Best Home Gym Reviews and Comparisons 2023 | Buying Guide

Searching through the best home gym reviews can be overwhelming, and finding the right one for you is a challenge, too.

Should you choose a machine that uses weight plates, Power Rods, bodyweight, or a selectorized weight stack?

More importantly, does it provide enough resistance for years of future strength gains?

To help answer questions like these, we created our home gym buying guide.

This includes a balanced analysis and unbiased, in-depth reviews of the best home gym equipment for 2023.

We review and rate home gyms based on several key factors. This includes how they perform for different fitness levels, overall product quality, warranty coverage, user feedback, and even customer service.

This is in addition to feature comparisons and sample workouts to make it the most comprehensive home gym guide available.

Click here to discover the top 9 home gyms.

Best Home Gyms by Price

Top 9 Home Gyms for Full Body Workouts

Looking for the best home gym? Compare some of the top options and brands (like Body Solid vs. Powertec) available on the market with the table below.

Image	Product	Rating	Price
	1. Bowflex Revolution SpiraFlex Technology Budget: $$$ Leg Press Station, Preacher Curl Attachment, Vertical Bench Press Dimensions: 112" L x 37.8" W x 73" H Standard resistance configuration 220lbs, maximum 300 lbs (leg press station has 600 lbs)	9.8	Check priceRead Review
	2. Body-Solid SBL460P4 Free-Weight Leverage Gym Free-Weight Leverage Gym with Squat Attachment & Olympic Leverage Flat Incline Decline Bench  Budget: $$$ Over 40 exercises available: bench incline, shoulder presses, pec flys, lat pulldowns, preacher curls, squats, or calf raises Weight Capacity: 600 lbs Dimensions: 149"L x 100"W x 83"H Lifetime In-Home and Full Commercial Warranty	9.8	Check priceRead Review
	3. Bowflex Xtreme 2SE Power Rod Resistance Budget: $$ No-change cable pulley system, squat station, leg extension, lat bar Weight Capacity: standard with 210 lbs; upgradeable up to 310 lbs or 410 lbs Dimensions: 53"L x 49"W x 83.25"H	9.5	Check priceRead Review
	4. Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym Power rod resistance & Heavy duty steel construction frame Budget: $$ Multi use hand grip or ankle cuffs designed to add flexibility and performance Upgradable resistance to 310 pounds Dimensions: ‎76" x 86" x 82" (LxWxH)	9.4	Check priceRead Review
	5. Marcy MWM-4965 Heavy-duty 14-gauge steel tube frame Budget: $$ Equipped with a double pulley system; perform comprehensive arm & leg exercises. Weight capacity: 300 lbs Dimensions: 73" L x 37" W x 78" H	9.2	Check price
	6. Bowflex Blaze Home Gym 210 lbs of Power Rod resistance, upgradable to 310 lbs/410 lbs Budget: $$ 60 plus exercises for a full body workout Lat bar & squat bar included Folding bench & wheels provide easy storage Dimensions: 90" x 38" x 83" LxWxH	9.2	Check priceRead Review
	7. Body-Solid StrengthTech EXM2500S Home Gym Heavy Duty Construction, DuraFirm pads, Powder Coat Finish Budget: $$ Consumer Magazine's Best Buy Home Gym! 210lb. Selectorized Iron Weight Stack in 10lb. Plates Pec Station, Press Arm, Leg Developer, High, Mid, and Low Pulleys Dimensions: 83" (H) x 51" (W) x 83" (D)	9.2	Check priceRead Review
	8. Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym Power Rod Resistance Budget: $ 25+ full body exercises that cover the entire body Bench converts to a rolling seat for aerobic rowing Weight Capacity: Over 200 lbs resistance Dimensions: 81" (H) x 84" (L) x 38" (W)	8.8	Check priceRead Review
	9. K KingKang Multi-Purpose Bench Adjustable weight bench Budget: $ Training for chest, shoulders, back, abs, & more Dimensions: Folded size: 51.57" L x 13.4" W x 11" H. Expanded dimensions: 51.57" L x 13.4" W x 31.5 inches H.	8	Check price

For a deeper look into some of these products, check out our home gym reviews in the section to follow. We’ve tested and reviewed some of these in our home gym to provide you with an unbiased review.

Home Gym Review — Rogue, Body Solid, Marcy & More

Price can have a big influence over which home gym you buy. It’s important to have a budget in mind to ensure the choice you make is affordable.

