What Equipment Do You Need to Open a Gym? Complete Checklist

Opening a gym usually requires a combination of cardio equipment, strength machines, free weights, racks and benches, functional training equipment, flooring, storage and accessories. The exact mix depends on the type of gym you're opening, your available space and the people you expect to train there.

You don't need one of every machine. You need enough equipment to support the main ways your members will train without overcrowding the gym floor.

At Orbit Fitness, we've helped equip commercial fitness spaces across Western Australia, from gyms and recreation facilities to hotels, schools, workplaces and mine sites. A good gym equipment checklist starts with what the facility needs to do, then builds the equipment mix around it.

Here's what you need to consider.

What Equipment Do You Need to Open a Gym?

Most commercial gyms need equipment across seven main categories:

You won't necessarily need everything on this list. Your final commercial gym equipment list should reflect your facility type, expected users and available floor space.

1. Cardio Equipment

Most general-purpose gyms need several cardio options so members can walk, run, cycle, row or use low-impact forms of cardiovascular exercise.

Your cardio equipment checklist may include:

• Treadmills

• Exercise bikes

• Recumbent bikes

• Cross trainers

• Rowing machines

• Stair climbers

The number of each machine matters more than having every possible cardio category.

For example, a general fitness centre may require several treadmills and bikes, while a small hotel gym may only need a few carefully selected cardio machines.

Orbit tip: Think about peak-hour demand. If ten people are likely to want cardio equipment at the same time, your equipment mix needs to account for that.

2. Strength Training Machines

Strength equipment provides guided resistance training options and can make strength exercises accessible to a wide range of gym users.

Common options include:

• Chest press

• Shoulder press

• Lat pulldown

• Seated row

• Leg press

• Leg extension

• Leg curl

• Cable machines

• Smith machines

• Multi-station machines

You don't need a separate machine for every muscle.

Focus on providing equipment that collectively supports the major upper-body and lower-body movement patterns. Smaller gyms can also use dual-function and multi-station machines to provide more exercise options within a limited footprint.

3. Free Weights

Free weights are an essential part of many commercial gyms because a relatively small equipment area can support a large variety of exercises.

A typical free-weight setup includes:

• Dumbbells

• Olympic barbells

• Weight plates

• Kettlebells

• Weight collars

• Appropriate storage

Choose the weight range according to your members.

A hotel or corporate fitness room may not require the same weight range as a strength-focused gym, while a facility designed for experienced lifters will generally need heavier dumbbells, barbells and plates.

4. Racks and Weight Benches

If your gym offers barbell or free-weight training, you'll usually need suitable racks and benches.

Consider:

• Power racks and squat racks

• Half racks

• Flat benches

• Adjustable benches

These stations support exercises such as squats, bench presses, overhead presses and other barbell or dumbbell movements.

How many you need will depend on the size and training focus of the gym. A strength-focused facility may need several racks, while a smaller mixed-use gym may only need one or two versatile stations.

5. Functional Training Equipment

Functional fitness equipment can add considerable training variety without requiring a large number of individual machines.

Useful options include:

• Functional trainers

• Cable stations

• Kettlebells

• Resistance bands

• Medicine balls

• Battle ropes

• Plyometric boxes

• Exercise mats

• Suspension training equipment

A functional trainer can be particularly useful in a smaller gym because one station can support a wide range of exercises.

Remember to leave open training space around functional areas. Not every square metre needs to contain a machine.

6. Gym Flooring

Flooring is part of your equipment plan, not an afterthought.

Different areas of the gym can place different demands on the floor. Free-weight areas, for example, may require surfaces suited to heavier equipment and impact, while cardio and functional areas may have different requirements.

Consider:

• Equipment weight

• Impact

• Noise and vibration

• Foot traffic

• Cleaning

• Subfloor protection

• Type of training

Planning gym flooring and equipment mats alongside your equipment also makes it easier to create clear training zones throughout the facility.

7. Storage and Gym Accessories

Small pieces of equipment can quickly make a gym feel cluttered if you haven't planned where they will go.

