Build Your Complete Home Gym For Under $2000
If you're looking to take the next step in your home strength and fitness training, you've come to the right place!
With the input of experienced personal trainers, powerlifters and strength coaches, Gym and Fitness has put together the most comprehensive step-by-step guide to creating your own complete home gym (for under $2k!).
Like a punishing morning session, we want to make every dollar work HARD so you can get the most out of your training time. A complete home gym should allow you to:
- Boost your overall strength and fitness levels in a safe and reliable way
- Perform a wide range of exercises targeting every muscle group
- Deliver enough variety and flexibility to keep your motivation levels high
The complete home gym guide on a budget!
If you're looking to build a home gym on a budget, this article is for you! We want as many people as possible to enjoy the benefits of strength and fitness training at home to live longer, happier, healthier lives. This guide is for anyone looking to…
- Purchase equipment for the very first time and wanting expert advice
- Upgrade their current equipment and expand workout possibilities
- Move away from gym memberships and start training at home
Before making any decisions about purchasing new gym equipment, we recommend taking the time to:
- Measure your new space - whether it's a spare room, garage, basement or outdoor area.
- Decide the training you'll be doing for your workout and fitness goals.
- Know your brands! Manufacturing and equipment warranties are all essential details when fitting your home gym - more on that later.
Let's get started!
Power Rack: $500-700
As the foundation of a home gym, a new Power Rack should get you excited. The famous four uprights, often called a cage, will open up your training to some of the most effective strength exercises on the planet.
Many compact, budget-friendly Power Racks are available for beginners, giving you the foundation for your new gym and the potential to expand as you progress in your training.
This will be your most significant investment as you fit-out your home or garage, but the money is well spent!
Adjustable Weight Bench: $200-$300
Weight benches are an essential piece of gym equipment, whatever your fitness goal. A good weight bench can make your workout much more effective and enjoyable.
A flat, incline, decline bench, also known as a FID Bench will provide versatility in your workouts while maximising comfort. You can increase your range of movement and target more muscles whether you use your Power Rack or with a set of dumbbells.
Check out these 7 exercises you can do with dumbbells and a weight bench.
Barbell: $150-$200
A reliable Barbell will quickly become your new best friend for weight training!
This versatile training tool can be used for Bench Press, Overhead Press, Squat, Deadlift, Row, Curl, Shrug, Tricep press and much more.
While a high-end professional barbell can set you back well over $500, a regular Olympic barbell can be a great one-size fits all solution. As most home workouts aren't focused on competitive bodybuilding, you won't need to worry about whip, spinning and other advanced features.
Standard barbells and weights will do if you are a total beginner and short on money.
Weight Plates and Collars: $300-$500
We set aside around a quarter of your budget for Weight Plates and Quick Lock Collars. They're going to give you the freedom to progress in your training and reach those PBs. As a starting point, you'll need:
- 2 x 1.25kg
- 2 x 2.5kg
- 2 x 5.0kg
- 2 x 10.0kg
- 2 x 15.0kg
- 2 x 20.0kg
You can always start by skipping between weight increments to save dollars, but you might find yourself quickly needing every weight as you perform more exercises and gain strength.
Training Tools to Complete Your Home Gym: $150-$200
Now it's time to put the finishing touches on your new home gym! We recommend setting aside around $150-$200 for your additional training accessories.
These inexpensive tools can add variety to your workouts and change your training types. Switch from your powerlifting or strength work to functional training, HIIT or resistance work with these dynamic add-ons.
Speed Rope
Nothing beats the heart-pumping, full-body burn of a Professional Skipping Rope. The perfect way to warm up on those cold mornings or keep your body loose between sets.
Slam Ball
Develop strength, power and endurance through a range of functional movements with this highly versatile piece of equipment. A Slam Ball challenges cardiovascular endurance and conditions your entire body from head to toe.
Kettlebell
Kettlebells are popular because they challenge your muscles in different ways. Ranging from 8kg-32kg they allow you to target your glutes, quads, hamstrings and arms with more dynamic, explosive exercises compared to traditional bodybuilding that focuses on hypertrophy.
Exercises Bands
No home gym is complete without the unbelievably versatile Exercises or Resistance Bands. Blast your entire body, get a serious sweat, and isolate smaller muscle groups and ligaments often overlooked with weight training.
Your Complete Home Gym Package: $1,900-$2,000
So there you have it, a brand new home gym set up for under $2,000!
You can always add more equipment and accessories as your training evolves. Still, this package gives you everything you need to step up your home workouts, perform a wide-range of exercises, and not have to worry about replacing anything for many years to come.
Hang on…what about cardio?
If you're looking to focus more on cardio then strength training in your home gym, then we recommend switching out a Power Rack for a budget-friendly Spin Bike.
A well-made Spin Bike is a highly-effective, low impact way to tone the entire body, get your heart rate pumping and sweat up a storm.
You can still perform a stack of strength exercises with your Adjustable Weight Bench, Barbell, Weight Plates and handy Training Tools, while getting in regular cardio workouts on a Spin Bike.
Don't settle for knock-offs.
Type in "cheap gym equipment" to Google, and you might think you've hit the jackpot. New Power Racks for under $300, Workout Benches for under $100, Barbells for under $50? The list goes on!
However, chances are you're looking at cheap knock-offs and poorly made equipment. Instead, choose your equipment based on these five criteria:
- Quality - How was it constructed, and with what machines?
- Durability - What is made of, and why are these materials suitable?
- Performance - In what ways does it meet your training needs, and how do they prove this?
- Assembly - Is assembly easy, and are the instructions clear?
- Warranty - What happens if something breaks or needs replacing?
Of course you can always shop around and even purchase used equipment via online marketplaces. But take the time to understand product performance, materials and finishes, and how well customers have reviewed each model.
In short, don't settle for cheap imitations - not only will you be replacing the equipment before you know it, but you can also put yourself at serious risk of injury (especially if you regularly train alone). If the brand is being sold by an unknown retailer lacking customer reviews, we recommend giving it a miss!
Deciding between Home Training and a Commercial Gym?
We understand that investing in a complete home gym is a big decision. While some people are happy with Dumbbells, a Flat Bench and a few accessories, training limitations can impact strength gains, fitness levels and overall enjoyment.
As we've covered in this guide, there's obviously nothing wrong with starting small and slowly building up to a more versatile home gym. You might also look at a local gym to see if it can accommodate your training needs and budget.
So how does a home gym compare to a commercial set-up? In the comfort of your own home, there's…
- No locked-in contracts
- No commute
- No waiting for equipment
- You can pump your own music
- …and you can always invite family and friends to workout with you