But with hundreds of different machines available, how do you find the best home gym in each price category?

Listed below, you’ll find our top choice for each price range. This is based on our own in-depth reviews of the warranty, features, build quality, dimensions, exercise options, resistance type, and home gym ratings.

When looking for the best home gym, a machine that caught our eye was the Bowflex Revolution. This machine comes with a higher price tag; however, it is one of the most versatile and compact home gyms that we tested.

With the Bowflex Revolution, you can perform over 100 different exercises and up to 400 variations.

The versatility of the machine is attributed to its many unique features, starting with its innovative SpiraFlex Technology. This is a plating technology that is designed for NASA and works independently of gravity to provide resistance without inertia.

In addition to this, the multi gym features a vertical bench press, preacher curl attachment, leg extension, and free-moving arms with 10 positions and 170-degree adjustments. We were also impressed by the leg press station, which provided up to 600 lbs of resistance!

Overall, the Bowflex Revolution proved to be an effective addition to our home gym. Despite its compact design, the machine is able to support a wide range of workout routines, strength levels, and fitness goals.

Check PriceRead Review

If you want to buy a home gym for less than $200, your selection will be quite limited. You’re just not going to find any lever systems or multi-station home gyms at this price point.

You might find a few used single-stack selectorized machines and basic squat racks. But to have any real selection to choose from, you need a budget of at least $500.

However, we were happy to come across this multi-purpose bench by KingKang. In addition to being a great budget option, it’s one of the best compact home gyms on the market.

This piece of equipment uses a combination of bodyweight, weights, and resistance bands to vary the intensity of your workout.

One thing we loved, which also added to the product’s overall versatility, was the adjustable backrest. This has seven positions, so you can change the angle depending on the exercise you wish to do. There are also three positions for the elbow pad.

We also found it to be an ideal addition to our home gym as it took up little space. When not needed, we could easily fold it up and store it away. Our only downside for this product is that the resistance levels are limited.

However, you’re welcome to purchase heavier sets of dumbbells as the bench is well-suited for exercises like dumbbell presses, overhead presses, and bicep curls. Overall, this is our best affordable home gym.

For another great compact home gym, check out the Total Gym XLS trainer.

Check Price

This is a much more competitive price range than the one above. We’re starting to see the bestselling PR home gyms from Bowflex and selectorized machines from Marcy and Gold’s Gym.

Between $200 and $500 is the main price range for glideboard trainers. This includes the Weider Body Works, Total Trainer 4000-XL from Bayou Fitness, Total Gym 1400, and of course, the VigorFit.

But our top home gym for this price category is the Bowflex PR1000, with a 300 lb weight capacity and patented Power Rod resistance system.

The 210 lbs of resistance generated by these Power Rods is lower than the 440 lb claimed by VigorFit. But the Bowflex resistance is much easier to adjust.

Unfortunately, you don’t have the option to upgrade the resistance to 310 lbs or 410 lbs. This is only an option if you buy the PR3000 model.

By not relying on a weight stack, the PR1000 is much lighter and more affordable than commercial gym machines.

Power Rods carry a 5-year warranty, with 1-year on the frame and 60 days on parts.

Aside from the glideboard trainers, this is fairly typical of home gyms. Warranty coverage doesn’t improve much until you get closer to the $1000 price range.

Check PriceRead Review

The Marcy MWM-4965 isn’t your traditional home gym that’s simply focused on one or two forms of resistance. It offers plenty more.

It includes high and low cable pulleys with a selectorized weight stack, dual-action press arms, an ab attachment, leg developer, and support for free weight barbell exercises. With so much to offer, you’ll easily be able to train your entire body. And at less than $1000, we couldn’t imagine another piece of home gym equipment offering more for your money.

From the features mentioned above, one of our favorites had to be the dual action press arms. These allowed us to perform both chest presses and chest flies. Additionally, the upper pulley is perfect for lat pulldowns, tricep extensions, and crossovers, while the lower pulley is great for bicep curls.

We also felt the burn with the leg developer, which allowed us to perform leg extensions safely and work our quads. Focusing on progressive overload is also easy with this machine as the weight stack goes up in smaller increments up to 150 lbs.

One downside to the Marcy MWM-4965 is that the seat is not well-positioned for free weight exercises. But given its many features and high weight capacity, you’ll find that you may not need to use free weights at all.

