15 Best Home Gym Machines (2024 Update) | BarBend (2024)

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There are many perks to working out at home: You can save a ton of time, gas money, and blast your favorite workout music aloud. That said, if you want to recreate your gym experience, a home gym can offer everything you need, including a cable machine, squat rack, or workout mirror, depending on your home gym of choice.

But with so many options on the market, narrowing the list is a workout of its own. Our team of BarBend experts tested more than a dozen machines to find the best home gym systems money can buy. We took a look at factors, including:

• Quality
• Versatility
• Cost
• Size

After putting about 15 machines to the test, we’ve found our favorites for all kinds of athletes, whether you’re looking to prep for a bodybuilding competition or accommodate space constraints. Read on to find your best home gym equipment.

Our Picks for the Best Home Gyms of 2024

• Best Home Gym Overall: Force USA G6 All-In-One Trainer
• Best Home Gym for Small Spaces: REP FT-3000 Compact Trainer
• Best All-In-One Home Gym: Force USA X20 Pro
• Best Smart Home Gym: Tonal
• Best Home Gym for Bodybuilding: Force USA G20 All-In-One Trainer
• Best Cable Machine for Home Gym: REP FT-3000 Compact Trainer
• Best Home Gym Treadmill for Home Gym: Sole F80
• Best Rowing Machine for Home Gym: Hydrow Wave
• Best Home Gym for Powerlifting: REP Fitness PR-5000
• Best Bowflex Gym: Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym
• Best Budget Home Gym: Gold’s Gym XRS 50
• Best Portable Home Gym: TRX Home2 System
• Best Squat Rack for Home Gym: REP Fitness PR-4100 Folding Squat Rack
• Best Power Rack for Home Gym: Force USA MyRack Modular Power Rack
• Best Squat Stand With Pull-Up Bar: Rep Fitness SR-400 Squat Rack

How We Tested and Chose the Best Home Gyms

Home gyms come in many different designs, sizes, and prices. When deciding our picks, we took many factors into consideration but gave the most weight to versatility, value, and functionality in a home gym space.

Versatility

Generally, you’re not going to have unlimited space in a home gym, which means each piece of equipment has to do double duty (or more). The more types of exercises or purposes that a piece of equipment can serve, the better it will rank on this list because of that. That’s why we tried each home gym with a number of different exercises that different athletes may prefer. We also made sure testers with different bodies tried each machine, too, to give a well-rounded review.

Value

We get it: outfitting a full home gym can be quite expensive, which is why we place a premium on products that offer the most bang for your buck. The value a piece of equipment offers is also weighted heavily here and stems quite often from the quality and durability of a product.

That said, we don’t simply select items based on price, as you’ll find some expensive items on this list. The price reflects what they bring to the table, or more accurately, what they bring to the garage, basem*nt, or spare room. Oftentimes, the more expensive items are selected due to their exceptional quality, and we expect them to last a lifetime with proper care.

Durability

If you’re going to spend hundreds of dollars on a piece of gym equipment, you want durable, high-quality materials. As we tried different machines, we made sure to look at the components, prioritizing sturdy, steel materials, as opposed to plastic. Over time, plastic can bend and break, especially if you’re planning on pushing some weight.

Functionality

Some items sound great in theory until you get them in your home gym, and they don’t quite function the way you expected. The functionality of your equipment is essential to setting up a space that works for your training needs. In order for us to recommend something, it has to do what it is intended to and do it exceptionally well. Otherwise, that product may not make our list.

So, we kept different sports and fitness goals in mind while trying out different home gyms. Would this machine work for a CrossFit athlete as well as a bodybuilder or fitness newbie? That way, we made sure to offer something for everyone.

Best Home Gym Overall: Force USA G6 All-In-One Trainer

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Force USA G6 All-In-One Trainer

Force USA G6 All-In-One Trainer

This pin and plate loaded home gym from Force USA has true versatility. Pin loaded stack weights, crossover cables, plate weight options, a functioning power rack, and more enable you to hit every muscle without leaving the house.

