How to Hang Gym Rings at Home (5 Different Solutions)

Gym Rings are a cool addition to any garage or home gym. They just provide so much versatility and variety to your workout options. From pull-ups to dips to inverted rows, you’re really only limited by your creativity.

If you’re going to get rings though, you have to figure out where (and how) you’re going to hang them.

So, what is the best way how to hang gym rings at home?

The most common way to hang gym rings at home is to hang them from the ceiling. If you are able to, hanging them from the ceiling in your garage or workout room is the most optimal way to do so.

However, many situations, such as renting an apartment make this impossible.

Fortunately, hanging rings from the ceiling isn’t the only way to set up them up for at-home workouts. In fact, there are multiple different options that will get the job done.

Depending on your living situation and resources, any one of the five could end up being the best fit for you.

How to Hang Gym Rings at Home

Let’s start with the first option I’ve already been mentioning –

Hang Gym Rings from your Ceiling

Hanging Gym Rings from your ceiling is probably the most well-known way to hang rings at home.

If you’re really lucky, you may have exposed rafters in your garage. If they are able to support you, then using those rafters is really the best overall option in my opinion.

There are a lot of positives to hanging your rings from the ceiling.

Hanging them from a permanent spot on your ceiling allows you to choose exactly where you want them. You don’t have to worry about other things being in the way or setting them up outside somewhere every time you want to use them.

This also means that you can hang them in a spot that gives you plenty of room to do a full variety of exercises. Some exercises like RFE Split Squats with your foot in a ring or ring pushups with the rings lowered down low demand quite a bit of space.

If you’re planning on doing muscle-ups at all, that’s another exercise that requires room to work.

Still, it’s not the best option for everybody.

First off, if you live in an apartment, drilling holes in your ceiling may not be something you have any interest in doing and I don’t blame you.

Secondly, depending on the construction of your ceiling (I’m not going to start pretending I’m a home construction expert) it may not be wise to try to hang rings from the ceiling.

If hanging your rings from the ceiling isn’t a good option for you, let’s look at some other ways you can get the job done.

Hang Gym Rings from your Pull-Up Bar

Wall Mounted Pull-Up Bar — Here is my wall-mounted pull-up bar. Hanging my rings off here is a quick and easy solution for almost all ring movements.

If you have the right setup, hanging your rings from a pull-up bar can be an even better solution than hanging them from your ceiling.

For starters, no drilling holes in the ceiling. No drilling holes in anything actually. Just loop your rings over the bar and you’re done.

Hanging them from a pull-up bar is perfect if you have a rack that already has a pull-up bar built-in and is a sufficient height. Also, if you have a wall-mounted pull-up bar like I have then looping your rings over is a simple way to set them up.

There are really only a few drawbacks to keep in mind if you’re going to use a pull-up bar to hang your rings from. If you have a shorter rack (and especially if you’re a taller person) you may feel a little limited in your range of motion.

Muscle-ups fall into this category. The amount of hanging distance below the rings could be a little tight and then having a bar above you as you’re trying to press yourself up is obviously less than ideal.

If you really want to make this work you could install a wall-mounted pull up bar high up on your wall.

Finally, make sure that your rack is STABLE. You never want to hang your rings from anything that is not solid and sturdy.

If you don’t have a pull-up bar available, let’s think outside the box and get a little creative.

Hang Gym Rings from your Deck

Back Deck with Support Beams — IF your deck has support beams that are STRONG enough to support you, it can be a great place to hang your rings.

Have a deck? Looping your rings through the planks in your deck can be a great option.

Admittedly, there are a bunch of reasons why this may not work for you. Most importantly, you have to have a deck. Using your neighbor’s deck will probably be frowned upon by, you know, most of civilized society.

If your deck is too high off the ground it can make many exercises difficult. Pull-ups may still be a go, but you may not have enough strap for things like dips and pushups.

You also need room to be able to thread your straps through the deck. If the boards are tight, this might not be possible.

Finally, if your deck jumps all those hurdles you still are going to have to set them up and take them down each time you use them so they aren’t left out in the weather.

The straps may be okay left outside, but the rings and especially the buckles will be susceptible to rusting. A minor inconvenience sure, but an inconvenience nonetheless.

I know I didn’t exactly paint a pretty picture on the whole, hanging rings from your deck scenario, but if your deck works for you it can actually be one of the most enjoyable setups to use.

You get to work out outside and the shade of the deck itself will usually keep you out of the sun.

I don’t know what it is, but there’s something about working out outside sometimes that is really awesome.

No deck? No problem. I’ve still got two more solutions for you.

Hang Gym Rings from a Swingset

The perfect piece of equipment for hanging your gym rings may be right in your backyard.

This category should really be, “Hang your Rings from your Kid’s Stuff.” It can include a swingset, jungle gym, monkey bars, etc. Really any piece of equipment that has a horizontal bar or frame.

Now, I’m going to state the obvious thing out loud.

Make sure that whatever you try to hang your rings from is made to be able to hold you.

And not just hold your weight, but hold your weight and the amount of force you create while swinging and doing pull-ups.

Destroying your child’s swingset is not going to make anyone happy.

How do you know if your swingset or another backyard object will hold you? Here is the rule I go by – If I’m not sure, the answer is no.

Don’t have anything in your backyard? Many parks are good places to find some workout poles set up. You’ve probably noticed those pull-up and dip bars at your park a hundred times and always wondered who actually used them. Now it could be you.

And now we’re down to my final way to hang rings at home:

Hanging Gym Rings from a Tree

Finally, you could always channel your inner minimalist and hang your gym rings from a tree branch.

Remember a few seconds ago when I said you should make sure whatever you try to hang your rings on should be able to hold you? This is in full effect when it comes to using a tree as well.

But, if you have a solid tree branch that is a good height and somewhat horizontal, it can make a great frame to hang your gym rings.

Something to keep in mind, not just with a tree branch, but with any object you’re hanging from – make sure that object is smooth. A tree branch, board or beam that has a rough surface or sharp edges can wear out your strap and eventually cut through it. Not good.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been putting off getting some gym rings cause you’re not sure how you’d hang them, hopefully, this article has given you an idea or two on how to hang gym rings at home.

Not everyone is able to (or even wants to) install rings from the ceiling. The good news is you don’t have. Use the resources you have available to you to figure out another way.

Just be sure (yes I’m going to mention this one last time) that whatever you decide to hang your rings from is able to hold you.

Stay Strong!