How to Build a Budget-Friendly Home Gym: Tips from Experts
A home gym saves you time, allows you to work out whenever you want, and even saves you money in the long run by avoiding costly memberships. So, it’s no surprise that more Americans prefer to work out at home versus in the gym. However, setting up a home gym on a budget might seem tricky.
Creating a home gym doesn’t have to be complicated. With some planning and advice, you can set up a space that meets your fitness needs without spending a fortune. We’ve asked experts about the right approach to creating your home gym.
Planning your home gym
Before you start buying equipment and setting up your home gym, plan it. Taking some time to assess your fitness goals and needs, determine your budget, and figure out the best space will help you create an effective and enjoyable workout area.
Think about what you want to achieve with your home gym. Are you looking to improve your cardio, build strength, increase flexibility, or a combination of these? Your fitness goals will guide your choices in equipment and setup
Setting a budget is crucial for creating a cost-effective home gym. Decide how much you’re willing to spend and stick to it
Consider the space you have available for your home gym. You don’t need a large area, but you do need a dedicated spot where you can exercise comfortably and in a well-ventilated area.
Expert advice
How can I maximize using limited space for my home gym setup?
With various home fitness options available, you can efficiently maximize limited home gym spaces. Multifunctional equipment such as resistance tubes can be used on their own or attached to a door, offering versatile strength training options while being compact and easy to store away. Foldable cardio equipment like rowing machines provide full-body workouts and can be stored away to provide more room when not in use.
Other workout equipment that offer foldability include treadmills and the Row-N-Ride from Sunny. Mini steppers and under-desk ellipticals are popular space-saving options that take minimal space and yet pack a punch to help you get closer to your fitness goals. Extra tip? Use mirrors to make the space feel more spacious, and double its function and utilize it to help check your exercise forms regularly.
Hanna Kim from Sunny Health And Fitness
How can I set realistic and achievable fitness goals while working out at home?
Setting realistic and achievable fitness goals while working out at home can be incredibly rewarding. I personally love working out in my home gym, and I think it’s possible to achieve your goals from the comfort of your home with just a few simple pieces of equipment.
When it comes to setting realistic goals, it’s important to assess your current fitness level. Start by identifying what you can do comfortably and where your limits are. This will help you set a baseline. You don’t want to rush into doing anything extreme.
Next, define your goals. Be specific and realistic. For example, instead of saying, “I want to lose weight,” aim for “I want to lose 5 pounds in the next two months.” Then, break your main goal into smaller, manageable milestones. This makes it less daunting and gives you a sense of accomplishment along the way. For example, if your goal is to run a 5k, start by running shorter distances around your neighborhood and gradually increase your mileage.
It’s also important to create a structured workout plan. Decide how many days a week you can realistically commit to exercising and what types of workouts you enjoy. Consistency is key, so find workouts that keep you motivated. You can look for an online personal trainer OR an online workout platform to help guide your home workouts.
Also, don’t forget to track your progress. Keep a journal or use an app to record your workouts, note how you feel, and celebrate your achievements - both big and small!
I always encourage my clients to set non-weight-related goals to make the process more enjoyable and to track their progress in other ways. These could include improving your stamina, increasing your flexibility, or mastering a new exercise. For instance, you might aim to run a certain distance without stopping, hold a plank for a minute, or touch your toes if you currently can’t.
Your fitness journey is a marathon, not a sprint. Think of it as a lifelong journey. Be patient with yourself, stay consistent, and enjoy the process.
Stephanie Thomas from StephanieThomasFitness.com
Essential equipment for a budget-friendly home gym
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to create a home gym. You can create a great workout space that suits your fitness goals by focusing on essential, cost-effective, and multifunctional equipment.
Expert advice
What are some essentials for a small home gym?
Creating a functional and efficient small home gym involves selecting versatile equipment that can accommodate a variety of workouts within limited space. Start with dumbbells and resistance bands, which are essential for strength training and offer a range of resistance levels for exercises targeting different muscle groups. Adjustable dumbbells are particularly space-saving and versatile, allowing you to change weights easily.
A yoga mat is a must-have for floor exercises, stretching, and core workouts, providing a comfortable and non-slip surface. Adding a stability ball enhances core strength and balance, making it useful for exercises like ab rollouts and stability ball crunches.