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If you need a compact home gym that still provides high levels of resistance, we would recommend the Bowflex Blaze.

This usually retails for around $700, which is well within our $1000 budget. You could even buy both Power Rod upgrades (310 lbs and 410 lbs) and pay less than $950.

As with their PR collection, the Blaze uses resistance rod technology. We were impressed with this as it supports up to 210 lbs prior to any upgrades.

It also has a sliding seat and a pulley system with multiple cables positioned around the machine. Exercises you can do with these range from lat pulldowns to leg extensions. So, you can target a wide range of muscle groups from multiple angles.

This has a 5-year warranty on the rods and comes with an in-depth exercise guide, too. This may be needed as the machine allows for 60+ exercise options to provide plenty of workout variety. We also like that the machine comes with 7 of Bowflex’s free train-built workout regimens.

Check PriceRead Review

One piece of equipment we could not leave out of our search for the best multi-station home gym is the mid-range Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE. Building on the success of their PR range of home gyms, the Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE features a number of upgrades to the cable pulley system, seat cushioning, and overall ergonomics.

As with the PR3000 and PR4000 models, the Power Rod resistance starts at 210 lbs but can be upgraded to 310 lbs or 410 lbs, depending on your strength level.

When testing, we were pleased to find that, for the first time on a Bowflex, you’re actually able to adjust the horizontal position of the cable pulleys used in the presses and flys. You also have a whole new set of pulleys at the top of the back support for performing weighted crunches to develop core strength.

We loved how much versatility this Bowflex home gym provided. Even with over 70 exercise options, a preacher curl attachment is available to extend the number of arm exercises if required.

The Xtreme 2 SE also has lifetime warranty coverage on the Power Rods (breakage) and 7-year warranty on the machine. However, we found the build of the machine to be quite sturdy, so the 7-year warranty may not be needed.

Check PriceRead Review

Between $1500 and $3000 is a price category that Body-Solid seems to have dominated for the past few years, with a number of high-quality smith machines, functional training centers, and home gyms. However, we found a new entry that rivals this — the Bowflex PR3000.

When looking for a home gym, the Bowflex PR3000 was among the best that we had tested. Like the Bowflex PR1000, it is a good all-in-one strength training machine as it offers over 50 quality gym exercises to work out your entire body.

It also boasts up to 210 pounds of power rod resistance and is upgradable to an impressive 310 pounds. We loved this as it allowed us to easily implement progressive overload into our training routines.

The Bowflex PR3000 also comes with a wide range of accessories, including multi-use hand grips and ankle cuffs. It also has an impressive pulley system and a leg extension piece with upholstered roller cushions, allowing for even greater versatility in our workouts.

For those who have the extra money to spend, the Bowflex PR3000 is certainly among the best multi gyms on the market and is worth adding to your own home gym.

Check PriceRead Review

Home Gym Comparisons — Types

Generally speaking, there are four main types of home gym resistance system:

Each has their advantages and disadvantages, and knowing which one is right for your own workouts is the first step to finding your ideal home gym system.

1. Selectorized weight stack

Made famous by companies such as Body Solid and Best Fitness, these are the home gyms that rely on one or two stacks of weight plates.

These weight plates are then pulled vertically via a cable and pulley system, with the resistance being adjusted using a sliding pin.

Compact and safe to use, they can often be found with high and low cable pulleys and support a wide range of attachment options for a greater variety of exercises.

Unfortunately, they don’t tend to support the same amount of weight as lever systems, and even with upgrades available for certain models, you’re not looking at more than 300 lbs per stack.

There’s also no way to remove the weight plates without taking the machine apart, which makes any movement of the machine once it’s set up nearly impossible. But provided you assemble the unit on top of any protective flooring and in the area you intend to use it, this shouldn’t be much of a problem.

2. Plate loaded leverage gyms

This type of home gym usually includes several workout stations and sometimes features high and low cable pulley systems. An excellent example is the PowerTec Fitness Workbench Lever Gym.

PowerTec is great at providing weight plate storage, but with other brands, this is certainly something you’ll want to check. Without storage pegs, you’ll also need the budget and floor space for a weight plate tree or storage rack.

Finding a leverage home gym that’s combined with a cable system has a number of benefits.

Firstly, you’re able to lift heavier weights safely, thanks to the fixed plane of motion on the lever (to 500 lbs+). Also, the cable systems often support much more weight than selectorized weight stack machines.

