Home Gym on a Budget: What to Buy for £50, £100 and £150
Quick answer: you can build a useful home gym for under £50 with a skipping rope, a resistance band set, an exercise mat and a doorway pull-up bar. With around £100, add an adjustable dumbbell set or a kettlebell. With £150 to £200, add a folding adjustable bench. That combination trains every major muscle group and fits in a cupboard.
Safety first: this guide is general fitness information, not medical advice. If you are new to exercise, pregnant, have a health condition or an injury, or have not exercised for a long time, check with your GP or a qualified professional before starting. Warm up first, start light, and stop if you feel pain, dizziness or chest discomfort.
You do not need hundreds of pounds or a garage to train well at home. The cheapest equipment is often the most versatile. Here is exactly what to buy at three budgets, using products and prices from our range. For the full planning guide, see how to build a home gym in the UK.
Home gym under £50
| Item | Price | What it trains |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Fitness 11pc Resistance Bands Set | £9.34 | Presses, rows, curls, squats, warm-ups |
| PRO 11 WELLBEING 6mm Exercise Mat | £13.99 | Core, stretching and floor work |
| ONEX Adjustable Doorway Pull Up Bar | £13.98 | Back, arms, core |
| VIPER Adjustable Speed Rope | £4.99 | Cardio and coordination |
| Total | £42.30 |
Home gym under £100
Everything above, plus:
| Item | Price | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| GYM MASTER 30kg Dumbbell and Barbell Set | £28.99 | Real loaded strength work |
| SPORTNOW 6kg Kettlebell | £10.99 | Swings, goblet squats, conditioning |
| Running total | £82.28 |
Home gym under £150
Everything above, plus a folding bench:
| Item | Price | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Sparta 250kg Adjustable Weight Bench | £35.62 | Chest presses, rows, step-ups, seated presses |
| Running total | £117.90 |
Prices are our current prices and may change.
A simple budget home workout
Do this full-body circuit two or three times a week. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between rounds and do 3 rounds.
- Goblet squat with a kettlebell or dumbbell: 10 to 12 reps
- Resistance band row: 12 to 15 reps
- Push-ups, on knees if needed: 8 to 12 reps
- Dumbbell Romanian deadlift: 10 to 12 reps
- Band shoulder press: 10 to 12 reps
- Plank: 20 to 40 seconds
- Skipping: 60 seconds
When you can do the top of every rep range with good form, make it harder: add weight, use a stronger band or add a round.
Money-saving tips
- Buy adjustable weights rather than many fixed pairs.
- Start with bodyweight and bands, and only buy what you find yourself missing.
- Skip big cardio machines at first. Skipping, brisk walking and circuits cost nothing extra.
- Look after kit: store bands out of sunlight and wipe sweat off metal.
Browse resistance bands, kettlebells and home weights.
Frequently asked questions
Can you build a home gym for under £100?
Yes. Resistance bands, an exercise mat, a doorway pull-up bar, a skipping rope, an adjustable dumbbell set and a kettlebell come to about £82 from our range.
What is the cheapest way to start working out at home?
Bodyweight exercises with a resistance band set and an exercise mat, which together cost under £25.
Are resistance bands as good as weights?
They are very effective for beginners and for adding variety. Weights are easier to increase in small, measurable steps for long-term strength gains.
Is a skipping rope good cardio?
Yes. Skipping raises your heart rate quickly and costs very little, though it needs some ceiling height and is high impact.
