Fitness Gear Equipment The 10 Best Bike Racks of 2022 The Allen Sports 2-Bike Hitch Rack makes it easy to take your bikes on the go By Alexa Erickson Alexa Erickson Alexa Erickson is a Newport, California-based writer who covers travel, health, wellness, home decor, food and drink, fashion, beauty, and scientific news. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 27, 2022 Fact checked Verywell Fit content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Marley Hall Fact checked by Marley Hall LinkedIn Marley Hall is a writer and fact checker who is certified in clinical and translational research. Her work has been published in medical journals in the field of surgery, and she has received numerous awards for publication in education. Learn about our editorial process Print We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Cycling can be a great way to get from place to place. But sometimes, even your bike needs to be transported somewhere new, and outfitting you car with a bike rack becomes necessary. There are a number of styles of racks from hitch mount to rooftop so you'll be able to find one that suits your needs and style of vehicle. Reviewed & Approved Our best overall selection is the Allen Sports 2-Bike Hitch Rack because it's easy to install without tools and can carry two bikes at once. If you're looking for a budget-friendly option the Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike Trunk Mount Rack is a great choice. We considered bike racks for our list based on the style of rack, the weight of the rack itself, its bike and weight capacity, whether its easy to install, cost, and if its space-saving. Looking for a bike rack for your next long-distance ride? Here are the best bike racks on the market. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Allen Sports 2-Bike Hitch Rack at Amazon Best Budget: Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike Trunk Mount Rack at Amazon Best Hitch Rack: KAC Overdrive Sports K2 Hitch Mounted Rack at Amazon Best Rooftop Rack: Yakima FrontLoader Upright Bike Mount at Amazon Best Truck Bed Rack: Elevate Outdoor Apex TBBC-4 Truck Bed Rack at Walmart Best Spare Tire Rack: Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike Spare Tire Rack at Amazon Best Compact: Allen Sports Ultra Compact Trunk Mounted Bike Rack at Amazon Best Adjustable: Kuat Transfer V2 2-Bike Hitch Rack at Backcountry.com Best for Travel: Kuat Sherpa 2.0 2-Bike Hitch Rack at Amazon Best Trunk Rack: Saris Bones 2-Bike Trunk Rack at Saris.com In This Article Expand Our Picks What to Look For Why Trust Verywell Fit Best Overall: Allen Sports 2-Bike Hitch Rack 4.6 Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon Pros Lightweight Easy to install Space efficient Cons Relatively expensive Our best overall pick, the Allen Sports 2-Bike Hitch Rack is easy to install, easy to use, and capable of carrying up to two bikes at once. The rack easily attaches to the hitch of your car—no tools required—and you can use the built-in knob to lock the rack into place. The rack’s adjustable rubber straps snugly secure bikes of different sizes, and since the carry arms are foldable, you can easily move them out of the way when they’re not in use. The rack extends from your hitch to the top of your trunk, storing your bikes in a space-efficient way. Thanks to the tilt-away design, you can easily access the inside of your trunk at any time. Style: Hitch rack | Weight: 10 pounds | Bike Capacity: Two bikes | Weight Capacity: 70 pounds Best Budget: Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike Trunk Mount Rack Walmart View On Amazon View On Walmart Pros Lightweight Easy to install Space efficient Budget-friendly Cons May not be as durable as some other options Providing cyclists with a budget-friendly way to carry a couple of bikes, the Allen Sports 2-Bike Trunk Mount Rack is compact and lightweight. Since it ships fully assembled, it's easy to set up no matter your experience. Simply place the rack on your trunk, use the built-in straps to secure it, and drape your bike over the carry arms. The carry arms come equipped with cradles, which are designed to securely hold your bike in place as you drive. To ensure you get a precise fit, the cradles come with adjustable straps you can use to hold bikes of any size. Style: Trunk rack | Weight: 9 pounds | Bike Capacity: Two bikes | Weight Capacity: 70 pounds Best Hitch Rack: KAC Overdrive Sports K2 Hitch Mounted Rack Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Ridekac.com View On Sears.com Pros Durable Space