For example, the Powerline BSG10X has a 160-pound weight stack for a list price of around $1300, yet the Powertec Fitness Workbench (also with a $1300 list price) can handle 300 lbs on the cable pulleys and 500 lbs on the pressing arm.

Unlike some smith machine systems, you won’t usually have access to any free weight exercises. You’re also unable to use advanced training techniques, such as band or chain-assisted lifts.

However, you do have much more control over the amount of weight that’s loaded. This is because the plates in the weight stacks usually increase by set increments (e.g., 10 lbs). In comparison, plate-loaded home gyms let you use weight plates as small as 1 lb or lighter.

Most leverage gyms will require Olympic rather than Standard weight plates (2-inch diameter hole in the center). Buying a whole new set of Olympic weight plates can be an additional expense if you only have a set with the standard diameter.

In summary, plate-loaded lever gyms are perfect for beginners and experienced lifters alike. They allow you to lift heavier weights at home without a spotter.

3. Resistance rods

Bowflex patented this resistance with their Power Rod technology. Force is applied according to the extension and positioning of the rods, which store more tension as the muscle contracts.

The amount of resistance generated is also determined by the diameter of the power rods. Smaller diameter rods provide 5 lbs of resistance, while the 410 lb upgrade set provides 50 lbs per rod.

Weight increments for the Bowflex PR home gyms are smaller than most selectorized systems. The only downside is the extra time it takes to connect the correct combination of Power Rods.

The material they’re made from reduces the product weight considerably. That’s because you don’t have to load Olympic weight plates or use a weight stack tower (selectorized).

This also makes it easier to upgrade the resistance, with 310 lb and 410 lb upgrade sets available. These are compatible with many of the Bowflex home gyms, including the Ultimate, Xtreme, Xceed, Sport, and Blaze models.

You can also fold the bench rail away on some models, reducing the footprint and helping you make better use of space when it’s not in use.

Combining the power rods with one more anchor point for the cable pulleys also gives you a choice when it comes to the range of motion for each exercise.

4. Body weight/glideboard

Glideboard home gyms, like Total Gym, use a combination of resistance systems, but mainly your own bodyweight.

You can adjust the resistance by increasing or decreasing the angle of the support rail. You can even use resistance bands to create a more intense workout.

Some machines also let you add weight plates for added resistance if the angles and bodyweight aren’t challenging enough. They’re the best type of home gym if space is an issue or you’re on a tight budget.

The glideboard works via pulleys mounted at the top of the rail. When you pull against them while sitting on the board, your bodyweight acts as the resistance.

Many of these systems often offer a trial period, which isn’t too much hassle as they arrive almost completely assembled.

If you don’t want to keep the system at the end of the trial, there is some disassembly required. You’ll also need to work out who pays for the return shipping.

Protective Home Gym Flooring and Shipping Options

Home gyms and functional trainers are by far the heaviest type of fitness equipment you can own.

It’s not hard to see why.

Machines like the Inspire Fitness Ft2, can have multiple 150 lb weight stacks, not to mention the frame weight. You might also need to factor in the weight of an adjustable bench that accompanies it.

For the leverage home gyms, the weight can be even higher. The Powertec Workbench Multi System has a 500 lb capacity on the pressing arm, plus any plates you have loaded on the other stations. Add the weight of the frame, and you can be looking at several thousand pounds.

Having that much weight pressing down on your floor can quickly lead to damage. Thick floor pad tiles can help to avoid this.

The density of the foam won’t cause the unit to sit unevenly, and protects your flooring at minimal cost.

Systems like the Powertec Workbench also have solid platforms under the calf raise / squat stations. This means you’ll still have a solid base to press against during these exercises.

Quick and easy to install, home gym flooring is relatively inexpensive. Tiles measuring half an inch thick should provide adequate protection in most cases.

One example is the ProsourceFit Flooring, which features a non-slip, easy clean surface. Each tile measures 4 ft wide by 6 ft long, weighs 75 lbs, and is priced at around $100.

For a unit like the Powertec, you’ll need around six of these.

Home gym shipping and delivery

Despite the size and weight of many home gyms, free shipping is often available if you buy through Amazon.

The delivery date won’t always be as quick as if you ordered a barbell or set of dumbbells. But you can usually expect to receive the unit within 6 to 10 days. This isn’t bad, especially if you’re only paying for the product and not delivery.

