The Best Space-Saving Workout Equipment for Your Tiny Home Gym (2024)

Whether you live in an apartment, tiny home, RV, or you simply don't want to devote an entire room to working out, there are small-space home gym essentials made for your situation. Especially since going to the gym or a fitness studio isn't always in the cards, having an array of at-home equipment is a great idea for any exerciser—and we have all the recs at every price point. And just because you don't have the space for a squat rack and barbell system doesn't mean you can't get a great workout in.

We're not just going to take the easy route and tell you to buy a set of resistance bands and a few yoga mats (though both are great tools). Below we found everything from treadmills to exercise bikes to all-in-one home gym systems, each of which is built to maximize the amount of living space you have to actually live. You'll find slim walking pads, handy workout machines you can use while typing at your desk, and doorway bars for pull-ups, push-ups (or hanging your laundry). Many of these picks are selected from our Home Fitness Awards and from top-rated brands and retailers like Bowflex, NordicTrack, Lululemon, TRX, Bala, and more. Keep reading to find your new favorite small-space home gym equipment to reach all of your 2023 fitness goals.

Treadmills and Walking Pads

You might be skeptical about bringing cardio equipment into an already cramped workout space, but these days treadmills are getting slimmer and smarter, making them easier to transport and store. Folding treadmills, like the Treadly 2 Pro and NordicTrack EXP 7i, come recommended by fitness experts as they save space and still offer smart treadmill features. The Treadly 2 is only four inches thick (!) and goes up to five mph, while the NordicTrack goes up to 12 mph with an automatic incline of up to 12% grade. You could also opt for a walking pad that can slide under your living room couch or bed when not in use. These are for walking only, as they don't have handlebars, but they're an excellent way to keep moving throughout your day (and even while you're working).

The Best Space-Saving Workout Equipment for Your Tiny Home Gym (3)

Walkingpad R2 Foldable Treadmill

The Best Space-Saving Workout Equipment for Your Tiny Home Gym (4)

Sunny Health & Fitness

Walkstation Slim Treadmill

Exercise Bikes

Whether you have a devoted (albeit tiny) workout room or your home office is doing double duty, chances are you can fit in one of these stationary bikes or under-desk exercisers. Some indoor bikes, like those from Xterra and Exerpeutic, have a folding mechanism for a smaller storage footprint. This does mean they have fewer smart features, but they're ideal if you're looking to add more steady-state movement into your day. We included a Peloton here because even though it doesn't fold, if you get a bigger package like the Bike+ Premier, it comes with everything you need for full-body workouts beyond cycling (like yoga, HIIT, stretching, and more). Plus, it has wheels to roll it into a closet or hallway when it's not in use.

The Best Space-Saving Workout Equipment for Your Tiny Home Gym (7)

Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike With Pulse

“When my roommate came home after Christmas with a gigantic box (she had asked for an exercise bike), I was a little skeptical. We don’t have a very large apartment, but I was pleasantly surprised when we opened the box! This space-saving, foldable bike is perfect for our apartment and fits in a small corner out of the way. When it’s time to ride, I wheel it in front of the TV, pop in the pin to fold it out, and start to exercise. It has a wide seat so it doesn’t get uncomfortable riding for long stretches of time and has eight tension levels so I can change how hard I’m working out.” —Cheryl Carlin, senior manager, analytics

The Best Space-Saving Workout Equipment for Your Tiny Home Gym (8)

Peloton Bike+ Premier

Adjustable Dumbbells, Kettlebells, and Weights

If you're a weight lifter but don't feel like shelling out for a gym membership just to use the sprawling weight rack, a set of adjustable dumbbells is your best bet for strength training. Dumbbells can feel a bit bulky in your hands, but some adjustable sets replace up to 30 pairs of free weights, which is pretty major. If you often opt for lighter weights, we recommend a small set of three, which often come with a space-saving stand. A set of ankle or wrist weights offer solid resistance during workouts like barre and Pilates, and they have the footprint of a standard envelope. For kettlebell training, Bowflex makes an innovative adjustable kettlebell similar to its SELF Home Fitness Award-winning dumbbells.

The Best Space-Saving Workout Equipment for Your Tiny Home Gym (9)

Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells

The Best Space-Saving Workout Equipment for Your Tiny Home Gym (10)

Ativafit Adjustable Dumbbell Fitness Dial Dumbbell

The Best Space-Saving Workout Equipment for Your Tiny Home Gym (12)

BalanceForm Neoprene Dumbbell Set

The Best Space-Saving Workout Equipment for Your Tiny Home Gym (13)

Jfit Dumbbell Set

The Best Space-Saving Workout Equipment for Your Tiny Home Gym (14)

Bowflex SelectTech 840 Kettlebell

Pull-Up Bars and Equalizer Bars

For calisthenics and bodyweight work in a small home gym, you have a few options to amp things up without bringing bulky exercise equipment like boxes and benches into the mix. Attach a pull-up bar to any doorway and you have plenty of exercise options, including chin-ups, push-ups, and hangs. Prosource and Iron Gym have two top-rated, best-selling options at affordable price points. You could also opt for a set of equalizer bars, which can be used to enhance all kinds of at-home workout routines. Try them when performing dips, pull-ups, push-ups, stretches, agility drills, and more. Equalizer bars are a little bit bulky, but can be easily stored in a closet or garage when you're not using them.

