11 Best Compact Home Gyms in 2024

Is exercise a big part of your life but the hassles of commuting to and from and navigating crowded gyms becoming exhausting? Many of us have experienced this frustration, leading to creation of personal home gyms.

This article will help you build the best compact home gym based on your budget and available space. Whether you’re into weightlifting, cardio, or cross-training, these compact exercise machines can be the foundation of your perfect at-home workout station.

Top 11 Best Compact Home Gyms Reviewed

1. Titan Fitness Functional Trainer – Top Stack-Loaded Multifunctional Trainer
2. REP Fitness FT-5000 2.0 Functional Trainer – Runner-Up Stack-Loaded Functional Trainer
3. Titan Fitness Plate Loaded Functional Trainer – Best Plate Loaded Cable Crossover Machine
4. Rogue RML-90SLIM Door Mount Fold Back Rack – Best Door Mount Rack
5. Concept2 RowErg Rower PM5 (Black) – Best Rower for Conditioning
6. Assault AirBike – Best for Cardio Training
7. MAXPRO Fitness Cable Home Gym – Best Portable with Pulley System
8. Marcy 150lb Stack Home Gym (MWM-990) – Single Stack Functional Trainer
9. Sunny Health & Fitness Power Zone – Best Budget Power Cage
10. TRX All-in-One Suspension Training System – Best Suspension Trainer
11. NordicTrack 55lb Select-A-Weight Dumbbells – Best Adjustable Dumbbells

Product	Total	Adjustability	Durability	Functionality	Compactness	Multipurpose	Price/ Quality
Titan Fitness Functional Trainer	59	10	10	10	9	10	10
REP Fitness	58.5	9.5	10	10	9	10	10
Titan Fitness Plate Loaded	58	9	9	10	10	10	10
Rogue	57.5	9.5	10	9	10	9	10
Concept2	57	9	10	9.5	9.5	9	10
Assault	56	8.5	10	9	9.5	9	10
MAX PRO	55.5	9.5	9	9	10	9	9
Marcy	55	9	9	9.5	9	9.5	9
Sunny	54.5	9	9	9	9	9	9.5
TRX	54	8.5	8.5	9	10	9	9
NordicTrack	53	8.5	8.5	9	10	8	9

If you’re looking for the best full-body workout machine for small spaces, check out the Titan Fitness Functional Trainer. Between the two high-capacity weight stacks, a vertically adjustable multi-directional pulley system, an integrated pull-up bar, and seven attachment types, it offers endless possibilities in one workout space.

Starting with the build quality, the main construction of the machine is durable powder-coated steel. The pulley system is made from aluminum with a red anodized coating, making it anti-corrosive and giving a cool color pop breaking the monotony of the black/gray frame. The fiberglass cables run smoothly across the wheels without catching dead zones that slow or stop movement.

With seven attachments included in the package, you can immediately get to work on upper and lower body exercises. The two 200-pound weight towers boast well above-average capacity and can be used in tandem or separately with full stability.

Both sides’ anchor points can be adjusted vertically and rotate in and out at nearly 180 degrees, allowing for a full range of motion with added inclined, declined, or neutral handle positioning. The magnetic weight stack pin easily snaps into place, no need to push it inside and worry about falling out.

Assembly is a two-person process, but it is not physically challenging. Having some essential tools at the ready — a combination drill, adjustable wrench, hex keys, and ratchet set — will make it much easier. Luckily, the official video tutorial is also there to assist.

As a runner-up, we have the REP Fitness FT-5000 2.0 functional trainer. The overall price, quality, and versatility of the machine are pretty much the same as our top pick. The choice will mostly come down to preference, with slight differences that may sway your decision.

The sturdy steel frame is covered in black powder coating and chrome to protect the metal from wearing out on its own. It uses aluminum pulleys, which are much smoother and more durable than plastic ones on cheaper machines.

