Whether you are a one-guitar player or own a collection of stringed instruments to make John Mayer jealous, you should always keep your guitars safe and secure by using a wall hanger, a stand, a rack, or any other means than propping them up against the wall in the corner. Some players like to store their guitars in cases or gig bags, and while this is one of the best ways to ensure your guitars’ safety, it’s also quite inconvenient if you want quick access.
In this KillerGuitarRigs Review, we’ll be taking a look at the 9 best guitar stands and racks on the market. We’ve covered options to suit all budgets from categories including A Frame guitar stands, tripod guitar stands, multi guitar racks, and guitar hangers to accommodate either an acoustic or electric guitar.
Throughout the reviews, we’ll recommend 3 of our favorite options in the budget, mid priced, and premium categories, for a total of 9 guitar stands and racks. There are a surprising number of variables at play when choosing the best guitar rack or stand, so, if you’re in the market for a new guitar stand, but you’re not quite sure what you’re looking for, you won’t want to miss this!
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Editor's Choice  | Hercules Multiple Guitar Stand Features: Space for 5 guitars, Foam Rubber contact points, Sturdy A frame design Benefits: High capacity, Extremely sturdy, Prevents damage to finish | 10 | Click For Best Price |
Best Value  | Fender Universal A Frame Electric Stand Features: Height adjustable, Adjustable yokes,Adjustable retainer arm Benefits: Holds guitars of almost any shape, Very stable, Extremely secure | 8.5 | Click For Best Price |
Best Budget  | Gator Frameworks Adjustable Guitar Stand Features: Acoustic/Electric compatible, Heavy duty steel, Quality foam padding Benefits: Protects guitars from scratches, Doesn't wobble, Easy to adjust | 7 | Click For Best Price |
Contents
Best Guitar Stand: Our Top 3
The Fender Universal A-Frame is one of the best guitar stands for electric guitars on the market, and is our Top Pick in this best guitar stand roundup. It is a relatively cheap, but highly reliable folding A frame stand solution. It has padding to protect your guitar’s finish, it takes up very little floor space, and it folds easily, making it a very practical choice for space conscious players.
The Gator Frameworks Adjustable Guitar Stand features a generous padding and a strong frame. It boasts rubber feet that ensure that it stays firmly in place, and it accommodates all types of guitars, including electric, classical, and acoustic, all for an unbeatable price – exactly why we named it our best budget pick
For the best guitar rack, we recommend the Hercules 5 Piece Guitar Rack for its outstanding design and fantastic build quality. This guitar stand holds multiple acoustic, electric, and even bass guitars, is simple to assemble, and easy to modify to suit your storage needs. It offers excellent stability with high-quality specialty padding and for that reason, it’s truly worthy of being our KGR Editor’s Choice.
3 Best A-Frame Guitar Stands
A simple and sturdy choice at a great price.
This is a well made stand that costs way less than you'd think. It's stable, well made, and provides good protection for your guitar's paintwork and finish with its soft foam padding.
This aptly named Amazon Basics stand is all about getting the job done. It’s extremely affordable, it’s rock solid, and offers ample padding to protect your guitars.
Product highlights:
- A-frame stand for acoustic and electric guitars
- Soft padding and non-slip rubber feet
- Adjustable width, no assembly required
- Lightweight, portable, fully foldable
- Best Budget Option for an A-frame stand
A-Frames guitar stands are often unfairly pegged as rickety low budget options, however,we thought that the Amazon Basics Folding A Frame was super stable thanks to the broad base and the non-slip rubber feet. The construction was lightweight, durable, and the arms were well padded for the price. It was big enough to accommodate an electric or acoustic guitar comfortably, which further added to the already excellent value.
It was easy to fold away and set up again, and was actually super light weight – a feature that we think would make it great for gigging, rehearsals, and even travel. Unlike with a guitar wall hanger, this folding A Frame stand required no drilling, making it a good option for those who aren’t looking to damage their walls – this is especially important for anybody who rents!
Verdict: Amazon Basics Folding A-Frame Stand did exactly as advertised and for a very reasonable price. Though it wasn’t flashy, it’s still one of the best guitar stands for those with basic needs, a tighter budget, and working with a small space.
