Free-standing punch bags have quickly become one of the most popular types of punching bags that anyone who completes a martial art uses. They are one of the most commonly bought punching bags, and rightfully so because they are extremely easy to use.
With a free-standing bag, you no longer need to worry about the effort that it takes to install the bag and attach it to your ceiling.
Nor do you have to worry about always working out in one specific place, and potentially giving up a whole room in your home so that you have 360-degree access to the bag.
With a freestanding punch bag, you have a lot more freedom within your workout which has directly impacted the popularity of this style of bag.
If you have considered purchasing a freestanding bag, you probably will have noticed how saturated the market for these is. We understand that this can make finding the punching bag that’s right for you very difficult, which is why we’re here to help.
We’ve put together this handy guide to the best standing punch bags on the market, full of all the information you ever need to know about punch bags.
With recommendations for the best options on the market, this is your one-stop-shop for all things standing punch bags, so let’s get started.

In a hurry?
If you need a standing punch bag to improve your MMA ability, we would recommend using the Figolo Free Standing Punching Bag.
We think that this punch bag is the best option on the market because it is packed full of excellent features, including:
- An easy to construct design which allows you to use the device quickly once it has been delivered to your home.
- Excellent quality of build with a solid foam interior and a thickened PU leather exterior to protect the device from wear and tear.
- Limited movement when the device is in use with a rounded ABS absorber base and 12 suction cups which limit it sliding about.
- An excellent option for both adults and youth, allowing different people from your household to use the device in order to improve their skills.
OUR TOP PICK
Our favorite standing punch bag on the market is the Figolo freestanding punch bag. The main reason that we love this punch bag is because of how easy it is to put it together.
When you order something, the last thing you want is for it to be difficult to put together and this product ensures an easy assembly process.
We also love that it is constructed with high-quality materials that can withstand the wear and tear that a punch bag experiences.
This includes the multi-layer design of the bag, and also its thickened PU leather exterior which ensures you never have to worry about breaking the fabric.
Another thing that we love is how the bag does not move when you hit it. This is guaranteed by its ABS shock-absorbing base and the 12 suction cups which cover the base ensuring movement along your flooring is limited.
With the ability to fill it with either water or sand for added stability, this punch bag is a great option for both adults and youth MMA fighters, and one of the best available.
Pros
- Easy to construct and move around until you find the perfect space for it
- Built with high-quality materials with multi-layer construction for durability
- The outer layer is built of thickened PU leather to protect from wear and tear
- Rounded ABS absorber base tank includes 12 suction cups to limit movement
- Fill with either sand or water to improve the stability of the design
- A great option for both adults and youth to use
Cons
- No notable drawbacks
EDITORS CHOICE
We also love the Boutmaster MMA punching bag. This bag is completely unique to the others on this list as it is specifically designed to improve your punching ability.
It has a much smaller punching area than other bags, but it's targeted size ensures that your hand-eye coordination will improve as you use it.
This device is great as you can buy it in either the adult, child, or professional option depending on your age and ability with MMA.
It is easy to set up and can be adjusted from 49-63 inches depending on your height, making it a great option if you are not the only person using the bag.
It is built with extremely durable materials, including a solid EVA exterior and a spring-loaded shaft which ensures that the bag bounces back after every hit.
For extra stability, you can fill the base with sand or water, but this is undoubtedly one of the best options available.
Pros
- Available in an option for kids, adults, and professionals
- Extremely easy to set up and ready to use very quickly
- Adjust the device to suit your height - adjustable from 49-63 inches
- Premium quality build with attention to detail for ultimate durability
- Fill the base with either sand or water for extra stability
- Solid EVA exterior with a spring-loaded shaft so it bounces right back after every hit
Cons
- No notable drawbacks
BEST VALUE
You should also consider the Ringside Freestanding Heavy Bag. This is another bag that is unique to the others on the list as it is actually classed as a heavy bag despite its freestanding style.
It is designed with shock-absorbing foam and is encased in a vinyl shell to ensure maximum durability no matter how many times you hit the bag.
Additionally, it comes with a base pad which is designed to provide extra protection to you when you use the bag to practice kicking.
Its solid and sturdy design ensures it can take a hit without falling, but if you want extra reassurance you can fill the base with either sand or water for more stability.
With a huge striking surface measuring 15 x 56 inches, there’s no question that this is one of the best freestanding bags available.
Pros
- Freestanding design allows you to workout wherever is convenient
- Shock-absorbing foam encased in a vinyl shell for ultimate durability
- Base pad added to the design for extra-protection when kicking
- The plastic base tank can be filled with water or sand for added stability
- Solid and sturdy design can take a hit without falling over
- Large striking surface measures 15 x 56 inches
Cons
- Not the best option for rapid punching
RUNNER UP
Another excellent option is the Everlast Powercore Punch Bag. Everlast is definitely a reputable brand when it comes to anything to do with MMA, and this product is no different.
Their Powercore punch bag is designed to be height adjustable allowing you to increase the height from 54 up to 65 inches.
It is a perfect option for improving hand-eye coordination and improving leg-conditioning and an extremely stable design. It comes with an air foam chamber which ensures a realistic feel with every hit that you make.
Additionally, it has a rounded design which makes it easy for you to move around the target for a full-body workout.
It also contains the trademarked Powercore power transfer ring which absorbs the impact of the hit, ensuring that the bag does not slide about during your workout.
