9 Best Compact Home Gyms In 2024 [#8 Will Surprise You] (2024)

With so many choices available it can be difficult to find the best compact home gym for you.

We’ve researched and reviewed hundreds of compact home gyms to find the best models. We’ve put the equipment to the test and followed our strict criteria to narrow it down to the top 9.

If you’re short on time the Force USA G15 is our top pick due to versatility and compact nature.

11 best compact home gyms for home use

We’ve rounded up our top picks below. Click through on any models to find out the current price as well as to see other people’s reviews.

We’ll discuss why these are our top picks in more detail below. We’ve included a descriptive buyer’s guide to show you our review criteria.

1. Best compact home gym machine- our pick: Force USA G3

Summary

There are three reasons the Force USA G3 gets our overall top spot:

1. Value
2. Versatility
3. Convenience

Let me explain what I mean by this…

Value

The retail version of the G3 without any add ons is cheaper than any other high-quality machine on this list.

You can also pay monthly from as low as $167 with some rates at 0% interest!

But this machine stands out because it includes:

• A power rack
• A functional trainer (cable machine)
• Smith machine
• Chin up station
• Landmine station (ideal for training your core)

It comes with 12 attachments making the cable machine super effective and then has 4 optional attachments.

This isn’t some flimsy thing either!

Using heavy gauge steel, it comes with the highly valued 1-inch Westside hole spacing around the pressing area. This means that you can position the spotter arms to the ideal position when bench pressing or squatting.

The maximum user height is 7′ 1″, whereas many all in one gym machines are only suitable for people around 6 feet or below.

Versatility

The G3 allows you to do any movement that you can think of on a more “traditional” home gym machine. However, it allows you to do these movements in a more “functional” way.

There is a big debate over whether free weights or a machine is better for you at gaining muscle. The argument for using free weights (like dumbbells or a barbell) is that more muscles are under tension and they resemble more every day aka “functional” movement patterns (such as squatting down to pick your kids toys off the floor!)

However, as I explain later, machines have their advantages too as you can really target and isolate specific muscles.

The G3 is the best of both worlds!

Just watch the 90-second video below to see it in action…

The adjustable pulley cables allow you to do all sorts of regular machine lifts such as a lat pull down, single-arm rows and face pulls. The optional attachments also allow you to perform a leg press and more exercises.

This leads me nicely onto my next point…

Convenience

A few common issues with any gym equipment are:

• You have to order things from different places
• The customer service sucks
• Or you have to figure out how to install the blooming thing

Force USA has you covered!

This machine doesn’t come with weight plates or a barbell or a bench. However, you can seamlessly add these to your order on the checkout page. And typically companies that do this sell you things that are pretty pants or really expensive.

But Force USA breaks the mold!

The barbells on offer are very decent, the weight plates only cost about $15 more for a 200lb set than other very affordable weight plates we’ve found and the benches fall in line with other pricing points.

If you do want to save a bit of money or buy the top quality stuff then check out our extensive research here:

• Best Olympic barbell
• Best weight bench
• Best bumper plates

I would also highly recommend the flooring as 5/8″ thick mats are ideal for a gym but are like Goldust to find in recent years (learn more about flooring in our best home gym flooring in-depth buying guide).

Also, I would advise getting the leg press attachment. Our very own certified personal trainer, Steve Hoyles, has pointed out that performing regular squats on a Smith machine can cause injuries due to the lack of engagement of muscles around the knee joint.

Top tip- If you’re not very handy then it’s definitely worth getting the Professional Assembly Service. All of this can be done with a few clicks of the button from one place, which can save money on shipping costs!

The bottom line

Force USA’s all-in-one trainers beat the competition out there for me simply because they fall in line with the equipment we recommend to build a home gym.

But the advantage over using just a rack and barbell is that it also provides the cables and machine-like features to offer more movements!

Pros

• Value- offers great quality with good resistance for a reasonable price.
• Versatility- a power rack, smith machine, functional trainer and landmine attachment included.
• Convenience- super easy to order from one place.
• High weight capacity– a lot of weight can be loaded onto the pulleys and smith machine.
• Compact- for what it offers this won’t take up too much space.

