How To Build A Home Gym?

11 September 2025

Building a home gym is easier than you think! You just need a dedicated space to do it, and the tools to that every gym needs! If you're over the long drives to the gym, then maybe building a shed in your yard and turning it into a home gym is the best way to go. Building your own gym might seem challenging and you might not know where to start. If that's the case, then keep reading as we show you exactly how to do it.

Step 1: Define your home gym goals

Let's paint a picture of the gym you want at home. Ideally, what gym do you want? Your answer to this will shape how your gym forms as we build a shed for it. Think about whether you want to aim for a calesthetics-focused gym, solely weight training, or a mixture of a few exercise types. Here are some of the ideas for equipment you may want to get:

Popular man cave ideas:

• Pull up bar

• Power rack

• Bench Press

• Dip bars

• Resistance bands

• A treadmill

• Horse stall mats

Try to make a list of your must-haves early to design your entire gym with the equipment in mind.

Step 2: Design your dream home gym layout

Once you have an idea of the equipment going into your gym, you'll need to look at some other practical aspects of this project — the size of your shed, its internal setup, how much available space you'll have, and some flexibility for the future if you ever want to use it for something else. You can also choose the best colour to suit your property from our Colorbond® steel colours. Here are some aspects you should consider:

What to consider:

• Shed size (single bay, double bay, etc.)

• Roof style (gable, skillion, flat)

• Number and placement of roller doors, PA doors, and windows

• Ventilation and insulation for year-round comfort

Try Our Shed Designer Tool
Use our shed designer app to customise the size, colours, roof pitch, and extras — and visualise your dream man cave in real time. You can even request a quote right from your design!

Step 3: Sort council approvals (or let us handle it)

Most sheds in Australia, whether they're being used for a home gym or something else, need to have council approval before building can begin, especially if they're large, close to boundaries, or are intended for regular use. But you don't have to worry about this; we'll sort it out for you.

This is where the fun begins. Whether you want it to blend into the backyard or stand out, you can choose from Colorbond® steel colours and cladding options that suit your style.

Hot tip: Match your man cave to your home, or go bold with a high-contrast feature wall.

Step 4: Get your site shed ready

Once you've got your design sorted and we've handled the council approvals for you, it's time to prepare the surface so that we can build the shed. This involves levelling the ground, laying a concrete slab and setting a foundation for the shed. You can tackle this job yourself, or we can do it for you, it's up to you.

Most man cave sheds in Australia require council approval — especially if they’re large, close to the boundary, or intended for regular use.

We handle all planning, engineering, and permits for you — so you can skip the red tape and get on with the build.

Step 5: Choose to build your own home gym - or let us do it

If you prefer to go the DIY route, you'll need to follow the instructions that come with our shed kits so that you're able to erect the steel frame, fix the cladding, and install the windows and doors or any extras. If not, you're welcome to opt for our full-service package, and we'll handle everything from start to finish.

Step 6: Fit your home gym out to suit your lifestyle & needs

This is where things start getting fun! You get to customise your home gym to suit your lifestyle and needs. Starting with the exterior, you can opt to put in a small patio, large roller doors or windows for ample ventilation, and some lights or power points, and choose from our wide range of Colorbond® steel colours to match your gym to your house.

Step 7: Fit out the inside of your home gym

Next up, you get to customise the interior. This is where the space becomes truly yours. Fit-outs vary depending on your budget and what equipment you need, but can include:

• Power and lighting

• Insulation and internal walls

• An air conditioning system

• Flooring, storage, and shelving

• Furniture, screens, and tech setup

We can touch base with different contractors (electricians, plasterers, plumbers), so you don't have to.

Home Gym Shed Must-Haves

If you want to upgrade your gym and take it from ordinary to extra-ordinary, you'll need a few things:

• Power rack with a pull-up bar

• Olympic plates and a barbell

• Adjustable bench

• Dumbells

• Cable machine

• Resistance bands

• Treadmill, rower, or air bike

• Bluetooth speaker

• Fan or AC

• Storage rack

• A foam roller

• Rubber floor mats

Step 8: Move in and make it yours

Once the shed is up and all the finer details are sorted, it's time to move your equipment in and set it up how you like it. Here's a tip: try to set your equipment up in a circuit so it makes working out easier as you move from one exercise to another. Whether you built your home gym yourself or we did it for you, it's time for you to enjoy its benefits.

Once everything’s built, wired, and cleaned up, we hand over the keys — and your new man cave is ready to roll.

Whether you built it yourself or we built it for you, it's time to relax and enjoy your new favourite place.

DIY home gym vs full-service build

Is it wise to tackle a shed build yourself, or should you rather go for a full-service build? There are many people who have the necessary skills to build their own shed, which is why we sell shed kits with instructions. But you still need to have the know-how, even with the instructions.

Going for a full-service build frees you up from the consequences if you make a mistake. Furthermore, our team has multiple members who all work together to collectively build your shed, resulting in a faster construction time. So, in the end, if you have the skills, you can build your own shed, but with us you don't have to worry about a thing, we'll sort everything out.

No matter your choice, we’re here to help at every stage — from quote to completion.

Start designing your home gym shed

If you're tired of driving to the gym every day, consider installing a home gym shed in your backyard. If this is something you want to explore, use our free shed design app to get an idea of how you'd like the shed to look. Once you're done, send it to us and we'll work out a quote for you based on your design.

FAQs about building a home gym shed

How much does it cost to build a home gym shed in Australia?

Building a shed in Australia varies in cost depending on a few factors, such as size, style, and the complexity of the design. If you have a design in mind, design it with our app and send it to us so we can provide you with a quote.

Do I need council approval to build a home gym shed?

Most home gym sheds require council approval before they can be built. But if you choose to go through us, we'll handle all the permits and approvals, so you don't have to worry.

Can I customise the design of my home gym shed?

Yes, in fact, we encourage it. Our free shed design app gives you the freedom to completely customise your shed to suit your needs for it.

Can you build the home gym for me?

We can. We offer a comprehensive service that includes everything, from walking you through the design process, organising approvals, preparing the ground, and constructing the shed.

Can I build the home gym myself?

If you're confident with your hands and you have experience in DIY, then sure, you can build your shed yourself. We offer shed kits with instructions for you to follow that will allow you to build your shed gym yourself.

What is a good-sized shed for a home gym?

Sheds come in all different shapes and sizes, so consider the gym equipment you want in your home gym and work out the size from there. Ideally, you want enough space to perform most exercises and some flexibility for any items you might want to add later.