What Equipment Do the Biggest Gym Chains Use? (And What You Can Learn) (2026)

Major gym chains typically use premium commercial equipment from Life Fitness, Technogym, Precor, and Hammer Strength — often through bulk corporate contracts at 30–50% below retail. Anytime Fitness clubs commonly use Life Fitness and Matrix. Planet Fitness uses a mix of Life Fitness and their custom Planet Fitness branded equipment. F45 studios use specialty functional equipment. Independent gyms can achieve the same quality floor with brands like VERVE Fitness at a fraction of the chain contract price.

We are VERVE Fitness — we manufacture and supply commercial gym equipment and have fitted out 16,000+ gyms across Australia. We compete with the same brands that chain gyms use. In this guide, we break down exactly what equipment each major chain uses, what the standard commercial gym floor looks like, and how independent gym owners can replicate (or beat) the chain gym experience without the chain gym price tag.

Chain-by-Chain Equipment Breakdown

Every major gym chain has preferred equipment suppliers. Some are locked into corporate contracts. Others give franchise owners some flexibility. Here is what each chain actually has on their floor.

The “Chain Advantage” — And How to Replicate It

Gym chains have three main equipment advantages over independent operators:

1. Bulk corporate pricing. Chains negotiate directly with manufacturers for 30–50% below retail pricing. When you are ordering 500 treadmills at once, you get a very different price than when you are ordering 10.
2. Standardised floor plans. Chains have spent years optimising which equipment goes where and in what quantities. They know exactly how many squat racks, treadmills, and pin-loaded machines a 400 sqm gym needs.
3. Replacement cycles. Chains budget for equipment replacement every 5–7 years, so their floors always look fresh. Independent gyms often run equipment until it fails, which hurts the member experience.

Here is the good news for independent gym owners: you can replicate every one of these advantages.

On pricing: You do not need a 500-unit order to get competitive pricing. Commercial equipment suppliers like VERVE Fitness offer commercial-grade equipment at prices that are already 30–50% below what chains pay for brands like Life Fitness and Technogym. The price gap that chains exploit through bulk buying, VERVE closes through more efficient manufacturing and direct-to-gym distribution.

On floor plans: The standard chain gym floor plan is not proprietary knowledge. We break it down in the next section so you can build the same layout.

On replacement cycles: Budget 10–15% of your equipment value per year for maintenance and eventual replacement. If you buy quality commercial equipment from the start, you can stretch replacement to 7–10 years rather than 5.

The Standard Chain Gym Floor — What Every Chain Has in Common

Despite their differences in branding and target market, every major gym chain has the same core equipment categories on their floor. If you are building an independent gym, this is your blueprint.

Cardio Zone (8–12 machines minimum)

• 4–6 treadmills (the most popular cardio machine by usage)
• 2–3 elliptical trainers
• 1–2 upright or recumbent bikes
• 1 stair climber (increasingly popular — the #1 trending cardio machine)

Pin-Loaded Strength Circuit (10–15 machines)

• Chest press
• Lat pulldown
• Seated row
• Shoulder press
• Leg press
• Leg extension
• Leg curl
• Pec fly / rear delt
• Cable crossover or dual adjustable pulley
• Assisted chin/dip
• Abdominal crunch

Functional Training Area (2–4 stations)

• 2–3 functional trainers (dual cable machines)
• Battle ropes, kettlebells, medicine balls
• Open floor space for bodyweight and functional movements

Power Racks and Free Weights (2–3 racks)

• 2–3 power racks or half racks with platforms
• Dumbbell range (1–50 kg minimum)
• Olympic bars, bumper plates, and weight plates
• Flat and adjustable benches

Group Fitness / Spin Studio (optional but common)

• 15–30 spin bikes for group cycling classes
• Open studio space for group classes

What Chains Get Right (And What They Get Wrong)

What chains get right

1. Consistency. Members know exactly what to expect at any location. Equipment is the same, layout is familiar, and the experience is predictable. Lesson: design your gym floor with intention, not by randomly placing whatever you bought.
2. Cardio-heavy floors. Chains know that 60–70% of gym members use cardio equipment. They over-invest in treadmills and ellipticals relative to strength equipment. Independent gyms often under-invest in cardio because owners tend to be strength-training enthusiasts.
3. Clear zones. Chain gyms separate cardio, strength, functional, and free weights into distinct zones. This makes the gym feel organised and less intimidating for new members.
4. Regular equipment replacement. Chains replace worn equipment on a schedule. Broken or shabby equipment is one of the top reasons members cancel.

What chains get wrong

1. Overpaying for brand. Chains pay a premium for brand-name equipment (Life Fitness, Technogym) that members do not actually care about. Members care about whether the equipment works well and feels good to use — not whether it has the right logo.
2. Cookie-cutter layouts. Chain floor plans are designed for the average location, not your specific space. Independent gyms have the advantage of tailoring their equipment selection to their specific member demographic.
3. Neglecting the free weight area. Budget chains (Planet Fitness, Snap Fitness) often under-invest in free weights and power racks. If your local area has a chain with a weak free weight section, that is your opportunity to differentiate.
4. Locked into single suppliers. Franchise agreements often lock operators into one or two equipment brands. Independent gyms can pick the best equipment from any supplier for each category.

Build a “Chain-Quality” Gym Floor for Half the Price

Here is a complete equipment list that replicates the standard chain gym floor using VERVE Fitness products. This is what an Anytime Fitness or Snap Fitness location would look like — same categories, same quality, half the price.

Cardio Zone

Pin-Loaded Strength Circuit

Functional Training & Power Racks

Spin Studio (Optional)

Total Cost Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions