Exercising at home is a great way to avoid crowded gyms, save some money on memberships, and make progress toward your fitness goals—on your own schedule. While we love a good bodyweight workout, adding the right machines and accessories to your setup can help keep your routine feeling fresh and challenging.
To track down the very best home gym equipment, we scoured dozens of sites, read tons of reviews, and even tested a bunch of options for ourselves as part of SELF’s Home Fitness Awards. We also spoke with personal trainers, physical therapists, and other experts to get their take on what makes high-end fitness gadgets truly great and safe to use. Whether you have an entire room to fill or just a corner to spare, you can find some highly effective gear below that can help make your living room sweat sessions a little easier and (dare we say?) more fun.
Our top picks
- Best Treadmill: NordicTrack Commercial 1750
- Best Exercise Bike: Peloton Bike+
- Best Rowing Machine: Hydrow Wave Rower
- Best Elliptical: NordicTrack FS10i
- Best Dumbbells: BowFlex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells
- Best Kettlebell: BowFlex SelectTech 840 Kettlebell
The benefits of at-home gym equipment
It’s the worst when you need to pause your circuit to awkwardly loiter near a row of occupied machines while you wait for one to free up. Or maybe it’s late enough that you don’t want to leave your house, but you’re awake and antsy, so you want to blast loud music and blow off some steam on the treadmill.
Having your own setup lets you break a sweat any time of day, for as long as you want to, without needing to commute to a new location or worry about hogging a machine for too long. It’s your space, and you get to make your own rules.
Whether you’re dipping your toe into the workout game for the first time in a while or trying a new-for-you modality your friend told you about, privacy allows you to experiment freely—i.e., dance as if no one is watching, figuratively or literally. With your own home workout setup, you can get to business when and how you want, without other gym goers watching over your shoulder.
What to look for when shopping for at-home gym equipment
Franco Calabrese, DPT, a physical therapist based in Chicago, tells SELF that “cost and size are the two biggest factors when it comes to finding the right piece of equipment for home.” The upfront expense of building a home gym could give you sticker-shock, but when you consider the costs of a gym membership, transportation to get there, and other fees, you might realize you’re setting yourself up to potentially save over time.
Many gym equipment brands offer discounts and financing options—plus, according to our expert-vetted list, some of the best home workout equipment is less pricey than you might expect.
“If your space is limited, I would look for smaller and more versatile and quality items,” which can suit various workouts, Dr. Calabrese says: “Kettlebells, dumbbells, and resistance bands are the most effective, since they don’t take up a lot of space and they can be moved with ease from room to room or from inside to outside, depending on your preferred workout area.”
If you’re working with a smaller area, like a one-bedroom apartment, aim for space-saving gear like the Sonic Boom jump rope. You can also narrow your shopping search to target compact equipment or smart home gyms, both of which can save space compared to heftier options.
Okay, bad news: There’s no magical piece of equipment that’ll work for everyone’s individual fitness preferences and goals. But some products target lots of different muscle groups in a single workout, and we think they’re worth considering for your new space. “Tonal offers amazing pieces of equipment that allow you to perform a wide array of exercises to target muscles throughout the entire body,” says Dr. Calabrese. Dr. McCartney also recommends a rowing machine (you can shop our favorites below).
FAQs
What basic home gym equipment do I need?
Everyone is different, but Dr. Calabrese recommends starting with kettlebells, dumbbells, and resistance bands because they’re small, easy to move, and cost effective.
What is the most effective home exercise equipment?
Dr. McCartney recommends rowers because they provide a full-body workout; research has found that they can target around 80% of the body’s muscles at a time. We like the Hydrow Wave and Concept2 RowErg. Dr. Calabrese says smart home gyms like the Tonal can also be efficient pieces of equipment, given that they offer workouts that can target multiple muscle groups at a time.
How much does a full home gym machine cost to set up?
The cost for a full home gym can vary from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars depending on what and how many pieces of equipment you’re buying. But the most important piece of the equation is whether or not you use it. When it comes to exercise, “consistency is the key,” says Dr. Calabrese. “The ability to have something in the convenience of your own home will definitely increase the chances of staying consistent.”
Treadmills
The trusty treadmill is a staple in many home gyms, so it makes sense that there are tons of models to choose from, including super-connected smart treadmills and portable folding options with just the essential features.
Try a longtime favorite: We’ve recommended the NordicTrack 1750 multiple times, including in our 2024 Home Fitness Awards. It’s an extremely sturdy machine with techy bells and whistles like streamable classes via iFit and an HD touchscreen—plus, it comes highly recommended by multiple running coaches.
A smart budget pick: Horizon’s T101 treadmill is another favorite among experts. It doesn’t have as many added features as NordicTrack, but it costs less and provides a reliable ride with several preset programs.
To fold away: If space is at a premium, the Home Fitness Award-winning ProForm Carbon TLX is a compact, foldable tread that our tester says is exceptionally stable and easy to use. It’s far less expensive than the NordicTrack 1750, but we found that it doesn’t look or feel cheap.
NordicTrack Commercial 1750
Horizon Fitness T101 Treadmill
Exercise bikes
A stationary bike is a great purchase if you want to add some low-impact cardio to your routine. “Personally, I love the Peloton bike, but there are also excellent entry-level exercise bikes on the market,” Ollie Thompson, CPT, a personal trainer in London, tells SELF.
Like an at-home gym membership: Though it’s a bit of a splurge, the SELF Certified Peloton Bike+ truly lives up to the hype. Our tester says it’s “super comfortable” and easy to use, and compares the on-demand and live classes to an in-studio experience—they’re motivating, immersive, and fun.
Bike on a budget: With 100 levels of magnetic resistance, BowFlex’s C6 lives in the home of one Home Fitness Awards judge (an indoor cycling instructor). The simple LCD screen only shows basic statistics like speed and distance, but there’s a stand to place your tablet or phone, so you can easily connect to apps like Peloton or Zwift to see more metrics.
For a more relaxed ride: If a recumbent bike is more your style, consider the Home Fitness Award-winning Merach S19. Our tester likes that the pedals glide smoothly and almost silently, and that the resistance is easy to adjust mid-workout. Plus, the mesh seat is breathable enough that you won’t end up with swamp butt.
Merach
S19 Recumbent Exercise Bike
Rowing machines
The workout you get from a rowing machine—part cardio, part strength-training—is certainly efficient. Rowing can work muscles in your upper and lower body, so you can keep building endurance and challenging yourself, even as you get stronger.
Our fave high-tech option: The Home Fitness Award–winning Hydrow Wave comes with hundreds of live and on-demand classes that should appeal to both beginners and more experienced users. It’s designed to replicate the feeling of being on the water without having to leave your living room.
What the pros use: Coaches and pros swear by the established industry standard, Concept2’s RowERG, for a solid, somewhat “old school” workout. Also a Home Fitness Award winner, it’s battery-powered and breaks down into two pieces for easy storage.
Concept2 RowErg
Ellipticals
Also ideal for low-impact cardio, an elliptical might be your perfect match if you want a workout that’s similar to running, but easier on your knees.
For interactive workouts: NordicTrack’s Home Fitness Award-winning FS10i makes elliptical sessions fun, thanks to interactive, trainer-led iFit workouts in all kinds of gorgeous settings (our tester particularly enjoyed running on a beach in Hawaii). Just know that an iFit membership costs $39 a month, on top of the price of the elliptical itself.
Best budget pick: Looking for a streamlined machine without any “smart” bells and whistles? Niceday’s budget-friendly elliptical has 16 resistance levels and comes highly recommended to SELF by personal trainers.
NordicTrack
FS10i Interactive Elliptical Trainer
Niceday Elliptical Machine
Under-desk exercisers
Working a desk job doesn’t have to mean sitting still all day long. Under-desk cardio machines “are really great for folks that just don’t have the time in their workday to get out for a walk or are trying to boost their activity level,” Massachusetts-based physical therapist Haley Harrison, DPT, CSCS, tells SELF.
Walk while you work: If you want to boost your step count, we recommend Urevo’s budget-friendly walking pad, which won a Home Fitness Award for its impressively quiet belt. Dr. Harrison says hopping on this will activate new muscle groups and change your posture after spending hours in a chair.
To keep your legs moving while seated: DeskCycle’s Home Fitness Award–winning pedaler that lets you choose between eight levels of resistance has racked up over 10,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.
Urevo
SpaceWalk Lite Treadmill
DeskCycle Under Desk Cycle
Smart home gyms
For a total-body workout, look into a smart home gym. These often feature a tall mirror or screen that streams classes and fitness instruction from the pros. “You can see the person doing it right there with you, so you can compare your form to their form,” Rick Richey, CPT, a personal trainer, faculty instructor for the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and founder of the Independent Training Spot in New York City, tells SELF. Expect an all-in-one, metric-tracking, trainer-led home workout (that, admittedly, can cost a pretty penny).
The smartest “smart” pick: One 2023 Home Fitness Awards judge appreciated the tailor-made workout experience she got from Tonal, which adds a digital cable machine to the screen. She noted that, as she gained strength, it automatically adjusted its weight and resistance settings to keep her challenged. “They’re super versatile, customizable, and space-saving,” Dr. Harrison says, adding that if you’ve got the budget, Tonal machines are some of the best home gym equipment you can buy. Tonal requires a 12-month membership in order to access its class library, which costs $60 per month (or $720 for a year).
Dumbbells
A pair of dumbbells is one of the first pieces of home gym equipment that many trainers will recommend investing in. “Having basic weights is your foundation for strength training, which, in my opinion, is one of the best forms of at-home workouts,” Lindsey Bomgren, NASM-CPT, personal trainer and founder of online fitness platform Nourish Move Love, tells SELF.
