Last Updated On September 19, 2024
Home gyms are the perfect way to make sure your body is getting the exercise that it needs.
In fact, the official National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and US Physical Activity Guidelines during the pandemic recommended at least 150 to 300 minutes of home exercise per week [1].
In this guide, we will tell you everything you need to know about creating the optimum home gym or garage gym space.
It is important to have the right home gym size for your workout needs, and the best size for home gym setups will vary depending on the equipment and routines you plan on doing.
What Affects The Size Of My Home Gym? (Space Considerations)
There are several different things that can impact your required home gym size dimensions.
These will all depend on the type of space that you have available to you, as well as what you intend to use it for.
The most important considerations are as follows:
Room Size & Shape
Your home gym room size and shape will often be the biggest factor in deciding how much equipment you can cram in, so choose wisely.
In our experience, it is best to choose a large and open room, preferably one that is square or rectangular.
This way, you can fit the most gym equipment inside in an organized manner.
However, if you do not have this available, you can work wonders with a bit of creativity combined with the smart use of all-in-one home gyms.
You can also invest in multi-functional equipment like power racks with lat pulldown bars.
Intended Use
To get the most out of your home gym room size, always plan thoroughly before setting up.
Consider how much space your routines will need, what equipment most efficiently suits your needs, and who else will be using the home gym.
This will allow you to ensure that not an inch is wasted and that your environment is ideally suited to your ultimate fitness goals.
Equipment Size
It may seem obvious, but if you cannot complete your daily workout routine without access to a treadmill, a rowing machine, and a punching bag – make sure that you have enough room to fit all of these items before you begin!
Many pieces of exercise equipment can be bigger and bulkier than expected.
If you are struggling for space for all of your equipment, consider smart options like multi-purpose equipment, bench-free dumbbell presses, and exercise balls.
For folks with very limited space, check out our buying guides for compact equipment below.
Safety Requirements
One problem that often befalls even the most determined bodybuilders is putting gains before personal safety.
However, one serious injury can undo months of discipline and determination.
Make sure you check whether your gym equipment needs to be securely anchored, whether your floor is reinforced enough to withstand the weight, and if your equipment requires a certain amount of free space surrounding it to be used safely.
How Much Space Do I Need For My Home Gym?
As we mentioned earlier, the ideal home gym setup will vary depending on what equipment and routines you are planning on using, as well as what rooms your home has available.
But how much space do you really need? In fact, it may surprise you to find out that the true minimum garage gym size is around 36 square feet.
However, even in this small area, you will be able to create a dedicated space to lay down your mat for calisthenic workouts (crunches, squats, push-ups, jogging on the spot, etc.).
You might even squeeze a single small piece of equipment in – plus, if you have an empty wall, you can always install a pull-up bar.
However, the average home gym size for a reasonably large multi-station apartment size home gym would be between 50-200 square feet.
This will allow you to fit a couple of carefully chosen pieces of equipment inside, especially if you employ expert space-saving tricks such as using adjustable dumbbells and multi-purpose benches.
One big limitation when it comes to home gym size dimensions is the ceiling height. Remember, you will likely often be fully extending your arms above your head.
Of course, this means the minimum ceiling height will vary depending on your individual height, but if the average person is 5’9”, then they will require 9 feet of ceiling space.
If you were wondering about the ideal shed size garage gym dimensions, both the square footage and ceiling space considerations are the same as above.
The only time the above will differ is for a properly equipped CrossFit garage gym size, which will need a 10-foot by 10-foot space in order to safely fit all the equipment and the space to use it safely.
Space Requirements For Common Home Gym Equipment
Below you can find a handy table that breaks down the most popular garage workout equipment and the space required for each item.
That way, you can plan ahead and pick the perfect space for your workout sanctuary!
Exercise Equipment | Square Footage Needed |
|---|---|
Rowing Machine | 20 square feet |
Treadmill | 30 square feet |
Exercise Bike | 10 square feet |
Elliptical Trainer | 30 square feet |
Stair Climber | 10-20 square feet |
Ski Machine | 25 square feet |
Dumbbells | 20-50 square feet |
Single-Station Gym | 35 square feet |
Multi-Station Gym | 50-200 square feet |
Where Should I Put My Home Gym?