However, if possible, it’s still worth checking which delivery company will be used. Larger home gym systems arrive in multiple boxes, and many couriers only carry these to the front door or driveway. This could mean you staying home and moving the boxes to where you want it assembled.

It’s also important to plan where you’re going to assemble your new home gym system.

For example, if you’re planning to get set up in a basement, you may need to carry the parts down piece-by-piece. We would recommend having someone else available to help you with this.

In some cases, the company that made the home gym will also have an option for home assembly. This adds to the cost but could be a sensible choice if you’re faced with a complicated user manual.

Benefits of Home Gym Systems

Commercial gyms and fitness centers will always have their place. But it’s often more cost-effective, time-efficient, and productive to have a multi gym setup at home.

We’ve highlighted 7 of these benefits in the list below:

1. More convenient

As our lives become busier, it becomes more difficult to visit the gym on a regular basis.

So how can you stick to a new fitness plan long enough to increase your strength, definition, and muscle tone?

For many, the answer is a home gym.

This allows you to perform exercises in an environment you control. Having this fitness equipment at home means you don’t need to travel to the gym after a long day at work.

Setting up a home gym system in your basement, spare room, or garage means you can make the most of your workout time. Some of the more compact home gyms can even fold under your bed to save on space.

2. More cost-efficient

Commercial gyms can be a great place to socialize. They also provide access to a wide range of premium fitness equipment and health facilities.

But how much use do you actually get out of a gym membership?

Even if you visit 4 or 5 times each week, you’re paying for facilities that you may never even use.

You might use a couple of cardio machines and a variety of strength training equipment in your workouts. But if your gym has to pay maintenance for a pool, sauna, tennis court, etc., is it really cost-efficient?

The quality of a home gym is improving all the time, as is the affordability.

Think about how much money you spend on gym membership over the course of a few years. You could be surprised to discover how much home gym equipment you can buy for the same price. This includes top-of-the-line cardio machines and strength equipment.

The best part is that many home gym companies offer a lifetime warranty on their equipment. This helps to retain its value well into the future.

3. Supports total body workouts

If you want to develop a well-balanced physique, you need to train both upper and lower body muscle groups. This will form part of a total body workout plan.

For strength training and muscle building, this means moving against resistance through the three planes of motion:
1. Sagittal Plane – Up and down movements.

This includes flexion exercises (bicep curls, hamstring curls, etc.) and extension exercises (tricep extensions, leg extensions, etc.).

2. Frontal Plane – Sideways movements.

Any exercise that moves a body part away from or towards an imaginary center line will use the frontal plane.

This includes abduction (away from center) and adduction (towards the center) exercises. Hip adductions and side lateral raises are two popular choices.

3. Transverse Plane – Rotational movements

Many of the best home gyms support more than 30 exercises. This means you can take advantage of all three planes of motion, creating a more well-rounded physique.

Effective muscle building routines can be created with a variety of upper and lower body exercises. High / low cable pulleys allow you to train your arms, legs, back, shoulders, and abs from a variety of angles.

4. Better privacy and freedom

Unless you live near a 24-hour gym, your workout times will be limited to the gym’s opening times.

Commercial gyms can also be restricted by health insurance and a long list of rules. This includes the maximum dumbbell weight they can carry.

None of these rules apply when you buy a home gym.

Fitness centers can also make people self-conscious and may put them off-setting fitness goals altogether.

Having a home workout plan means you can listen to your favorite music, catch up on the news, and not worry about wearing the latest fitness apparel.

You’re also not planning your workouts around peak times, just to access the equipment you need. This is a common problem in some of the more popular commercial gyms.

5. More time-efficient

Not everyone trains the same. Some people see great results from high-rep volume training, while others see the best results from low-rep strength routines.

There’s also no perfect duration for your workouts.

If you’re short on time, you might only have 30 minutes. This may not be enough to visit your local gym and get the most from a workout.

Having a home gym system, even if it’s a folding Glideboard that requires some assembly, lets you make the most of opportunities like these. Add up all the extra training sessions over the course of a year, and you could see some incredible results. Greater strength gains, better muscle definition, and faster results can be seen when combined with a healthy nutrition program.

6. Multiple machines in one

Most commercial gyms have weights machines that use a single stack of weight plates to create resistance. The level of resistance is controlled by a pin, which you can move to select the weight.

