you will use it. If you’re getting it for a specific purpose and you know you’ll only need it to be in a flat position (bench surface parallel to the floor), you don’t necessarily need to get an adjustable bench. For example, if you’re getting it for the sole purpose of doing flat bench presses on a power rack, you probably won’t need the adjustability.
Otherwise, we recommend opting for the flexibility of an adjustable weight bench that allows you to lie on your back (or even face in some cases) at various angles—ie, incline, flat, and drop. These angles allow you to do all of the aforementioned exercises and more.
Also, consider your home gym area. If you need to move the bench around the room, look for one that is lightweight and has wheels so it can be easily moved from one place to another. If your home gym doubles as a bedroom or home office, you may prefer a folding weight bench that stands on the wall or can be stored in a closet when not in use.
Average cost for a weight bench
Whatever your budget, you should be able to find a quality weight bench that fits your needs. Expect to find plenty of options in the $100 to $250 range, with some stationary models under $100 and higher-end commercial gym benches costing $400 to $800 (and up).
If you’re a serious powerlifter who trains heavily and wants something heavy duty, you may need to buy the higher priced ones. Those who lift reasonable loads, even up to 500 pounds, should be able to find an affordable weight bench without a problem.
To help you sort through all the different models and price points, we’ve found the best home workout bench options. Whether you have a spare basement with plenty of room and an electric rack already in place or just a piece of real estate between your bed and the radiator, here are the top picks.
The best weight benches of 2023
Yoleo adjustable folding weight bench
The Yoleo Adjustable Weight Bench checks a lot of boxes — flexibility, portability, and price, to name a few. With seven different back positions, you can do all the flat, incline and decline exercises using the simple ladder-style adjustment system. The bench holds up to 660kg of weight, but also folds up for easy storage on the wall or in a cupboard. More importantly, the value here at under $150 is hard to beat considering the various features and rugged construction.
[$80 (was $130); amazon.com]
Major Lutie Adjustable Weight Bench 1,300 lbs
This Major Lutie adjustable weight bench is for the serious lifter looking for a top-level bench at a reasonable price. With a 1,300-pound capacity, you’ll immediately feel the added sturdiness. Most benches of this caliber cost north of $500, making this a great value. It is adjustable from flat to recline to upright, with various angles in between. It’s a little on the heavy side at 62 pounds, but the low handle on the front and wheels on the back make it easy to move around your home gym.
[$300; amazon.com]
Keppi adjustable weight bench with resistance bands
Technically you don’t need a weight bench to do resistance band exercises, as most can be done standing up. But with a bench like this, you can do band moves you couldn’t do before. In addition to being foldable and offering multiple adjustable positions—eight for the back, four for the seat, and three for the feet—the Keppi bench also includes two resistance bands with accessories to attach directly to the bench for chest presses. curls, sit-ups and many other resistance exercises. You have extra sturdiness, with a capacity of 800 lbs.
[$150 (was $200); amazon.com]
Lusper multi-purpose adjustable training bench
This Lusper workout bench is a great choice for anyone on a tight budget who needs maximum flexibility. For well under $100, you get six adjustable settings (rejection to incline) and a foldable design that peels off nicely when your workout is over. And, if you think this is some weak part, it actually has a weight capacity of 660 pounds, so feel free to do heavy dumbbell presses without worry. Another thing we like about this piece is its width. At 16.7 inches (wider than many other comparable benches), it provides a stable surface that helps you stay balanced during your lift.
[$70 (was $100); amazon.com]
Amazon Basics Flat Weight Bench
If all you need is a flat bench to slide into an electric rack and you prefer a clean design without knobs, adjustable steps or foot handles, this is for you. It’s basic, very budget-friendly at around $50, and will support even the biggest one-max bench press efforts with its strong alloy steel construction. At 11” x 41” x 18” (L x W x H), you get the familiar feel of a classic commercial gym bench station.
[$52; amazon.com]
Multi-functional weight bench in slimmer form with back extension
This unique multi-purpose tool does double duty as an adjustable weight bench and back extension station. While it doesn’t accept recline positions (only flats and dips), it makes up for it with a flat pad in the front with ankle/foot locks to do back extensions (aka hyperextensions) to develop your hamstrings, glutes, and back — the all-important “posterior chain” muscles that help enhance athletic performance and prevent injury. The hyperextension pad can also be used to brace the legs when doing drop seats for core strength.
[$150 (was $250); amazon.com]
Bowflex 5.1S stackable bench
If you’re starting to feel like your bedroom is a chest of drawers, a bed and exercise equipment, we discover that this weight bench can be stored vertically, cutting the space it takes up by more than half. It also offers six different adjustment angles to target different muscle groups and a 600-pound load capacity. For something that still stores vertically (50 percent reduced footprint) with fewer bells and whistles (five adjustable angles and a maximum weight of 550 pounds), check out the slightly more affordable Bowflex 4.1S bench.
[$299 (was $499); amazon.com]
NordicTrack Utility Bench
Adjust this weight bench to flat, incline or military positions to power some of the best shoulder, chest, lats, front delts and triceps workouts you’ve ever had. On this model, we especially love the ultra-comfortable back with foam padding to support you during long workouts. Bonus: This bench features stitched and stitched box seats, which are much more durable than simply attached seat covers. Bonus: They make a more gym-worthy appearance.
[$299; nordictrack.com]
Fitness Reality 1000 Super Max Weight Bench
This is a great starter bench for any home gym. With 5,627 five-star reviews on Amazon and counting, some of the features of this workout bench are its 800-pound capacity, wide back, detachable footrest, and 12-position adjustable backrest. Worth noting: If you are over 6’4”, this bench will not fit you.
[$113 (was $129); amazon.com]
Flybird FB139 Adjustable Weight Bench
An ideal combination of versatility and value, the Flybird Adjustable Weight Bench is a top choice. It accommodates full-body workouts with 24 different seating positions (no drop options), while its heavy-duty steel construction can hold up to 600 pounds. The synthetic leather-upholstered seat and back are comfortable and easy to clean, and those living in tight spaces will appreciate the ability to fold and store it.
[$140; amazon.com]
Weider Platinum Series Utility Bench
Suitable for both experienced and novice lifters, the Weider Platinum Series Utility Bench includes a bench and a curl pad. The bench supports up to 610 pounds and can be adjusted to incline, decline or flat positions to accommodate almost any workout. Weider also offers a squat rack attachment for this weight bench. The addition of the freestanding squat rack makes it stand out from the rest—allowing users to extend their home workout into a more traditional gym routine, including deadlifts, squats, and more (Olympic bar and weight plates sold separately).
[$185; amazon.com]