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Our top pick is a home gym package that offers stunning versatility, can take the place of 11 strength training machines, and comes at a relatively low price. The compact design and nearly endless variety of workouts give the G6 an edge over the competition here.

One of the main considerations whenbuilding a home gymis balancing space with utility. You want enough gear to provide a complete workout space, but you may not want a truckload of gear taking up the whole house. Force USA’s G6 All-in One Trainer provides an excellent balance between the two. This setup combines a power rack, cable machine, Smith machine, and leg press with chin-up and dip stations — and that’s just to name a few. You can set it up to do low rows, as well as core exercises with the landmine station. Plus, you can even hook up TRX bands to the suspension trainer ring.

What makes this machine so unique? You’re basically getting an entire gym setup that only consumes 72 inches by 63 inches of floorspace. It comes with safety spotter arms, a dual hook straight barbell, a pulldown rope and v-bar, and a host of other attachments. Plus, you can add on jammer arms and a leg developer as well.

If you want to fit an entire gym into a small(ish) space, Force USA’s G6 is the way to go. With nearly endless workout options, this machine has something that can please just about anybody. “[It is] everything I was hoping for,” one five-star reviewer writes. “My wife loves it, too. … Has all the lifts I need to continue to improve my lift.”

Best Home Gym for Small Spaces: REP Fitness FT 3000 Compact Trainer

REP Fitness FT 3000 Compact Trainer

REP Fitness FT 3000 Compact Trainer

The Rep Fitness FT 3000 Compact Functional Trainer is true to its name. It’s incredibly compact and highly functional with 15 cable positions to choose from and twin 180lb weight stacks — pull up bar included.

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Trying to extract the same functionality of a commercial gym in your tiny one-car garage might seem like an overwhelming prospect. Thankfully, we found this home gym to be a big hitter while maintaining an impressively small footprint. “So far, this thing is great,” writes one five-star reviewer. “I have a small garage and it fits in the corner nicely. Plenty of weight for my purposes.”

Our best compact home gym pick is less than 4.5 feet wide and less than 3 feet deep, but it is built to handle the rigors of a commercial gym. It is pretty short, though, so taller lifters might have to bend their legs during pull-ups. Despite its conveniently low profile, REP managed to fit a pair of 180lb weight stacks into it (360 pounds total).

One thing to keep in mind is that the pulleys are on a 2:1 ratio, which means you’ll get one pound of resistance in hand for every two pounds on the weight stack — moving 100 pounds on the weight stack will be 50 pounds in your hand. In our experience, the pulleys also take some time to break in and may require some greasing the first few times you use the FT-3000.

Space is one of the top factors to consider when setting up your home gym. Whether you have ample room or are working with a single tight corner, the REP FT 3000 can open up a world of training possibilities.

Best All-In-One Home Gym: Force USA X20 Pro

Force USA X20 Pro

Force USA X20 Pro

This power rack doubles as a cable machine with two 289-pound stacks for each cable. The basic package features 12 attachments, while the upgraded kit will bring the total to 18. The X20 is rated to hold up to 990 pounds, so even the most elite-level athletes can confidently hit their heavy lifts.

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If you want every option under the sun, this home gym is truly the complete package. Cables, heavy weight stacks, weight plate storage, racks, pull-up bars, and more — this machine has it all. If you’re looking for a true centerpiece for your home gym, the Force USA X20 Pro is the way to go.

The X20 Pro is an all-in-one home gym solution with a solid power rack, two 289-pound weight stacks, and 17 different attachments included. We love that the rack itself is extremely solid and feels well-grounded, even though we couldn’t bolt it down in our testing garage. Don’t worry when going heavy either because the X20 Pro includes flip-down safeties inside of the rack and spotter arms for lifting outside on the extra half-rack.

Check out our full video review of the Force USA X20:

The rack comes with a variety of attachments, though some are certainly better than others, and you may have to replace some with more ergonomic or specialized pieces. The Upgrade Kit is likely not super useful for most people, but it would be a great addition for athletes because of the jammer arms.

