The Essential Home Gym Set Up For Less Than £300

Ryan Dutton
Oct 15
6 min read

Convenience and consistency go hand in hand. So if you want to stay on track during those mega busy weeks, investing in equipment for around the house is often the only way.

Even clients with gym memberships have recently started investing in a small home set up. For those days when time is scarce and even a 10 minute commute to the gym isn't doable.

Hence forth many conversations about what exactly the home gym essentials are, why they are the essentials, where to get them from and likely costs.

In this post I'll detail all the above, giving you clarity on what's really needed to maximise your home gym sessions without letting quality suffer and costs soar.

But let’s get one thing straight from the off…

This isn’t about building a home gym that looks fancy. It’s about building one that works.

You’re not trying to impress your mates on Instagram. You’re trying to build a setup that hits the widest range of muscles, keeps training varied, and gets you strong/fit whilst avoiding bankruptcy,

So, if you’ve got around £300 to spend, I’m going to show you exactly how to kit out a home gym. Just in time as the those dark winter months approach.

1. Dumbbells (£100–£120)

If there’s one piece of kit that’ll never go out of style, it’s dumbbells.

They’re the bread and butter of resistance training — versatile, compact, and brutally effective.

I usually reccomend adjustable dumbbells, giving a wide range of weight without taking up too much space. But these can be pricey (although I did find a pair online at KEFL which range from 3.9kg up to 25kg for only £160 - a little over our budget but worth noting)

If we're staying on target price wise, something that ranges from 5kg up to around 15kg will do the job nicely. For a pair of 5kg's, 10's and 15kg's it's coming out at £110 on KEFL (reduced price down from £160)

What they hit:

Chest (presses, flys, floor presses)
Shoulders (overhead press, lateral raises, upright row)
Back (rows, pullovers)
Arms (bicep curls, skull crushers)
Legs (lunges, goblet squats, RDLs)

Why they’re effective: They work both sides of the body independently, which means no favouring one side. They also challenge stabiliser muscles — the unsung heroes behind strength and injury prevention.

2. Kettlebell (£20–£40)

A single kettlebell can transform your training.

Where dumbbells isolate, the kettlebell unifies — it teaches your body to move as one solid, explosive unit.

Grab something in the 12–20kg range (depending on strength level). A 16kg is a safe middle ground for most. I found this one for £22.99 on Fitness Superstore.

What they hit:

Posterior chain (swings, deadlifts)
Core (rotational work, offset carries)
Shoulders and grip (snatches, cleans, presses)
Conditioning (flows, complexes, HIIT)

Why they’re effective: Kettlebells train power, coordination, and grip in a way few other tools can. Plus, the shape forces your muscles to work harder for stability — brilliant for athletic carryover and calorie burn.

3. Pull-Up Bar + Resistance Bands (£30–£40)

Every home gym needs a way to pull vertically. Enter the pull-up bar.

You’ll find solid doorway bars for around £25–£30. Be sure to get the one that hooks over the door frame (I don't want you appearing on the next gym fail video using those harrowing screw in bars). I found this one on Argos for £16.67 (reduced from £25)

Resistance bands are also a must, and not breaking the bank at £15-20. Whether you're a pull up pro or not, bands will allow you to do more reps when fatigued.

They also come in handy for hitting other muscle groups. Bicep curls, lateral raises, shoulder press, rows. hip thrusts, squats. Great for mobility drills, warm ups. Extremely versatile piece of kit. Perfect for our home gym set up. I found this pack of three on Decathlon for £20.

What they hit:

Lats, traps, rhomboids (your “V-taper” crew)
Biceps and forearms
Core (when used correctly)

Why they’re effective: Pull-ups are the ultimate test of upper body strength and control. The bands allow anyone—no matter your starting point—to work through full ranges of motion, build strength, and eventually go unassisted.

4. Suspension Trainer (£20–£30)

Think of these as your portable cable machine.

You can attach them to a door, beam, or tree — perfect for anyone short on space or training outdoors. TRX are the name brand here. But at a cool £130, they're a little off budget. I found these on Decathlon for £20. Do the same job.

What they hit:

Chest (TRX push-ups, flys)
Back (rows, face pulls)
Core (rollouts, pikes, mountain climbers)
Legs (split squats, hamstring curls)

Why they’re effective: Suspension trainers use your bodyweight and gravity as resistance. That constant instability means every rep is a core workout. They’re also perfect for travel, warm-ups, and functional training.

5. Adjustable Bench (£40–£80)

I hesitated when including this one. A lot of the pressing movements can be done on the floor. But a bench allows you to access greater ranges of motion. Not to mention a much broader range of exercises.

Get a sturdy, foldable adjustable bench (flat, incline, decline). It’ll multiply your exercise library instantly. I found this one online at Gym Sets for only £40 (reduced from £80)

What they hit:

Chest and shoulders (press variations)
Arms (seated curls, triceps extensions)
Core (decline sit-ups)
Legs (step-ups, Bulgarian split squats)
Back (single arm rows, Incline DB row)

Why they’re effective: The bench opens up angles and positions that bodyweight alone can’t hit. Plus, it gives you structure — somewhere to train consistently without lying on the living room floor like a caveman.

Bonus Section: Recovery Tools

Even the best gym setup is useless if you’re constantly tight, sore, and stiff. And as a post 30 male, this kit tends to get a lot more use nowadays. Think of this like your daily/weekly sports massage. For an extra £20–£30, invest in:

Foam Roller (£15–£20)

A lifesaver for muscle recovery, especially quads, glutes, lats and IT band. Foam rolling helps improve blood flow, reduce DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness), and keep tissues supple. Be sure to get a soft cushioned one. Too hard and you'll never return after that first session. I found this one on Decathlon for £18.

Trigger Point Ball (£5–£10)

Perfect for pinpointing tight spots — think shoulders, traps, glutes, hips, and feet. A few minutes a day goes a long way in keeping you mobile and pain-free. As someone who spends a lot more time in front of a computer, this is a lifesaver. Be sure to be a solid rubber one for maximum impact. I found this one on Amazon for 6 quid.

Why recovery matters: You don’t get fitter during the workout — you get fitter during recovery. These two tools will help you bounce back quicker, train harder, and stay in the game longer.