Who can benefit from a home gym?

Anyone interested in improving their muscular strength and endurance from the comfort of their own home can benefit from a home gym. With that said, there are many different styles of home gyms to suit the specific needs of different people. Before buying one, ask yourself if you would use a heavyweight bench and squat rack rig, a high-tech reflective mirror screen projecting strength training fitness classes, or a solution somewhere in between.

What is the best flooring for a home gym?

The ideal home gym flooring solution prevents heavy equipment from damaging the permanent flooring in your home and gives your joints a more forgiving surface to exercise on. Home gym flooring is available in a range of materials, from rubber to foam to wood. Ultimately, the flooring option you pick should be easy to assemble, durable against more aggressive use, and attractive in its aesthetic.

How much does a good home gym cost?

A quality home gym will typically cost you a pretty penny, and you can usually expect to pay between $1,000-$4,000 or more for a good option. While the initial cost of setting up a home gym may be a hard hit to the wallet, the average gym membership can be between $10 and $200 a month so a home gym could be a good long term investment. The cheapest home gym on our list is often available for less than $65, while our top recommendation, the Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym , was $1,050 when we published this article.

What are the different types of home gyms?

A home gym is anything that allows you to exercise at home. It can be one piece of equipment or a collection of items. The type of home gym you look for will depend on what type of exercise you want to do and the space you have available. Strength building home gyms fall into three general categories. Bodyweight machines, free weight machines, and cable/weight stack machines. Bodyweight machines are usually compact while free weight machines are more versatile but require dumbbells and weight plates. Cable/weight stack machines take up a lot of space but are good choices for advanced exercisers.

The 12 Best Home Gyms of 2023

Norditrack Home Gym — Verywell Fit / Jay Wilde

Depending on a gym’s hours can make sticking to your fitness plan difficult. A home gym provides workout privacy, schedule flexibility, and customized training that a regular gym can’t offer. A home gym is any piece of equipment or system that allows you to get a full workout in your home. It can be a simple adjustable bench or a complex machine with accessories and attachments that allows for multiple exercises.

For strength training, you’ll want to look for a home gym unit that can accommodate resistance and offer room for progress, says Parker Oliver, CFSC and Chief Operating Officer of BRX Performance. “Over time, you must progressively do more and more for the body to adapt and get stronger.” Look for home gyms that provide exercises for every muscle group and a large resistance range.

Another key characteristic of a home gym is its ease of use. “You’re working out at home because it’s cost-effective and easier than daily gym commuting,” Oliver says. "If your home gym is complicated, hard to set up, or requires daily adjusting, then the chances you stay consistent drop rapidly. Keep it simple." We evaluated each home gym for its ability to provide a well-rounded workout with exercise options and a wide resistance range, as well as overall size and ease of use.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym at Amazon

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Best Splurge:

MiM USA Commercial Hercules 1001 Jumbo Trainer at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Design:

Technogym Unica at Technogym.com

Jump to Review

Best Compact:

Total Gym XLS Workout Machine at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best Portable:

BodyBoss 2.0 Full Portable Home Gym at Amazon

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Best for Full-Body Workouts:

NordicTrack Fusion CST at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best for Beginners :

TUT Fitness Trainer at Tuttrainer.com

Jump to Review

Best All-In-One:

NordicTrack Vault at Nordictrack.com

Jump to Review

Best Suspension Trainer:

TRX All-In-One Suspension Training Fitness System at Amazon

Jump to Review

Best High-Tech:

Tonal System at Tonal.com

Jump to Review

In This Article

Our Picks
How We Selected the Best Home Gyms
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Verywell Fit

4.8

Courtesy of Amazon

Pros

Easy transitions
Good for beginner and intermediate exercisers
Durable steel frame

Cons

Lighter max resistance

The overall value of the Bowflex PR3000 home gym makes it our top pick. It provides the versatility of more than 50 different strength training exercises and has a resistance range of 5-210 pounds with the option to upgrade up to 310 pounds with additional parts. It uses a power rod resistance system in lieu of cables and pulleys to allow for quick transitions from move to move—making your full-body workout more efficient.

For such a versatile piece of equipment, its overall footprint is surprisingly small, making it a great option for compact home gym spaces. Meanwhile, its size doesn’t impact its durability, since it's equipped with a heavy-duty steel frame construction that's built to last.

