Buying Guide
Best Gym Equipment for a Home Gym
8 min read
How to build a complete home gym: the equipment that earns its floor space, what to buy new, and what to buy used.
Start with the movements, not the machines
A home gym works when it covers squat, hinge, push, pull and carry. A rack, a barbell, plates and an adjustable bench cover all five for less than most single selectorized machines cost.
Add cardio second. A treadmill or rower is easy to justify once the strength base is in place, and the used market for cardio is far larger than for racks.
A realistic starting kit
Power rack or squat rack, olympic barbell, 300 lb of plates, adjustable bench, and a pair of adjustable dumbbells. Buying that kit used typically costs 40–60% less than new, and racks and plates are almost impossible to damage.
Leave space to walk around the rack, and check ceiling height before buying — most racks need at least 8 ft, more if you plan to press overhead.
What to buy new
Buy barbells and benches new if you can. Bar knurling and bench padding are the parts that wear in ways you feel every session, and the price gap on the used market is usually small.