Home gyms are a fantastic way to exercise without the limitations of a gym membership.
You have the freedom to workout whenever you like in the comfort of your own home, which is handy if you’re too uncomfortable or busy to go to a public gym.
As home gyms are a pretty big investment, you obviously want to use one that’s high quality and right for you.
To make sure you find the best home gym under 500 dollars, I’ve reviewed a variety of machines and looked at their key features.
After considering all the options our top picks were…
How to Choose the Best Home Gyms Under $500
When you’re looking for home gyms under $500, there are a lot of things you need to consider such as features, design, and longevity.
Let’s take a look at some of the factors you should keep in mind to help you find the best home gyms under $500…
Features
Keep in mind the amount of equipment features the home gym offers, as well as which body areas the machine is best for.
For example, if you want to focus on strengthening your arms, shoulders, and back muscles, then you might want to use a unit that includes a rowing machine rail.
Design
While home gyms are normally quite bulky, some are smaller or more compact in design.
If you have limited space, a home gym that can be folded away for easy storage might be a good idea. Check out this review of the best compact home gym for options.
Additionally, the quality of the home gym is another point you should look at.
NOTE
Flimsy or ill-fitting parts can have disastrous consequences, so it’s crucial you choose a model that is well-made.
Warranty
As home gyms can be rather pricey, you definitely don’t want it to break shortly after you purchase it.
Choosing a machine that has a long warranty will cover you if the unit breaks due to any manufacturing faults.
This will save you a lot of headache and frustration in the long run.
What You Want From a Home Gym
The type of aspects you want in a home gym are also important for making sure you find the right one for your body.
Here are a few features your home gym should have to ensure you get the best workout possible.
Weight Stack Options
A lot of strength building exercises rely on weight stacks, so you should make sure your home gym offers them.
Obviously, the quality of the weight stack needs to be good so it doesn’t break easily and result in injury.
You should also check the range and adjustability of the home gym’s weight stack options.
Home gyms that come with extensive weight stack options allow your workouts to gradually progress as your fitness improves.
Number of Workouts
A home gym that targets a variety of muscle groups is a good idea as you won’t need to purchase additional equipment.
Posture/Position Adjustment
During a body workout, correct form and posture is key to prevent injury.
The best home gyms allow you to adjust the height and position of the machine.
Some models only have static seats that can be adjusted to varying heights.
Build Quality
Lastly, the quality of the home gym is something you should check.
Check out reviews of the machine you’re thinking of purchasing to see what other users think of it after using it for an extensive period of time.
What is a Home Gym?
A home gym is a small space in your house to use for exercise.
They’re convenient as you don’t need to go to a public gym to do workouts.
Most home gyms are located in a spare room or a garage and contain practical equipment that can be easily transported and stored.
Alternatively, multi gyms are also referred to as home gyms.
What is a Multi Gym?
A multi gym is a variety of machines that are combined into one piece of equipment, allowing you to do a lot of different types of workouts in one small area.
They’re a great choice for your house as they don’t take up as much room as multiple pieces of equipment.
What Kind of Exercises Can You Do on a Multi Gym?
Multi-gyms allow you to target an array of muscles in both your upper and lower body, but each model differs with the amount of resistance exercises you can do.
However, most multi gyms accommodate the following exercises:
- Lat-Pulldown
- Seated Row
- Leg Extension
- Leg Curls
- Shoulder Press
- Chest Press
- Outer Adductors/Inner Adductors
- Bicep Curls
- Tricep Pulldowns
Is a Home Gym Better Than a Gym?
Having a home gym can be a great alternative to a gym membership as it gives you the freedom to exercise when you want.
You don’t need to travel to exercise, which is great when you’re tired after a long workout.
You can also listen to music or watch a TV show as loud as you want instead of being limited to using earphones.
One of the best aspects of a home gym is that you don’t have to worry about germs or wait to use equipment as it’ll just be you using the machine.
Privacy
Additionally, if you’re self-conscious or don’t like exercising with other people, then a home gym is definitely a worthwhile investment.
Although the upfront costs of a home gym can be costly, the long-term costs will be considerably lower than a gym membership
If you choose the best equipment, your home gym will last you many years.
Furthermore, you’re much more likely to stick to a fitness schedule with a home gym as you can’t create excuses to not exercise, like not having time or the weather being bad.
Best Home Gyms Under 500 Dollars Reviews
Marcy Diamond 100-Pound Stack Gym
An excellent option for both upper body resistance and strength training. It has a weight stack of 100 pounds, as well as high/low pulley stations and dual-press arm supports.
Marcy Diamond 100-Pound Stack Gym
Marcy’s home gym has a weight stack of 100 pounds, as well as high/low pulley stations and dual-press arm supports.