The Best Space-Saving Workout Equipment for Your Tiny Home Gym (15)

ProsourceFit Multi-Grip Chin-Up/Pull-Up Bar

The Best Space-Saving Workout Equipment for Your Tiny Home Gym (16)

Iron Gym Pull-Up Bar

The Best Space-Saving Workout Equipment for Your Tiny Home Gym (17)

Lebert Equalizer Bars

The Best Space-Saving Workout Equipment for Your Tiny Home Gym (18)

Oleo Adjustable Dip Bar

Home Gym Systems

The most versatile option for small exercise rooms is smart home gyms and all-in-one gym systems, which take up minimal floor space and act as multiple pieces of equipment in one. The NordicTrack Vault (which measures 72.65 x 24.25 x 14 inches) has an organized closetlike system that holds dumbbells, mats, kettlebells, yoga blocks, and more, plus on-demand workouts on its mirror-esque façade. The wall-mounted Tonal system (which requires a 7 x 7-foot workout area) has a similar concept but uses air resistance instead of weights for full body workouts, and has live form correction for enhanced safety. Lululemon's Studio Mirror has the slimmest model—all you need is two feet of wall space. It fits seamlessly into your home, too, since it looks just like a mirror. For a low-tech option, TRX's home gym system uses suspension training for all different kinds of exercises, and it can be set up pretty much anywhere, even if you're lacking extra space.

The Best Space-Saving Workout Equipment for Your Tiny Home Gym (21)

TRX Suspension Trainer

The Best Space-Saving Workout Equipment for Your Tiny Home Gym (22)

Lululemon Studio Mirror Plus

Related:

  • 5 Equipment Essentials You Need to Build a Home Gym for Less Than $100
  • Here’s What a Balanced and Effective Weekly Workout Plan Actually Looks Like
  • The Best Home Workout Equipment, According to Trainers
The Best Space-Saving Workout Equipment for Your Tiny Home Gym (2024)

FAQs

The Best Space-Saving Workout Equipment for Your Tiny Home Gym? ›

I'll discuss why kettlebells, dumbbells, and a pull-up bar are essential pieces of equipment for any minimal home gym that will enable you to program a great fitness routine. A truly minimalist setup doesn't require benches, power racks, or any other pricey extras.

What equipment is needed for minimal at home gym? ›

I'll discuss why kettlebells, dumbbells, and a pull-up bar are essential pieces of equipment for any minimal home gym that will enable you to program a great fitness routine. A truly minimalist setup doesn't require benches, power racks, or any other pricey extras.

What is the best size for a small home gym? ›

A good size for a home gym is between 200 and 400 square feet. That's about the size of a single-car garage. It will give you enough space to fit a few pieces of both strength and cardio equipment in the gym.

What is the most effective home workout equipment? ›

If you prefer cardio, you may want to consider an exercise bike or a treadmill. If you want to engage in strength training, then dumbbells, resistance bands, and kettlebells are popular home gym equipment. For full-body workouts, a rowing machine or elliptical targets multiple muscle groups and gets your heart rate up.

Are portable gyms worth it? ›

Benefits of A Portable Home Gym

As you adapt and get stronger, you'll need to make changes and progressions to keep getting stronger. However, it is worth mentioning that you don't always have to add more weight—progress can come from changing your rep range, overall volume, rest time, or range of motion.

Is a small home gym worth it? ›

If you're not sure if it's a good fit, you can always purchase a few of the basics and give it a try. Even if you decide to stick with a gym membership, you'll likely find that having some equipment at home is a huge advantage on days where you just can't make it or are short on time.

Is 10x10 big enough for a home gym? ›

A typical space that works well is a 10'x10' bedroom. This allows for the necessary width for items like a squat rack and free weight systems. This will give enough width to load and unload weight plate from a bar easily and away from walls. If your plan is to have a cardio piece or two, then a 10'x10' space works too.

How do I organize my small gym? ›

Hooks and Pegboards

Hanging accessories on the wall saves floor space, so look for hooks or specially designed home gym storage racks that can hold jump ropes, resistance bands, towels, and other accessories. Pegboards are another inexpensive way to get access to lots of adjustable hooks for a custom layout.

What is the best gym equipment for low ceilings? ›

Squat Racks & Stands

Squat racks can be a great solution for those with either limited space or ceiling height. Due to the smaller overall size when compared to a power rack, and our ability to customise to almost any height, squat racks can be an ideal solution to a home gym that is tight on space.

Which exercise machine is best for seniors? ›

Low-impact cardio machines such as stationary bikes or recumbent bikes are excellent options. These machines provide a cardiovascular workout without putting excessive stress on joints. The recumbent design offers added back support, making it comfortable for seniors with lower back issues.

How can I exercise without a room? ›

Even within limited space, people can do body weight exercises similar to these workouts, such as push-ups, bridges, squats, yoga poses, and mat Pilates. Want more? Try challenging your standing balance and performing agility work by hopping from side to side or front and back.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Pres. Lawanda Wiegand

Last Updated:

Views: 5576

Rating: 4 / 5 (71 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Pres. Lawanda Wiegand

Birthday: 1993-01-10

Address: Suite 391 6963 Ullrich Shore, Bellefort, WI 01350-7893

Phone: +6806610432415

Job: Dynamic Manufacturing Assistant

Hobby: amateur radio, Taekwondo, Wood carving, Parkour, Skateboarding, Running, Rafting

Introduction: My name is Pres. Lawanda Wiegand, I am a inquisitive, helpful, glamorous, cheerful, open, clever, innocent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.