Topping our picks for deadlift platforms is the Rogue Deadlift Platform, which probably won’t surprise anyone who’s familiar with Rogue Fitness. GGR founder and fitness equipment expert Coop Mitchell adds, “It’s classic Rogue; the frame hardly flexes, the powdercoat is fantastic, and it’s a solid platform for heavy lifts.” Having used this platform and other Rogue products, Coop easily rates the durability at 5 out of 5.

Rogue Fitness hasn’t updated this platform’s design in roughly 10 years, but as the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke…don’t fix it.” The platform starts with the frame but has add-on options to meet people’s needs, especially if they prefer a different material than the standard 1.5-inch-thick rubber tiling. “I recommend getting the rubber tiles with the frame, but put your own double-plywood center for a more rigid center while pulling,” mentions Coop.

The entire frame is made with 11-gauge steel and has optional floor plates to prevent the platform from flexing. If you don’t spend the extra $100 on the plates, you’ll have to bolt down the platform to keep it from flexing or bowing. Nevertheless, the materials are top-tier—the common norm amongst Rogue products—so the platform earns a 5 out of 5 for its construction.

Another addition to the high-quality frame is a set of four band pegs, which is great for powerlifting aficionados who use banded training in their deadlifts. “The pegs are easy to place resistance bands on and can hold any amount of tension you need,” adds Coop.

The footprint of just over 8 feet long and 4 feet wide can be easier to fit into most home gyms, but won’t offer the versatility of a larger Olympic lifting platform (which can allow you to perform split jerks or chase a weight if you catch a snatch off-balance). Because of this, the Rogue Deadlift Platform gets a 3.5 out of 5 for its versatility, specializing in standard and banded deadlifts.

Check out the Rogue 8’ x 8’ Oly Platform if you’re looking for a larger platform that can allow for a wider range of strength training exercises.

Purchasing a solid deadlift platform can be a pricey endeavor. After adding rubber flooring or wood inserts into your platform frame, it’s easy for a lifting platform to reach $1,000 or more. For those trying to fit within a specific budget, you can rely on the Titan Deadlift platform. The frame alone is under $400, but you can purchase the full platform—with 1.6-inch-thick rubber tiles included—for $739, which gives the platform a 5 out of 5 for its price and value.

“The Titan Deadlift Platform essentially has the same functionality as Rogue’s platform,” adds Coop Mitchell, founder of Garage Gym Reviews. “The main difference is that the steel used is imported instead of American-made.” Titan Fitness, who used to have issues with quality consistency in their power racks and frames, has certainly upped their quality with cleaner cuts and welds. Accordingly, we rate the materials and construction at 5 out of 5.

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Coop also notes the floor plates run lengthwise—parallel to the bar’s position—instead of perpendicular like the Rogue platform. “In practice, there’s not a big difference between each platform’s flex while in use with bands,” he mentions, although someone with a heavier maximum deadlift may start to notice a bit more bowing.

With added band pegs, the Titan Deadlift Platform can allow for deadlifts and deadlift variations, but the 4-foot width may not be the most optimal for Olympic lifting. You’d need a width of at least 6 feet for safe Olympic lifting. Therefore, we rate the versatility of the platform at 3.5 out of 5.

The imported steel from Titan has proven to be pretty durable in our trials. Still, if you prefer steel frames made in the United States, you can pay a bit extra for the Rogue Deadlift Platform, which also has a lifetime warranty (substantially longer than Titan’s 1-year warranty).

Not everyone is wanting—or needing—a dedicated setup for banded deadlifts or heavy pulls. If you’re wanting a bit more versatility in a raised platform, consider the Valor Fitness Olympic Platform. This weightlifting platform is over 8 feet long and nearly 7 feet wide, leaving plenty of room for deadlifts, but also snatches, clean and jerks, and more. For lifting platforms, it earns a 4.5 out of 5 for versatility.

While we haven’t tested out this platform yet, I’ve personally lifted on similar platforms framed with 1.25-inch thick steel in the past, and I’m fairly impressed by the materials used in this offering from Valor Fitness. The platform uses rubber tiling to line the sides of the platform, and there are four interlocking wood inserts that create a stable center to pull from.

Additionally, the platform comes with a transition plate that connects to the front. This slanted steel plating allows you to roll bumper plates up onto the platform smoothly without lifting them or hitting the side of the platform—like a loading ramp for your next lift. I award the platform a 4 out of 5 for the materials, though, as the smooth wooden inserts can wear down and become slick over time, in my experience.

At nearly $1,500, the Valor Fitness Olympic Platform is one of the more expensive options available, but this price also includes all the required flooring components you’ll need for a proper setup. Because you can make a similarly-sized platform with plywood and rubber mats for far less, I rate the price and value at 3.5 out of 5. However, for people that prefer a ready-to-assemble profile, it can definitely be worth the extra cost.

