Most Compact

Total Gym XLS

Best Bodyweight Gym

Our Top Pick

Body Solid GLGS-100

Best Weighted Gym

Most Affordable

Gold Gym XRS 50

Most Affordable Gym

For apartment dwellers, finding the perfect fitness equipment for a tiny apartment with extremely limited space can be tricky. I mean, getting the perfect anything for anything is always tricky, but when it comes to home gyms, the degree of difficulty becomes even more elevated.

This is partly because there are so many variables to consider, right from level of compactness to performance, and even price. There is simply too many things that can go wrong, when you don’t do it right.

When you do get it right, however, you get to enjoy numerous benefits not the least of which is complete ease of working out and reaping the result of leaner and fitter muscles.

The question then remains, how do you get it right? Well you don’t have to linger too long on that question. That is exactly why I’m here, to help guide you through the maze that is getting the right fitness equipment for your apartment gym setup.

I’ll do by providing you with the best most cost effective options out there in each category.

Excited? I am, too because I finally get to show off my research that I did when I built mine.

Let’s do this!

Best All in One Compact Home Gyms For Apartments with Weights

First category of home gym equipment for your apartment that I’m going to be taking a look at are the compact home gyms with weights.

Not all home gyms are equipped with weights. Some are, and some aren’t. In the end it’s a question of which you want to go with.

Now, in case you happen to be solely interested in home gyms without weights, you don’t have to worry, I have you covered on that front too. All you have to do is jump down to the next section and check out the exercise equipment listed there.

But in case you’re in the market for home gyms that come with weights attached, then the list right below is for you.

1. Body Solid GLGS-100 – Editors Choice

Best Bang For Buck Apartment Gym With Weights

Best features

• Space-saving design ensures it fits into small space.
• Rounded metal tubing construction ensures quality and durability.
• Comes with Built in Lat Pulldown Machine
• Adjustable knee lock-down for easier lat pull-downs
• Comprehensive direction provided for easy installation
• Aircraft grade cables
• Nylon pulleys

Specifications

• Product Weight – 150 pounds
• Model – GLGS 100
• 9.75″ Olympic weight posts
• Capacity – 600lb
• Sealed ball bearing pivot point
• Dimensions – 69″ length x 67″ width x 82″ height
• Weight Carriage – 30″ press station weight carriage

Far as home gyms go, the GLGS-100 is truly a remarkable sight to behold. Extremely sleek and compact, it only needs a small space to work with.

The Body Solid GLGS  provides one of the best home gym setups for the money.

Affordable, beginner friendly, simple, compact.

And once your space saving GLGS-100 is installed, you can begin to exercise more easily and effectively. Speaking of exercises, with this beauty you can perform shrugs, do squats, deadlifts, bicep curls and virtually countless exercises.

Another particular thing I personally love about this gym is its red color. It’s great in terms of aesthetics, and, believe it or not, this was achieved with a state-of-the-art anodized gloss.

Just in case physical appearance isn’t your thing, it’s okay, you don’t have to worry, this gym has way more to offer than just a glossy finish. Performance-wise, it is as solid as gyms get. Every moving part was built in such a way to ensure maximum efficiency.

From the swing press, carefully designed with the specific radius for greater motion simulation, to the adjustable knee lock-down that makes lat pulldowns easier, every component is carefully optimized for performance. The weights also come with attached weight horns that make storing your weight a really neat and convenient affair.

2. Body Solid G1S

Best Apartment Home Gym For Beginners

Best features

• Space-saving design ensures it fits into small space.
• Heavy Duty 12-guage Steel Construction
• 160 pound selectorized weight stack
• HQ Aluminium pulley kit
• Comprehensive workout setup with DVD
• Towel holder and Water bottle holder

Specifications

• Weight Stack – 160 pounds
• Model – G1S
• Dimensions – 49″ length x 36″ width x 83″ height
• Tension Strength – 2,200 pound
• Pulleys – 4 and a half inches

Body Solid G1S Review

Another brilliant home gym from Body Solid, the difference between the G1S and the GLGS-100 is not hard to spot. From first sight the physical differences in terms of design is most noticeable. Contrary to the GLGS-10, the G1S is more compact, and a little bit taller.

In terms of performance, though, they’re both legitimate beasts. The G1S features a press arm, multi-level pulleys and a leg developer.

It’s made of 12-guage steel so you know it has all the power and strength you’d need. Another particularly exciting thing about it is its chest press station which is specifically bio mechanically designed for maximum concentration and comfortability thanks to its multiple positioning.

