The 10 Best Compact Home Gyms in 2022

A quick look at the best compact home gyms

• Best compact gym on a budget: Tempo Move
• Best compact gym for free weights: NordicTrack Vault
• Best compact gym for cardio: MYX II Plus
• Best compact gym with cable pulleys: Tonal
• Best portable compact gym: TRX All-in-One Trainer
• Best compact gym bench: Technogym Bench
• Best compact gym with tension rods: Bowflex PR 100 Home Gym
• Best compact gym foldable power rack: PRx Performance ONE Fold-In Rack
• Best compact gym full-service power rack: RitFit Power Cage with Bench
• Best compact gym for serious lifters: Force USA G6 All-in-One-Trainer

What is a compact home gym?

A compact home gym aims to offer multiple workout modalities in one unit. Most compact home gyms involve a single piece of workout equipment or a single station that has attachments or options that enable it to function in a variety of ways.

Some home gyms replace strength training stations. Some people simply change the equipment storage so you get more out of the space you have.

Some of the most innovative home gyms offer a variety of options for in- home training that span several styles of exercise, such as strength work, yoga, and cardio, all within the same small footprint of your home.

How they’ve changed

Traditionally, home gyms were designed to replace many of the machines that were found at a gym.

A gym machine that is small enough to fit in a purse might include a squat rack, a seated bench with a leg extension and leg curl attachment, a lat pulldown bar, and a dip station.

The home gym market has changed due to technology, but this type of gym is still widely available. This means a greater focus on cardiovascular and functional training.

How we chose the best compact home gyms

• Price. Compact home gyms typically have a higher price point than individual pieces of gym equipment, given that their role is to replace multiple pieces. That said, the value of each product included here was important. The goal was to determine which compact home gyms offered the best bang for the buck.
• Functionality. A compact home gym should be able to adequately replace high quality gym equipment and workouts without compromising form or features. The amount of resistance provided for strength training workouts was also important.
• Space requirements. The smaller the footprint (based on the features provided), the better.
• Exercise versatility. The more exercises and workouts a piece of equipment could provide, the more points it received.
• Customer reviews. Reviews from real customers, including their stated pros and cons for each piece of equipment, factored into this list.
• Special features. Access to apps, new technology, fitness tracking, and interaction with virtual trainers are just a few of the special features we considered when looking at compact home gym options.

Healthline’s picks of the best compact home gyms

Best compact gym on a budget

Tempo Move

• Price: $
• Pros: This compact system integrates with your TV and iPhone, comes with an attractive and sleek interchangeable dumbbell set, and provides access to many types of workouts streamed to your television. It’s budget-friendly and good for general fitness.
• Cons: The range of dumbbell weights provided may not work for serious lifters; dumbbells are the only equipment included; the system doesn’t integrate with Android devices.

The Tempo Move system is designed for those who don’t have much room to spare but still want access to tech-focused interactive workouts.

The system comes with an Apple dock station that allows you to watch your fitness classes on your TV and also integrate with a leaderboard of other users. You can see how you measure up to other users.

Thousands of workouts are included in the app. There are options for high intensity interval training, yoga, cardio boxing, and mobility work, but there is a focus on strength training.

The system comes with a set of interchangeable dumbbells and a sleek storage cabinet.

There are no live workouts at this time. The system is compatible with newer phones but not with newer phones.

The range of weights provided is sufficient for most general fitness needs but may not be enough for individuals who want to focus on building greater strength.

You have to pay $39 per month for the app to access the classes and integration.

Best compact gym for free weights

NordicTrack Vault Complete

• Price: $$$
• Pros: The large mirrored “vault” for free weight storage also functions as an interactive touch screen for workout videos. The highly compact unit requires less space than most bookshelves. The complete version comes with a fully loaded vault, including 6 pairs of dumbbells, 2 kettlebells, an exercise mat, yoga blocks, and looped resistance bands. Smart gym features provide customized workout tracking and feedback, and a wide variety of workout types is available through the iFit app.
• Cons: It may not appeal to serious weightlifters who want to lift heavier weights or use more traditional strength training machines. And it requires an ongoing monthly membership fee.

