Home Gym vs Gym Membership: Which is Right for You?

Are you trying to decide which is right for you, a home gym vs a gym membership?  Here is all the information that you need to know to make your decision.   

Are you trying to decide what is right for you, a home gym vs gym membership? The answer depends on what you are looking for. If you enjoy being social and encouraging others, then a gym membership may be better for you. On the other hand, if you don't have time to spend in public gyms because of your busy schedule, then a home or garage gym might work better for your needs. Here is an article to help you decide which one is best for you!

Starting an exercise routine is always exciting and one of the first decisions you need to make is where you are going to work out at. This is probably one of the most important decisions you make because if you choose the right location, it can increase your motivation and willingness to work out - which, after all, is the most important part of getting fit. 

As someone who has a home gym and also a gym membership, this article will give you the pros and cons of working out at a gym or at home.

After learning about having a home gym vs a gym membership, you are going to be a pro and extra prepared when deciding where to work out. And, making the choice that best suits your personality and workout style.

This post is all about deciding which is right for you a home gym or a gym membership!

Cost

Home Gym

One of the main reasons people like to work out at home is that it can be less expensive. When you belong to a gym, you have to pay a monthly membership fee. With a home gym, you don't have to pay monthly or yearly fees like you would with most gyms.

But, there may be more upfront costs to a home gym if you purchase weights or other equipment to workout with. In most cases, the initial investment is more expensive when working out at home. For example, a treadmill, a weight bench, free weights, resistance bands, and an exercise ball can all run you anywhere from $500 to-2000. This can be a deterrent for some people who are on a tight budget.

Keep in mind that, even though a home gym may have more up front costs, over time, the equipment will pay for itself and be less expensive. For example, I paid a little over $2000 for my treadmill. But, I bought my treadmill over six years ago and use it at least 5 days a week. The same is true for the rest of my gym equipment. It was expensive at the outset but has paid for itself over time. 

But, you don't need to buy everything for your home gym right away. You can start small and add more as your budget allows. In many cases, people may be better off starting with a few pieces of equipment at their own pace rather than going all out from the start. For those who workout every day or even multiple times a week, it would make sense to invest in a full home gym setup but if you only work out occasionally it might not be worth the expense.

Also, if you don't want to invest in equipment right away, you can build a solid workout routine with simple bodyweight exercises such as squats, lunges, and push-ups and include a run around your neighborhood. A home workout routine like this is effective and doesn't cost any money to start!

Gym Membership

A gym membership can range anywhere from $30/month to over $100/month. Usually, there is also a start-up fee although many gyms will waive that if you ask.

While a gym membership costs more upfront and commits you to a monthly fee, it provides you access to all sorts of fitness equipment that is not typically available at home. When you are at the gym, you can find machines of all types for cardio, strength training, and even weightlifting. There are also group classes like yoga, spinning, and Zumba which are not typically found in most home gyms.

In addition, the equipment in the gym is often higher quality than what you could afford to purchase for your home and if it breaks or wears out the gym foots the bill - not you.

For the more expensive gyms, there are often luxury add ons such as a sauna, steam room, hot tub, etc. which can be a nice perk if you have the extra money to spend and like to relax after your workout.

Convenience

Home Gym

One of the biggest advantages of working out at home is that you don't have to worry about getting dressed up or going anywhere. You can work out from the comfort of your own home and don't need any fancy clothes or to even brush your hair!

Another advantage is that it's easier to sneak in a workout anytime during the day. One of my favorite ways to boost my weight loss is to increase my daily NEAT [to read how I use NEAT to significantly increase my daily calorie burn click here] When you have a home gym and you have an extra 5, 10, or 15 minutes you can do a quick workout on your treadmill or some other quick sweat session.

If you are new to working out, it can be less daunting to just do a quick 10-minute workout several times a day. That's easy to do when you have a home gym. But not practical if you are going to a gym.  [For some fun 10 minute beginner treadmill workouts click here]

Also, when you are new to working out or just starting a diet, it can feel intimidating to go to the gym. Many people worry that other people at the gym may judge them. Working out at home minimizes these problems and will make working out feel more comfortable for some people. [Note if this is a concern for you, be assured that I have worked out in gyms for years and most people are there to work out themselves and not to judge others!]

Gym Membership

Generally, going to a commercial gym is far less convenient than a home gym. However, it is more convenient in terms of actually completing the workout since all you have to do is walk-in. Everything will be ready for you as soon as you enter. You'll have access to a variety of equipment, and there will also be classes to participate in such as yoga or spin classes.

Space Considerations

Home Gym

How Much Space Do You Have? Do you live in a house with available space in your garage or an extra room in your house? Or do you live in a small apartment with limited storage space?

If you live in a house with available space, then a home gym may be perfect for you! A home gym doesn't require a lot of space, and it can be easily customized to fit your needs. You'll have everything you need right at your fingertips, and you won't have to worry about waiting for equipment or dealing with crowds at the gym.

I have a home gym and I love it! My home gym is in my garage. Unfortunately, I lost part of my workout space because my daughter has moved her rabbit's pen into my floor workout space. So, I am currently in the planning stages of turning our office into a home gym.

If you live in a small apartment, a home gym becomes less convenient however still doable. When I lived in an apartment, I had a folding treadmill in my bedroom and a weight set and that was perfect for me to get in a good workout at home.

Gym Membership

If you don't have a lot of space in your apartment or don't have a lot of storage space, a gym membership may be a better option for you. Gym memberships offer access to a variety of equipment, that it would be impossible to store in a small space.

Gyms are usually large and allow you plenty of room to do the workout. It's certainly easier to do a Zumba or step aerobic class in a large room than trying to work out between your couch and coffee table.

