How much does it cost to equip a gym? Budget by floor area
How much does it cost to equip a gym completely? Based on the public catalogue prices of Light In Fitness (all excluding VAT), the realistic budget is 16,000 to 30,000 EUR for a 100 m2 studio, 65,000 to 90,000 EUR for a 300 m2 independent club and 130,000 to 190,000 EUR for a 600 m2 facility, sports flooring included, excluding building works and consumable accessories. Cardio typically absorbs 35 to 45% of the budget, strength equipment 30 to 40%, and flooring 10 to 15%.
Why almost nobody publishes a price grid — and why we do
The European fitness market keeps growing: EuropeActive and Deloitte report a market of over 32 billion EUR in revenue and more than 71 million members across Europe, with penetration rates of 13 to 15% in mature markets such as Germany and the United Kingdom. New openings multiply — yet an operator searching for the cost of equipping a gym mostly finds vague answers, because the majority of professional suppliers only work on quotation. Light In Fitness publishes its prices excluding VAT on every product page, so the grid below is built on real, checkable catalogue prices rather than theoretical estimates.
100 m2 studio (personal training, private studio): 16,000 to 30,000 EUR excluding VAT
A coaching studio prioritises versatility: one functional structure, one or two cardio stations, a multifunction machine and a robust floor. A real configuration at current catalogue prices:
| Item | Equipment (public price excluding VAT) | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Wall-mounted CrossFit cage Model 4, 430 x 118 cm — 1,900 EUR excluding VAT | 1,900 EUR |
| Cardio | Q-FIT professional treadmill — 3,500 EUR excluding VAT | 3,500 EUR |
| Multifunction | Bodytone SRX100 Multi Functional Trainer (Smith machine) — 5,750 EUR excluding VAT | 5,750 EUR |
| Plate-loaded station | Bodytone SRX02 iso-lateral chest press — 1,980 EUR excluding VAT | 1,980 EUR |
| Sports flooring | 20 mm high-density rubber tiles (Pro Flow Mat) at 30 EUR/m2 excluding VAT x 100 m2 | 3,000 EUR |
| Typical configuration total (excluding free weights and accessories) | approx. 16,130 EUR | |
Add dumbbells, Olympic bars, benches and small accessories and the complete budget lands between 20,000 and 30,000 EUR excluding VAT depending on the equipment density you want. For a detailed room-by-room list, see our 100 m2 gym equipment list.
300 m2 independent club: 65,000 to 90,000 EUR excluding VAT
At 300 m2 you can structure real zones: a cardio deck, selectorised strength, a plate-loaded and free-weights area and a functional zone. A real configuration at current public prices:
| Zone | Example equipment (verifiable prices excluding VAT) | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Cardio (4-6 stations) | 2 x Bodytone EVOT3+ treadmills (5,832.80 EUR each), 1 x ZROP incline treadmill (4,455 EUR), 1 x Evoe1+ cross trainer (8,660.40 EUR), plus bikes and a rower | approx. 25,000 – 32,000 EUR |
| Selectorised + plate-loaded strength | FC4S V2 multi-station (7,250 EUR), SR10P 3D Smith machine (4,950 EUR), Solid Rock hack squat (5,480 EUR), FC02v2 dual cable crossover (4,950 EUR) plus targeted stations from the SRX, Forza FH or Etenon R8 series | approx. 28,000 – 38,000 EUR |
| Functional zone | Free-standing CrossFit cage Model 3, 735 x 195 cm — 4,500 EUR excluding VAT | approx. 4,500 – 7,000 EUR |
| Sports flooring, 300 m2 | 20 to 25 mm rubber tiles, 30 to 37.50 EUR/m2 excluding VAT (e.g. 25 mm Premium Lock tile) | approx. 9,000 – 11,300 EUR |
| Indicative total for 300 m2 (excluding accessories and building works) | approx. 65,000 – 90,000 EUR | |
600 m2 facility: 130,000 to 190,000 EUR excluding VAT
Beyond 500 m2 the budget does not scale linearly. You duplicate cardio lines, complete the selectorised offer with full machine series, add a dedicated cross-training zone with a professional rig, and the flooring budget rises to 18,000 – 22,500 EUR. The 130,000 to 190,000 EUR bracket reflects configurations actually quoted on this floor area; the exact figure depends on equipment density, the ranges selected and options, which is why an audit and 3D layout plan before any commitment pays for itself — see our turnkey project service.
The four cost items project owners forget
- Sports flooring. At 26 to 60 EUR/m2 excluding VAT depending on thickness and finish, it represents 10 to 15% of the budget and conditions both machine warranties and acoustics. Our guide to sports flooring prices per m2 details the trade-offs.
- Delivery and installation of heavy equipment. Pallet freight, rig anchoring and machine assembly are quoted separately according to site access and configuration.
- After-sales service and spare parts over 7 to 10 years. The true cost of a machine is measured over its service life, not at purchase.
- Compliance. In commercial use, machines must be certified to the professional class of EN ISO 20957-1:2024 (Class S). Domestic-class equipment (Class H) has no place on a commercial gym floor, and there is no such thing as a “semi-professional” class under the standard.
Financing without tying up capital: leasing and long-term rental
Most new openings no longer pay cash. Through specialist finance partners, Light In Fitness arranges finance leases, long-term rental and lease-purchase over typical terms of 36 to 60 months, with rentals treated as deductible operating expenses for commercial operators in most European jurisdictions — confirm the exact treatment with your accountant. The full arbitration is covered in our guide to leasing versus buying gym equipment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum budget to open a small 100 m2 gym?
Allow 16,000 to 30,000 EUR excluding VAT of equipment for a 100 m2 studio, sports flooring included, based on public Light In Fitness catalogue prices. That covers a functional structure, one or two cardio stations, a multifunction machine and a 20 mm rubber floor, excluding accessories and building works.
What share of the budget should go to cardio?
Cardio generally represents 35 to 45% of a club’s equipment budget, because professional treadmills are the most expensive single machines: from 3,500 EUR excluding VAT for a Q-FIT treadmill to 7,799 EUR excluding VAT for a Bodytone EVOT2 in the Light In Fitness catalogue.
Is sports flooring really essential?
Yes. A suitable rubber floor (20 to 40 mm depending on the zone) protects the slab, reduces noise, secures users and often conditions equipment warranties. It costs 26 to 60 EUR/m2 excluding VAT depending on thickness and finish, i.e. 10 to 15% of a project’s total budget.
Do the prices shown include delivery and installation?
No. The figures in this grid are public equipment and flooring prices excluding VAT. Pallet delivery of heavy equipment, anchoring and installation are quoted separately according to location, access and site configuration.
Planning an opening or a refurbishment? Send us your floor area, target positioning and opening date: Light In Fitness — which has equipped more than 500 facilities across Europe since 2013 — will return a zoned layout, an itemised equipment list at catalogue prices excluding VAT and a delivered quotation, with audit and 3D plan for turnkey projects. Request your free quotation.