You’ll want to ensure you have sufficient room for this rack, especially the height. In our garage, we barely had an inch of clearance. However, if you have plenty of space, customers do love interior depth. “I love the ample interior space and the freedom it gives me to have a full range of motion for squats, benches, and deadlifts,” one five-star review points out.

We should mention that this rack can be a nightmare to put together, and it’s nearly impossible to do on your own. We had a professional put it together for us, and it still took them over five hours.

Read our fullForce USA X20 Pro Review.

Best Smart Home Gym: Tonal

Tonal

Tonal

The Tonal is an interactive home gym that delivers up to 200 lbs of total electromagnetic resistance with the use of two maneuverable pulleys. What's most impressive is that it adapts as you progresses, which means you'll always be pushing closer to your fitness goals.

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See Also

7 Best Compact Home Gym Options (In 2024)The Best Space-Saving Workout Equipment for Your Tiny Home GymHomegym einrichten: Die besten Geräte fürs Fitnessstudio zu HauseThe Best Compact Home Gyms for Small Spaces in 2024

It’s on the pricey side, but if you can afford it, Tonal’s virtual coaching, nearly endless number of workouts, and small size make it well worth the cost. Ourbest smart home gymtakes up zero floor space, offers up to 200 pounds of resistance, and provides workouts that adapt to your training and progress.

Check out our tester’s video of the Tonal:

Tonal comes with two cable handles (with 200 different exercise options), a rope pulldown attachment, a bench, and a barbell with up to 100 pounds of resistance. The handles and barbell have a Bluetooth spotter button that you can press to instantly reduce the weight. However, for more experienced lifters, this may not be adequate, which we found with some of our testers.

The major component of Tonal is the 24-inch touchscreen, that allows you to customize programming, access thousands of on-demand trainer led workouts, and even uses cameras and sensors to critique your form as you work out (it felt surreal when Tonal told us that we weren’t going through a full range of motion during cable flyes).

The tech also allows you to keep a close eye on your progress without the need for pen and paper. “The objective data tracking on Tonal is incredible,” one five-star reviewer writes. “It’s pretty cool to see that each month I was able to push/pull more weight as I got stronger.”

Read our full Tonal Review.

Best Home Gym for Bodybuilding: Force USA G20 All-In-One Trainer

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Force USA G20 All-In-One Trainer

Force USA G20 All-In-One Trainer

The G20 All-In-One Trainer takes an entire gym and packages it into a single space. This home gym is the complete package, sporting plate loaded features in addition to being a power rack for squats and benching with a regular barbell, which you can add on to your order.

Shop Force USA

If you’re looking to build muscle and get shredded (recreationally or professionally), having a home gym that enables you to train heavily while also dialing in on specific muscle groups is absolutely essential. This home gym allows bodybuildersto do just that.

At first glance, the Force USA G20 may look intimidating, but once you look at all the separate parts closely, you see just how useful this multi-trainer can be. This rig comes with 29 attachments and can replace a leg press, smith machine, functional trainer, lat pulldown, power rack, low row, and more.

The G20 is built with a heavy-duty steel, which is great for confidence and security when lifting, but don’t plan on moving this monster once it’s put together. “No issues with the quality so far,” says one five-star reviewer four months after using this machine. “[The] unit is strong and solid. Using it 4-5x/wk and doing a wide variety of exercises makes a hypertrophy macro cycle more tolerable.”

The pulley system doesn’t pull any punches with a 1:1 resistance ratio instead of the more common 2:1 ratio. That means every pound of resistance will still be a pound in hand instead of half a pound. You do have to fork over a pretty penny, but the financing options are pretty good, depending on credit approval. We should caution that you’ll want to measure your space — especially the ceiling height for pull-ups — and make sure it can support the weight of this machine.

Best Cable Machine for Your Home Gym: REP Fitness FT 3000 Compact Trainer

REP Fitness FT 3000 Compact Trainer

REP Fitness FT 3000 Compact Trainer

The Rep Fitness FT 3000 Compact Functional Trainer is true to its name. It’s incredibly compact and highly functional with 15 cable positions to choose from and twin 180lb weight stacks — pull up bar included.

