11 Best Home Gym Machines of 2024 | GQ

Nov 04, 2024

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Whether it’s a treadmill, spin bike, or power rack, the best home gym machines can help you create a high-quality fitness setup just a few steps away from your living room. But with so many high-tech, pricey options available, you want to be certain you’re picking the right equipment and getting the best bang for your buck.

“Having your own workout machine at home is a huge time and money saver because you don't need to trek to the gym or pay for a gym membership,” says Noelle McKenzie, CPT, co-founder and CEO at Leading Edge Personal Trainers. “You can train any hour of the day and never have to deal with crowds or wait for machines.” If you’ve ever waited 20 minutes for the squat rack or the leg press machine, you know what we’re talking about.

When deciding which home gym machine is best, you’ll want to consider price, versatility, weight capacity, and footprint. Our testers have reviewed dozens of home gym machines to help make your decision a little easier and clearer, so all you have to focus on are your fitness goals.

The Bells of Steel All-in-One Home Gym combines a squat rack and a functional trainer into one versatile piece of equipment that provides seemingly endless lifting options. We love that you can customize it with your own rack attachments and choose between a plate-loaded mechanism or an integrated weight stack to create the ultimate home workout center. Plus, the whole machine fits neatly in the corner of your garage or living space.

Let us do the heavy lifting: We tested, vetted, and reviewed all sorts of home fitness equipment, and these are the 11 best home gym machines for strength training.

How We Chose the Best Home Gym Machines

To prevent you from purchasing a gym machine that will just end up gathering dust, we put more than three dozen pieces of strength-training equipment to the challenge. Our team tested these devices to see how close they came to replicating the abundance of options at most local gyms. Check out the full details of our comprehensive fitness testing process here.

Bells of Steel

Bells of Steel

The one-two punch of a squat rack and a functional trainer make the Bells of Steel All-in-One Trainer the most versatile piece of home gym equipment we tried. We also love its space-saving design, which allows you to lift heavy weights without sacrificing every inch of available space.

Product Features

Our team named the Bells of Steel-All-in-One Home Gym our best overall pick because of its endlessly customizable, choose-your-own-adventure design. You get the choice of a plate-loaded or single weight stack option (210 pounds) with the option to add on a lat pull-down bar ($60). All of this comes in a compact design, which—while not exactly small—we found to be more space-conscious than many of the other workout machines we tried.

At $1,100 to $1,500, it also falls right at the midpoint of what these devices cost, making it a pretty great deal when you consider the nearly endless lifting possibilities you’ll have right in your own home. Just note that the brand doesn’t provide ground-bolting hardware in the box, so a trip to the hardware store will be necessary.

Tonal

Tonal

Tonal has 17 sensors to track your weightlifting pace, form, and range of movement—and use that data to make automatic weight adjustments for you and give you real-time feedback. It’s like having a built-in coach pushing you to consistently reach for more.

Product Features

We can’t complain when a machine wants to crunch our fitness data for us and make adjustments accordingly. The Tonal not only uses 17 sensors to track your weightlifting pace and movement range, but it even adjusts the weight load for you in response to fatigue cues—you don’t even have to track your reps. Plus, you can take hundreds of classes led by expert trainers on its built-in touchscreen.

Beginners will love the machine’s ability to offer real-time form cues based on sensor input, so you can ensure you’re getting the most out of every rep. Tonal’s footprint also sets it apart. It installs right into your wall (no need to DIY—trained installers will do this for you with purchase) and only requires about four feet of space—making it a great choice for those living in small apartments.That said, at $4,000, this device definitely falls in the luxury category of at-home gym machines.

Titan Fitness

Titan Fitness

Cable machines are a staple of most gyms, and there’s a reason why: You can do a lot with them. For our money, the Titan Fitness Functional Trainer offers the most versatile cable trainer you can get at home.

Product Features

Completing a full-body workout with the Titan Fitness Functional Trainer is efficient and streamlined. Our testers couldn’t believe how easy it was to switch between weights, thanks to ultra-smooth aluminum pulleys (a much-needed change from plastic, which is the standard for cable machines and far less durable). Not to mention, it also comes equipped with two ergonomic D-shaped handles, a short bar, long bar, ankle strap, dual stirrup handles, rope handles, and single and double D-shaped handles—so you’ll be ready to start moving from the moment you’ve set this home gym machine up.

Maxpro

Maxpro

A nine-pound machine that delivers a full-body workout probably sounds too good to be true, but when you meet the Maxpro SC Portable Cable Machine, you’ll get it. It can produce resistance of up to 300 pounds no matter where you set it up.

