10+ DIY Homemade Gym Equipment Ideas

Gym memberships can add up quickly and the gym is often overcrowded when you finally do find the time to get there. Manufactured gym equipment can be extremely costly, it's typically very heavy, and it's difficult to move. Instead of going with one of these two traditional options, why not build your own gym equipment?

To prove that building your own gym equipment doesn't have to be difficult, we've compiled 10+ homemade gym equipment ideas built by our customers using Kee Klamp fittings and pipe.



Kee Klamp fittings are strong, adjustable, easy to assemble and dissemble, and easy to work with. That's why popular Parkour gyms and even adventure races like the Ultimate Athlete Games and the Spartan Race have chosen Kee Klamp to build their fitness structures.

But, you don't need to be one of these huge gyms to build your own equipment. To help spark your own creative builds, here are 10+ gym equipment ideas that you can build yourself using Kee Klamp:

1. Simple Fit Workout and Power Tower

We have a kit for this project that you can check out here: https://www.simplifiedbuilding.com/kits/sports-and-gym-kits/simple-fit-workout-tower

Our Simple Fit Workout Tower is a versatile, all-in-one workout machine that was designed to be as simple as possible to install virtually anywhere in very little time. This makes it easy to move in the future. Made of heavy-duty galvanized steel, this system is built to last, while helping you exercise multiple muscle groups, for full-body fitness training.

This DIY Power Tower & Pull-Up Station can be used with a variety of workouts including pull-ups, chin-ups, dips, knee raises, abdominal exercises, push-ups, and sit-ups.

The tower was designed with the idea that staying healthy and fit at home should be easy! (Although it may not feel like it in the middle of a high-intensity workout.)

Common Question: Are home pull-up bars safe?

Answer: In general, home pull-up bars are safe for the average person. An in-ground pull-up bar is typically going to be sturdier than a store-bought, hang-in-door bar. DIY pull-up bar safety is going to range from the level of care put into the installation and engineering.

2. Adjustable Pipe Pull-Up Bar

DIY Free Standing Pull-Up Bar

This pull-up bar was built by Charles Rankin in order to train for the world record for the number of chin-ups completed in 24 hours. But, you don't need a world record trainee to build one just like it.

The pull-up bar is completely free-standing and has practically no give when completing pull-ups or chin-ups. One of the biggest advantages of building a freestanding pull-up bar like this one is that you can build it to whatever height you like. Also, unlike most gym equipment, it can easily be disassembled and reassembled.

Common Question How much weight can a home pull-up bar hold?

Answser: Typical home pull-up bars can hold about 300 lbs, with some going all the way down to 200 lb depending on the type. Of course, a DIY pull-up bar can be customized to hold the necessary weight by using the correct materials. Galvanized steel and metal fittings installed directly into the structure will be able to hold more weight than a store-bought, place-in-door pull-up bar.

If you want to build a pull-up bar just like the one Charles built, you can read our full step-by-step tutorial for his free-standing pull up bar project.

Pipe Pull-Up Bar

Charles isn't the only one of our customers to build a pull-up bar, though. We've seen customers build all sorts of different designs. The one above features a similar design but we've also seen a few wall-mounted pull-up bars (as pictured below):

Build A Home Gym From Industrial Pipe

Here's a pull-up bar structure, used by CrossFit Vulcan that features different heights and has the ability to support multiple people. It is also mounted to the wall to provide a more permanent placement. The differing heights allow for multiple people to use the bars at once. A big part of CrossFit is the community aspect, so Buster, the assembler of this particular structure, made sure that this pull-up structure accommodated that.

Common Question: How do you make a homemade pull-up bar?

Answer: Whether you build your own home gym or just want a DIY pull-up bar, there are some considerations to take into account first: do you want an in-ground pull-up bar, a hang-in-the-doorway pull-up bar, or a structurally installed pull-up bar? Either way, modular pipe and fittings can be custom designed, adjusted, and/or repurposed for whatever your needs may be. Using a hex key, some fittings, and the pipe, you can configure any style pull-up bar. You can either get a design created for you or have pipe sent over and use your own pipe saw to cut the lengths you need.

Pipe Pull Up Bar

Here's yet another pull-up bar structure that was built by Brian in Milford, Connecticut. The pull-up bar features multiple stations that are used by Brian to run small fitness classes and rehabilitate physical therapy patients.

Common Question: What is the best home pull-up bar?

Answer: For home pull-up bars, there are many different styles, configurations, and materials to consider. There are in-ground pull-up bars, DIY pull-up bars, and pull-up bars that can be made from materials at Home Depot. The best kind of pull-up bar material is galvanized steel because it will stand up to sweat, last decades, and, depending on the style of pull-bar, can be adjusted or repurposed to your desire.

3. Homemade Dip Station

Homemade Dip Station

Erik in New York, New York built this DIY dip station. Most of the frame is constructed using 2x4s while Kee Klamp fittings and pipe are used to create the dip station bars. These bars rest in a circular grove cut out from the horizontal wood supports.

To keep the pipe bars from moving, the collar fitting is used on the inside of the wood boards. This fitting slides over the pipe bars and locks in place to keep the pipe bars from sliding.

At the top of the dip station, there are three horizontal pipe bars. These add additional support to the structure, but can also be used to do pull-ups. These pipe bars are connected using the flange fitting.

4. DIY Balance Rail

DIY Balance Rail

Here's another balance structure that was built by Micaiah in Mobile, Alabama. The structure is meant to improve balance and jumping ability for beginner Parkour enthusiasts. Again, the structure is very simple, utilizing just one type of fitting. The side outlet elbow fitting is used to connect the horizontal bars to the structure's "legs". Plastic plugs are used to cap off the exposed ends of pipe.

