10 Best Home Gyms For All Budgets (Updated Reviews 2024)

1. Body Solid BSG10X – Our Top Pick For Most People

Product Specifications

My top pick for the best all-in-one gym is the Body Solid BSG10X, which will be the best option for most people.

This compact all-in-one home gym offers more than 40 upper and lower body exercises.

It is an affordable solution for people wanting to improve general fitness and lose a few pounds in the comfort of their own homes.

The 11-gauge mainframe is solid and stable. A gauge of steel stands for the thickness. Budget home gyms are, for example, 14-gauge, while 11-gauge is considered ideal for a home gym.

There is no need for home gyms to have a lower steel gauge than 11 because it will not be exposed to stress like machines in commercial gyms.

I didn't notice any bad welds with this product, which is very important since cracks, oversized and undersized welds, among other things, can affect the stability and safety and reduce the service life of the equipment.

You will see fancy descriptions like "military spec" or "steel aircraft cables," but what you need to know is that all other parts are also high-quality, including the standard 2,200 lb. tension strength cables, adjustable seat, and weight rack.

The pulley ratio is 1:1. I prefer a 2:1 ratio because it feels smoother, but that's just my preference; there is nothing wrong with a 1:1 ratio, especially at this price point.

You can perform over 40 exercises on the Body Solid BSG10X.

This includes all standard upper body exercises like the lat pulldown, chest press, and cable row. In addition, the BSG10X comes with a harness that you will use for a cable abs workout.

Sometimes, the ab harness that comes with the equipment is uncomfortable, but I didn't have a single complaint about this one.

As for legs, Body-Solid offers a leg press attachment, but you have to buy it separately, and it's not cheap, costing over $300.

You can still perform the leg curl and calf raises without the attachment.

In addition, I’ve tried to be creative and use a low pulley for squats and deadlifts instead. This home gym turned out to be suitable even for those exercises.

You can do the lower cable squat by setting the cable lowest to the ground. Take the appropriate attachment and weight.

Then grab the rope/bar/handle and stand 3 to 5 feet from the machine, depending on how hard you want it to be.

Keep your arms straight while squatting. The 160lb weight stack should be enough for most people.

If you want to do a full-body workout, cardio workouts, and have free weights as well, space can be a problem.

You won't have to worry about space here because the Body Solid BSG10X is a compact model. It is one of the shortest home gyms at 80 inches in height.

Most similar models are 3-5 inches taller, so ceiling clearance can be an issue in bedrooms or basement gyms with low ceilings.

One big bonus for people buying the BSG10X is that it comes 90% pre-assembled in a single, reinforced cardboard box.

So you won't have to become an engineer to decipher the diagrams and assemble it.

Although most home gyms take 5+ hours to put together, this model should be much faster since the cables have been hung and strung by the factory.

It took me just over an hour to put it into operation.

All these positive features with very few downsides made Body Solid BSG10X our top choice for most people.

It is, however, more suited to beginners and intermediate users who want to get toned, lose weight, or maintain a high level of general fitness.

If bulking up is your goal, continue reading, as the next product on our list is for you.

Also Check Out - Complete Body-Solid BSG10X Review

2. Force USA G12 - Top Of The Range

Product Specifications

I had no doubts that the Force USA G12 would be the winner in the "Top Of The Range" category because it is so advanced that it could be used in a commercial gym and not just as a home gym.

At the same time, I was amazed how compact it is considering all the features.

The price will probably catch your attention first. Yes, it is expensive and not for those on a budget. Let's forget the price for a moment, though.

The features of this high-quality home gym should be our focus now.

Force USA G12 is not described as a home gym for beginners, but I still recommend it to everyone, whether you are a beginner or a seasoned bodybuilder.

My opinion is that beginners and bodybuilders need 80% of the same things, at least if beginners want to progress quickly.

That's why I don't think that the Force USA G12 has anything redundant for beginners and has all the advanced features needed for weight and powerlifting home gyms. You can also check out our Force USA G9 review for a cheaper model.

