7 Best Push Up Bars: Reviewed, Rated & Compared

Push Up Bar Comparison Table 

What Are Push Up Bars? (And Why Use Them)

Before we begin listing the best push up bars on the market, you first need to know exactly what they are. They are also known as press up bars, push up grips, and press up handles.

Push up bars are small metal tools, usually with some sort of rubbing padding and grips, that are sold in pairs. You place them on the floor and situate your body over them, gripping one in each hand while performing traditional push ups or a push up variation.

Push up bars are great for a home gym because they are small and very efficient to use. Aside from their compactness, the real reason to use push up bars is that they allow you to practice better form when doing push ups. Plus, they give you more options for push up variations without adding strain on your upper body. 

While you may see some people outside of your home gym doing these exercises with barbells or dumbbells, this isn’t recommended. Press up bars are sturdier and have padded handles, making the exercises much easier on your wrists.

It’s safe to say that if you have carpal tunnel or some other wrist ailment, you’ll benefit from using press up bars over doing standard floor push ups.

When you do push ups on the floor, your wrist is forced to bend at a more extreme angle. This isn’t the case with press up handles. You can even change the angle on some of the best push up bars, making it a lot more comfortable for you.

Another big reason to start doing push ups with a set of bars is that the grips can be used in many different ways. The slightly different exercises (which I'll cover later on) really add versatility to your strength training regimen.

What to Look for in Push Up Bars (Buying Guide)

Padded Foam Grips

One of the main features to look for when buying push up bars is padding. Your bars should include padded foam handles that are slip resistant to avoid slipping from sweat. Not only will padding help to avoid hand-slippage, but it will make the workout much more comfortable. 

Rubber Non-Slip Foot Pads

In addition to slip-resistant handles, you should also look for rubber foot pads on the bottom of the bars that prevent them from slipping on the floor surface. 

Core Material

Push up bars can be made from a number of different materials. Some are constructed from plastic, while others are entirely made from metal. Plastic bars have their perks, like the fact that they're cheaper and ultra-lightweight, but they're also less durable and more likely to buckle over time. 

Push Up Bar Shape

There are a few different push up bar shapes to choose from. Plastic bars typically have an inverted U-shape for the main handles, which sit on two base pieces covered in non-slip rubber (this is the most common). 

Metal bars come in a variety of different shapes, like circular, square, U-shaped, or even S-shaped. Round push up bars tend to be the most advanced since many of them come with a pivoting feature for more exercise options. 

Extra Features

Some press up bars have features like handles that pivot in order to give your arms an additional workout, or adjustable angles so that your push ups are easier on your wrists (this option also provides a different arm workout based on the chosen angles.) 

Some models easily break down so that you can take them with you on trips or to a buddy's home gym. Others even slide in their bases, making the press ups more difficult and extending the range of exercises even further. 

Cost

The good news is that adding push up bars to your home gym space doesn't have to cost a lot. These products range in price, and if you're on a budget, you can find a quality pair for ~$15. 

7 Best Push Up Bars Reviewed

In order to come up with this list of the best push up bars, I reviewed a number of different models. I considered all the criteria mentioned in the buying guide, like portability features, hand grip/rubber base quality, and extra features, such as sliding, rotating, and changeable angles.

Read our reviews below or watch our YouTube video to find the best option for your home workout needs. 

1. Juperbsky Push Up Stands

The Juperbsky Push Up Stands are some of the best push up bars because they are extremely durable. They can support up to 2,200 pounds worth of weight and you can perform numerous types of workouts with them, including gymnastics handstands and V-sits. They come in 5 different color options to fit any home gym. 

These Push Up Stands are a very unique pair of press up bars compared to other options. They are very high up off of the floor (5.5 inches), which increases the number of exercises that you do on them. They are 12 inches long and 7 inches wide, and they weigh 5.7 pounds combined. You can also get them in a slightly larger size, but the 12 x 7 option is the most popular. 

Just like any workout gear, the Juperbsky Push Up Stands have some cons, like the fact that it doesn't include a workout manual to give you a rundown of the possible exercises. I'm not loving that they don't break down into smaller pieces, so they're not the best option if you plan on traveling with your push up bars. 

2. Perfect Fitness PPPV2BK

I've placed the Perfect Fitness Perfect Push Up Elite on this list of the best push up bars because they have a highly ergonomic design. They rotate slightly in order to work more muscle groups with each lift, making them one of the most versatile options.  

These press up handles are designed specifically to prevent wrist strain. They have a steel ball bearing system on the inside to make those rotations smooth and even. The bottoms of the handles have built-in treads for easy and secure floor adhesion, and they can withstand up to 400 pounds of weight. In all, the measure 10"(L) x 8.25"(W) x 6.2"(H) and weigh 4 pounds total.

Unlike the previous push up bars, these come with a workout chart included that was specially designed by the US Navy Seals. So if you're not sure where to start with your new push up bars, referring to this chart will be super helpful. 

Since they weigh 4 pounds, these aren't the most portable push up bars available. A big reason for this heavy design is internal rotation system, so it's an easy flaw to overlook if you ask me. 

3. Perfect Fitness 31120

No list of the best push up bars would be complete without the Perfect Fitness Push Up Stands. These press up handles come in a flashy combination of red and black. Unlike the last Perfect Fitness bars, these do rotate as you use them, so if you're looking for that feature, the previous model is the better choice for you. 