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A great cable machineshould be reliable, smooth, space-efficient, and able to handle any workout you throw its way. The REP Fitness 3000 Compact Trainer is all that and then some.

REP makes a lot of high-quality products, and this home gym cable machine is no exception. The REP Compact Trainer is solid, the pulleys and cables are silky smooth, though they do require a short break-in period. Putting some light lubricant on the pulley wheels may help alleviate that initial stickiness.

While it’s not the cheapest cable machine on the market, it’s competitively priced, considering the quality of its build. One thing that taller athletes should consider is that the FT-3000 is shorter than most cable machines. According to one six-foot, two-inch customer, “Tricep extensions are fine but I suspect it would be a problem if I was any taller.” REP also clearly believes in the durability of this machine since it comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

The REP Fitness FT 3000 Compact Trainer saves on space, has a fair price point, and is a smooth-operating cable machine that should last for years if not decades. Even though the weight stacks are lighter than some other machines, the FT-3000 is still a great option.

Best Home Gym Treadmill: Sole F80

Sole F80 Treadmill

Sole F80 Treadmill

The Sole F80 treadmill is full of modern touches. It can withstand long runs, offers an incline range up to 15 percent and speed range up to 12 mph, and has a cushioned deck that makes running 40 percent less impactful on your joints than the outdoors.

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If you’re a runner or a lifter looking to perform more cardio at home, a durable, high-qualitytreadmillmay be the perfect piece of home gym equipment for you. The Sole F80 is powerful yet compact and loaded with extras, making it our top choice.

There are a lot of treadmills on the market, but the Sole F80 is our best home gym treadmill. It performs like a full-sized treadmill that you might find at a health club but it still has a relatively compact footprint as well as easy-assist folding. We like how unimpeded it feels to run on this treadmill, thanks to the low-profile hood that won’t get in the way of your strides. “The last thing you want is a machine hindering or forcing you to alter your running gait,” says our on-staff triathlete.

The cushioned deck can potentially reduce impact by up to 40 percent, making the F80 potentially better for your joints than outdoor running. Plus, Sole does a great job with the infotainment system — combining a 10.1-inch touchscreen with a wireless charging pad to make for a seamless and high-tech user experience with all of your gadgets within arms reach.

Larger runners should be aware that they may experience some track slipping or skipping, since the 2.36-inch rollers are smaller than some other treadmills in the same price range. However, this machine is great for indoor use. Five-star reviews say it’s quieter than other treadmills, easy to use, and “works well on carpet floors.”

Read our full Sole F80 Treadmill Review.

Best Home Gym Rowing Machine: Hydrow Wave

Hydrow Wave Rower

Hydrow Wave Rower

This luxury rower is equipped with a 22-inch touchscreen display and offers automatic adjustments to the resistance based on your rowing efforts.

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Rowing machinesbring a unique mixture of cardio and strength to the table, which is why they’re the preferred choice of cardio equipment for many lifters. They’re also heavily featured in CrossFit and cross-training style workouts. This rower is the best example of form meeting function, offering a variety of fun colors and a vibrant touchscreen to brighten your home gym environment.

With this updated version, Hydrow kept all of the great features of the original design but made the machine lighter and more compact. According to our personal testers, rolling the machine around was way easier than expected.

Take a look at our tester’s video of the Hydrow Wave:

Following along with the classes on the 16-inch screen is enjoyable, and the trainers are top-notch — we really like the chill on-water rowing classes. If you connect your headphones, the only noise will be from you huffing and puffing, thanks to virtually silent magnetic resistance.

Though the trainers are great, the roughly $44 monthly subscription may be a bit steep for some people, and you essentiallyneedit to make the most use of the Wave. However, customers love the tech experience. “The whole immersive experience and the instructor-led sessions are excellent,” one five-star reviewer writes. “The option to row around the world at your time of choice is fantastic. How they can talk while rowing amazes me every time.”

Compared to the original Hydrow and some other high-end rowers, the seat on this one may not be comfortable for very long sessions due to the lack of cushioning (especially if you’ve got a muscly bottom). Though the rower is more costly than some, the stainless steel frame and high-quality build, coupled with the premium rowing experience, justify the price in our eyes.