Moreover, REP Fitness offers a limited lifetime warranty for all functional trainers, which means that if the machine is used as intended, its basic issues are covered for life.

The pulley anchor point is, of course, adjustable vertically, this time with 21 different adjustment points as opposed to the usual 16. Besides, laser-etched numbers will help you quickly identify whether you’ve set the accurate height on both sides.

The top of the frame hosts 3 pairs of multi-direction handles you can use for pull-ups and hanging exercises like.

The actual weight stack per tower is 224 lbs, while the pulley ratio comes in at 2:1. Thus, each side has a maximum usable weight of 112 lbs, which is clearly marked on the weights with stickers in both kg and lbs. It is important to note in order to avoid surprises during assembly or potential transportation in the future.

Note that the machine is quite heavy at 875 pounds — with dimensions taken into account, it weighs roughly 60 lbs per square foot, which exceeds the average weight capacity of elevated floors (usually 40 lbs square). Therefore, it’s not ideal for apartments or second or third house floors.

Up next, we have the Titan Fitness plate loaded functional trainer. As the name suggests, this machine uses Olympic weight plates to add resistance. This gives it a couple of key advantages over weight tower machines, with only slight drawbacks.

The usage of Olympic weight plates immediately gives this tower some noteworthy advantages compared to weight tower machines. Firstly, the initial cost is significantly lower.

Second, it helps with combining equipment if you already have or plan to get a barbell & plates set. The minor drawback, of course, is the necessary purchase of weight plates and maneuverability around setting them up, as opposed to just popping the weight stack pin in and out.

But more importantly, at just 178 lbs, it’s easily three to four times lighter in comparison to weight tower machines. Even if we assume a 6’5” 250 lbs bodybuilder is training on it with 300 lbs plates added, it still won’t exceed the 40 pounds per square inch capacity of upper floors, so it’s fairly safe to put on upper floors in houses and apartments (pending proper scouting and approval from your building manager).

The package includes three grip attachments, which are good enough to start. However, promotional photos show a triceps rope, ankle strap, and short bar, which are not included — misleading, so keep this in mind. Nevertheless, if you get those attachments and invest in a quality adjustable bench, the workout variety is great.

Are you into weightlifting? Is a regular-sized squat rack a tad too big for your available space? Do you have an open doorway you can use? If the answer is yes, then this Rogue Fitness foldable door mount rack has the solution for you.

As is expected from Rogue products, the rack is manufactured in the U.S.A. using high-quality materials. The main frame is constructed from 3x3" 11 gauge steel powder-coated for protection against corrosion and abrasion. The mounting hardware and bolts are made from black and bright zinc respectively.

The rack is compatible with standard residential doorway widths (28”/30”/32”/36”). When opened, it extends about 13” from the door. When closed, it is barely 5 inches in depth, leaving ample room when not in use. It comes with a pair of Monster Lite brand J-cups and a pull-up bar, and it’s compatible with a variety of Rogue Monster Lite attachments (spotter arms, plate holders, etc.)

The patent-pending design uses a doorway to make the rack deeper for putting your bench, which is quite clever. That said, your door needs to open the opposite way of the rack to use this space. If not, you might have to flip the door. Additionally, this hanging system needs more wall space, so it won't work on corner doors.

Is rowing, indoor or outdoor, your favorite exercise? Do you want to get your heart rate going without needing to run or ride a bike? Then the Concept2 RowErg is the choice for you. This manually powered air resistance indoor rower is the closest thing you’ll find to outdoor open-water rowing.

The build of the Concept2 rower is sturdy, consisting primarily of steel and aluminum, with very few plastic parts. Some assembly is required out of the box but luckily the main parts come pre-assembled. You only need to tighten a few screws in to connect them and you’re set.

When not in use, the machine can be split into two sections using a quick-release lever to easily store away. Moreover, Concept2 offers a transferable warranty, so the resale value on this machine is also great, in case you grow out of it or want a change.