Force USA G12 features nine strength training home gym machines in one. 

The Smith machine, home gym power rack, functional trainer, dip and chin-up station, vertical leg press, core trainer, suspension trainer, and low-row machine in one.

The dual-weight stacks, level of adjustability, and stability do not lag behind the best commercial gym equipment.

In addition, the 12-gauge frame is sturdy, and the limited lifetime warranty is an excellent sign that the frame will last for decades.

It is possible to do over 300 different exercises on this machine. 

Whether I was doing cable crossovers, squats on the Smith machine, or dips, this home gym turned out to be perfect and I am yet to notice any flaws with this home gym.

One of my favorite features is the handle size, which are ideal and easy to use. I also have to mention the angles that are perfect for maximum muscle activation.

The sufficiently large weight stack and simplicity of changing weight plates are just some more characteristics that make it second to none.

Two 200 lb weight stacks guarantee that even weightlifters will be satisfied, especially with a pulley ratio of 1:1, which means you will feel 100% of the weight.

There's even a landmine station, which allows you to hit your pecs, shoulders, and other muscle groups from a different angle.

Storage hooks for power rack accessories are very handy, and the weight plate storage consists of six plate holders that are 8 inches long, which is more than enough.

The vertical barbell storage is suitable for both an Olympic barbell and a standard barbell and will help you keep your space neat.

Every experienced exerciser knows that keeping home gym setups tidy takes work, especially after finishing barbell exercises.

The protective rubber on the j-hooks helps prevent scratches to the barbell, and this is just one of the many indicators that the manufacturer paid attention to every detail.

In addition, the j-hooks are solid and can safely hold heavy weights. The weight capacity of the home gym squat rack is also great.

Once it is delivered, I advise getting at least one person to help you put it together. The 28-page PDF manual and a large number of different parts suggest that you will need help to do it.[1]

Although there are holes in the feet, keep in mind that you cannot anchor the G12 to the floor. It's big and heavy, though, so you don't have to worry about stability even without anchors.

Remember that the warranty is only valid when used in a private indoor home setting by home occupants.

Use in commercial settings (commercial gyms, hotels, and apartment complexes) voids the warranty.

Whether you want a bodyweight workout, strength training, or functional training for a specific sport, Force USA G12 is the only home gym you will ever need.

Need more detail? See my full Force USA G12 Review

3. Marcy MWM-988 - Top Budget Pick

Product Specifications

Newbies and even intermediate exercisers on a budget only need so many machines, parts, and accessories in their basements.

People who sit 8+ hours daily just want light physical activity, and their goal is not to become Mr. Olympia. If that's you, then the Marcy MWM-988 is the best buy.

MWM-988 is the best compact home gym on the market, perfect for upper-body workouts. I've found the 150lb weight stack enough for arms, back, chest, and core.

Although cables cannot be as effective as free weight exercises, using this home gym, I’ve activated the entire upper body workout without using dumbbells and other types of weights.

It is also adapted to cable leg exercises, and you can do curls, leg extensions, and kicks. Even so, I didn't find it as efficient for the lower body as it is for the upper body.

The resistance seemed insufficient to me, but I believe that beginners will be satisfied.

The 14-gauge steel does not suggest that the frame is powerfully built, especially compared to the 11-gauge mainframe of the Body Solid BSG10X.

Having said that, it is more solid than expected in the flesh and good enough for home use.

A few customers complained that the Marcy MWM-988 arrived all banged up, but mine arrived without visible signs of damage. It is not very easy to assemble or disassemble this Marcy home gym.

You can put it together yourself, but if you are not experienced with putting furniture together and don’t have all the usual tools, it will take you a few hours.

So if you want to shorten the work, ask someone to give you a hand. With the help of my colleagues, I managed to halve the time it would have taken me otherwise.

I would prefer a longer warranty period than the 2-year limited warranty the company offers.

If Body-Solid can provide you with a 10-year warranty on a frame in a similar price range, there is no reason for Marcy to lag behind.