For cardio workouts, consider compact equipment such as a jump rope, which is excellent for quick, high-intensity sessions. Alternatively, a foldable treadmill or stationary bike can provide effective cardiovascular exercise without taking up much space.
An adjustable bench is ideal for various exercises, including weightlifting and core workouts, while kettlebells offer functional training options with a compact footprint. Incorporating a foam roller aids in muscle recovery by relieving soreness and improving flexibility.
Finally, storage solutions like racks and shelves help keep your equipment organized and accessible, maintaining a clutter-free environment. This carefully chosen selection of essentials ensures a comprehensive, flexible workout space tailored to fit within a small home gym.
El Mens
How can beginners choose the right equipment for starting a home gym?
Most beginners who build a home gym from scratch tend to be either short-sighted or balls-to-the-wall. I've found it best to find a solid starting point with moderate equipment and upgrade or add training tools based on progression.
Beginners need to consider 3 things when starting a home gym. Present state, future state, and space. At present, the beginner needs lighter weight, in the future, the novice will need heavier weight, and the space needs to be able to accommodate the equipment. This is why we recommend starting with adjustable dumbbells, an adjustable bench, a doorway pull-up/chin-up bar, an ab-wheel, and some resistance bands. Once a novice home-gym-rat plateaus, it might be time to consider acquiring an Olympic barbell, weight plates, and a weight tree to rack the plates. Ideally, the plates should be able to aggregate in 5 lbs increments - at minimum, 5 lbs, 10 lbs, 25 lbs, and 45 lbs plates should be on hand. Don't forget to add rubber mats or modify the gym floor to accommodate the heavier equipment as needed.
Perhaps the athlete is affluent and can buy all the things all at once. Great! Assuming that is not the case, as is generally true, the above tips should help any beginner build their initial home gym, with plans to expand and progress based on discipline, consistency, and progress. My advice for beginners is to start with basic equipment, put in a solid 3 months of dedicated training, and 9 out of 10 times, you will figure out which upgrades will help you take your training to the next level.
Steve from Project Swole
What tips do you have for home gym equipment if someone has limited space or a specific budget?
For space or budget-conscious exercisers, consider versatile equipment! Adjustable dumbbells, resistance bands, and a yoga mat allow for a full-body workout without a bulky footprint. Doorway pull-up bars add upper body exercises without breaking the bank. But the magic truly happens with personalized digital training solutions.
Hyperhuman empowers leading fitness providers to create custom workout programs accessible from the comfort of your home. Imagine tailored exercise plans that consider your goals, equipment limitations, and fitness level. One of our trusted trainers, James from Empower99 powered by Hyperhuman, emphasizes the benefits: "Home gyms paired with personalized digital training lead to increased adherence and efficiency. You get expert guidance without gym commutes, saving time and money."
Don't have access to a personalized program yet? No problem! Hyperhuman also offers HyperFitness, our free online fitness platform packed with fresh, new, on-demand workouts every month. You'll find a variety of classes designed for all fitness levels and goals so you can get started on your home gym journey for free!
This approach creates a functional and affordable home gym that scales with your fitness goals. Check out our blog posts on Hyperhuman for more ideas.
Bogdan Predusca from Hyperhuman
How can I create a versatile workout routine without using much equipment?
Of course, the most versatile at-home workout is the bodyweight workout, because you can do anything! Unfortunately, bodyweight workouts require a lot of time and reps because there is no added resistance to accelerate gains. Traditional at-home resistance equipment often requires boring and limited exercise options. To stick with an exercise routine, you have to enjoy what you are doing!
But there is an innovative solution to this problem. It is called WearBands. Wearbands are essentially a resistance exoskeleton you wear while exercising. Safe and simple to use, you just choose the band strength that is right for you, do whatever bodyweight exercise you prefer, and by simply adding WearBands, you will get far more results in far less time. The bands will never get in your way. You can even just walk the dog or work in the yard with them! Workout time can be reduced by 1/3 to 1/2 and produce greater results than the traditional bodyweight workout.
Like to try for yourself for 20% off with a 100% moneyback guarantee? Use code PORCH20 at WearBands.com.
