The essential equipment for a new gym includes commercial treadmills, a functional trainer, a power rack, a pin-loaded strength circuit (chest press, lat pulldown, leg press minimum), dumbbells, barbells and plates, and rubber flooring. Budget $80,000–$200,000 for a mid-size gym. Buy cardio, strength machines, and functional trainers first — specialty equipment, accessories, and backup units can wait until membership revenue is flowing.
I’ve helped equip thousands of commercial gyms across Australia through VERVE Fitness. The number one question new gym owners ask is: “What equipment do I actually need to open?” The answer isn’t “everything.” It’s a prioritised list that gets members through the door on day one without blowing your entire budget before you’ve collected your first direct debit.
This guide breaks every piece of gym equipment into three priority tiers: what you need before you open, what to add in the first three months, and what can wait until your revenue is flowing. Every recommendation includes real pricing so you can build your budget with confidence.
| Priority | Category | When to Buy | Budget Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Essential equipment | Before you open | $60,000–$120,000 |
| Tier 2 | Growth equipment | Within first 3 months | $20,000–$50,000 |
| Tier 3 | Specialty & expansion | 6+ months (when revenue flows) | $15,000–$40,000 |
| Total for a mid-size gym | $80,000–$200,000+ |
The rest of this guide explains exactly what goes into each tier, with specific product recommendations and pricing.
This is your non-negotiable list. Without these, your gym doesn’t function. Every piece here covers the movements and training styles that 90% of your members will use on day one. Estimated budget: $60,000–$120,000.
Treadmills are still the most-used piece of equipment in any commercial gym. Members expect them. Start with 3–5 and add more based on demand.
If you could only buy one machine, buy a functional trainer. Cable flyes, rows, tricep pushdowns, woodchops, face pulls — one unit covers dozens of exercises. It’s the single most versatile piece of equipment on your gym floor.
You need at least one power rack for squats, bench press, overhead press, and rack pulls. It’s the anchor of your free-weight area.
New members — especially beginners — gravitate toward pin-loaded machines because they’re safe, guided, and intuitive. You need a minimum circuit of 5 machines covering the major movement patterns. The VERVE Makoto Commercial Series is purpose-built for this.
A full dumbbell set is the backbone of any gym. You need pairs from at least 5kg to 40kg for a commercial environment. Rubber hex dumbbells are the standard — they’re durable, don’t roll, and protect your flooring.
You need at least 2–3 Olympic barbells and a full set of bumper or rubber plates. This supports your power racks and free-weight area for squats, deadlifts, bench press, and Olympic lifts.
Rubber flooring protects your equipment, reduces noise, prevents injuries, and looks professional. It’s not optional — it’s a safety and insurance requirement in most commercial leases.
Once the doors are open and your first direct debits hit, reinvest into these additions. They expand your offering, support group classes, and give members more variety. Estimated budget: $20,000–$50,000.
Group cycling classes are a proven member acquisition and retention driver. You need 10–20 bikes to run a class, and a dedicated spin room is a strong upsell for memberships.
Not everyone likes treadmills. Adding a stair climber, elliptical, and upright bike rounds out your cardio floor and caters to different fitness levels and preferences.
Expand your 5-machine Tier 1 circuit with isolation machines that members will ask for. Bicep curl, tricep extension, leg extension, and leg curl are the most common additions.
Adding a second functional training station reduces wait times during peak hours and gives you a dedicated cable station for personal training sessions.
Kettlebells support functional training, group classes, and personal training sessions. A set from 4kg to 32kg covers most needs.
This is where you start differentiating your gym. Specialty machines, recovery equipment, and backup units. None of these are required to operate — they’re strategic investments that improve retention and attract new demographics. Estimated budget: $15,000–$40,000.
Hip thrusters, GHD machines, smith machines, and hack squats. These are popular with experienced lifters and personal trainers but aren’t essential for a new gym opening.
Saunas, cold plunge pools, massage guns, and foam rolling stations. Recovery zones are a growing trend that improves member satisfaction and retention. They can also support a premium membership tier at a higher price point.
As membership grows, you’ll need additional treadmills, bikes, and ellipticals to prevent peak-hour queues. Buy these based on actual usage data, not guesswork.
Cable rope attachments, specialty bars (EZ curl, trap bar, safety squat bar), resistance bands, and additional training zones. The VERVE Tori Free Standing Cable Machine ($2,299) is an excellent way to add another training station without wall mounting.