The rower is equipped with the PM5 performance monitor, a low-energy but high-power device. The backlit display is visible even in low-light conditions with a clear and large font. It can track distance, speed, pace, calories burned, and watts.

It also connects to wireless heart-rate monitors via ANT+. Your exercise data can be saved on a USB flash drive or transferred via Bluetooth to the ErgData smart app.

Indoor cycling is one of the most popular ways to get your daily dose of cardio. If your goal is to stay in shape and reap the health benefits of cycling from the comfort of your home, the Assault AirBike is a great choice.

The Assault AirBike is constructed from robust steel, coated with durable powder for enhanced strength and a stylish matte-black finish. Its design incorporates a low center of gravity, ensuring stability during vigorous workouts. Moreover, the seat is both horizontally and vertically adjustable.

As the name suggests, the AirBike uses an air resistance flywheel. It’s manually powered — the faster you pedal, the harder the exercise. This makes it very easy and streamlined to use, although more challenging than a traditional magnetic resistance bike. Air bikes are especially popular in cross-training for a quick HIIT workout.

The main console includes a compact LCD that monitors metrics such as watts, calories, distance, time, RPM, speed, and heart rate. It operates without the need for electricity, activating when you start pedaling.

While being independent of electricity means versatility in terms of placement, it's important to note that it lacks pre-installed workout programs. Nevertheless, you have the option to manually set your target metrics and monitor your progress.

Now for something more unique. The MAXPRO home gym is a portable resistance pulley system unlike anything else on the market. It’s cleverly designed, compact, and versatile. An interesting choice for working out on the go or in limited space.

Using a patent-pending multi-plate clutch system, this pulley system is capable of reaching up to 300 lbs of resistance (150 lbs per side). This alone offers up a tremendous amount of workouts, from traditional resistance exercises to endurance and stamina training.

It has to be charged from time to time, but the manufacturer promises a good 2-month battery life with just 40 minutes of charging. When not in use, the device can be folded up for easy carrying and storage. 

The MAXPRO cable home gym is pretty much only limited by creativity, which is both a good and bad thing. On the one hand, you can do so many exercises with it. On the other hand, you may have to find creative ways to mount/anchor the machine in place. Some people will love this, but for others, it may be too much of a hassle.

The Marcy 150lb stack home gym combines a single weight stack tower and a seat, making it easy to perform popular isolation exercises all in one machine. If your goal is a solid upper-body workout at home, this machine could provide great value.

The main selling point of this machine is a fair bit of exercise versatility in a compact space. Using the dual-action arms, you can do fundamental upper-body exercises like the chest press, pec fly, reverse pec fly, and you can squeeze in a row depending on your size.

The EZ-bar-shaped handle can be attached to anchor points below the leg developer or to make use of the pulley system. With it, you can do essential exercises such as biceps curls and lat pulldowns as well as standing triceps extensions and low rows.

The leg developer is nice, but pretty much the only exercise that can be done with it is leg extensions, so it’s primarily an upper-body workout machine. The preacher curl pad is removable, opening up space on the seat for exercises like lat pulldowns, reverse pec fly, seated bicycle crunches, bent-over rows, and more.

The weight stack locking pin is a welcome addition for home use, as it can prevent children or pets from accidentally engaging the pulley and hurting themselves.

Unlike the functional trainers we talked about earlier, this machine has a built-in seat, which has its pros and cons. On the positive side, you don't need to buy a separate seat, and the built-in one is comfy with thick foam padding.

However, the drawback is that it limits the machine approach to mostly seated exercises, and if that's not your preference, there's not a lot you can change about it.

Sunny Health & Fitness offers affordable & compact exercise equipment and is the brand choice of many home and garage gym owners. Their Power Zone is a multi-purpose power cage with impressive specs at a below-average price.

Once assembled, the power cage comes fully prepared for a variety of workouts thanks to the inclusion of J-hooks, spotter arms, and a pull-up bar (whereas these often come as additional purchases). The matt black finish steel with orange highlights is also visually quite nice.

