Building a home gym was an exciting and rewarding project! Since it’s been built, it has been used almost everyday. I hope you find these instructions and guidance helpful to building your own gym. We would love to see photos of your end product too! From start to finish, our gym took less than a month to finish so it’s very possible to start now and get a finished product soon! So let’s get started!
1) Come Up With A Budget.
Although other steps will come first, it’s important to come up with a budget so you can plan ahead of time. Building a home gym also includes other items such as cleaning materials, and accessory aesthetics such as light fixtures and designs for your wall/flooring etc.
2) Clean Up Your Space.
Garages may be used as a storage unit of some sorts. Now’s the time to sort through everything, organize and throw out anything that is not needed. We had a rule of thumb that if the item wasn’t used in the past year, to throw it in the trash.
Once everything is cleared up and organized, clean the floors and walls. As most garages are used to store cars and other equipment, it is important to disinfect the space because it is unknown what is on the floor and walls. We used the vacuum to pick up any dust, dirt, and small pieces of trash. Then, we filled up a bucket with water and a cleaning solution. We poured the water on the floor and using a large thick garage broom we washed and swept the floor pushing all the water out of the garage. For the walls, use a rag and disinfectant and wipe the areas in reach.
3) Paint & Set Gym Flooring.
If you plan on painting the walls a certain colors or retaining it it’s color, it’s best to paint it before installing equipment. We wanted a fresh white coat, so we purchased a gallon of paint from Home Depot.
For the flooring, think of what you plan to do the most in the gym. This will determine how thick the flooring will be. My boyfriend and I do a lot of weight training and we knew we needed to protect the floors from heavy weights that will be dropped, so we purchased flooring that was 1 inch thick. If the home gym will be used for mobility, conditioning, cardio, yoga, or plyometrics (to name a few), then a 1/4, 1/2, or 3/4 flooring will be just fine.
This is the flooring we purchased for our home gym. After doing some research prior, I saw there was an importance to making one large order instead of making multiple, and these are one of the few tiles that are 24 by 24 inches, which made it easier to put down. We used XL floor mat tape to put the mats down to ensure they stayed in place.
4) Compare prices and purchase the equipment
Depending on your budget and the equipment you would like to purchase, we suggest you compare prices and reviews between companies. Our home gym consists of brand new products from Rogue and Amazon. We saw an increase in prices and some products were out of stock due to the high demand through the COVID-19 Pandemic. We build the gym in less than a month in January 2021. Since then we have seen more items back in stock! With order through Rogue and Amazon, we had everything delivered in less than 7 business days, which was great!
5) Make personal touches
As this garage gym is in the comfort of your home, make some last minute touches to make it more comfortable for you! Whether it’s a gym sign, gym flag, wall designs, etc, it’s your space and it will be something you will be proud to be in everyday.
We received an abundance of requests asking what equipment is in our gym. What better way to accommodate these requests than providing all equipment purchases along with reviews! Below you will find all equipment purchased, and our input on them!
The fitness equipment we purchased can be found below!
PRICE: VARIES ON WEIGHT | We purchased – #6 45lb Plates Total: $472.50, #6 25lb Plates Total: $350.00, #4 10lb Plate Total: $70.00 | Final Total: 1,237.80 (includes S&T)
Review: These bumper plates are extremely durable and it has been great lifting without much noise from plates going against each other, such as what iron plates make. When they hit the ground they bounce a bit, and the drop is more controlled. As they do not move all over the place if they are dropped high off the ground. These are thicker plates, which at first we were not too found of, because we were not too sure how they could be handled. Soon we realized our hand grip on the plates could lift all weight sizes and they were still manageable to place on a barbell. They do take up more room on the plate holding tree, however all of them still fit. We had to put 2-3 plates on a plate holder, in comparison to 4-5 if they were 1-2 inch wide metal plates.
Review: Very sturdy fitness rope that allows you to have a good grip at the end. We have not installed the anchor as this product may be used in the hold gym, but also outside. It does not take up a lot of room.
Review: This is a think rubber mat that can withstand an abundance of force. We purchased 2 mats, for each side of the plates when deadlifting. The mats are thick , are anti-slip, and anti-fatigue. This is great because when they are stepped on, there is more support at the base. More recently, we started to use these in the rack to stand on when squatting. We saw more control, support, and a more safe environment to be squatting heavy weight over. Only downfall to these mats is that when they are moved some of the crumbs of the mat comes off, so once and awhile you will have to sweep it all out.
Sunny Health & Fitness Olympic Hex Bar, MediumLINK TO PRODUCT
PRICE: $196.30
Review: The medium hex bar is strong, durable, and the size is just perfect for a home gym. The knurling is smooth, and there are no splinters and chips from the staining steel when it is in use. We place it against the wall when it is not in use and the handles help position it against the wall without it slipping. We can tell that it is built to last, and with it being a 55lb hex bar, it has been put to use for deadlifts, RDL’s and rows.