If you are looking for a model under $1000, don't look any further. You won't find a better one than the Marcy MWM-988 since it is versatile and sturdy, yet compact.

See Related - Complete Marcy MWM-988 Review

4. Force USA G6 - Best Value Pick For Serious Bodybuilding

Product Specifications

"Best Budget Pick For Bodybuilding" may be misleading because "budget" associates us with something relatively affordable or even cheap. Unfortunately, Force USA G6 is by no means cheap.

However, you cannot achieve significant bodybuilding results with budget models.

The G6 is cheaper than the G12, which we have already analyzed, and other models belonging to the premium category of all-in-one home gyms.

The G6  and G12 combine the same 9 strength training machines and stations:

The Force USA G6 and G12 share many similarities. Therefore, I will not discuss the similarities, but I will focus more on their differences.

The biggest difference is the pulley ratio of the cable machine. The G6 features a 2:1 pulley ratio, so even though it has 20 lb heavier weight stacks, you will feel the reduced load.

This is certainly not something that should discourage you from buying this all-in-one home gym, though.

I tried all the cable exercises on it and didn't notice that the weight was inadequate for bodybuilding.

Another significant contrast is counterbalancing. The Smith machine is not counterbalanced.

When the Smith machine is counterbalanced like the G12, then the starting weight of the empty bar is 0 lbs.

When it's not counterbalanced, the starting weight is the full weight of the bar - 45 lbs.

I hardly noticed that distinction, but it can be a problem for newbies who may not be strong enough to do squats or some other smith machine exercises with 45 lbs. 

It has band pegs and the best pulley position that does not interfere with j-hooks. Both features are very practical. My bands have not once slipped off the band pegs.

I also have to mention the pulley adjustment mechanism, too, since it is user-friendly. I moved it using only one hand more than once.

If you need a bench, additional barbell, and bumper plates, it is best to order it together with the home gym so they can deliver it all at once, because they are not included with the purchase of the G6. Of course, those additional purchases will affect the price.

The Force USA G6 is about 7 inches narrower than the G12, which is significant if you're tight on space. G6 is actually the narrowest of all Force USA models (don’t worry, it is wide enough).

This best bodybuilding home gym is a bit higher, so since it is narrower and taller, the stability could be compromised if it isn’t bolted down.

That's why I advise you to immediately use the bolt holes to anchor the rack to the floor. Once you do that, you can safely do pull-ups and chin-ups.

This is also a difference between these two models since G12 doesn't have bolt holes.

We have yet to find a single home gym in this price range (between $2000-$4000) on the market that can compete with the Force USA G6 in terms of adaptability, quality, and warranty.

5. BodyBoss 2.0 - Best Portable Resistance Training System

Product Specifications

Let me present something completely different - the best portable home gym.

Portable home gyms like BodyBoss 2.0 became famous many years ago, and honestly, I was never a big fan of them.

That being said, such training home gym systems have been significantly improved over the years and are now better than ever, especially if you travel as much as I do.

Even before the start of testing, I had high expectations, primarily because of the number of 5-star ratings on Amazon.

It is important to emphasize that you should have realistic expectations from BodyBoss 2.0 and all similar portable home gyms.

Although the manufacturers advertise them as revolutionary products that will replace all bulky equipment and machines, this is, of course, not entirely true.

If you have ever trained in a gym, it is clear that such a small device cannot simulate all machines and free weights.

That's why you can't expect the same results as when you go to the gym or use Force USA G6.

All this does not detract from the overall value of BodyBoss 2.0.

On the contrary, if you use it regularly, you will significantly improve your fitness level because it is beneficial both for strength and cardiovascular endurance.

You can equally stimulate the upper and lower body successfully. I find it very effective in rehabilitation, especially when you have had a soft tissue injury.[2]

During the testing, I had a lingering hamstring injury suffered in a tennis match. That injury prevented me from doing deadlifts and hamstring curls on a cable machine.

The good news is that I was able to perform various exercises on the BodyBoss 2.0 pain-free.