Cons

• Additional costs- if you haven’t got any weight plates you will at the bare miniumum need to allow for these.
• 2:1 weight ratio pulleys- this means if you add 100lbs to the pulley cables it will count as 50lbs of resistance (this is quite standard for most machines on this list other than our premium option)

2. Best compact home gym – our pick: Body-Solid EXM2500S

Our top pick was easily the Body-Solid EXM2500S. This machine gives you everything you need for a solid workout.

Great if you don’t want to sacrifice your gains by choosing one piece of equipment for your home gym.

The Body-Solid EXM2500S features extra thick DuraFirm pads for your comfort. These will be a lifesaver during those long workouts. Everything included on the machine is also covered by the lifetime guarantee.

The compact home gym features a solid construction using 12 gauge steel.

This will be essential for the more demanding workouts which can take a toll on your gym equipment. We really like the fact this machine has everything covered.

Overall the Body-Solid EXM2500S is a great option that gives you all the basics you need for a quality workout. You won’t have to compromise on features.

Pros:

• 210lb weight stack- great if you want to build muscle mass.
• Versatile- includes 6 different workout stations for a fully comprehensive workout.
• Lifetime warranty- gives you confidence that Body-Solid takes their machines seriously.
• Heavy-duty- strong and sturdy enough to survive even the toughest workouts.
• Compact- can fit into a small space.

Cons:

• Self assembly required- some customers find the instructions difficult to use.

3. Best compact home gym- upgrade pick: Bodycraft Galena Pro

Looking to upgrade your compact home gym? The Bodycraft Galena Pro came in a close second when we reviewed all our top picks.

The only things that kept it from the top spot were the higher price tag and the lower weight stack.

Overall the Bodycraft Galena Pro is a decent piece of equipment that gives you a wide range of workout stations. You can easily work on the chest, pecs, legs, and other muscle groups for a full workout.

This particular compact home gym has been designed to fit into the corner of your room. This will give you more room to play with when it comes to other gym equipment.

It comes with a 150 pound weight stack as standard and offers you 300 pounds of resistance when working out.

The Bodycraft Galena Pro will give you everything you need for an effective workout. You may need to save for a little bit longer before you invest in it for your home gym.

Pros:

• Versatile- two workout stations means more than one person can use the machine.
• Adjustable- adjust the height settings easily to suit you.
• Compact design- can easily fit into your home gym’s corner to give you more room.
• Durable- no need to replace this machine in a few years.

Cons:

• 150lb Weight stack- not as much as our top pick.
• Pricey- more expensive than competitive models.

4. Best budget compact home gym: Marcy Home Gym MWM-4965

If budget is one of your main concerns when it comes to a compact home gym the Marcy Home Gym MWM-4965 is our recommended pick. This particular compact home gym machine gives you all the essentials but at an affordable price.

The Marcy Home Gym MWM-4965 features several workout stations to help you build muscle. This gives you everything you need for a full body workout. Essential if you want to build muscle evenly.

You can adjust features of the compact home gym machine such as the curl pads to suit you. These can even be removed to let you perform certain exercises. This is a great feature to look for in a compact home gym if you want it to be customizable for your needs.

It’s worth bearing in mind that the Marcy Home Gym MWM-4965 won’t come with as many fancy features as some of the more expensive competitive models.

Pros:

• Heavy-duty- features heavy-duty construction for safety during demanding workouts.
• Compact- measures 79” (H) x 68” (L) x 42” (W) which is one of the smallest on this list.
• Ergonomic- padded seats have been designed for your comfort.
• Versatile- can be used for over 30 different exercises.

Cons:

• Not for tall people- if you’re taller than 5 foot 10 this may not be for you.
• 150lb Weight stack- not as much as our top pick.
• Self assembly required- you will need to build the compact home gym yourself.

5. Best compact home gym for beginners: Bowflex PR1000

The Bowflex PR1000 is a great beginner machine if you’re looking to start a compact home gym. This machine will be able to give you a full body workout you need to stay fit and healthy.

What’s great about this compact home gym is that it allows you to make the most of your available gym space.

The workout bench can be folded away when not in use to make room for other equipment. The bench can also be converted into a rolling seat for you to use it for aerobic rowing.