CAP Barbell 2-Inch Olympic Grip Plate, Various SizesLINK TO PRODUCT
PRICE: $34.99
PRICE: $39.99
Review: These grip plates are great to use, and they do serve their purpose. We use them on the adjustable dumbbell, and the barbell. After some use, the paint does start to come off a bit, but it does not take away from what it is meant to function as. Also, we plan to spray paint them black once the paint wears off a bit more.
Everyday Essentials Olympic Super Curl Barbell Curl Bar, 48 inch (350 lb Weight Capacity), Silver (CB4S)LINK TO PRODUCT
PRICE: $105.00
Review: This barbell curl bar is great to use for bicep curls. We found it easier to curl and with its size, it is easier to bring this bar with us outside of the house. Due to its length we can hand it on the wall easier. The knurling feels pretty good on the hands, without it being too sharp. For its price, we thought it was a great add to the gym.
Pooboo Indoor Cycling Bike, Belt Drive Indoor Exercise Bike,Stationary Bike LCD Display for Home Cardio Workout Bike TrainingLINK TO PRODUCT
PRICE $319.99
Review: This bike is a wonderful cardio machine that has a function to adjust the resistance. Assembling the bike took around 45-60 minutes to complete, and it could be completed by 1 person, but 2 people would be a plus. We found the calorie and distance tracker is a plus to have, however it does get in the way if a tablet is placed on the top. In the beginning the part that connected the handles used to squeak when in use, so we placed a bit of oil between the silver and black part and the noise has not come back since. A benefit to this bike is that it can increase in hight in the back, front or on both ends. This is something we have not used, but when we originally assembled the bike, we found it easy to move the height up and down. The bike does not take a lot of room in the gym, and as it is used almost everyday, we have not seen any wear and tear. Also, for more comfort, we added a seat padding to the bike seat, which make’s it much more comfortable to use. You can purchase a seat cushion for $11.03 on Amazon, by clicking this link(this is the cushion we purchased).
Greententljs Olympic Barbell Clamps 2 inch Quick Release Pair of Locking 2″ Pro Olympic Weight Bar Plate Locks Collar Clips for Workout Weightlifting Fitness Training LINK TO PRODUCT
PRICE: $13.45
Review: These collars are great with securing the weight on a barbell. They do not slip off, and there is a sense of security that the weights will stay on. You can use one hand to open and close the clasp, and what is great about these is that they come in a variety of colors.
HulkFit Multi-Function Adjustable Power Rack Exercise Squat Stand with J-Hooks and Other Accessories, Multiple VersionsLINK TO PRODUCT
PRICE: $266.82
Review: Great multi-function rack that allows you to do pull ups, squats, bench press, overhead shoulder press, rows, dips, shrugs, and other exercises. The package is very heavy, so it is recommended to have two people to help bring it it. Setting up was rack took about 45-60 minutes, and the directions were easy to follow. After using it a bit, we did find that we had to tighten up the bolts a little more, as the rack felt a bit loose. We did not put too much focus on tightening the bolts at first as we should, so we would recommend ensure the bolts are extremely tight when setting it up. Also, the top pull-up bar that is thicker was taken off, as it was too thick to wrap our hands around. We ended up moving the smaller bar up. The top bar is high enough to add a pulley system to it too. In addition, the dip attachments are good to use, however we do not use them often. For starting out this is a great rack to have, especially for the price that it was bought at.
EVERSTRONG T Bar Row Olympic Bars – Gym Equipment for Landmine Attachment – Heavy Duty Steel for Home Fitness Workouts – T-Bar Row for Two Inches Olympic BarLINK TO PRODUCT
PRICE: $48.99
Review: A strong, sturdy, t-bar row, that fits a two inch olympic barbell. Once the barbell is placed in the t-bar row, it feels well in place, but the knob on the side, tightens the bar even further. This prevents it from moving out of place. When in use, there is smooth movement, without any sound.
BalanceFrom 3 in 1 20″ 24″ 30″ Foam Plyometric Box Jumping Exercise LINK TO PRODUCT
PRICE: $110.79
Review: This plyometric box has been a great add to our gym! It is huge, but we were able to put it in the corner while it not being used, and it stays out of everyone way. The box is light making it easy to move it around. The material is durable and the foam in the inside provides support, to reduce the possibility of injuries. With the 3 different heights the box offers, it gives a variety of challenging heights for jumping. The surface is slip-free, which is great if you are jumping with shoes or bar-foot.
Mikolo Fitness LAT and Lift Pulley System, Dual Cable Machine(70” and 90”) with Upgraded Loading Pin for Triceps Pull Down, Biceps Curl, Back, Forearm, Shoulder-Home Gym Equipment(Patent)LINK TO PRODUCT
PRICE: $65.99
Review: This pulley system is durable and can take on a significant amount of weight. It is easy to set up and also take down, and there has not been any wear and tear on the cable line. There is no sound that comes from the pulley when pulling the cable line as well. We did purchase another line as a shorter size, which can be found at a good price on-line. The fitness pulley we purchased, in addition to what came with this pulley system, can be found by clicking this link (price: $11.98). We typically use this system for tricep push downs as we have all of the other equipment to work on other exercises. It is also great that it comes with a straight bar and tricep rope.
