Home gyms are the pinnacle of at-home workout efficiency — especially if you love lat pulldowns, bench presses, cable rows and other moves that require typical (read: big) gym equipment.
"While a set of dumbbells or kettlebells is a great start to working out at home, an actual home gym allows you to perform the same movements you would while in the gym," says Jake Dickson, CPT, a certified personal trainer and USA Weightlifting advanced sport performance coach.
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Many home units allow you to perform staple gym exercises like cable rows, pec flys and seated leg extensions. And others also integrate technology so you can virtually work out with a personal trainer or group fitness class in your home.
The Best Home Gyms
Best Value: Body-Solid StrengthTech EXM2500S ($1,795, Amazon)
Best Smart Gym: Tempo Studio ($1,679, Tempo)
Best Compact: Bowflex Xceed Home Gym ($799, Amazon)
Best Cable Machine: NordicTrack Fusion CST ($1,799, NordicTrack)
Best Luxury: Force USA G12 All-in-One Trainer ($4,999, Force USA)
How We Chose
There are a lot of home gyms on the market, and many come with a hefty price tag. How can you be sure you're making the right investment? Start with our handy list of the best home gyms of 2024.
We took advice and recommendations from personal trainers and selected these five options based on:
- Features
- Equipment
- Price
- Size
- User reviews
1. Body-Solid StrengthTech EXM2500S
Pros
- Lifetime warranty
- 210-lb. weight stack
- 14 stations
Cons
- Bulky, heavy
- Measurements: 51" width x 83" depth x 83" height
- Features: pec and fly station, cable pulleys (high, mid, and low), leg extension and curl, lat pulldown, tricep extension and pushdown and leg abduction
This home gym offers a lot of features for your money, which is exactly why James Jackson, CPT, a certified personal trainer at Critical Body, frequently recommends it to clients looking to outfit their at-home workout spaces.
It features two stations, and both give you the ability to perform plenty of gym exercises. One side has a chest press, while the other has a pec fly that doubles as a rear delt trainer. The machine also includes a lat pulldown bar (with a padded leg holder to keep your lower body in place), three cable pulley positions (low, mid, high) and a leg extension/curl set-up.
2. Tempo Studio
Pros
- Compact
- Includes workouts
- AI-learning
Cons
- Pricey
- Measurements: 72" width x 120" depth x 72" height
- Features: HD touchscreen, Bluetooth-enabled stereo speakers, workout mat, dumbbells, bench, squat rack, 25-pound barbell, heart rate monitor, foam roller, weight plates, collars and kettlebell system
If you’re a tech fan, opt for a home gym powered by artificial-intelligence (AI) technology.
The Tempo Studio Pro features a sleek, 42-inch touchscreen display, stereo speakers and an assortment of at-home workout equipment: a folding bench and squat rack, 25-pound barbell, heart rate monitor, recovery roller, more weight plates and collars, kettlebell system (that transforms your weight plates into kettlebells) and extra weight-plate storage.
Plus, it includes workout programs you can do live or on demand. What's even better is that the 3D sensors capture your movements as you work out, and then the AI tech corrects any form mistakes in real time, helping you prevent injury and make your workouts more effective.
“As a trainer, I’m usually rolling my eyes at the stuff that’s out there for home fitness, [but] Tempo does it right,” says Tami Smith, CPT, certified personal trainer and owner of Fit Healthy Momma.
This sleek, minimalist smart gym is also a compact space saver. While during workouts, it expands to fit a 6' x 10' space, when not in use, it only takes up 4′ 2″ x 1′ 4″. The freestanding design features space to store all your equipment when it’s not in use.
“I have my Tempo in my living room, and it’s not bulky or unsightly in the least,” Smith says.
3. Bowflex Xceed Home Gym
Pros
- Inexpensive
- 210-lb. resistance
- Small size
Cons
- Experienced lifters might need more weight
- Measurements: 49" width x 53" depth x 82" height
- Features: cable pulleys, adjustable seat, squat bar, lat bar, vertical bench press, leg extension and curl
This compact home gym under $1,000 is the cheapest on our list, but it doesn’t skimp on features. “The Bowflex allows you to perform lat pulldowns, leg extensions, pull-ups, chest flys and biceps curls without the need for bulky weight plates,” Dickson says.