A handsome wooden stand that workd for electric and acoustic guitars.
With this stand you're getting the convenience and stability of a traditional A frame, but thanks to the acacia wood construction, it looks so much better. It's sturdy, and suitable for a range of guitar sizes.
This Donner stand is a great option for players looking for a low cost, well made guitar stand that has a bit more aesthetic appeal than a standard folding model.
Product highlights:
- Solid Acacia Wood A-frame
- Can support classical guitars and electric guitars
- Cotton padding and non-slip rubber feet
- Easy to assemble, Folds flat for portability
- Our Top Pick for an A-frame stand
The Donner A-Frame was made with a really pretty solid acacia wood A-Frame that we were able to use to support electric guitars, classical guitars, and acoustic guitars. Since it was made from real wood, it was much more handsome than the rest of the budget offerings, which we think makes it a great option for displaying your best guitar for all to see. Not only was it good looking, but it was genuinely impressive in terms of its build quality and stability, too.
The arms on which the guitar body rests were covered in neoprene padding to prevent damage to the finish, and the feet had non-slip rubber covers for stability. One thing we would highlight, is that this type of neoprene padding has been known to react badly with nitro finishes, so bear that in mind if you’re planning to use it for a Gibson, or any other guitar with a nitro lacquer.
This Donner guitar stand did require some assembly, but fortunately we didn’t need any tools. It folded and unfolded quite easily, and even after multiple movements, nothing came loose, which was definitely a good sign.
Verdict: The Donner Solid Wood A-Frame Guitar Stand was an aesthetic step up from the more common black steel stands, and it fortunately it didn’t have to sacrifice build quality or durability for the looks. The Donner A Frame was able to reliably hold electric, acoustic, and classical guitars, making it an excellent option for those who want something stylish and stable.
The ultimate electric guitar A Frame stand with complete adjustability.
If you need a stand to accommodate even the most unusually shaped electric guitar, this is it. It's fully adjustable and even features a retainer arm to further reduce the risk of accidentally knocking over your guitar.
Fender’s familiar quality and innovation is immediately apparent with this A-Frame Guitar Stand. It’s one of the most customizable single instrument stands on the market for electric guitars and basses thanks to the fully adjustable retainer arms that support the guitar body, plus the side ‘nestle’ arm to hold even offset and extreme guitars firmly in place.
Product Highlights:
- Adjustable body support & yokes
- High-quality construction and padding
- Additional retainer arm to secure instrument
- Can support offset instruments
- KGR Editor’s Choice for an A-frame stand.
The Fender A Frame electric guitar stand was built with a robust metal frame, and fully adjustable support arms. We loved that the arms were able to be moved independently of each other, which ensured that no matter whether we were using it for an offset guitar, a bass guitar, or a classic design like a Stratocaster, it was able to hold on securely.
The back rest plate was large, and well padded, as were the yokes. One of our favorite features, though, was the securing bar that we were able to flip over while the guitar was in the stand. This prevented any accidental bumps or knocks from sending the guitar flying.
Unfortunately, this guitar stand wasn’t able to hold acoustic or classical guitars because of the narrow support arms. The good news is, though, that it is one of the few stands that can support offset electric guitars like the Jazzmaster or extreme designs like the Rhoads signature model.
Verdict: Though it is pricier than the rest of the A frame guitar stands, the Fender Universal A-Frame Electric Stand is money well spent. It is a no-brainer if you own an offset design and we recommend it for its superior foam quality, stability, and adjustability. Even for the regular guitars, you’ll have a hard time finding something similar or more adjustable in the current market.
3 Best Tripod Guitar Stands
A supportive and stable stringed instrument stand.
With this tripod style stand, you're getting all the basics done right. It offers non slip rubber feet, protective padding on the contact areas, and a handy rubber neck latch.
Like the Amazon Basics A-Frame, this ChromaCast guitar stand was another no frills option with a modest price tag. Though our primary focus is with acoustic, electric, bass, and classical guitars, the ChromaCast was also able to hold mandolins, banjos, ukuleles, and a range of other stringed instruments, which is a definite bonus.