efficient Cons Heavy Expensive The versatile KAC Overdrive Sports K2 Hitch Mounted Rack attaches to your hitch and extends over part of your trunk, making the most of the space behind your car. The durable rack is crafted with powder-coated steel, and it’s designed to cut down on wobbling—keeping your bikes steady and secure as you drive. No matter how much you're carrying, the rack can easily fold or expand to hold a single bike or multiple bikes at a time. And thanks to the tilt-away design, you can easily move the rack away from your car when you need to open up your trunk. Style: Hitch rack | Weight: 50 pounds | Bike Capacity: Two bikes | Weight Capacity: 60 pounds The Best Bike Lights to Keep You Safe and Visible Best Rooftop Rack: Yakima FrontLoader Upright Bike Mount Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On REI Pros Lightweight Easy to install Cons Makes your car significantly taller Relatively expensive This rack rests on top of factory bars, making it easy to install and ensuring it doesn't rough up your car's paint job. Maneuverable and versatile, it can easily accommodate bikes of different sizes. To install, simply adjust the rack’s length to secure wheels between 20 and 29 inches, and expand its width to grip tires up to 3 inches wide. The metal parts of the rack will only touch your bike’s tires, so you won’t have to worry about scratches or scuffs. While heavy, the 18-pound rack boasts ultimate durability, so you can rest assured knowing it will support your bike. Style: Rooftop rack | Weight: 18 pounds | Bike Capacity: One bike | Weight Capacity: 40 pounds The 21 Best Peloton Bike Accessories of 2022 Best Truck Bed Rack: Elevate Outdoor Apex TBBC-4 Truck Bed Rack Courtesy of Walmart View On Walmart Pros Lightweight Easy to install Space efficient High capacity Cons Relatively expensive If you need to store a few bikes in your trunk bed, the Elevate Outdoor Apex TBBC-4 Truck Bed Rack has you covered. It can accommodate up to four bikes at once, and since it organizes them into neat rows, you don’t have to worry about your truck bed feeling cluttered or crowded. Each bike slides between two sturdy steel tubes, which are padded with foam to prevent scuffs and scratches. The rack is lined with pin clips you can use to lock your bikes into place, and if you want to keep your bikes really secure, you can always loop straps (not included) around the bikes and tie them to your truck bed. Style: Truck bed rack | Weight: 23 pounds | Bike Capacity: Four bikes | Weight Capacity: n/a Best Spare Tire Rack: Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike Spare Tire Rack Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart Pros Lightweight Easy to install Space efficient Cons Works best on cars with mounted spare tires The Allen Sports Deluxe Spare Tire Rack is a bike rack that fits snugly over the spare tire on the back of your car. Simply place the rack over the tire, use the straps to lock it into place, and the rack is ready for use. With narrow carry arms, the rack makes it easy to load and unload up to two bikes at a time. The carry arms are lined with cradles that hold your bikes in place as you drive, and the cradles come equipped with adjustable straps you can use to snugly secure your bikes into place. Style: Spare tire rack | Weight: 10 pounds | Bike Capacity: Two bikes | Weight Capacity: 70 pounds The 10 Best Bike Pumps of 2022 Best Compact: Allen Sports Ultra Compact Trunk Mounted Bike Rack Courtesy of Walmart View On Amazon View On Walmart Pros Lightweight Space efficient Budget-friendly Foldable Cons May not be as durable as some other options If you’re looking for a bike rack that’s both budget-friendly and space-efficient, the Allen Sports Ultra Compact Mounted Trunk Rack is a solid option. At 14.37 x 7.28 x 3.54 inches, the rack is remarkably small, and since it’s foldable, it’s easy to store between uses. The trunk rack conveniently fits sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs, and minivans, thanks to the tie-down cradles. Lined with padding, the rack is designed to cut down on the potential for scratches on your bike and car. Style: Trunk rack | Weight: 6 pounds | Bike Capacity: One bike | Weight Capacity: 35 pounds Best Adjustable: Kuat Transfer V2 2-Bike Hitch Rack Courtesy of Rei View On Backcountry.com View On REI Pros Lightweight Adjustable Space efficient Cons Expensive The Kuat Transfer V2 2 Bike Hitch Rack is an adjustable bike rack that ensures a snug, precise fit. The rack can accommodate two bikes at a time, and the foldable