You also have a lat pull down in the high pulley station, all adjustable, along with an ab crunch in the mid pulley station, leg extension in the leg curl station, and of course the seated row at the low pulley station just in case you don’t have a rowing machine.

Customer reviews of the Body Solid G1S have been overwhelmingly positive. Most of them praised the solidity and ease of assembly while others were impressed with its compactness and efficiency.

3. Marcy Steel 150lb

Most Popular Apartment Home Gym

Best Features

• 14-gauge Heavy Duty Steel Construction
• Dual function press arm
• Double pulley system for intense and flexible muscle building
• Dual function leg developer with thick foam roller padding
• Preacher curl bicep pad

Specifications

• Weight stack – 125 pounds
• Weight range – 15 – 200lbs
• Maximum weight resistance – 200lbs
• Weight plates – concrete, 10 lbs
• Dimensions – 69″ length x 36″ width x 79″ height

Another well-respected brand, the multi-function MVM-988 from Marcy is another compact, well-grounded home gym that is indeed worthy of a place on this list. It comes heavy and sturdy, thanks to his 14-gauge steel construction, and still compact and flexible at the same time.

With it you get a wide range of options for your own gym workout sessions, and a comprehensive workout chart included directly on the machine itself to guide you as to what kinds of workouts you get to perform with it.

Some of its impressive features include 150-pound vinyl weight stack, dual function press arm, adjustable curl pad, lat bar, comfortable leg developer, and generally easy-to-assemble components.

Speaking of ease of assembly, almost all verified users of the product have praised the unpacking experience and adjustments. It may take a while to get done for new users, though. But those with prior experience with similar products have stated that the Marcy Steel MVM-988 is significantly easier than others.

4. Gold’s Gym XRS 50

Most Affordable Apartment Home Gym

Best features

• Best Home Gym For Beginners
• Sewn vinyl seats for comfort and durability
• Multiple grip lat bar
• Exercise charts designed by professionals
• 300 lbs weight capacity
• Compact, flexible, and comprehensive enough

Specifications

• Weight stack – 112 pounds
• Weight Resistance – 280 pounds
• Possible Exercises – 25+
• Weight range – 300 pounds
• Dimensions – 47.5″ length X 21.75″ width x 12.25″ height

Gold’s Gym XRS 50 Review

Talk about a solid yet elegant design with immense space-saving capabilities that make it perfect for apartment or garage gym with very little space. The Gold’s Gym XRS 50 from Icon fitness checks a lot of marks when it comes to features you should be on the lookout for in an apartment floor home gym.

It prides simplicity above all things, and as such may not boast of the intricate complexities to be found with a few of the entries on our list.

Personally, though, I think compactness and versatility is at the top of features you should really want in your home gym and the XRS 50 definitely has top marks in this regard.

It is highly flexible and capable of providing needed workout ranges such as leg development, chess press/fly station, high pulley for lats and low pulley for leg muscles.

In terms of its range of motion, the XRS 50 also checks that mark with flying colors, even more impressive when you consider the fact that it achieves this range while being sturdy and durable at the same time.

Ease of assembly is another area where this home gym retains additional appeal. Thanks to its compactness, small height, and simplicity, it is relatively easier to assemble than most home gyms.

Though, it should be said, this is still a home gym with a handfuls of components, so in case you find trouble assembling it, don’t hesitate to ask for help from someone with more experience.

5. Valor Fitness BD – 62

Best features

• Remarkable space saving ability
• Dual pulley systems with sixteen adjustable positions
• Possesses two strap handles, also adjustable to 5 positions
• Wall mounts attachments for added support and stability

Specifications

• Weight – 62 pounds
• Possible Exercises – 15+
• Maximum Weight Load – 250 pounds
• Weight plates – Standard and Olympic
• Dimensions – 25″ length x 24″ width x 80″ height

The Valor Fitness BD – 62 is a wall mount cable station with adjustable dual pulley system, highly compact and remarkably flexible. In other words, a remarkable home gym to have.

In case you want to get your workout done in a small space, then there are really very few home gyms you’ll find as compact and flexible as this.

Its exercise ranges include bicep curls, triceps extension, shoulder presses, lunges and cable crunches, chest presses single arm rows, reverse flyes, squats, pull throughs, and so much more.

You also have a couple of novel and exciting features such as a double batch truck for stability and a smooth glide functionality for the plate loaded carriage system, along with a pivoting pulley bridge on each sides of the adjustable tool, which makes for a wider range of motion and flexibility.

The device holds Standard Plates but can also be compatible with Olympic Plates.