However, if you’re used to slinging hundreds of pounds, you may need to have your machine reconfigured. The standard configuration only allows for 210 pounds of resistance, but you can have it altered to handle up to 410 pounds.
4. NordicTrack Fusion CST
Pros
- Combines cable machine with a smart home gym
- Endless workout options
- Great for those who like classes
Cons
- Pricey
- iFit classes extra $39/month
- Measurements: 60.5" width x 41.5" depth x 73.5" height
- Features: HD touchscreen tablet, large mirror, 20 resistance settings, 6 cable attachments, 2 squat pulleys, 2 ankle strap accessories, adjustable tablet and smartphone stand
“Cable units for all-in-one home gym use are some of the best units on the market today,” says Ashton Ferrazzo, owner of Freedom Fitness Equipment. And this gym is no exception.
Instead of bulky weight plates or dumbbells, this machine uses a series of cables attached to a flywheel to provide different levels of silent, seamless resistance. The flywheel devices take advantage of inertia: the harder you pull, the more it resists. The more it resists, the harder you have to work to control the resistance at every stage of a rep.
But the real star of this machine is the integrated HD touchscreen tablet, which allows you to stream live, interactive sessions with a personal trainer through the online fitness platform iFit. (Your purchase includes a 1-month membership.)
You’ll also have the ability to track your progress, set goals and receive advice on exercise, nutrition and sleep. Use the Bluetooth chest strap included with the gym to track your heart rate every workout.
5. Force USA G12 All-in-One Trainer
Pros
- Similar to a Smith machine
- 2 x 200-lb. weight stacks
- 14 attachments
- Cable rated at 2,000 lb.
Cons
- Pricey
- Requires a lot of space
- Measurements: 79" width x 49" depth x 89" height
- Features: power rack, cable pulley, Smith machine, multi-grip chin-up station, dip station, leg press, lat pulldown, landmine station and weight stacks
“While on the higher-end of all-in-one home gym units, this piece mimics a power rack set-up that traditional powerlifters would use, while providing the benefits of a Smith machine (a barbell fixed to a steel rack), cable machine and squat rack in one fairly compact footprint,” Ferrazzo says.
It also includes a chin-up station with a variety of knurled grip positions, which allow you to tackle wide-grip, close-grip, underhand and overhand variations. Add-ons like a suspension trainer, Olympic barbell and exercise bench make the machine even more versatile.
5 Factors to Consider When Shopping for an All-in-One Gym
1. Workout Preferences
Consider what types of workouts you enjoy and what exercises you do — or plan on doing — on a regular basis. Also, think about what type of equipment you prefer or feel comfortable using at home, including cable machines, barbells and leg extension and curl machines. Filling in these blanks will help you narrow your search.
2. Current Equipment
Take inventory of any equipment you already have. "For example, if you already have a wide selection of dumbbells or other weights, you might not want to buy a home gym that includes weights," Smith says.
3. Budget
Review your finances and decide how much you're willing to spend on an at-home unit — and how you plan to pay for it.
"Keep in mind that almost every home gym has the option to finance the cost if [you're] qualified," Smith says.
If you're new to the home fitness scene, Ferrazzo recommends starting with budget or mid-tier options. Progress into higher-priced units once you've been working out with your equipment consistently. Otherwise, you could end up with a bulky (and expensive) coat rack.
4. Subscriptions and Add-Ons
Once you find a unit you like, check for any subscriptions or add-ons associated with it. For example, some pieces of equipment include a monthly subscription for an online fitness platform (like the NordicTrack).
Consider whether you want the service, and if not, whether you can still use your unit if you choose not to pay for the it, Smith says.
5. Space
"Check the dimensions of the home gym before buying it and make sure that you have the space to accommodate it," Smith says. This may seem like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised how many people just eyeball their space and call it good.
Also, if the machine needs to be fixed to a wall, ensure that the wall you're using is properly studded to support that weight, Smith says. If you're a renter, make sure your landlord is OK with the installation.
