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).

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Walkingpad R2 Foldable Treadmill

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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.

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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

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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.

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Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells

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Ativafit Adjustable Dumbbell Fitness Dial Dumbbell

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Jfit Dumbbell Set

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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.

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

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Iron Gym Pull-Up Bar

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Lebert Equalizer Bars

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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.

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TRX Suspension Trainer

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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? ›

Utilize Vertical Storage

Worried about storage in your small home gym? Keep it clutter-free by taking advantage of wall storage! Mount items like weight benches, weight plates, and gym mats on your walls to save floor space. And if you're feeling crafty, check out this DIY barbell storage hack!

How do I maximize space in my small home gym? ›

Utilize Vertical Storage

Worried about storage in your small home gym? Keep it clutter-free by taking advantage of wall storage! Mount items like weight benches, weight plates, and gym mats on your walls to save floor space. And if you're feeling crafty, check out this DIY barbell storage hack!

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.

How do I set up a home gym in a spare room? ›

10 Ways to Transform Your Spare Room Into a Gym
  1. Stocked Workout Bar. If you have a corner you're not using, consider adding a minifridge to your new workout space. ...
  2. Get a Bench. ...
  3. Consolidate Your Weights. ...
  4. Get a Power Tower. ...
  5. Get a Cardio Machine. ...
  6. Put Down Floor Mats. ...
  7. Pullup/Pushup Bar. ...
  8. Add Mirrors.

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? ›

Foldaway equipment is generally cheaper and has the advantage of saving space, but there is a downside. “Lightweight portable equipment has come a long way but it's not quite as sturdy as stationary equipment,” warned Sabiston. “Ideally, buy the best you can afford, even if it's foldaway.”

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