Use this table as your master shopping list. Every piece of equipment a commercial gym needs, organised by priority tier.
| Equipment | Priority | Qty | Unit Cost | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Treadmills | Tier 1 | 3–5 | $6,999–$8,999 | VERVE Kuro |
| Functional Trainer | Tier 1 | 1–2 | $4,999 | VERVE Tori FT Rack |
| Cable Crossover | Tier 1 | 0–1 | $4,999 | VERVE Tori Crossover |
| Power Rack | Tier 1 | 1–3 | $1,099 | VERVE Satori |
| Pin-Loaded Chest Press | Tier 1 | 1 | $4,599 | Makoto Series |
| Pin-Loaded Shoulder Press | Tier 1 | 1 | $5,999 | Makoto Series |
| Pin-Loaded Pulldown / Seated Row | Tier 1 | 1 | $5,999 | Makoto Series |
| Pin-Loaded Pec Fly / Rear Delt | Tier 1 | 1 | $5,299 | Makoto Series |
| Leg Press | Tier 1 | 1 | $5,499 | Makoto Series |
| Dumbbells (5kg–40kg) | Tier 1 | 1 set | $3,000–$6,000 | VERVE Dumbbells |
| Olympic Barbells + Plates | Tier 1 | 2–3 bars + plates | $2,000–$5,000 | VERVE Free Weight |
| Rubber Flooring | Tier 1 | Full floor | $2,000–$8,000 | VERVE Flooring |
| Commercial Spin Bikes | Tier 2 | 10–20 | $3,299 | VERVE Volt |
| Stair Climber | Tier 2 | 1–2 | $9,999 | VERVE Kuro |
| Elliptical | Tier 2 | 1–2 | $9,999 | VERVE Kuro |
| Upright Bike | Tier 2 | 1–2 | $2,899 | VERVE Kuro |
| Additional Makoto Machines | Tier 2 | 3–5 | $4,599–$5,999 | Makoto Series |
| Wall Mounted Functional Trainer | Tier 2 | 1 | $2,299 | VERVE Tori Wall |
| Kettlebells (4kg–32kg) | Tier 2 | 1 set | $1,000–$2,500 | VERVE Kettlebells |
| Specialty Machines (hip thruster, GHD, smith) | Tier 3 | 2–4 | $2,000–$5,000 each | Various |
| Recovery Equipment (sauna, cold plunge) | Tier 3 | As needed | $5,000–$20,000 | Various |
| Backup Cardio Units | Tier 3 | 2–4 | $2,899–$8,999 | VERVE Kuro Series |
| Free Standing Cable Machine | Tier 3 | 1 | $2,299 | VERVE Tori Free Standing |
| Specialty Bars & Accessories | Tier 3 | As needed | $500–$2,000 | VERVE Free Weight |
The industry rule of thumb is 1 piece of equipment per 15–20 members. That includes both cardio and strength machines. Here’s how that scales:
| Member Count | Equipment Pieces | Approx. Budget |
|---|---|---|
| 200 members | 10–15 pieces | $60,000–$80,000 |
| 500 members | 25–35 pieces | $100,000–$150,000 |
| 1,000 members | 50–70 pieces | $180,000–$300,000 |
| 2,000+ members | 100+ pieces | $350,000+ |
These numbers are guidelines, not rules. A 24/7 gym with staggered peak hours might need fewer pieces than a gym where 80% of members train between 5pm and 7pm. Track your peak concurrent usage in the first month and adjust from there.
Key ratios to remember:
After helping thousands of gym owners through their first fitout, these are the mistakes I see most often:
Buy commercial treadmills, a functional trainer, a power rack, a pin-loaded strength circuit (chest press, lat pulldown, leg press minimum), dumbbells, barbells with plates, and rubber flooring before you open. These cover the movements 90% of members will use on day one. Specialty machines, spin bikes, and recovery equipment can wait until membership revenue is flowing.
Start with 3–5 commercial treadmills and add more based on demand. The general rule is one treadmill per 50–75 members. A 500-member gym typically needs 8–12 treadmills. The VERVE Kuro Commercial Treadmill ($6,999) is a strong starting point — buy 3 standard models to open and add touchscreen units ($8,999) as membership grows.
The functional trainer is the single most important piece of gym equipment because it supports the widest range of exercises in one unit — cable flyes, rows, tricep pushdowns, woodchops, and dozens more. The VERVE Tori Functional Trainer Rack ($4,999) combines a functional trainer with a rack system, making it even more versatile. If you could only buy one machine, buy a functional trainer.
Budget $80,000–$200,000 on equipment for a mid-size gym (200–400m²). A bare-minimum opening setup costs $60,000–$80,000. A fully kitted-out premium gym can exceed $250,000. The smartest approach is to spend $60,000–$120,000 on essential Tier 1 equipment before you open, then reinvest $20,000–$50,000 from early membership revenue into Tier 2 additions within the first 3 months.
Buy new for your core strength machines and cardio — they see the most use, and warranty coverage is essential. Used equipment can be fine for plates, dumbbells, barbells, and benches where there’s less to go wrong mechanically. Avoid used treadmills and pin-loaded machines as repair costs can quickly exceed what you saved. New commercial equipment from brands like VERVE Fitness often costs less than refurbished premium brands.
Members consistently rank functional trainers, cable machines, and free weights as their most-used equipment. After that comes cardio (treadmills, bikes) and pin-loaded strength machines. Recovery equipment like saunas and cold plunges are growing in importance for retention but are not essential at launch. Focus your opening budget on strength and cardio variety — that’s what gets members through the door.
VERVE Fitness offers free gym layout design and equipment consultation for new gym owners. Tell us your floor plan and budget, and we’ll build a custom equipment list with 3D layout.
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