This Space-Saving Equipment Will Help You Build a Functional Home Gym

Need to run, but it’s too cold, icy, or rainy outside? Trying to avoid the gym bros at your local spot? Wanna work out in your PJs? With the right home gym setup, you can do all of the above.

The only problem: Most people don’t have a whole extra room in their house to devote to huge, heavy machines. That’s why we tapped fitness experts and SELF staffers for their favorite space-saving gym equipment that’s worth the investment. Then, we put their recs to the test and compiled this list of winners.

Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about how to set up a home gym in a small space, plus the best foldable cardio equipment, adjustable weights, and other compact accessories.

Our top picks

• Urevo SpaceWalk Lite Treadmill
• Peloton Bike+ Ultimate Package
• Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells
• Tonal 2
• Lululemon The Mat 5 mm

What to consider when shopping for home gym equipment for small spaces

How we test home gym equipment

Many of the picks on this list were tested as part of our SELF Home Fitness Awards. Every year, we ask trusted fitness professionals and staffers (who’ve tried a lot of gear) for their tried and true equipment recommendations. These are pieces we’ve used for weeks, months, or years, so we have a great sense of whether they’re well-made and how they’ll fit into your lifestyle. We narrow down these products to the best of the best before giving them an award, so only ones that are truly exceptional make the cut.

How do I set up a home gym in a small space?

Before you start shopping, take measurements of your space. Consider how much room you’ll need to do the exercises you typically enjoy. (For example, if there’s a treadmill in the room, can you also do stretches on the floor, or complete a lunge without hitting a wall?)

“Consider the space you have available and what your fitness goals are. Be practical about it,” says Grimm. “Cardio equipment can be very bulky, and a lot of cardio exercise can be done outdoors without any equipment at all,” she explains. “So, it might be worth planning a routine that gets you outdoors for cardio, and then focusing on strength training and flexibility in your home gym.”

Cardio machines

NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill

Pros

• Large, 16-inch screen
• Multiple easy ways to adjust the speed and incline
• Incline and decline settings
• Has a built-in fan
• Cushioned deck helps absorb shock while you walk or run

Cons

• Heavy
• Not easy to move around

The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 earned the title of best treadmill in our 2024 Home Fitness Awards, thanks to its many high-tech features, wide speed and incline range (0-12 mph and -3 to 12% grade, respectively), and comfortable ride. According to our tester, a former marathoner, “all of the handles and adjustments are easily accessible,” with quick jump-buttons on the monitor next to the screen and manual adjustments on the front handlebar for more precise speed and incline settings. You can even practice running downhill with the 1750s decline settings—a helpful feature for anyone who’s training for a trail race.

If you opt for an iFit membership, you can follow along with trainer-led running and strength workouts on the large screen and get customized workouts for your fitness level (based on past training with the machine). Bonus: This treadmill folds up, so you can save some space when you’re not using it—just note that it’s fairly heavy, so wheeling it around can be a pain.

Urevo SpaceWalk Lite Treadmill

Pros

• Quiet
• Easy to store
• Budget-friendly

Cons

• Top speed isn’t very fast

This budget-friendly walking pad is a low-profile, versatile piece for your home gym. Many walking pads are designed strictly for walking—but this one has a top speed of 6.2 mph when the handlebar is up, which means you can definitely jog and run on it (though probably not sprint).

You can use it under a standing desk to help you get more steps in as you work, or jog on it while you watch TV. And you won’t be distracted by the sound: “I have to give props to the quiet motor,” one 2024 Home Fitness Awards tester said. “For a budget treadmill, I was impressed with the lack of loud noise while in use.”

Peloton Bike+ Ultimate Package

Pros

• Includes enough equipment for a variety of workouts
• Screen swivels, so you can work out off the bike
• Peloton classes bring group fitness to your home

Cons

• Expensive

The Peloton Bike+ Ultimate Package is a major investment, but we’re recommending it here for lots of reasons. For one, you can use the machine for cardio workouts, and it doesn’t take up much room (it measures 59 by 22 inches). With a Peloton subscription, you’ll also get access to tons of other workouts, and the Package includes all the equipment you need to do them (like free weights and an exercise mat).

The bike’s large, 23.8-inch screen can even rotate 360 degrees, so you can easily follow along with trainer-led strength and yoga sessions that’ll make you feel like you’re in a group fitness class without leaving your living room. While the bike doesn’t fold up (and it’s too heavy to move around often), it’s worth finding a slightly larger corner for it to live in.

Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike With Pulse

Pros

• LCD display
• Multiple tension settings
• Foldable
• Budget-friendly

Cons

• No high-tech “smart” features

This 2022 Home Fitness Award winner is ideal for folks with very limited space. “When my roommate came home after Christmas with a gigantic box (she had asked for an exercise bike), I was a little skeptical,” one SELF tester says. “We don’t have a very large apartment, but I was pleasantly surprised when we opened the box! This space-saving, foldable bike is perfect for our apartment and fits in a small corner out of the way,” she adds.

For a compact, lower-tech bike, it’s pretty user-friendly and has a few unexpected features: “When it’s time to ride, I wheel it in front of the TV, pop in the pin to fold it out, and start to exercise,” our tester says. “It has a wide seat, so it doesn’t get uncomfortable riding for long stretches of time, and has eight tension levels, so I can change how hard I’m working out.”

DeskCycle 2 Under-Desk Bike Pedal Exerciser

Pros

• Adjustable height
• Small footprint
• Multiple tension settings
• Tracks workout statistics

Cons

• May be tricky to use while sitting in a chair with wheels

Think of under-desk bikes as the cycling version of a walking pad. This one from DeskCycle will help you stay moving while you sit, without getting in the way. It has eight levels of resistance and reigns supreme on Amazon, where it’s racked up over 10,000 five-star reviews.

“I never knew cycling could be this smooth and quiet,” one shopper wrote. “It’s heavy enough to remain stable when on a carpet, but not too heavy to pick up and carry around.”

Schwinn 411 Elliptical Machine

Pros

• More budget-friendly than other larger machines on this list
• Lots of resistance options
• Amazon reviewers say it’s pretty easy to assemble

Cons

• Screen is small and can’t stream any content

Another Home Fitness Award winner, this elliptical is a great low-impact cardio machine that won’t take up your whole living room (it’s only 53.8 by 24 inches). Despite its compact size, it still has a smart design that includes 16 resistance levels, a small console that displays statistics like your speed and distance, and handlebars with heart rate sensors.

Plus, Schwinn’s optional subscription (for $60 per year) has over 50 global routes you can “run” on—just note you’ll need a separate smartphone or tablet to use it.

Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine Rower

Pros

• Quiet
• Digital monitor tracks statistics
• Budget-friendly
• Folds in half

Cons

• Weight limit is pretty light (250 pounds)

Some rowing machines (like the Hydrow) can be stored upright when you’re not using them—but this Home Fitness Award-winning one from Sunny Health & Fitness folds in half, to save you even more space. It has eight levels of resistance and an extended slide rail, which means even tall folks (up to 6’8”) can comfortably use it. With the free Sunny Fit app, you can also follow along with trainer-led workouts and row through scenic routes right on your phone.

Adjustable dumbbells, kettlebells, and weights

Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells

Courtesy of brand

Pros

• Durable
• Dial system makes it easy to switch weights quickly
• A stand for each dumbbell is included

Cons

• None—practically perfect

Bowflex’s SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells have won three Home Fitness Awards in a row for their uber-smart design. If you’re planning on lifting weights at home, a set like this one can save you plenty of precious room (and money, since they can replace multiple pairs of weights and come with their own rack).

Each dumbbell ranges from 5 to 52.5 pounds—just click the dials on either side to increase the weight by 2.5-pound increments up to 25 pounds, and 5-pound increments after that. They’re an investment, but they should last you for a lifetime of strength training.

Bala Bangles

Pros

• Cute design and color options
• Can up the intensity of mat workouts
• Come with a mesh carrying case

Cons

• A little pricey

According to one 2024 Home Fitness Awards tester, these cuffs (which can serve as wrist or ankle weights) are “a cute, easy way to feel like I’m making my everyday movement ‘count’ a little more.” She’s used them for at-home Pilates classes and to make her walks a little more challenging. They’re available in one-, two-, and three-pound weights and even come with a matching carrying case.

BalanceForm Neoprene Dumbbell Set

Pros

• Textured, grippy surface
• Comes with a sturdy stand
• Nice weight range for upper body work

Cons

• Weights may be too light for some

If the Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells seem like more weight than you need, try this set from BalanceForm—it includes three five-pound, eight-pound, and 12-pound pairs of weights and a convenient stand. The dumbbells are made of cast iron and covered in neoprene for a comfortable, no-slip grip.

Bowflex SelectTech 840 Kettlebell

Pros

• Wide weight range
• Simple dial makes it easy to adjust the weight
• Includes two free months of workout classes to stream

Cons

• None—practically perfect

Bowflex did it again: The SelectTech 840 Kettlebell replaces up to six kettlebells in one. All you have to do is turn a dial to set this weight to eight, 12, 20, 25, 35, or 40 pounds. Then, start with these basic kettlebell moves (or use the included two free months of JRNY membership to work out with a trainer).

Home gym systems

Tonal 2

Pros

• Can replace many weights and a weight rack
• Helps you lift safely by yourself
• Provides real-time form corrections
• Learns from your performance and automatically adjusts workouts over time

Cons

• Expensive, and a pricey membership is required to use it

The wall-mounted Tonal system (which requires a 7- by 7-foot workout area) comes with a mirrored screen that displays workouts and statistics and cables that use air resistance (up to 100 pounds of tension each) to help you complete all kinds of strength training exercises. A repeat Home Fitness Award winner, the system can “watch” your form as you exercise and offer corrections— it can even temporarily reduce the weight if it can tell that you’re struggling, acting as a spot even when you’re working out alone. Tonal can also shift the feel of the resistance to mimic different types of weight training.