Product Highlights:
- Best Budget Option
- Adjustable Height and neck lock strap
- Rubber padding on yoke and rest
- Good for simple/basic use
- Best Budget Option for tripod guitar stands
The ChromaCast two-tier design was made from lightweight steel tubing wrapped in soft rubber padding. The stand was height-adjustable and capable of holding bass guitars. We thought that it was one of the more stable options in this price band – the swivel yoke was sturdy and was able to support extreme body styles like the Gibson Thunderbird or Flying V without ending up off balance.
We found it to be plenty stable thanks to the rubber feet on the base. It also had a rubber neck gate that secured the neck and held the guitar in place to prevent mishaps. In general, we tend to recommend tripod guitar stands that have a locking latch, and the ChromaCast is a good choice for those on a tight budget.
Verdict: Considering it cost less than a round of beers, the ChromaCast stand was extremely impressive. It’s a great guitar stand for home studio use in particular, but it’s also a good choice for resting a guitar on stage between sets.
Superb fit and finish on this rock solid tripod stand.
This is a heavy duty take on the tripod from a brand well known for its rock solid cases and guitar stands. It offers adjustable height, and a sturdy neck latch for additional security.
Gator is one of the biggest names in the guitar storage and accessories industry, and they’ve produced just about every kind of guitar stand imaginable, but this is one of our favorites thanks to its sturdy build quality, and excellent stability.
Product Highlights:
- Adjustable Height and neck lock strap
- Strong steel frame, very stable
- Good padding on yoke and rest
- Available in multiple variations
- Our Top Pick for tripod guitar stands
In terms of design, there was nothing new or innovative about this traditional tripod guitar stand. It had the usual array of features, including adjustable height, padding, locking strap, rubber feet on the base, and rubberized cradle padding. The key difference between this and many others on the market, though, was that Gator really over engineered this model, resulting in what we thought was an outrageously reliable guitar stand.
The folding legs made it easy to transport and store away. The steel frame was robust, and extremely stable. We found that the extra weight helped to prevent wobbles when we were picking up or putting down guitars – something that can be a real problem for tripod guitar stands.
Verdict: This Gator adjustable guitar stand was seriously impressive. It offered exceptional build quality, and excellent flexibility. Not only was it height adjustable, but its support arms were big enough for both electric and acoustic guitars.
A stunning balance of art and function.
This gorgeous hanging guitar stand supports guitars entirely from the headstock, reducing the risk of body damage caused by a yoke with incompatible foam. It's nitro safe, making it a great choice for anybody looking to store their high end instruments, and it even accommodates acoustic guitars.
Zither’s eye-catching guitar floor stand is a furniture-grade guitar stand with 38-inch clearance for full-sized acoustic, electric, and classical guitars. It works in a similar way to wall hanging options, but offers much more flexibility in terms of portability.
Product Highlights:
- Premium Solid Wood w/ 7 options
- Safe for Nitro Finish Guitars
- USA-made w/ String Swing Cradle
- For acoustic, electric, and classical guitars
- KGR Editor’s Choice for tripod guitar stands
This USA-made stand was fitted with a String Swing cradle, a guitar wall hanger that we’ve previously featured in our best wall hangers list. We did find that some simple assembly was required, and it did need a Phillips head screwdriver, but regardless, it went together quite easily. It even included a free bottle of lemon oil to keep the wood nourished.
The model we received for the test came in walnut (which we loved), but it was also available in six additional options: oak, mahogany, cherry, padauk, purpleheart, and maple. Each wood has a different grain and color, which makes it possible to match the stand with your décor or guitar wood – a very thoughtful feature.
We’d probably recommend this for minimalist homes or studios as it’s not quite as stable as a traditional tripod designs. If you’ve got pets, your guitars may well be at serious risk of being knocked off. If you’re planning to use it in a quieter environment, though, guitar stands don’t get much better looking.
Verdict: The Zither Solid Wood Guitar Floor Stand was more of a guitar hanger than a stand, but this didn’t make it any less useful. It was sturdy, and absolutely beautiful to look at. We think that it would make a great choice for anybody who puts a premium on design and aesthetics.
3 Best Multi Guitar Stands
A cheap and cheerful solution to hold multiple guitars.
This is a superb choice for budget conscious shoppers with a lot of guitars to hold. In fact this model can safely store upwards of 9 guitars at any one time - a rare find at any price.
