Best Value
EXM3000LPS
Best Overall
Elite Strength
Most Affordable
EXM2500S
Now that summer is in full swing you probably find yourself in on of two situations.
Either you’re looking to hit the beach or pool as much as you can to show off that tan summer body you worked for all winter, or you’re doing the exact opposite and regret not putting in the work when you had the chance.
Either way, the importance of exercising is more apparent than ever and with that comes the sudden burst in motivation to do it right the next time...
or really instead of next time, you should be getting up and doing it now.
But if you’ve already tried and failed last year to get yourself into the gym and pumping iron, maybe what you need is to switch things up.
Maybe you didn’t have time, or the gym was too far, or after coming home from work, the thought of going back out was enough to make you quit.
That’s where multi station home gyms come in. Get yourself one of these and all those excuses go out the window, you’ll have a full on gym experience in the comfort of your own home.
Our Top Pick
Body Solid EXM3000LPS
Editors Choice - Best Overall Option
Editors Choice
- Best Budget Option Available - Very Cost Effective
- Literally one of the Best Built Home Gyms I Have EVER Used. The BMW of the Home Gyms
- This Is the One That I Personally Own - going on 3 years now
- Highly Rated & Raved About on reddit and bodybuilding Forums
- Most will Never Need Anything More
What is a Multi Station Home Gym
Well a multi station home gym is the next big thing in home gym technology. It used to be that having a home gym meant just performing the big three lifts and not much else. This meant that all but the most hardcore bodybuilding gym goers eventually got bored and quit training.
If you don’t know what I mean by “The Big Three”, I’m talking about the most important lifts for bodybuilders and strength athletes, the bench press, squat and deadlift. These should always be the center of your routing since they are the most efficient way to build muscle.
The takeaway is that before multi station home gyms, working out at home was repetitive and boring and all but the most committed would end up quitting.
Not only that, but even setting up a home gym was a long and tedious process of buying a bunch of different equipment, paying hundreds or thousands in shipping. Waiting for everything to arrive and then having to assemble everything.
Multi station home gyms fix this issue, they consist of a big gym machine that has several different stations, usually one on each side. In these you’ll find hundreds of different workout options.
What are the Benefits of Owning a Multi Station Home Gym?
No Steep Learning Curve
There’s one department where home gyms could never win against commercial ones and that was machines. For a home gym owner it used to prohibitively expensive to get machines that target different muscles, as well as take up valuable space.
If you’re a seasoned lifter, you might not see the point in getting machines for lifts you can perform with free weights, but if you’re a beginner they are a game changer.
Until a newbie learns proper form, they can’t really start packing on the pounds or they risk injury. By combining machines with free weights, they can use the former to experience the fun part, progress, while using the latter with light weight to learn proper form.
Before multi station home gyms, only experienced lifters could reasonably buy their own equipment. Newbies were limited to commercial gyms. If you couldn’t go to one, you were screwed.
But now, thanks to multi station home gyms, newbies can get their own home gym that has machines that won't put them at risk. So no matter where you are in your lifting journey, you can workout from home.
That’s not even mentioning how useful machines are for treating minor injuries, since they allow for a more controlled motion. So even those who’ve been lifting for decades can make the most of a multi station home gym.
Allows for Hundreds of Exercises
You don’t have to settle for compounds.
They might be great for a lot of things, but are a bit lacking when it comes to targeting smaller muscles like biceps, triceps, and calves and are not good at all at fixing imbalances that may develop when training.
This is where multi station home gyms shine. Not only they offer all the awesome benefits of compounds, but they also come with hundreds of attachments and accessories so that you can switch up your training and keep forcing your body to grow.
Finally, there’s also boredom; As the saying goes, variety is the spice of life. while we all love training, after a couple months of the same exercises it can get a bit dull.
This way you can vary your training to keep things interesting and stay motivated to give it your all
Built to Last
These home gyms might be a bit on the pricier side, but don’t worry, there’s a reason for that. Setting aside the convenience of having all the gear sent at once, tried and tested to know that everything works together flawlessly, there is still one more thing.
That reason is that these multi-station gyms are built to last. This is what sold me completely on these kind of setups. They are meant to be an investment for life. You pay for it once and you’ll have a lifetime of health, wellness and aesthetics to show for it.