Such injuries sometimes react poorly to free weights and sudden efforts such as sprinting, so the resistance levels offered by the bands are what you need to speed up your recovery.

The same applies when you need to train around an injury.

The BodyBoss 2.0 may be the only part of your home gym, but it is even more useful as an addition to home fitness equipment, which you will use for recovery and reaching different fitness goals.

It is effortless to set up, and you can change the resistance by shortening or lengthening the resistance bands to help build muscle.

The platform is stable when standing with both feet on it, but be careful when doing single-leg exercises because the platform is lightweight and can start to move a bit.

Try with some other piece of equipment for counterbalance and maybe a yoga mat beneath.

If you notice that the two resistance bands included with BodyBoss 2.0 are not enough for you, you can buy more BodyBoss resistance bands on Amazon or the official website or elsewhere since the platform is compatible with different bands. 

I tried it with bands made by other manufacturers, and there were no problems.

All in all, the BodyBoss 2.0 is a great all-in-one trainer for all those who like this type of training, as well as for those in need of a portable training system due to frequent trips or lack of space for a large home gym.

Learn More - Our Complete BodyBoss 2.0 Review

6. Tonal - Best High-End Smart Home Gym

Product Specifications

Since we have smart refrigerators, ovens, and smartphones, why would a smart home gym be an exception?

Many exercisers are reluctant to try smart home gyms because those products hit the market only a few years ago and look like Sci-Fi movie props.

If you are a tech-head plus fitness enthusiast, you will surely appreciate the Tonal smart gym, which is miles ahead of the competition.

It is also significantly more expensive than the competition, but the number of advanced features puts it in the big league, where it is currently the only member.

At first glance, Tonal may not seem as complex as it is. It resembles a cable machine with two adjustable arms and handles at the end, plus a touchscreen.

It is definitely the nicest home gym if you are going for aesthetics alone.

Electromagnets are the heart and soul of this high-tech wall-mounted home gym. They produce up to 200 pounds of resistance, which is enough even for gym addicts.

Seventeen sensors are there to take care of your every movement and adapt the training to your current condition at all times.

I can confirm that Tonal is very intuitive, probably more than I expected.

The software calculates what you need right now, analyzes past workouts, and then suggests whether a specific muscle group is recovered and ready.

Take into account that the software isn't the absolute authority on your muscle recovery, especially if it shows yellow and not red.

Twice during testing, I ignored the advice because I knew my muscles were fully recovered and ready to go, but for that, you need a certain level of experience.

Tonal has five dynamic weight modes:

Each of these home gym modes mimics, for example, a gym partner or weightlifting chains. Again, I was pleasantly surprised by how natural everything felt.

Six-axis gyroscopes found in the smart handles activate adaptive weight.

Although it's not the same, the closest I can compare the feeling is with the DualSense wireless controller for PS5, which has adaptive triggers.

It's just one of the things you get in the smart accessories bundle with the smart bar, bench, and other things.

I could continue listing the other features, but I believe you are intrigued and will want to try it yourself.

The manufacturer recommends having a 7' x 7' feet space with 7' 10" ceilings, but I tried it in a smaller space and still had enough room for a high-intensity workout.

The grounded outlet must be available nearby. For security reasons, you cannot install it yourself; the Tonal team must do it for you.

You will have to pay extra for installation, and my opinion is that the company deserves criticism for that.

If professional installation is mandatory, it should be included in the price, which is already high enough.

The installers were polite and obviously experienced - they completed the whole job in less than an hour.

I had a really fun time testing it. You may or may not like the concept of a smart gym with on-demand classes, but I think everyone should try it, especially with a 30-day home trial available, since it is by far the best smart home gym.

7. Body Solid EXM2500S - Highly Rated By Users

Product Specifications

It didn't take me long to understand why Body Solid EXM2500 is highly rated by users. Or, to be more precise, it didn't take me long after I assembled it, but more on that later.

