Sometimes you just don't want to go to the gym. The act of getting ready and driving to a new location only to have to wait in line for the best squat rack in the place can be soul-crushing, especially when you're dropping money on membership fees. The solution? Make yourself a home gym for under $500.
To make your home gym setup functional, you'll need a few budget home gym products and maybe a full-body workout machine for a total-body sweat session. Here, we compare seven different home gym ideas to make strength training easy and fun. From weight benches with resistance bands to home gym pulley systems, there is equipment for every fitness level and every budget. Plus, we'll take you through what you need to know to make an informed purchase.
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The Best Home Gyms Under $500 - Our Top Picks
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- Best Overall Home Gym Under $500: Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym
- Best Budget Home Gym Under $500: Marcy Pro Deluxe Cage System with Weightlifting Bench All-in-One Home Gym
- Best Compact Home Gym Under $500: naspaluro Adjustable Weight Bench with Resistance Bands, Foldable Workout Bench for Home GYM
- Best Durable Home Gym Under $500: Goplus Multifunction Home Gym System
- Best Home Gym Under $500 for Muscle Building: Marcy Multifunction Steel Home Gym 150lb Weight Stack Machine
- Best Home Gym under $500 for Beginners: Teeter FitForm Home Gym Strength Trainer - Low-Impact Total Body Cable Resistance
- Most Versatile Home Gym Under $500: Total Gym APEX Versatile Indoor Home Workout Total Body Strength Training
Best Overall Home Gym Under $500 - Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym
SPECS
- Weight: 144 lbs.
- Material: Composite materials
- Features: 210 lbs. of resistance, used for 25 exercises
We are pretty obsessed with this Bowflex, which offers up to 210 pounds of resistance for strengthening, toning, and getting your heart rate up. The rods feel smooth, the frame is sturdy, and it's a great bargain for beginning and intermediate lifters.
It offers at least 25 different exercise variations, including rowing, pulling, and extension moves for your upper and lower body. We also love that it's compact enough to fit into an apartment while not sacrificing on steadiness. Definitely a good investment for someone dedicated to their fitness regime.
What We Like
- Smooth and stable
- Easy to assemble
- Good variety and resistance
- Compact
- Device holder
What We Don't Like
- Experienced lifters won't find it challenging
- The aerobic rowing function isn't as smooth as we hoped
Best Budget Home Gym Under $500 - Marcy Pro Deluxe Cage System with Weightlifting Bench All-in-One Home Gym
SPECS
- Weight: 156 lbs.
- Material: Steel
- Features: High pulley lat tower; low pulley station; removable bench; can hold 300 lbs. of weight on the bar catch, 100 lbs. on the leg developer, and 100 lbs. on the sliding weight post
Just load weights, power up your favorite weightlifting app, and go with the Marcy Pro Deluxe Cage System. This is a bargain for someone looking to seriously transform their home gym into something that rivals commercial equipment. The cage is equipped with a pulley system to help you crush pull-downs and curls and a host of other moves. It can hold up to 300 pounds on the catch bar, which can be used as a squat rack, as well.
Before you get too excited, remember that this contraption requires you to bring your own weight plates. Still, it's a great sturdy frame that will not disappoint when it comes to building muscle at home.
What We Like
- Made for serious gym enthusiasts
- Sturdy and able to handle a lot of weight
- Adjustable and adequate for most heights
What We Don't Like
- Rack is a little narrow for taller athletes
- Assembly is a challenge—a socket set would be useful
- The bench isn't as high quality as the frame
BUY: Marcy Pro Deluxe Cage System with Weightlifting Bench All-in-One Home Gym
Best Compact Home Gym Under $500 - naspaluro Adjustable Weight Bench with Resistance Bands, Foldable Workout Bench for Home GYM
SPECS
- Weight: 27.5 lbs.
- Material: Alloy steel
- Features: 7 different positions for various exercises, can be used with dumbbells or a barbell
This weight bench comes with resistance bands that you can use alone or in addition to your own weights. Used alone, the resistance bands work like a charm and are great for toning and light weight training.