With all of these great features, there is no doubt that this is one of the best standing punch bags available.
Pros
- Air Foam chamber for realistic feel with every hit
- Rounded design for easy movement around the target
- Powercore power transfer ring absorbs the impact of the hit and limits the device from sliding
- Easily fill with water or sand for extra stability
- Height adjustable from 54-65 inches
- Perfect for improving hand-eye coordination, and leg-conditioning
Cons
- Not suitable for outdoor use
RUNNER UP
Finally, we cannot forget about the Century Wavemaster XXL Training Bag. This is an excellent option if you want a large striking surface to use during your workouts.
It has a low profile base which makes the device extremely stable, but for extra stability, you can always add water or sand to the base.
The device is built with high-density foam at its center which makes the device tough against huge amounts of force and impact.
This foam is then covered with a durable vinyl cover which is guaranteed to not split as well as easily withstand wear and tear throughout the long workouts you will use the punch bag for.
With all of these wonderful features in mind, there is no way that you could question this being one of the best standing punch bags on the market.
Pros
- High-quality striking surface
- Durable vinyl cover to withstand wear and tear
- Filled with high-density foam to make the device tough against impact
- Fill the stand with either sand or water for extra stability
- Large surface for workouts
- Low profile base for extremely stable weight distribution
Cons
- The bag does wobble slightly
Best Standing Punching Bag Buying Guide
Finding the perfect standing punch bag for you can be a difficult process. For any budding MMA enthusiast, a punching bag is central to gaining experience in the art, and you want to ensure that the purchase you make is worth your investment.
With so many different options on the market, it can be hard to tell which will give you the most bang for your buck, but that’s where we can help.
The punch bags that we’ve looked at are some of the best on the market, but if you still aren’t sold, we’ve put together this buyer’s guide full of everything you need to consider when buying a standing punch bag.
Standing Vs Traditional Punch Bag
Before we get into all the things you should consider when buying a punching bag, it seems only fair that we take a look at why a standing punch bag might be the best for you.
While you might want a traditional punch bag because it seems like a right of passage, a standing punch bag is more likely to give you a good workout.
Standing punch bags allow you to set them up anywhere, and require no fittings to the walls of your home. This is a bonus as they can give you 360-degree access to the punch bag without permanently impacting the space in your home.
If you want 360-degree access to a traditional punching bag you would have to hang it in the center of a room.
With a standing punch bag, you can simply move the bag to the center when you want to use it, then move it out of the way once you have finished your workout.
These are just a few reasons why standing punch bags have become more popular than their more-traditional counterparts.
Quality of Build
The first thing that you need to consider when buying a freestanding punch bag is the quality of the build. Like with most products, the quality of materials used will vary from product to product, and this is usually directly shown in the price of the punch bag.
A punching bag will take a lot of impact throughout its lifetime, so you must buy one which is built with quality materials if you want it to last.
For the interior of the punch bag, you should look for one that is constructed with a dense foam as this is a great shock-absorbing material. Multi-layer construction is always a good feature for a punching bag, however, the most important thing is the material used for the exterior of the bag.
This is most commonly constructed with either vinyl or leather as these materials are incredibly durable and will withstand the constant impact that the punch bag will take.
Size
Finally, you should consider the size of the punching bag that you are looking to buy. This is relevant to both the space that you have for the punching bag and also to your own size.
Depending on your height different punching bags might be appropriate, you will also find that some punch bags come with height adjustability allowing you to tailor it to your height.
This is a great option if more than one person in your household wants to use the device as you can both alter it to better suit your height.
You also need to consider the room that is required to use the punch bag in your home. While the punch bag itself might not take up too much room, you also need to consider the ground clearance required to use the punch bag comfortably.
You should also consider the height of your ceiling, most punch bags will not measure anywhere near ceiling height. However, it is always best to check, especially if your home has smaller ceilings, or you are looking to use the device in either your basement or attic conversion.
It is important to consider all these different aspects in terms of size to ensure that the punch bag you buy is suitable for use in your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it acceptable to hit a punching bag every day?
If you are eager to improve your MMA skills, you might find yourself wanting to constantly workout on your punch bag. You might think that this is a guaranteed way to improve your skills, but it could actually be a guaranteed way to damage your punching ability.
Each hit of your fist against the punch bag has a lot of impact on your hands and wrists, and continual impact from punching the bag every day could damage your boxing ability.
You must take breaks between punch bag workouts. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t complete a punch bag workout every day, it just means that you should take breaks between the workouts to give your hands a rest.
Can I hit a punching bag without gloves?
Nothing is stopping you from hitting your punching bag without gloves, however, this could potentially cause damage to your hands and wrists if you do it often.
In short periods, a punch bag workout without gloves can be a great way to strengthen your knuckles, wrists, and forearms.
However, you are at risk of damaging the skin of your knuckles and causing damage to your wrists if you do not keep them straight and solid while you punch.
So the answer is yes, you can hit a punching bag without wearing gloves but you shouldn’t do it too often.
Do punching bags come filled?
Whether or not a punching bag comes filled will depend on the make and model that you have bought.
Most manufacturers will state whether or not the punching bag is filled within the product description so you should check this out if you are unsure. Quite a lot of punching bags for MMA are made with foam so these punching bags will almost always come filled.
However, if you are looking to buy a heavy bag, there is a good chance that you may be required to fill it yourself. You should do your research about this before you make a purchase to ensure you are prepared for your punching bag to arrive.
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