Read our full Hydrow Wave Rower Review.

Best Home Gym for Powerlifting: REP Fitness PR-5000

REP PR-5000 Power Rack

REP PR-5000 Power Rack

This rack features 11-gauge steel uprights that can hold up to 1,000 pounds. It can also be completely customized with two different height options, three options for the depth, your choice of 13 attachments, and even the color scheme.

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Luckily for powerlifters, the amount of equipment needed to deadlift,squat, and bench pressis relatively low when it comes to space. However, stability, durability, and quality should be top of mind when lifting heavy, which is how we decided on our top home workout machine for powerlifters.

Though all powerlifters perform the same three movements for competition, different athletes have different training styles. To accommodate individual needs, the REP PR-5000 is fully customizable. As our best power rack for home gyms, it’s also compatible with dozens of attachments from REP and other major equipment brands. And since you’ll be moving some heavy weight (you beast, you), we like that the thick 11-gauge steel can handle up to 1,000 pounds.

If you compete in a federation that doesn’t make you walk out your squat, you can add monolift attachments to mimic competition. We are a little disappointed, however, that REP doesn’t include Westside spacing through the bench press area. The two-inch spacing throughout may make it a bit more challenging to find the perfect height for your bench press.

The rack does feel extremely stable, though, even with the four-post layout. And if you want even more sturdiness, you can add the extra two posts for storage since it includes a rear stabilizer. “Love the laser-cut numbering along the uprights, making it easy to set up for different lifts,” writes one five-star customer review. “Haven’t had any quality control issues on any of my uprights.”

Best Bowflex Gym: Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym

Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE

Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE

The Bowflex Xtreme 2SE is an impressively versatile home exercise station, perfect for anyone who wants to train hard in their own space without taking up a ton of square footage.

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Bowflex built its brand on the idea that gymgoers would trade in the gym membership for a home gym that was affordable and compact. Here’s the one we think is the best of the best.

This isn’t your dad’s Bowflex that was impossible to use and ended up as a coat rack in the basem*nt; the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE is a tank. It comes with 210 pounds of resistance, but you can upgrade it to 310 or even 410 pounds if you’re already pretty strong.

You can perform 70-plus exercises on it — including leg extensions, squats, deadlifts, and pulldowns, which you usually can’t do with simple cable machines. “I can do everything a gym offers right in the comfort of my home,” writes one five-star review (among many others). “I have time constraints and this allows me to stay in shape without going anywhere.”

A feature that we like is Bowflex’s implemented “No-Change” cable pulley system, so you can work your back and legs all on the same cable pulley without having to adjust it. For an extra charge, you can add a preacher curland ab crunch attachment, though there are likely cheaper ways to achieve the same effect. The quick transitions and no-frills setup of this machine make it an excellent choice if you want to get a full-body workout in with limited time and space.

Read our fullBowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym Review.

Best Budget Home Gym: Gold’s Gym XRS 50

Gold's Gym XRS 50 Home Gym

Gold's Gym XRS 50 Home Gym

This home gym provides up to 280 pounds of resistance per movement. It features a four-roll setup for leg exercises, high and low pulleys, and a combo chest press/butterfly station for upper body development.

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You may save money in the long run, but a high-quality home gym can cost you a lot upfront. If you want to save a little money (relatively speaking), go for the Gold’s Gym XRS 50.

It’s not the most versatile pick on this list, but the XRS 50 lets you perform pulldowns, leg extensions, flyes, rows, and curls. For most day-to-day lifters, it ticks all the boxes, according to one five-star customer review. “We are just starting to use our home gym and find it meets our needs for family workouts. There are a range of weightlifting exercises that can be performed with the equipment.”

You can also purchase more attachments to vary your grips. With a little creativity, you can perform even more exercises, like hamstring curls and triceps pushdowns. This means you can perform basically a whole-body workout and not even have to purchase a bar or weight plates — great for cost and space savings.