It has a small footprint, which saves on space. It's lightweight, easy to transport, and lightning fast to assemble. We were a little bummed that if you're lifting heavy and using the bands in conjunction with weights, the bench tends to wobble a bit.
What We Like
- Incredibly inexpensive
- Small but mighty
- Easy to assemble
What We Don't Like
- Using weight with resistance bands proves to be too heavy for the bench
- Doesn't fold as well as we hoped
BUY: Naspaluro Adjustable Weight Bench with Resistance Bands, Foldable Workout Bench for Home GYM
Best Durable Home Gym Under $500 - Goplus Multifunction Home Gym System
SPECS
- Weight: 180 lbs.
- Material: Steel and PVC
- Features: Dual-arm press, leg extension and press, sturdy frame
This machine promises to be sturdy and durable, and it delivers. It comes with enough weight to lift 100 pounds, and it's stable enough to handle it. One reviewer said that this Goplus machine completed their home gym and they will not have to renew their old gym membership.
It uses a stacked weight system that allows you to perform rows, curls, leg extensions, chest and back flyes, and pull-downs. This is a great way to get toned and, at an intermediate level, build muscle. Our biggest gripe was the long and tedious assembly. But the end result is worth the struggle.
What We Like
- Stable, sturdy, and durable
- Small footprint
- Great functionality for a reasonable price
What We Don't Like
- Complicated assembly
- Limited range of motion for people taller than 5'7"
BUY: Goplus Multifunction Home Gym System
Best Home Gym Under $500 for Muscle Building - Marcy Multifunction Steel Home Gym 150lb Weight Stack Machine
SPECS
- Weight: 259 lbs.
- Material: Steel
- Features: Dual-action arm press, leg extension, curl pad, 150-lb. vinyl coated weight stack
The Marcy Multifunction Steel Home Gym is almost like having a piece of a commercial gym right in the comfort of your own home. It works by using a stack of weights that you can lock in and adjust, similar to any lifting station at a gym. You can lift up to 150 pounds and work your upper and lower body all on one stable and smooth machine. This is great for more experienced lifters looking to build mass.
The main issue with this particular model is that it has a limited range of motion, especially for taller individuals. Additionally, for just a small amount more, you can go up a model and get options for mid-section and abdominal exercises—just something to consider. The final pro tip? Watch the YouTube video for assembly as the pamphlet tends to lead to confusion and might add on an hour of labor.
What We Like
- Feels solid and secure
- Good amount of weight to lift for the price
- Quality upper- and-lower body workout
What We Don't Like
- Takes a solid 4 hours to assemble
- Limited range of motion for the butterfly press
- Not good for people taller than 6'0"
BUY: Marcy Multifunction Steel Home Gym 150lb Weight Stack Machine
Best Home Gym under $500 for Beginners - Teeter FitForm Home Gym Strength Trainer - Low-Impact Total-Body Cable Resistance
SPECS
- Weight: 49.8 lbs.
- Material: Metal and plastic
- Features: Easy dial resistance adjustment, ankle and handle attachments, free app
Starting a strength-training routine is easy with the Teeter FitForm Home Gym. The machine uses resistance cables, which is a great method to gain strength without putting stress on your joints. The weight can be adjusted by a knob up to 65 pounds. For people just starting out, that's quite a bit of weight.
Assembly took about 20 minutes and was easy to complete. It comes with a free app with hundreds of workout videos on demand and ways to track your progress. As one newbie reviewer said, "it will not become a glorified coat rack."
What We Like
- Great workouts for toning
- Free app with workout videos
- Compact and easy to stow away
- Quiet
What We Don't Like
- Cables can be rigid, especially at higher tensions
- Only goes up to 65 lbs. of resistance
BUY: Teeter FitForm Home Gym Strength Trainer - Low-Impact Total Body Cable Resistance
Most Versatile Home Gym Under $500 - Total Gym APEX Versatile Indoor Home Workout Total Body Strength Training
SPECS
- Weight: 53.2 lbs.
