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Many people who train regularly eventually reach a point where they start thinking about setting up a small home gym instead of going to a commercial one. Today, we'll take a closer look at how much space you really need, which equipment makes sense, and the pros and cons that come with it.

Professional Gym or Home Gym?

A commercial gym definitely comes with several advantages, such as a wide range of modern, well-maintained equipment, often complemented by extras like a sauna, tanning beds, protein shakes, or electrolyte drinks. For many people, the social aspect is important as well, since training with friends can increase motivation and gives you the option to have a spotter by your side.

However, a gym isn’t without its downsides. During peak hours, it’s often overcrowded, which can throw off your workout schedule and drag out your training session. Add to that the commute and sometimes high membership fees, which add up over the years.

A home gym, on the other hand, offers flexibility, saves both time and money, and eliminates travel and waiting times. You have full control over the setup and can tailor your workouts to your exact preferences. That said, it does require discipline, since staying motivated at home can be harder. Plus, the social interaction and the professional eye of a trainer or spotter are missing.

I trained at a commercial gym for many years, with everything that comes with it. But at some point, the time commitment became too much. Since I always work out before going to work, I had to get up at 2:30 in the morning. So I decided to build my own home gym, and now I get to sleep an extra 1.5 hours every day, which adds up to a huge time gain in the long term. On top of that, I save both time and money. And let’s be honest, considering how many people don’t even wash their hands after using the restroom at the gym, training at home is also a lot more hygienic.

If you’ve carefully thought it through and feel that a home gym is the right choice for you, let’s take a look at what you actually need to get started.

How Much Space Do You Need for a Home Gym?

Before buying any equipment, you should first know how much space you actually have. The easiest way is to measure the length and width of your room, which gives you the total square meters.

(Example: 5.3m × 3.1m = 16.43m²)

To set up a basic home gym, you’ll need at least 8 to 10m² to cover the essentials. In that case, you might need to rearrange your setup between exercises. For example, you could start with squats in the rack, then clear it to make space for your bench press.

It gets much more comfortable with around 15 to 20m² (or more). That’s usually enough space to fit everything you need without having to move things around. Ideally, you might even have multiple stations or racks set up, so you don’t have to keep changing weights.

Also keep ceiling height in mind. For exercises like pull-ups or overhead presses, things can get tight quickly if the ceiling is too low. A height of around 2.30m works well in most cases.

Alright, let’s now take a closer look at the equipment you’ll need. At the end, I’ll also include a checklist with the bare essentials to train all major muscle groups, along with another one for a fully equipped and more comfortable home gym.

Barbells

Olympic Barbell

A standard Olympic barbell, like the ones commonly used in commercial gyms, weighs 20 kg, is 220 cm long, and has 50 mm sleeves for the weight plates. This is the standard size for Olympic plates.

One key feature to look for is that the bar is equipped with needle bearings. This allows the sleeves to spin smoothly, which is especially important during lifts like deadlifts or cleans.

The weights are secured with spring collars. These are quick to put on and take off, hold the plates securely in place, and make training much more convenient since you don’t have to screw anything on and off all the time.

When buying a barbell, make sure it's well-made, has clean knurling (the grip texture), and is truly straight and solid.

If you usually leave your barbell set up in a rack, you don’t have to worry about storing it separately. But if you keep it on the floor with weights already loaded, like for deadlifts, make sure to protect your flooring. A thick rubber mat is highly recommended to avoid any damage and keep the surface safe.

Dumbbells

A barbell alone allows you to train pretty much every muscle group effectively. Still, dumbbell handles are extremely useful in practice. Many exercises can be done more precisely and often more safely with dumbbells. They also give you more flexibility when adjusting weights, and they take up very little space.

Ideally, go for dumbbell handles with 50 mm sleeves. While they’re less common than the standard 30 mm versions, the big advantage is that you can use the same plates as with your barbell. These handles are usually around 50 cm long and weigh about 4 to 6 kg each, depending on the design.

To keep your dumbbells from cluttering the floor, a small storage rack is a smart investment. It keeps your training area organized and saves you from constantly stepping over weights.