Daniel Schreiber from WearBands
What are the best workout routines or exercises for runners to do at home?
Since runners already get in a larger volume of cardiovascular training, at-home workouts for runners should typically be either strength or mobility-focused. If a runner is brand-new to strength training, they can start with simple bodyweight movements: a 20-30 min workout of squats, lunges, push-ups, planks, and calf raises. For runners with a bigger background in strength training, they can use home gym equipment such as bands, dumbbells, or kettlebells at home to load their exercises.
Laura Norris from Laura Norris Running
What are the best home gym equipment options for a full-body workout?
There are many options depending on the space you have available for your home gym and what you want to accomplish. Most people start out with a cardio piece, and many of these can offer more of a full-body workout. A rower like Body-Solid’s R300 gets a great cardio workout and also works arms and legs. However strength training is a vital part of any complete fitness program, and depending on your knowledge base, I would suggest a selectorized gym similar to Body-Solid’s G6BR or a functional training system like the GFT100. A selectorized gym is very intuitive and easy to use, with multiple exercise functions.
A functional trainer is even more flexible but requires a little more knowledge of how to set up and complete proper strength exercises. If you have the space, a good cardio piece like a treadmill, bike, or elliptical combined with a good strength piece like a selectorized gym or functional trainer can provide you with years of full-body workouts. Within each of these broader categories, there are many options depending on your budget and other factors important to you. Finally, I would also recommend that you set up a nice media capability like a TV in a central location within your gym to keep you entertained and increase the likelihood that you will use your home gym.
Scott McDonald from Body-Solid Inc.
What’s the most effective strength training equipment for home workouts?
For working out at home, a set of resistance bands will give you the best bang for your buck. If our clients are just starting out and don't yet own any fitness equipment, this is the first thing we get them to purchase. Resistance bands take up next to no space, the exercise options are endless, and they're challenging!
There are several types of resistance bands; what you're looking for is stretchy tubing with handles. They usually come in sets of four or five different strengths, which gives you lots of different resistance options. Also, keep in mind that you can double (or triple!) bands for even more resistance options as your strength increases.
A set of resistance bands will allow you to perform full-body workouts that challenge all your major muscle groups. However, it's generally easier to train the muscles of our upper body with resistance bands, and the selection of exercises is much larger for the upper body than for the lower body. Thus, my next suggestion is to purchase a set of "mini-bands." These are flat, looped resistance bands that are most often used for lower-body exercises like glute bridges, clamshells, and squats.
This way, you’ll be set for fun, engaging, effective strength workouts at home!
Karina Inkster, MA, PTS
What are the top 9 items for an effective home pilates practice?
Creating a home Pilates practice is easier than you think if you have the right home Pilates equipment setup, including:
Mat - A high-quality, non-slip Pilates mat provides cushioning for exercises which often include rolling.
Magic Circle - This ring really is magic, targeting the core and back muscles, arms, and legs with added resistance.
Foam Roller or Small Barrel - The roller can be a stand in for a barrel and both help with stretching, extension, and providing support for various exercises.
Resistance Bands - Add resistance, aiding in strength building and flexibility like the springs in a studio and can also be used for increasing range of motion.
Hand Weights - Perfect for incorporating arm strength exercises without compromising control or form.
Exercise Ball - Improve balance and stability or assist in core strengthening and extension exercises.
Ankle Weights - Add resistance to leg exercises, enhancing muscle toning and strength.
Push-Up Devices - Assist in performing plank, reverse plank, push-ups and dips with better form and reduced strain on the wrists, contributing to upper body strength.
Toe Corrector - A simple yet effective tool, the toe corrector helps improve foot alignment and strength, which is crucial for overall balance and stability in Pilates practice. It all starts from the ground up!
With these 9 essentials, you can create a killer home Pilates practice to compliment any fitness routine.
Mo Wolfe, owner of Evolution Pilates in Port Washington
What budget-friendly equipment can help me achieve a full-body workout at home?
For an effective full-body workout at home without expensive equipment, there are several budget-friendly options to consider. One of the most versatile and inexpensive pieces is a set of resistance bands. These come in varying levels of resistance and can target all the major muscle groups when used properly. They take up minimal space and can be used for exercises like bicep curls, shoulder presses, rows, squats, and more.