- Material: Alloy steel
- Features: Up to 6 resistance levels, padded, ergonomic glide board, wing attachment, access to Total Gym TV
This budget-friendly model of the Total Gym can do it all. It saves space without sacrificing a sound frame, provides six resistance levels for a very challenging workout (up to 10 levels if you opt for the slightly pricier model), and is good to perform moves that range from classic weightlifting to Pilates. While you can purchase additional attachments for even more exercise options, using the base model is great to start out. The Total Gym TV streaming service takes the guesswork out of strength training.
We particularly love how it folds in on itself like an ironing board for easy storage. Even though it's compact, it feels structurally sound even at the highest resistance level. It's a great workout for athletes looking to get toned, but anyone looking to put on mass should consider something a bit more substantial.
What We Like
- Easy and fun to use
- Various exercise options mean you'll never be bored
- The highest resistance level is challenging for novice to intermediate athletes
- Access to guided workouts through Total Gym TV
What We Don't Like
- Some attachments need to be purchased separately
- Not for serious muscle growth or powerlifters
- Squats prove difficult for anyone over 5'9"
BUY: Total Gym APEX Versatile Indoor Home Workout Total Body Strength Training
How to Choose the Best Home Gym Under $500
There are different variations of home gyms under $500, and while they all claim to provide a great workout, one is not perfect for everyone. When you're in the market for one of these machines, it's important to consider your fitness level and the type of strength training that you like and that is suitable for you, and then consider what will fit your home, budget, and lifestyle.
Weight Type
Many of these budget-friendly home gyms use resistance bands or ropes as their weight system. This is wonderful for people with joint issues and who have the goal to get toned or maintain lean muscle. But if you are interested in building muscle, opt for something you can add weight to or a machine that uses stacked weights.
Weight or Resistance Capacity
A solid home gym will give you at least six resistance levels to work with. For beginners, the amount of weight or resistance won't matter as much and you can get away with less at first. Intermediate lifters should look for equipment with more than 65 pounds of weight or resistance. Advanced athletes might want to invest in cages or racks where you can add weight a la carte.
Apps and Guided Instruction
Experienced exercises may not need an included app or fitness videos, but beginners and people who need direction should shop around for gyms that offer this benefit.
Versatility
Ideally, a home gym can give you a total-body workout in at least 25 moves. Look for a product with the capacity to perform rows, pulls, extensions, and curls.
Size
The size of your gym area will determine whether or not you need a compact piece of equipment, a gym that folds, or a machine that could go into a commercial space. You may also need to consider how often you want to move the home gym without disassembly. Check out the weight of the product to see if it will be easy to carry.
Ease of Assembly
The best place to find out how easy a home gym is to assemble is in customer reviews. Real people will tell you honestly if it took them 20 minutes or 12 hours. You will also learn if there are decent instructions, necessary tools that aren't provided, and any must-know hacks. If you aren't handy, you might want to stick with a simpler gym or hire someone to put a complex machine together for your own safety.
FAQs About Home Gyms
Is buying a home gym worth it?
Home gyms are an awesome way to invest in your health. There are many pros to working out at home; you will avoid crowds and germs, work out on your own time, and it's right there in your home. No excuses, right?
How many times a week should I use a home gym?
How often you use your home gym will depend on your fitness regime and goals, but in general, strength training two times a week is great for your health. The Mayo Clinic recommends a total-body strength routine starting with one set of 12-15 reps two times a week and progressing from there.
What size is a good home gym?
All you need for a good-sized home gym is about 200 square feet. This will give you enough room for a total-body workout plus any additional equipment you might need, like dumbbells, a yoga mat, and resistance bands. You might want to go bigger, and if you have the space, go for it. If you're living in a studio apartment, though, opt for a compact full-body gym.
About the Author
Ali Nolan is the author of Master the Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide for Women. She is the former features editor for Runner’s World and has written for Women’s Running, Self, Sport Literate, and Livestrong. Ali has been featured as a running expert on Good Morning America with Amy Robach, as well as the podcasts 8020 Endurance, I'll Have Another with Lindsey Hein, and Greenletes.
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