The problem is that most machines support just one exercise. Some great examples are the leg extension, preacher curl bench, shoulder press, and hack squat.

You can certainly buy fitness equipment like this for home gyms, but companies like Body Solid, Inspire, and PowerTec have also created multi-station ‘universal’ home gym equipment.

This often allows you to perform a much wider range of exercises, still using a single weight stack. It’s also a much more efficient use of space.

Having multiple workout stations is ideal if you have a training partner, as they allow for two or even three people to use the equipment at the same time. You can even find multi-station home gyms with removable FID (Flat, Incline, Decline) benches. This can be a great way to combine your home gym workout with adjustable dumbbells and free weights.

7. Combine resistance training with cardio

In contrast to the multi-station home gyms from PowerTec, we have machines that combine resistance training with cardio.

These are usually bodyweight-controlled machines that support indoor rowing. However, we wouldn’t recommend them as an alternative to true cardio equipment.

Elliptical machines, upright bikes, treadmills, and rowing machines are all optimized for one type of motion. This isn’t something a combination trainer can do easily.

You’re also not going to have any console to monitor workout feedback. This is important for measuring your progress and any increase in fitness level.

Home Gym Equipment Reviews — Best Brands

With over 50 brands selling hundreds of home gyms on Amazon, how do you know we’re reviewing the best designs?

It’s actually a relatively simple process, but one which helps us select the current bestsellers. We also identify the new systems that are set to gain in popularity, helping you stay ahead of the crowd.

Firstly, we’re constantly monitoring press releases and company news. This keeps us up to date with the latest developments and product releases in the fitness equipment industry.

We use this process to identify new product ranges – like the Precor EFX and TRM cardio equipment. Then we test these new machines and compare these with equipment that’s already established at that price range.

We’re constantly monitoring developments from all the major fitness product companies. But we also have a shortlist of brands who have built their reputation on high-quality home gyms. These are companies that have proven themselves with bestselling designs and amassed thousands of reviews since their inception.

Body Solid

One of the biggest names in strength training and muscle building. Body-Solid has a wide range of commercial and home gym equipment for everything from Crossfit to Powerlifting.

Products range from plyo boxes for practicing vertical jumps to Hexagon Rigs for functional training. Squat racks are also available for improving your strength with free weights.

We’ve included Body Solid in our home gym guide because of their vast selection of machines and accessories. These are suitable for all experience levels, from beginners through to advanced lifters.

In addition to their dual weight stack systems, they also manufacture leverage, plate-loaded, and body weight equipment. These can help isolate individual muscle groups or train multiple muscle groups with compound exercises.

To see how much space a Body Solid home gym needs in your home, they have a Room Planner tool. This is similar to the Icovia version we tested with Precor.

Bowflex

Established in 1986, Bowflex joins Schwinn, Universal, and Nautilus as part of the Nautilus, Inc. family of fitness equipment.

Bowflex has developed some of the most popular strength equipment, including their SelectTech dumbbells, workout benches, and home gyms.

Their innovative design team is constantly working on new types of effective resistance systems. To date, this includes their Power Rod and SpiraFlex technology.

But it’s not just resistance equipment that Bowflex is famous for. They’re also the brains behind the Treadclimber cardio equipment, as well as the recent Max Trainer M6 and M9.

To embrace all aspects of a healthy lifestyle, Bowflex recently expanded its product range beyond home gyms and fitness equipment. This was with the introduction of Bowflex JRNY Digital Fitness Platform.

Marcy

Our Marcy home gym reviews include the bestselling MD-9010G Smith Machine and the MWM-990 Multifunctional Home Gym System.

As a company, Marcy produces a wide range of home gym equipment. Everything from recumbent bikes and weight benches to spin bikes and trampolines.

They’ve also built an excellent reputation for delivering high-quality fitness equipment at an affordable price.

Marcy home gyms are mostly single-stack selectorized systems, such as the MWM-990 and MWM-988. Both machines have a 150 lb weight stack, but with the MKM-81010, this increases to 200 lbs.

Home gym systems with lighter weight stacks are also available, such as the MKM-81030. However, this gets negative reviews from the handful of people who have bought and tested it.

If you want a machine with more than 200 lbs of resistance, we recommend the Marcy Diamond Elite Smith System (MD-9010G).

It’s more expensive than their SM-4008 smith machine, and both support up to 600 lbs. But the commercial grade frame and natural 7-degree slant mean the MD-9010G is incredible value for money.