“Users looking for a studio-like experience in the comfort of home are opting for mirrored smart home gyms. NordicTrack’s Vault is the brand’s answer to other mirrored gyms on the market, and its unique free weight storage system helps set it apart.”

The NordicTrack Vault is a slim and sleek mirrored unit that’s smaller than most bookshelves. But when you open up the mirror, you’ll find an organized home gym shelving system packed inside.

You can either purchase the complete Vault, which includes 6 pairs of dumbbells, 2 kettlebells, an exercise mat, yoga blocks, and looped resistance bands of 3 resistance levels, or you can purchase the less expensive Vault stand alone.

The mirror allows you to adjust your gym space based on the room you have, so you can see your form and movements from any angle.

The mirror has a touch-screen surface that can be used with the i Fit app. Thousands of studio-style workouts, including strength training, cardio, mobility, and yoga, are provided by this required $39/month subscription service.

“The mirrored surface of the iFit app makes it easy to compare your form to the trainer’s, and the trainer-led videos you can follow along with.”

The Vault is a great option for people looking for studio-style workouts and a wide range of workout types, but it may not be the best option for people who want to follow a serious weight training program.

Best compact gym for cardio

MYX II Plus

• Price: $$$
• Pros: This is a professional-quality indoor cycling bike; the Plus version includes additional strength training and mobility equipment. The BODi membership allows for five user profiles and offers a wide range of exercise videos. The focus on heart rate training allows for personalized feedback on intensity and goals.
• Cons: It’s not ideal for individuals who don’t enjoy cycling. An ongoing membership fee is required. The low range of additional free weights is not appropriate for individuals who want to lift heavier weights.

For individuals looking for a cycling-focused home gym with options for strength training, yoga, and other cardio routines, it’s hard to beat the MYX II Plus. This package includes a high quality, commercially rated stationary bike as well as three pairs of dumbbells, a kettlebell, and three resistance bands.

The bike has a 21.5-inch touch screen that can be used with the BODi app to select from thousands of studio-style workouts. The space surrounding your bike can be used for yoga or strength training.

The Plus package increases the price by $200 and gives you the option to choose from three different dumbbell and kettlebell packages. The heavy package only includes a dumbbell and a kettlebell.

“Strength training additions are good for general-purpose workouts and endurance-based strength training, but they won’t be enough for people who want to lift heavier weights or put on more muscle mass.”

The yearly Beachbody on Demand membership costs $119.88 and costs $19.95 per month. The bike has interactive features, including live classes and personalized workout feedback. The app allows you to create up to five user profiles, which means your whole household can track their own workouts.

Best compact gym with cable pulleys

Tonal

• Price: $$$
• Pros: The interactive training app offers a wide variety of workout types. The adjustable pulley arms allow for up to 100 pounds of resistance per side, much more than many other smart compact home gyms. The smart accessories provide in-the-moment feedback to the interactive system, and the machine provides changes based on the information it receives.
• Cons: The smart accessories (a bar, a bench, handles, a rope pull, a foam roller, and a workout mat) must be purchased separately as a package. This system has one of the highest total costs of all products on this list.

The cable pulley machines are an excellent option for a small home gym because they have a wide range of motion and variety of exercise options, and the resistance is often higher than dumbbell and weight plate sets.

The Tonal home gym is the smart version of a more traditional cable pulley machine, and its functionality is pretty impressive.

The Tonal wall-mounted system has an interactive touch screen that you can use to access the workouts, and two pulley arms that give you feedback on your workout.

“The brand’s smart accessories allow the machine to count your reps and sets and the level of challenge you’re experiencing with each weight-based move, and these arms work with them.”

