Build a DIY Home Gym on a Budget

Building a DIY home gym doesn’t have to break the bank. Whether you’re a cardio enthusiast like myself or love HIIT workouts like my wife, you can create an effective workout space even with limited space and budget. Here’s some tips to set up your home gym at different budget levels and what I went for myself. 

The Importance of a Home Gym

Having a DIY home gym is not just about convenience. It’s a game-changer for busy dads. The benefits of having a dedicated space for fitness are numerous: 

Physical Health: Regular exercise improves cardiovascular health, builds strength, and helps maintain a healthy weight. As dads, staying fit allows us to keep up with our kids and model healthy habits for them. 

Mental Health: Exercise is a proven stress reliever. It boosts mood, reduces anxiety, and improves sleep. For dads juggling work, family, and other responsibilities, a home gym can be a sanctuary where we can unwind and recharge. Most will see a swing towards positive thinking after consistent exercise.

Family Bonding: A home gym can also be a place to involve the family in fitness activities, creating fun and healthy bonding time. The number of times my kids saw me on the treadmill and said they want to go next are countless. 

Practical Tips for Budget Allocation

Setting an appropriate budget for your home gym can be hard. Obviously, you need to know how much you can spend, not just what you want to spend. If you already have boat loads of credit card debt, or are skating by paycheck to paycheck like most, it may not be the time to spend $1000s on gym equipment. However, if you are serious about trying to get some use out of the equipment, and you can financially swing the spend, here is how I would suggest budgeting: 

Workout Frequency: Tailor your budget based on how often you’ll use the gym. If you’re working out 1-2 times a week, it may be better to stick to the lower budgets until you progress to more frequent gym sessions. However, if you are already doing 5+ workouts a week, consider investing more since you know you will get the use out of the equipment. 

Mix and Match: Combine new purchases with second-hand items to stretch your budget further. My treadmill is a hand-me-down from my in-laws. I want to get a new one, but the belt rolls and that is what I need it for. Eventually, I will get a new one, but for now, it does the trick. A free treadmill is for me, and ensures I spend my budget on items I need vs items I want.

Adaptability: Be flexible and willing to adjust your setup as your fitness needs and space constraints evolve. I bought a stationary bike trainer that allows me to unhook my bike and take it outside for a ‘normal’ ride. It means that I buy the bike once, and get two types of uses from that single purchase. 

Maximizing Space and Budget

Multi-Use Equipment: Opt for gear that serves multiple purposes to save space. Remember when I mentioned my bike trainer? I also have a step bench that allows you to do step workouts but is also perfect for certain dumbbell exercises. 

Second-Hand Finds: Always check online marketplaces for deals on used equipment. Many people buy new in January and fall off their new year resolutions by March. You might be able to get some nearly new equipment for a fraction of the new price tag. 

Smart Storage: Use storage bins, wall racks, or under-couch storage to keep your space organized. The Reebok bench opens to hold things like resistance bands and jump ropes. The rest is stored in a small side table specifically for storing workout equipment. 

My DIY Home Gym Suggestions

The lists below build on each other, but you can absolutely pick and choose your favorite items to help form your workouts. For example, I’m into cardio, so I’m more likely to want to spend the majority of my budget on a treadmill, bike trainer, or the like. I am also a fan of bodyweight exercises and resistance exercises. It helps to keep the costs down but also allows you to work out virtually anywhere. I put together a Father’s day gift guide too, which may contain some great adds to this list.

Budget Under $250: The Basics

Ok, so you want to get started, but you don’t have much to work with yet. That’s ok. You DO NOT need top-of-the-line equipment. Here are some of the essentials for creating a DIY home gym on a budget.

• Resistance Bands ($10-$30): These are versatile, portable, and perfect for strength training and stretching exercises. They take up minimal space and can be used for a variety of workouts. Many bootcamps, gym classes, and Orange Theory rely on the use of resistance band exercises. 
• Jump Rope ($10-$20): Ideal for cardio, a jump rope is compact and provides an intense workout. It’s great for quick, effective cardio sessions. This is good if you don’t have cardio equipment like a treadmill or bike. However, it does mean you will need to do this outside or in a room with pretty tall ceilings. It is a cheap option to get started! 
• Foam Roller ($20-$40): Essential for muscle recovery and preventing injuries, a foam roller is a great addition.
• Running Shoes ($45-$100): A good pair of running shoes could be all that you need to satisfy your cardio requirements if you are more into that. 

Why These Items? These basics cover strength, cardio, and flexibility, ensuring you get a well-rounded workout without requiring much space or investment. 