In total, the XRS 50 offers 280 pounds of weight which is more than enough for most people, so you won’t hit the limit with this machine for quite some time. By then, you may be ready to upgrade. To purchase 280 pounds of weight by itself might cost more than this entire machine if you’re buying plates or dumbbells, further proving the value of the XRS 50. We also like the small footprint, so you can tuck this machine into the corner of your home and have all you need to develop your muscles.

Read our fullGold’s Gym XRS 50 Review.

Best Portable Home Gym: TRX Home2 System

TRX Home2 System

TRX Home2 System

The TRX Home2 System provides a set of straps that you can incorporate into both strength and cardio training. The TRX system is based around seven classic exercises — the pull-up, push-up, lunge, plank, squat, rotation, and hinge — all of which can be modified to create varied workouts.

Shop TRX

You shouldn’t have to choose between a life on the go and staying fit — and you don’t have to. There are plenty of portable gym options out there, but we like the TRX Home2 System the best.

It only takes about a minute for you to set up this TRX on any tree or door for a full-body bodyweight workout. The TRX is designed to work with just your body weight (though you can throw on a weight vest for an added challenge). It can fit in a mesh bag for easy storage, making this pick our most space-friendly gym by far. We advise letting the system air dry before putting them back in the bag, though, especially after a sweaty session. The handles and even straps can become somewhat funky smelling if you constantly toss them in the bag right away.

This product won’t really satisfy folks who want to lift heavy iron and easily track weight and reps, but if you’re into calisthenics, the Home2 System is a great way to train. If you’re more of a casual gymgoer who wants to burn caloriesand get intense workouts in at home, then this will also do the trick. We also like this system for frequent flyers. “You really can’t beat this thing for portability and amazing ability to work out every part of your body,” writes one five-star reviewer.

If you prefer bodyweight workouts that you can do anywhere, this is the cheapest and most space-friendly pick on our entire list. TRX workouts even have a thriving online community, so you can connect with others doing similar exercise routines.

Read our fullTRX Home2 System Review.

Best Squat Rack for Home Gym: REP Fitness PR-4100 Folding Squat Rack

REP PR-4100 Folding Wall Mount Squat & Power Rack

REP PR-4100 Folding Wall Mount Squat & Power Rack

The PR-4100 comes in two sizes — the 21.5” and the 41”. Both options fold into the wall when not in use thanks to four heavy-duty pull-pins, which can save users a lot of space.

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A lot of people dream of having a squat rack in their home gym but think they can’t have one because they lack the space. Truth is, you can have a squat rack without sacrificing a ton of space since this one folds away.

For those who dont have a ton of space, the PR-4100 folds away neatly and only extends six inches off the wall when folded, so you have plenty of room on rest days. The setup is relatively simple, with just four pull-pins, and only takes about a minute. “Pretty good videos of install online,” one five-star review says. “Very satisfied with the look and quality.” REP says it can handle up to 1,000 pounds when properly mounted, though we haven’t tested that yet (goals).

We really like the Westside spacing through the bench press area, which lets you dial in the perfect rack height. The PR-4100 is compatible with a surprising amount of attachments and pull-up bars, which adds versatility that many other folding squat racksdon’t have.

The setup itself isn’t too complicated but it may require two people — or at least it did in our experience. So, we suggest you recruit a gym buddy to help you out.

Best Power Rack for Home Gym: Force USA MyRack Modular Power Rack

Force USA MyRack Modular Power Rack

Force USA MyRack Modular Power Rack

This power rack is sturdy, can support 2,000 pounds, and can hold various accessories such as band pegs and dip bars. You can also add a cable pulley system and lat pulldown machine to really get the most out of your gym.

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This power rack is constructed of steel, can be bolted to the floor, and is compatible with add-ons to create a complete home gym. The modular design also allows you to add attachments as you need. “I purchased the MyRack, cable crossover, bar, dip handle, spotter arms, j hooks, chin up bar, pull down seat and a bunch of bumper plates,” one satisfied customer writes. “I put it together with ease and I love this stuff!”

