Must-Have Apartment Gym Equipment for Property Owners and Managers

This article spotlights the best apartment gym equipment, especially for tight spaces. These five-star amenities will help you retain your existing tenants and attract prospective residents who care about wellness.

Why Fitness Amenities Are the New Dealbreaker in Apartment Living

Wellness-first living isn’t just another fad. It’s become a priority for , and they’re willing to pay for it. In the United States alone, consumers spend over $500 billion annually on wellness, and this trend shows no signs of slowing down.

As more Americans focus on their health, apartment fitness centers have become a must-have amenity. In fact, either want one or won’t even consider leasing from complexes without one.

Once residents join your community, they’re more likely to stick around if they have access to an on-site gym. Fitness centers , especially for younger people. That might not seem like a lot, but over a few years, it can significantly reduce turnover costs.

Plus, investing in fitness equipment can give you an edge over competitors who don’t have these . Just think about it — would you rather rent from a complex where you can work out whenever you want, or one that makes you drive across town to a crowded gym?

How to Choose the Right Apartment Gym Equipment for Small Spaces

Like most property managers, you probably don’t have unlimited space (or money!) for a sprawling fitness center. But with a little creativity and planning, you can still create an awesome .

Get the most out of your space with these best practices:

• Choose compact and multifunctional equipment: The best apartment complex gym equipment does more than one thing. For example, adjustable benches let users do all kinds of weightlifting exercises without taking up much space.
• Go for low-maintenance options: The last thing you want to do is spend hours trying to recalibrate a vibration plate or fix a wobbly elliptical. Save yourself the hassle (and maintenance costs) by picking reliable equipment with minimal upkeep.
• Consider noise levels: Apartment complex gyms often share walls with other amenities, such as the lounge or laundry room. Choose quiet equipment that won’t disturb people who aren’t working out. (Goodbye, slamming weight stacks.)
• Invest in high-tech solutions: Smart machines can offer personalized recommendations and may even sync with fitness apps. These features help tenants have more effective workouts.

No matter which equipment you pick, focus on making your fitness center look clean and modern. A few pieces of art, bright lighting, TVs — little touches like these will make your space feel more inviting.

Essential Apartment Gym Equipment and Solutions for Maximum Impact

Shopping for gym equipment for an apartment complex is fun but challenging. Obviously, you want to pick popular items that will get a lot of use, not sit there collecting dust. But you also have limited space to fit everything.

Here are a few excellent equipment choices for apartments. And remember, you don’t have to buy twenty machines at once. You can always start with one or two pieces from each category, then gradually grow your collection.

Strength in Small Packages: Space-Saving Strength Equipment

A lot of bulky strength equipment — like a squat rack or leg press machine — is just too big to fit in an apartment gym. But, at the same time, you still need plenty of options for tenants who want to build muscle.

Save your valuable space with this compact equipment:

• Adjustable dumbbells
• Kettlebells
• Pull-up bars (which take up zero floor space)
• Resistance bands
• Suspension trainers

Fitness On Demand’s help tenants get the most out of this gear. For example, they could tune into a kettlebell class for a fast-paced arm workout.

All-in-One Machines for Versatile Strength & Functional Training

You’ll quickly run out of room if you buy dozens of dumbbells or separate machines for every type of workout. Instead, look for versatile, all-in-one equipment.

Functional trainers, for instance, have attachments, pulleys, and weight stacks. They allow users to work out different body parts without taking up half the gym.

Smith machines are another popular option. These weight-lifting racks have built-in safety mechanisms, so your tenants can work out without a spotter. Many come with pull-up bars and other attachments for more flexibility.

Best Cardio Equipment for Apartment Fitness Centers

are hot amenities for many renters. Look for smaller treadmills that won’t make a lot of noise during your tenants’ morning jogs.

Other popular cardio equipment includes:

• Ellipticals
• Stair machines
• Smart bikes

Consider asking your tenants about their favorite equipment before you stock your gym with large machines. One community might clamor for exercise bikes, while another would get more use out of stair machines.