Privacy

Home Gym

Many people prefer to work out at home where other people can't see them. This is great especially if you are self-conscious or want to lose a few pounds before exercising in public. You can take your time getting ready and no one will be judging you. Plus, you can work out at any time of the day that is convenient for you!

One disadvantage to working out alone is that you can be doing the exercises wrong and injure yourself.

Gym Membership

Many people initially think that going to a gym and working out will be embarrassing because it is in public and other people will see you. This is probably less of an issue than you think. In truth, most people are concerned about themselves and getting their own workouts done. People are unlikely to focus on or frankly even notice the new stranger who has joined the gym. And, if they do notice you most people at the gym are fitness fans and are probably thinking "good for them getting in shape!"

Motivation

Let's face it, the best workout is the one that you are going to do. So, for getting in shape Motivation is a big factor in getting the workout done.

Home Gym

A home gym is best for someone who is self-motivated and has the determination to do the workout. There is a reason that many people refer to their treadmills as expensive clothes racks. When you are at home it can be easy to procrastinate, "I'll do my workout after this episode of Grey's Anatomy... oh wait there's another one..."

Or it's easy to get distracted. Do you have kids? I have teens and it's not as bad as when they were toddlers but inevitably most days when I am working out one of them wanders out with something that they think needs my attention right away (it usually doesn't) - with teenagers it's easy enough to tell them to wait but if you have little kids running around it can be hard to get a full uninterrupted workout in.

Gym Membership

If you are not self-motivated or are even trying to get yourself into a fitness routine then a gym membership may be better for you. With a gym, the biggest hurdle is usually getting to the gym. However, once there, you may as well work out.

Also, if you have young kids, many gyms offer on-site child care. This is really helpful to give yourself an uninterrupted time to do your workout - and the kids have fun playing with other kids too!

Also, while you can burn the same calories at home or in the gym, if you are less self-motivated you may be more likely to put in more effort at the gym if other people are present Also, you pay the money for the gym which motivates some people to make sure they get their money's worth.

Hygiene

Home Gym

If you are concerned about hygiene, then a home gym wins hands down. You can't get any cleaner than working out at home and using your own equipment and space for workouts. You know that you have cleaned the equipment and you aren't sharing equipment with strangers who may not have the same cleanliness habits that you do.

Gym Membership

Have you ever noticed someone working out on a machine, they are super sweaty, and when they finish with the machine they just walk away? This is one of the grossest parts of a public gym.

So, I keep two towels with me during my workout. One is a sweat towel and the other has a cleaning solution on it. Whenever I go to a new machine (or put a workout mat down) I clean it. Then when I finish with the equipment or mat, I wipe it down again. That way you guarantee that you always are using clean equipment (and leaving it clean for others).

Social

Home Gym

A home gym does not offer the same social benefits that a gym membership does. One of the advantages to the social aspect of working out is that you are more likely to do it

You can still have a social aspect to your home workout though. For me, I use my Peloton bike at home. [If you are trying to decide if a Peloton bike is right for you, check out my article here] The Peloton itself feels like a social experience. The Peloton instructors make the experience personal so that it feels like you are in the studio.

Also, there are several Peloton groups on Facebook tailored to your specific interests. This makes it feel like you are actually working out in a group even though you are at your own home.

Or, you can join a workout challenge that has an online component. I have been part of a Peloton challenge team for a couple of years. It definitely motivates me to do the workout (especially on days where it is a hard one) when I know I have to be accountable to the team.

I also was part of a Jillian Michaels workout group on Facebook. That group was also really fun and encouraging. Plus, its motivating to see other people's successes with using the same workout you are doing!

So, you can still have a social aspect to working out even from a home gym - it just takes a little extra work.

Gym Membership

For people who enjoy working out with a partner or in a group setting, the gym is the best place to do that. It's easy to set up a time to meet your friend or accountability partner. It's harder not to show up if you know someone is waiting for you.

Gym memberships offer socialization opportunities that home gyms do not. For one, people are more likely to talk to each other at the gym because they share a common interest - getting in shape.

Over time, if you workout at the same time you start to get to know your fellow gym-goers. You may even make friends at the gym. This is a great way to hold yourself accountable and have someone to help push you when you don't feel like working out.

Although sometimes having other people around can also be annoying especially when you are trying to use a piece of equipment and someone else is already using it - or even worse just sitting on it "taking a rest between sets."

Personalized Training

Home Gym

At a home gym you can hire a trainer to come to your home and work with you. I have done this and it was great! My trainer came to my home and saw what equipment I had and set up a routine personalized to me.

I paid about $300 for a one month session but after working with her, I was able to adapt the plan and modify the workouts.

Another way to get (semi) personalized instruction is through apps. There are several great apps that offer at home workouts and provide instruction in how to properly do the exercises. My favorites are Beachbody on Demand; Jillian Michaels; and Peloton.

Gym Membership

Most gyms have personal trainers on staff. You can pay an additional fee to get one-on-one personalized instruction. Personalized training is worth the cost if you want to see results and feel like you are receiving positive feedback from your trainer. Also, if you are just starting a gym routine it is helpful to hire a trainer even for one or two sessions to explain how to use the machines and weights and set up a workout routine designed for you! 

Hybrid Solution

A different times over the years I have used a home gym or a commercial gym depending on what suited me best at the time. Now, I use a hybrid solution. I do most of my workouts at home. But for my strength training I like to go to the gym. The reason is that they have more space for me to easily do my circuits and I have access to a full array of equipment (including the steam room which I LOVE).

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you make the decision about whether a home gym or gym membership is best for you. There's no perfect solution to this question and there are many considerations (like time, money, and other resources). The ultimate thing to consider is what is going to work best for you and your lifestyle.

This post was all about deciding on a home gym vs gym membership!