MyRack can accommodate up to 20 different attachments like a cable crossover, lat pulldown, and dip handles. Those are some of the biggest home gym pieces aside from a rack, so having them all in one machine is great if you’re working with limited space. The Westside spacing is nice for powerlifters, too.

We’re also fans of how affordable this rack is, as well as the ecosystem of attachments that Force USA has developed. It’s important to note that the upright size means that it’s only compatible with Force USA attachments as far as we have found, so you’ll have to buy your accessories from there.

This basic power rack can be built out to serve as the centerpiece of your home gym, plus, you can add the exact equipment you need for a complete setup based on your personal training goals. Even if you don’t want to add a ton of attachments, it’s still a very solid rack at a good price.

Read our fullForce USA MyRack Modular Power Rack Review.

Best Squat Stand With Pull-Up Bar: Rep Fitness SR-4000 Squat Rack

Rep Fitness SR-4000 Squat Rack

Rep Fitness SR-4000 Squat Rack

The Rep Fitness SR-4000 Squat Rack has plenty of depth for all kinds of lifts. Plus you get a built-in pull-up bar that's sturdy and suitable for for all kinds of pull-up variations (kipping, included).

Shop Rep Ftiness

If you either have an existing home gym or want a bare-bones setup to squat and perform overhead presses, a simple squat stand will do the trick at a fraction of the cost of a complete home workout machine.

As the saying goes, big things come in small packages, and Rep Fitness’ SR-4000 Squat Rack is a testament to that. It weighs about 237 pounds, so moving it around with two people is totally doable. It comes equipped with a built-in pull-up bar for extra back work. You can also hang resistance bands for pulldowns and triceps work. The short height (96 inches) may be too low for taller people to comfortably perform pull-ups, but you can opt for the 103-inch option instead.

The SR-4000 allows you to save space while still having a solid squat stand that’s compatible with most 4000 series attachments, like the Monolift, ISO Arms, Dip Attachment, and Spotter Arms. REP Fitness is known for its high-quality manufacturing, and the steel of this rack (along with the many five-star reviews) is a reflection of that. “I purchased this squat stand because the price was hard to pass up,” one customer writes. “I’ve had it for two months now and my fiance and I love it.”

How to Pick the Best Home Gym Machine for You

The questions below will help you decide if investing in home workout machines or building your own gym is a wise, financially savvy choice. Take time to think about your strength goals, the space you have, and your budget before taking the plunge.

What are your strength goals?

If you’re looking to be the next Brian Shaw, then you need to really think about what that takes. You’ll need to invest in Atlas stones, logs, hundreds of pounds of weights (eventually), farmer’s handles — all sorts of strongman tools. You may be better off just finding a local gym with the myriad of equipment you need in this instance.

That’s not to say you can’t be elite and have your own home gym — but building that setup will take time and money. If you simply want to stay in shape, then a simpler setup will do the trick and might be more feasible from the outset.

How much space do you have?

This question should help guide you to what equipment will be best for not only your goals but your lifestyle, too. If you’re living in a one-bedroom apartment, then maybe an option like a smart home gym or suspension trainer is better for now. On the other hand, a two-car garage or large basem*nt affords you a lot more space to build a complete set-up. The vertical height is also a big consideration. It depends on your height and goals, but generally, you’ll want at least 92 inches from floor to ceiling to allow for pull-ups with any rack though that may vary.

What’s your budget?

This question is simple and will vary from person to person. Before investing in home gyms, we recommend realistically calculating your current gym expenses, considering the price of equipment and how much you’re willing to put into a home gym. Of course, you don’t need to buy everything at once. You can start with a squat stand, barbell, some weights, and a bench, and then go from there. Heck, you can start out with just a pair of dumbbells and grow as you go. Rewarding yourself with new pieces of equipment for important milestones is a great way to stay on track.