Price at time of publication: $999

^{Key Specs:
Versatility Rating: B | Product Weight: 157 pounds | Maximum Weight Resistance: 210 pounds | Size: 64 x 41 x 83 inches | Style: Cable pulley-based home gym}

Courtesy of Amazon

Pros

Reinforced steel construction
Ideal for heavy lifters
Fourteen different accessories included

Cons

Large footprint
May be complicated for beginners
Expensive

This all-in-one weight-lifting rig combines both cable and pulley systems with weight plates to give you the heavyweight capacity you need. It includes a smith machine, functional trainer, power cage, vertical leg press, dip and chin-up station, and adjustable weight bench. It also includes a full set of accessories that will allow you to expand your workout without needing to buy more equipment.

This tough, durable machine is perfect for full-body workouts of all intensities and is also ideal for seasoned bodybuilders, thanks to the range of exercises offered. However, you'll need to buy your own weight plates.

Price at time of publication: $5,175

^{Key Specs:
Versatility Rating: A | Product Weight: 586 pounds | Maximum Weight Resistance: 335 pounds | Size: 60 x 80 x 87 inches | Style: All-in-one weightlifting machine}

Courtesy of Technogym

Pros

Space-saving footprint
25 different exercise options
Weight stack resistance

Cons

Lower weight capacity for heavy lifters
Heavy structure
Expensive

Made in Italy, this multi-functional machine really does give you all the benefits of gym strength training in your own home. The unit fits in approximately 16 square feet of space and helps you work your arms, legs, chest, and more with at least 25 different exercises. It supports moves like the leg and hip extension, chest press, arm curl, and pulldown.

The sleek weight stack core offers 180 pounds of resistance in 10-pound intervals, and the seat cushions are both plush and supportive. We like that this top-of-the-line pick also comes with multiple accessories, including a stretching mat, a workout ankle band, a workout handgrip, a workout pulley bar, a DVD guide, and more.

Price at time of publication: $8,550

^{Key Specs:
Versatility Rating: B | Product Weight: 640 pounds | Maximum Weight Resistance: 180 pounds | Size: 72 x 47 x 81 inches | Style: Multifunctional bench}

Courtesy of Amazon

Pros

Foldable for easy storage
Weight capacity of 400 pounds
Safe for all fitness levels

Cons

Set-up may be complicated

This pick, popularized by Chuck Norris, provides an excellent full-body home workout in minimal space. While the equipment can handle a weight capacity of 400 pounds, it can also be folded to a compact 9 inches high to fit under your bed or in a closet when it’s not in use.

The glide board can be set at six different incline options, allowing you to increase resistance with your own body weight instead of a bulky weight stack. The cable pulley mechanism also makes it easy to incorporate challenging exercises for your upper body. Ideal for seniors and active athletes alike, we love that this Total Gym model supports more than 80 different exercises to give you an all-around good workout.

Price at time of publication: $1,000

^{Key Specs:
Versatility Rating: B | Product Weight: 90 pounds | Maximum Weight Resistance: 400 pounds | Size: 19 x 90 x 43 inches | Style: Universal cable pulley- and bodyweight-based home gym}

Courtesy of Walmart

Pros

Compact for travel and storage
Guide included
Multiple accessories included

Cons

Limited resistance capability
Not as durable as other options

If you want to be able to take your workout with you on the go, consider this crafty setup from BodyBoss. When in use, it’s no bigger than a yoga mat, and when stored, it can be carried like a lightweight suitcase. The resistance band-based system enables you to complete tough upper body workouts, lower body workouts, boxing workouts, and more. Set it up next to a treadmill desk, for example, and turn an office space into a full gym.

You can perform more than 300 exercises with this home gym, and we like that you can make the moves easier or more difficult quickly by lengthening or shortening the resistance bands. The truly portable design of the BodyBoss Gym helps users remain consistent with their workouts and reach their goals more effectively.