With a low price, most people assume lower specs as well. However, with a heavy-duty steel frame with an incredible 1000 lbs max capacity, serious powerlifters will be satisfied with it as well. If you find any shakiness whatsoever, the bottom of the frame has an opening for bolting to the ground.

Sunny Health & Fitness really took various-sized athletes in mind with this machine. The spotter arms and J-hooks are, of course, adjustable by height. But the added four levels of height adjustment and inverted mounting on the pull-up bar are much appreciated if you have a shorter arm reach.

Suspension systems are some of the best small space exercise equipment. With a bit of creativity, you can get a full-body workout out of them. Among them, the original TRX All-In-One system reigns supreme.

The great thing about suspension systems is that they allow you to train pretty much anywhere, as long as you have somewhere to mount them. The TRX can be mounted in two ways: using the metal carabiner or the door anchor.

Of course, the metal carabiner hooked to a wall will be more sturdy than the door mount, so keep that in mind. We’ve also seen people tie it around trees or pull-up bars in calisthenics gyms. 

The TRX weighs next to nothing and is easy to carry, so you can easily take it to the park, to the office, when traveling, etc. It’s also perfect for multiple users in one household, as it doesn’t require a permanent setup place.

The on-demand TRX training club app has over 500 different exercises for you to try, although it does require a subscription, and it’s not exactly necessary to work out. Many suspension workouts are available online for free on sites like YouTube.

Dumbbells are essential for all kinds of resistance training However, a full-sized dumbbell rack requires a lot of space and is fairly expensive. Luckily, adjustable dumbbells like the NordicTrack 55lb Select-A-Weight offer a solution to both problems.

The Select-A-Weight dumbbells come with fifteen different weight settings from 10 to 55 lbs. Weight increments differ in both 5 lbs and 2.5 lbs, which is a pro compared to the typical 5 lb only on most adjustable dumbbells. The handlebar is plastic, but to the touch, it doesn’t feel cheap. The knurling on it, however, helps the grip feel much more comfortable and firm.

The weight plates are made of iron, while the surroundings are made of plastic. It’s not cheap plastic by any means, but it’s still not as durable as metal dumbbells. You shouldn’t drop them, because the warranty doesn’t cover damage from misuse and only lasts 90 days.

What Is a Compact Home Gym?

Compact home gyms are a broad term, but we can best describe them as space-efficient but diverse training setups stored in limited rooms. The goal of building a space saving home gym is to max out on workout variety in the (usually short) available space and preferably be able to complete full-body workouts from home.

The key to building a great home gym is planning ahead. Start by choosing your main workout station, for example, a multifunctional trainer, a squat rack, a favorite cardio machine, etc. Next, surround it with essentials, whether it be a quality barbell and plate set, some adjustable dumbbells, various pulley attachments, an exercise mat, a pilates ball, etc.

The biggest advantage of compact home gym equipment is its versatility. With your main workout station and surrounding equipment at hand, you can enjoy your favorite exercises from the comfort of your home and stick to your favorite schedule.

Types of Compact Home Gyms

Although the term “gym” is broad, people generally expect a well-equipped space with diverse exercise options. Home gym equipment more often than not aims to combine a few popular exercise machines into one for maximizing special convenience.

Common space saving home gym equipment you’ll see includes multifunctional trainers, power racks, suspension trainers, cardio machines and stations, and mini home gym equipment.

1. Multifunctional Trainers

Multifunctional trainers are large but compact exercise machines that integrate various workout stations into one. Typically, they comprise a double-sided durable steel frame, often resembling an enclosed box shape to make them easier to fit into corners.

They use either cable machines or weight stacks for adjustable resistance, with multi-directional pulley setups allowing for full-body workouts when combined with various attachments, such as handles, bars, and ankle cuffs. Usually, they have enough space between the two sides to slide in a weight bench, while some come with built-in seating.