Smart Screens for High-Tech Training

Smart screens can help you personalize your tenants' fitness experiences even more. These surfaces let renters choose and customize live or on-demand classes with just a few taps of their fingers. That way, they can get on-site "personal training" — without you needing to hire any extra staff.

By making classes more accessible, smart screens can encourage new or hesitant fitness enthusiasts to venture into your gym. A tenant who feels too nervous to go to an in-person cardio class, for instance, can build confidence while working out in relative privacy with a smart screen. Once they've gotten some of the techniques down with the touchscreen, they may be emboldened to explore more of your offerings.

Plus, smart screens can help you get more out of existing equipment. Consider placing screens near low-traffic items, such as the seldom-used hip abduction machine that almost no one knows how to use. When tenants can watch exercises on a screen, they're more likely to try out all the equipment. You can also set up touchscreens around equipment like free weights and yoga mats so tenants can check their posture and make sure they're exercising correctly.

You can also invest in workout touchscreens for recovery and other activities. These screens let users move quickly between videos without fiddling with remotes, giving them total control over their workouts.

is another way to use your smart screens. This option lets tenants watch entertainment or promotional content while they exercise. The right show could make the difference between someone sticking it out on the elliptical for 10 more minutes or cutting their workout short.

Stretch, Recover, Repeat: Must-Haves for Functional Wellness Zones

Gone are the days when fitness enthusiasts would jump straight on the treadmill, then race to the showers after a heart-pumping workout. Now, many people understand the importance of proper warmups and cooldowns.

Fitness On Demand’s offers stretching, breathwork, and other virtual content. Add cozy mats and resistance bands so users can recover at their leisure.

Equipment That Supports a Sense of Community

While some people relish solo workouts, others prefer the camaraderie of group exercise. Choose equipment that people can use together or side-by-side, such as:

• Mats for yoga classes
• Rowing machines
• Spin bikes
• Treadmills

Be sure to add a few family-friendly amenities, such as foam blocks and hula hoops for children.

You can also use . For example, Fitness On Demand’s brings people together for on-demand workouts — no trainer needed. This software can help you build a sense of community and turn your fitness center into a bustling social hub.

Noise Reduction & Design Tips for Resident Comfort

Let’s face it: An apartment gym can be incredibly noisy. Weights clattering, fitness instructors shouting encouragement, feet thumping on a treadmill — it’s enough to annoy even the most laid-back residents.

Keep everyone happy with these soundproofing tips:

• Insulate the walls and ceiling with acoustic foam.
• Hang acoustic panels on the walls to absorb sound.
• Use rubber mats to muffle the sound of dropped weights.
• Keep treadmills and other equipment oiled.

Setting quiet hours can also help minimize the gym noise.

Manage Smarter: Tools for Scheduling, Tracking & Amenity Optimization

Choosing the perfect equipment isn’t the only ingredient for success. You also need the right technology to stay organized and encourage tenants to take advantage of your apartment amenities.

Fitness On Demand can help you schedule the right mixture of in-person and virtual classes. Plus, it offers usage analytics so you can see how residents use your gym. For example, you might realize that your functional trainer rarely gets used and swap it for more in-demand cardio equipment.

From Gym to Digital Hub: Bringing Smart Fitness to Multifamily Living

Smart technology is one of the biggest . Tenants want their workouts to be just as connected and personalized as everything else in their lives.

The makes it easy to cater to this demand. It’s easy to customize this mobile app with your complex’s branding, so you can cross “hire an app designer” off your to-do list.

This app lets residents access over 1,200 on-demand classes and videos. You can also host community challenges — “30 Miles in 30 Days!” — and share upcoming events.

Fitness On Demand: Making Personalized Fitness Easy for Every Resident

Buying equipment for apartment complexes takes creativity and careful planning. On the one hand, you want to provide your residents with everything they need to stay active and meet their fitness goals. But you can’t cram every possible piece of equipment into your gym.

Choosing compact, flexible equipment will help you use your valuable space wisely. You can also extend your offerings with Fitness On Demand. Our virtual classes, recovery station, and other services allow you to offer more personalized experiences for all residents.

Learn more about how we use virtual fitness solutions to support multifamily complexes today!