Make Riding the Bench Look Good with the 10 Best Weight Benches

Bored of bodyweight? Dumbbells looking dreary? Resisting your resistance bands? Sounds like you’d be a great bench warmer — weight bench, that is.

While there’s plenty you can do in a home gym without one, a sturdy adjustable weight bench is invaluable if you want to lift heavier weights, target particular muscle groups in your chest and shoulders, or just add a little more variety to your workouts. (Hint: They’re not just for bench presses!)

So, allow us to pump up your fitness plans with these killer weight bench recs.

• Best overall: ProForm Carbon Strength Adjustable Bench
• Best-rated: REP Fitness AB-3100 Adjustable Bench V3
• Best for beginners: StrengthTech Fitness Adjustable Weight Bench
• Best budget bench: Marcy Multi-Position Adjustable Utility Bench
• Best high end bench: Technogym Bench
• Best flat bench: Marcy Flat Utility Weight Bench
• Best for weightlifters: Rogue Adjustable Bench 2.0
• Best for larger bodies: XMark 7630 Weight Bench
• Best for small spaces: Bowflex 5.1S Stowable Bench
• Best portable bench: Reebok Professional Aerobic Deck

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When it comes to weight benches, safety and sturdiness are KEY, so those were our main priorities when assembling this list. We scoured reviews for notes about safety and sturdiness and benched any options that seemed a little shaky or had lots of negative reviews.

Here are the other things we looked for:

• Legit reviews. All the weight benches on this list have at least 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon or their manufacturer’s website AND passed our “fake review” sniff test.
• Weight capacity. We prioritized benches that could hold a minimum of 600 pounds (lbs.) — that’s body weight plus weights weight.
• Extra features. Is it adjustable, or does it have any other neat functions? Does it come with extras, like a bar, dumbbells, resistance bands, etc.? Bonus points!
• Vetted products. We put all of the products we considered through a thorough vetting process that checks for unsupported health claims and shady business practices. Only products that passed made our list.

These are def the best of the benchbunch!

Best weight bench overall

ProForm Carbon Strength Adjustable Bench

• Price: $$
• Adjustability: incline, decline, upright, flat (11 backrest positions and 6 seat positions)
• Weight capacity: 610 lbs. (277 kg)
• Extra features: padded seat, wheels

This bench is our top overall pick because, although it’s no-frills, it’s made with high quality, durable materials and offers a 610-lb (277-kg) weight capacity. It’s one of the few benches to offer decline and military press (seated fully upright) options within its 11 back positions and 6 seat positions.

It’s also not that expensive, so it’s an ideal choice for n00b lifters and dedicated home gym buffs alike.

Best-rated weight bench

REP Fitness AB-3100 Adjustable Bench V3

• Price: $$$
• Adjustability: incline, upright, flat (6 backrest positions, 3 seat positions)
• Weight capacity: 1,000 lbs. (454 kg)
• Extra features: handle, wheels

Home gym hobbyists ❤️ REP Fitness weight benches. While doing our research, we came across numerous references to this brand as the holy grail of weight benches. And, no surprise, many of its benches tend to go out of stock. This one was still available when we checked, and it had 281 glowing reviews averaging 4.9 out of 5 stars.

Best weight bench for beginners

StrengthTech Fitness Adjustable Weight Bench

• Price: $$$
• Adjustability: incline, flat (7 backrest positions, 8 seat positions)
• Weight capacity: 800 lbs. (363 kg)
• Extra features: leg hold-down attachment, wheels

This StrengthTech bench is pretty basic but extremely sturdy, according to reviewers.

Per the manufacturer’s website, it has a weight capacity of more than 800 lbs. (363 kg), so as a beginner, you’ll have room to grow into this thing no matter your size. It’s also got a leg hold-down attachment so you can get your sit-up on.

Best budget weight bench

Marcy Multi-Position Adjustable Utility Bench

• Price: $
• Adjustability: incline, decline, flat (6 backrest positions)
• Weight capacity: 300 lbs. (136 kg)
• Extra features: leg hold-down attachment, folds for storage

This is one of the few adjustable weight benches you can get for under $100, and the reviews are pretty dang positive. BUT (and it’s a big but) several negative reviews mention the overall iffy quality materials and the questionable construction, which affects the bench’s stability. It’s also got a low weight capacity.

Best high end weight bench

Technogym Bench

• Price: $$$
• Adjustability: flat only
• Weight capacity: 265 lbs. (120 kg)
• Extra features: weighted knuckles, three sets of resistance bands, 5 pairs of dumbbells, training mat, wheels, built-in accessory storage

If you have a little extra cash and want to equip your home gym in one fell swoop, then this is IT.

The Technogym Bench is a flat bench featuring built-in storage for its many accessories, and you can mount resistance bands on it to do a resistance band workout. The only downside is that it’s not adjustable.

Best flat weight bench

Marcy Flat Utility Weight Bench

• Price: $
• Adjustability: flat only
• Weight capacity: 600 lbs. (272 kg)
• Extra features: none

This is probably the sturdiest weight bench you’ll find if you want to keep it under $100, especially compared with other cheap, non-adjustable options. Unfortunately, manufacturing defects and missing pieces are common complaints in the negative reviews, so buyer beware!

