Creating a starter home gym under 300 euros is absolutely possible if you focus on versatile, compact equipment instead of flashy machines. The goal is to cover strength, mobility and a bit of cardio without filling your living room with bulky gear you will not use. In this guide, we will see how to choose a few smart pieces, avoid impulse buys and design a setup that fits even a studio flat.
Table of contents
Define your goals and available space
Before buying anything, clarify what you actually want from your home gym: fat loss, basic strength, general fitness or all of the above. This helps you avoid random purchases. Then measure your training area: the length of a yoga mat is usually enough for bodyweight work, so if you can lay one down, you have enough space. Think in terms of vertical storage too: a small box, a corner or the area behind a door is enough to store a compact set of dumbbells, resistance bands and a mat. Planning this first step stops you from wasting both money and space.
Start with adjustable free weights
The most effective and compact investment is a pair of adjustable dumbbells. Instead of buying multiple fixed weights, a budget-friendly adjustable set lets you cover light rehab work up to challenging strength exercises for most beginners. Look for models with a secure locking system, a range up to at least 10–15 kg per hand and a compact footprint so they can slide under a bed or into a cupboard. With one pair of dumbbells you can train the whole body: goblet squats, lunges, rows, presses and floor chest presses. This replaces multiple machines and keeps your budget well below the 300 euro mark.
Add resistance bands for versatility and travel
Resistance bands with handles and a door anchor are another low-cost, low-space essential. They weigh almost nothing, can be hung on a hook and cost a fraction of most gym machines. Look for a set that includes multiple bands with different resistance levels, carabiners and at least one door anchor so you can simulate cable machine exercises like rows, chest presses and triceps pushdowns. Bands are also joint-friendly and perfect for warm-ups and mobility work. Because they pack into a small pouch, they turn your starter home gym into a portable gym you can bring on trips, making your overall investment even more valuable.
Prioritise a good exercise mat and bodyweight training
A quality exercise mat is often underestimated, but it is crucial when you train at home. It protects your joints on hard floors, prevents slipping and defines your training area so you do not spread equipment everywhere. Choose a mat that is thick enough (around 1 cm for hard floors), non-slip and easy to roll up and store vertically in a corner. Combine it with bodyweight staples—push-ups, planks, glute bridges, hip hinges, step-ups on a stable chair—to create complete workouts without any machines. This keeps your setup minimalist while still allowing challenging full-body sessions.
Use doors and walls instead of bulky machines
Instead of buying a massive multi-gym, use your home structure. A doorway pull-up bar allows you to train your back and arms using nothing but a solid door frame. Make sure the bar has protective pads to avoid damaging the frame and a no-screw design if you are renting. Combined with resistance bands, you can perform assisted pull-ups, hanging knee raises and isometric holds. Walls can also be used for wall sits, handstand progressions and stretching. This approach saves both money and square metres, keeping your home gym discrete and easy to hide when not in use.
By focusing on a few multi-purpose, compact pieces of equipment—adjustable dumbbells, a band set with anchor, a quality exercise mat and possibly a doorway pull-up bar—you can comfortably build a starter home gym under 300 euros without sacrificing your living space. Avoid impulse buys, big machines and single-purpose gadgets: start small, train consistently and only add new gear when your current setup truly limits your progress. This way, every euro and every centimetre in your home will work hard for your fitness.
