Every strength trainer faces this question sooner or later: Should I keep paying for a gym membership, or would I be better off setting up a home gym? Often, the upfront costs of a home gym are enough to convince gym-goers to maintain their membership. Others take a longer-term view, considering they’ll be better off financially by owning their equipment.

Other factors also come into play. Cost, convenience, expert support, and training motivation are just a few considerations when deciding whether a home gym is worth it. In this home gym vs. gym membership comparison, we explore the pros and cons of each option to help you make an informed decision.

The Pros of a Home Gym

Convenience

A home gym provides you access to your workouts 24/7, allowing you to fit your training into your lifestyle. If you want to train early in the morning or late at night, you can do it. There’s no need to get in the car, travel to the gym, and find a park. You also don’t need to wait for equipment, which is a common experience during peak gym times.

A home gym is ideal for people who work from home. It allows you to train in short bursts throughout the day, helping you balance work and exercise. For example, you might spend two hours working on your computer, then do a 20-minute chest workout. Then, you’re back to work for a few hours before training your triceps. Later in the day, you train your abs.

Breaking up your training in this way provides several mental breaks throughout the day and allows you to focus on each body part at a time. As a result, you will find that both your secular work and workouts are more productive.

A home setup is also convenient for people who have young children. It allows you to get in a workout while your baby is having its afternoon nap. In this case, we recommend placing a baby monitor in your workout zone so you can keep an eye on your young one while you’re training. If you’ve got a toddler, you can set up a safe play zone in a corner of the gym.

Compare this to working out at a commercial gym with kids under five. Unless the gym has a childcare facility (many don’t), You will have to find a babysitter or wait for your partner to get home.

The convenience of a home gym helps develop workout consistency. Establishing and maintaining a regular training pattern is the key to progress and achieving your workout goals.

No Waiting for Equipment

One key to an effective workout is maintaining your training rhythm. That means getting yourself psyched for optimum performance and staying in the zone until the last rep of the last set. It also means keeping a smooth progression between sets and exercises. Depending on your training goals, you will have an ideal rest time between sets.

When you train at home, you have total control over these factors. You can set your training atmosphere and training cadence. But that is not the case in a commercial gym. There you have to work in with the other members. If you turn up during pea operating hours (6-8 am and 4-7 pm), you must wait for equipment. This is your momentum, diverts your focus, and can negate the cumulative effect of your set progression.

More Hygienic

Many people are surprised to learn how unhealthy most commercial gyms are. But they shouldn’t be. Many gyms see a hundred or more people coming and going every hour. Each of them leaves residues of sweat and other bodily fluids in their wake. As a result, bacteria growth is abundant.

Studies indicate that gym changing rooms are the least hygienic part of the entire establishment. As a result, you’re at risk of catching a bug every time you hit the showers.

When you train at home, you have total control over hygiene. The fact that your gear will only be used by a few people puts you at an immediate advantage. You can keep your workout area germ-free by simply wiping down your gear with a disinfectant spray or wipes.

More Cost-Effective

As inflation skyrockets, gym membership fees are consistently going up. Monthly fees are now averaging $50 per month. That’s $600 per year of your hard-earned income that you will never see again.

Setting up a home gym will probably cost you more than $600. A decent setup will likely cost three times that amount. But when you do, you have that equipment for life. After three years, you will be on par with a gym membership. After that, you’re in credit.

Having established that a home gym is a wise investment from both a financial and a health perspective, it’s time to examine the actual costs you will likely face. We’re discussing a decent setup that allows you to do everything you can at a commercial gym. You can add extra gear as time passes, but the following will get you off to a fantastic start.

• Power Rack / Squat Rack ($600+)
• Olympic Barbell & Collars ($225)
• Bumper Plates ($365)
• Dumbbells ($250)
• Flat Bench ($200)

That's roughly $1,640, which is equivalent to paying for a gym membership for 2 and a half years, but the difference is you get to keep this for life. 

Years	Home Gym Cost	Gym Membership Cost ($50/m)
1	$1,640	$600
2	$0	$1,200
5	$0	$3,000
10	$0	$6,000
Total	$1,640	$10,800

Judgment Free

Many people feel uncomfortable exercising in front of others. They may feel that others are judging them. Gyms can be especially intimidating places for newbies. They can easily feel out of place, surrounded by imposing equipment and fit bodies, and not really knowing what to do.

All of those problems disappear when you work out at home. You can be yourself, building up your exercise confidence at your own pace without feeling that others are judging you.

Home Gym Cons

Limited Equipment Variety

A commercial gym always offers more equipment options than a home gym. While you can perform most exercises with basic gear like a power rack, bench, and free weights, you won’t have access to specialized machines. These are usually very expensive, making them out of reach for most home gyms.

Some examples of specialized machines that may be cost-prohibitive for a home gym setup are:

• Leg Extension
• Leg Curl
• Glute Kickback
• Calf Raise

As you can see, these are all lower-body-focused machines. Some home gyms maintain basic gym memberships and use these specialized machines to train their glutes and legs.

Space Requirements

You will need a decent amount of dedicated space for your home gym. If you have a garage, this may work well. However, people who live in apartments or homes without a garage may struggle to find that space. Equipment like squat racks, benches, and weights occupy considerable room, and you’ll need extra space to move around the gear.

People who live near neighbors also have to consider the noise factor. The last thing you want is upset neighbors complaining about you banging around with weights when they’re trying to relax.

Lack of Social Interaction

Many people enjoy the social interaction that comes with a gym membership. Others see it as a distraction from their workouts and prefer working out alone. You might not enjoy the home training experience as much if you are in the former category. An element of accountability also comes with working out in a group or around others with similar fitness goals.