Product Features

Working out on the go presents a slew of challenges—many of which can be solved by the Maxpro SC Portable Cable Machine. This travel-friendly product weighs just nine pounds and can be easily carried in a backpack or duffel. You simply attach it to a door or other load-bearing surface using the included mount—or add on Maxpro’s optional wall mount or bench—and use one of the included grips to lift. Resistance can be adjusted using a dial on the side of the machine; the machine has a range from 5 pounds up to 300 pounds, so it works for a lot of different kinds of users. If you decide to purchase the wall mount, you can unlock hundreds of additional workouts on the Maxpro app.

WalkingPad

WalkingPad

Is the WalkingPad Tone Up Workout Station a magic trick or a home gym machine? In our opinion, both—and thanks to its diverse offerings of cables, weights, and more, it’s our favorite pick for our fitness newbies.

Product Features

If you’re dipping your toes into weight training, the WalkingPad Tone Up Workout Station acts as your tasting menu for many machines you’d normally find in the gym, including the cable machine, free weights, and a weight bench. Three offerings at different price points allow you to choose how many features you want, and you can continue to add on more later. Bonus: Unlike some other at-home gym machines, the WalkingPad Tone Up Workout Station isn’t an eyesore. Wood surfaces combined with a leather cushion make this one of the best-looking at-home workout machines we tried.

Force USA

Force USA

If you’re looking for a one-and-done workout investment, you won’t find anything better than the Force USA G20 All-In-One Trainer, which is essentially 11 machines in one.

Product Features

While we won’t list every machine the Force USA G20 All-In-One Trainer has under its trunk, some of our favorites include the power rack, functional trainer, Smith machine, lat pull-down, and low row. Given that it costs $6,000, we already expected this home gym machine to go the extra mile, but the fact that it supports three users at the same time and included two 289-pound weight stacks exceeded our expectations.

There’s no denying that this machine is an investment and a space suck, but if you’ve got a garage that’s just begging to be turned into a gym, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything with more workout options.

BowFlex

Bowflex

The Bowflex PR3000 supports more than 50 full-body strength training exercises, so you can dream up all sorts of weight-lifting routines.

Product Features

Think of the Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym as the Swiss Army knife of at-home gym machines. With only a 63 by 49-inch footprint, this product replaces the cable machine, vertical bench press, and leg extension machine. Bowflex boasts that this complex design opens the door for more than 50 at-home workouts, which is impressive when you consider that many expensive home gym machines can’t do that.

Given that the resistance only goes up to 210 pounds, we love this product for beginners and intermediate-level exercisers but would recommend choosing a home gym machine that can go heavier if you’re someone who picks up the really heavy weights. It’s also worth noting that some reviewers found the setup a little complicated, so make sure you’re feeling patient when you start to build your Bowflex and follow the instructions carefully.

Beyond Power

Beyond Power

Always wanted a cable machine at home, but never had the square footage? The Beyond Power Voltra I offers up to 200 pounds of resistance, weighs less than 13 pounds, and takes up next to zero space—though you will need to mount it to a rack or bar to use it.

Product Features

Up until recently, the idea that a cable machine could fit into a 13-lb package seemed ridiculous. The Voltra I has somehow pulled it off with a size-conscious machine that offers 200 pounds of resistance and three unique training modes: weight training, resistance band, and damper, which simulates light, even resistance. Though our testers found that this device works best if you have a squat rack to attach it to, the brand does offer other mounting options, including a pull-up bar mount. Once you’re all set up, you can change the resistance of your device on the unit or the app.

Major Fitness

Major Fitness

The Major Fitness Raptor F22 All-in-One Power Rack includes a multi-grip pull-up bar, a cable bar, a land mine, and so much more, making it the most comprehensive all-in-one device for people who take their workouts seriously.

Product Features

This budget-friendly power rack has a lot going for it: a diverse array of attachments, a durable construction, and a 1,000-pound weight capacity. We found that the frame itself stayed relatively steady as we switched out attachments and completed reps, thanks to reinforcing tabs placed strategically throughout the unit. We especially love this home gym machine for beginners, given that it won’t set you back thousands of dollars but will still give you everything you need to achieve pull-ups, squats, bench press, and more right from home.

Torque USA

Torque USA

Have you ever wished that you could fold your gym equipment away when the cool down’s over? Torque is making that dream come true with a gym machine that fits into any corner and disappears behind two foldaway doors.

Product Features

If your “home gym” consists of one corner in a studio apartment, Torque will guarantee you’re maximizing every last inch of fitness space. This machine unfolds to reveal a cable machine with a multi-grip pull-up bar. And your choice of a 150-, 200-, and 225-pound stack allows you to decide just how aggressive you want to go. While the bench is on the pricey side (about $2,700 for the top-tier model), we think the juice is worth the squeeze for anyone who’s super limited on extra space and doesn’t want to keep paying for a pricey gym membership.