If the machine senses you are struggling to finish a set, it can help you get through the challenge. It can make adjustments to your workout.

The system provides resistance that is more than enough for most home fitness enthusiasts. The smart accessories package includes a bench, bar, pulley handles, rope pull, foam roller, and a workout mat, allowing for dozens of exercise and workout options.

The foldable arms and touch screen are wall-mounted and can be used to turn almost any space into a home gym.

The required monthly membership will cost you $49 per month, but it includes unlimited user profiles so you can share the system with friends and neighbors.

Best portable compact gym

TRX All-in-One Trainer Bundle

• Price: $
• Pros: This incredibly compact system can easily be packed in the provided storage bag and transported when traveling, exercising outside, or moving between spaces in your home. The bundle includes four resistance bands for a wider variety of workouts. Your purchase includes access to a 30-day trial of TRX Training Club app for streaming workout videos. This is a good option for functional fitness and bodyweight training.
• Cons: This system allows for only bodyweight and resistance band exercises — it’s good for functional fitness but not sufficient for those who want a home gym with cardio workouts or more robust strength training options.

You may not think of a suspension trainer as a compact home gym, but that’s exactly what it is — a piece of equipment that reduces the need for many other pieces of gym equipment.

The bundle includes a storage bag, suspension trainer, four variable-resistance bands, a bottle, and indoor and outdoor attachment and anchor.

You can use the suspension trainer to perform a wide range of exercises. You can do assisted pullups, rows, assisted pistol squats, pushups, and balance-based reverse lunges.

The initial purchase includes a 30-day free trial of the TRX Training Club app, which offers a wide range of workout videos featuring the TRX and resistance bands.

The home gym is great for people who want to do functional fitness workouts, but not for people who want to do heavy strength training.

It is important to note that suspension moves can be modified for all fitness levels, but beginners might find it more difficult to use.

Best compact gym bench

Technogym Bench

• Price: $$$
• Pros: The system comes loaded with a wide range of free weight equipment, including 3 sets of weighted knuckles, 3 resistance bands of varying resistance levels, and 5 pairs of dumbbells ranging from 5–20 pounds. The storage features are sleek and unobtrusive. The Technogym app offers hundreds of workout videos, and the bench can facilitate more than 200 exercises.
• Cons: The limited range of included weights may not meet the needs of more serious strength trainers, and the app offers fewer workout options than some other smart home gyms. The bench isn’t adjustable. The total cost of the items included is higher than those of similar products — you pay for the design, style, and brand as much as the items themselves.

“Many home gym systems don’t include the bench in the purchase price, which is a critical component of a home gym. The Technogym Bench is the center of the system and a sleek storage unit for the resistance training equipment.”

The bench has built-in storage for resistance bands, weighted knuckles, and dumbbells. It can be used for a variety of exercises.

The app includes hundreds of on-demand workouts compatible with the equipment provided, and new programs are added weekly. Functional strength training, yoga, cardio, core, and mobility are some of the options available for workouts.

The weighted knuckles are not usually seen in home gym systems. These are helpful for increasing the intensity of kickboxing.

That said, the bench doesn’t have an adjustable incline, which limits the exercise options.

The total price of the equipment would be much lower if you were to buy it separately. You are paying for the design and storage of the Bench as much as you are for the equipment.

Best compact gym with tension rods

Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym

• Price: $$
• Pros: The tension rod resistance system makes this compact home gym lighter and more portable than many other strength training-focused compact home gyms. The built-in rowing station offers options for cardio workouts. The system provides resistance of up to 210 pounds — sufficient for most individuals who want to strength train regularly. This is a good base model for a lower cost home gym.
• Cons: Tension rods aren’t the same as lifting free weights or using machines — the resistance increases as the rods bend, more like stretching a resistance band, and some strength trainers may not like the difference. The system offers fewer exercise options than most other Bowflex home gym units and lacks smart gym features such as interactive workouts and progress tracking.