The Bowflex PR1000 allows you to adjust the resistance you use. You can use this feature to easily increase the difficulty of your exercises if you want to put your body through its paces.

This particular machine is better suited for beginners than professional weightlifters.

Pros:

• Versatile- can be used for a variety of exercises.
• Ease of use- anyone can quickly get used to this machine.
• No plates- Much quieter and you won’t trap your fingers between the weight plates.
• Foldable bench- maximize your available gym space by folding the bench out of the way after use.
• Adjust your workout- the resistance can be adjusted to increase or decrease the difficulty of your workout.

Cons:

• Not as versatile- better suited for beginners than experienced weightlifters.
• Resistance bands- can stretch over time and need replacing.

6. Best compact home gym for beginners- upgrade pick: Bowflex Xtreme 2SE

Looking for an upgrade on the Bowflex PR1000? Check out the Bowflex Xtreme 2SE.

This compact home gym gives you a whole range of equipment to get you smashing those workout goals. You can do more than 70 exercises with this particular machine.

What’s really great about the Bowflex Xtreme 2SE is that you can give yourself a full body workout with its various features.

All without changing the cables you use. It features a no-change cable pulley system. This allows you to smoothly move between exercises to help you build muscle.

If you’re new to working out at home this machine will give you everything you need for an efficient workout. All without taking up too much room in your home.

However, this is one of the pricier options on our list so won’t be for everyone.

Pros:

• Heavy resistance- comes with 210 pounds of resistance as standard with the option of upgrading this to 310 or 410 pounds.
• Versatile- can be used for a variety of exercises.
• Heavy-duty- constructed using sturdy materials for demanding workouts.
• Ergonomic- seat is padded and adjustable for your comfort.
• Trainer-built workouts- comes with 7 free trainer-built workouts to get you started.

Cons:

• Pricey- one of the more expensive compact home gym models.

7. Best compact home gym for bodybuilders: Powertech lever gym

The Powertech lever gym is the best fit for bodybuilders looking to make the most of their home gym space.

This machine gives you everything you need to stay on top of your gains without sacrificing too much room to bulky machinery.

It comes with a large load capacity to help you smash your personal bests. The press arms have a max load capacity of 500 pounds. The cable has a high resistance of 300 pounds.

With both of these heavy capacity features, you’ll have more than enough in terms of resistance to build muscle.

The versatility of the Powertech lever gym means you’ll have everything you need for a thorough workout. A great feature of this machine is that the isolateral arms can be used two different ways.

You can lock them together for use as a conventional bench press, or use them independently.

You will need to buy a set of Olympic weight plates to go with the Powertech lever gym if you don’t own any already.

Pros:

• Adjustable- you can move the workbench to suit your workout.
• Comfortable- the workbench is padded for your comfort.
• Thorough workout- includes everything you need for a thorough full body workout.
• Compact- won’t take up too much space in your home gym.
• Heavy-duty- can cope with even the most demanding of workouts.

Cons:

• Weight plates not included- you will need to buy weight plates to go with this machine if you don’t have any already.

8. Best super compact home gym: Total Gym XLS

If you are really tight for space then the Total Gym XLS is ideal. This machine has been designed to be as compact as possible.

You can also easily fold the unit away once you’ve finished your workout. You may need to keep it in one area of your home as it will be heavy to move regularly.

The Total Gym XLS gives you a range of 80 exercise routines to choose from.

These routines have been designed to give your body the thorough workout you’re looking for. You can easily adjust between 6 levels of resistance to find a workout routine that works for you.

Another great feature of the Total Gym XLS is that it comes with a range of workout DVDs. These help you make the most of your new gym equipment.

These workouts have been designed for all levels of fitness. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that these are only available on DVD. There’s no accompanying app for your devices.

If you are on the larger size the Total Gym XLS may squeak or squeal as you use it. Learn more in our best Total Gym models comparison.

Pros:

• Compact- can be folded away after use for easy storage.
• Versatile- can be used for a variety of exercises with a variety of different resistances.
• Additional accessories- includes a variety of additional accessories for an easier workout.
• Full body workout- helps you concentrate on all of the major muscle groups.
• Affordable- available at a competitive price compared to other more complicated equipment.