Verified users of the equipment have praised the easy slide of its double bar track, its ease of assembly, performance and durability thanks to its cables and wall mount feature, and the general reliability, both of the product and its manufacturer, Valor Fitness.

Most Compact Home Gyms For Apartments Without Weights

As mentioned earlier, you can either choose to go for home gyms equipped with weights or you can choose to go for those without free weights – for small apartments. If you have a tiny apartment, and thus your choice happens to be the latter, then the four home gyms below are the best you can get.

1. Total Gym XLS

Most Compact Apartment Home Gym

Best features

• 6 varying resistance levels
• 400 pound weight capacity
• Glide board for maximum head support
• Over eighty exercise capability
• Compact and no assembly required

Specifications

• Total Item Weight – 81.6 pounds
• Weight Capacity – 400 pounds
• Number of Exercises – 80+

Total Gym XLS Review

Total Gym XLS tops this list of compact home gyms without free weights thanks particularly to its remarkable ease and flexibility. It comes with all the tools you’ll need to get an effective workout done (without working with weights) right in the comfort of a little space in your garage gym, apartment or condo.

The Total Gym XLS is capable of supporting up to 400-pound of weight, pulley and cable system, squat stand, Nylon strap handles workout, and leg pulley accessories.

The system boasts of having over 80 home workouts ranges under numerous workout  categories such as Pilates, cardio workout, strength training, stretching and so on.

It also comes with a training guide manual, video tutorials, and several useful accessories such as a wing attachment.

Oh and, for what it’s worth, it’s also been endorsed by a handful of celebrities such as Chuck Norris and Christle Brinkley – if that means anything to you.

2. Weider Ultimate Body Works

Most Affordable Bodyweight Home Gym

Best features

• Space saving design
• Telescoping design
• Free motion cables for maximum flexibility
• Incline Adjust for optimal resistance angles
• High performance and cost-effective

Specifications

• Total Item Weight – 72 pounds
• Weight Capacity – 250 pounds
• Dimensions – 59″ length x 27.5″ width x 48″ height

You don’t really need stacks of free weights to exercise your core –this is what the home gym from Weider emphasizes upon. With this incredibly versatile piece of equipment, you get to push your body to whatever extent you plan to go right in the comfort of your own apartment without having to slug layers and layers of weight around.

It is designed to give you a total full body workout for working different muscle groups in your upper body, core muscles, and down to your lower body.

It comes with an adjustable incline bench, with which you can set up your perfect workout angles, thanks to the pulleys on either sides. This ensures that you are able to set how much resistance you feel is suitable for your full body workouts.

Among some of its attractive features are a telescoping design, rolling seat, high pulley, leg squat, free motion cables, leg squat, additional resistance and quite a bit more.

3. BodyBoss 2.0

Best features

• Highly portable, lightweight, flexible and mobile
• Retractable base with solid grip and floor padding
• 360° rotation for smooth motion
• 2 – 4 flexible bands
• Comfortable and sweat-resistant straps

Specifications

• Total Item Weight – 72 pounds
• Weight Capacity – 250 pounds
• Number of Exercises – 300+
• Number of Bands – 2 – 4

Equipped with some of the sleekest bands you’ve ever seen, the BodyBoss 2.0 is a remarkably aesthetic workout tool that manages to go deeper than just aesthetics. With its components, you get to work and build muscle in some really unique and innovative ways.

Very similar to the Gorilla Bow with its resistance bands being engineered in such that they can be morphed in different angles, thereby giving you a pleasant range of resistance band work-out options. Not only is the resistance band workout capable of providing good results, as you get when lifting weights, it is also better suited for helping beginners achieve their fitness goals.

With basic components that fits seamlessly to create an encompassing result, the BodyBoss 2.0 makes it so that you have highly compact little instruments, all of which are less than 20 pounds in total weight, creating the same kind of results that you will get with a 200 pound weight equipment.

Now that’s an efficient compact design fitness and cardio machine for small apartment with limited space.

4. OYO Fitness Gym

Best features

• Provides total body workout
• Incredibly portable, lightweight, flexible and mobile
• Comes with NASA SpiraFlex technology in place of traditional weights
• Patented DoubleFlex activation for resistance control

Specifications

• Total Item Weight – 72 pounds
• Weight Capacity – 250 pounds
• Number of Exercises – 300+
• Number of Bands – 2 – 4

The OYO Home Fitness Gym gives you the necessary fitness equipment you need to build much-needed upper body strength, toned muscle, and an impressive physique.