Made with heavy duty materials, these will never break on you, no matter how hard you treat them.
Best Multi Station Home Gyms
Listed below are the top rated multiple station home gym machines for the money
1. Body Solid EXM3000LPS
Editors Choice
Body Solid Exm3000lps Review
One of the best multi-station home gym you’ll see here today and the one I own myself. This beast of a machine comes packed with 7 different stations that allow for hundreds of exercises. It's one of the best purchases I’ve made in my entire life, let me tell you why.
The Stations
Like I said above, this puppy comes with seven different stations for you to work out in, through novel engineering, BodySolid manages to cram a lot of options into a machine that’s not that big. Let's go through the stations one by one and see what they offer.
Multi Press Station
This is actually three stations in one - by just moving a few pins you can switch it up from a chest press, to a shoulder press machine, or even change it up for back workouts.
Thanks to the recurved handles, you can switch up grips to target different muscles and angles.
For example, by using the vertical handle, your hands are a lot closer together and you can perform a close grip press to stimulate your triceps more than you would with a regular one.
Leg Press/ Calf Press Station
You might think there’s not a lot to say about this one, its a standard leg press, right? Well yes and no. As cool as it is that you can get a full blown leg press in your home, there’s a bit more going on behind the scenes with this one.
For starters, BodySolid utilizes proprietary technology that they call “two bar linkage” which allow the leg press plate to self adjust to the angle the pressure is being applied from.
This, in turn eliminates ankle strain and reduces the likelihood of torsions. While also ensuring perfect biomechanics throughout the entire exercise, which will help you push more weight, and believe me, there’s a lot of weight to push.
The weight stack comes up to 210 pounds, which may seem like plenty for most of us. But just in case you’re a freak of nature that can push even more, BodySolid’s clever engineering converts the weight in a 2:1 ratio.
In layman’s terms, this means that instead of 210 pounds, the weight is doubled and you can push up to 410 pounds!
Perfect Pec Station
You might think it's a bit much to call it the perfect pec station, but in all my years of gym going and product reviewing, I’ve yet to find another like it, let alone a multi station home gym with such quality.
The two arms have six different settings and are individually adjustable, which may seem unnecessary, but if you’re dealing with an injury you may not have the same range of motion in each arm.
You’ve probably seen some people in gyms using the pec dec while facing backwards to train their rear delts, the motion looks like sitting rear delt flys. However, most pec decs aren’t designed to be used this way, so it can be uncomfortable or even painful.
But in BodySolid’s case, they thought about this and designed their pec dec in such a way that it is intended to be used for rear delts as well. Thanks to their adjustable grips, it's a breeze to switch them up from pecs to delts.
Lat Pulldown/High Pulley Station
The lat pulldown is one of the best exercises to add size to you back, and no home gym is complete without some form of it. In this case, the station not only serves as a lat pulldown machine with great cushioned hold down rollers, but also as a high pulley.
What I love about pulleys is that the possibilities are pretty much endless. You can go for the most common exercises like triceps pushdowns, or face pulls, but you can also hit pretty much any muscle, even your abs in a cable crunch! (Check my article about cable crunches HERE)
Mid Pulley Station
A great option to switch angles from the high pulley, it allows for exercises like neutral chest flyes or lateral raises, which can’t be done or a high pulley, or even a less challenging version or the ab crunch as well as oblique crunches.
Seated Row Station
A great way to target your upper back muscles and traps, the seated row will get you that thickness of the upper back you’ve been chasing your whole life.
You can even do it standing if you want to engage your core and back even more, though you probably will have to go lighter.
That’s not all though, like all the other pulleys, this one can also be used for hundreds of exercises. Decline chest flyes, shoulder raises, biceps curls, you name it.
Leg Curl & Leg Raise Station
What better way to get thick, tree trunk legs than the leg curl and leg raise. While the leg press should be the focus since it's a compound movement. Finishing off your workout with some sets here will give you that sick quad and hamstring definition you see on bodybuilders with crazy leg muscle growth.