Cons:

• Squeaks- the machine can squeak during some exercises.
• Small size- if you’re taller than 6 foot you may struggle with certain exercises.

9. Best super cheap compact home gym: BodyBoss 2.0

Don’t have the room or the budget for expensive workout equipment? No problem. The BodyBoss 2.0 is a compact affordable alternative to the equipment you’d prefer to use in the gym.

This compact piece of gym equipment gives you a range of exercises to perform. Ideal if you want a compact home gym that will help you keep on top of your fitness. BodyBoss 2.0 also includes a range of fitness videos to get you started.

The BodyBoss 2.0 is a fantastic alternative to bulkier gym equipment. Its super compact nature makes it easy to take with you on the go.

Bear in mind that the resistance the BodyBoss 2.0 is able to offer you will be limited compared to other compact home gym machines.

Pros:

• Affordable- gives you a much cheaper option than expensive machinery.
• Portable- its compact nature means you can take it with you.
• Adjustable- easily add additional bands to suit your workout needs.
• Versatile- can be used to perform over 300 different exercises.

Cons:

• Resistance limited- not ideal if you want to put on a lot of muscle mass.
• Harder to use- not as easy to use as many of the home gyms mentioned.

10. Our premium runner up pick: Body-Solid G6BR

If money was no object our pick would hands down be the Body-Solid G6BR. This compact home gym gives you everything you could possibly want or need from your home gym equipment.

It comes with a range of workout stations and features to give you a thorough workout. There is even a range of additional accessories included for your comfort. You’ll be able to smash through those PBs in no time at all with this in your home gym.

The great thing about the Body-Solid G6BR is that it features patented designs. Some of these promise to help you get 25% more muscle interaction than competitive models.

You’ll be able to get the full range of motion needed for building muscle with this compact home gym.

As amazing as this model is it’s important to remember that it’s one of the most expensive options.

Pros:

• Versatile- features 6 workout stations for a thorough workout.
• Various weight stacks- 210-pound weight stack included as standard with the option of a 260-pound weight stack available.
• Commercial grade- constructed using heavy-duty 2,200-pound tension steel and other high-quality materials.
• Additional accessories- gives you everything you need for a comfortable workout.
• Compact- measures 84” (H) x 58” (W) x 84” (L) and won’t take up too much room.

Cons:

• Expensive- pricier than competitive products.

11. Our “if money was no object” pick- Force USA Monster G6 Power Rack

Summary

If money is no object and you want an all singing and dancing all in one home gym then the Force USA G6 Power Rack could be perfect for you.

It includes a:

• Power rack
• Functional trainer
• Smith machine
• Dip station
• Chin up station
• Core trainer
• Suspension trainer
• Leg press
• Low row

This is all combined into one machine saving you a ton of space compared to buying each machine individually.

Just watch this 3 minute video to see it in action…

It’s not the cheapest option out there but the heavy-duty steel and high-quality cables will last a lifetime. And if it doesn’t then you can use the lifetime warranty!

Pros

• A true all in one home gym machine- it has every variation you can think of.
• Great for building muscle- 2x 220 lb weight stacks provide more than enough resistance for most people. There’s also the option of loading up to 772 lb on the smith machine.
• Doesn’t take up too much space compared to buying the multiple machines this includes.
• Lifetime warranty and high quality machine.

Cons

• It’s expensive.

Buyers Guide

There are several factors you will need to consider before buying a compact home gym.

• Your own fitness goals
• Space
• Quality
• Practicality
• Budget

When you’ve covered all of these areas you’ll be on the right track to finding the best compact home gym for your needs. We’ll cover some of these in more detail below.

These were criteria we looked at when choosing our top 9 picks above.

Footprint

1. Space-saving

One of the most important factors to consider is how much space the compact home gym will take up. How much space have you got available in your home?

You should measure this space first before committing to a compact home gym to ensure it will fit.

One of the smallest compact home gyms has a footprint of 65” x 40”. For Example the Bowflex PR1000 folds into these dimensions.

You should easily be able to accommodate a compact home gym of this size if you have loads of room.

Quality

2. Gauge of steel

The gauge of steel will be an important factor to think about. Generally, the lower the gauge of steel, the stronger it is.