Your checklist should include appropriate storage for:

• Dumbbells

• Weight plates

• Barbells

• Kettlebells

• Resistance bands

• Cable attachments

• Exercise mats

• Medicine balls

You may also need smaller training accessories such as foam rollers, collars, handles and other training attachments.

Good storage keeps equipment accessible while preserving usable training and walking space.

What Equipment Does a Small Gym Need?

A small gym doesn't need a smaller version of every piece of equipment found in a large health club. It needs versatile equipment that can support multiple types of training.

A practical small gym equipment checklist might include:

• Treadmill

• Exercise bike or cross trainer

• Functional trainer

• Power rack or squat rack

• Adjustable bench

• Dumbbells

• Barbell and weight plates

• Kettlebells

• Resistance bands

• Exercise mats

• Flooring

• Equipment storage

This is only a starting point.

A small strength studio will need a very different setup from an apartment, hotel or workplace gym, even when the available floor space is similar.

What Equipment Do Different Types of Gyms Need?

The purpose of the facility should determine the equipment mix.

This is why using another facility's shopping list isn't always useful. Start with what people need to do in your gym.

How Much Equipment Do You Need for a Gym?

There is no fixed number of machines required to open a gym.

Instead, consider how many people will train at the same time and whether the equipment can support them without excessive waiting or overcrowding.

Ask four practical questions:

1. How many people could be training during peak hours?

2. Which equipment will probably receive the most use?

3. How many people can train at the same time?

4. Is there enough space to use and move around the equipment comfortably?

This helps you determine quantities based on actual demand rather than simply filling the available floor space.

What Equipment Should You Buy First When Opening a Gym?

Buy the equipment that supports your gym's core training offer first.

A useful priority order is:

1. Essential cardio and strength equipment

2. Free weights, racks and benches

3. Functional training equipment

4. Flooring and storage

5. Accessories

6. Specialist equipment

The exact order can change depending on the facility.

For example, racks and free weights may be the highest priority in a strength gym, while cardio equipment may take greater priority in a hotel or corporate fitness facility.

Once you know what equipment you need, the next step is choosing the right commercial equipment for your space. Orbit's Commercial Gym Equipment Buyer's Guide covers the factors to consider when comparing equipment, including usage, durability, warranty, servicing and other purchasing considerations.

Commercial Gym Equipment Checklist

Before placing your equipment order, check that you've considered:

• Cardio equipment

• Strength machines

• Dumbbells

• Barbells and weight plates

• Kettlebells

• Racks

• Weight benches

• Functional training equipment

• Exercise mats and accessories

• Commercial gym flooring

• Weight and accessory storage

• Space between equipment

• Expected peak-hour usage

• Equipment required for your specific type of facility

The goal isn't to tick every possible equipment category. It's to make sure your gym can support the training experience you're planning to provide.

FAQs

What equipment do you need to open a gym?

Most gyms need cardio equipment, strength machines, free weights, racks and benches, functional training equipment, flooring, storage and accessories. The exact equipment depends on the type and size of gym you're opening and who will use it.

What equipment should I buy first for a gym?

Start with equipment that supports your gym's main training purpose. Prioritise your essential cardio and strength equipment, then add free weights, functional equipment, flooring, storage and specialist equipment where required.

What equipment does a small gym need?

A small gym may need a few cardio machines, dumbbells, an adjustable bench, a rack, barbells and plates, a functional trainer and basic accessories. Choosing multi-purpose equipment can help provide more exercise options without overcrowding the gym.

Does every commercial gym need the same equipment?

No. A hotel gym, strength facility, corporate gym and large health club serve different users and therefore require different equipment mixes. Your equipment list should be based on your members and the training the facility is intended to support.

Start With the Right Gym Equipment Checklist

If you're deciding what equipment you need to open a gym, start with the training experience you want to provide rather than trying to buy one of everything.

Build your checklist around cardio, strength, free weights, functional training, flooring and storage, then adjust the quantities and equipment mix for your facility.

Orbit Fitness has been supplying fitness equipment in Australia for more than 40 years and works with commercial facilities across Western Australia. If you're planning a new facility, Orbit's commercial team can help with equipment selection, gym planning, supply and installation.

The right gym isn't the one with the most equipment. It's the one where the equipment, space and people work well together.