design is ideal for saving space. Equipped with a PerfectFit adjustment season, the rack is easy to load and unload, and easy to lock securely in place. It's made for wheels between 20 and 29 inches and tires up to 4.5 inches wide (when paired with a Phat Bike Kit). Thanks to its thoughtful design, you won’t have to worry about chipping the paint on your bike(s) or your car. Style: Hitch rack | Weight: 37 pounds | Bike Capacity: Two bikes | Weight Capacity: 90 pounds The 8 Best Bikes for Women of 2022 Best for Travel: Kuat Sherpa 2.0 2-Bike Hitch Rack Courtesy of REI View On Amazon View On REI Pros Lightweight Easy to use Space efficient Cons Expensive If you plan to do a lot of traveling, the Kuat Sherpa 2.0 2-Bike Hitch Rack is worth the investment. The hitch rack can accommodate two bikes at a time, and its pivot system makes it incredibly easy to load. Simply tap the rack with your foot, and it will drop down—helping you more easily place your bikes on the rack. Fitted with folding tire cradles, the rack promises to hold your bike firmly in place as you drive while cutting down on back-and-forth wobbling. It also ships with a cable lock—so if you need to park your car and step inside, the lock will keep it secure while you're gone. Style: Hitch rack | Weight: 32 pounds | Bike Capacity: Two bikes | Weight Capacity: 80 pounds Best Trunk Rack: Saris Bones 2-Bike Trunk Rack Courtesy of Rei View On Saris.com Pros Lightweight Space efficient Cons Relatively expensive The Saris Bones 2-Bike Trunk Rack is a fan-favorite that's compatible with a variety of vehicles. The lightweight, rust-resistant rack is crafted with heavy-duty plastic and designed to resist regular wear and tear. The rack's unique cradle is designed to accommodate a variety of bike frames, and its adjustable straps will hold your bike securely while you drive. Since it fits on a range of vehicles—including sedans, hatchbacks, and minivans—it's a reliable pick if you're looking for a trunk rack. Style: Trunk rack | Weight: 10 pounds | Bike Capacity: Two bikes | Weight Capacity: 35 pounds Fitness Final Verdict If you're looking for a bike rack that’s solid, convenient, and relatively budget-friendly, The Allen Sports 2-Bike Hitch Rack (view on Amazon) is a great place to start. The bike rack is both sturdy and easy to navigate, and it can accommodate up to two bikes at once. If you don't mind spending money on an upgrade, the Kuat Sherpa 2.0 2-Bike Hitch Rack (view on Amazon) is worth the investment. The bike rack is a best-in-class option that comes loaded with helpful features, like an easy-to-load pivot system and a built-in bike lock. What to Look for in a Bike Rack Style Bike racks come in an array of different styles, including hitch racks, trunk racks, spare tire racks, truck bed racks, and rooftop racks. Each of these styles corresponds to a different installation method: Hitch racks attach to your car’s hitch, trunk beds attach to your trunk, and so on. Weight Some bike racks are extremely lightweight (6 pounds), while others are considerably heavy (50 pounds). Consider what you’d feel comfortable handling and installing, and look for a bike rack in that weight range. Bike Capacity Typically, bike racks can hold one to four bikes at a time. So if you’re planning to transport several bikes at once, be sure to look for a rack with a higher bike capacity. If you don’t intend to travel with more than one or two bikes at a time, look for a lower-capacity bike rack, as these may be smaller and more compact than higher-capacity options. Weight Capacity Bike racks can accommodate different weight capacities. The weight capacity typically corresponds to the rack’s bike capacity, but it’s worth double-checking—especially if you’re planning to transport a very heavy ride. Frequently Asked Questions Do bike racks damage your car? Bike racks can damage your car, but many won’t. To avoid scuffing up your paint job, be sure to read a bike rack’s reviews before making a purchase. You should also ensure you’re using a bike rack that’s recommended for your car size and style, and carefully follow the installation instructions. Why Trust Verywell Fit As a seasoned health and fitness writer, Lindsey Lanquist understands how vital quality product recommendations can be. She is careful to recommend products that are reliable, comfortable, and genuinely well-reviewed by those who’ve tried them. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get one simple hack every day to make your life healthier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit