So you’ve decided to build a home gym but don’t want to spend a fortune.
Nothing wrong with that, we all have to start somewhere.
When I started my garage gym, I started on a budget as well and slowly built it up over time.
And now after a few years into it, I’ve teamed up with many of the top fitness companies.
Through those connections I’ve been able to get special discounts and coupon codes.
And guess what?
I’m going to be sharing those with you so you can start building a home gym without breaking the bank.
How Much Does It Cost To Build a Home Gym?
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That’s a difficult question to answer because what I like to workout with may be different for you.
Some people like calisthenics so they may only need gymnastic rings and parallettes.
Others like weightlifting so a bench, cage, barbell, and weight plates may be what they need.
Then there are people who are into Strongman competitions so maybe sandbags may be their choice of equipment.
There’s plenty of equipment out there for everyone.
You first have to decide how you’re going to train.
Build a Home Gym Slowly
Because training styles can vary, I’ll be sharing different pieces of equipment.
You don’t need all of them to get started.
And you definitely don’t need to get everything at once.
I’m just giving you choices and you can decide what works for your style of training.
You can definitely get a great workout with minimal equipment if you’re willing to put in the work.
Are you ready to start building your home gym?
Let’s go!
Doorway Pull Up Bar
A great way to start building a home gym when you’re on a budget is with a doorway pull up bar.
Pull ups are one of the best exercises to build your back and arms so they shouldn’t be ignored.
This pull up bar can stay on your doorframe and out of the way.
It can also be folded and stored away taking up minimal space.
PRICE: $34
DISCOUNT: Click the button below to reveal a 10% coupon code
Gymnastic Rings
After you get a pull up bar, get some gymnastics rings for a serious workout.
Ring are extremely versatile and can be humbling for most people.
The instability of the rings forces your muscles to work harder.
Rings alone can replace several exercises machines in a home gym where space is limited.
You can do a TON of exercises on them and they’re also great to travel with.
You can do pull ups, dips, bodyweight bicep curls, tricep extensions, inverted rows, muscle ups, and leg raises just to name a few.
PRICE: $30
DISCOUNT: Click here FREE shipping
Weighted Vest
If using your own body weight on rings or a pull bar seems to easy, then here’s your next challenge..
The weighted vest.
Adding just 10 lbs of extra weight on your body can be very difficult depending on the exercise you’re doing.
Especially on the rings where you’re already unstable.
What’s great about this weight vest is that it uses regular weight plates.
You don’t need to buy expensive specialty plates that can’t be used anywhere else around your gym.
PRICE: $89
DISCOUNT: Click the button below to reveal a 10% coupon code
Build a Home Gym DIY Cable Machine
If you own a squat rack with a pull up bar, then this next project can add more exercises to your gym.
No need to buy a big, space hogging home cable machine.
Watch the video above where I show you how to build a home gym cable crossover, high pulley, and low pulley system step-by-step.
You can also read my DIY cable pulley system post for a list of all the materials.
PRICE: Around $70
DISCOUNT: When you compare it to a cable crossover machine that costs over $400, you’re saving a TON of money.
Dip Belt
The dip belt is another inexpensive piece of equipment to add resistance to your bodyweight exercises.
Just wrap it around your waist and add some weight to the chain.
This is great to get stronger at dips and pull ups when your bodyweight is not a challenge anymore.
PRICE: $25
DISCOUNT: Click the button below to reveal a 10% discount code
Resistance Bands & Tubes
You can get a really good workout from resistance bands and tubes.
With bands and tubes you get ascending resistance which you don’t get with weights.
That means the exercise gets harder as you stretch out the bands.
They come in all sizes and made with varying levels of resistance.
They range from 5 lbs of resistance all the way to 200 lbs.
Whether you’re into calisthenics, powerlifting, or just general fitness, there’s a band for everyone.
Build a Home Gym With Resistance Bands
PRICE: Starting at $34
DISCOUNT: Click the button below to reveal the 10% coupon code
Build a Home Gym With Resistance Tubes
PRICE: $25
DISCOUNT: Click the button below to reveal the 10% coupon code
Sandbags
Sandbags are very underrated for home gyms but once you use one, you’ll get an ass whooping like no other.
