No Excuses: How to Build a $500 Tiny Home Gym Now!
Home Gym
So you want to start working out at home but have limited space and a tight budget? You’re in the right spot. I’ll go over some key things to consider when putting together a small home gym and show you how to do it for right around $500 or less. There are many benefits to having a home gym including the convenience of working out on your schedule without a commute to a facility, saving on a monthly gym or studio membership, and privacy. You can also tailor your home gym to your preferred workouts and needs. In this guide I’ll walk you through
The key steps to setting up a home gym
Choosing the right equipment based on your fitness goals
Finding budget friendly gym equipment
Space-saving tips to maximize your area
Take Stock of What You Already Have
Before you go spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on equipment that you might not end up using, it’s important to consider what you already have. Look at the workout equipment you have in your home. Chances are you already have some type of mat laying around and maybe some resistance bands or dumbbells. This is a good start. If you are truly strapped for cash, you can get pretty far with these. There is no shortage of body weight, resistance band, or dumbbell workouts on YouTube or fitness apps.
Have you been using the equipment you have and just outgrown it? If you aren’t using the equipment you already have, ask yourself why. Are the dumbbells too light for you and you need heavier ones to do the workouts and build the strength you want? Or maybe you just don’t like dumbbell workouts and would prefer an all in one home gym machine or a piece of cardio equipment.
If your fitness goals require more than the equipment you currently have in your home, then it’s time to make a list of what you want. This is the fun part…but don’t get too carried away with this before you take a look at the next two steps.
Pair of black dumbbells and an orange resistance band.
Consider the Types of Workouts You Want To Do
Before filling your spare bedroom or garage with tons of gym equipment, you need to consider the type of workouts you will actually be doing in your home gym. If you plan on doing mostly body weight and light resistance workouts, then a mat along with some resistance bands may be enough. If you plan on doing more strength training with heavier weights, consider investing in more dumbbells or a squat rack and bar. If you’re an indoor cardio queen, you need to make sure to have enough space for your cardio machine of choice, be it a bike, treadmill, rower, or elliptical.
Consider the Space You Have
The more space you have at your disposal the more equipment you can put in it. This may seem like common sense, but it’s not uncommon for people to make a huge list of everything they want in their home gym(or go out and buy it), only to be brought down to reality when they realize it won’t fit in their spare bedroom, corner of the loft, or garage.
So be realistic. Do you need multiple pieces of cardio equipment? If you prefer to walk or run outside and live somewhere with good weather most of the year, then maybe you don’t need a treadmill in your home gym. Your money might be better spent on a different machine. However, if you live somewhere that tends to get a lot of rain or snow but LOVE running, and getting your mileage is a priority, then it may be worth investing in a treadmill.
If you don’t have a lot of space, you’d do well to prioritize buying pieces that are foldable or versatile. For example, think about buying a folding rower or adjustable dumbbell set. Adjustable dumbbells don’t take up as much space as having a rack of multiple different weight dumbbells.
Whatever your preferred type of workout is, I recommend starting by including that piece of machinery in your home gym. If your main reason for building the home gym is to have a place to get a quick run in, then get a treadmill. If you plan on using your gym mostly for indoor cycling, then start with a spin bike. For a regimen focused on low impact total body cardio, a rower is a great option. If strength training is your main goal, then prioritize the weights, racks, and benches you need. Being able to maximize your strength workouts will make you happier and you may be able to get by with having a small space to the side for non-machine cardio workouts.
Shop for Deals
At this point you’ve gotten clear about the types of workouts you want to do in the space you have and started a list of what you want to buy. If you haven’t yet, it’s time to finish that list and get shopping. If you are working with a budget as tight as your space and trying to keep your total around $500 or less, finding deals is important. Start with sites like Facebook Marketplace or Next Door to find nearby steals on gym equipment. The number of people selling top brand rowers, spin bikes, and treadmills they bought during the pandemic or for a New Year’s resolution they didn’t follow through with is countless. That’s how I scored the spin bike for my home gym; it was listed on Facebook Marketplace for $150, and I was able to negotiate getting it for $125. If you’re not committed to a particular brand, you can always try Amazon. Lastly keep an eye out for gyms in your area that may be closing and having liquidation sales. I’ve found that these gyms will often post their sales on social media as well.
Small home gym with a rower, spin bike, and adjustable dumbbell on a black mat.
Build Your Gym
Now for the moment you’ve been waiting for, it’s time to build your home gym! Be sure to place down mats or rubber flooring anywhere that you want to prevent damage to the carpet or flooring underneath. Make the most of your space by grouping similar equipment pieces together. If you need open space for stretching or body weight exercises, decide if you can use space to the side of your equipment or if you’d rather have your equipment on the periphery and space in the middle for your exercises. It’s totally up to you and how you like to move for an efficient workout. Just make sure you avoid placing items where they might pose a tripping or other safety hazard.
An effective home gym doesn’t have to be huge. I put together my home gym in less than half the space of our loft. My spin bike, rower, and adjustable dumbbell set rest on a 4’x6’ mat with a foldable bench and box containing lighter dumbbells and resistance bands to the side (see photo above). Next to the larger mat is a space where I often lay a mat for yoga, body weight exercises, or stretching. My tiny home gym allows me to do more than 75% of the workouts I like to do outside of running with only an occasional trip to the gym needed for heavier weights or machines.
If this article helped you build your home gym at all, I’d love to hear about it. Better yet, I’d love to see it. DM me @sportingdr or tag me in your photos on IG.
Here’s to more great workouts at home!
