If you’re sim racing on a budget, finding a cheap wheel stand is probably at the top of your list of equipment to buy. They’re versatile and ideal for those without a permanent setup, so we’ve put together a list of the best cheap sim racing wheels stands on the market.
The 4 best cheap sim racing wheel stands are:
- GT Omega Apex Racing Wheel Stand
- Next Level Racing Racer Wheel Stand
- Next Level Racing Wheel Stand DD
- Sim Lab Wheel Stand Pro
Below, I’ll go through each of these stands in more detail so you can make the right choice for your sim racing setup. Then I’ll go through the most important things to consider when you’re in the market for a cheap sim racing wheel stand.
- • Lightweight but sturdy
- • Great value for money
- • Shifter/handbrake mount included
- • Very cheap wheel stand
- • Ideal for beginners
- • Easy to store
- • Direct drive support
- • Strong but lightweight
- • Comes with a shifter/handbrake mount
Note: We’ve structured this list based on the best value for money, so the cheapest option isn’t at the top. If you want to check out the absolute cheapest choice, go for the NLR Racer wheel stand.
The 4 Best Cheap Sim Racing Wheel Stands
1. GT Omega Apex Steering Wheel Stand
My personal pick of the GT Omega APEX steering wheel stand combines all of the essential elements of a good stand for a reasonable price. With the option to be as minimal or involved as you want, it’ll make a sturdy, fantastic base for you to build your first sim racing rig around.
GT Omega Apex Steering Wheel Stand
A Respectable Name
The manufacturer, GT Omega, has been designing and producing racing wheel stands for many years. They’ve perfected their numerous designs over their long tenure in the space, and the APEX is the culmination of everything they’ve learned over the years.
The sleek, black frame is both substantial and lightweight in equal measure, with it being specifically designed to be easily foldable for those without the space for a permanent rig setup. It has specialized rubber grips on the feet to help keep it grounded on any flooring, ensuring a well-balanced stand even on the trickiest of corners when you’re snapping your steering wheel every which way!
Its base height of 67 cm is adjustable all the way up to 86 cm, so it can be made to fit any seating arrangement for maximum comfort. The pedal plate underneath can be angled in a variety of ways to replicate a real race car’s cockpit without affecting the stability of the rig overall.
Pedal & Wheel Mounts
Pre-drilled holes in the pedal plate mean that you can hard mount your pedals for maximum stability. The steering wheel plate can be tilted to suit your specific playstyle as well. There’s also a stick shifter mount, and it can be mounted on the left or right side as per your preference.
Unlike some other cheap wheel stands, you don’t have to remove any of your sim racing equipment from the stand to fold it and put it away. It won’t take long to fold and store in a closet, and you can get it back out and start racing again in no time. It may not be the cheapest on this list, but with the build quality and long list of adjustable features, the extra cash really is worth it.
Highly Compatible
The APEX also has the best overall compatibility of the stands on this list, as it supports most of the big-name steering wheel brands. Most wheel stands are highly specialized without even basic adjustment abilities, so this stand really does offer one of the best solutions for those on a budget.
GT Omega APEX Steering Wheel Stand
PROS:
- Fully adjustable
- Firm build quality, solid stability
- Great value for money
CONS:
- Not compatible with some budget steering wheels
2. Next Level Racing Racer Wheel Stand
Next Level Racing have been making wheel stands specifically for many years, and their Racer wheel stand is a product they’ve designed for those of us on a budget. It doesn’t compromise on quality, and it offers a highly portable solution for beginner sim racers.
Next Level Racing Racer Wheel Stand
This is a simple yet effective sim racing wheel stand that is ideal for beginners with minimal space. It is highly portable, and it provides lightweight but sturdy support for your wheel and pedals.
Solid But Lightweight
The Racer stand is made of a brushed black carbon steel compound, giving it the weight you need to keep it grounded. And yet, carbon steel is the perfect material to keep it light and easily moveable!
The steering wheel plate and stand in general can be adjusted to a variety of heights and angles for the optimal racing position. You can also mount your pedals at different distances, minimizing the amount you have to reach or hunch your legs up. Unlike the APEX, however, you cannot tilt the mounting plate for that ideal position, which is a shame.
A Stable Stand
On the bottom of the stand, you’ll find adjustable feet that keep it stable where it sits and allow you to alter the level of the stand overall. A nice extra is the pack of cable clips that you’ll receive when you buy this wheel stand. These clips will secure all cables for your wheel, pedals and other sim racing gear to the pole in the middle, keeping everything tidy and unobtrusive while you race.
Next Level Racing has perfected a design that can be easily folded, with the wheel and pedals still mounted, in less than 10 seconds (with a bit of practice). You can put it away or move it to another room, and perhaps even take it with you to a friend’s house for a racing session with absolute ease. It’s an ideal pick for sim racers that need the flexibility of a rig that isn’t constantly in one place.
It’s Expandable
The downside of this lightweight, neat rig compared to the APEX as an example is the lack of a shifter mount. You can purchase one separately of course, and Next Level Racing has all kinds of extra mounts to add to the stand in a variety of ways. It can be the base of a full sim racing cockpit if you want!
The lack of a shifter mount is what dissuaded me from putting this stand at the top of the list, but it’s still a solid wheel stand full of features, and it could be the perfect choice for beginners on a very tight budget.