Price at time of publication: $95

^{Key Specs:
Versatility Rating: B | Product Weight: 16.1 pounds | Maximum Weight Resistance: N/A | Size: 15.9 x 2.8 x 20.1 inches | Style: Portable, resistance band-based home gym kit}

Courtesy of NordicTrack

Pros

Good for cardio and strength training
Interactive, trainer-guided workouts
Includes 1-year iFit membership

Cons

Pulleys aren't adjustable
Not good for heavy strength training

The sleek tower base of this NordicTrack model features a 10-inch tablet screen that enables you to follow along with trainer-guided workouts. With 20 resistance levels and a digital display, you don't have to waste valuable time adjusting the machine between each exercise. Every movement uses a pulley system powered by a silent flywheel.

What’s more, during the workouts, the trainers automatically adjust your resistance levels in the machine to ensure that you get the most out of your exercises—the machine comes with a chest strap heart rate monitor to power these personalized sweat sessions. The home gym also includes one year of a NordicTrack iFit membership which allows you to experiment with multiple features.

Price at time of publication: $2,000

^{Key Specs:
Versatility Rating: A | Product Weight: 378 pounds | Maximum Weight Resistance: N/A | Size: 41.5 x 59.4 x 73.7 inches | Style: Smart cardio and strength training with cable pulley resistance system}

Verywell Fit / Courtesy of TUT Fitness

Pros

Budget-friendlier option
Versatile
Small-space friendly

Cons

Lighter max resistance

If you're a fan of cable resistance training exercises and small-space-friendly home gyms, we recommend the TUT Trainer. This resistance system easily attaches to a wall or doorway via wood studs. Thanks to the included accessories, like the aluminum curl bar, carabiner, ankle straps, and more, this home gym system is incredibly versatile for such a relatively small piece of equipment. You can use the included handles for exercises like cable chest presses, shoulder presses, chest flys, and more for upper body training. For lower body training, cable abductions and adductions come easy with the included ankle straps.

Although the TUT Trainer weighs less than 12 pounds, it offers up to 150 pounds of resistance (and more if you want to buy more TUT plates separately). Although it might look like an ordinary cable machine, it works a little differently. The resistance comes from TUT plates, which are essentially resistance bands with plastic clips on the end. Overall, we think this is a great system for beginners who want to progress to using loads from bodyweight exercises—it offers a more seamless progression than going straight to using free weights like dumbbells and barbells, as well as a great way to round out cardio workouts like exercising on an elliptical or stationary bike.

Price at time of publication: $1,000

^{Key Specs:
Versatility Rating: B+ | Product Weight: 11.6 pounds | Maximum Weight Resistance: 150 pounds, virtually unlimited if you purchase more TUT plates | Size: 6 inches wide, height unknown | Style: Resistance bands and cable pulley system}

Pros

Trainer-led workouts
State-of-the-art technology
1 year iFit membership included

Cons

Accessories not included
Exclusively syncs with iFit platform

This stunning home gym solution from NordicTrack really does check all the boxes. At first glance, you have an oversized mirroring screen that reflects your chosen iFit workout in crisp and clear color. Then, behind the screen or inside the vault, you have a bookcase-like storage solution that you can accessorize with dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands, yoga blocks, and more, giving you literally everything you need for any home workout you choose.

With the Vault, a feature we love is that every workout is interactive, immersive, and truly captivating. The mirror helps you keep your form in check, while the world-class coaches keep you motivated to work hard. And when you're not exercising, the home gym solution blends seamlessly into your room's aesthetic.

Price at time of publication: $1,499

^{Key Specs:
Versatility Rating: A | Product Weight: 258 pounds | Maximum Weight Resistance: 30-pound dumbbells and kettlebell | Size: 24.25 x 14 x 72.65 inches | Style: Smart mirror with hidden storage}

4.8

Courtesy of Amazon

Pros

Portable and compact
Teaches body awareness and proper form
Free TRX app access for 1 year

Cons

Design is not traditional
Takes time to make adjustments

When looking at this set of black and yellow straps, you probably wouldn’t consider this workout tool to be a “home gym.” However, once anchored on your wall of choice, these smart straps enable you to strength train every part of your body—customizing the intensity with your body weight by positioning yourself closer to or further away from the anchor point.

The maximum weight resistance depends on the weight of the person using the straps, so it’s probably not the best fit for traditional weightlifters. With that said, this suspension trainer promotes a strong sense of body awareness as you learn how to perform exercises with the correct form and muscle engagement. It's perfect to use in tandem with other core-building equipment, like flexibility- and stability-improving balance boards, for enhanced full-body training.

