I recently created my own home gym on a budget to make my workouts both more accessible and more affordable for my family. No more paying to work out. No more buying all kinds of massive equipment that takes up a whole room. No more dragging kids out of the house or paying a sitter so you can go to the gym. No more putting yourself and your health last!
This post is all about building you a home gym on a budget so that you can be the best mom possible for your kids!
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Home Gym on a Budget
Why build a home gym?
Working out consistently does a lot more than we realize. It can help reduce stress, improve your mood, boost energy, improve the quality of your sleep, and even help you be more confident. Sometimes working out feels unattainable for moms because of the logistical nightmare of trying to schedule babysitters or daycare in order to get to the gym. Creating a home gym makes working out and each of these benefits more accessible to you.
Additionally, creating your own home gym will help save your family A LOT of money in the long run. The average gym membership costs $50 a month! That is $600 a year before the initiation fees and the gas money to get there. This post breaks down how to create a home gym on a $300, $500, and $700 budget. So no matter which home gym you choose, you will end up spending right around the same amount (or less) than you would have on a gym membership for a year. Except you get to keep your home gym equipment and keep using it year after year! (Or sell it at a premium the next pandemic that rolls around)
How much space do you need to make a home gym?
This home gym on a budget won’t take up a ton of space in your home either! Since so many people are looking for a small home gym set up, I have designed each of these three set ups to be space saving options. In fact, my home gym is set up in the corner of our bedroom in our tiny two bedroom apartment! You don’t need to have a completely separate room or area to create your own home gym.
$300 Home Gym
Gorilla Workout Mat (4x6)
Even a home gym on a budget needs a good mat! Prior to purchasing my Gorilla Mat, I hadn’t found a workout mat that actually stayed in place! The puzzle style workout mats are very affordable but they come apart if you do any sort of dynamic movement such as mountain climbers or burpees. Since most people move when they workout, I didn’t find my puzzle mat to be very effective. This 4×6 Gorilla Mat is extremely affordable and I have absolutely loved it. It stays in place, absorbs shock very well, and is a simple clean look for any workout space. This company also offer this mat in black, gray, and navy blue. It’s the perfect foundation to any home gym.
Dumbbell Set with Stand
If you are just starting working out or getting back into it, this Dumbbell Set is a great option. Buying these three dumbbell sizes altogether is much more cost effective than buying them separately. They also come with a stand to keep your workout space organized. If you need a little more weight for your workouts, check out the adjustable dumbbells in the $500 Home Gym section.
Kettle Gryp
When I used to workout at the gym, I was a huge fan of kettlebell exercises. Once I started working out at home, I quickly came to realize that a set of kettlebells can cost hundreds of dollars. So when I saw this Kettle Gryp on Shark Tank (one of my favorite shows), I knew that I needed to order one. For the price of a single kettlebell, you can turn any dumbbell into a kettlebell, making this a great option for a home gym on a budget.
I was skeptical at first when I ordered it, but it is honestly extremely sturdy and clips at the top to ensure that your dumbbell never comes loose during your workout. I have really enjoyed using the Kettle Gryp alongside my adjustable dumbbells to save on space and money! I will say that the handle on the kettle gryp is slightly bigger than most kettle bell handles. I’ve found I can’t do everything I can do with a standard kettlebell using the bigger handle but it is still a great tool to save money until you can buy a set of kettlebells.
Ball Bearing Adjustable Jump Rope
When you are looking to build a home gym on a budget and/or one that doesn’t take up too much space, treadmills, rowers, ellipticals, and other cardio machines just aren’t practical. When the weather is nice, I enjoy going for a run outside with my stroller. But when its cold or rainy out, jumping rope is a great option that can be done almost anywhere. It requires very little space to use and even less to store.
This Ball Bearing Jump Rope is a great option for a home gym on a budget at it’s very low price. This jump rope rotates smoothly to save your wrists and avoid the annoyance of the rope getting tangled over itself. I have loved using it and will never go back to my old jump rope I used before! The one downside to this rope is that it does have to be cut to length. So, if you plan to share with your husband or friend of a different height, make sure to buy the two pack.
Fabric Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are a must for any home gym on a budget. They open up a whole world of possibilities and can be used to exercise or stretch both your upper and lower body. I personally have owned a lot of silicone resistance bands and found that they always rolled up small and dug into my skin.
So, I went on a search for fabric resistance bands and found these long fabric resistance bands and short fabric resistance bands that I love! The short ones have small silicone strips that keeps them from slipping off when you are using them! I like having both long and short bands for different uses, but if you are trying to save money you can opt to buy the long ones and tie them off when you need a short band.
If you aren’t a big fan of fabric bands, there are also a lot of great silicone mini bands that are under $10. I personally, like to have a set of fabric and a set of silicone bands on hand. (Pro tip: if you order the medicine ball in the next section, they will send you a slip in the box for a free 2 year warranty and free silicone resistance bands!!!)
Mirrors
Wall mirrors are a great addition to any home gym. They allow you to check your form on exercises and also see the progress that you are making. However, wall mirrors can be extremely expensive and you don’t need (or probably want) an expensive mirror in your workout space, as it could get damaged. I personally bought three of Walmart’s door mirrors for only $7 a piece and they have worked great in my home gym. Beware that they do not come with mounting hardware. If you don’t want to mount them to the wall, you can also use 16 pound velcro command strips like I did. They have held up great.
$500 Home Gym
To build this $500 Home Gym, please take all items from the $300 home gym (except for the Dumbbell Set with the Stand) in addition to the following items.
