Set your budget, space and goal. The calculator builds a home gym buy list with rough price ranges, in the order to buy, and links each item to our ranked guide.
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Prices are rough estimates; check current prices. Each item links to our compared and ranked guide. Not medical advice.
How much does a home gym cost?
Most people can build a useful home gym for $500 to $1,000. Under about $600, adjustable dumbbells, a bench and bands get you training; around $900 buys a full barbell setup (an Olympic bar, 260 to 300 lb of plates and a power rack with safeties, as priced in our home gym under $1,000 guide); and $1,500 to $3,000 adds flooring, dumbbells and a cardio machine. The calculator above turns your budget, space and goal into a buy list, in the order we would buy it.
Not sure what to buy first? Watch the full under-$1,000 build, compared and ranked in buying order (9 min).
How the order works: the barbell comes first because you use it on every lift, then plates, then a rack so you can squat and bench safely alone, then a bench, and flooring once you start dropping weight. If the barbell trio doesn’t fit your budget or your room, the calculator switches to a dumbbell setup and keeps the barbell gear on your next-up list. Every item links to a guide where we compared and ranked the options on specs, price and owner reports.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for a home gym?
Plan on $500 to $1,000 for the basics. About $300 to $600 covers adjustable dumbbells, an adjustable bench and bands; about $900 covers a barbell, plates and a power rack with safeties. Add $300 to $1,500 later for flooring, dumbbells and a cardio machine.
How much would a full home gym setup cost?
A complete garage gym (rack, barbell, plates, bench, rubber flooring, adjustable dumbbells and one cardio machine) usually lands between $1,500 and $3,000 at budget-to-mid prices. An all-in-one functional trainer with a Smith machine adds roughly $1,200 to $3,000 on its own.
What is the first thing to buy for a home gym?
If you have room for a rack, buy the barbell first: with a bar and plates you can deadlift, row and press on day one. In a small apartment or bedroom, start with a pair of adjustable dumbbells instead.
What equipment should I start with for my home gym?
For strength in a garage or basement: barbell, 260 to 300 lb of plates, a power rack (or a short rack under a low ceiling), then a bench and flooring. For a small space: adjustable dumbbells, a bench, bands and a pull-up bar. For cardio: a rower, or a walking pad if floor space is tight.
Is it better to have a home gym or a gym membership?
It depends on how you train. A $40 to $60 a month membership costs $480 to $720 a year, so a roughly $900 barbell setup pays for itself in about one and a half to two years and saves the commute. A gym still wins on machine variety, heavy dumbbells and classes.
More free tools
- Power rack ceiling height calculator: will the rack, pull-ups and overhead presses fit
- Barbell plate calculator: which plates to load on each side
Prices are rough estimates; check current prices. Not medical advice. Strong Saga compares and ranks gear on published specs, retailer listings and owner reports; see how we compare and rank.