We like that the TRX system comes with free access to the TRX app for one year, which showcases the wide variety of exercises you can perform with these straps. It also includes a door anchor, a suspension anchor, and a mesh carry bag.

Price at time of publication: $210

^{Key Specs:
Versatility Rating: B | Product Weight: 1.7 pounds | Maximum Weight Resistance: Your bodyweight | Size: 53 x 1.5 x 6 inches | Style: Suspension trainer}

4.7

Courtesy of Tonal

Pros

Mounts flat against a wall
Sleek, modern design
Tracks your workouts for you

Cons

Cables can rub against your skin
No live class options

Sleek and high-tech, this modern version of a home gym will give you an effective, total-body workout. A particular feature we like is the large screen where you can watch expert-led programs that will guide you through multiple exercises.

The digitally-controlled weighted arms give you up to 200 pounds to lift, and the programs learn from your workout and adjust to your body as you exercise. Tonal accurately measures your reps, sets, range of motion in various exercises, weightlifting volume, power, and time spent under tension to help you grow stronger over time.

Price at time of publication: $3,495

^{Key Specs:
Versatility Rating: A | Product Weight: 135 pounds | Maximum Weight Resistance: 200 pounds | Size: 21.5 x 5.25 x 50.9 inches | Style: Smart mirror with resistance arm extensions}

Pros

Safety lock on the weight stack
Exercise guide on the machine
Removable preacher curl pad included

Cons

Shipped in separate packages
May not be enough weight for advanced exercisers

This weight stack machine from Marcy comes with high and low pulleys, a leg developer, a removable preacher curl pad, and dual-function chest press to provide a complete home workout. With 150 pounds of selectorized weight, this machine is a good option for beginner and intermediate exercisers. And we like that the weight stack includes a locking mechanism for safety.

This steel-constructed machine offers 30 different exercise options and has an included chart of all the possible exercises posted right on the machine. Change weights easily between exercises with the simple change of a pin and the included ankle strap attachment adds additional lower body exercises to your routine.

The Marcy Home Gym has a 300-pound weight capacity and is compact enough to fit comfortably in most homes or garages.

Price at time of publication: $600

^{Key Specs:
Versatility Rating: B | Product Weight: 260 pounds | Maximum Weight Resistance: 150 pounds | Size: 36 x 79 x 68 inches | Style: Cable/Weight Stack}

Pros

Over 60 exercise options
Optional upgrade to 410 pounds of resistance
Sliding seat allows for rowing and leg press exercises

Cons

Rods and pulleys have to be changed for each exercise

The Bowflex Blaze uses Power Rods to adjust the tension throughout the range of motion of an exercise in order to make the exercise less jarring on joints. This makes the motion smoother then if you were using free weights. The Blaze offers 60 different exercise options and 210 pounds of resistance with the option to upgrade up to 410 pounds of resistance so you can vary your workouts.

We like that this machine has a sliding seat to allow for rowing and leg press exercises and a lat bar, squat bar, and ankle cuffs included. The horizontal bench folds up and the wheels on the base make it possible to move out of the way.

Price at time of publication: $1,099

^{Key Specs:
Versatility Rating: A | Product Weight: 191 pounds | Maximum Weight Resistance: 210 pounds with optional upgrades of 310 and 410 pounds | Size: 90 x 38 x 83 inches | Style: Power rod resistance}

How We Selected the Best Home Gyms

In order to find the best home gyms on the market, we researched top brands with trusted reputations and looked for a selection of different styles of home gyms like benches, cable machines, and suspension trainers. We researched product descriptions and key specs as well as customer reviews. We also consulted with two fitness professionals—Parker Oliver, CFSC, a functional strength coach, and Adrien Deffes, CPT, a personal trainer—for their guidance on what to look for when shopping for a home gym.

Based on our research and information from experts, we evaluated each home gym for its maximum weight resistance, overall size, style of home gym, and special features like storage options, workout tracking, or portability. We also considered overall price, ease of use, and versatility of the home gym to provide a complete workout.

How We Rated the Home Gyms

4.8 to 5 stars: These are the best home gyms we reviewed. We recommend them without reservation.

