What Range of Gym Equipment Should I Invest in When Opening a New Club?

What Range of Gym Equipment Should I Invest in When Opening a New Club?

One of the biggest capital outlays when opening a gym is your equipment package. The decisions you make here will impact member acquisition, retention, and operating costs for years to come. The right balance of cardio machines, pin-loaded selectorised equipment, free weights, and functional training areas is essential for both cost but also the market you are planning on attracting — but that balance has shifted significantly over the past 15 years.

The Changing Mix of Gym Equipment

If you opened a gym in the mid-2000s, your equipment footprint would have been dominated by cardio machines and pin-loaded resistance gear. At that time, many clubs devoted 50–60% of floor space to treadmills, cross-trainers, bikes, and rows of selectorised weight machines. Free weight zones were often small, and functional training was almost non-existent outside of personal training studios.

However, today, and the mix looks very different. According to IHRSA’s global and U.S. fitness facility reports, and the proof at most clubs, member demand has shifted strongly toward strength and functional training. Functional rigs, open floor space, and free weights now take up far more of a club’s footprint, while cardio areas — once considered the heart of every gym — have been reduced.

Typical Equipment Ratios Today

While every market and club type differs, industry averages provide a useful benchmark. Across full-service gyms, a common layout today might look like this:

• Cardio equipment: 15 - 25% of floor space

  • Includes treadmills, bikes, rowers, stair climbers, and ellipticals.

  • Usage is still strong, but not the dominant driver of membership anymore.

• Pin-loaded selectorised machines: 20–25%

  • Still essential for beginners, older populations, and rehab-friendly training.

  • However, less in demand than in the 2000s when they might have occupied 35–40%.

  • While this has reduced to a degree, clubs targeting the younger market will often include 2 or 3 variations of popular exercises for peak times.

• Free weights (plates, racks, benches, dumbbells): 25–30%

  • One of the fastest-growing categories.

  • Today’s members — especially Millennials and Gen Z — expect larger free weight zones with more racks, benches, and heavy dumbbell ranges than 15 years ago.

• Functional training areas: 15–25%

  • This is the biggest change over the past decade.

  • Rigs, turf tracks, sleds, suspension trainers, Kettle bells, Assault bikes, for HIIT or free weight overflow now occupy significant space, compared to <5% of a club footprint in the 2000s.

• Open Floor Space: 10 –20%

  • This is also one of the biggest changes as members look for open floor space to do their own workouts, stretch, use bands.

This shift reflects a global trend toward strength, functional movement, and training variety, driven by consumer preferences for results-based, time-efficient workouts (Les Mills Global Report 2025; IHRSA 2023 Consumer Report).

Why the Mix Has Shifted

1. Generational Preferences

   • Gen Z and Millennials favour strength, functional training, and community-based workouts. They are less interested in long treadmill sessions and more interested in versatile training spaces.

2. Growth of Functional Fitness

   • The rise of CrossFit, HIIT, and boutique studios has normalised rigs, sleds, and kettlebells in mainstream gyms.

3. Efficiency and ROI

   • Cardio machines are expensive, take up space, and depreciate quickly. Free weights and rigs are more durable and provide higher member engagement per square metre. Resistance equipment will last 2 - 3 times that of Cardio equipment.

4. Wellness and Longevity

   • Older members are embracing resistance and functional training for mobility, bone density, and independence.

Tailoring to Your Market

While benchmarks are useful, your final mix should reflect your market:

• Urban clubs often reduce cardio even further (as members may run or cycle outdoors).

• Family/community gyms may need more pin-loaded and cardio for accessibility.

• Boutique or premium concepts may dedicate >40% to functional space.

Always balance the latest trends with your core demographics — if your area has a strong senior population, pin-loaded equipment should remain a priority.

Major Equipment Brands & Their Innovation Priorities

Among the biggest global fitness-equipment manufacturers, Technogym has been very vocal about moving toward what it calls “Healthness” — its term for preventive health, personalized wellness, and data-driven training. The company’s recent roll-outs include the Technogym Checkup tool, which assesses both physical and cognitive condition and then prescribes tailored programs using its ecosystem of cardio, strength, and functional gear. Technogym is pushing smart, connected solutions so equipment isn’t just static – it becomes part of a holistic monitoring and coaching system. (Athletech News)

Another big name, Life Fitness / Hammer Strength, has also signaled its direction. According to recent market-reports, Life Fitness unveiled the Symbio series: advanced cardio machines with biometric tracking, touchscreens, and new strength pieces that more closely align with functional training demands. They are also enhancing their software platforms to improve gym-management, usage tracking, and member interactivity. (Market Research Intellect)

Conclusion

The days of row upon row of treadmills and selectorised machines are over. Modern gym members expect a balanced mix of cardio, pin-loaded, free weights, and functional areas, with far more emphasis on strength and functional training than 15 years ago.

Investing in the right mix at the outset will help you attract today’s members, deliver better experiences, and protect your capital investment long-term.

References

• International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). (2023). U.S. Health & Fitness Consumer Report. Boston: IHRSA.

• Les Mills. (2025). Global Fitness Report. Les Mills Asia Pacific.

• IBISWorld. (2024). Gyms & Fitness Centres Industry Reports.