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A home gym is a single unit of exercise equipment that people can use to perform a range of exercises. Several fitness companies offer home gyms for purchase online.
A quick look at some of the best home gyms
- Best for rehabilitation: Bowflex Blaze
- Best for on-demand training sessions: NordicTrack Fusion CST
- Best for strength training: Marcy 150-lb Multifunctional Home Gym
- Best for own body weight training: TRX HOME2 System
- Best for a rowing machine: Rogue Concept 2 Rowerg Rower
- Best for smart resistance: Tonal
- Best for space-saving: The Mirror
- Best for boxing: FightCamp
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
A home gym is a single unit of equipment that a person can use to perform multiple exercises. Some home gyms offer both cardio and strength exercise options, whereas others are suitable for just one or the other. A person may use a home gym for:
- building muscle
- recovering from an injury
- exercising at a convenient time
- exercising with privacy
Several companies sell home gyms that offer exercises for cardio and different muscle groups. Individuals can also mix and match exercise equipment to create the best home gym for their personal needs. A home gym typically includes some of the following equipment:
- exercise mats
- dumbbells
- resistance bands
- stability balls
- weight benches
- weight racks
- cardio options, such as jump ropes or cardio machines
Medical News Today chooses fitness equipment that meets the following criteria:
- Price: MNT chooses products available for a wide range of budgets.
- Size and capacity: MNT selects products to suit people of different heights, weights, and strength.
- Connectivity: Where fitness equipment has fitness memberships or subscriptions, MNT ensures variation in classes and services that benefit a person’s health.
- Materials: MNT chooses products that have safe and durable materials that are easy to clean and maintain.
- Ease of use: MNT selects simple-to-use products that have clear instructions. If set-up is complicated, MNT chooses brands that offer a set-up or installation service.
- Quality: MNT chooses companies that adhere to high quality manufacturing processes that ensure its products are safe for personal use.
- Reputable: MNT chooses products from businesses that adhere to industry best practices and that offer reliable customer service and support.
Several companies offer home gyms that suit most people’s fitness goals.
Best for rehabilitation: Bowflex Blaze
- List price: around $1,0999
- Workouts: strength training, cardio
- Space required (H x L x W): 90 x 38 x 38 inches (in)
- Weight: 191 pounds (lb)
The Bowflex Blaze home gym provides a full body workout, allowing people to perform more than 60 different exercises. People can use it to work out the:
- chest
- shoulders
- back
- arms
- abdominal muscles
This home gym comes with 210 pounds (lb) of resistance. It has a sliding seat rail to allow people to perform leg presses and aerobic rowing. Each purchase includes handgrips and ankle cuffs. There is also an adjustable cable and pulley and a lat/squat bar.
Reviewers state that the lower weights on the Bowflex Blaze may be beneficial for those who need rehabilitation from previous sports injuries. They also report that the home gym is easy to assemble.
Best for on-demand training sessions: NordicTrack Fusion CST
- List price: $1999
- Workouts: strength training, cardio, yoga, cycling, HIIT, cross training
- Space required: 73.5 x 60.5 x 41.5 in
- Weight: 378 lb
The NordicTrack Fusion CST comes with a 10-inch HD touch screen that people can use to stream workouts with NordicTrack trainers. Each purchase comes with a 1-year free trial of iFit, where people can access on-demand training sessions. The machine also comes with 20 digital power resistance levels.
Learn more about NordicTrack here.
NordicTrack states that people can use this home gym with their iFit membership to access the following workouts:
- beginner
- strength training
- studio sessions
- high intensity interval training (HIIT)
- bootcamp
- cross-training
The NordicTrack Fusion CST comes with a Bluetooth chest strap that monitors a person’s heart rate during workouts.
NordicTrack offers a 10-year warranty for the frame and a 1-year warranty for parts.
Best for strength training: Marcy 150-lb Multifunctional Home Gym
- List price: around $600
- Workouts: strength training
- Space required: 68 x 36 x 19 in
- Weight: 125 lb
The Marcy 150-lb Multifunctional Home Gym offers exercises that works most major muscle groups. People can perform:
- abdominal crunches
- chest and pectoral fly exercises
- vertical butterfly exercises
- leg developer exercises
- bicep exercises
This home gym also features a weight stack lock that enables people to perform resistance exercises safely.
