An 8′ x 10′ space is not very big but by picking the right equipment, it’s very possible to create a functional home gym that helps you reach your fitness goals.
While small, an 80 sq ft space can be used to create a functional home gym with many exercise options. It’s possible to create a well-rounded setup that can facilitate muscle gains, weight loss, strength, and general fitness. However, some compromises still have to be made.
Below you can find 2D and 3D floor plans and layouts for 80 square feet home gyms. Check them out and let them provide some inspiration for your workout space.
Also, make sure to check out our 64 sq ft floor plans. All the setups shown there will fit in this space too, they’ll give you some extra inspiration.
Contents
10’ x 8’ Home Gym Floor Plan: Bodybuilding+ Strength Training
If you’re into bodybuilding or strength training, this first gym is your best option. It features a very compact power rack, bench, and barbell. In addition to that, you can see a set of adjustable dumbbells in the corner.
The plate tree is separate since this rack doesn’t have storage space. Some other compact racks do but they’ll be a bit deeper. Replacing this rack with a half-rack is also an option.
10′ is the minimum width you need to properly use a barbell. That’s because now you have about 1.5′ of free space on both sides which is enough to load and unload plates although it’s still a bit tight. Going for a shorter barbell will make things more comfortable but make sure the shorter barbell fits on the rack you pick.
With this setup, you can train and grow pretty much every muscle in your body. Between the barbell, dumbbell, and bodyweight exercises, you’ve got a lot of options for building the body you want.
With this setup you can:
What’s In This Gym?
2. 8’ x 10’ Home Gym Floor Plans: General Fitness
Instead of a power rack, it’s also an option to use a cardio machine and dumbbells. This is a better setup for people who are looking for general health and fitness and not necessarily building the most muscle and strength.
The rower can be replaced by an exercise bike, elliptical, or compact treadmill. A large treadmill would make the space too cramped for most people’s liking. Choosing a treadmill with a folding deck also helps.
The dumbbells and bench can be used to train any muscle you like while the cardio machine helps with endurance, weight loss, and conditioning. This is a well-rounded setup that serves most people very well.
What’s In This Gym?
3. 8’ x 10’ Home Gym Layout: Cable + Cardio
This is a bit of an oddball but, it’s an option. Instead of a power rack or dumbbell rack, there is a cable station with two pulleys. This is a very multifunctional machine that can be used to train all your body parts without having to use any free weights.
This means it’s a great option for people who don’t want to use free weights and like the stability of cables. There is a set of adjustable dumbbells in the corner for people who still want to use those for some exercises.
In the other corner is an exercise bike. It can’t be used like this but a light exercise bike is easy to move. Just take it out of the corner when you want to use it and push it back in after you’re done to free up the space in the middle.
This is a well-rounded setup for people who prefer not to use free weights.
What’s In This Gym?
Recommended Equipment For These Setups
Optional Extras
Even in a small gym like this, there are some things you can add to improve your workouts. I’ve already shown adjustable dumbbells and kettlebells above but there are a few other things:
- 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 great exercise.
- Fan: Small spaces get uncomfortable quickly when working out. A wall-mounted fan helps while not taking up any floor space.
By adding those three to any of the gyms above, it will improve the looks, functionality, and comfort of your home gym.
Problems Of 80 Square Feet Workout Rooms
There are some issues with building a home gym in such a small space. While it can be done as you can see above, there are some significant drawbacks. Here are the five biggest problems;
- Cramped: It’s obviously going to be quite cramped. While you can get some equipment in there and do some exercises, you’re always close to a wall or piece of equipment. This will feel quite claustrophobic and can make it difficult to motivate yourself.
- Ventilation: Small spaces like this usually don’t have windows and limited ventilation. The door likely has to stay open to keep the air somewhat comfortable during a workout. It’ll also have to stay open after the workout for a while to drop the humidity.
- Limited Equipment Choice: It’s important to be very careful when picking your equipment. Some things will fit while others won’t. Compact versions of gym equipment are relatively rare.
- No Barbells: You can’t use barbells in a space like this, you’ll need 10′ of width at a minimum. Even a 6′ long barbell only leaves 1 foot of free space on both sides which makes it very difficult to load and unload plates.
