If you prefer to simply work out at home, it helps to find the best home workout equipment to fit your space.
Finding the right accessory can be daunting.
Fortunately, there are plenty of great options on the market for all types of workouts that are cost-effective and easy to store.
There are many benefits to working out at home. With a home gym, you can easily work out without losing momentum towards your fitness goals.
You can save on gym membership fees, save time on commuting, avoid crowds and waiting for machines, and not have to deal with extreme weather conditions.
Your biggest challenge may be finding a place to store the equipment.
If you don't have the space to set up a full-fledged home gym, you'll probably use a small space like your living room, bedroom, or office as your workout room.
You may not have room for a full-size treadmill, exercise bike or rowing machine.
We asked personal trainers across the country to share their picks for the best home gym equipment for:
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bodyweight training,
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resistance training,
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cardio training,
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circuit training,
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stability training and recovery.
We have selected the best compact equipment, whether it is:
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jump ropes,
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foam rollers,
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resistance bands,
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yoga mats
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dumbbells,
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kettlebells
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punching bags.
The home workout equipment below will ensure you have everything you need for your gym.
For bodyweight training
YogaAccessories Non-Slip Exercise Mat
A yoga mat isn't just for yoga; it can make strength-training exercises like stretching and core work more comfortable, says Elizabeth Corkum, a certified personal trainer and running coach in New York City. (Most basic yoga mats are affordable and will do the job perfectly without breaking the bank. This mat is longer than most, though, which is a plus if you're taller.)
Manduka Pro Yoga
If you're willing to spend a little more on a yoga mat (especially if you're going to use it for a variety of exercises), the Manduka Pro option is a favorite among yogis. Holly Perkins, CSCS, celebrity trainer and author of Lift to Get Lean, calls it the Rolls Royce of mats, and the best one she's ever tried: "It's a very durable and stable mat. I like that it's thicker than most yoga mats, which makes it great for strength training, but not so thick that your feet sink into it."
FEIERDUN door pull-up bar
“Doorway pull-up bars are my go-to piece of equipment to help maintain and build upper-body strength without any added weight,” says Elizabeth Murphy, a certified personal trainer in Boston. Pull-ups target your back, shoulders, chest, and arms, and you can easily isolate muscle groups by changing your hand position on the bar (if you’re looking to work your biceps with dumbbells, the chin-up variation—palms facing your body—may be the one for you). You can also add resistance bands to assist with pull-ups (here are a few recommendations).
AZURELIFE Core Sliders Exercise
According to Karisa Curtis, a certified personal trainer in Ventura, California, Core Sliders are a great way to take your exercise routine to the next level. These Frisbee-like discs can be used on both carpet and hardwood floors, providing endless possibilities for low-impact movements during an intense workout. You can use them to strengthen major muscle groups in your body, such as your inner and outer thighs, legs, and glutes.
“Glider discs can be used to increase the intensity of a ton of different exercises, without adding impact—a win for your joints,” Murphy adds. Some of the moves you can boost with glider discs include plank jacks, lateral jumps, mountain climbers, speed skates, and push-up variations.
TRX Suspension Trainer
The TRX suspension training system allows you to work both your upper and lower body, while also helping you develop core stability. If you don't have access to a trainer to guide you, the TRX website offers instructional videos, as well as 30-minute video workouts that are updated daily. (You can also try this TRX core workout from SELF.)
“While it’s a little more expensive than other equipment, if used properly, the TRX All-in-One System may be the only piece of equipment you need,” says Victoria Nolan, a certified personal trainer at Suite Time Fitness in Houston. “It’s easy to set up and store, as it can be hung over a door or even a nice tree in your yard.”
Lifeline Power Wheel
Celebrity trainer Erin Oprea calls the ab wheel a more advanced piece of equipment that's not only great for core training, but can also totally fire up your hamstrings. (Thanks to the foot straps, you can use it for moves like hamstring curls.)
Ankle weights
Oprea considers ankle weights a useful piece of equipment to diversify your home workout. Using ankle weights can add extra resistance to lower-body movements, like donkey kicks, as well as core exercises like V-ups.
Resistance Band Loop Set
“These resistance bands have become my favorite item for at-home and travel workouts,” says Jen Temperley, a certified personal trainer and owner of Climb Fitness in Los Angeles. The bands are portable, come in a range of sizes and tension levels, and are suitable for all levels of athletic ability.