The weight of the equipment makes it heavy, clunky, and expensive to use in a strength focused home gym. The power rod resistance system of Bowflex allows the brand to make lighter weight home gyms at a lower cost without compromising the sturdiness of the equipment.

The PR 1000 home gym is an affordable base model that makes it easy to perform up to 25 different gym-style strength training exercises and includes a rowing station for cardio workouts.

“The exercise flexibility, along with the price and the resistance provided by the tension rods, make this a good option for fitness enthusiasts who don’t feel the need for a gym.”

The built-in rowing station is a nice option for those who want a cardio workout but place it lower on the priority list. There are no studio-style workouts, smart features, or apps to spice things up. This is a solid compact home gym at a good price, without the bells and whistles.

Best compact gym foldable power rack

PRx Performance ONE Fold-In Rack

• Price: $$
• Pros: The sturdy rack supports up to 1,000 pounds of weight, and the wall-mounted system folds when not in use, making it one of the most compact gyms available for serious strength trainers.
• Cons: The cost is for the rack only — all other equipment, including benches, bars, weight plates, suspension trainers, and heavy resistance bands, must be purchased separately.

When it comes to a compact home gym, strength athletes who love to lift heavy free weights should consider purchasing a high quality squat rack.

The PRx Performance ONE Fold-in Rack is a wall-mounted high quality rack that can be used for everything from pullups and bench presses to squats and deadlifts.

The pullup bar is great for using with heavy resistance bands or suspension training systems to allow for more flexibility in the workouts.

When not in use, the PRx Performance One Fold-in Rack literally folds up into the wall, requiring only about 7 inches of space. This makes it a great choice for a garage gym or a gym incorporated into a multifunctional living space.

The cost of the rack includes the rack itself, so you have to purchase those separately. The costs can add up when it comes to Olympic barbells, benches, and weight plates.

The rack can be used for a wide range of total-body exercises if you purchase additional weights and accessories. It can support up to 1,000 pounds of weight, which is great for weightlifters.

The rack is pricey because you pay for the space-saving design as much as the rack itself.

Best compact gym full-service power rack

RitFit Power Cage with Bench

• Price: $$
• Pros: This is a heavy-duty power cage for traditional strength training workouts. It comes with a wide range of accessories to facilitate even more gym-style exercises and is a great option for strength athletes who love training with free weights. The pulley system allows for additional strength training moves, and a bench is included.
• Cons: Olympic bars and weight plates are not included — purchasing these items can add a significant cost to the bottom line. The rack doesn’t offer any apps or smart features and is not a great option for those who want to do cardio workouts.

The power cage with bench is a good option for serious weightlifters who want to replace the free weight stations at the gym in their home.

The Power Cage comes with a pulley system, bar holders, safety bars, and a lat pulldown option.

The home gym provides commercial-level strength training for heavy lifters. The rack can hold up to 1,000 pounds of weight, more than enough for most people.

All barbells and weight plates must be purchased separately. This can get expensive if a user wants access to a lot of weight.

“The rack doesn’t offer smart features or integrated apps to access workout programs. This home gym doesn’t have built-in options for those who want to do cardio.”

Best compact gym for serious lifters

Force USA G6 All-in-One Trainer

• Price: $$$$
• Pros: This is an extremely versatile and compact home gym for serious strength athletes. It provides options for free weight-based barbell/plate exercises and pulley-based weight stack exercises and includes a wide variety of accessories to further promote exercise versatility.
• Cons: This is the most expensive compact home gym on this list. Weight plates, benches, and bars must be purchased separately, adding to the total cost. It does not have any smart features or an integrated app to access trainer-led workouts.

The Force USA G6 All-in-One trainer is the most robust and robust trainer on this list. The rack is enough for most home exercisers to work out at a weight of around 1,000 pounds.

The strength training gym has two 200 pound plate stacks that allow you to train with up to 400 pounds of resistance. You can purchase barbells and weight plates that you can use to perform additional free weight exercises.

