Creating a home gym? Build yours with these affordable home gym equipment ideas for under $100 total

Katherine Isacks, MPS, RDN Registered Dietitian

If you want to start your gym at home, find essential home gym equipment ideas that won't break the bank. Get a good start by investing in these few items for under $100.

Start with simple home gym equipment and endless ideas

Good news! It's not hard to start a home gym that will provide an assortment of workouts for under $100. Furthermore, it will serve as a solid foundation you can add to down the road. To get started on a home gym, keeping it simple is best. Choose a few pieces of equipment that can give you many different exercises to engage various muscles.

Place and space

Before we delve into the specifics, keep in mind whether you have the space for a distraction-free workout. Do you have at least 100 square feet of free space (that's 10 feet x 10 feet) with good air circulation, lights, and a high enough ceiling to allow for jumping rope?

Weight and flexibility training

Next, let's discuss some key equipment. On a small budget, you don't want to weigh yourself down with a set of dumbbells (or free weights) you'll outgrow in a couple of months. Limited in how they are used, dumbbells do not offer the versatility that something like the kettlebell does. Kettlebells usually average about one dollar per pound.

The kettlebell allows you to perform various swinging and weight-lifting exercises. What about something for improving flexibility and strength/endurance training? That's where resistance bands come in handy. These easy-to-use pieces are also great for travel. They come in different resistance levels, so you'll need at least two styles for the widest range of exercises.

Covering cardio

Every good workout includes cardio, and nothing is as simple as a jump rope for a good cardio workout. You can find a nice "speed rope" for under $10.

Count on some core

Weight-training, check. Flexibility/endurance, check. Cardio, check. The only thing you're missing now is your core. Core exercises will help you with every aspect of fitness. An all-purpose stability ball will be as reliable and adaptable as it gets.

Home gym equipment ideas shopping list

Kettlebells (one 10 lb. and one 20 lb. are good starts): ~$45
Resistance bands (at least one 5-25 lbs. (low to medium) resistance and one 30-50 lb. (high) resistance): ~$20
Jump rope: ~$10
Stability ball: ~$20

With all these tools at your disposal, you can create a dynamic circuit routine and burn some serious calories.