“I like resistance bands because they’re easy to transport and you can easily transition from arm work to core and leg work without changing equipment,” adds Sarah Periman, a certified personal trainer in Houston.
Tube resistance bands
These resistance bands with handles come in a wide variety of resistances and tend to hold up better than other brands, says Art Sherry, a certified personal trainer in Houston. They can be used to work virtually any muscle group and offer even more exercise possibilities when attached to a door or wrapped around a pole.
Resistance bands
There are so many moves you can do with these booty bands, which are great for strengthening your hips and glutes, says Holly Roser, a certified personal trainer and owner of Holly Roser Fitness Studio in San Francisco. They're also great for injury prevention because they work one of the hardest-to-reach glute muscles, the gluteus medius. As a bonus, these bands come with an e-book and access to online workout videos.
Dumbbell set
If your goal is to build muscle, dumbbells (or free weights) for weight training are a must. "Dumbbells can be one of the most important pieces of equipment in any home gym because they're versatile, durable, and very space-efficient for apartments and small spaces," says Luke Milton, a certified personal trainer and founder of TrainingMate in Los Angeles. "There are hundreds of exercises you can do with a pair of dumbbells, including cleans and presses, bicep curls, chest presses, squats, deadlifts, renegade rows, and tricep kickbacks."
Adjustable weight
Kettlebells work your entire body while getting your heart rate up, says Holly Roser, a certified personal trainer and owner of Holly Roser Fitness Studio in San Francisco. A kettlebell allows you to perform a variety of movements, including swings, deadlifts, lunges, and squats, all of which elevate your heart rate for an instant HIIT workout at home. “I love how this kettlebell adjusts to your personal fitness level, and it’s also great for small spaces since you don’t have to buy multiple weights,” she says.
Dumbbells
Here's another Bowflex strength-training machine: the Adjustable Dumbbell, recommended by Alicia Jamison, CPT at New York City-based Body Space Fitness. "The Bowflex ranges from 5 to 55 pounds, which is perfect for all fitness levels, and it probably only takes up a yard—which is great if you're trying to save space."
Kettlebell
A basic 15- to 25-pound kettlebell weight is one of the most versatile and affordable pieces of strength training equipment you can own because it can target and tone everything from your arms to your abs. "You can use this item intensively for your lower body, providing enough resistance to even tone your glutes," says Morgan Rees, a certified personal trainer in Los Angeles.
Medicine Ball
The medicine ball is one of the most durable and functional pieces of equipment you can include in your home gym, says David Harvey, a certified personal trainer and licensed yoga instructor in Houston. With a soft medicine ball, you can perform a variety of movements to work your arms, legs, and core, as well as anti-rotation and physical therapy exercises to prevent injuries.
Durable wrist weights
Don't underestimate using 2- to 5-pound wrist and ankle weights during a workout for an added challenge, says Maddison Rotner, a certified personal trainer at Box + Flow in New York City.
Christine Choi, a certified personal trainer in Atlanta, tells SELF that these weights are perfect for adding a little extra challenge to strength training, yoga, or Pilates workouts. "They're great for wearing around the house and on walks around the block," she says. "I like to recommend them to my friends who are intimidated by weights but still want to step up their workout routine." Added bonus: The weights are also easy to transport and take up minimal space when not in use.
Rubberbanditz Workout Sandbag
For those who want a budget-friendly and convenient way to work out at home, this "sandbag" is an added resistance option that uses water instead of sand, making it easy to fill or adjust the weight if you live in an apartment (let alone the store), says Lynn Montoya, a certified personal trainer and owner of Lynn Montoya Fitness in Tustin, California. Depending on the weight, you can use it to perform standard strength-training exercises like chest presses, rows, bicep curls, squats, deadlifts, and lunges.
Punching ball
A slam ball is weighted with sand to keep it from bouncing and allow you to get your heart rate up while performing a variety of exercises you'd traditionally use dumbbells for, such as lunges, squats, and squats, says Blake Rogers, a certified personal trainer and certified yoga teacher in Blenheim, South Carolina. You can also use them to work with a partner.