Because of its size, this Valor Fitness platform may not be the ideal solution for a smaller garage gym space. If you’re tight on space, a smaller platform like the Titan Deadlift Platform may be a better option, although it won’t allow for safe, effective Olympic lifting.

Are you a fan of DIY gym equipment? If you prefer to build out your own space and equipment, then a DIY deadlift platform might be right up your alley. In my experience, a solid two-layer platform often works best, with a bottom layer of plywood, and the top layer constructed from a combination of plywood and rubber stall mats.

The horse stall mat I most recommend to people (as does GGR founder Coop Mitchell, and other members of the GGR team) is the Tractor Supply ¾” Rubber Stall Mat. “They’re incredibly durable and cheap. Plus, they help protect your equipment and home,” adds Coop. These mats earn a 5-out-of-5 rating for their value, coming in at around $50 per sheet.

“There’s an ongoing joke in the home gym community,” says Coop, “that whenever someone says they have a problem in their gym, the answer is always to buy more horse stall mats.” I can see why, as they’re incredibly durable and made of vulcanized rubber, which can naturally help reduce noise and impact against weights and your flooring. As such, they easily earn a 5 out of 5 for their durability.

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Many folks will use horse stall mats to line their entire garage gym, but you can also build a raised platform with them and some plywood. Because each sheet is roughly 4 feet wide and 6 feet long, you’ll probably need to trim the rubber to fit your platform’s dimensions, especially if you’re going for traditional 4-feet-by-8-feet dimensions. 

These mats are also a beast to move around, with each sheet weighing around 100 pounds. That said, we rate the assembly and installation at 3 out of 5. (The added plus is that you’ll only need a sheet or two for a traditional deadlift platform, depending on if you’re using plywood as well for the top layer.)

Another thing to note: If you’re keeping your stall mat directly on concrete, make sure that the concrete slabs are reinforced, which uses the tensile strength of steel (in the form of bars or mesh usually) to help strengthen the floor. “I’ve had horse stall mats in three gyms now, including my own now, and never cracked the concrete slabs underneath,” adds GGR senior director of content Kate Meier, NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1.

The only time Kate (or I) have cracked concrete has been when the slabs weren’t reinforced. If you’re unsure if your garage floor is reinforced, it’d be best to build a two- or three-layer platform with some added plywood to help absorb the shock from dropped weights.

For an easier, albeit pricier, installation, I’d recommend the UESAKA Puzzle Platform, which uses interlocking tiles and doesn’t require screws, bolts, or tools.

When it comes to fitness equipment in home gyms, one size doesn’t always fit all. The same can be said for deadlift platforms, since some may be too big or too small for your specific needs or space. For a bit of customization, I recommend the UESAKA Puzzle Platform, a durable and unique interlocking rubber tiling system that can be fitted to be as small (or big) as you need in your home gym space.

The UESAKA Puzzle Platform comes in a training platform size of 3 meters long by 2.5 meters wide—roughly 10 feet long and 8 feet wide. However, individual tiles can be purchased to expand your platform; likewise, you can remove tiles to reduce the platform’s overall dimensions.

I’ve used the UESAKA Puzzle Platform at the gym I coach at, where we’ve expanded it to an IWF competition-compliant 4-meters-by-4-meters profile. We’ve actually hosted meets on these platforms, where the platform has held up remarkably well over the years. Its unique rubber material and build gives it a 5-out-of-5 rating for its durability.

UESAKA’s tiling has two different durometer ratings—a score of the rubber’s firmness, where a higher number means a firmer rubber. The top layer has a high durometer rating of 90, ideal for a firm and solid lifting base. However, the bottom layer has a lower rating, which allows the platform to absorb shock and impact more effectively, reducing noise and protecting your equipment in the process. It makes a difference from the general sound of barbell to rubber and plywood, so I rate the sound dampening of the platform a 5 out of 5.

Installation and assembly is quite easy, too, since you’re simply sliding pieces together (like a puzzle, as the name suggests). That said, these rubber pieces can be heavy: The assembled training platform weighs about 295 kilograms (650 pounds). There’s a good chance you’ll get a workout in while laying out these tiles, so I rate the assembly at 4 out of 5.

If there’s a drawback to this puzzle platform, it’s the price. At $1,954 for the training platform, and with individual tiles costing $58 apiece, it’s not the ideal choice for those on a budget. Also, using iron weight plates on the platform (not bumpers) can void the warranty. Still, it’s a premium option that’s durable and can last for years with minimal care and maintenance.

For a more budget-friendly option, I’d recommend the Titan Deadlift Platform, which will come in under $1,000 with the full platform. Additionally, you can opt for a DIY deadlifting platform constructed with plywood and Tractor Supply ¾” Rubber Stall Mats.