Sheds For Home Gyms (Design Ideas & DIY Build Advice)

Purchase Considerations When Buying A Gym Shed 

If you don't already have a shed to convert or find your existing shed isn't going to hold up, you will need to buy a new one.

Before you head to the local home improvement store, there are a few factors worth considering. 

Shed Size

The size of the shed and how much space you need for your gym equipment may be the most important factor. Not only do you need enough floor space for you and your equipment, but you also need all the space around the machines to perform exercises and routines. 

Not only that, but the access point of the shed needs to be large enough to get your equipment inside. Racks, benches, and other equipment may be able to break down and reassemble, but some may not. 

It's important that you carefully measure how much space you need, and check the specifications to see how much space the shed offers. The requires can vary depending on your workout style and exercise routine, but don't skip this step!

Foundation Requirements 

A strong foundation is required for a shed to hold all the equipment and handle the jumping, landing, dropped weight plates, and more. 

It is always advised to use a concrete slab to put the shed on. However, this may not always be possible. 

When it is not, adding more floor joists to shorten the joist length or additional subfloor material to add more support is the way to go. 

Shed Materials 

Sheds come in many different materials. Wood and aluminum are the most common, but you can also get plastic, tin, and sheet metal.

Most people are best with wood because it's the most sturdy and uniform and also gives you ample studs to hang shelving or mount racks onto.

Shed Layout 

Placement 

Organizing and measuring the inside is important, but so is where you place the shed. Most people want it to be in the backyard, but you may need to place your gym shed in another location. 

This could include the head of a driveway, in the side yard, or even on the back patio. 

Wherever you decide to place the shed, make sure it is stable, on a good foundation, and easy to access. 

Design & Quality 

The design of the shed should match the décor of the outside of your home. It should also have large doors and ventilation, at a minimum.

High-quality sheds of a size large enough for a gym aren't going to be cheap, but the investment will pay for itself over time.

If you short the quality of the shed upfront to save money, you will end up spending more in the long run on repairs, replacement, or even starting over from scratch. 

Price 

Home gyms tend to be a lot cheaper in the long run compared to a commercial gym membership, but price is still going to be a major factor in choosing your shed gym.

You want a shed that is durable, rugged, and looks good. It needs to perform just as well as your gym equipment, and the price will reflect that. High-quality sheds can cost several thousand dollars. 

However, they will come with almost everything you need to get started with your new home gym right from the start.

Warranty 

Most brand name, high-quality sheds will also come with a warranty. However, you need to read the warranty carefully as "home gym" may not be under the approved wear and tear section. Additionally, using your shed outside of intended purposes can void the warranty.

There are some brands that encourage it, though. Tuffshed, for example, actually has wraps and insulation to help convert their sheds to a home gym, which will be covered in their warranties.[1]

Existing Shed Into A Workout Space - Can It Be Done?

If you already have a shed, there is a good chance you can convert it to a home gym and get rid of that commercial gym membership once and for all. 

The first thing to do is to clear out the shed of anything you already have stored inside.

You want a clean slate to take measurements and look at the space without clutter. You will want to measure the floor space and get the actual interior square footage.

However, you also want to measure ceiling height to know where you have the most headroom and extra space for tall equipment.

Once you have your measurements, you need to look closely at the gym equipment you have or plan to purchase.

Width, length, and height are all important in your gym shed, of course, but don't forget to add the extra room around the equipment for access and movement while lifting.

The most important factors for existing sheds to have are:

If your current shed fits the bill, you can get to work right away. It is suggested to pay the most attention to the flooring, adding a concrete slab or additional subfloor material for added support.

Creative Ideas For Converting Your Shed Into A Home Gym 

After you clear out your shed, you want to clean it thoroughly. Make sure the flooring and walls are in good repair and that the roof doesn't leak. 

If you are going to add subfloor support, extra floor joists, or insulation and drywall, now is the time. Once that is done (or skipped), you should add your storage. With a proper plan, you should have an idea of where everything will go. 

Adding larger doors or extra windows will allow for more natural light, which can help if you haven't been able to add electricity to the shed yet. 

Then, all that is left to do is bring in your equipment, mount the racks and cages as needed and put everything together.

Common Home Gym Shed FAQs

What type of equipment can be put in a home gym shed? 

For the most part, you want to stick to the basics. Weight racks, benches, and cardio equipment are the most common.

When it comes to apparatuses and devices, you will want compact, foldable, or multi-use functionality to get the most out of your space. 

Do you need a permit to build a shed? 

You may need the approval of your home owner’s association, and the city code or inspectors may need to take a look.

However, in most areas and cities, a permit for a shed is not required. If, though, you pour a foundation, attach it to the home, or otherwise make it permanent, then you might need a permit. Contacting the building inspection department of your local city hall will confirm for you. 

Is it cheaper to build a shed from raw materials or buy a shed? 

A lot will depend on the build materials, size, and location of the shed. In most cases, a pre-built and professionally assembled shed will be cheaper than buying the raw materials and building the shed yourself.

However, there are some cases when you may save a lot of money by building it yourself, especially if you are making a shed outside the size range of a typical backyard shed. 

Are plastic, metal, or wood sheds better? 

For home gyms spaces, wood sheds tend to be the optimal choice. You can add shelving, insulation, and drywall to a wood shed that plastic sheds can't handle.

Metal sheds are sturdy and durable but offer less climate protection, forcing you to come up with alternative means of heating and cooling, whereas a wooden shed has natural temperature control.[2]

Conclusion

Having a home gym can save you time, money, and frustration compared to having a commercial gym membership. Where your home gym is located, though, can also make a huge difference.

If you don’t have a garage, basement, or spare room to convert to a gym, you may be able to make use of your backyard.

A shed home gym can be assembled or constructed in a weekend and give you the freedom to work out whenever you feel the urge.

References:

1. https://www.tuffshed.com/one-tuff-home-gym/

2. https://plasticinehouse.com/plastic-vs-wood-vs-metal-sheds/