4.5 to 4.7 stars: These home gyms are excellent—they might have minor flaws, but we still recommend them.

4.0 to 4.5 stars: We think these are great home gyms, but others are better.

3.5 to 3.9 stars: These home gyms are just average.

3.4 and below: We don't recommend home gyms with this rating; you won't find any on our list.

What to Look for in a Home Gym

Versatility

Some home gyms can be used to perform 20 different exercises, and some can be used to perform more than 60. Typically, the more comprehensive the machine, the higher the price tag. But this level of versatility can make a significant impact on your ability to keep your muscles guessing as to what move you’ll challenge them with next.

“If you’re a beginner, I recommend finding a piece of equipment that isn’t too complicated,” says Adrien Deffes, CPT. He says that often, beginners will perform a lot of exercises with their body weight alone, so a home gym with less versatility might be a good option. We rated each home gym in our roundup for it's versatility in providing a complete workout with a wide range of exercises.

Maximum Weight Resistance

Many home gyms enable you to lift heavy without purchasing individual weight plates, a free weight bench, and a rack. They have maximum resistance settings that are typically challenging enough for most exercisers, but if you’re a “go big or go home” type of lifter, pay close attention to the max weight plate and cable resistance settings when shopping for a home gym.

Size

Since your workout space could be a section of your garage, an entire bonus room, or a tiny corner of your apartment, the size of the home gym machine you pick really matters. That’s why the options on this list range from hundred-pound, commercial-style rigs to simple, foldable setups that can be used virtually anywhere.

Style

Any home gym that provides progressive resistance will help build muscle depending on your beginning fitness level. A senior looking to improve their joint strength likely doesn’t need a massive, multi-tool home gym with 300-pound maximum weight resistance, whereas a bodybuilder likely needs more features and versatility. A machine or system that provides a variety of full body exercises and allows you to increase the weight over time will help build the most muscle.

“If you want to completely replace your gym membership, I would look for a giant rig with all of the bells and whistles,” notes Deffes. He recommends looking for an option with a rack to perform fundamental lifts such as squats, deadlifts, barbell rows, and more. Other features he recommends are attachments for lat pulldowns and chest flies.”

In the end, go with a home gym style that will help you best achieve your specific fitness goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can benefit from a home gym?

Anyone interested in improving their muscular strength and endurance from the comfort of their own home can benefit from a home gym. With that said, there are many different styles of home gyms to suit the specific needs of different people.
Before buying one, ask yourself if you would use a heavyweight bench and squat rack rig, a high-tech reflective mirror screen projecting strength training fitness classes, or a solution somewhere in between.
What is the best flooring for a home gym?

The ideal home gym flooring solution prevents heavy equipment from damaging the permanent flooring in your home and gives your joints a more forgiving surface to exercise on. Home gym flooring is available in a range of materials, from rubber to foam to wood.
Ultimately, the flooring option you pick should be easy to assemble, durable against more aggressive use, and attractive in its aesthetic.
How much does a good home gym cost?

A quality home gym will typically cost you a pretty penny, and you can usually expect to pay between $1,000-$4,000 or more for a good option. While the initial cost of setting up a home gym may be a hard hit to the wallet, the average gym membership can be between $10 and $200 a month so a home gym could be a good long term investment.
The cheapest home gym on our list is often available for less than $65, while our top recommendation, the Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym, was $1,050 when we published this article.
What are the different types of home gyms?

A home gym is anything that allows you to exercise at home. It can be one piece of equipment or a collection of items. The type of home gym you look for will depend on what type of exercise you want to do and the space you have available.
Strength building home gyms fall into three general categories. Bodyweight machines, free weight machines, and cable/weight stack machines. Bodyweight machines are usually compact while free weight machines are more versatile but require dumbbells and weight plates. Cable/weight stack machines take up a lot of space but are good choices for advanced exercisers.

Why Trust Verywell Fit

As a former personal trainer, seasoned health writer, and avid exerciser, Alena Hall understands how important it is to pick the right home gym equipment for you. She is always exploring the latest and greatest wellness tools, machines, and gadgets. But more importantly, Alena carefully considers the quality and various features that make these fitness products worthwhile investments.