A garage gym conversion will be somewhere between 1000-10000 depending on how big you want to go. If you are interested in more detail, check out the related articles in this post.

 

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• Distance to gym 
• Opening times 
• Self-motivation 
• Current discipline 

 

 

Racks range from 200 to 8000. I personally would budget somewhere between 1000 - 2000 to leave you with different options and not having to compromise too much. A good rack should provide you with plate storage, a pull-up option, and safety pins to protect you when exercising. The most common options are half-racks, full racks and fold racks.

 

Half racks are the least costly option. They provide enough space to squat and bench press if you are relatively small. Very big athletes might prefer a full rack. The same goes for when you start moving more than 200kg for repetitions. In those cases you want the rack to have more weight and stand on a bigger base or anchor the half-rack solidly to the ground with a lot of plates or bolts. Half-racks do not provide enough space to store plates or attachments.

 

A full rack is the most solid option for all applications. They are in the middle of the budget range for racks. You will have space to maneuver and the rack will have more stability. You will also be able to store some plates on the rack itself. Attachments will find enough space so that they are usable. They take up more space than a half rack, o are not ideal for gyms with limited space. 

 

Fold racks can be folded to the walls when not in use. This is a great option for garage gyms in which you still want to park your car when you are done with your exercises. They are a little more expensive than half racks but not as costly as full racks. 

 

 

Plates will also run up to 1000-2000 if bought new. With plates, you have more options to get something used. Bumper plates and steel pates are usually the cheapest per pound while competition and calibrated plates are higher in price. The estimated cost is based on 180kg. If you can work with less weight you might get away with investing less. Try to get your plates together with your rack, bench, and barbell. Plates cost a lot when shipped separately for little value-added.

 

 

The barbell for your garage gym will put you back between 200 - 800. It is more likely that you will be on the lower end of this spectrum. A good all-around barbell can be had for 200. The cost goes up when you want a special design or bearing. If you are not specifically into weightlifting and want an Olympic barbell, stay under 500 for this item. 

 

 

A bench will put you back between 100 - 1000. It all depends on whether you want it to be adjustable or not. Flat benches can be had at a very low cost. Anything which is adjustable brings up the cost quite considerably. I personally recommend that you invest what you save on the barbell into a better bench. Many people do it the other way around which I think is false economics. 

 

 

Storage units can put you back 100 - 500 apiece depending on what you get. You will at least one form of storage to out dumbbells, kettlebells or other equipment away. You can save here, but I would not recommend it. If you do not have a place to store things, your garage gym will turn into a right mess fairly quick. 

 

 

Plan another 500 for horse mats for the floors to make the home gym a better place. Otherwise, you will be wrecking the floor. 

 

 

Depending on size and whether you get the material used or new your garage gym conversion will put you back somewhere between 1000 - 10000. 3000 should cover most scenarios including floors, rack, barbell plates, and a bench.