Reviewers state that although assembling this home gym is not difficult, it may take people several hours. The home gym may arrive in multiple boxes.
Marcy does not state its warranty policy.
Best for own body weight training: TRX HOME2 System
- List price: $229.95
- Workouts: strength training, cardio, yoga, and HIIT
- Space required: not applicable
- Weight: not applicable
With the TRX HOME2 System, people use their own body weight to perform cardio and strength training exercises. The company states that this system is suitable for both beginners and more experienced exercisers.
People can use the TRX HOME2 System to exercise the following muscle groups:
- upper body
- lower body
- core
- total body
It is possible to use this equipment anywhere with a suitable anchor point — either in the home or outside. TRX also offers a 7-day free membership with the TRX Training Club, which gives people access to live classes, on-demand videos, and virtual personal training.
TRX provides a 2-year warranty.
Best for a rower: Rogue Concept2 Rowerg Rower
- List price: from $990
- Workouts: cardio, strength training
- Space required: 96 x 24 in
- Weight: 57—68 lb
The Rogue Concept 2 is a rowing machine that provides a full-body workout.
As a low impact machine, it may be suitable for those looking to physically rehabilitate and for beginners. The company claims it is also intensive enough to be suitable for use by more experienced athletes.
Some features include:
- an advanced PM5 Performance Monitor
- ergonomic handles
- adjustable foot-rests
- a flywheel for smooth movement with minimal noise
It has a 14-in seat height and offers an optional space-saving wall hanger for the machine.
The Rowerg also comes in a tall option that has a 20-in seat height. Rogue offers a 2-year limited warranty on both models.
Read our review of the Rowerg Concept2 Rower here.
Best for smart resistance: Tonal
- List price: $3,495
- Workouts: cardio, strength training, sports performance, recovery, and pre- and post-natal
- Space required: 50.9 x 21.5 x 5.25 in
- Weight: 200 lb
Tonal is a home gym that tailors its resistance to the person using it. The smart features of this product adjust the weight in each rep to ensure it is as efficient and effective as possible.
Some features include:
- adjustable arms for full movement range
- a 24-inch touchscreen
- steel construction for durability
- sensors to watch form and provide tips on how to improve
- spotter mode
- realtime progress tracking
Tonal provides a variety of online training workouts for the whole body. A person can create their own fitness routine or follow a plan from a Tonal fitness coach.
The Tonal App is also available for those who want on-the-go workouts and for people to schedule workouts and keep track of their progress.
The company provides a 2-year limited warranty.
Read our review of Tonal here.
Best for space-saving: The Mirror
- List price: $1,495
- Workouts: strength training, cardio, pre-and post-natal, recovery, and meditation
- Space required: 56 x 22.4 x 1.4 in
- Weight: 70 lb
When a person switches this product off, they can use it as a mirror. Additionally, people can stand it up against a wall or mount it, which may be beneficial for those with less floor space.
The Mirror works with a person’s Lululemon membership. It provides performance data that people can connect to their Strava and Apple Health apps. Other features include:
- live interaction with coaches
- real-time group workouts with friends
- surround sound with a high-fidelity speaker
- 43-in 1080p LED display screen
- carbon steel frame
Mirror offers a 1-year warranty and free delivery.
Read our review of The Mirror here.
Best for boxing: FightCamp
- List price: from $99
- Workouts: strength training, cardio, and boxing
- Space required: 27 in
- Weight: 250—350 lb
FightCamp offers two packages: Tracker, if a person already has a boxing bag, and Track and Bag, if a person needs a boxing bag. Both packages include hand wraps and trackers, which track a person’s progress in real-time and allow them to compete with friends.
The boxing bag is free-standing. The company recommends people fill the bag with 250 lb of water or 350 lb of sand for extra stability.
People will need to pay for a membership to use additional features. A membership costs $39 per month and includes:
- unlimited on-demand streaming of over 1,000 workouts
- workouts led by real fighters
- unlimited profiles for the whole family
FightCamp offers a 1-year warranty.