Attachments for pullups, landmines, lat pulldowns, leg press, suspension training, dips, and squats are included.

“The Force USA G6 trainer is one of the most versatile home gyms that is appropriate for those who want to lift heavy weights, but it is also the most expensive on this list, and that doesn’t include the cost of the additional accessories.”

“The Force USA G6 trainer doesn’t include smart workout- tracking features or easily integrated cardio workouts.”

The compact home gym is great for weightlifters, but it is also a good option for beginners who would rather use a pin than load and unload their weights.

A quick comparison of the best compact home gyms

Here is a quick look at how our picks compare.

Benefits of a compact home gym

The true benefit of this type of product is that it is versatile, and it is a big benefit for those living in cramped quarters.

This type of home gym is more than one hit wonder. Gyms that are small are designed to maximize the number of exercises and types of workouts you can perform in a small space.

Modern home gyms are opening doors for a wide range of functional fitness workouts, while focusing on less space and fewer machines, because they are less expensive.

Compact home gyms give users access to high quality workouts, high quality equipment, a wide variety of exercises, and a way to improve all areas of functional fitness (strength, cardio, flexibility, and body composition), all within the same small footprint at home.

Some older research in older adults suggests that a multimodal approach to fitness may be especially beneficial for overall health (1).

Compact home gyms can help people reach their health and fitness goals.

How to choose a compact home gym

Before you make a decision on which gym is best for you, think about the types of exercise you want to do.

If you want to do strength training with resistance, you should consider how much resistance you need, what type of exercises you want to do, and whether you want an app or interactive training tool to help guide your program.

If you want to lead your own workouts, or follow along with an instructor, you should think about what type of workouts you want to perform.

Determine how much space your home has before you start doing exercises. Some home gyms are small and can be moved or stored into your living environment when not in use.

Smaller home gym can offer space savings compared to a more robust home gym, but still need a lot of square footage. Consider the space you have and the type of system you have.

“Don’t forget the importance of budget. The price of a compact home gym can be as high as $4,000. The initial cost is just the beginning.”

“Monthly membership fees are required for some tech-focused home gyms. Some home gyms don’t have all the weights you might want. You need to be prepared to pay more than the base price to get access to all the features you want.”

Frequently asked questions

Who can benefit from an at-home gym?

Setting up a gym at home is a good idea for anyone who is committed to working out at home. The benefits of at- home gym are only transferred if you actually use the gym.

If you are more motivated by being in a gym environment or working out with other people, a home gym may not be a good investment.

What’s the minimum size for an at-home gym?

The minimum size is the space you need to move freely from a fixed point in the gym. If you are 6 feet tall, you would want a square of 6 to 8 feet to move within.

When choosing an at- home gym, you should consider the floor and ceiling room you have available for the equipment you will be purchasing, and estimate how much additional space you need to comfortably use the equipment.

For instance, some of the mirror compact home gyms, like the NordicTrack Vault, require almost zero space to install (you simply hang the unit on the wall), but you still need to have enough open space in front of the mirror to follow along with the workouts and use any additional equipment (like dumbbells, mats, or kettlebells).

What’s the best flooring for a compact home gym?

The type of equipment you purchase will affect the flooring for a small gym.

“If you’re going to be doing basic home gym exercises with limited equipment, you may need foam mats or a yoga mat to help protect your floors from scuffs or scratches, and to make the exercises more comfortable on your hands or knees.”

If you are buying a heavy home gym unit or lifting heavier weights, you may want to consider investing in rubber flooring to protect your home from weight-related damage.

The bottom line

The best option when it comes to home gym is the one you actually use. Purchase a home gym because it is trendy or interesting, but because it offers the types of programs and workout formats you are personally motivated to complete.

“If you don’t use the home gym you buy, it won’t do you any good. Before you spend money on a home gym, remember to think about your goals, interests, plans, space, and budget.”