Commercially, they go by many names, such as gym tower, all-in-one gym, gym multi-station, multigym, etc. These machines are especially favored in at-home or small gym setups because they’re space-saving but very versatile.

For public gyms, the drawback is, of course, that only one person can use them at a time. But for small home gyms, they can be the ideal all-in-one solution, though the upfront cost is often significant.

2. Power Racks

Power racks, like squat racks and power cages, are a popular choice when starting a home gym because they're versatile. They work well for different exercises, and there are various types and price ranges. For example, you can get full-size box-shaped power racks or go for wall-mounted, foldable, half-racks, and more, giving you options for different spaces.

Primarily, people use them for weightlifting exercises like bench pressing or squatting. But many power racks also come with extra features, such as a pull-up bar, landmine attachment, dip arms, barbell sliding rail, cable pulleys, and more to add extra variety.

3. Suspension Trainers

Suspension trainers, such as the TRX All-In-One system, consist of adjustable straps with handles. They are meant to be hung from a high point and, as the name suggests, allow you to suspend yourself in the air, using your own body weight against gravity to create resistance.

Apart from being cost-effective, suspension training offers significant benefits. Firstly, the instability of the exercise results in greater muscle recruitment compared to stable surface training. Secondly, typical TRX exercises are moderately intense, making them effective for cardiovascular improvement and weight loss.

That said, the downside to suspension training is that it's not very beginner-friendly/inclusive. Any exercise method that utilizes body-weight suspension has a learning curve, and various external factors may make the exercises more difficult or unsafe for certain individuals, such as your proportions, mobility, flexibility, etc.

4. Cardio Machine & Station

Of course, not everybody is into resistance training or exercising with big muscle gains in mind. People who want to stay in shape and train functionally usually get a preferred cardio machine — for example, a bike, rower, or treadmill.

Add to that an exercise mat, a set of light dumbbells or kettlebells, a pilates ball, a jump rope, etc. and you’ve got plenty of stuff to work with.

5. Mini Home Gym Equipment

Lastly, we have what we like to call mini home gym equipment. They are common exercise tools you’ll also find at the gym, just sized down to fit the needs of an apartment. Many of these are popular among people who live in apartments and have their dedicated “workout corner” as a way to stay in shape. For example, we have:

1. Exercise mat.
2. Foam rollers.
3. Resistance bands.
4. Balance board.
5. Medicine ball.
6. Bosu ball.
7. Compact elliptical/stepper.
8. Jump rope.
9. Adjustable dumbbell.

There’s also specialized small exercise equipment like the TRX suspension system and the MAXPRO machine. They offer total-body workouts but require a bit of creativity to make use of.

Benefits of Compact Home Gyms

Compact home gyms are becoming more and more relevant as an alternative to public gyms. Here are the key advantages they provide:

✅ Space Efficiency

The most obvious benefit of having exercise equipment for small spaces is their space-saving design. Home gyms have been on the rise, especially during the recent pandemic, and more and more manufacturers are getting into the market space.

This is driving costs down but also creating healthy competition to provide the most well-rounded home gym solutions. The result we’re seeing is a plethora of home-sized exercise machines and equipment.

✅ Versatility

Most often, compact exercise machines are built to be multi-purpose. Take, for example, the multifunctional trainers or compact racks. They often incorporate multiple exercise stations and attachments to increase exercise variety.

✅ Privacy & Convenience

Commuting to and from the gym can be a hassle, especially if your only choice is by car. Moreover, public gyms, especially good ones, can be quite busy during rush hour, which can get annoying. Sometimes, you have to queue up with a few people to get to work on your favorite machine. 

Having a set of compact workout equipment at home means your workout station is available 24/7 without interference. This is especially true if you live in a house and don’t have a building “code of conduct” that might refrain you from training at certain times of the day or creating too much noise, among other things.