Pyle is a well-established name in the economy-friendly guitar stands market. With this affordable multi guitar stand, they’ve proved that it’s possible to create a well put together, 7 guitar, foldable/collapsible guitar rack that does an excellent job for an incredible price.
Product highlights:
- Holds 7 guitars of any type
- Neoprene rubber padding
- Sturdy frame with non-slip rubber feet
- Affordable, good value
- Best Budget Option for a multi-guitar rack
The Pyle Multi Guitar Stand was built with metal tubing with a black powder coat finish. The build quality was solid for the price and we found that the base was as stable with one guitar as it was with all seven spaces occupied. It included no-slip rubber feet and neoprene rubber padding to protect the guitar body and neck.
This simple guitar stand did have low ground clearance, so you may want to place a rubber or foam mat below it, or place it on a carpet to avoid any scraping – particularly with larger bodied guitars. For the money, it offered a great array of features, especially in comparison to other options in this price range.
While there were 7 neck supports, there were no individual slots at the base of this guitar stand, which meant no matter whether we racked up an electric guitar, a classical guitar, an acoustic guitar, or even a bass guitar, everything fit perfectly – something players with multiple types of guitar will appreciate.
Verdict: Having 7 guitars might be a pipe dream for many guitar players but should your collection get this big the Pyle Multi Guitar Stand is a superb choice. Even if you don’t have this many guitars at home, it can work well as a display rack for studios, or shops. The collapsible design makes it portable, so it can also be a good common rack that a band can pool together to buy for gigs and/or rehearsals.
A borderline indestructible option for up to 5 guitars.
With this rack, you're getting one of the sturdiest guitar storage solutions on the market. It's built tough with metal framing, high quality hinges, and snug neck supports to keep your most valued guitars safe.
Hercules is a guitar stand specialist, and with this multi-instrument rack, they prove their exactly why they’re so highly thought of. This 5-piece rack is robust, and can hold any combination of electric, acoustic, and bass guitars. A word of caution though, this guitar rack is not nitro-safe.
Product Highlights:
- Holds acoustic, electric, and bass guitars
- Generous SF Foam over contact points
- Adjustable yoke for the best fit
- Stable, sturdy, and good value
- KGR Editor’s Choice for a multi-guitar rack
The Hercules GS525B 5 Piece Guitar Rack boasted an adjustable yoke with proprietary SFF foam that generously covered all the potential contact points to protect the finish of your guitars. The one-piece design made it a super stable guitar stand and surprisingly easy to setup, although we did discover that we needed to dismantle it in order to transport it anywhere.
For this test we checked out the 5 slot rack, but it’s also available with 3 and 7 slots, too. The build quality and components used are the same no matter which of the 3 you opt for, so if you think this guitar stand is going to work for you, you can pick the most suitable size with confidence.
We think this guitar stand rack would be best suited to working musicians and anybody else who needs something that’s able to hold up to the kind of abuse that gear is subjected to on tour. Having said that, it would work just as well in a home studio.
Verdict: The Hercules 5-Piece Guitar Rack featured high-quality padding, good stability, and premium construction. It is an excellent choice for home and studio use, as well as rehearsal and stage use.
An absolute must for those who need to move their guitars safely.
With most guitar racks, moving your instruments from place to place means picking them up individually, and potentially leaving them somewhere vulnerable until you've had a chance to move the rsack - with this ASC model, however, you'll get casters that make it a completely mobile solution.
Multi-instrument guitar stands tend to get heavy when they’re filled with guitars, yet, options with wheels are few and far between. If you’ve ever owned a multi-guitar stand, you’ll know the struggle of moving it across the room, and that’s why we think the American Sound Connection 5-Guitar Rolling Cart is such a great choice.
Product Highlights:
- Rolling, lockable caster wheels
- Folds flat for transport/storage
- Rubber grips for neck & good quality cushioning
- For Electric and Acoustic Guitars
- Our Top Pick for a multi-guitar rack
Once you have a rolling cart, everything else just feels like a step back. However, when it came to this particular rack, we weren’t only won over by the e wheels, but rather the entire package of superb build quality, convenience, and price.