We also offer this as our Precision Bar Kit.


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5. DIY Pipe Squat Rack

Pipe Squat Rack

The squat rack is the workhorse of any gym. However, most manufactured squat racks or cages are quite expensive. They can also be very difficult to move or fit into your house. Especially, when trying to fit one into your basement since you need to move it down a flight of stairs.

Building a squat rack with Kee Klamp fittings, however, is a different story. Since any Kee Klamp built structure can be dissembled and reassembled, the entire squat rack can be taken apart in order to be easily moved.

The squat rack featured above uses a few important fittings. The side outlet elbow is used at the top of the frame to connect the four sides. The single swivel socket is used to create the supports at each corner. Lastly, the flange fitting is used for the squat rack "feet".

6. DIY Pipe Gymnastics Bar

DIY Gymnastics Bar

We've had multiple customers build gymnastics bars using Kee Klamp. The one above was built by Brian as a Christmas present for his daughter. Read the full step-by-step plans for this (gymnastics bar here).

A big advantage of using Kee Klamp fittings to build a gymnastics bar is that the bar height is easily adjustable. By adjusting the set screw on each side of the gymnastics bar, the height can be increased or decreased.

This is great to practice different exercises. But, it also allows the bar to be adjusted for young ones who are growing throughout the years and need to adjust the height for their skill and ability. Lastly, the entire gymnastics bar can also be dissembled and reassembled. Thus, making it easier to move or transport.

7. DIY Indoor Monkey Bars

DIY Indoor Monkey Bar

Monkey bars aren't just for kids. They can be used to build strength in your upper body and core. In addition, they can help improve coordination. If you do any type of Parkour or Ninja Warrior training, monkey bars are a great training tool.

The indoor monkey bars featured above were built by Steve in Pittsboro, North Carolina. The monkey bars allow him and his daughter to train year-round in their home fitness studio. To mount the structure to the ceiling, the standard railing flange is used.

To create the actual "monkey bars", the single socket tee is used. This fitting allows pipe to slide through an open socket on one end while terminating a length of pipe at the other end. Since the fitting is locked down using a set screw, the bars can be adjusted in distance by loosening the set screw on the fitting, resetting the position, and tightening the set screw back down.

8. DIY Pipe Weight Rack

Pipe Weight Rack

Have a lot of weights? You'll need somewhere to store them! This weight rack uses industrial pipe to create the rack frame and cinder blocks are used for the base. Using pipe to create a weight rack like this allows you to build one specific to your weight set.

If cinder blocks aren't your thing, we have multiple different fittings that can act as footing as well. You are also able to add multiple tiers to the rack to support even more weights. We also provide a handy pipe selection guide that details how much weight a certain span of piping can hold without additional supports.

9. Volleyball/Punching Bag Station

Pipe Volley Ball Station

This unique use of Kee Klamp fittings creates a station for Volleyball practice inside the house without having to worry about breaking anything. The station can be used to build hand and eye coordination, speed, and strength. The volleyball is attached to the frame using bungee cords. This design could also be used to support a speed punching bag.

While most of the structure featured above was built using clear PVC pipe, Kee Klamp fittings and pipe could be used instead to create a stronger and more stable structure.

10. DIY Wing Chun Dummy

Build A Home Gym From Industrial Pipe

This crazy-looking structure is known as a wing chun dummy and is used to practice various martial arts techniques. The design is unique and looks like something you might see in a Transformers movie. While the design goes a bit overboard in terms of functionality, it's a conversation starter.

However, if you want to build something similar, you don't need to use as complex design as this person did. Some of the important fittings used in this project include the single swivel socket and the obtuse angle elbow.

11. DIY Parkour Structure

Backyard Parkour Structure

We've had many customers build Parkour and American Ninja Warrior training structures using Kee Klamp fittings. This structure built by Daniel in Fallston, Maryland is just one of them.

We've featured it in this list because it represents one of the simpler designs we've seen, and it's a manageable build for most people that just want to build a smaller unit for training at home. The design could also be modified to create a pull-up bar/dip station.

At the top of the frame, the side outlet elbow fitting is used at each corner to connect the pipe bars. To add the two horizontal pipe supports, the single socket tee fitting is used.

For more Parkour and American Ninja Warrior training structures, check out our Sports & Gym Projects Area here.

12. Seesaw Balance Structure

DIY Pipe See Saw Balance

This Seesaw balance structure was built by Anthony in Decatur, Georgia. It is used in adventure races put on by Uquest in Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina. The structure is quite simple using just a 2x10 wood board placed over top the pipe frame.

The important fittings used in this project are the 90 degree elbow and single socket tee.

13. DIY Nexersys Fitness Machine

DIY Nexersys Fitness Stand

This odd-looking structure was built by Tyler in Arnold, Maryland. It's a DIY version of a Nexersys home fitness machine. If you're familiar, the Nexersys is an interactive machine that can be used for boxing and MMA-style workouts.

To build the structure, Tyler used Kee Klamp fittings and pipe to create the frame. The pads are attached to the frame using homemade springs. Inside each pad is a simple pressure sensor that is wired to an Arduino microcontroller. These sensors register a hit when a pad is struck.

Tyler wrote a few different computer programs for different workouts that can be used with the machine. Here's what Tyler had to say of the project:

"I built it because my wife has been eyeing the Nexersys unit for a few years now but there was no way we were going to spend near $3000 for a workout machine. My project is still a work in progress, but most of the functional parts are complete, working great, and all for a fraction of the cost of a Nexersys unit."

If you need help creating your own equipment or designing your own gym, we offer free design assistance. Our team here at Simplified Building can assist you in creating a solution that will work for you. If you need a bit more inspiration, browse ourSports & Gym section in our Projects Area.

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