Commercial Gym Pros

Equipment Range

We’ve already discussed the lack of equipment variety as a home gym con, but it bears repeating here. Commercial gyms provide not only more equipment but also greater weight ranges. When working out at home, you must ensure you have enough weight to accommodate your increasing strength level. If you don’t, you won’t progress. As a result, you will have to buy extra weight plates or heavier dumbbells.

You don’t have that problem in a commercial gym. Unless you are an elite-level powerlifter or strongman, you will find enough weight plates and dumbbell poundage to meet your training needs.

Another benefit of a commercial gym in terms of equipment is that you don’t have to worry about maintaining or fixing equipment. This can be a major headache in a home gym situation. In addition to the cost of fixing the gear, you always have to contend with the downtime during which your workouts will be interrupted.

Environment

Each commercial gym has its own vibe. If you find one that fits your personality and training style, you’ll enjoy going there, and your workouts will be more productive. You will be able to train alongside people with similar training goals. If you lack motivation to train, the atmosphere can pick you up and get you pumped for a good workout.

In contrast, when your gym is at home, overcoming a lack of training motivation can be more challenging. You’ve got all sorts of distractions at your fingertips, making it easy to forego your training.

Expert Guidance

Gyms are staffed with fitness experts who help members train efficiently and safely. In addition to certified personal trainers, which you must pay extra for, floor staff monitor members to ensure they are doing things correctly. Even if a staff member doesn’t offer to help, you can always approach them and ask for assistance.

Group Classes

Commercial gyms offer a range of group fitness classes. These classes provide a fun, engaging, social training environment led by a fitness professional and a safe, structured introduction to exercise such as Pilates, yoga, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT).

Extra Amenities

Many gyms provide extra services beyond the gym floor. Facilities such as a swimming pool, a spa, an indoor running track, and a sauna add value to the gym experience that you probably can’t get from a home gym.

Commercial Gym Cons

Commute and Time Commitment

One of the biggest hassles of having a gym membership is the time it takes to travel to and from the gym. Depending on the time of day, it may take longer to get to the gym than to actually do your workout.

Gym hours can also be a problem. While many gyms are now open 24/7, not all are. If you plan to train early in the morning, but the gym doesn’t open until 7 a.m., you’ve got a problem.

Additional Costs

The monthly membership fee is not the only cost you will incur. Many gyms also have an annual fee, along with the cost of group classes, personal training sessions, locker rentals, and even parking. This all contrasts with the one-time investment of a home gym.

Crowded Spaces

During peak hours, commercial gyms can become overcrowded, making it difficult to access the equipment you need. This can disrupt your workout flow, increase wait times, and reduce the overall effectiveness of your training session. The crowded environment can also lead to a lack of personal space, making your workout experience less enjoyable.

Which is Best For You?

The pros and cons we’ve discussed may have already helped you make your gym-at-home vs. gym-membership decision. However, you also need to factor in your training style and personality. After all, if you don’t feel comfortable in your training environment, all the logical reasons for training there won’t matter.

Are you the type of person who thrives on the social interaction of a gym atmosphere? Does working out shoulder to shoulder with people who are fitter and stronger than you fuel your competitive juices so that you can get more out of your workouts? Do you like to share a joke between sets with the guy on the machine alongside you?

If so, a gym membership will probably be the best fit for you.

However, if you answered a definite no to those questions, you will likely flourish more in a home gym environment. Maybe you’re the type of trainer who hits the gym with laser focus, zones in on the task at hand, and doesn’t talk to anybody – at least not until the workout is in the bag.

You might also be an internal motivator. You draw your training inspiration and drive from within yourself without needing others to push you on.

Think about your training style, too. Do you like to change up your routine often, using a wide range of equipment? Or do you prefer to find what works for you in terms of exercises and stick with it month in and month out? Those who want more variety will be better off with a gym membership, while people who rarely change up their routine are better suited to working out at home.

Home Gym vs Gym Membership FAQ

Q: Is it better to get a gym membership or workout at home?
A: Whether it’s better to get a gym membership or work out at home depends on your training and motivation style, lifestyle, and personal situation. If you prefer training by yourself with no distractions and are a self-motivator, a home gym will probably work best for you. However, you will not have access to as wide a range of equipment as if you joined a commercial gym.

Q: Is a home gym worth the investment or a gym membership?
A: The home gym investment will be worth it in the long term. The cost of equipment should equal about three years of gym membership. After that, you will be essentially training for free, while also owning your equipment!

Q: Are home workouts as effective as the gym?
A: Home workouts are generally as effective as commercial gym workouts. The exception is when you are training specific lower body muscles. Specialist equipment like a glute machine, leg curl, and leg extension may be too expensive for a home gym, forcing you to compromise with other exercises.

Q: Is a home gym cheaper than a membership?
A: If you take a long-term view, a home gym is cheaper than a membership. After about three years, you will spend the same amount in both cases. From that point onwards, the home gym will be at an advantage.

Wrap Up

Deciding between a home gym vs gym membership depends on your personal preferences, lifestyle, and fitness goals. Both options have distinct advantages and drawbacks. A home gym offers unparalleled convenience, long-term cost-effectiveness, and a private, judgment-free space tailored to your needs.

On the other hand, a commercial gym provides a wide range of equipment, social interaction, and access to expert guidance and group classes that can enhance your workout experience.

Consider how important convenience, equipment variety, social environment, and cost are to you. A home gym might be best if you value flexibility and privacy. However, a gym membership could be more beneficial if you thrive in a community setting with access to many resources. Consider these factors carefully to make the smartest decision for your fitness journey, ensuring that your choice matches your long-term goals and personal preferences.