However, if you're looking for simple press up bars that are portable enough to travel with, these are the ones. They weigh a total of 7.2 ounces and can be stacked on top of each other when not in use, so that don’t take up much space in your home gym. In all, they measure 8 inches long by 5 inches high and 5 inches wide.

Even though they can only be used at one angle, they're great for beginners. The handles are padded for comfort, and the press up bars are made using Perfect Fitness’ proprietary 360-degree stability. And best of all, they don't break the bank!

Just be aware that these bars are constructed from plastic. This is both a pro and con; plastic is lightweight and portable, but it's not the most durable material for push up bars. 

4. Aihoye Push Up Bars

The Aihoye Push Up Bars belong on the list of the best push bars because they are sturdy and foldable. Yes, you read that right – you can fold up these press up handles and take them with you everywhere. To top it off, they are lightweight and compact enough to throw in your gym bag, suitcase, or even purse.

These push up bars come in a colorful red and black combination. I love that the bars come with a nylon bag, which goes to show that these are truly designed with portability in mind. These bars have padded foam handles on the top and anti-skid pads on the bottom. The combined weight is a total of 1.43 pounds, which is much lighter than many push up bars on this list. 

Similar to the previous ones, these are made from plastic, which explains why they're so lightweight and portable. Another flaw is the weight support; the manufacturer says that they can support 660 pounds, but I honestly doubt that's true. If you ask me, 300-400 pounds would be more accurate.

5. Elite Push Up Bars

The Elite Push Up Bars are on our list of the best push up bars because they are made for comfort. While many people don’t equate workouts with being comfortable - after all, you can’t really build muscles if you’re comfortable - you’ll find that press up handles that are easy on the wrists (like these) can really prevent injuries and pain.

The Elite Push Up Bars have handles with rounded edges so that you won’t end up accidentally gouging your hands or wrists mid-workout. This is the main thing I love about them, and other reviewers seem to agree. They grip firmly to the floor and are held in place with proprietary anti-slip technology, so you never have to worry about slipping. 

Considering the low price, I was surprised to find that these rotate while you’re doing your push up bar workout. This definitely gives you more flexibility and some additional angles that allow you to hit multiple muscle groups at once. They come fully assembled and weigh 2.4 pounds. Also, they are black and have silver accents, meaning that they’ll easily match the rest of your home gym equipment.

The grips could use some improvement in terms of padding, and the press up handles could be sturdier. But the price is right, so no complaints there. 

6. KANSOON Steel Push Up Bars

The KANSOON Steel Push Up Bars are some of the best push up bars because they are made of sturdy metal and have ergonomic grips. Because of the metal construction, they support a large amount of weight – upwards of 400 pounds – so you don’t have to worry about them breaking anytime soon.

The KANSOON Steel Push Up Bars are a great addition to any home gym. It's easy to adjust the angle in order to put less stress on your wrists or to change up the targeted muscle groups that you’re working out. The handles are slip resistant and are coated in double foam, so your hands will stay comfy and won't slip from sweat or water. 

These push up grips come in black and are made of alloy carbon steel. They measure 7.9 inches by 5.1 inches by 4.7 inches and weigh 1.5 pounds. I personally thought that metal push up bars would weight much more than that, but these take up very little space and are easily carried around in a gym bag or suitcase.

7. JBM Perfect Muscle Push Up Bars

The JBM Perfect Muscle Push Up Bars are on the list of the best push up bars because they are high in quality, yet lightweight and affordable.

The handles are padded for additional comfort, and they are durable while also weighing just 1.3 pounds. They can be fully broken down, which makes these push up grips easy to take with you when you travel. Yes, you can get in some quick push up bar exercises in the comfort of your hotel room.

These come in several different color combinations, including black, blue, orange, and black and blue, and black and red. This makes for a very interesting addition to your home gym, and if you opt for a brightly colored option, you'll never lose these bad boys.

Even though they don't technically have rotational features or angle adjustments, the JBM bars can gripped at a number of different angles. This allows you to work out more than one muscle group in each workout session. 

The main flaw is that these push up bars can only withstand around 225 pounds worth of pressure, so if you're above that weight, you'll have to look elsewhere. 

Push Up Bar Exercises to Do In Your Home Gym

It’s easy to assume that the best push up bars only allow you to do one exercise – push ups. This is far from the truth. Depending on the pair you choose, you can also do exercises like:

They're also very useful for holding yourself in a steady plank position. If you change the angle and distance between your press up handles, you can target different muscles of the upper arms, back, chest, core, and even your stomach muscles. 

As you can see, push up bars are extremely versatile, and they go way beyond the standard push up. 

How to Do the Perfect Push Up

Push ups are one of the easiest ways - not to mention the most effective - to workout the upper body. By doing them right, you can get jacked, but if you do them wrong, you're not only setting yourself up for poor results, but also injury.

So how do you do the perfect push up? Here's how to do it in 3 steps:

There are some common mistakes that can ruin your push up form and increase the risk of getting hurt. The biggest one is letting your back sag downwards or arch upwards, so try to keep your back as straight as a board as you go through each push up.

Conclusion

There's no denying that your home gym needs a good set of push up handles. The ones on this list are some of the best push up bars available, so consider your budget and desired features before deciding on the right pair for you. 

No matter which one you go with, they are all versatile, well made, and consist of high-quality materials.