It is portable enough to fit in your apartment workout space, and even travel with it or take it with you to the office. It also sports some nice unique technology such as the SpiraFlex resistance technology for selecting varying resistance levels and patented DoubleFlex activation.

All these ensures that you’re able to workout more efficiently as well as maximize the outcome of each movement.

Apart from its technological advancements, the OYO Fitness Gym also performs greatly in getting the basic things done. It efficiently targets the total body spectrum, from the lower body and core right to the upper body.

Looking To Buy a Home Gym For Your Apartment? Here’s What To Consider

Before buying an apartment home gym there are somethings you should consider and that is what we are going to be discussing in this section.

Do you want Weights with your Apartment gym?

Essentially the first thing you have to determine when getting the perfect home gym for your apartment is which kind you want in the first place.

Generally, home workout gear usually come in about two different variations – the first variation is the kind of home gyms that are operated with weights. The other variation is the kinds that usually operate without any use for weights.

The latter makes use of cables and other attachment through which you can exercise your body and get almost similar results.

I say almost similar because most of the times as effective as they are, home gyms without weights may not be as capable of producing as of high results as the ones that are used with weights attached.

This is not to say that weightless body weight home gyms have no merit, though. They are usually significantly more portable and take up significantly less space, and not to mention you do not have to go some place to buy weights for more additional damage to your wallet.

So, first thing you have to decide is exactly which kind to go with.

If you’re looking for something to carry around with you or save space (and I mean a lot of space,) you may go with a home gym without heavy weights as it is easier to carry around and they are more compact.

But if you’re looking for exercise equipment that gives the most effective result and is still compact enough to fit in gyms with limited space, then you should go with home gyms with weights.

How much space do you have in your apartment?

As mentioned earlier, one of the most important characteristics of your own home gym is its space-saving ability. All the home gyms on the list above have been chosen partly due to their ability to save space, still some of them are more compact and take up less storage space than the other.

So in this case you also definitely have to be on the lookout for the space ratio. That is the amount of floor space you have in your apartment related to the size of the gym, and the amount of space it’s going to take up once you finally get it installed inside, also what other exercise equipment do you have; do you have an incline treadmill that takes some space? Do you have a compact exercise bike that doesn’t take much floor space and you can perfectly fit a home gym equipment next to it? Are you building a gym in the basement with a low ceiling?

You can easily take a look at the entries above and you’ll find the exact specifications and dimensions of each product, and then you can decide on which one you think will suit your fitness studio apartment gym most perfectly.

Do you want to squat in your apartment?

The kinds of different exercises you’ll be performing also goes a long way in determining what kind of apartment gym setup you’ll be getting and how to get the ones just perfect enough for your taste.

If you think you are going to want to do squats and other power movements, then you’re definitely going to want to invest in all the equipment that are capable of giving you that particular exercise capability.

At any rate, if you predominantly want to do squats in your apartment, to tone your thighs, work your glutes, or to get a stronger lower body overall, you will need to invest in a squat rack or a power rack with different weight options. You can find more on that by checking our guide out here.

In it I go over the best power racks for your apartment designed primarily to not only offer many workouts, but also give you a good workout while making the most of small spaces and room areas.

We also have another article about affordable squat racks, if you don’t want to break the bank squatting or you’re simply not a huge fan of fancy ones.

Popular Home Gym Brands

Whenever we take a shot in the dark regarding any particular product that we are testing but that we are not too familiar with, we’re practically going out on a limb without proper knowledge, and “putting ourselves out there”, so to speak.

But, there seems to be always one thing we can trust – the brand names.

We generally find security in brand names because, well, we identify the popularity of a brand with at least an acceptable amount of competence. For them to be that famous, they must be doing something right.

And through personal experience, in most cases, this seems to always prove true.

But is this the case when it comes to getting a home gym? Well, yes, it is. In fact, when you’re on the lookout for the perfect home gym for your apartment, brand name is one of the things that matters most.

To help guide you on the best available options, I’ll take a look at three of the best brands you’ll come across below.

Body Solid

Considering the multiple entries that this brand alone has on the list above, it isn’t hard to believe that they’re without a doubt one of the foremost brands out there when it comes to making fantastic pieces of equipment. It isn’t surprising, either, given their brand name.

I can only say, their products definitely live up to expectations – and have been doing so for a while now. Body Solid was established more than twenty years ago, and since has been producing some of the best home gym products out there.

Some of their exercise equipment mentioned above like the Body Solid G1S and the GLGS-100 are renowned not just for their compactness, but also for their high performance and versatility.