Another great option is a basic set of dumbbells. While you may not be able to lift as much weight as at the gym, dumbbells allow you to work your upper body, core, and lower body with exercises like lunges, deadlifts, chest presses, and overhead tricep extensions. You can find affordable dumbbell sets at most sporting goods stores.
Finally, consider using your own bodyweight for resistance. Exercises like pushups, planks, squats, and lunges require no additional equipment but still provide a challenging full-body workout. You can even invest in a simple pull-up bar to work your back and biceps.
The key is to get creative and utilize the space and tools you have available at home. With some resistance bands, dumbbells, and bodyweight exercises, you can absolutely achieve an effective and budget-friendly full-body workout.
What are the best exercises for a quick full-body workout at home?
In today’s fast-paced world, finding time for a comprehensive workout can be challenging. However, a quick and effective full-body workout at home is not only possible but also highly beneficial. Here are some of the best exercises with and without equipment that cater to the average person, requiring minimal equipment and delivering maximum impact:
No equipment:
Jumping jacks: Start your workout with jumping jacks to elevate your heart rate and warm up your muscles.
Push-ups: Push-ups are a powerhouse exercise for strengthening the upper body, targeting the chest, shoulders, and triceps.
Plank: The plank is a stellar core exercise that also strengthens the shoulders and back.
Lunges: Lunges target the legs and glutes while also challenging your balance. They improve lower body strength and flexibility, making everyday movements easier and more efficient.
Equipment:
When it comes to your money, time, and effectiveness it is hard to find something better than the ISO-BOW Pro.
Iso-swings: Entire body activation with an emphasis on increasing your heart rate, legs, and your posterior chain.
Reverse flys: Sculpting your shoulders and back to pull you upright, this exercise targets just the right muscles.
You can achieve a full-body balanced routine that addresses all major muscle groups and cardiovascular health in a matter of just minutes. Embrace the challenge, and feel the transformation in your body and energy levels. Consistency is key—start today, and witness the power of a well-rounded home workout.
How can I choose the best equipment for my fitness goals and space?
Choose equipment that can be multipurpose when designing a home gym. Space and budget are often limited and our goals may change over time so it is best to buy equipment that can be multipurpose.
Dumbbells are often some of the versatile and compact pieces of equipment you can buy. They can be used for traditional weight lifting, substitute as kettlebells for many exercises, and can be used for intense circuit training.
A good high quality, adjustable weight bench is also a great piece of equipment. It can be used for weight lifting, ab exercises, stretching, and plyometrics.
Resistance bands are also one of the best pieces of equipment you can buy. They are relatively inexpensive, compact, and you can travel very easily with them. They not only can function as a primary workout aid, but they can also be used in conjunction with dumbbells and barbells to alter exercises to make them easier, harder, or even just fit your body type better.
Brad Dieter from Macros Inc
Creating a comfortable workout environment
Setting up a comfortable and functional workout environment will help you keep a consistent exercise routine. Here’s how to make sure your space is set up for at-home fitness:
Flooring: Good flooring protects your floors and reduces the risk of injury. Look for foam mats or rubber flooring.
Lighting: Choose a space with windows to take advantage of natural light, which can boost your mood and energy levels. Energy-efficient LED lights can brighten your space without adding to your energy bill.
Ventilation: Use a fan to improve air circulation and cool the space, especially during intense workouts. An air purifier can help keep the air fresh and free of dust and allergens, especially in basements or garages.
Surge protectors: Consider surge protection coverage, it protects your home’s electrical systems and appliances from damage caused by power surges, which can occur due to lightning strikes, utility issues, or electrical malfunctions.
When setting up your home gym, don’t forget about the importance of maintaining a comfortable environment year-round. A home warranty can be an ally by covering your home’s electrical system and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems. If your lighting, ventilation, or heating and cooling systems encounter issues, your home warranty can help cover the repair or replacement costs, ensuring your workout environment remains functional and comfortable.
Creating a budget-friendly home gym is not only achievable but also incredibly rewarding. Following the expert tips outlined in this article, you can design a workout space that fits your needs without straining your finances.