Core Home Fitness

Core Home Fitness

At $300, the Core Home Fitness MB 1000 All-In-One Home Gym is a steal for your home gym and offers more than 20 types of workouts for your abs, arms, and legs.

Product Features

Whether you’re a fitness beginner or someone who doesn’t want to fully commit to an expensive rat-home gym machine with all the bells and whistles, the Core Home Fitness MB 1000 All-In-One Home Gym is our budget-friendly pick. A built-in weight bench, ab and leg extension bars, and up to 300 pounds of resistance make this bad boy just about as well-rounded as one of these devices can be (and for literally a fraction of the cost), though some reviewers did report a learning curve with the leg extension bar, so make sure you use that 30-day free trial to your benefit.

We never shy away from a fitness challenge — particularly when it involves putting high-tech weight machines to the test. To determine which devices deserved a spot in your home, our team unboxed and installed these gym machines in our own spaces. We know how much those details matter: Was the set-up process simple or a total headache?

From there, we took every machine on multiple trial runs through leg days, upper-body workouts, and more. Throughout our testing period, we considered factors including the maximum weight available to load or lift, ease of use, cost, versatility, programming, and ergonomics. The top home gym machines earned a spot on our list, so you know these pieces are well worth your money.

For more on how we tested these products, check out the full details of our comprehensive fitness testing process here.

One of the biggest selling points to any home gym machine is that it saves you money and time — two highly valuable resources. While your gym membership could cost you hundreds, if not thousands, a year, at-home gym machines are generally a one-time investment. Plus, you don’t have to drive anywhere or find childcare before you begin your workout.

At-home gym machines can remove common blockers to getting your workouts done, McKenzie adds. “[They] definitely help with consistency because when there are fewer obstacles to dodge, it's easier to make time for your workouts,” she says. “A workout machine can also be a good use of a small space because it can serve many purposes. If you have a functional trainer cable machine, you can train your full body from that one piece of equipment and you don't need to invest in a bunch of dumbbells or other equipment.”

Home gym machines can also eliminate some of the stress of exercising around others. “Having the ability to work out from home also means you don't have to care about how you look because you're not in public,” says McKenzie. And, let’s face it: For beginners, learning a single gym machine at home is far less intimidating than navigating a room of puzzling fitness equipment.

Before you start your heavy lifting on a home gym machine, consider the price, physical footprint, weight capacity, and versatility of the equipment.

Price

Regardless of your budget, price matters when shopping for the best at-home gym machine. While some of our picks (such as the Maxpro SC Portable Cable Machine) land in the $6000 range, others (see: Tonal) will set you back thousands of dollars. Of course, for the most part you get what you pay for in terms of quality, accessories, and interactive smart features. Consider your budget and find which machine meets your fitness needs without going overboard paying for features you may not actually use or need.

Footprint

Most home gym machines will inevitably take up a decent amount of square footage—just how much depends on your available space and priorities. Always be sure to consult the dimensions and triple-check your planned location with measuring tape.

Weight Load

If you’re a seasoned lifter, you need a machine that won’t hold you back and get in the way of your progressive overload strategy. Before you buy, check out the maximum weight available for each machine to make sure you’ll be able to complete your desired workouts.

Versatility

A home gym machine that can only do one thing will probably get stale fast—not to mention the fact that doing the same workout or exercises on repeat leads to boredom and progress plateaus. That’s why all of our recommendations accommodate an array of exercises.

Are home gym machines good for beginners?

These devices win on convenience, accessibility, and efficiency, but they may have some drawbacks for beginners. McKenzie explains that those who are newer to exercise may have trouble using the machine correctly and with proper form. What’s more, if you’re looking for a boost in motivation or inspiration for your next routine, “working out at home can also feel isolating for people who prefer the energy of a gym or class setting,” she adds.

How much do home gym machines cost?

The price of the home gym machines on our best-of list range from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars. For example, our favorite budget home gym machine, the MB 1000 All-In-One Home Gym, costs $300, while Tonal, our favorite smart home gym, is $4,000.

Is it better to buy a home gym or get a gym membership?

There’s no right or wrong answer to where you should work out — it all comes down to preferences, goals, and access. While an at-home gym wins when it comes to convenience, a gym membership will offer you more versatility thanks to the sheer scale of what’s available to you. Beginners may also prefer a gym setting because gyms grant access to trainers and other pros who can offer advice and assistance to nail down the form of essential fitness moves including squats, deadlifts, or pull-ups. Plus, going to the gym may provide a sense of community that you just won’t get sweating in your basement.

Noelle McKenzie, CPT, is the co-founder and CEO at Leading Edge Personal Trainers, a community of instructors who provide in-person and virtual personal training sessions.