Adjustable resistance bands
These adjustable resistance bands are a favorite of Sivan Fagan, a Baltimore-based ACE-certified personal trainer and founder of Strong with Sivan. “It’s like having four different bands in one,” he says. “We use these bands for exercises like lateral walks, seated abductions, glute bridges, and more—really any glute exercise where we want to add tension.” He also likes that the bands are made of fabric, which is more durable than elastic, that the hook makes it easy to adjust for anyone who has trouble lifting their feet and positioning the bands, and that you can quickly change the intensity throughout a set without having to switch bands.
Move the bands
Morit Summers, CPT, strength coach and founder of FORM Fitness Brooklyn, says these stretchy resistance bands (sometimes called "hip circles") are "amazing" for working your hips and glutes. "They're so much easier to put on by design and can be adjusted to fit and add resistance," Summers says. "As a woman with big thighs, this is a game changer. It's also a product that's easier for older or disabled people to maneuver around."
Weight bench
An adjustable weight bench (paired with dumbbells and resistance bands) should be a staple of any home workout," says Fagan. Weight benches can provide support during strength training and reduce range of motion (since you'll be using the bench instead of the floor to do things like push-ups). "This bench is affordable and you can adjust it for different exercises," says Fagan. "I love using it for bench rows, one-arm rows, chest presses, hip thrusts, and more."
For circuit training
Fast jump rope
A high-quality jump rope makes for an easy workout that's still challenging and provides a good dose of cardio, says Corey Phelps, a certified personal trainer and owner of Cultivate by Corey in Washington, D.C. "As a bonus, it doesn't take up much space and is easy to transport."
Plus, for those who aren't big fans of running or biking, jumping rope has some great benefits. It's a great way to get in some cardio, Choi says. It's easy to grab and go out if you want to avoid annoying your downstairs neighbors. (Try one of these three jump rope exercises to get started.)
Peloton Bike
The Peloton exercise bike offers the best full-service in-home exercise bike, says Emily Collins, an exercise bike instructor at VERVE Studios in Los Angeles. Peloton streams live classes every week, and you also get access to a library of on-demand workouts ranging from five to 90 minutes long. With real-time metrics, you can track your progress based on heart rate, resistance, cadence, and power output. See our review of the Peloton Bike+, Peloton’s latest model.
Fitness Magnetic Rower
Rowing machines are known for working the entire body, targeting the back, legs, arms, and abs, according to Lynell Ross, a certified personal trainer and founder of Zivadream in Auburn, California. This Sunny Health rower also has a digital display to track your progress, a dial to adjust your resistance level, and a padded seat for added comfort. It also folds for easy storage at home.
ProForm Smart Pro 9000
For people who don't want to spend a fortune on a treadmill but still want a few bells and whistles, Fitbit's head trainer and coach Adrian Richardson recommends trying a ProForm smart treadmill. Richardson describes this ProForm model as a "premium treadmill at a fraction of the price." The ProForm has a top speed of 12 mph, a touchscreen, and multiple incline/decline settings. One of the most convenient features of the ProForm Smart Pro 9000 is that it folds up when not in use, which is great for those living in small spaces.
Exercise ball
“What I love about stability balls is that they’re so versatile,” Murphy says. There are tons of options for targeting your core, upper body, lower body, or even getting in some cardio with one of these handy pieces of equipment, she adds. Since these balls really focus on core stabilization, they can make any core workout more challenging. This ball comes with an air pump, which is a plus because it’s important to make sure your stability ball is properly inflated when you use it. Bonus: If you need a break from sitting in a hard chair while working from home, you can always use a stability ball as a seat.
Foam roller
According to Lyuda Bouzinova, a certified personal trainer and co-founder of Mission Lean in Boca Raton, Florida, a foam roller is an important part of any home gym because it helps relieve sore muscles while keeping your entire body loose and limber.
“A lot of home workouts seem to be lower-body dominated, so it’s important to pay special attention to these muscle groups during recovery,” Milton adds. Pay special attention to your calves, hamstrings, and quads.
Peanut Massage Ball
Massage balls are affordable and extremely portable. “Essentially, you can use this Peanut ball for all sorts of soft tissue work as a self-myofascial release tool,” Fagan says. “I like to use it to reduce neck tension and release the deep hip rotator muscles.”
