Essential Equipment: What You Need to Open Your New Gym

The right equipment list depends on who your members will be. A powerlifting gym, a CrossFit box and a 24/7 cardio-and-weights gym need very different things. Decide on your type of gym and your target members first, then buy for them.

Start with the space, not the machines

These cost money whatever kind of gym you open, and they’re easy to under-budget:

• Flooring: rubber flooring in weights areas protects the slab, your equipment and your members. Lifting platforms need thicker flooring than cardio areas.
• Ventilation and climate control: a hot, stuffy gym loses members, and humidity is hard on equipment.
• Lighting and sound: bright enough to train safely, and a sound system you can control.
• Storage: racks and trees for plates, dumbbells, kettlebells and mats. Without them, floors get cluttered and equipment gets damaged.
• Changing rooms, toilets and showers: check what your local building and health regulations require.
• Door access and front desk: how members get in, how you take payments, and how you know who’s in the building. If you plan to open unstaffed hours, this needs to be part of the fit-out, not an afterthought. See gym access control and the hardware GymMaster supplies.
• Gym management software: for memberships, billing, bookings and access. Set it up before opening so you can take pre-sales.

Strength and bodybuilding gyms

Lifters will judge you on the quality of your racks and bars.

• Power racks and squat stands, with enough of them that people aren’t queuing at peak times
• Lifting platforms
• Olympic barbells, plus specialty bars if your members will use them
• Bumper and iron plates
• A full dumbbell run, up to weights your strongest members will actually use
• Adjustable and flat benches
• Selectorised and plate-loaded machines for major muscle groups
• Sleds, farmer’s walk handles and other strongman kit if that suits your members

Functional training, CrossFit and calisthenics

These gyms need open floor space and versatile kit more than machines.

• A rig with pull-up bars, ring attachments and storage
• Plyo boxes in different heights
• Kettlebells, medicine balls and wall balls
• Rowers, air bikes and ski ergs
• Climbing ropes and suspension trainers
• Barbells and bumper plates for Olympic lifting

Plan the layout carefully. Group classes need space for everyone to move safely at once.

Cardio and general fitness gyms

These gyms serve a wide range of members, so variety and reliability matter.

• Treadmills with incline
• Ellipticals and stair climbers
• Upright and recumbent bikes
• Rowers
• A stretching area with mats and foam rollers
• A basic free-weights area and some machines

Cardio machines break down more than anything else in a gym. Ask suppliers about service contracts, parts availability and how quickly they can get a technician to you.

Boutique studios

Studios usually need fewer types of equipment but more of each.

• Spin bikes for cycling studios
• Reformers (and possibly Cadillacs and chairs) for Pilates
• Barres and mats for barre classes
• Mats, blocks and straps for yoga

Your capacity per class is set by the number of bikes or reformers, so work out how many you need to make a full class profitable. If you’re running a booking-based studio, see our guide to getting more bookings for a cycling studio.

Technology

Some of this is optional, but think about what members expect from a gym like yours.

• A member app for booking classes, checking in and tracking workouts. GymMaster’s member app includes a workouts feature where staff can build workouts and share them with members.
• Screens for class timetables, announcements or workout of the day.
• Wearable and equipment integrations: some cardio and spin equipment connects to performance-tracking platforms. Check which systems your equipment and software support before you buy. GymMaster lists its integrations on the integrations page.

Getting real prices

Equipment costs vary widely depending on brand, quality, new or used, and what’s included in delivery, installation and warranty. The only reliable way to budget is to get quotes.

• Write a list of what you need for each area, with quantities.
• Get quotes from at least three suppliers. Ask each for the same list so you can compare.
• Ask what’s included: delivery, installation, removal of packaging, warranty length, and servicing.
• Ask about package deals for a full fit-out, and about leasing or finance options.
• For used and refurbished equipment, buy from a reseller who offers a warranty, and inspect it first if you can.
• Talk to other gym owners about the suppliers they’ve used and how they handled problems.

Common questions

What’s the minimum equipment I need to open? Enough to deliver what you promise your members, with no long queues at busy times. For most general gyms that means a few racks, benches, a dumbbell set, some cardio machines and a stretching area. You can add more as you learn what members use.

Should I buy a gym equipment package? Packages can save time and money for a full fit-out. Compare them line by line with buying separately, and make sure you’re not paying for items that don’t suit your members.

Should I buy new or used? Used works well for simple, durable items like racks, plates and benches. For cardio machines with motors and electronics, new or properly refurbished equipment with a warranty is usually safer.

What else do I need to open a gym? Licences, insurance and compliance with local health and safety rules vary by country and council. Check with your local authority. Our starting a gym page covers the wider set-up process.