Gym memberships are expensive, and not everyone has the time to pack in a workout in between work, school, and family. The next best thing is building your own capsule gym, whether you have a dedicated space to work out in or you’ll be rearranging the furniture to carve out space for your routines.

Read on to discover some of the best versatile gym equipment for every budget and every space.

Below, we’ve listed some great options to get you started with your mini home gym. Each piece of equipment costs under $100. We’ve also suggested how you can mix and match the items to create capsule gyms of different scales for various budgets.

Adjustable dumbbells

Resistance bands

Yoga mat

Calisthenics is great for balance and strength and as an intervention for sedentary living. And guess what? You only need your body and gravity to try it out, making it a great option for people with a tight budget or limited space for equipment.

If you want to start adding calisthenics equipment to your routine, consider paralettes. Versatile and popular among calisthenics enthusiasts, paralettes can be used indoors, outdoors, and for a huge variety of strength-building exercises.

If you’ve geared yourself up for a workout, the last thing you want to be doing is struggling to find the right kit when you need it. Having a well-organized space will make working out a breeze, so consider space-saving storage solutions.

Other equipment to consider

Of course, we haven’t listed all the equipment you could choose to include in your capsule gym. Other pieces you could consider include:

  • Space: We’re talking capsule gyms, so we stayed space-conscious while picking the items in this list. We opted for items that can be easily stored or packed away, and items that can be used in different ways to get the most out of each piece.
  • Versatility: We’ve chosen gym equipment that can facilitate a range of exercises, keeping your workouts versatile and interesting.
  • Budget: We’ve kept our picks under $100 each to make building a capsule gym as accessible as possible. Whether you go all out and fill your gym in one splurge or you spread the cost by buying items little and often, we’ve aimed to offer practical solutions that won’t break the bank.

What does it all cost?

*Prices may vary

  • Type of exercise: Consider what kind of exercise you enjoy, and what parts of the body you’d like to focus on. If you’re looking to do a full-body workout, consider items that you can use in different ways to target different areas of the body. That means you can buy less, take up less space in your capsule gym, and make each piece of kit work hard.
  • Space: Gym equipment can quickly take up a lot of room, so whether you’ve got a dedicated room to work out in or you’re fitting in exercise around your existing furniture and living spaces, consider how you’ll store each item you consider. Always make sure you have enough room to complete exercises safely.
  • Budget: Home gyms can be a cheaper way to engage in a gym routine, but that doesn’t mean all home gym equipment is affordable. Think about what kit you’ll really need, and whether you can get similar benefits just using your bodyweight alone, before buying a bunch of gym equipment. Consider items with more than one use so you can invest your money in useful equipment that will be worth the outlay. Remember, you can always build your capsule slowly as you explore your goals and interests to grow your capsule gym as you develop.

It is generally cheaper to set up a home gym than pay for a gym membership longterm. Home gyms can have a high initial cost, depending on the set up you choose, but may pay off over time. You can tailor home gyms exactly to your needs, meaning you won’t be paying for facilities or equipment you don’t use.

However, home gyms are limited by your living space, and you have to consider the people you live with and near. Gyms may also come with perks like classes, community building events, and equipment you just can’t get at home.

Yes, home workouts can be just as effective as gym workouts if you use appropriate equipment and follow a structure that will help you meet your fitness goals. Home workouts can be more accessible to many, both in terms of finances and time.

It’s important to ensure you’re completing exercises safely when you’re at home, and don’t try heavy weightlifting or other higher risk exercises without someone to spot you.

Read about how long different workouts should last.

Whether a home gym is enough to replace a gym depends on your fitness goals and the equipment you have available. Sometimes your living space just can’t accommodate the machines and equipment you need to complete workouts for certain fitness goals, and some people find it useful to work with trainers or attend classes at gyms.

But, home gyms can make it easier for people to get into a routine with exercising and make it more accessible.

How much a home gym should cost will depend on what your fitness goals are. You can get started for under $100, but fully stocked home gyms with custom set ups and specialized equipment can cost thousands.

It’s not necessary to spend a lot on your home gym to make it effective. The routines you follow and your dedication will do a lot of the heavy lifting, and picking versatile kit that you can use in a variety of ways to mix up your workouts means you can get more out of fewer items.

Capsule gyms are a great way to integrate your fitness routines into your everyday life. Whether you don’t have time to travel to a gym, want to curate a gym space tailored to your needs, or want a lower-cost way to get into exercise, a home gym can help you toward your goals.

Simple, versatile equipment, such as adjustable dumbbells, sliders, and resistance bands, can give you rounded workouts that target the whole body.

If you’re just starting to explore capsule home gyms, consider what kind of equipment you’ll need to reach your fitness goals. Then, start small to determine what will work best for you, your space, and your budget.