The first two things I noticed were how stable the 12-gauge high tensile strength steel frame is and the comfort of the seats. I experienced no instability even when using all 210lb.

There are six workout stations:

This home gym machine is compatible with a leg press attachment, which is not cheap but will make your home gym complete.

From my point of view, it is definitely a good investment. I like the position of the leg press and how it hits the quadriceps without putting too much stress on the knees.

Whether you buy a leg press attachment or not, the EXM2500 is suitable for a full-body workout.

It has all the necessary accessories, such as an ab strap and ankle strap for cable exercises like hamstring curls and kickbacks.

Ankle straps tend to slip off the leg while doing exercises, but the ones you get with the Body-Solid EXM2500 are very good.

I believe that you will not need to change them unless you already have your favorites.

I really like the angle of the press arm. It made my pecs quite sore for a few days. Like 99% of home gyms, Body Solid EXM2500 is more oriented towards the upper body than the lower body.

Information about the ratio for pulleys is not available, which is strange, but I have the impression that it is 2:1 pulley ratio. It just doesn't feel like the full 210 lbs.

After reading reviews, I knew that putting together this home gym would not be a piece of cake, but I didn’t expect rocket science either. I was wrong.

You can download the 56-page PDF assembly manual on the official website.[3] Yes, you read that right - 56 pages.

If I hadn't read so many reviews where people complained about the assembly process, I would have thought it was my general lack of skill for such tasks to blame.

However, I'm pretty sure that even a professional wouldn't be able to put this together quickly.

My advice is to put the boxes in the basement and wait for the weekend to assemble it because you will need time and focus.

Body-Solid EXM2500 is not the most compact home gym, so you better make enough floor space for it. It is not that wide, but it is long at 83”.

We just can't finish this review without mentioning the warranty. The residential lifetime warranty, not only on the frame but on the entire machine, is incredible.

This home gym offers excellent value for money and a lifetime warranty makes it one of the best, if not the best, investments in home gyms.

Over 100 users have given this one a high review rating, and we think you will too.

Also Check Out - Body Solid EXM2500S Review

8. REP Fitness FT-3000 - Best Home Gym Functional Trainer

Product Specifications

As soon as I started researching the Internet for functional trainers to test, the REP Fitness FT-3000 stood out as my favorite cable machine.

Tests further confirmed that it is the winner in this category.

This functional trainer is narrow enough to fit through a standard doorway, which speaks of its compactness and, therefore, functionality in small spaces where REP Fitness FT-5000 would be too bulky.

The FT-3000 is a versatile all-in-one functional trainer with 15 cable positions so you can perform every exercise correctly.

And not only that, but by changing the cable position, you will be able to stimulate the muscle in different ways in order to prevent stagnation.

It features two 180 lb weight stacks with a 2:1 pulley ratio - thus, the maximum effective load is 90 lbs per side. That will be more than enough for every upper-body exercise.

In addition, built-in pull-up handles are there for combining bodyweight exercise with cables for the best possible results.

I checked the welds on the pull-up bars before I hung my full weight on the bars. Everything is stable and safe.

You can undoubtedly do certain lower body exercises using lower cable positions such as the cable squat, but for bulking leg workouts, you will have to buy free weights.

REP could add some more accessories for the FT-3000 all-in-one trainer because I expected more of them when I ordered a product costing over $2000.

Nevertheless, it is not a major downside since the accessories you get are sufficient to get you started, and you can always buy a few more.

The rope, v-bar, and single-handle cable attachments are included. They are comfortable, and I have the impression that they are durable.

This is especially true of the rope attachment, which often frays quickly.

Luckily, the two sides come pre-assembled. After that, it is up to you to assemble the other parts, including the pulleys, which is not very challenging. I did it in less than 2 hours.

The heavy-duty 12-gauge steel frame is covered with a lifetime warranty, and other parts are covered with a 1-year warranty too.

That is important since there are at least three customers who complained about pulleys. During testing, everything worked perfectly, but you never know; it's better to be safe than sorry.