What to Look for When Choosing the Best Compact Home Gym?

A big reason people refrain from building up a small home gym is the time, effort, and planning necessary. It’s easy to get things wrong, and wasting money is a common fear. Before making a hasty mini home gym purchase, here’s what you’ll have to consider:

1. Footprint

The most important consideration to make before you commit to buying a gym machine is where and how it’s going to fit. Take a good look at the machine footprint specs and, unless you have ample open space in your home, measure out your designated workout area three times over.

Luckily, manufacturers purposely build modern home gym equipment for limited space, so fitting a machine into your home isn’t as uphill of a battle as it may seem.

2. Structural Integrity

Every building, whether it’s a house, apartment, garage, etc. has a load-bearing capacity for its floors, walls, and ceiling. Before you put a gym machine inside your home, you’ll have to make sure the room you place it in can withstand it.

For your safety, it’s important not to speculate. Some simple ways you can find out the exact information include checking your blueprints, looking at the official building specs online, asking your landlord, or calling the local Department of Buildings (or an equivalent governing body).

3. Portability

Sometimes, the area in which you train will be different from the area in which you store your equipment. For example, you might have a couple of machines ready in your storage space but available room to take out only one at a time.

That’s fine, home gym manufacturers have this in mind as well, and design portable exercise equipment. Many of the machines you see specifically advertised for home use can either be folded and carried away or rolled off on transportation wheels.

4. Applicability

Make sure you’ll get the equipment you actually enjoy using. Getting a premium home exercise bike on a holiday sale may seem like a great deal at first, but if it’s not your preferred method of exercise, chances are it will end up collecting dust in storage.

5. Versatility

Obviously, building (or even starting) a home gym is an investment in money, time, and available space. So, in theory, you’d to get the most out of what you have before investing in eventual upgrades. If you can spare money for it, a home gym for small spaces can cover a lot for you.

Otherwise, you may have to slowly introduce each piece: starting with, for example, a weight bench, a compact rack, a barbell set, and some adjustable dumbbells

Of course, things are different if you’re a specialist and only train for a specific purpose. For example, if you’re an outdoor cyclist or rower and you’re currently out of season (for example, during winter) then you might be all set with your favorite bike/rower, plus an exercise mat, jump rope, and some resistance bands.

6. Comfort

Comfort isn’t just about padded seats and handles. It’s equally important to consider the room in which you place your machine. Many people prefer the naturally colder environment of a basement or garage, though that’s not an option if you’re in an apartment.

While it may seem great to put your equipment next to a window for better airflow, keep in mind that prolonged sun exposure can heat up the metal and make it too hot to exercise. Besides, it damages materials like foam and rubber.

7. Fitness Goals

If you have the money and space for it, by all means, build a full gym in your home. But for most of us, we strongly have to consider what we’re going to use the gym for — whether it’d be upper, lower, or full-body exercise; cardio, strength, endurance, hypertrophy (muscle growth), flexibility, weight loss, etc.

This typically means min-maxing with our favorite machine and surrounding equipment.

Muscles Worked When Training on Various Types of Compact Home Gyms

The great thing about many of the machines & equipment we covered on this list is that they can be used for a variety of exercises, including full-body workouts. With that in mind, here’s how these compact exercise machines can fit into your training program based on specific exercise goals:

1. For Upper Body Training

The Power Rack excels in upper body training with compound exercises like bench presses, overhead presses, and pull-ups. By adding a weight bench, a barbell & plate set, and some dumbbells, you can effectively target your arms, shoulders, chest, and back muscles, among others.

Multifunctional weight towers are also a great choice, as they offer a more isolated and controlled workout than compound exercises.

Adjustable dumbbells offer a straightforward yet versatile solution for upper-body workouts. From staples like the bicep curls to shoulder presses, to weighted arm swings and bent-over rows, there’s a great amount of engagement you can get from them.