Another area where Body Solid sets itself apart from competitions is in terms of their diversity.

From home gyms to multi-station gyms, shoulder press machines and other weight machines, the brand has shown remarkable range and reliability over a significant array of products.

They even have their own line of cardio machines & products, weight plates, adjustable dumbbells, and kettle bells.

So generally, when in search of the perfect home gym for your apartment, Body Solid is most certainly a name you can trust.

Weider

Weider is another popular home gym brand that is renowned for product quality and compactness. Testament to both these qualities is the Weider Home Gym on the list above.

Not only does it excel in both aspects, it is also well received by customers, as most Weider products are.

The brand itself is one of the world’s largest online fitness stores, serving about 9 million plus members to date.

Apart from home gyms and workout equipment they also offer body building products like protein powders, supplements, and free bodybuilding guides and educational content.

Marcy

One of the things that set Marcy apart from other popular gym brands is their emphasis on customer service. Although there are a few people who would argue that this has been on the decline in recent times.

Still, at any rate, they remain one of the most popular brands for bodybuilding gym equipment out there, and, in my opinion, this is for good reason.

Their home gym equipment is known to be highly durable, and in terms of performance, it is safe to say that they are generally up there with the best. So in case you’re on the lookout for a brand name to feel safe with, Marcy is definitely a good one to consider.

Does Price Matter?

As with all things, yes, price does matter when you’re going for a home gym for your apartment. Quality products cost more.

Yes, sometimes manufacturers tend to mark-up prices for no reason, if only to appear as though the items have more in quality than they actually do possess.

This is why I went to great lengths to ensure that all the products on the list were vetted to make sure that only do they all have veritable value for their money, but also that they are relatively affordable.

Of course, cheaping out is also never the way to go for any product. In case you happen to have enough to cover the cost of the most expensive with higher quality, then definitely, by all means, go for it! But in case you’re on a budget, you’ll still find on the list a good number of reasonably-priced options with great quality.

Just How Much Will Home Gyms Help my Workout Regimen?

In case you’re having doubts about just how much owning an home gym will help increase the amount of time and work you put into bodybuilding, well, the answer is a lot.

When it comes to working out, and doing basically anything tedious, it has been found that our bodies usually find excuses to latch onto, in order to avoid performing that task.

And in this case, the most common excuse is distance. Your mind tells you that the gym is too far away, and so you start to see the journey as another big task, and finally you decide to stay at home.

When you have a home gym right in your apartment, however, the very fact of its presence will urge you to want to get some work in.

And in case that isn’t enough, you are also able to optimize your moods to suit your workouts efficiently. Sometimes in the time it takes for us to get out of our houses and down to wherever the closest gym is, we already have lost the zeal. But this doesn’t happen when you have your own personal home in your apartment.

You’re able to plan your workout routines more effectively and exercise in the comfort of your home without anybody watching over your, waiting on you to finish, all while being confident that no additional external factors can stop you from working out.

Now does this mean that there will be no challenge whatsoever? No, of course not.

There still will be days when you don’t feel enthusiastic enough, even though the gym is right there. I know a friend who slacked and stopped working for a few months, even though he had a home gym. But, at least, you know it’s always there when you need it, and that’s a huge step taken care of.

My Recommendation

Getting the perfect home gym is a task that really should not be as difficult as it is to most people. It is understandable that it requires not only so much planning before hand, but also putting a lot of variables into consideration, and this is why most people end up making the wrong decisions.

Use this apartment home gym guide to help you pick out the best options for your compact apartment workout area or your small living space.

The entries on the list have also been chosen with consideration of the most important features in mind. These include compactness, performance, durability, exercise ranges, and, of course, technological innovations.

Related Reading:

• Tytax Home Gym Reviews
• Most Quiet Apartment Ellipticals
• Best Fold Flat Under Bed Treadmills
• Top Rated Commercial Ellipticals
• Best Small Apartment Treadmills
• Best Short Barbells That I Would Personally Buy for My Home Gym

Ben Mayz

Hi there! I'm Ben, main author and chief editor at Fitlifefanatics.com. I have been obsessed with Strength Training and Fitness for 18 years now.
My passion for living a happy fit lifestyle is what made me realize that fitness is what I wanted for my future.
I went on to earn my Masters in Sports Training & Biomechanics.
My passion for Strength training & fitness and my love of helping others is what made me start Fitlifefanatics.
Here, myself, and a team of specialist aim to provide the most accurate, and actionable information possible in hopes to help foster the fitness community forward.
You can learn more about Fitlifefanatics on our About Page