How To Build a Budget Home Gym

If you're not a fan of public gyms, but still appreciate the advantages of weight training, I have some exciting news for you. I've been eager to share insights on constructing a home gym that are both practical and fit within a modest budget.

Commercial gyms can be overcrowded or intimidating, and ongoing membership expense and commute times also factor into the decision. The good news is you can get a very effective workout in from your home or garage. A simple, focused space with the right equipment maximizes your training and time. Here’s how to build an impressive home gym.

Outline Your Workout Space

Finding the space for a gym is your first challenge. You might want to work out in your house (an extra room), your apartment (extra space) or in your garage (best option). Try an app like RoomSketcher to create a scaled floor plan to suit your space.

Choose Equipment

The right type of equipment is crucial for your home or garage gym. Remember, it has to fit your budget, space and type of training. Start with the essentials, then add only equipment you know you’ll use. Here are some suggestions for you:

Power Rack (or Squat Stand)

A power rack, or a simple squat stand, unlocks hundreds of exercises, making your workouts more effective. These fit great into a basement or a garage.

Battle Ropes

Battle ropes are a versatile fitness tool offering a full-body, killer workout with a wide variety of exercises. These are best used in a garage setting, as they’re lengthy.

Adjustable Bench

An adjustable bench can be used in conjunction with other equipment like dumbbells, a barbell, a power rack, and more. Great for use on your power/squat rack.

Dumbbells and Rack

For an effective workout, you’ll want at least a light, medium and heavy pair of dumbbells. A rack is also a great addition as it saves space and makes things tidy.

Olympic Barbell and Weight Plates

An Olympic barbell wit weight plates (bumper plates are best) can be used with your power rack to progressively overload on heavy compound exercises.

TRX

Great for a vast number of body pulls that enhance strength, mobility and flexibility. They’re beneficial for adding resistance training to your routine just about anywhere.

Kettlebells

An exceptional piece of equipment that targets major muscle groups, cardiovascular endurance, power development, and protects joints, tendons, and ligaments.

Resistance Bands

Resistance bands are hands down the best value priced pieces of gym equipment you can get. They’re a compact, yet versatile and effective training stimulus.

Punching Bag

A punching bag is one of the best pieces of equipment for developing lean muscle and overall cardio. It’s cost effective and can be hung in a basement or garage.

Treadmill

A treadmill is definitely a worthwhile investment and good exercise. If you can’t afford one, then cardio can be done cheaply with sprints, jump rope or burpees.

Various Other Equipment

A mat for ground work, a jump rope for cardio, a mirror for your wall, a whiteboard to track workouts, an ab wheel, a medicine ball, exercise bike and rubber floor tiles to protect your floor.

Remember, you don’t necessarily need all this equipment. Pick and choose to tailor it to your liking and budget and space. These are only ideas to get you going. Have fun!