Powertec

Powertec Fitness produces some of the top plate-loaded home gyms in the world, with over 25 years of experience.

The Workbench Multi System (WB-MS) is the best home gym machine from Powertec in terms of exercise options. It also lets you lift much heavier weights than you can with a Weider or Marcy home gym.

With their Workbench, the weight capacities are 400 lbs lat lever, 500 lbs press arms, and 500 lbs on the squat lever arm.

Powertec has also created the world’s strongest functional trainer (WB-FTD16). Although you don’t have as many exercise options as a home gym, a 1,000 lb load capacity is seriously impressive!

Total Gym

The first generation of Total Gym was released in 1974. Since then, the company has become one of the market leaders for glideboard equipment.

Their machines tend to be more expensive than the Weider or Vigorfit designs. But with over 3.5 million units sold, Total Gym remains one of the most popular suppliers of compact home gyms.

They also provide fitness, workout, and nutrition DVDs with many of their home gyms, such as the Total Gym XLS.

This is a company that specializes in full-body workouts and physical therapy exercises for your home. Their fitness equipment is easy to move around and requires minimal floor space.

Weider

A name synonymous with bodybuilding nutrition and health supplements. Weider has also developed a range of home gyms, including their Total Body Works 5000 and Ultimate Body Works models (no longer available).

They don’t have such an extensive product catalog as some of the other big brands. But their Body Works machines are excellent examples of affordable home gym equipment.

Unfortunately, their selectorized 2980 X Weight System can’t compete with the Powerline and Bowflex designs. Weider also has a bestselling power tower.

We also have home gym machine reviews for the following brands:

Checklist Before Buying the Best Home Gym System | Buying Guide

To ensure you only buy the best home gym for your budget, we created a 10-point pre-purchase checklist.

1. How much should you pay for a new home gym?

Some of the top home gym systems from Body-Solid can set you back over $5000. Fortunately, the majority of bestsellers are available for less than $2000.

That’s why before starting your research, we recommend setting a limit on how much you’re willing to spend. We’ll list what we believe to be the best home gym for each price range later in the guide.

However, it’s also important to get good value for money.

What if you’re buying a home gym for $500, and you grow out of it in a year? It would be better to find a $1000 machine with enough weight to challenge you for 5 years or more.

2. Size of the workout area

It sounds obvious, but check whether you have enough space to set up your new equipment. This could be using a measuring tape, or if you buy from Precor or Body Solid, an online room planner.

Consider any changes in dimensions due to body movement. Inversion tables, for example, may require more height than their dimensions suggest. This is due to their unique rotating design.

You’ll also want to think about the location of the workout area. Ample floor space on the second floor is great, but can it take the weight of the home gym? Bearing in mind multi-station workout systems can weigh in excess of 1000 lbs.

3. Foldable for easy storage

With cardio equipment, you get a pretty good idea of the size from the machines at your local gym.

Rowing machines, for example, won’t double in size. They’re essentially built with similar dimensions to cater to different user heights and stroke lengths.

It’s a completely different story with home gyms.

Larger leverage systems are going to be fixed, so you can’t do much to reduce their footprint. But some of the Bowflex gyms allow you to fold their rails up to preserve space when not in use.

So would you need to fold the machine between workouts, or do you have enough space to leave it set up?

If you need a folding home gym, check what dimensions it folds down to. Glideboard models are ideal for under-bed storage, whereas multi-station systems are best for where space isn’t an issue.

4. Number of exercises available

What type of exercises are you interested in? What are your fitness goals?

Unless you find a home gym that facilitates and encourages your goals, you’ll find it more difficult to achieve them.

Looking to gain strength? Then consider the weight you’re lifting now for each exercise and scale it up in line with realistic goals.

Modern home gyms have no problem with exercise variation. Even the more affordable systems can support in excess of 100 exercises.

Just because a home gym has a higher price tag doesn’t mean it provides you with more exercise options. This usually means the resistance is higher, or it supports more compound movements for your legs, back, arms and chest.

Exercise choice is often a deciding factor in choosing the best home gym equipment. Think about which exercises are a must-have and which are optional if you need to save money.

Also, consider how easy it is to switch between exercises. Do you need to change power rod configurations or add more weight plates?

Some gyms use the same cable for the low pulley and leg developer. If that’s the case, how easy is it to switch between the two?