What’s good about sandbags is that the weight is adjustable.
You can add or reduce the filler inside to change the weight.
Play sand or pea gravel are commonly used to fill them up.
Whichever filler you go with, they usually sell a 50 lbs bag for $4 at your local hardware store.
PRICE: $35
DISCOUNT: Click here to see the latest deals
Jump Rope
When it comes to cardio and conditioning, there’s no cheaper piece of equipment than the jump rope.
Light, portable, doesn’t take up any space, and gets your heart racing in no time.
Look for a speed rope that has ball bearings so you focus on jumping as long as you can without having to muscle the rope around your body.
Make sure it’s made of wire coated in PVC so that it lasts a long time.
And finally, make sure it’s adjustable so it fits your body.
PRICE: $35
DISCOUNT: Click the button to reveal 10% coupon code (10% discount applies when you spend $60)
Landmine Attachment
The landmine attachment allows you to turn a barbell and weight plates into a workout station.
It’s made up of two cylindrical pieces of metal joined at the middle to form a hinge joint.
You insert one end into the center of weight plates to create an anchor point.
And in the other end you insert a barbell.
Set up is a breeze and from there you can get a whole body workout.
PRICE: $30
DISCOUNT: Click here for FREE shipping
Folding Adjustable Bench
If space is limited, a folding and adjustable bench is the way to go.
This way you can have a bench with multiple angles and can fold away when you’re done working out.
Some of these benches can even fold away under your mattress so they take up minimal space.
PRICE: $87
DISCOUNT: Click here for FREE shipping
Cage & Bench Combo
This is one of the most surprising finds I’ve found online when looking for equipment to build a home gym.
The cage and bench are less than $400 and they ship it to you for FREE!
Both bench and cage have a weight capacity of 800 lbs.
If weight lifting is your thing, you better snatch this one up RIGHT NOW.
You won’t find a deal this good anywhere else.
PRICE: $348 (Insane!)
DISCOUNT: Click here for FREE shipping
Barbell
This is one of the best economy olympic barbells you’re going to find.
It’s 7 feet long and has a weight capacity of 1500 lbs.
PRICE: $240
DISCOUNT: Click here for FREE Shipping
Weight Plates
When it comes to weight plates, you’ll get the best deals if you look locally.
This way you won’t have to pay for shipping costs.
You can do this through Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.
If you want to skip meeting a stranger, you can always try your local Dick’s Sporting Goods to see what they have in stock.
And if you still have no luck, go with Titan Fitness.
They ship everything for FREE and their prices are some of the lowest in the home gym and fitness industry.
PRICE: Will vary based on the weight
DISCOUNT: Click here for FREE shipping
Loadable Dumbbells
After picking up your weight plates, you can pick up a pair of loadable dumbbell handles.
What’s great about these handles is that they use the same weights your barbell does.
If you were to buy a rack of regular dumbbells or adjustable dumbbells, you’d be paying a pretty penny.
PRICE: $75
DISCOUNT: Click here for FREE shipping
Kettlebell Sandbag
Just like regular sandbags, kettlebell sandbags are adjustable so you can manipulate the weight.
Instead of having multiple sets of kettlebells, you can have a pair that can go up to 45 lbs each.
You get versatility without taking up a lot of space.
PRICE: $130 for a pair
DISCOUNT: Click here to see latest deals
Ready to Build a Home Gym?
I’ve given you a lot of suggestions to start building your home gym.
Start with the basics and essentials.
By now means, do you need everything I’ve listed above.
These are just suggestions to get you started keeping your budget in mind.
It doesn’t matter if you have a garage, bedroom, basement, or shed in the backyard.
You can get a lot done by buying equipment that can be used for multiple exercises.
If you have any suggestions you’d like me to add, leave a comment below.
I value everyone’s input and it helps to update my discount gym equipment page so others can get started on their home gym building journey.
Garage gym athlete, gym hacks, DIY gym projects, and garage gym equipment reviews