A fairly small single-car garage like a 10′ x 18′ one has enough space to build a complete home gym. It’s not large enough to just throw all the equipment in and hope it will work. Well, you can hope but without some planning, a single-car garage gym might not be the best.
In this article, you can find 3 different gym layouts that are tailored to a 10′ x 18′ space. Use these plans for inspiration and to make sure your home gym is efficient, comfortable, and most importantly, all the equipment fits.
Contents
10’ x 18’ Garage Gym Floor Plan Version 1
This is a gym layout packed with equipment and exercise options. It’s going to be a little tight and the garage door is going to be pretty useless except for letting air in but it is the most complete garage gym setup you can fit in a single-car garage like this.
Overall, this is a great setup for people who have a small single-car garage but don’t want to give up any functionality or exercise options. You’ve got all the exercise options you could need to reach your fitness goals.
Here is another version of this layout with a small, wall-mounted pulley tower instead of a fully functional trainer. This frees up a bit of space and doesn’t block the door while you still have cable exercise options.
What’s In This Gym?
2. 10’ x 18’ Garage Gym Floor Plan Version 2
This second layout is a variation of the first example. The treadmill is in the back of the garage which might not be the best for getting fresh air but this layout has a few benefits.
This setup is very similar to the first one if you look at the equipment that’s in here. However, the layout is quite different. This version leaves more of the door free. While you can’t put a car in here anymore, having access to the door can definitely be a benefit.
What’s In This Gym?
3. 10’ x 18’ Garage Gym Layouts Version 3
If you don’t like power racks or have no need for one, this is another layout you can look at. You’ll still find a cardio machine, dumbbells, and bench like before. But instead of a power rack, you can see a bench press rack. That’s just to show what’s possible, feel free to modify these plans.
The bench press rack is just an example of what’s possible here. It’s possible to swap it out for pretty much every other machine you like except a leg press (unless it’s a really compact one). The combination of dumbbells and a cardio machine is enough for many people and while a rack is nice, it’s not necessary to build muscle and strength.
Have less space? Check out one of these other floor plans;
What’s In This Gym?
Recommended Equipment For These Setups
In a 10′ x 18′ space, you’ve got enough room that it’s not necessary to always look for most compact equipment. However, you still want good value for money and equipment that lasts. Here are some recommendations for equipment many people are happy with.
Power Rack
In the floor plans, I’ve used the Rogue RML-490C which is a very solid power rack. It’s pretty much the standard for sturdiness, fit and finish, and functionality. However, it’s not cheap and some more affordable options are just as compact. Look at the Titan Fitness X-3 Range (Amazon) for a more affordable option that is very similar.
Dumbbell Rack
If you want a rack of dumbbells you’ve got two good choices; affordable and decent or expensive and great.
The first choice is the Signature Fitness 5-50 lbs. set with rack (Amazon link). These are a great deal for such a set of dumbbells. You get 10 pairs of dumbbells on a 3-tier rack. The dumbbells are decent quality with a nice handle but not the highest quality. The rack is a bit wobbly. That doesn’t sound too great until you see the price, this is a deal that’s hard to dismiss.
The second choice is a high-quality set of dumbbells from REP Fitness (Amazon link). A company with a reputation for great products and amazing customer service. In the pictures, the set looks very similar to the first option but the dumbbells are nicer and the rack is rock solid. You also have the option of extending the set up to 100-pound dumbbells, an option Signature doesn’t offer.
Adjustable Bench
There are tons of adjustable benches out there but a few stand out.
If you want something super solid, versatile, and with a good warranty and customer service, go for the REP Fitness AB-3000 (Amazon link). It’s built like a tank has nice features and isn’t too big.
The REP bench is a bit pricey though. For a cheaper option, look at the Lusper benches. This model (Amazon link) is affordable, can handle up to 800 pounds, and folds completely flat. It won’t be as sturdy and solid as the first option but it’s a lot cheaper.
Functional Trainer
There are a few good functional trainers to choose from. As said above, it’s not necessary to pick the smallest one.
My favorite all-around functional trainer is the BodyCraft HFT (Amazon). It’s finished very nicely with high-quality parts, works smoothly, and comes with the attachments you need. I’d recommend paying extra for assembly because these can be a bit difficult to set up but once they are, these are great.
The standard weight stacks are 150 lbs. per side but an upgrade to 200 lbs. per stack is available. That should be heavy enough for the vast majority of people out there.
Treadmill
As an entry-level treadmill, the NordicTrack T6.5s is a great choice for the money. It is strong and sturdy enough for a good workout and the 3 hp motor has enough power for up to 10 miles an hour. It does have an annoying feature that makes you log into your Nordictrack account though. It’s also not the best for tall people because of its short deck.
The XTerra TRX4500 (Amazon) is a great choice for most people. Its belt is large enough for anyone except giraffes, the motor is strong and the frame is sturdy. The 12 MPH top speed is also quite high. The whole package is still pretty affordable. The low price does mean you don’t get any fancy displays or touchscreens but do you really need those?
If you need the best of the best treadmill, look at Landice. They are amazing, not necessarily in flashy features, but in build quality and feel. However, they are priced accordingly.
Rowing Machine
Concept2 Model D (Amazon) is the right choice when picking a rowing machine. These are the rowing machines you’ll see in most commercial gyms and for good reason. They work well, are durable, and aren’t even the most expensive although not cheap.
Buy one of these and you’ll be good for the next 20 years. And probably a lot leaner by that time since these air-resistance rowers burn a lot of calories.
Leg Press
It’s a good idea to go for a leg press that’s both leg press and hack squat. It just adds exercise variability and both exercises, while similar, have their benefits.
One of the best out there is the BodyCraft F760 (Amazon). It’s built like a tank, everything is adjustable which means you can get a good range of motion on both the leg press and hack squat which is an issue with most other combo machines. And of course, the lifetime warranty is a big plus.
Optional Extras
Though the setups shown above are pretty complete, there are some things you can add to make your garage gym even better:
- Flooring: Flooring helps with noise, hygiene, safety, and comfort. And for such a small space, it’s quite cheap to cover the whole floor so this is a no-brainer.
- Mirror: A mirror is useful for checking your form but also makes your space look bigger!
- Pull-up bar: Pull-ups are a great exercise and hard to replace. A doorway-mounted pull-up bar is easy to put up or take down and adds a few great exercise options.
- Fan: Garages are usually not very well insulated and can get uncomfortable quickly, especially when working out. A wall-mounted fan helps while not taking up any floor space.
- Kettlebells: Great for adding exercise options that are completely different from barbell and dumbbell exercises.
By adding those to any of the gyms above, it will improve the looks, functionality, and comfort of your home gym.
