What Equipment is Essential for Small Home Gym?

Breaking Muscle’s knowledgeable team of product experts includes certified strength and conditioning coaches, CrossFitters, certified personal trainers, and diehard fitness enthusiasts. So, you have limited money and want the best budget home gym equipment? Sorting through which products are worth it — and which ones are just disappointments waiting to happen — is no simple task. Lucky for you, we’ve combined decades of training experience and actual product testing to minimize the risk and maximize the payoff for you. Better cardiovascular health begins with one piece of equipment that fits your space, meets your needs, and motivates regular use.

The Best Treadmill

Compact home gym equipment keeps its footprint small, consistent, and easy to plan around, which is what makes it realistic for smaller homes. The best compact home gym equipment should support consistency, not create friction every time you want to work out. Below, we break down practical, space-saving exercise equipment and small home gym ideas to help you upgrade your workouts without sacrificing your home. Start by measuring your available workout area and ceiling height. Compare package dimensions on our product pages, and use our “Compare Packages” tool to see which option fits your training goals and space requirements. Men’s Health Advisory Board member and trainer David Otey, C.S.C.S. agrees that the rower is his top pick.

Home Gyms Have Never Been This Good

You will have to slightly adjust your strength goals for dumbbells vs the barbell version of exercises, but that’s not difficult. Now, let’s talk about getting some equipment to build well-rounded workout routines that can target both cardio and strength training. You can turn any door into a piece of gym equipment by hanging a pull-up bar on the frame.

Best Digital Weight Machine

Initially, you’ll pay $49 a month for the first year until your Temp Move is paid off. This includes the equipment and virtual personal training membership. After the year is up, you’ll just cover the cost of the membership, which is $39 a month. We even have a dedicated testing facility in Springfield, MO, where we put cardio and strength training equipment through rigorous testing to determine which items are worth your hard-earned dollars.

Training Style

At Repetition Fitness, we specialize in smart, space‑efficient workout solutions designed for modern lifestyles. While it’s much more expensive than the competition, the Tonal is an incredible piece of equipment. Any barbell based exercise you can get in the gym, you can get with Tonal. Plus, you get the added benefits of that “personal trainer” like experience, with customized workouts, built in progressive overload, and biometric feedback as you pump that iron. If you want something that’s no trouble to pack up and put away, the TRX Home2 is your best bet.

Strength Equipment Hammer Strength, Life Fitness, Cybex

The best part about the Maxpro is that you can fold it in half and store it away in the travel bag it comes in. The strength training machine has over 50 different resistance settings, and weights range between 5 and 300 pounds. Additionally, the Maxpro has an app you can connect to via Bluetooth when you’re looking for personalized workout classes or to learn new exercises. Smart workout mirrors typically cost at least $1,000, plus monthly class membership fees.

Best for Strength Training on a Budget

• Free weights (kettlebells etc) really are the way to go and despite the misconception, by lifting isn’t going to make you “bulk up” like a bodybuilder.
• Yes, there are some home gyms like the Tempo Move that replace the gym and can even replace the experience of a personal trainer.
• How does a seemingly ordinary bench end up as our pick for the best budget home gym?
• It really looks more like a cabinet from Crate & Barrel than a home gym.
• To start, the Go Rower measures 84 inches long by 27 inches wide by 48 inches tall, which is significantly shorter than the standard 95-inch length of rowers.
• The best compact home gym equipment should support consistency, not create friction every time you want to work out.

Tempo also adds an element of competition with in-class leaderboards that rank participants by rep count and volume lifted. Its trainer-led classes leave you feeling the burn and eager to work out day after day, making it a worthwhile alternative to much pricier machines. This question should help guide you to what equipment will be best for not only your goals but your lifestyle, too. If you’re living in a one-bedroom apartment, then maybe an option like a smart home gym or suspension trainer is better for now. On the other hand, a two-car garage or large basement affords you a lot more space to madmuscles fitness tips build a complete setup. It depends on your height and goals, but generally, you’ll want at least 92 inches from floor to ceiling to allow for pull-ups or movements like overhead presses.

Can I get a good cardio workout with resistance bands?

However, it’s worth noting that the warranty for these bumper plates is limited. The 10s and 15s have a 90-day guarantee, with the remaining plates covered under a one-year warranty. Considering the high quality of these bumpers, it’s unlikely you’ll need to return them. Despite the bench’s 70-pound weight, the handle and wheels make it easy to move around. I’ve tried a beefier bench from REP (the AB-5200) and noticed it was heavy and hard to move. The AB-3100 isn’t difficult to move; I just grab the handle at the front of the bench and stand it up, then wheel it wherever I need it.

Best for Bodyweight Only: TRX Home2 System

They are less expensive and will last forever, and are easily adjustable and sortable. Then I would just get a Swiss ball (as a bench), or an actual basic bench (no rack needed since you’re using dumbbells). Or you can even get a couple of those step platforms and stack them together for a make-shift bench (you’ll want to lay a towel on top). Two types of inexpensive equipment that you can purchase to exercise at home are resistance bands and a jump rope. Add in a weight training tool like a dumbbell or kettlebell, and you can challenge all of the major muscle groups in the lower body and upper body without breaking the bank. Similar to the weight plates, you’ll also need your own barbell (may I recommend the REP Colorado Bar?) if you want to use the power rack for traditional barbell exercises.

Doorway Pull-Up Bar

We’re here to help you crush your fitness goals without the weighted price tag. I do kind of want a bench again… My birthday is coming up, so maybe? On the other hand, I may be asking for a power meter, so who knows whether a bench and weights would be in the cards too .