5. Maximum resistance level

In addition to exercise variety, this is the most important thing to check before buying a new home gym.

You’ll need to consider future strength gain to prevent outgrowing your new equipment after just a few months. Also, think about any injuries you have that might influence your range of motion.

If you’re not sure of your current strength level, there are a number of models that offer upgrade options. But these are usually resistance rod designs, not selectorized home gyms with weight plate towers.

Lever and plate-loaded systems offer a sturdy and stable frame design that’s ideal for heavier weights. If you’ve already been training for years, even if it wasn’t bodybuilding or powerlifting, you might want to start here.

6. Who will be using the gym?

As with cardio equipment, it’s worth considering the weight of anyone who may want to use the machine. This tends to be more of an issue with power rod systems rather than lever press machines.

The same goes for any height adjustment settings. Models like Total Gym rely on a glide rail for movement, which means they have a maximum supported user height.

Make sure the home gym you buy is compatible with the height and body type of anyone that’s using it.

If you workout with a partner and space/price isn’t too much of an issue, check out multi-station gyms. These support two or more people using the equipment at the same time for different exercises.

7. Complexity of the assembly process

Unless you move house or switch workout rooms, assembling your home gym is something you’ll only need to do once.

Even so, consider the difficulty of assembly, the time required, and whether the company you’re buying from has a professional assembly service.

Fitness equipment companies sometimes have specially trained technicians who can set the machine up for you. If this is a service you’re interested in, it’s best to find out the cost before you buy.

It’s also a good idea to set up in the final location you’re going to be training in. Some of the larger home gyms aren’t exactly built with transport in mind.

Glideboards, like the Total Gym XLS, are the only real exception because they arrive almost fully assembled.

8. Warranty

It’s important to know the level of warranty supplied with your home gym.

For cardio equipment, the warranty usually covers parts, frame, labor, and electronics. For home gyms, this can include frame and welds, pulleys, bearings, cables, upholstery, and grips.

Body-Solid offers some of the best warranties in the industry. This often means lifetime coverage on all of the above if you’re the original purchaser.

Unfortunately, the same warranty isn’t available on any of their used or refurbished gym equipment.

Some companies with a shorter standard warranty offer additional product cover at a cost.

Warranty is a reflection of the manufacturer’s own confidence in a product. We recommend finding a company with at least a 10 years warranty on parts and preferably a lifetime on the frame and welds.

Warranty coverage for some of the most popular home gym brands:

Body Solid – Lifetime on parts, frame, and welds
Precor – Lifetime on frame, 10 years on parts
Powertec – Lifetime warranty on structural frame, 5 years on moving frame parts (pressing arms, etc.), 2 years on components (bearings, pulleys, locking pins, etc.), 1 year on pads and grips
Total Gym – Lifetime on frame, 6 months on parts (optional extended warranty is 2 years)
Bowflex – Varies widely depending on the equipment chosen. As an example, the motor on their TC5000 is covered for 5 years, while the motor on the TC1000 is covered for just 1 year.

9. Expansion capabilities

Upgrading the resistance as your strength improves is one thing. But what about adding entirely new workout stations?

This isn’t an option for most home gyms, but some designs can be expanded. You could buy an upper body workout station, then add lower body and cable crossover stations in the future.

The Tunturi 4-in-1 Strength Station is a great example, but you’ll need much more space and a bigger budget.

10. Bench or no bench?

Benches are usually associated with smith machines, but some home gym systems also swap their seats for an adjustable bench.

The Body Solid GLGS100P4 is a good example, where the bench rolls away to support free-weight exercises.

A slight variation on the Body Solid model is the Marcy Pro PM4400. This features a removable bench, which pivots on the frame to create space for shrugs, rows, squats, and calf raises.

For most home gyms, this won’t be the case. Even so, designs like the Bowflex PR3000 leave enough space to use the bench provided with dumbbells or power rods.

If a removable FID bench is high on your priorities, you might want to check out our smith machines reviews. The Marcy MD-9010g is a bestseller that we highly recommend.

Summary on Best Compact Home Gym & Multi Stations

Each of the items from our multi gym reviews provides users with a range of exercise options. Some are more compact, like the KingKing multi-purpose bench, while others, like the Bowflex PR3000, have a larger footprint.

Regardless of which one you prefer or best suits your budget, you’re guaranteed to get in an excellent full-body workout with the machines mentioned above. And best of all, you can do it all from the comfort of your home.