Budget Under $500: Expanding Your Options

Assuming you already bought the DIY home gym essentials in the last budget section, it’s time to add on some new items to explode your gym output and vary your exercises.

• Adjustable Dumbbells ($50-$150): Space-efficient and allow for a variety of exercises. Additionally, they replace the need for multiple sets of weights which can get really expensive really fast. Then there is storage, and as you get stronger you outgrow the smaller weights. A single set of adjustable dumbbells will work great! 
• Stability Ball ($20-$40): Great for core exercises and improving balance, a stability ball is versatile and affordable. You can even use this to sit on at your desk while working to help engage your core. This is another versatile multi-use option. 
• Kettlebells ($30-$100): Excellent for both strength training and cardio. They can be used for a range of dynamic exercises. 
• Used Equipment: Check local listings on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist for affordable finds. You can often find weights or yoga mats at a fraction of the cost to help get you started. 
• Custom Made Items: You can make items if you are a little handy. I didn’t spend much time, and used some wood I already had lying around to build the bike/treadmill table. It lets us watch youtube and more, or read article on the internet (larger font likely required) while working out. I could put more time in to add additional bracing, some hooks for sweat towels, paint or stain, etc,. The table build as is probably costs $15 in materials and 15 minutes in labor.

Why These Items? Adjustable dumbbells and stability balls add more variety to your workouts. 

Budget Under $1000: Building a Versatile Gym

Upgrades: 

• Buy some new equipment: With this budget, you can afford to buy some newer equipment or splurge for that one piece of special equipment
• Workout Bench: I got the Reebok bench because I got used to it when working out at Orange Theory. But it is great because it folds down for step routines, opens up to store resistance bands, and when open also has a reclining high back for certain weightlifting movements.
• Second-Hand Treadmill/Stationary Bike: These can often be found online for a reasonable price and are perfect for those looking to add more cardio options. I opted to ensure this was a mandatory piece of equipment because I love my cardio.

Why These Items? These upgrades focus on adding variety and improving recovery, which is crucial for maintaining a consistent workout routine. 

Budget Over $1000 

At rates over $1000, you are either starting to amass a large collection of small equipment or buying a handful of large equipment. Equipment can get expensive. Buying new will mean purchasing a single treadmill near $1000, but you can likely get that same equipment for $300-$400 second-hand. If you can afford it new, then you do you, otherwise, you can locate some great finds to keep your costs low while amassing a really sweet gym setup. 

My Home Gym

As I mentioned previously, I suggest that you make selections based on your budget and need. That being said, my home gym has a mix of new and used equipment in it, and it takes up about 20% of our basement playroom (hence the train table in the bottom right corner of the picture above)

Treadmill – We opted to go with an old hand-me-down treadmill here. It is heavy, doesn’t fold up, and I am not confident it even tracks distance right, but the belt moves at speeds relative to what I ask it to do, and that is good enough for me for now. I plan to get another used treadmill with more modern features in the near future (maybe as the weather gets a bit colder this year for winter running).

Bike – I had a road bike I bough many years ago, and decided to give a simple indoor trainer a try. It is an attachment that allows you to use your normal bike indoors. I didn’t get a smart trainer, although it may be worth the extra expense if you plan to ride or race on Zwift, of plan to ride more often. Just know that it will jack your budget from about $100 to $500. I find an indoor bike trainer gives 2 advantages: 1) you get to ride the bike you want and get a feel for how it rides vs a different bike. This is more important if you plan to race on that bike too. 2) It’s much cheaper than going out and buying a dedicated indoor trainer bike.

Weights – We got a pair of Bowflex weights that allow you to select the weight. This kept the space needed limited as we didn’t need to buy a full set of weights. It does slightly limit flexibility as even at light weight, the dumbbell remains pretty large and bulky. Convenance may be worth the space savings. That’s probably more personal preference at play.

Reebok Step Bench – This was something I found during my time at orange theory. It is a storage bench, flat bench, upright seat, and folds to lower heights for step workouts. We used it so many different ways that when I decided to set up my own gym, this felt like a no brainer.

Resistance bands – The pack I got is no longer available on Amazon, but there are hundreds of similar packs that you can find there too. These are great as replacements to weights or allows you different types of movements that traditional dumbbells might not be able to offer. I highly suggest a set of resistance bands for your gym whichever way you go.

Conclusion

Creating a DIY home gym is all about finding the right balance between space, budget, and fitness goals. By making informed choices and leveraging both new and second-hand options, you can create a functional and motivating workout environment that fits your lifestyle and budget.