This home gym under 500 dollars from Marcy is an excellent option for both upper body resistance and strength training.
It has dual-press arm supports to accommodate multiple chest exercises, as well as high and low pulley stations so you can give your back, biceps, and triceps a thorough workout.
The home gym also has a 100-pound selectorized weight pile with vinyl coating so you can gradually adjust the resistance of the unit.
Durability
I really like the design of the machine as it’s both quality and durable.
It also comes with a 2-year limited warranty.
The frame is made from heavy duty steel and coated in a powder finish to make it more robust, while the upholstery is constructed from high density foam and top-grade plywood.
To make the home gym more comfortable to use, the foam rollers are intentionally oversized.
Easy To Setup
Assembly wise, the unit is not overly complicated to set up, but it can take a while to get it built like with most home gyms.
Unfortunately, as this home gym only has a weight stack of 100 pounds, it might not be the best choice for advanced weightlifters.
Additionally, the rubber grips on the curved pull bar can slide off frequently.
Specs
- Dimensions: 64” x 41” x 81”
- Product Weight: 207 lbs
- Maximum User Weight: 300 lbs
Pros
- Great for resistance and strength training
- Durable and well-made
- Easy to put together
Cons
- Weight stack of only 100 lbs
- Rubber grips on curved pull bar can slide off
Best Value
Total Gym 1900 Ultimate Home Fitness Exercise Machine
Allows you to do over 60 exercises with a weight resistance from 4% to 45%. A solid pick if you want to give yourself a full body workout and target multiple muscle groups
Total Gym 1900 Ultimate Home Fitness Exercise Machine
This home gym allows you to do over 60 exercises with a weight resistance from 4% to 45%.
If you want to give yourself a full body workout and target multiple muscle groups, then the Total Gym 1900 home gym is a solid pick.
It’s also one of the most affordable home gyms under 500 dollars that I’ve reviewed, so it’s worth considering if you’re on a budget.
The unit is good for over 60 exercises, whether you want to do chest presses, strength training, stretches, or cardio.
It strengthens and tones major muscle groups all at once to make sure you always have the best workout.
Easy To Store
You can fold up the home gym when you’re finished using it to make it easy to store.
It has an ergonomic glide board with handles so you can exercise your abdominal muscles, upper body, and lower body.
It also sports leg and wing attachments to let you focus on your arms and legs.
Overall, I think the Total Gym 1900 is a great but affordable unit that makes any workout a breeze.
However, the unit does have a couple of downsides.
For one, the machine can make a squeaking noise when you’re using it.
And secondly, the unit is quite bulky and long in length, so you’ll need a fairly large room to place it in.
Specs
- Dimensions: 95.2” x 16” x 43.2”
- Product Weight: 75 lbs (with packaging)
- Maximum User Weight: 350 lbs
- Weight Resistance: 12 levels, 3%-45%
Pros
- Offers over 60 different exercises
- Can be folded up for easy storage
- Great for targeting a variety of muscle groups
Cons
- Can make a squeaking noise during use
- Design is a bit bulky
Editor’s Choice
Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym
High quality and provides you with everything you need for a full body workout. It has features to let you target your abs, arms, back chest, shoulders, and lower body.
Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym
This home gym can accommodate up to 210 pounds of power rod resistance and over 30 strength exercises.
Quality Build
The Bowflex PR1000 home gym is my personal favorite machine as it’s high quality and provides you with everything you need for a full body workout.
The machine provides you with as little as 5 pounds or as much as 210 pounds of power rod resistance, as well as over 30 strength exercises.
Features
It has multiple cable pulley positions that let you easily adjust the angle of resistance and effectiveness of many exercises.
It also includes a rowing machine rail, 4-inch upholstered cushions for leg extension/curls exercises, a horizontal bench press, and a lat pulldown.
All of these features let you target your abs, arms, back chest, shoulders, and lower body.
Easy To Setup
My favorite aspect of the Bowflex PR1000 home gym is its simple assembly.
Home gyms often take a while to put together, so models that have flimsy parts or don’t have clear instructions can make the experience even more time-consuming.
Fortunately, this home gym doesn’t suffer from either of these issues.
You can even fold the rowing machine rail once you’re finishing using it to save on space.
Warranty
You also get a 5-year warranty for the frame of the unit and a 1-year warranty for the parts, which is a fairly long time compared to some other products.
However, the home gym can have a couple of problems. Firstly, the bench on the unit can be a bit unsturdy and flimsy. And secondly, the unit can lose resistance relatively quickly,
Specs
- Dimensions: 84” x 38” x 84”
- Product Weight: 130.9 lbs
- Maximum User Weight: 300 lbs
- Weight Resistance: 5lbs-210 lbs
Pros
- Provides over 30 strength exercises
- Easy to assemble
- Accommodates a variety of workouts
- Rowing machine rail can be folded to save space
Cons
- Bench can be a bit unsturdy
- Can lose resistance quickly
Gold’s Gym XR 55 Home Gyms
It has high and low pulley systems that help tone your muscles in your upper and lower body. To ensure that you have a full strength-training workout.
