Kandis Joubert is a NASM-certified personal trainer and nutrition coach, specializing in corrective exercise and fitness nutrition. She believes real transformation is multi-dimensional, and therefore founded Faceted Fitness LLC.
In recent years, particularly post-pandemic, we have witnessed a shift from traditional gym workouts to individualized home-based fitness setup solutions. A June 2023 survey in the United States found that around 40 percent of respondents owned or had access to home exercise equipment, while almost 10 percent intended to buy a home gym soon. According to Fortune Business Insights, the home fitness equipment market in the United States is expected to grow from $5.09 billion in 2023 to $8.50 billion by 2030.
You might be wondering what a home gym costs and whether it’s the right investment for you. While the average cost of a home gym in 2024 is $2,837, this can vary quite a bit depending on one’s needs, goals, and budget. A basic home gym may cost less than $1,000, while higher-end or specialized home gyms can easily cost more than $10,000.
Benefits of home gyms
You make the rules: If you’re self-motivated and enjoy working out alone versus in groups, prefer not having to share or wait for equipment, or want to work out in your underwear without getting kicked out of someone else’s gym, a home gym may be the answer.
It saves time: If you value your time and like to save as much of it as possible, you’ll appreciate the time saved on commuting and waiting for equipment that a home gym provides. This can be especially beneficial when your schedule is tight, you don’t have childcare for gym time, or you simply want to maximize your time to be present with loved ones.
It can save money over time: A home gym may cost more in the beginning, but it’s a one-time investment. Considering the average cost of a home gym mentioned above compared to the average annual cost of gym memberships (assuming they’re even used), a basic or moderate home gym setup pays itself off in a mere few years, while the equipment lasts for even more years to come, assuming it’s well maintained. Most gym equipment, especially the more durable and higher-end items, can last between five and 12 years with proper care. In addition to saving on gym memberships, you’ll also save on gas without the extra commute to a gym.
Planning the Space
Location: Consider whether you want your home gym within your main home (i.e. a spare room or garage), or detached on your property (i.e. a shed, shop, or guest house). Having your home gym within the main house is convenient when the weather is less than ideal, but factors like noise and flooring needs may influence your decision here.
Spatial arrangement: Consider the larger items first, mount what you can on the walls to save floor space, and be mindful of setup and takedown time. What can be set up on the floor (i.e., squat racks, functional trainers, machines, storage racks)? What needs to be mounted on the walls to save space (i.e., barbells or attachments for racks, cables, and machines)? What needs to be mobile and easy to take down and store away (i.e., benches, landmines, specialty items)? How much space is needed to move around the equipment or to do floor work (i.e., space for one or multiple mats, warmups, pacing exercises)?
Flooring and storage: Consider the training style and equipment to be used. If heavier weights will be dropped on the floor and you want to save your foundation, consider thicker commercial-grade rubber flooring options like stall mats or rolled rubber. If your home gym is more studio-style for things like yoga and Pilates or cardio equipment, large exercise mats or interlocking gym flooring may be adequate.
Choosing the equipment
Training style: Consider your primary training style. For example, if you focus on bodybuilding, you may opt for more machines and cables. If your style is more functional, you’ll likely want to invest in more free-weight options. If you love CrossFit, you may want to consider extra conditioning equipment (i.e., rowers, assault bikes, ski ergs). If you primarily train with body weight and minimal equipment, you may want to save more floor space. If you’re like me and like to have a healthy mix of it all, you’ll want to choose versatile equipment.
Space & limitations: If you have a whole building to dedicate to your home gym, you’re not as limited here. However, if you’re working with less square footage, like part of your garage, a spare room, or a smaller nook inside your house, you’ll want to be strategic with your setup and choice of equipment. The shape of the space, the amount of wall space, and whether there are windows will also need to be considered. For example, if you need more floor space but are limited on wall space to mount equipment, this may be a conflict. If you need to place things against the wall but have several windows you’d rather not block, this may not be the ideal space. If your training style requires lots of larger, immobile pieces of equipment on the floor, you’ll need ample space and perhaps need to sacrifice some floor space for other things.
Budget: When it comes to investing in a home gym, regardless of one’s budget, getting a good bang for your buck is optimal. You want to choose equipment that meets your needs but is also versatile and multi-purpose. What can you invest in that will provide multiple methods for training? Examples of this may be rack or cable attachments that mimic machines while saving space or a simple landmine setup that can be used for full-body workouts.
Additional considerations
Climate control: If your home gym is within your immediate home with central air, this won’t be much of an issue. However, if you have a garage gym, climate can be a significant consideration depending on your geographical location. If you have brutally cold winters, you may want to invest in heaters, extra home insulation, or garage door insulation panels. If you’re like me and live in a miserably hot and humid climate most of the year-round, where fans aren’t enough, you may opt for a portable air conditioning unit with a dehumidifier or, even better, splurge for a professional mini split installation.
Children & pets: We often like to (and should) include our children and fur babies in our fitness lifestyle. However, safety should be considered. Be sure to incorporate things like baby gates for the littlest home gym members- perhaps set one up around a mat with floor activities for babies and toddlers. When children are a little older, there are child-appropriate gym toys and equipment that can be used to include them in your workout routine. Always set boundaries and rules in the gym for children and set them early (i.e., what not to touch at all, what to only touch with your supervision, and clearing the way when loaded barbells are in use). If you allow your pets in the gym, obviously, be mindful of where they are when equipment is in use.
HOAs & nearby neighbors: Always be considerate of your nearby neighbors. Don’t be that person blasting music too loud (headphones are trending) or slamming weight repeatedly on the concrete in the garage or driveway (get some bumper plates or crash pads). Check with your city and homeowners’ association if applicable, and read any relevant bylaws, covenants, and restrictions related to your property use in this regard.
Home gyms can be a great asset to your lifestyle and health goals if you’re concerned with convenience, saving time and money, and you have the space to dedicate to its use. However, you ultimately need to consider what will work best for the results you’d like to have, along with your peace of mind.
If you’re considering starting a brand new home gym, especially if you’re on a budget, and you’d like a list of basic starter equipment that can provide some versatility with results and get you started right with a variety of modalities, send me an email at kandisjoubert@facetedfitness.com and simply request the Starter Equipment for Your Home Gym resource, and I’ll send you the PDF!
If you’ve already started a home gym and are looking for guidance on professional programming or online coaching, don’t hesitate to reach out here!
Faceted Fitness LLC is an affiliate participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you by providing affiliate links.
Kandis Joubert, Certified Personal Trainer & Nutrition Coach
Kandis Joubert is a NASM-certified personal trainer and nutrition coach, specializing in corrective exercise and fitness nutrition. She believes real transformation is multi-dimensional, and therefore founded Faceted Fitness LLC, where she uses a multi-faceted approach in helping other business owners and corporate professionals prioritize their health and preserve longevity to amplify their own distinct influence. Additional areas of expertise as it relates to human wellness include mobility and goniometric assessment, prehab and rehab, movement optimization, mindset, lifestyle change and adherence, and body recomposition.
