I trained from 1999 to 2004 in a commercial gym. In August 2004 I built a home gym. Since then I’ve been training home. This article will give you info on what you need to build your home gym & where to buy your equipment.

Benefits of Home Gyms. Commercial gym or home gym? Here’s why I choose to build a home gym.

• Freedom. Weekends, holidays & working shifts are no more a problem. You workout when & how you want: Deadlifts, Power Cleans, grunting, yelling, chalk, shirtless, music playing hard, no people watching, etc.
• Saves Time. No more driving to the gym & back, no more waiting for the Squat Rack/showers to get free, no talking. Gyms are packed on Monday & Tuesday evening, which is when you’ll probably train if you work 9-5.
• Saves Money. Gym memberships in Belgium cost 50€/month. Add car fuel costs. You’ll break even on your home gym investment within 3y.
• Equipment. Many commercial gyms don’t have the equipment you need for routines like StrongLifts 5×5. Building a home gym might be your only solution to get access to a Squat Rack & free weights.

Downside of building your home gym: it’s an initial investment, you need space & you’ll have to motivate yourself. You also don’t have a spotter for the Squat & Bench Press. But there are ways around this.

Home Gym Space. You need a solid floor for exercises where you’ll drop the weight like Deadlifts & Power Cleans. Garages & basements work best.

• Area of Space. 10 square meters (10×10 feet). Space necessary for your Power Rack and for doing Deadlifts & Power Cleans outside it.
• Roof Height. Your length + 1 meter so you can do overhead movements like the Overhead Press, Push Press & Jerk. If your roof is too low, you can do Seated Presses (or Press outside your house).

Home Gym Flooring. Flooring should do two things: reduce the noise from the barbell hitting the floor & protect your floor.

• Plywood. I use 3 layers plywood with a heavy carpet on top. The carpet tends to slip around & doesn’t give solid footing. Not the best solution.
• Rubber Mats. Reduce noising & protect your floor. Get 2 stall mats of 60 square cm (2×2 feet) from a farm supply. Best option.
• Platform. If you plan to do a lot of Olympic exercises like Jerks & Power cleans, best is to build a platform. Read this guide.

Home Gym Equipment. You need a barbell that doesn’t break and a Power Rack for the Squat & Bench Press.

• Barbell. 2m20 long, weighs 20kg, with knurling & 50mm sleeves. Quality barbell that supports weights of 3-400kg.
• Plates. Plates with 50mm holes to fit the bar. Start with 156kg weight: 4×20kg, 4×10kg, 4×5kg, 4×2,5kg, 4×1,25kg.
• Power Rack. Handles up to 400kg. With adjustable safety pines, pull-up bar & dip bar attachements. Outside uprights for the Overhead Press.
• Bench. Necessary for the Bench Press. Adjustable bench you can put inside your Power Rack. Handles weights of 200kg.

The minimum setup is one barbell & 150kg/300lbs plates so you can do strength training with one barbell. If you want to do StrongLifts 5×5 you’ll need a Power Rack, Bench, Pull-up Bar & Dip bars. This setup comes at 1500$.

Where to Buy Your Equipment. Buy a quality barbell & Power Rack. You don’t want accidents when lifting weights overhead, on your back, above your chest. Pay a little more for quality. You only buy equipment once.

• Craigslist & eBay. Buy equipment from someone who quit weight lifting. Quality equipment doesn’t wear out, you can find great deals.
• Build Your Equipment. Save money by building your own Power Cage from Scaffold. Costs less than 100$.
• EliteFTS. Company run by Powerlifters. Equipment from EliteFTS might cost more, but you’re paying for quality & safety. Don’t save money on a barbell or power rack.

Take a look at my home gym for an example. If you think it’s a lot of money, think long-term. Home gyms don’t wear out. They last forever.