Gold’s Gym XR 55 Home Gyms
This home gym features chest press/fly stations, 4-roll leg developer, a lat pulldown bar, and a 125-pound weight pile.
Next up is the Gold’s Gym XR which offers a 125-pound weight stack and 330 pounds of resistance for good workout progression.
Upper And Lower Body Exercises
It has high and low pulley systems that help tone your muscles in your upper and lower body.
This ensures you have a full strength-training workout.
It features chest press/fly stations to target weight resistance to your arms and chest for optimal effectiveness.
Additional Features
It also sports a 4-roll leg developer, a lat pulldown bar, and even an exercise chart that was designed by a certified personal trainer.
The seat is also well-padded to make it more comfortable to use.
There are a couple of downsides of this unit, particularly regarding its assembly and design.
The machine can take a hefty amount of time to set up and the design of the curling/preach pad is not the best quality.
Specs
- Dimensions: 79” x 65” x 39”
- Product Weight: 131.9 lbs
- Maximum User Weight: 330 lbs
- Weight Resistance: 330 lbs
Pros
- Features a leg developer, chest press/fly stations, and a lat pulldown
- Seat is well-padded for comfort
- Includes a handy workout chart
Cons
- Can be difficult to assemble
- Curling/preacher pad is not the best quality
Weider 2980 X Home Gym
Its design is relatively sturdy, which is exactly what you want in a home gym to prevent any injuries. You can perform a lot of different exercises on this unit to give your arms, chest, abdomen, and legs a good workout.
Weider 2980 X Home Gym
This home gym sports a low pulley station, a preacher curl, and a weight resistance of a maximum of 214 pounds.
My last recommendation for the best home gyms under 500 dollars is the Weider 2980.
It features a weight pile of 80 pounds, a low pulley station, a preacher curl, and a weight resistance of up to 214 pounds.
Full Body Exercise
You can perform a lot of different exercises on the unit to give your arms, chest, abdomen, and legs a good workout.
Its design is relatively sturdy, which is exactly what you want in a home gym to prevent any injuries.
The machine isn’t overly complicated to put together, but the process can often be a little time-consuming.
While the Weider home gym is a decent option, it does have a few flaws.
The pulley system on the unit isn’t the best quality and doesn’t operate very smoothly.
In addition to this, the height of the home gym is a little lacking, so it might not be unsuitable for adults over 6 ft tall.
Specs
- Dimensions: 65” x 37” x 76”
- Product Weight: 183 lbs
- Maximum User Weight: 300 lbs
- Weight Resistance: 214 lbs
Pros
- Provides a lot of different exercise options
- Sturdy design
- Ideal for strengthening muscles in your arms, abdomen, chest, and legs
Cons
- Pulley system isn’t very smooth
- Height of unit might be unsuitable for adults over 6ft tall
Conclusion
Let’s take a quick look at all our top picks…
Top Pick
After looking at a variety of units, I think the best home gym under 500 dollars is the Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym.
It offers from 5 pounds to 210 pounds of resistance and can accommodate over 30 strength exercises to provide you with a great workout.
It sports a rowing machine rail, 4-inch upholstered cushions, a lat pulldown, and a horizontal bench press so you can target a lot of different areas of your body.
It’s also simple to assemble and can be folded away for easy storage.
Unfortunately, the unit can lose resistance quickly and can suffer from an unsturdy bench.
Despite these minor issues, I still think the home gym is a solid and worthwhile option.
Other Great Options
If the Bowflex machine doesn’t seem like the right choice for you, then two other great home gyms under 500 dollars are the Marcy Diamond MD2109 100-Pound Stack Gym and Total Gym 1900 Ultimate Home Fitness Machine.
Best Value
The latter is very affordable, making it ideal for those on a budget.
The Marcy Diamond home gym is great for upper body resistance and strength training.
It features a weight stack option of 100 pounds, so it might be unsuitable for advanced weightlifters.
The rubber grips on its curved pull bar are also prone to sliding off.
Editor’s Choice
Total Gym’s home fitness unit has a maximum weight resistance of 45% and offers over 60 exercises, which means you can regularly switch up your exercise regime
However, it’s quite bulky in design and can emit a squeaking sound during use.
Thanks For Reading!
Thank you for reading this review of the best home gym under 500 dollars. I hope you found it interesting and helpful. I also have a review for vertical climbs that can be great for cardio.
If you’re looking for other workout stuff, check out this review of the best running pants, this review of the best gym towel, or this one for the best plus size yoga pants.