Weight Plates

When it comes to weight plates, the brand and material don’t really matter. What’s important is the actual weight and that the inner diameter fits your barbell. If you’ve bought high-quality bars with 50 mm sleeves, you’ll need matching plates with a 51 mm center hole. That’s the standard size for all Olympic plates.

The material matters more in terms of how it affects your floor. Cast iron plates are usually cheaper, but they’re harder and louder when dropped. Full rubber or at least rubber-coated plates are much more floor-friendly and absorb impact better. Some plates come with grip holes, others don't, and that's simply a matter of personal preference. I personally always go for the most affordable option without any fancy extras. As long as the weight is accurate and the hole fits properly, that’s all that matters.

How much weight you need at the start depends on your current strength level. A total of around 200 kg is usually more than enough for beginners, and you can always add more over time as needed.

A practical weight distribution could look like this:

• 2 × 25 kg

• 2 × 20 kg

• 2 × 15 kg

• 4 × 10 kg

• 4 × 5 kg

• 4 × 2.5 kg

• 4 × 1.25 kg

• 10 × 0.5 kg

Keep in mind that some of your weight plates won’t be in use all the time. So it makes sense to have a proper storage solution for them. Many racks come with built-in storage pegs where you can just slide the plates on. If your rack doesn’t have these or it’s not enough, consider getting a separate plate stand to keep your training area neat and organized.

Power Rack

Instead of buying multiple machines, you can perform most exercises with a versatile rack. When choosing one, make sure it can be adjusted easily and used for more than just squats. Ideally, it should also support bench press, incline bench, overhead press, and other key exercises.

It’s important that the barbell holders are finely adjustable, so you can set the perfect height for each lift. This makes a big difference, especially during bench press.

Also, make sure to check the maximum load capacity. A solid rack should be able to handle at least 300 kilograms or more. It needs to stand firm without wobbling. A quality rack is something you buy once and, ideally, never have to replace again. That doesn’t mean it has to be insanely expensive, since there are solid options available for under €1000.

Some power racks also come with integrated pull-up bars, dip handles, or cable attachments. If you’ve got the space, it’s definitely worth going for a model that includes those extras.

Workout Bench

An ideal weight bench should be fully adjustable. You want to be able to lie flat, incline, upright, and even decline.

When buying a bench, build quality is absolutely key. Unfortunately, this is one of those areas where you’ll find a lot of cheap, poorly made models that can actually be dangerous. If you weigh 100 kilograms and then press another 100+ kilograms, the last thing you want is a shaky bench underneath you.

The max weight rating should definitely be over 300 kilograms. Many adjustable benches fall short here. In that case, a solid, non-adjustable bench is often the better option. It might not be as versatile, but it’s safer and far more stable.

Power Tower

If your power rack doesn’t include a pull-up bar or dip handles due to limited space, it’s definitely worth getting them separately. You’ve got two main options here: either go for a full Power Tower or get separate wall-mounted versions.

The big advantage of a Power Tower is that you don’t have to mount anything on a wall. It’s a stable setup with integrated pull-up and dip bars, and it often allows for extra exercises like hanging leg raises. Just keep in mind, it does take up a bit more floor space.

Alternatively, you can go for wall-mounted pull-up bars and dip bars. This saves space and lets you place them exactly where you’ve got room. Just make absolutely sure the wall is solid and everything is mounted securely, because the last thing you want is to end up starring in a gym fail video.

If bodyweight exercises get too easy over time, a dip belt is a great add-on. You can attach weight plates to it and gradually increase resistance as you get stronger.

Additional Equipment

With a power rack, bench, power tower, barbell and weight plates, you’ll already be able to perform all the essential exercises like squats, deadlifts, bench press, overhead press, rows, pull-ups, calf raises, curls, dips, triceps extensions, and many more. That means your gym is basically fully equipped, and you technically don’t need anything else.

But if you’ve got some extra space and want to take your training to the next level, there are a few additions you could consider. Personally, I got a seated calf raise machine because it’s way more comfortable than doing them with a barbell. I also added a machine to isolate leg curls and extensions, and a hyperextension bench for lower back training.