The twelve movement options demonstrated on the placard are just a fraction of what you can do on the FT-3000.

Do not limit yourself to only 12 cable machine exercises, but search the Internet for on-demand classes. Or you can take advantage of workouts on our website.

The REP Fitness FT-3000 has everything I've come to expect from a functional trainer in this price range ($2,000 to $3,000).

They will help you stay in shape and grow muscles, taking up significantly less space than bulky models that do not have significantly more functions.

9. Marcy MD-9010G - Best Budget Smith Machine Home Gym

Product Specifications

This is much more than just a regular Smith machine used in the home gym.

The MD-9010G is a multifunctional training system that, in addition to the Smith machine, also features a Scott bench and high cable crossovers, plus an adjustable weight bench press.

All those different parts allow you to do over 100 exercises.

For example, you can use the Smith machine for bench presses, squats, deadlifts, overhead presses, and many other strength training exercises.

It is one of the best home gym squat machines I've tried so far, and I have tried quite a few.

The Scott bench is highly effective for biceps. I have had problems with radial and ulnar nerves when doing biceps curls on the Scott bench, but this one has thick, comfortable padding.

The high cable crossovers give an extra dimension to your workout.

There is no weight stack, so you will use weight plates (not included) for cable crossover, leg extension, calf raises, etc.

That is good since you can add as much weight as you want, and a weight stack can't offer that.

The Marcy Smith Machine Home Gym MD-9010G comes with the following accessories:

I don't think you will need to buy any additional accessories. While I was using it, I never felt I was missing anything. Even a foot plate and weight storage pegs are included.

And now, a few things are missing, and those things would make the MD-9010G flawless. The first thing is certainly the pull-up bar.

The frame is sturdy, so I don't understand why the pull-up handles are omitted.

Cable crossovers are wide enough to provide enough space, at least for chin-ups, if not for a wide-grip pull-up.

I advise not trying to modify the machine and add pull-up handles because any modification will void the warranty.

Two more things are the band anchor and landmine attachment, although these are less important compared to pull-up handles.

Overall, all these do not affect the final grade, but Marcy missed the opportunity to make a unique product in this price range.

I was pleased with the installation process, level of craftsmanship, and size. A padded bench is comfortable, and I don't expect signs of wear and tear to appear anytime soon.

Warranty is not one of its strong points since it comes with a 2-year limited warranty like most of Marcy's products.

The Smith machine has been the single most useful piece of equipment in the gym since the 50s when it was invented.

And the Marcy MD-9010G is even more than just the Smith machine because it features a Scott bench and other accessories.

This is the perfect model if you want to train at home like in a commercial gym, without breaking the bank.

Related Article - Marcy MD-9010G Complete Review

10. Rogue Fitness Castro V2 Rig - Best Outdoor CrossFit Home Gym

Product Specifications

Rogue Fitness is the world's most famous manufacturer of gym equipment, and CrossFit is the king of high-intensity interval training.[4]

That’s why we decided that the tenth product on our list should be an outdoor CrossFit home gym made by Rogue.

The Rogue Fitness Castro V2 Rig is certainly not a product for everyone.

It is an improved version of the Castro Rig and is a fantastic choice for those who have had the previous model, as well as for those who prefer CrossFit gym equipment, calisthenics, and outdoor training.

You will immediately notice that every part of the Casto Rig V2 is of high quality and sturdy. You just need to assemble it, use concrete anchors, and it is ready to use.

The powder coat finish is weather-resistant, so once you install it, you don't have to dismantle it when winter comes.

However, don’t forget to move the TRX Home2 system for suspension training, weight plates, and other body weight workout equipment indoors during winter.

It is way too tall for home use, so if you live somewhere cold and wet most of the year, you are not the right person for any outdoor home gym unless you have a hangar in your yard.

Although every outdoor CrossFit home gym has limitations, that has nothing to do with the Rogue Fitness Castro V2 Rig, which is a top-level product and will satisfy anyone in the market for outdoor home gyms.

Considering Buying A fORCE USA home gym?