The idea of ​​having your own gym is for most people a dream come true. Especially with those who regularly exercise in public gyms, the hassles that come with waiting in line for a machine to be released and then being limited by the time limit are simply concerns they could do without.

There’s also the real cost of using the facilities – the regular gym membership fee, which on average would be about $ 85, is another burden, especially for those who don’t exercise as often. The hectic routine of daily life usually prevents people with gym memberships from really taking advantage of their memberships and, in the end, they see all those dollars being spent without even receiving anything in return.

In the long run, a public gym membership would be more convenient for those who really exercise regularly and have the patience to work out with the people around them, waiting for their turn on the treadmill.

This is why many people take the alternative step of building their own gym, in their own home. In the long run, nothing would beat the convenience of being able to exercise without leaving home. Plus, having a home gym takes the clutter out of working out with people – you can have that elliptical bike to yourself for only as long as you want.

When it comes to the amount of cash to be distributed, there are certain considerations to take into account. While a home gym takes the hassle out of regular unused gym membership payments, it is replaced by the cost of purchasing the equipment, which is definitely not cheap. And just like the gym membership you canceled for your home gym, all of that money would go to waste unless you commit to using the facilities regularly.

Gym equipment costs anywhere from under $ 100 to up to $ 3,000, depending on the equipment. For a decent workout, you would need machines designed for resistance training and, of course, those designed for aerobic exercise. Because the idea of ​​a home gym is to provide you with the type of workout most comfortably, a collection of equipment that generally gives you the same effects as a public gym would be the logical thing to consider.

However, there is another thing that people forget to consider: the space required for the actual gym.

While there is no problem simply buying a folding treadmill and storing it somewhere, this alone does not constitute a home gym. For a complete fitness room, you would need exactly that: a complete room. While some people could just empty a spare room in the house, others would have to build an extra room just for their exercise equipment.

With this, you have to take into account the actual size needed for the gym. Factors to consider would be usage, safety, aesthetics, the equipment you plan to use, the flow of traffic within the home, and possible future expansion options.

A home gym would need as much space as possible to meet the above requirements.

Also, you may want to break down the actual space required for each piece of exercise equipment:

? Treadmills generally need an average of 30 square feet.

? Elliptical bikes would need 10 feet.

? For climbers, 10 to 20 square feet would be needed.

? Free weights would need between 20 and 50 square feet.

? Rowing machines need 20 square feet.

? For single station gyms, about 35 square feet would be needed.

? Multi-station gyms would require between 50 and 200 square feet.

Apart from these, you must also remember to have enough space so that you can move freely, without constrictions or safety hazards.

If space turns out to be an issue, one might consider a downsizing – opt for the foldable gym equipment. This solution, however, does not account for the actual space required when all the equipment is removed.

Also, you could consider buying a range of compact gym equipment that are now available in the market. Mini exercise bikes and master thighs are great for saving space, and they definitely cost less than the usual bulky gear.

But above all, remember that the space you use for your gym must adhere to the type of activity you will perform. The most important thing is that the gym works for you, and if some adjustments need to be made for the sake of a home gym that you can feel comfortable in, then go for it.