Home Gym Accessories to Add

It may be beneficial to add some accessories or attachments to your home gym. This works to really make it your own and tailor the equipment to your individual needs. After all, everybody has different goals and training preferences. Some accessories might be essential, like a barbell and weight plates if you have a weight rack. Others might be more workout adjacent like yoga mats or water bottles. Here are some of our favorites:

• Slam Balls:A great way to perform high-intensity cardio and train power for both upper and lower body
• Jump Rope:These take up very little space and provide an excellent way to perform cardio nearly anywhere.
• Grip Strengtheners:Nothing says strong like a firm grip and massive forearms, plus, you can use these anywhere, even as stress relief.
• Resistance Bands:Often overlooked, bands are great additions for powerlifters to perform accommodating resistance training as well as anyone else for warming up or strength training.
• Plyometric Boxes:Box jumps are excellent tools for building lower body power and reaction time. They’re also often used in agility training.

The Benefits of Home Gyms

Not sold on shelling out for your own iron paradise? There are quite a few benefits of owning your own home gym, and among them are convenience, customization, and long-term cost savings.

Home Gyms Are Convenient

Above all else, convenience is probably one of the major benefits of owning a home gym. You wake up in the morning, have your pre-workout, and then walk 15 steps to your garage to start clanging and banging. You’ll never have to wait for the curl bro to get out of the squat rack, nor will you have to wipe another person’s sweat off the rower.

Because of this convenience factor, it’s safe to assume that you’ll be more dedicated to your workout program. Even if not, it’s a lot easier to get under the barbell for 45 minutes when you don’t have a 20-minute drive ahead of you.

You Can Customize It

The beauty of owning your own home gym is that it’s yours. All yours. Into CrossFit? Buy a simple squat stand, a plyo box, some rings, and a few kettlebells. More into powerlifting? Then opt for a more robust power rack, a quality barbell, and lots of plates. See where we’re going with this? Or, maybe you want a piece of equipment that can do everything you want (with the option to add more to it).

Your home gym can be as minimal or equipped as you’d like — and you won’t have to answer to anyone (other than maybe your significant other).

It’s Cheaper in the Long Run

The final major home gym benefit is long-term savings. Home gym equipment’s price can be high, but it’s an investment. Over a long period of time, owning your own equipment can save you money in two ways. First, you can probably drop your gym membership fee, which can add up over time. Second, it saves you the time you’d take driving to and from the gym, along with the time you have to wait for equipment. For most, this extra time can turn into energy and time invested in other areas of their life.

How Much Do Home Gyms Cost?

Home workout machines can cost as much or as little as you are willing to spend. You can be extremely thrifty and scour the internet for free or extremely cheap offerings and spend very little. On the other hand, you can also order custom, engraved, or color-coordinated equipment from a high-end equipment manufacturer and spend tens of thousands of dollars. Most people will fall somewhere in between these options, making a few budget buys and some splurge purchases for items that will receive heavy use.

For the home gyms on this list, you’ll see a fairly wide range from around $300 to $500 on the lower end to between $2,000 and $5,000 on the high end. More comprehensive equipment that serves multiple purposes or can act as a home gym on its own — like a functional trainer— tends to be more expensive, while simpler pieces that require additional equipment to make use of them — such as squat racks — may be cheaper.

Final Word

The number of different ways you can set up your home gym is practically endless, but there are a few constants that apply to nearly all situations. A home gym is intended to give you additional freedom and flexibility to put the work in on your terms — stressing too much about the perfect piece of equipment can take away from that. If you keep the factors we discussed, like versatility, value, and functionality, in mind, you can’t go wrong.

Whether you’re a hardcore lifter, CrossFit enthusiast, yoga fan, or endurance athlete, there are home gyms that will accommodate your needs. The market has become saturated with tons of options for everyone, and the home gym community is more mainstream than niche now. There are home gym solutions to satisfy people who want to do a quick workout in their spare room to those who want to outfit their two-car garage as a home gym. You can opt for a smart gym or a good ol’ fashioned power rack and everything in between. But overall, hopefully, this article helps make your search a little easier, so you can keep the gains coming, even at home.

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More Home Gym Training Content

Pumped to get your own home gym going? Great. Now you should check out these other home gym-related articles from BarBend to make the most out of your training.

• 5 Steps to Building Your Dream Home Gym
• 9 Undeniable Benefits of Owning a Home Gym
• The 8 Best Home Exercises for More Muscle and Strength