Marcy Flat Utility 600 lbs Capacity Weight Bench for Weight Training and Ab Exercises SB-315 , Black, 17 x 14 x 43.00 inchesLINK TO PRODUCT
PRICE: 56.99
Review: Sturdy bench that was easy to put together. The material is easy to clean, and it is light to move around in the gym.
RitFit Adjustable / Foldable Utility Weight Bench for Home Gym, Weightlifting and Strength Training – Bonus Workout Poster with 35 Total Body ExercisesLINK TO PRODUCT
PRICE: $129.99
Review: Comfortable, and sturdy, adjustable bench. It did not take long to put this together, and the instructions to set it up were detailed and easy to follow. We wanted a bench that had knobs that went in place when adjusting to ensure safety, and we are pleased with how the bench moves when adjusting. It is easy to move around, and the material is easy to clean. We keep the bench out and open when in the gym, so we have not had a reason to fold it up to create space. However, we can say that the device that goes into the bench to prevent it from being folded, is sturdy, but it can be taken out when needed.
Olympic Barbell 2”, 700 OR 1200 Pound Capacity Option, 7’ by D1F for Weightlifting, Bench Press, Bodybuilding, Powerlifting – Durable Crossfit Bar – Heavy-Duty Steel Bars, Holds 2” Plates LINK TO PRODUCT
PRICE: $199.89
Review: Strong durable barbell that has a clean look to it. The middle of the bar is black, however you can still see and feel the knurling. In the reviews it does state you may get splinters, however I have only felt a small piece (less than 1/4cm small) come off. Other than that, it is a great bar to use that also takes a lot of force. We use this bar specifically for deadlifts and hip thrusts. Occasionally we will use it for rows, and romanian dead lifts.
YAHEETECH 2PCS Punching Boxing Mitts MMA Gloves Punch Boxing Mitts Pads Exercise Workout Boxing Punch Mitts Training PU Leather BlackLINK TO PRODUCT
PRICE: $11.99
Review: MMA gloves that are extremely durable and stay in tact when in use. The material makes it easy to use, and since it has been bought there are no rips or tears. The gloves can be used by someone who has small hands and someone who has larger hands.
YAHEETECH 2-inch Barbell Plate and Dumbbell Racks Tree Olympic Plate Rack Weight Bumper Plate Holder w/ 2 Bar HolderLINK TO PRODUCT
PRICE: $109.79
Review: Assembling the tree was easy to complete. As there may be a lot of weight added, we ensured the bolts are strewed on very tightly. The plate holder is very strong, and it can hold thin and thick 2 inch barbell plates. We have thicker plates that we use, and we are able to fit 16 plates on. Based on how we have it positioned in our gym, we are unable to use the second bar holder, but it does not offset the balance of the tree.
Gorilla Strength Pair of 2″ Thick Grip (Fat Grip) Dumbbell Handles (Olympic Weight)LINK TO PRODUCT
PRICE: $70.00
Review: These two dumbbell handles are strong and weight around 5.5 lbs each. What is interesting about these handles is that you need to purchase collars that specifically fit 1 7/8 inches or a 1.90 inch pipe. We used the collars that we have for the 2 inch pipe, and we found that the weights will slide off. The collars for this size are more expensive, however we plan to do more research to see if there are collars that will fit this size at a more reasonable price. This is a family owned business that takes pride in making their product. We are happy with the product and are looking forward to using it more once we get the collars that fit.
VIZ-PRO Magnetic Dry Erase Board, 36 X 24 Inches, Silver Aluminium Frame LINK TO PRODUCT
PRICE: $32.50
Review: Great decent size dry erase board. What we like about this board is that once the nails are drilled into the wall, there is a cap that can go over it to cover the nail. We also like it because it is magnetic. We use it to write our workouts and nutrition plans every day, and every time we erase the content it looks brand new. We also like how there is a holder for markets, an eraser, and cleaner(s).
Expo Low Odor Dry Erase Marker Set with White Board Eraser and Cleaner | Fine Tip Dry Erase Markers | Assorted Colors, 7 Piece Set with Whiteboard Cleaner LINK TO PRODUCT
PRICE: $6.88
Review: We love this dry erase set. There is no order to the markers when they are used, and everything fits on the tray on the bottom of the dry erase board.
Muscular System Anatomical Poster – Laminated – Muscle Anatomy Chart – Double Sided (18 x 27) LINK TO PRODUCT
PRICE: $12.95
Review: Detailed anatomical poster that is double sided. It is laminated, which makes it easy to clean, and less likely to tear. We put it in a picture frame that fits an 18 in by 27 in poster, and we use it a lot to demonstrate where certain muscles are and the names.
The IronMatic 