Best weight bench for weightlifters

Rogue Adjustable Bench 2.0

• Price: $$$
• Adjustability: incline, flat (6 backrest positions, 2 seat positions)
• Weight capacity: not disclosed
• Extra features: wheels, pull handle

Rogue makes really high quality workout equipment, including stuff for CrossFitters (so you know it can stand up to some wildin’ out). This bench is perfect if you’re already familiar with using a weight bench and need an upgrade.

One reviewer put it best when they says they thought they’d ordered a weight bench “but this tank showed up instead.”

Best weight bench for larger bodies

XMark 7630 Weight Bench

• Price: $$$
• Adjustability: incline, decline, upright, flat (7 backrest positions, 3 seat positions)
• Weight capacity: 1,500 lbs. (680 kg) 🤯
• Extra features: wheels, easy-adjust ladder back with degree labels

With a weight capacity of 1,500 lbs. (680 kg), this weight bench is made for lifting heavy, no matter your weight. Reviewers also report that it’s taller than most others, so it’s a great fit for taller folks.

Not convinced this bench could hold that much weight? Well, reviewers comment over and over on just how sturdy it is.

Best weight bench for small spaces

Bowflex 4.1S Stowable Bench

• Price: $$
• Adjustability: incline, decline, upright, flat (5 backrest positions)
• Weight capacity: 550 lbs. (249 kg)
• Extra features: wheels, handle, stows away vertically to save space

Bowflex has come a long, long way since its cheesy infomercial days.

If you’re living that sardine can life and barely have room for your bed, much less a weight bench, you don’t have to give up on gains. This bench stows away vertically, so you can stash it in a closet or corner when not in use.

Best portable weight bench

Reebok Professional Aerobic Deck

• Price: $$
• Adjustability: flat, decline, incline
• Weight capacity: 330 lbs. (150 kg)
• Extra features: storage compartment, clips to attach resistance bands, doubles as a step for cardio workouts and box jumps

If your weight bench wish list consists of multifunctional fitness equipment used for cardio and strength training, sturdy but compact enough to move easily, with POCKETS, this aerobic deck from Reebok is what you want.

It’s got two foldable legs that allow you to use it as a flat or decline bench (or for cardio) and a panel on top that folds up to provide incline (and reveal a hidden storage compartment). When you’re done, fold the legs up and push this lightweight 28-lb. (13-kg) bench under your bed or toss it in the trunk for an on-the-go fitness sesh.

If you’re ready to level up your home weightlifting, then a weight bench should DEFINITELY be on your radar. They’re not just for bodybuilders.

Weight benches allow you to unlock a whole host of new lifts (beyond dumbbell curls and kettlebell swings) that target different muscle groups, and they make it way easier (and safer) to do heavy lifts than, say, that wobbly dining chair you’ve been using.

Even if you’re a bodyweight exercise buff, you can use a weight bench to your advantage. Think incline push-ups and triceps dips.

So if you’re srs about building strength, don’t hesitate to make a weight bench a key part of your home gym.

Here are the key things to consider when choosing a weight bench:

• Budget. First things first: You gotta figure out how much you’re willing to spend on a weight bench. You can get a good one for less than $100, or you can easily spend more than $1,000 for a high-end option.
• Weight capacity. Consider not only your current weight and the weight of anyone in your household who will be using the bench but also how much weight you plan to lift at once. If you lift heavy (or live with someone who does), you’re gonna want a sturdy bench with at least a 600-lb. (272-kg) weight capacity.
• Quality/safety. Be sure to scour the reviews, especially the negative ones. If there are common themes re: safety or quality of materials, take note!
• Size. Finally, make sure the bench will fit comfortably into your space. You can find teeny weight benches that fold up for storage if you have a cramped space. Or, if you’ve got a roomy home gym, you can get a hoss, boss.

Are weight benches worth it?

Yes! Weight benches make it possible to do some of your fave strength exercises in the comfort of your own home (or garage).

They also give you a sturdy base to level up some traditional strength training moves (think: triceps dips and decline push-ups). You can even use them to get in some legit cardio (think: step-ups and bench jumps).

How much should I pay for a weight bench?

Weight benches range in price from less than $100 to more than $600.

It’s up to you how much you want to spend. Cheaper benches usually have lower quality materials and lower weight capacities. The more expensive options usually have nicer materials, higher weight capacities, and additional features that justify the price.

Our advice? Find a price point you’re comfortable with and read the hell out of the reviews to make sure you’re getting a quality, durable, and safe product.

Do you really need an adjustable bench?

While an adjustable bench isn’t 100 percent necessary for a good workout, adjustability gives you a lot more moves to play with.

If you’re on the fence, we recommend going for an adjustable bench. That way, you won’t be kickin’ yourself when you get bored of the shorter list of possible exercises you can do with a flat bench.

A weight bench is an essential buy if you wanna level up your home weightlifting game, but safety is key. Make sure the one you choose is safe and sturdy, with a high enough weight capacity to accommodate your strength gains. And DON’T be embarrassed to use a spotter, esp if you’re a newbie to lifting.

With these 10 top-notch weight bench options, you’re gonna be one fit bench jockey.