Best all-in-one option: Why waste precious space on a rack of dumbbells when you can opt for an adjustable pair, like this expert-recommended set from BowFlex? It won a Home Fitness Award three years in a row for its efficient design: Just drop the dumbbells in their case, select your desired weight, and lift. “It’s only ever two dumbbells. That’s all you need,” Richey says. “Talk about space-efficient.”
For a more analog vibe: If you have space to spare, Bells of Steel’s dumbbells impressed our Home Fitness Award judges with their comfortable, ergonomic handles.
BowFlex
SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells
Bells of Steel
Ergo Rubber Hex Dumbbells (20 lb.)
Kettlebell
Kettlebells are another home gym staple, Bomgren says. Sure, they’re also free weights, like dumbbells—but the attached handle makes them ideal for performing explosive movements that build power, like the classic kettlebell swing.
An adjustable workhorse: In the same vein as BowFlex’s adjustable dumbbells, the SelectTech 840 Kettlebell prevents clutter with its wide selection of weight options from 8 to 40 pounds. No wonder it’s also a Home Fitness Award winner.
Smart bang for your buck: If you want to go the more traditional route, Rep Fitness’s Home Fitness Award winners offer a great value. Our expert tester says the wide handles make them easier to maneuver than some other options out there.
BowFlex SelectTech 840 Adjustable Kettlebell
Rep Fitness
Kettlebells (12 kg)
Resistance bands
While light resistance bands can assist with active recovery and stretching, heavier ones can supplement your strength training: Throw a couple on a pull-up bar and do lat pull-downs, or wrap one around your legs during bodyweight exercises like lunges. “They’re so easy to travel with, so versatile, and take up zero space in your home,” Bomgren says. Also: “So affordable.”
A durable mini band set: Cheap resistance bands can easily snap or break down over time, but our tester’s set of five bands from Fit Simplify has lasted four years so far, making it a Home Fitness Awards favorite.
For a stronger, fabric option: Multiple trainers recommend the Home Fitness Award-winning Better Band from Committed HP for larger bodies: It comes in a ton of size and tension options, plus it has a hook attachment that makes the band easier to adjust.
Fit Simplify
Resistance Loop Exercise Bands
Committed HP
The Better Band
Medicine ball
Speaking of versatility, David Harvey, CPT, a personal trainer and yoga instructor based in Texas, tells SELF that a medicine ball is a dependable piece of weight-training equipment to have on hand: Whether you’re working your arms, legs, or core, you can add one to a variety of exercises to up the intensity. Dr. Harrison says they’re particularly great for throwing exercises like slams (“if you don’t live above someone else!”) and loaded abdominal work like crunches. This Prosource ball comes in several weights and has a soft, slightly padded surface that’s easy to catch and grip.
Prosource Fit
Soft Medicine Ball
Wearable weights
Wrist and ankle weights can make various exercises a little tougher (but still approachable). “I like to recommend them to my friends who are intimidated by weights but still want to ramp up their workout routine,” Christine Choi, a certified personal trainer in Atlanta, tells SELF.
Extra pounds on a budget: With a soft outer layer and secure Velcro, Henkelion’s wearable weights get the job done. They impressed our tester so much, we gave them a Home Fitness Award in 2024.
Weights with style: Hilary Hoffman, NASM-CPT, personal trainer and owner of New York’s SotoMethod fitness studio, recommends the Home Fitness Award-winning Bala Bangles. “If you’re looking for something that’s aesthetically pleasing, it definitely fits the bill,” she says. The cute cuffs come in pastel hues that make them look more like cute accessories than workout gear.
Henkelion
Adjustable Ankle Weights
Jump rope
When it comes to challenging cardio workouts in tight spaces, don’t overlook a jump rope. “That’s probably the best bang for your buck when it comes to small things that you can put away,” Richey says.
A top-quality basic: Sonic Boom’s speed rope won a 2022 Home Fitness Award for its adjustable length and comfortable, grippy handles. It comes with two adjustable cables, so you can find the exact length you need.
Connected workouts: If you want to be fancy (or need some help with how to get in a good jump rope sesh) Crossrope’s Bluetooth-connected handles will count your reps while the app gives you a guided workout. Our tester said it was the first time she ever actually enjoyed jumping rope. You can even get a ropeless set that won’t scuff your ceiling or floors—and can’t be tripped over.
Sonic Boom
M2 High Speed Jump Rope
Crossrope Jump Rope
Yoga mat
A good yoga mat will cushion your joints while you stretch, provide a stable base during poses, and keep you from slipping and sliding when things get sweaty. “There’s definitely a difference between a cheap one and a more expensive one,” says Dr. Harrison, who’s also a certified yoga instructor. “If that’s something you want to invest in, look into one of the nicer, more durable ones where you’re not going to slide around.”