Everything beyond the essentials is purely individual and depends on your training goals and preferences.

And yes, don’t forget cardio. Get yourself a treadmill, a stationary bike, a water rower or whatever type of machine you enjoy using the most to get a solid cardio session in. If there’s no room left in your home gym, you can compromise by placing the cardio machine in another room, such as the living room, and simply watch TV while you train. That’s what I do, at least.

Basic Setup to Get Started

The basic setup includes the essential equipment you need to start training right away. You will have to switch weights more often here, but for beginners, it’s more than enough. This setup is especially ideal for smaller home gyms where there usually isn’t space for multiple fixed stations.

Barbell & Dumbbells:

• 1x Barbell

• 2x Dumbbell bars

Weight Plates:

• 2 × 25 kg

• 2 × 20 kg

• 2 × 15 kg

• 4 × 10 kg

• 4 × 5 kg

• 4 × 2.5 kg

• 4 × 1.25 kg

• 10 × 0.5 kg

(= 200 kg total weight)

Bench & Racks:

• 1x Adjustable Bench (flat, incline, decline)

• 1x Power Rack

• 1x Power Tower (or pull-up bar and dip handles)

Optional:

• Rubber floor mats

• Weight plate rack

• Dumbbell storage

Explanation of the Basic Setup:

The power rack is used for many core exercises like squats, bench press, overhead press, calf raises, and more. The barbell is reloaded for each exercise as needed. Deadlifts and barbell rows are done right in front of the rack, and the bench is simply pushed aside during those.

With dumbbell exercises like lateral raises or curls, you also have to adjust the weights each time. Sure, that means a bit more switching, but this setup saves a lot of space. And even if you theoretically had enough room for more equipment, this setup is definitely enough to get started in your home gym. You can always buy more gear and expand later.

Comfortable Setup for Your Home Gym

If you have enough space and are willing to invest a bit more money in your home gym, a more comfortable setup is ideal. Every exercise gets its own dedicated spot, so you don’t have to keep switching weights all the time. This setup might be just right for you.

Barbells & Dumbbells:

• 3x Barbells

• 6x Dumbbell bars

Weight Plates:

• 6 × 25 kg

• 6 × 20 kg

• 6 × 15 kg

• 10 × 10 kg

• 10 × 5 kg

• 20 × 2.5 kg

• 20 × 1.25 kg

• 20 × 0.5 kg

• 20 × 0.25 kg

(= 600 kg total weight)

Bench & Racks:

• 1x Adjustable bench (flat, incline, decline)

• 1x Flat bench (fixed)

• 2x Power racks (1 for squats, 1 for bench press)

• 1x Power tower (or pull-up bar and dip handles)

Optional:

• Rubber floor mats

• Weight plate rack

• Dumbbell storage

Explanation of the Upgraded Setup:

One barbell is set up in the power rack for squats, another is ready at a separate station for bench pressing, and there’s a dedicated spot for deadlifts with its own bar. A fixed bench for heavy lifts like bench press, and an adjustable one for exercises like seated overhead press or triceps work. The dumbbells are already loaded perfectly for overhead presses, curls, and other exercises. This way, you can just walk up and get started without constantly switching weights.

Of course, you can adjust the setup to your own needs. Having dedicated stations will save you valuable time every day and make your training more efficient and enjoyable.

Closing Words

A home gym has been absolutely worth every cent for me. How much it cost in total? That’s hard to say because I didn’t buy everything at once. Instead, I spread the purchases over several years and trained at a regular gym in between. Only after moving into my own house did I really upgrade my equipment.

If you want a rough price estimate:

If you buy everything cheap and skip decent racks, bars, and such, you might get a basic setup for under 1000 euros. However, I strongly advise against this. As described in this guide, it’s worth investing in good equipment. A realistic price for a basic setup is more around 2500 to 3000 euros. If you want the premium package, expect something between 6000 and 8000 euros.

Of course, these are rough guidelines for orientation. So think carefully about what you really need, measure where you can put each device, and compare different products before buying. Usually, well-made equipment will last a lifetime if you take good care of it.