This Space-Saving Equipment Will Help You Build a Functional Home Gym
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Need to run, but it’s too cold, icy, or rainy outside? Trying to avoid the gym bros at your local spot? Wanna work out in your pj’s? With the right home gym setup, you can do all of the above.
The only problem: Most people don’t have a whole extra room in their house to devote to huge, heavy machines. That’s why we tapped fitness experts and SELF staffers for their favorite space-saving gym equipment that’s worth the investment. Then we put their recs to the test and compiled this list of winners.
Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about how to set up a home gym in a small space, plus the best foldable cardio equipment, adjustable weights, and other compact accessories.
Our top picks
What to consider when shopping for home gym equipment for small spaces
Working out usually requires some open floor space, so investing in vertical storage, like wall-mounted shelves or tall cabinets, will help you keep your place decluttered, Amanda Grimm, certified running coach and personal trainer at We Run, tells SELF.
“Try to strike a balance between practicality and usability. Folding equipment may take up less space when not in use, but it can also be less durable and annoying to have to set up and take down each time you want to work out,” she says. “Something like adjustable dumbbells can give you a lot of flexibility without taking up a lot of space.”
Finding multifunctional pieces (like Tonal, a wall-mounted home gym system that can replace resistance bands, a cable machine, and a weight set) is key. They’ll help you save some room and give you more workout options for the footprint (and price) of one machine.
“When it comes to budget, don’t get carried away with over-equipping your gym with everything you think you might need. Start with a few essentials and build from there,” says Grimm. Once you start using your home gym regularly, you’ll quickly realize what works well for you, what doesn’t, and what you feel is missing.
“It’s also well worth looking around for second-hand equipment to help keep costs down,” she adds. “If you find you use it regularly, you can always look to upgrade then, rather than wasting money on things that end up just gathering dust.”
How we test home gym equipment
Many of the picks on this list were tested as part of our SELF Home Fitness Awards. Every year, we ask trusted fitness professionals and staffers (who’ve tried a lot of gear) for their tried and true equipment recommendations. These are pieces we’ve used for weeks, months, or years, so we have a great sense of whether they’re well-made and how they’ll fit into your lifestyle. We narrow down these products to the best of the best before giving them an award, so only ones that are truly exceptional make the cut.
How do I set up a home gym in a small space?
Before you start shopping, take measurements of your space. Consider how much room you’ll need to do the exercises you typically enjoy. (For example, if there’s a treadmill in the room, can you also do stretches on the floor, or complete a lunge without hitting a wall?)
“Consider the space you have available and what your fitness goals are. Be practical about it,” says Grimm. “Cardio equipment can be very bulky, and a lot of cardio exercise can be done outdoors without any equipment at all,” she explains. “So it might be worth planning a routine that gets you outdoors for cardio, and then focusing on strength training and flexibility in your home gym.”
Cardio machines
NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill
Pros
- Large, 16-inch screen
- Multiple easy ways to adjust the speed and incline
- Incline and decline settings
- Has a built-in fan
- Cushioned deck helps absorb shock while you walk or run
Cons
- Heavy
- Not easy to move around
The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 earned the title of best treadmill in our 2024 Home Fitness Awards, thanks to its many high-tech features, wide speed and incline range (0–12 mph and -3% to 12% grade, respectively), and comfortable ride. According to our tester, a former marathoner, “all of the handles and adjustments are easily accessible,” with quick jump-buttons on the monitor next to the screen and manual adjustments on the front handlebar for more precise speed and incline settings. You can even practice running downhill with the 1750s decline settings—a helpful feature for anyone who’s training for a trail race.
If you opt for an iFit membership, you can follow along with trainer-led running and strength workouts on the large screen and get customized workouts for your fitness level (based on past training with the machine). Bonus: This treadmill folds up, so you can save some space when you’re not using it—just note that it’s fairly heavy, so wheeling it around can be a pain.
Urevo SpaceWalk Lite Treadmill
Pros
- Quiet
- Easy to store
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Top speed isn’t very fast
This budget-friendly walking pad is a low-profile, versatile piece for your home gym. Many walking pads are designed strictly for walking—but this one has a top speed of 6.2 mph when the handlebar is up, which means you can definitely jog and run on it (though probably not sprint).
You can use it under a standing desk to help you get more steps in as you work, or jog on it while you watch TV. And you won’t be distracted by the sound: “I have to give props to the quiet motor,” one 2024 Home Fitness Awards tester said. “For a budget treadmill, I was impressed with the lack of loud noise while in use.”
Peloton Bike+ Ultimate Package
Pros
- Includes enough equipment for a variety of workouts
- Screen swivels, so you can work out off the bike
- Peloton classes bring group fitness to your home
Cons
The Peloton Bike+ Ultimate Package is a major investment, but we’re recommending it here for lots of reasons. For one, you can use the machine for cardio workouts, and it doesn’t take up much room (it measures 59 by 22 inches). With a Peloton subscription, you’ll also get access to tons of other workouts, and the Package includes all the equipment you need to do them (like free weights and an exercise mat).
The bike’s large, 23.8-inch screen can even rotate 360 degrees, so you can easily follow along with trainer-led strength and yoga sessions that’ll make you feel like you’re in a group fitness class without leaving your living room. While the bike doesn’t fold up (and it’s too heavy to move around often), it’s worth finding a slightly larger corner for it to live in.
Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike With Pulse
Pros
- LCD display
- Multiple tension settings
- Foldable
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- No high-tech “smart” features
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