2. For Lower Body Training

Similar to upper body training, power racks dominate lower body engagement through weightlifting exercises. Among them, the squat and deadlift stand out as highly effective and similarly capable lower-body exercises, targeting the quadriceps, hamstrings, adductors, and glutes all at once.

Once again, multifunctional trainers come in close second with isolation exercises such as cable pull-through as well as ankle strap exercises like hip flexion and extension.

Cardio machines, such as bikes and rowers, also provide comprehensive lower-body engagement, though the emphasis is less on muscle building. Cycling is well-known for its cardiovascular benefits, though it’s worth noting that rowing offers similar benefits, so the two are more interchangeable than most people think.

3. For Core Training

Squats and deadlifts are undoubtedly some of the best core exercises, effectively targeting the posterior chain, spine, and abdominals. However, there are more popular and less physically demanding exercises to train your core.

For instance, multifunctional trainers can provide a more comprehensive and better-targeted core workout through exercises like cable woodchops, Russian twists, and hanging leg raises.

Meanwhile, suspension systems in combination with popular core exercises are highly effective due to the instability they provide, thus requiring high engagement.

4. For Full-Body Training

The powerlifting trinity of squatting, benching, and deadlifting provides a comprehensive full-body workout on its own. For fans of weightlifting, it’s the go-to, so a power rack is an obvious choice.

However, multifunctional trainers reign supreme when it comes to full-body exercise variety. With an adjustable pulley cable system and a couple of attachments, you can really get to work on both isolation and compound exercises. Compact exercise equipment like the TRX and MAXPRO can also provide a full-body workout.

Rowing is another excellent and comprehensive full-body workout, although the emphasis is more on the health benefits rather than muscle building. This makes them the superior full-body cardio exercise but also decent at muscle toning.

FAQ

Where Is the Best Place to Put a Home Gym?

For most people, the answer will simply be: where you have enough space. If you live in an apartment, you’ll likely have less space at your disposal, so you’ll have to weigh your options carefully.

If you live in a house, popular spaces include the basement or garage. Firstly, because those two areas are typically spacious. Second, they’re relatively separate from the house, so there’s less noise and interference coming from you and from others. Third, flooring is usually hard (typically concrete) so it can withhold heavy equipment.

Is a Small Home Gym Worth It?

A small home gym is worth it in the long run, especially if you don’t plan on moving far in the future and can build up your workout space by gradually adding more equipment. The freedom and convenience of having your personal workout space 24/7 are also a big advantage.

Additionally, well-kept gym equipment has good resale value, so you’re not permanently stuck with it if you want to change something.

Is It Cheaper to Go to a Gym or Make a Home Gym?

There are many factors to consider. If you live in a big city with access to many well-equipped gyms, it could take years before the monthly gym fee catches up to the price of building your own mini home gym. Besides, there’s no maintenance work you have to do to use a gym.

For example, if we assume the membership is $40-50 a month, it will cost you about $2500-3000 in 5 years. That’s about the cost of a multigym setup or the equivalent of roughly 4-5 good gym machines, and this is without maintenance.

For many people, the logistics (convenience, time, effort, and outside costs like gas and parking) can be a bigger factor than a pound-for-pound cost.

Conclusion

Now you know how to build the best compact home gym. As a reminder, always start by assessing your available space, then decide on your foundational machine. From there, you can start building on by adding more compact workout equipment.

For traditional resistance training, we highly recommend the Titan Fitness Functional Trainer. If you’re into cardio/endurance, the Concept2 RowErg or the Assault Air bike are great choices. For on-the-go workouts, consider the MaxPro or TRX system.

Now we’d like to hear from you. Do you have an at-home gym or intend to build one soon? Which home gym machine best fits your favorite workout? Feel free to leave a comment with your answers and remember to follow us on social media for more valuable fitness content.

Also read:

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• Home Gym vs Gym Membership
• Best Weight Lifting Equipment
• Best Home Gym Equipment

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