Next Level Racing Racer Wheel Stand
PROS:
- Made of carbon steel
- Adjustable wheel stand height
- Easy to store
CONS:
- Cannot adjust angle of pedal mount
- No shifter mount
3. Next Level Racing Wheel Stand DD
Next up we have a wheel stand that’s designed to handle direct drive wheels. Now, they’re not cheap in themselves, so getting a stand that can handle one for a budget price is a good way to balance your budget while still taking advantage of the incredible immersion that these kinds of wheels have to offer.
Next Level Racing Wheel Stand DD
Direct Drive Support
The Next Level Racing brand is a popular one in the space, and for good reason. They build high-quality equipment at fairly low prices, and this stand is no exception. The fact it supports direct drive wheels makes it great for more experienced racers of course, but also for beginners that don’t have a DD wheel at the moment, but may upgrade to one in the future.
It’s not going to be quite as stable as a dedicated aluminum extrusion rig, but it will handle it far better than most other stands on the market at this price. The direct drive support is the truly unique selling point of this rig, but it’s still going to function very well with non-DD wheels too.
Great Build Quality
The stand is made from laser cut carbon steel, so not only is it solid and secure, but it’s also built to last. It’s fairly lightweight, which makes moving it around pretty easy, and as with most stands on this list, it’s highly portable as well. It’s therefore a good choice for those without a dedicated sim racing space.
The wheel and pedal mounts are adjustable as you might expect, and this means it’s easy to get things into the optimum position for your setup. There are hard mounting holes to secure pretty much any wheel and pedal combination in place, and you can add a shifter or handbrake too thanks to the side mount.
An Excellent Choice
The Next Level Wheel Stand DD has wheels that you can use to move it around with ease, and these are lockable to ensure it doesn’t move around when you’re using it. Overall, this is a high-quality wheel stand that is perfect for beginners with their first direct drive wheel, or for those that may upgrade to one further down the line.
Next Level Racing Wheel Stand DD
PROS:
- Direct drive support
- Excellent build quality
- Comes with shifter mount
CONS:
- Not as sturdy as a dedicated rig
4. Sim Lab Wheel Stand Pro
This minimalist wheel stand from Sim Lab is an ideal choice for beginners that want a high-quality, budget friendly rig for their first setup. It is highly compatible with other sim racing hardware, and it’s super easy to set it up.
Sim Lab Wheel Stand Pro
This is a minimalistic wheel stand that offers support for your wheel and pedals in a small form factor. It's made from high-quality materials, and it's expandable too.
A Solid Brand
Sim Lab are one of the best brands in the business, and they’re renowned for producing high-quality sim racing gear for all experience levels. This shows through with this wheel stand, as it’s a simple yet brilliant piece of kit that will fit into any sim racing setup with ease.
It’s a rigid yet adjustable wheel stand, with hard mounts for your wheels and pedals. It’s compatible with a range of products from the likes of Fanatec and Thrustmaster, and they even claim to offer direct drive support too. While not as stable as a dedicated rig, it’s still an option for those with a lower-torque direct drive wheel.
Great For Beginners
This stand has everything you need as a beginner, with a simple mounting setup for your wheel and pedals. The baseplate is secure and adjustable, and it’ll keep the stand planted to the floor even under heavy braking.
This wheel stand is also expandable, with things like seat supports available and side mounts for a shifter or handbrake if you want to boost the immersion levels. However, on its own, it ticks all the boxes as a quality, budget friendly sim racing wheel and pedal stand.
Sim Lab Wheel Stand Pro
PROS:
- Solid wheel stand
- Direct drive support
- Reputable sim racing brand
CONS:
- Won’t be as solid as a dedicated rig
- No shifter mount included
Summary Of The Best Cheap Wheel Stands
| Wheel Stand | Best For |
| GT Omega Apex Racing Wheel Stand | Those looking for a good mix of stability and adjustability |
| Next Level Racing Racer Wheel Stand | Those seeking the absolute cheapest option |
| Next Level Racing Wheel Stand DD | Sim racers with a direct drive wheel base |
| Sim Lab Wheel Stand Pro | Those with a bit of extra cash that prioritize stability |
What To Look For In A Good Sim Racing Wheel Stand
Price To Performance Ratio
Above all else, you need to look at something that balances price with overall immersion and enjoyment. You can find all manner of bargain products online, but there’s never any real guarantee as to quality or reliability based on price alone.
Branding isn’t paramount, but it does help if you have familiarity with a company who makes good products overall. For example, the first rig I bought for sim racing was the Logitech G29, primarily because I’ve used their headphones and gaming mice for years with a lot of satisfaction.
Extras You Might Need
You might deem a stick shifter mount to be an added extra you don’t need, or you might decide that it’s an essential feature that you want. Really think about what your current sim racing rig is made of right now, and consider what you need or want to ensure you can make the most of what you buy.
It would be pointless to buy a wheel stand without a stick shifter mount included, for example, if you just bought a shiny new gear shifter! Sure, you’d have saved money by not purchasing a stand with that specific mount, but you’ll have to buy one separately anyway!
The Portability Factor
Another thing to consider is whether or not your wheel stand will be a permanent addition to a space or not. Sturdy wheel stands are often more expensive, yet worth the price if you won’t be moving it a lot. However, wheel stands with wheels or otherwise foldable components will be cheaper and better if you’ll be putting it away or moving it around a lot.
Final Thoughts
It’s definitely possible to find a good sim racing wheel stand on a budget, but you need to make sure you pick one suited to your particular setup and needs. If you’re looking for the absolute best cheap sim racing wheel stand, the GT Omega Apex stand is the one to go for, but the cheapest option overall is the Racer stand from Next Level Racing.