Adjustable Dumbbells
Instead of the dumbbell set I included in the $300 home gym, this home gym set up includes the adjustable dumbbells that I personally use! These Adjustable Dumbbells are the perfect solution for a home gym on a budget and for those who don’t have a lot of space to build their home gym! With one dumbbell, you get 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 pound weights for a fraction of the cost. I personally have loved these dumbbells and recommend them so much that I also purchased them as a gift for a family member!
Unlike a lot of other adjustable dumbbells, these have no pins or bands to change the weight level. You simply twist the handle to your desired weight and life them up. They are insanely easy to use! The handle DOES NOT twist unless the weights are set down in their base. So there is no need to worry that it will twist during an exercise.
Unfortunately, if you are looking for something more than 25 pounds, you will have to spend quite a bit more money. However, I would recommend the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbell if you do choose to go that route. They are some of the best rated on the market and the price point is far more reasonable than some of the other heavy adjustable dumbbells I’ve seen.
Medicine Ball
Medicine balls are a great option for cardio and core exercises. I like this BalanceFrom Medicine Ball because the texture on the outside makes it much easier to grip when your hands are sweaty. I included the 10 pound size in my calculations for the $500 and $700 home gyms but they offer a variety of other sizes too! (Bonus: And don’t forget they will send you a slip in your box to register for free resistance bands and a two year warranty!)
Pull Up Bar
My husband and I have lived in an apartment since getting married so we wanted a pull up bar we could use without drilling into the wall or scuffing up the door frame. If you’re in the same position, this doorway pull up bar is the perfect solution. I was amazed by how sturdy it felt too!
$700 Home Gym
To build this $700 home gym, take all items from the previous $300 and $500 home gyms (leaving out the mat and dumbbell set from the $300 gym) in addition to the following.
Gorilla Workout Mat (5x7)
The $300 and $500 home gyms include the 4×6′ version of this mat. This 5×7 ‘Gorilla Mat is the same style with a little extra space for your workout. As you probably read earlier, these Gorilla Mats are extremely durable and high quality workout mats that I highly recommend! I use mine almost every day and it still looks brand new!
Plyo Box
Plyo boxes are a great piece of exercise equipment and they are far more versatile than they get credit for! But any one who has done a lot of box jumps in their lives has wrecked their shin on one at least once. This foam plyo box is a great option to avoid those annoying shin injuries. With each side of the box offering a different height challenge (20″, 24″, and 30″) you can work your way up as your fitness improves. A plyo box is also great for step ups and any incline exercises! You can even use it as a bench if you wanted to save a little more space.
Foam Roller
Foam rollers are one of the best ways to work through sore muscles quickly. The ProsourceFit High Density Roller pictured here is one of the best rated on Amazon with over 12,000 reviews and 4.5 stars. I personally own the GAIAM Foam Roller which is a medium density roller that is a little easier on extremely sore muscles.
Yoga Mat
Even though you now have a nice mat for the floor of your workout space, it’s nice to have a yoga mat on hand for fun outside workouts or workouts on the go. Whether it be on the beach or in your backyard, it’s fun to occasionally workout outside in the sun to get some Vitamin D. Yoga is a great option for these workouts. The Gray Yoga Mat pictured here has a little extra cushion to be easy on your knees and joints. However, if you are new to yoga, this Yoga Mat with 70 different poses to guide you is a great option too!
Wall Mount
This Wall Mount is a great option to both organize and decorate a home gym on a budget. The top three spots hold yoga mats or foam rollers and the bottom hooks are great for resistance bands. This wall mount is a great way to get things off the floor and organized too. If you don’t want to mount this to the wall, you can easily hang it with a larger command hook like I did. This is the command hook that I used to hang mine!
More Ideas for Your Home Gym on a Budget...
Motivational Quotes or Pictures
A large portion (if not all) of the success and consistency that you will have with fitness is based upon your mindset. Having motivational quotes up in your workout space is a great way to stay motivated on those days when you just don’t want to work out or finish those last few reps. Then you can look over at your wall and remember why you started in the first place. Whether you choose to frame them or simply tape them up to easily change them out like I did, they are sure to give you a little extra motivation for your workout. If you like the quotes in my workout space, they can all be found on the, “Mom Fitness” board of my Pinterest.
Shop Facebook Marketplace for Free Weights
Buying a set of free weights can get pricey quickly. Once you buy a good barbell, all the different weight plates, bumper covers, collars, and a weight tree (if you are an organization freak like me), you’ve spent at least a few hundred dollars. If you are trying to build your home gym on a budget and want to add free weights to it, buying these things brand new is not really an option. While all the weights and the barbell that I have would have cost me hundreds brand new, I got my entire weight set on Facebook Marketplace for $40! It took me a while to search out a good deal, but it definitely paid off!
Plants & Windows
While plants and windows are totally unnecessary to your workout in every way possible, a little plants and sunshine can turn your workout space into a space you love and want to be in! I highly recommend putting your workout space near a window or two if you can and add a couple cute plants that make you smile. (If you are terrible at keeping plants alive like me, I highly recommend lucky bamboo and a snake plant) Loving the space you workout in might just be the extra push you need to get your workout in that day!
A Few More Items that are Nice to Have...
A few other items that I like to have on hand are a lacrosse ball, a yoga block, and a muscle roller stick. My rest days often involve a lot of walking, yoga, or stretching. I usually find yoga videos on YouTube and they often use a yoga block, so this can be helpful to have just in case. And when it comes to working out knots and super sore spots, lacrosse balls and beaded muscle rollers are both great ways to speed up your recovery.
This post was all about building your own home gym on a budget to make working out more accessible to the busy mom life! I hope you have a few ideas now to start building your own home gym so you can start making your own health a priority again.