One common worry about leg presses is joint safety, since poorly designed machines can cause shear forces on your knee joint. However, BodySolid’s engineers are experts at biomechanics and I can tell you from experience you knees are as safe as ever.
Best Features of the Exm3000lps Multi-Home Gym
Listed below are some of the best features of this home gym
1. Dual Weight Stacks
The EXM3000LPS comes with two weight stacks that go up to 210 pounds each. They are equipped with state of the art nylon bushings to prevent wear and tear and ensure a silent performance.
Even better, thanks to their 2:1 weight ratio, you’re actually getting 410lbs for each stack!
2. DuraFirm Pads
There are few things that can ruin a workout faster than laying on a painful bench, we’ve all been to one of those old gyms where as soon as you unrack the weights you can feel metal bars digging into your back and have to immediately rerack cause you can't lift that way.
That’s why BodySolid included their trademarked DuraFirm Pads on all surfaces, double stitched and double sewn. They are extremely durable and tear resistant, but in the odd case that they do tear, they are guaranteed for life. Which brings us to the next feature.
3. Multi User Friendly
One of my biggest gripes with home gyms is that you almost always end up working out alone. Loners and introverts out there probably think there’s nothing wrong with that, but some of us miss our gym bros and not only working out but also hanging with our friends.
Even if you invited your friends over, you were forced to do the same routine if you want to work out with someone. The EXM3000LPS fixes this since it can be used by multiple people at once, no need to have the same workouts!
Warranty
You shouldn’t really be concerned about warranty with this one, its as sturdy as it gets for home gyms. However, its smart to look for a nice warranty, and thankfully BodySolid has one of the best ones out there.
For this piece they offer their commercial warranty, which means lifetime for the frame and welds, and 3 years for pulleys, bushings, bearings and more.
2. Body Solid G9S
Best Bang for Your Buck Multi-Station
Body Solid G9S Review
In case you couldn’t tell from the previous entry, I really, really like BodySolid. This time we have an option that’s a bit more budget friendly, it doesn’t have as many options and features as our top entry but it still gets the job done.
I almost bought this one for myself, but wanted something a bit more advanced. If you’re just starting out or maybe want to use weight training as a complement to another sport or form of training, this could be the option for you.
The Stations
Instead of seven we have three stations this time, but each of them is jam packed with features to offer full body workouts. Let's get into it.
The Multi Press Station
If the name sounds familiar, it's because this one is quite similar to the one in our previous entry. You still get the choice between hitting you chest, shoulders, or back.
If you want to do chest presses, just sit down and push, if you want to row, you can either turn around to do chest supported rows, or reverse the direction of the arms and keep the support on your back. For shoulder presses, just stand up and press.
That’s not all though, you also get a leg extension roller, which can also be used for standing leg curls and even as a hold down device for when you want to use the lat pulldown machine.
Perfect Pec Station
Another shared station. This time it's the pec dec and rear delt row machine. Once again you get independently moving arms, swiveling handles and multiple levels of adjustment, as well as an easily adjustable seat to make sure you target the right muscles at the right angle.
Leg Press Station
Thanks to the 2:1 weight ratio technology, you get a 420 pound leg press station with adjustable seats made with BodySolid’s trademark DuraFirm pads and a self adjusting leg press plate to ensure proper ankle positioning and maximum strength output.
Body Solid G9S Best Features
1. Good for newbies
Not only is this machine great for newbies because of the good price and safety features that comes from Body Solid knowledge of biomechanics, but also because it comes with a lot of things that most machines aimed at more experienced trainees would take for granted.
The most important of these is a workout plan. There’s no point in buying a crazy home gym if you don’t know how to train with it. Thankfully, body solid includes a full body guide so you can get started on your fitness journey.
2. Upgradeable
One of the reasons I think this is a great entry point for beginners or even intermediate lifters is that with less upfront cost, you can dip your toes into working out. Then later, once you’re more advanced, you can upgrade it to keep up with your increases in strength and athletic ability.
The G9S can be upgraded in many ways. If you want heavier weight, you can upgrade each weight stack by 50 pounds (which count as 100 each thanks to the 2:1 weight ratio). If you want more exercise selection, you can purchase the roman chair addition.