But our tester’s favorite feature is how Tonal learns the more you use it—as you get stronger, it automatically adjusts the resistance to keep pushing you. On days when you need to take it easy, you can use “recovery mode” instead. Two quick things to note: The recommended accessory bundle costs an additional $495 upfront, and a $60 monthly membership is required for a minimum of one year to use the machine..

TRX Go Suspension Trainer

Pros

• Only a few pieces
• Can be used for full-body workouts
• 700-pound weight limit

Cons

• App costs $20 a month (after a 30-day free trial)

With the TRX Go Suspension Trainer, you can set up and take down your gym in minutes—whether you’re working out at home or in a hotel. You can anchor the straps to a door (or even a tree) and use them, plus your bodyweight, to tackle all kinds of full-body workouts. You can also access over 500 on-demand workouts and learn the ropes (pun intended) using the TRX Training Club app—your first 30 days are free.

Nice-to-haves

If you already have machines you like (or you’re looking to take your home workouts to the next level), one of these smart, compact accessories can help.

Rep Fitness AB-3100 Adjustable Weight Bench

Pros

• Stable and adjustable
• Comfortable to use

Cons

• A little pricey

Serious about weightlifting at home? You’ll want a solid bench—and this one doesn’t have a huge footprint (it measures 50.5 by 11.75 inches). Our Home Fitness Awards tester loved its durability and stability: “You can perform step ups on it without worrying that it will flip over. From a safety perspective, it’s a great option!” he said.

Adjustable from 90 degrees upright to 180 degrees flat and with three seat positions, this bench will help you maintain proper form and feel supported while you lift.

Lululemon The Mat 5 mm

Pros

• Durable
• Great cushioning
• Stays in place while you practice

Cons

• Some may prefer less padding for strength training

This repeat Home Fitness Award winner deserves its name—it truly is The Mat. Choose from a grippy or smooth side and enjoy the well-padded (but not wobbly) feeling underfoot as you flow. At 26 inches, it’s wider than many standard yoga mats, and it comes in a few cool, marbled colors. FYI: While it’s a great choice for downward dog, it may be a bit too cushioned for lifting heavy weights.

Bodylastics Resistance Band Set

Pros

• Comes with everything you need for full-body training
• Smart safety features
• Easy to store

Cons

• None—practically perfect

For around $50, you get a set of seven bands (10, 20, 30, 50, 80, 90, and 120 pounds) and handles with simple clips that are ideal for traditional weight lifting moves with them (think: biceps curls or flies).

Each band is designed with an interior cord—so if the rubber happens to break, the band won’t snap back and hit you. Also included: A door anchors, so you can easily get a full-body workout with them.

Sonic Boom M2 High Speed Jump Rope

Pros

• Adjustable length
• Lightweight
• Easy to store

Cons

• Thin cables may not be the most durable

A jump rope is the ultimate space-saving cardio equipment. This one is a Home Fitness Award winner because its two cables are adjustable, so you can customize the rope’s length to fit your height. We also like the silicone grips on the handles that help prevent slipping, no matter how much you’re sweating.

ProsourceFit Multi-Grip Chin-Up/Pull-Up Bar

Pros

• Several grip options
• Can hold up to 300 pounds
• Fits 24- to 36-inch wide doorframes

Cons

• Some Amazon reviewers report that the screws need to be tightened regularly

For calisthenics and bodyweight work in a small home gym, only a few options can help you amp things up without relying on bulky exercise equipment (like plyo boxes and benches). Attach a pull-up bar—like this one from Prosource, which has 12 different grip options—to any doorway, and you can tackle chin-ups, push-ups, hangs, and more without sacrificing valuable square footage.

Yoleo Adjustable Dip Bar

Pros

• Three adjustable height options
• Padded handles
• Durable

Cons

• Bulkier than a doorframe pull-up bar

Equalizer bars can be used to enhance all kinds of at-home workout routines and won’t take up much space—plus, you can store them in a closet. These bars from Yoleo can help you practice dips, reverse pushups, leg-ups, back exercises, and agility drills. With adjustable heights and widths, they’ll fit just right.

Triggerpoint Grid Textured Foam Roller

Pros

• Variety of textures across the surface
• Doesn’t sink in under weight
• Hollow inside

Cons

• Some may prefer a longer roller

Triggerpoint’s Home Fitness Award-winning foam roller is durable and strong—even with your whole bodyweight on it, it won’t bend. The ridges across the surface make it easy to dig into tight knots, while the smooth squares will feel good on tender spots.

With reporting from Sarah Madaus and Jasmine Lynn Seales

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