Skip to main content

21OAK may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

How to build a fantastic home gym for less than $250

Working out at home is more popular than ever these days. Home workouts not only save you the cost of a gym membership but keep you safe from potentially catching others’ unhealthy germs. You’re working out to build your best self, and maybe for you that’s best done in the comfort of your home. 

You might want to invest in small home gym equipment or create a makeshift gym situation in your living room. It all depends on the amount of space you have and how much money you’re willing to spend. Building a home gym can seem cost-prohibitive, but take it from us: There are ways to devise one on a low budget.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The cost of home gyms

Home gyms, while a worthy investment, can get pricey. Just a treadmill can cost you anywhere from $300 to $3,000. Exercise bikes will also run you in the hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars, depending on which high-tech features are included. Let’s face it, not everyone has a bank account that can withstand the hit of a Peloton bike, which costs about $2,500, or even the $1,000 it would cost to get one or two pieces of lower-end equipment.

Then you may want to buy exercise mats, free weights, gym towels to keep your equipment clean, and storage or shelving. While these are minor expenses compared to the price of equipment, it all adds up, and you could very well end up spending $1,000 on them at minimum. Here are some tips that will give you a home gym that looks awesome and helps you meet your fitness goals for under $250.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Ditch the treadmill

You don’t need a fancy bike or treadmill to get your cardio workout in. There are several inexpensive alternatives you can choose instead. Here’s what we suggest:

Exercise Mat, $20: First, you’ll want an exercise floor mat. The thick, interlocking tiles are a great option because they’re firm and sell for as low as $20 for a set of four. On a mat, you can accomplish many types of cardio workouts — jumping jacks, burpees, you name it.

Jump Rope, $4: There’s nothing like jumping rope to get the blood pumping. These can cost as low as $4, and even the cheapest ones do the trick.

Compact Elliptical, $129: If you’re just trying to get your legs moving, you’ll want an elliptical machine. These can sometimes cost hundreds of dollars, but not if you buy a compact or under-desk elliptical, which you can find for about $129.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Resistance is key

For muscle training, many people get caught up in buying the right weights, and weights are not always cheap. Resistance bands are an affordable alternative. We recommend:

Set of resistance bands with handles, $25: Resistance bands can open a whole world of arm exercises. A set of five, ranging from 10 to 50 pounds of resistance, only costs around $25.

Resistance bands for legs, $15: For an average of $15, you can get a set of three resistance bands that are great for leg exercises.

Make it your own

The home gym is for working out, of course, but you also want to make it look nice. Maybe you want to buy extra workout mats or a cute chair to sit on while you use your new compact elliptical. Here are some other options:

Storage, $20–$40: Your jump rope and resistance bands will need a place to live when you’re not using them. Wall hooks or a fitness accessory mount for those will cost around $40 or less. You can also use a typical shelving unit or table. You even have the liberty to get creative here with whatever you already have in your home.

Microfiber gym towels, $15: Gym towels are cheap, and you can find them in different colors to make the space your own. Not only are they useful but they can add to the ambiance by hanging them on one of your wall hooks or laying one on the floor.

Home gyms are more in style than ever, but you may be wary of creating a home gym because of the price tag. The bottom line is that there are actually many ways to create a home gym without breaking the bank. There are several products out there that are not only cheap but flexible in how you can use them. Whether you’re looking for cardio or strength workouts, you can find options that fit into your budget. Plus, your home gym is an opportunity to design another part of your space. For that, there are also inexpensive options, like simple shelving and towels. With less than $250, you’ll be exercising from home in no time.

Editors' Recommendations

Briana Bonfiglio
5 home pieces you should always buy at thrift stores (and 6 you shouldn’t)
Pick up these home decor items the next time you're at the thrift store
Multiple antique mirrors on gallery wall

Somewhere along the turbulent line of the last decade or so, thrift store shopping became cool again, and we are all for it. More and more people are rebelling against generic, cookie-cutter styles and wanting their homes to look more personalized, more unique, and more one-of-a-kind. At long last, your living room looking exactly like the Pottery Barn catalog doesn't necessarily make yours the epitome of style. Individualism is the more sought-after decor style now, and we couldn't love it more.
When shopping secondhand, be it at a thrift store, online auction, or garage sale, there are some general guidelines to keep in mind, and that's where we come in. By remembering these helpful tips, you can take advantage of the perks and avoid the pitfalls of secondhand shopping.

Do: Wooden furniture
This one can be a bit intimidating. We aren't all antique experts and historians with part-time jobs hosting Antiques Roadshow. But for the most part, it isn't hard to distinguish a nicer-quality piece of furniture from an assemble-it-yourself, particleboard piece of junk. Test for sturdiness by giving it a few wobble tests. Check to see how easy it is to open and close the drawers.

Read more
This incredible app helps you find furniture that looks like it’s from premium brands – for a fraction of the cost
Trying to save money on furniture in your next redesign? This app can help you find name-brand lookalikes
Living room with multiple types of lighting

When searching for new and affordable furniture to spruce up your interior, it can be frustrating to find the right items for your design. Of course, you want quality pieces that look stunning, but sometimes the name brand isn’t always best for you or your situation. While luxury and name brands often have what seem to be the perfect items, the prices aren’t always suitable for your home furnishing budget. That’s why apps like Craftle have come to your aid.

Craftle is a unique app that may be a game changer in your next redesign. If you’re looking for ways to save money while still creating a luxe look in your space, then this could be just what you need.
What is Craftle?
Craftle is an app that works to find similar or lookalike products for a fraction of the price of the original name-brand item. For example, if you love a West Elm sofa but don’t love the high price tag, Craftle’s lookalike finder can search for a similar sofa design for a cheaper price. If you’re looking to save money in your next redesign or are working with a limited budget, Craftle’s lookalike search finder could save you hundreds.

Read more
DIY home decor: This bathroom tray looks high end but costs less than $5 to make
We adore this inexpensive bathroom tray and how easy it is to replicate
Modern bathroom with round mirror

Everyone loves a good do-it-yourself project, especially when it saves you a ton of money and looks like it was bought at a high-end store. You don't have to be an expert builder or even that educated in DIY in general with all of the millions of YouTube and TikTok videos done by non-experts that are willing to walk us all through the steps to put something together. This DIY bathroom tray from TikToker "woman.of.gold" is both of those, costing less than $5 and giving that high-end vibe that everyone wants in a bathroom.
How to pull it off
Woman.of.gold wrote that the "plastic plate was only £1.49" and "the tea light holders only 50p each" so the total cost was £3.49 (approximately $4.34) since she already had the paint and baking soda at home. (And even if you don't have those supplies, a little paint and baking soda won't add too much to your total cost.

https://www.tiktok.com/@woman.of.gold/video/7197510192395717893

Read more