With it you’ll be able to perform pull ups, work your abs, and also dip exercises , as well as increase the number of people using the machine at once.
3. Multi User Friendly
This one too can be used by multiple people at once, the base model accommodates two people simultaneously, but if you purchase the roman chair addition, you can workout with three buddies at once.
Warranty
Much like our previous entry, the G9S is also covered by Body Solid’s commercial warranty. Just in case you forgot, that means lifetime warranty for frames and welds and three years for pulleys, bushings bearings etc.
3. Elite Strength Training System
Best Overall Multi-Station Gym
Elite Strength Training System Review
You might be a bit confused right now, why is the best option on the list in third place? Well I struggled for a while about where to place this one. On the one hand its the best machine you’ll see today, but on the other, it price might make it too expensive for many.
I figured placing it third would be a healthy compromise between going for the best quality and keeping things affordable for your average Joe.
The Stations
The base model for this one includes 5 stations, though of course, more are available through options. The original five are:
Press/Row Station
The bread and butter of home gyms, chest and shoulder press, or turn around and do some chest supported rows.
Adjustable Arm Cable Station
If you’re a fan of chest flys, this one's for you. These arms act like cable pulleys, but have 11 individual adjustments, so the choice of angles for exercise is huge.
Mid Pulley
Even more pulleys, this time in a straight line, so you can use it comfortably to perform rows, curls and ab exercises.
High Pulley
We’ve already established a home gym isn’t really complete without a lat pulldown, so of course we needed a high pulley too. Lat pull downs, triceps pushdowns, face pulls and more.
Leg Extension/ Curl Station
When you’re doing lat pulldowns, you need something to hold you down, which is where the leg extension roller comes in really handy. When you’re not using the high pulley, you can use the roller for seated leg extensions and seated or standing leg curls.
Elite Strength Training System Best Features
1. Active balance System
This is what makes this machine really stand out and the best choice on our list. The Active Balance System (ABS) Is a novel way of shoring up one of the biggest shortcomings in home gyms.
Most advanced lifters prefer free weights to machines because a bar is a lot less stable, which forces you to use stabilizer muscles to keep things guided while machines have guided paths. When you trigger the ABS, the press arms will swivel enough to imitate a bar.
2. Double Up
Much like our previous entries, clever engineering makes it so you don’t need extra weight stacks. Thanks to their 2:1 conversion ratio, the 200 pound weight stack will feel like 400.
3. Save Space
While most multi station home gyms have stations all around, forcing you to keep them in the center of the room, other home gyms strive to save space; this one can be placed against the wall, since all the equipment is on one side.
Warranty
The best policy you’ll find out there, lifetime warranty for everything when in residential use, for commercial use its 10 years for the frames and 2 for everything else.
4. GLX Strength Training System
GLX Strength Training System Review
A similar but less expensive version of our previous entry, I don’t wanna bore you so we’ll go through this one quick to avoid getting repetitive.
The Stations
Since these are pretty similar, I’ll just list them out for you:
- Press and Row Station
- Cable Station with adjustable arms
- Mid Pulley station for ab crunches, low rows.
- High pulley for lat pulldowns, triceps pushdowns etc.
- Leg Extension and Leg curl Station
- Low Pulley with foot plate for rows, curls etc.
GLX Strength Training System Best Features
● Free Shipping in the US
● Multiple Options for adding weight and stations
● Space Saving design allows for placement against a wall making it a perfect home gym for apartments or people with limited workout space.
Warranty
Like our previous entry, residential users get a lifetime warranty on everything.
5. BodySolid EXM4000S
BodySolid EXM4000S Review
A great option for those looking to workout with multiple partners, the stations are very separated to avoid getting in each other's way. It’s the kind of equipment you might see in a commercial gym, since it's quite large.
The Stations
This device has three distinct stations, but within each of them there's a lot to do, you could say there’s up to 10 of them, here they are:
- Chest/Shoulder Press and Row Station
- Perfect Pec/Pec Dec Station
- Lat PullDown Station
- Ab Crunch Station
- Low Pulley Station.
- Leg Curl/Leg Extension Station
- Triceps Push Down Station, with bar included.