There is no definite answer to this question.
The best place for your setup will depend on your home gym size requirements, as well as what rooms you have free.
The following is a list of our favorite potential gym placement options:
Garage
If you have the right size of garage for gym equipment, this is a hard option to beat.
Your garage will likely already be a distraction-free space with access to electricity and good sound insulation.
The likely concrete floor will also provide all the stability and sound absorption you need to handle bulky cardio machines and heavy free weights.
All that remains is to install the garage gym essentials and enjoy your own private sanctuary of self-improvement.
Basement
Another great location boasting the ideal home gym size is a basement, if you have one available to you.
Once again, it provides the perfect soundproofed and distraction-free environment to focus on your routine, with the added bonus that its subterranean setting and solid flooring helps to keep you cool and quiet while you work out.
Basements are usually large and have concrete floors, which is perfect for heavy cardio machines and power racks.
Attic
Again, another perfect location for those who do not wish to be disturbed while they work out.
However, if you plan on doing any vigorous exercise or using heavy equipment, it is vital you have your attic surveyed to ensure that the floor can support all that extra strain.
Anyone living in a warm climate might also want to consider ventilation and cooling, as remember -- heat rises [2].
Spare Room/Bedroom
Have your kids recently flown the nest? Or maybe you have a home office or extra room that is criminally underutilized?
If so, a spare room will likely be perfect for an apartment-size home gym.
Just remember that sound may travel through the floor if you are sharing a large building or have sound-sensitive family members downstairs.
Garden Shed
With a little work and the appropriate available home gym shed size, the length of your garden could quickly become the only commute involved in getting to your fully kitted-out workout area.
Simply make sure you get the floor appropriately reinforced and add some electrical outlets if needed, and you are ready to go!
Walk-In Closet
Even if your home lacks the best size for home gym equipment, you can still be savvy.
Even a walk-in closet can have enough room for a few key pieces of equipment so that you never have to skip leg day.
However, just like a spare room, remember that the sound of your workout may travel through the floor to the rooms directly below.
Garage Gym Pro Tip: If you are struggling with an unforgiving concrete floor or sound traveling throughout the house when you work out, consider laying down some interlocking rubber gym flooring tiles to give you some extra energy and sound absorption!
How Should I Set Up My Gym To Fit The Space?
With a home gym setup, you are truly the one in charge. So, create the perfect space for you!
However, the following is a list of tried and tested techniques for getting the most out of your home gym setup:
FAQs
What do I need in a small home gym?
It really depends on how you define small; even a tiny walk-in closet measuring around 36 square feet is enough for the very basics. The average home multi-station gym setup will require between 50 and 200 square feet, depending on what equipment you plan to use. Any amount of space greater than this, and you are stepping into luxury territory and can really go wild!
How much space is needed to exercise without equipment at home?
The great thing about home workouts is that, with the right exercises, you really only need around 36 square feet in which to lie down in comfort.
The following are a list of exercises you can complete with no (or very minimal) equipment:
What are some popular fitness equipment pieces that save space?
As you are working with a limited amount of space, you will want your exercise area to be as efficient as possible. The following is a list of great space-saving equipment to make the most of your home gym room size:
Remember, many routines require equipment that can be adapted to work without it, for example doing dumbbell presses without a bench!
Conclusion
As long as you have 36 square feet in a room somewhere in your house, you have the minimum garage gym size available to you!
Even if you just use this small space as a stopgap between actual gym visits, you can ensure that you never have to skip a workout again.
To get the most out of your private workout space, the ideal home gym size is between 50 and 200 square feet.
This should give you more than enough room to cram in all the essential equipment safely, given a little imagination and creativity.
We hope this guide has been helpful in setting up your own private personal improvement sanctuary! Happy exercising!
References:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7187829/
2. https://scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=3901
Last Updated on September 19, 2024