The following table compares the home gyms in this article on price, workouts, space requirements, and more.
| List price | Workouts | Space required | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowflex | around $1,099 | • strength training • cardio | 90 x 38 x 38 in | 191 lb |
| NordicTrack | $1,999 | • strength training • cardio • yoga • cycling • HIIT • cross training | 73.5 x 60.5 x 41.5 in | 378 lb |
| Marcy | around $600 | strength training | 68 x 36 x 19 in | 125 lb |
| TRX | $229.95 | • strength training • cardio • yoga • HIIT | not applicable | not applicable |
| Rogue | from $990 | • strength training • cardio | 96 x 24 in | 57—68 lb |
| Tonal | $3,495 | • strength training • cardio • HIIT • yoga • mobility • sports performance • recovery • meditation • golf • pilates • barre • family fitness • boxing • pre-natal • post-natal | 50.9 x 21.5 x 5.25 in | 200 lb |
| The Mirror | $1,495 | • strength training • cardio • dance cardio • pre-natal • post-natal • Latin dance • meditation • barre • kickboxing • stretch • pilates • ballet • boxing • yoga • kettlebells • chair workouts • tai chi • BootCamp | 56 x 22.4 x 1.4 in | 70 lb |
FightCamp | from $99 | • strength training • cardio • boxing | 27 in | 250—350 lb |
When purchasing a home gym, people should consider their physical condition, their fitness goals, and the types of exercises that they enjoy doing. Some key considerations include:
- Budget: The cost of fitness equipment varies, and home gyms that provide a wider range of exercises are typically more expensive than home gyms that offer fewer workout options.
- Space: Home gyms can take up a lot of space. People should check the dimensions of the equipment they are considering purchasing to ensure that they have room for it.
- Physical condition: Individuals who are new to exercise or recovering from an injury should purchase a home gym with lower weights and the option to perform low impact exercises.
- Fitness goals: People should consider their fitness goals when purchasing a home gym. For example, individuals who would like to build more muscle may prefer a home gym that focuses more on weights than cardio.
- Assembly: Some home gyms may require more assembly than others. Some companies offer an assembly service for free or for an extra charge.
- Warranty: People should consider the warranty on the home gym they are considering. Longer warranties mean that people will have support for a more extended period if their equipment breaks.
Regular exercise is key to remaining healthy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that regular physical activity could prevent
Learn more about the benefits of exercise.
The CDC recommends that adults partake in at least
However, people should always ensure that they follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to assemble and use a home gym. If a person does not assemble the equipment correctly, they risk injury.
Additionally, all exercise comes with the risk of sports injuries, such as strains and sprains. People should stop exercising immediately if they sustain an injury, and if the injury is severe, they should seek immediate medical attention.
Here we answer some common questions about these products.
How do I design a home gym?
When designing a home gym, a person may wish to consider space, price, and fitness needs.
A person will need to ensure they have enough space to work out safely. People should make sure that they can fit the equipment in the space they wish to use and be able to use the equipment without knocking into other objects or people.
It is also important to ensure that a person purchases within their budget. People should take into consideration the cost of any memberships that they need to purchase to use the equipment they buy.
Additionally, it is important to ensure any equipment a person purchases is suitable for their needs. For example, people who are looking to rehabilitate may wish to use equipment that offers gentle stretching and strengthening exercises.
Can you build muscle with a home gym?
If a person’s goal is to build muscle, this is possible with a home gym.
Home gyms can include equipment similar to those in public gyms. People should research home gyms available for purchase to ensure that they offer strength training exercises.
Are home gyms worth it?
Home gyms can offer people benefits similar to going to a public gym.
If a person exercises regularly while following all safety precautions, they may find it easier to reach their weight and fitness goals.
People may wish to consider whether a home gym is less expensive than paying for a gym membership. Home gyms often have a higher up-front cost, and some companies may require people to pay a monthly subscription to access all features.
Using a home gym may encourage people to exercise regularly. Several companies sell home gyms that are suitable for people of all fitness levels. Many home gyms are portable or easy to store away, making them a good option for people with smaller workout spaces.
It is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on assembling and using a home gym to reduce the risk of injury.