BodySolid EXM4000S Best Features
- Weight Stack Shrouds for protection and better looks
- Three 210 weight stacks with upgrades available
- DuraFirm, wear and tear resistant pads
- Includes lat pulldown bar, triceps pushdown bar, revolving straight bar and more.
- Allows placement against a wall to save space.
Warranty
One of the best warranty policies you’ll find out there, for in home use, you get lifetime warranty for everything. Frames, welds, pulleys, bushings padding and anything else you can think of.
However, this only applies to the original buyer, so be sure not to get it second hand.
6. Body Solid EXM2500S
Body Solid EXM2500S Review
For our second to last entry I have for you a great way to dip your toes into home fitness without breaking the bank or needing to remodel your garage or add a spare room to fit all of the equipment.
The EXM2500S is fairly barebones, to keep the costs low, but still comes with everything you need to work on your health and fitness, and you can be assured of quality since it comes from BodySolid.
The Stations
- Chest Press
- Seated Row
- Pec Dec/Perfect Pec Station
- Leg Curl/Leg Extension
- Ab Crunch Station
- Lat Pulldown
Body Solid EXM2500S Best Features
- Very Affordable
- Small footprint, only 83in L x 51 in W x 83in H
- Covered By Body Solid's Lifetime Warranty
- 210 pound weight stack.
7. GALENA PRO Strength Training System
GALENA PRO Strength Training System Review
Last but definitely not least, comes BodyCraft’s longest selling home gym, refined over the years to trim all the fat and leave you with a premium experience at an affordable price.
The Stations
The GALENA PRO might look small, but there’s a lot of clever engineering going on to pack a lot of exercise options into a small footprint. Lets see what you get:
- Dual function pec dec for chest and rear delt development.
- Press/Pull Station, allows for chest & shoulder press or rowing
- Low Pulley with foot rest for rowing, curls, leg kicks, etc.
- High Pulley for lat pulldowns, triceps pushdowns and more.
- Leg Extension/Curl Roller that also serves to hold you down for lat pulldown.
GALENA PRO Strength Training System Best Features
- Upgradable 150 pound weight stack
- Designed for placement in corners to save space
- Lifetime Warranty for residential use
- Leg press Upgrade available.
Best Free Weight Multi Station Home Gym
All of our previous entries are great, but you might have noticed none of them include free weights. If you go with our best entry, Nº3, you can imitate it thanks to the ABS function, but if you’re really craving the feeling of pumping iron the old fashioned way, I got you covered!
1. Marcy SM-4008 Smith Machine
Marcy SM-4008 Smith Machine Review
What do you get when you combine a power rack, a smith machine, and a power tower? The Marcy SM-4033, a great, cheap option for anyone looking to get serious about training without breaking the bank.
It includes a classic smith machine, safety pins for free weight training and a few uses of a pulley system, plus a chest press and a bench. Let’s do a deep dive into its best features
Marcy SM-4008 Smith Machine Best Features
- Smith machine and Safety pins ensure you can do compounds safely
- Includes a pull up bar for bodyweight training or calisthenics
- Chest press doesn't need a weight stack, uses standard plates
- Upper pulleys allow for cable crossovers
- Bench position can be adjusted
- Has a “Leg Developer” for leg curls and extensions
- Lower Price point.
Tech Specs
- Maximum user weight: 300 pounds
- Maximum weight bar capacity: 300 pounds
- Maximum Leg developer capacity: 100 pounds
- Maximum Lat pulldown and crossover capacity: 200 pounds
- Assembled Cage Dimensions is 65”L x 79.25”W x 84.5”H
- Assembled Bench Dimensions is 68.25”L x 26”W x 45.5”H
2. Marcy 9010G Smith Machine/Cage System
Marcy 9010G Smith Machine/Cage System Review
The premium option for a home gym with free weights, if money isn’t an issue and you’re looking to get even more options than you would at a commercial gym, this one's for you.
Marcy 9010G Smith Machine/Cage System Best Features
- Smith machine allows you to do presses and squats safely without a spotter.
- If you don’t want to use the smith machine, there are movable safety catches to place the bar and do compounds.
- Pulley System allows for arm presses, cable crossovers, rows and more.