11 or 12 gauge steel is considered to be one of the best for gym machines. For example, the G6BR has 11 gauge steel (around 1/8″ thick) whereas the cheaper Marcy uses 14 gauge steel (around 1/13″ thick).

Thinner steel means the machine can’t handle as much weight and is more likely to be damaged over time.

3. Weight stack

To get the most from your compact home gym you’ll need a decent weight stack.

It may be tempting to opt for heavier weight stacks. But this will be pointless if you won’t use all that weight. Similarly lesser weight stacks won’t be as useful.

Generally, a weight stack of at least 200 pounds (such as the EXM2500S) is more than enough for most people with home gyms.

If you’re tempted to go for a lower poundage weight stack it might not be enough for any leg exercises you need to do.

4. Does it need to be anchored?

Depending on the weight of the machinery itself it may need to be anchored to the floor or wall.

This is an important feature to look for.

If you don’t bolt these home gyms down you could impact your safety when using them. However, home gyms that are heavy pieces of equipment should have more than enough weight to be sturdy enough without needing to be anchored.

Any machine weighing over 300 pounds should be safe to use without bolting it down.

Versatility

5. Can weights be added to the gym equipment e.g lever gym?

If you’re looking to build serious muscle and add more weight, then a lever gym like the Powertech option could be ideal for you.

Adding your own weight plates can give you more control over your workout.

Check out our bumper plates buying guide if you decide to go down this route. You’ll need some additional weight to add to a lever gym.

6. Cables or pulleys

Does your compact home gym make use of cables or pulleys? A machine that features a pulley system will be more versatile. This allows you to use more movements.

Pulley systems are often much safer than using any free weights you may have, too. If you accidentally drop the weight during a tough workout it won’t land on you and hurt you.

7. Functional trainer

These types of home gym equipment can give you a wide range of exercises to perform.

They can make training for a specific sport such as hockey or golf much easier. You can target the specific things required for your preferred sport.

There are none of these in the list above as they generally take up a larger footprint.

8. Does it include a power rack or Smith machine?

These will be handy features to look for if you want to build muscle.

You can use the included barbell from a power rack or Smith machine for exercises such as bench presses, deadlifts, and squats. You get to place more weight on these types of machine to build more muscle.

Other important rankings

9. Amazon rating

Searching for a quality machine can be challenging. One thing to look for is a good Amazon rating of over 4.5 stars.

There should also be more than 100 reviews.

10. Value for money

Another factor you will need to consider is if your chosen compact home gym gives you good value for money.

There are many expensive compact home gyms which don’t offer you the same effectiveness as cheaper models.

You should aim to pay under $1,500 for a single stack. For other types of compact home gyms, under $2,000 is considered to be good value for money.

11. Lifetime warranty

You may not consider a lifetime warranty as being essential. However, this is a good indicator that the manufacturer takes their equipment seriously. This is another reason the Body Solid is our top pick.

If they offer a lifetime warranty they will be confident the compact home gym will last you for many years to come.

Compact home gym machine types

There are several different types of compact home gym machines to consider.

Take a look at the criteria above in our buyer’s guide to help you find the best one for you.

The different types of compact home gyms are:

• Single stack (Galena Pro)
• Lever gym (Powertech)
• Free weight or smith machine combo (Body-Solid GS3)
• Functional trainer (REP FT-5000)
• Power rod (Bowflex Xtreme)
• Incline bodyweight machine (Total Gym)

Compact home gym machine workouts

The great thing about compact home gym machines is that they are versatile. You can use them to perform a great variety of exercises to help build muscle.

Here are a few to get you started.

Frequently Asked Questions

The bottom line for compact home gyms

After reviewing all of our compact home gym top picks there are some clear winners.

Our overall winner is the Force USA G3. This compact home gym gives you everything you need for a thorough workout without having to compromise on space.

Our upgrade pick is the Force USA G6 as it has everything the G3 has. But it also comes with 2 x 200lbs weight stacks which adds more variety and increases the quality of the machine.

You can find a summary of all the compact home gyms we reviewed at the top of this page. Be sure to see our ultimate guide to buying an all in one home gym with some other recommendations here.