The workout model of driving to a gym, swiping a membership card, and sharing equipment with strangers is losing its appeal fast. Alan’s Factory Outlet surveyed 1,000 Americans and analyzed search interest across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., to find out why garage gyms are becoming the setup of choice from coast to coast.
Key Takeaways
- Just over 9 in 10 Americans (91%) say a home workout is just as effective as hitting a commercial gym.
- Convenience rules: 82% of home gym users say it’s the top reason they skip the commute to the gym.
- Washington, D.C., Idaho, and Oklahoma are the top locations for garage gym interest, and the South collectively outranks every other region in garage gym queries.
- 58% of gym members have seriously considered canceling their membership due to rising costs.
- Nearly 3 in 4 Americans (74%) say a garage gym is a smarter long-term investment than paying for a gym membership year after year.
Where Garage Gym Interest Is Strongest
Not every state or region is equally eager to ditch the gym. Search data reveals where interest in garage gyms is highest across the country.
Washington, D.C., ranked No. 1 in average search interest for garage gyms across six keywords, with Idaho (48.7) and Oklahoma (48.3) following closely behind. The South led every other U.S. region with an average score of 45.0, powered by five states that ranked among the top 15: Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
When it comes to products, gym mats, flooring, and adjustable dumbbells were garage gym items with the highest search interest across products related to garage gyms.
The Real Cost of the Gym and the Case for Home Workouts
The decision to work out at home is about more than convenience. For a growing number of Americans, it comes down to results, routines, and what makes financial sense in the long run.
Nearly all respondents (91%) believed working out at home can be just as effective as working out at a commercial gym. And a majority (69%) also said they only work out at home.
Over 1 in 5 home exercisers (22%) work out 5 or more times per week, matching the frequency of gym-only exercisers (23%). Those who combined both settings are the most active, with 35% working out 5 or more days per week. Here’s how the costs break down among exercisers:
- Gym memberships cost an average of $516 per year.
- Home gym setups average just $269.
- Those who work out in both settings have put in the most, averaging $489.
More than half of gym members have seriously considered canceling their membership due to cost in the past 12 months, and 6% have actually canceled. Nearly 3 in 4 Americans (74%) said a garage gym is a smarter long-term investment than paying for a membership year after year.
Americans cited the following as their top reasons for working out at home:
- Convenience (82%)
- Privacy (56%)
- Cost savings (54%)
- Time saved commuting (52%)
Women were significantly more likely than men to name privacy as a motivator (61% vs. 49%) and were also more cost-driven, with 57% citing savings compared to 49% of men.
What to Do and What to Buy: Building the Ideal Garage Gym
Not every workout needs a specialized facility, and Americans have clear ideas about which exercises belong in the garage and what gear to invest in first.
Americans ranked the following workouts as best suited for a garage gym:
- Strength training/powerlifting (82%)
- Cardio (76%)
- Yoga/flexibility (49%)
- Martial arts (37%)
- HIIT (36%)
- CrossFit (24%)
Women were significantly more likely to say yoga belongs in a garage gym setup, with 54% making that case compared to 41% of men.
When asked what they would buy first for a garage gym, Americans ranked their top equipment priorities as follows:
- Cardio machine, such as a treadmill, bike, or rower (48%)
- Dumbbells/adjustable dumbbells (40%)
- Barbells and weight plates (27%)
- Squat rack (16%)
Men prioritized barbells (37%) and squat racks (24%) far more than women did, while women’s top choice was a cardio machine at 59%.
More than half of respondents (56%) used YouTube tutorials, social media accounts, or apps to direct their garage gym sessions. Gen Z led the way (70%), followed by millennials (61%), while Gen X dropped to 44%. Women were more likely than men to lean on digital guidance during their workouts (61% vs. 50%).
The Garage Gym Is No Longer Just a Backup Plan
For a lot of people, the garage gym started as a pandemic workaround and never stopped making sense. There’s no commute, the equipment is always available, and nobody is waiting on the machine you need.
Whether you are just getting started with a pair of dumbbells or slowly piecing together a full setup, the garage has a way of becoming the place you actually want to work out. The right structure makes all the difference, and a dedicated metal garage gives you the space to build something worth showing up to every day.
Methodology
Alan’s Factory Outlet surveyed 1,000 Americans about their workout habits, including where they work out, how much they spend, and their interest in garage gyms. Among respondents, 57% were women and 41% were men. The survey was fielded on April 14, 2026. The generational breakdown was 8% Gen Z, 58% millennials, 28% Gen X, and 6% of baby boomers.
We also analyzed 6 queries associated with garage and home gyms, including: “garage gym,” “home gym flooring,” “home gym mat,” “adjustable dumbbells,” “gym in garage,” and “the garage gym” to analyze average search interest across 50 states and Washington, D.C.
About Alan’s Factory Outlet
At Alan’s Factory Outlet, we provide durable, affordable metal garages, carports, and metal buildings that give homeowners like you the space you need to build the setup you want. With a wide range of sizes and customization options, it has never been easier to turn an unused garage into a dedicated workout space. Design your own metal garage online today at alansfactoryoutlet.com.
Fair Use Statement
The findings in this report may be shared for noncommercial purposes. If you reference or republish this content, please provide proper attribution and a link back to Alan’s Factory Outlet.