- Calisthenics or bodyweight training can be performed thanks to the multi grip pull up bar and dip bar with adjustable handles.
- The included bench can be moved around and its angle can be adjusted from -27º to 76º so that you can hit different muscles
- Includes a detachable preacher curl pad, triceps rope, short bar, two cable handles, etc.
Looks pretty damn good doesn't it? Doesn't matter how you wanna train, this piece of equipment can do it all, so let's move on to the technical side of things and see if you can actually fit this puppy in your home.
Tech Specs
- Dimensions when the cage is assembled: 70” L x 83” W x 86” H
- Dimensions when the bench is assembled: 75” L x 28.5” W x 47” H
Top Home Gym Brands
Listed below are the top rated home gym brands
BodySolid
Body Solid founded in 1989 with the mission of selling value priced, high quality fitness equipment, they have come a long way.
Their name is synonymous with quality, and it shows with their home gym machines. They were the first fitness brand to introduce lifetime warranty in 1996 and still offer it today.
The company stands by their “built for life” motto and are even ranked as an A+ by the better business bureau.
Marcy
A subsidiary of the IMPEX brand, Marcy is one of the most well known brands in the home gym space. As part of a very select group of brands, they take on fitness in a different way to reach everyone no matter what. Treadmills, exercises bikes, ellipticals, and all the other home gym necessities Marcy got it.
BodyCraft
Bodycraft was founded in 1994 with one objective, help people achieve their wellness goals. They have long been a standard in the gym industry and they stand by their products by offering lifetime warranties.
Looking to Buy a Multi Station Home Gym? Here's What to Look For
Warranty
One of the most important features to look for in any piece of home gym equipment is a nice warranty. When you train with heavy weight, when you train hard, things may break. No matter how sturdy your gym may be, even Tytax gyms break, so look for a manufacturer that will have your back.
Exercise Selection
This one can go to ways. For starters, if there’s a specific exercise you enjoy and don’t want to do without, be sure that the equipment you purchase includes it. However, you should also look for something that has plenty of exercises available.
You don’t know where life may take you and what kind of exercise you’ll need in the future. Having a jack of all trades kind of machine won’t limit you in case circumstances change.
Compounds
This is a must for any home workout equipment. Isolation exercises are great, but real growth comes from compounds. You’ll notice all my choices have them, because without them you’ll get nowhere.
This is especially important for the upper body, you can get by without a leg press, but your chest and shoulders won’t grow without pressing. So be sure to have them.
FAQ Buyers have About Multi-Station Home Gyms
Listed below are the most commonly asked questions beginners have when buying a multiple station home gym
How Much Should I Be Willing To Spend On A Good Home Gym That Will Last?
Like most things in life, there isn't one definitive answer. It depends on what it is you want out of a home gym.
If you want a bodybuilder home gym, one that is going to be the best of the best so that can compete, and have a home gym set up that will carry you through that journey, you’re probably looking at something upwards of $5000.
If you’re just a gym aficionado that wants to stop paying commercial gyms for something that gets the job done, then most gyms under $3000 will suffice.
If you’re just starting out and want the most basic training, around $1500 is a good number, though keep in mind you might want to upgrade later.
How much weight will I need?
You might be wondering if it worth it to get the gym with the weight stack upgrade already, and unfortunately I can’t give you a straight answer. It depends a lot on your own circumstances and what you’re gonna use it for.
I mean, it can’t hurt to have it, but a 6 foot twenty year old is much more likely to use the extra weight than a senior trying to stay in shape. If you’re already going to a gym, it wouldn’t hurt to test out the weight stacks of different machines and see what happens.
Where Should I Buy It From?
As always, the best place to buy weights and home gyms from is going to be Amazon, especially if you’re going outside of our list (Even though you really shouldn’t). Amazon is a huge company that always has the buyers back, so in case of any troubles, having them at your side is always a plus.
Related Readings:
- Best Peloton Alternatives
- Rogue Echo Bike Review
- Quiet Ellipticals for Apartments
- Gorilla Bow Home Gym Review
- Best Exercise Bikes for Beginners – Newbies Buying Guide
- Heavy Duty Rowing Machines – Our Top Rowers with High Weight Capacity
Other Sources:
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