One awesome feature that we really loved about this guitar stand was that the tilt angle wasn’t quite as severe as the other multi instrument racks on test. This meant we were better able to place it closer to a wall. Plus, we were also able to adjust the yoke to various angles in order to raise the height of the guitars. Each slot even had its own rubber mount that effectively locked the guitar in place.
As for assembly, the rack shipped with neatly packaged and well written instructions. Of all the guitar stands and racks on test, this one did need the most assembly, but it came with all the hardware and tools needed.
Verdict: The American Sound Connection 5-Guitar Rolling Cart was one of our absolute favorites and we’d gladly recommend it to anybody looking for a multi guitar rack. It offers better value than products twice its size even without the wheels, and the quality is outstanding for the price.
How to Choose the Right Guitar Stand or Rack
Guitar stands and racks are essential accessories for all guitarists. No matter whether it’s going to be used on stage, in your bedroom, or in a home studio, a guitar stand provides a safe place to store your instrument when it’s not in use.
Below we’ve detailed some of the most important factors you should be looking for when making your decision on the best guitar racks and stands.
Consider Your Guitar’s Compatibility With the Guitar Stands You’re Looking At
When shopping for guitar stands, one of the first things you need to consider is compatibility your specific type of guitar. Different guitars have unique body shapes and sizes, and not all stands are designed to accommodate each type. Look for stands that explicitly mention compatibility with electric, acoustic, classical, or bass guitars. This is particularly important if your guitar has an extreme body style, or if you have a deep bodied acoustic guitar.
How Stable is the Guitar Stand?
The main reason for using a stand is to prevent your guitars from falling over and getting damaged, and so settling for cheap, wobbly guitar stands might actually be just as bad as not using one at all. Cheaper A frame stands may be particularly susceptible to this. Stands with wide bases and rubberized feet should be the bare minimum for you to consider, and the best guitar racks and stands often feature a neck lock or an auto grip system.
Because they’re usually screwed into the stud in your home, guitar wall mounts and hangers are often a good choice if you’re particularly concerned about stability, but installing a wall hanger will mean that you need to damage your walls.
Guitar Stand Durability and Build Quality
Guitar stands are entrusted with the safety of some of our most prized possessions, so it therefore stands to reason that we should look for stands that offer sufficient build quality to prevent untimely collapses.
The fewer moving parts a stand has, the better – this is particularly true of folding stands. The more moving parts there are, the more potential points of failure exist. If it’s a multi guitar rack you’re looking at, make sure that if it has wheels that they are both sturdy, and able to lock.
The best guitar racks and stands are built with tight tolerances, and should fit together with no wobble or play between components.
How Many Guitars Can It Hold?
This should seem like a no brainer, but if you’re looking to store three acoustic guitars, for example, an A frame stand or a single guitar wall hanger isn’t going to cut it, and buying three separate guitar stands is just going to clutter your space – in this case you’ll be best off with a multi guitar rack. On the other hand, if you only have one guitar, you’re unlikely to need a 9 slot rack, and a single guitar hanger or stand should suffice.
You should also consider what type of guitar you’re looking to keep on your guitar stand. A stand designed for an electric may not be able to accommodate an acoustic or classical guitar due to the smaller yokes.
How Much Space Do You Have?
As with everything in life – if you don’t have the room for it, it really doesn’t make sense to buy it, and this definitely rings true with guitar stands. If you’re short on space, you’ll want to look for the most compact option possible. Some manufacturers have even combined guitar stands with guitar stools for an all in one, space saving solution.
Final Thoughts on The Best Guitar Stands And Racks
Whether you’re looking to show off your best guitar, or you have multiple guitars you just need to keep out of harms way, a guitar stand is a good choice. Unlike a wall hanger, stands like those we covered in this roundup don’t require any drilling, and in many cases don’t even require tools to assemble.
Quality guitar stands don’t have to cost a fortune, and nor do they have to be ugly. In this roundup we’ve showcased a number of great options at all ends of the price spectrum that offer great stability, and excellent build quality – two of the most important factor in choosing your next guitar stand.
Before you leave, check out some of our other trending buying guides and reviews:
- 8 Best Cheap Guitar Amps Under $100
- The Ultimate Guide To 7-String Guitar Tuning
- 9 Best Guitar Cleaning & Polishing Kits
