If you have ever visited a common public gym, you most likely have noticed a collection of exercise benches near the free weights or near other strength training equipment. 

This versatile piece of equipment is commonly utilized during strength training workouts, and are also recognized for their portability. With this, exercise benches an ideal piece of equipment for a home-gym setting. 

Maybe you have now decided it is time to add one to your home gym setup. However, there are a few questions you should ask yourself before purchasing an exercise bench such as:

• Do I have the space for an exercise bench in my workout area?
• Will the bench I purchase satisfy my fitness related needs?
• How much does an exercise bench cost? 

The price of any product can ultimately impact your purchasing decisions. So how much will an exercise bench cost you exactly? Well, there is no concrete number. All exercise benches are different, and there are a variety of factors that impact the cost. 

At Akfit, we sell a wide variety of exercise equipment including exercise benches. In turn, we are familiar with the average costs of exercise benches and what factors impact these costs.

In this article we overview all the factors that ultimately affect the cost of exercise benches, and how much you should expect to spend when you go shopping for one.

In this article:

1. What is an Exercise Bench?
2. Benefits of Using an Exercise Bench
3. 7 Factors that Affect the Cost of an Exercise Bench
4. Cost of an Exercise Bench Industry Wide
5. Cost of an Exercise Bench at Akfit
6. Reach Out to Akfit

What is an Exercise Bench?

Before we dive into the cost of an exercise bench, it is important that you have a full understanding of the piece of equipment you are considering investing in.

An exercise bench (also referred to as a weight bench), is a common type of fitness equipment that is used for strength training. 

Exercise benches are designed to emulate a normal bench that you can sit or lay on comfortably, and they come in a variety of designs. These designs can include:

• Fixed horizontal
• Fixed incline
• Fixed in a folded position
• Adjustable incline/decline bench

Some weight training benches may also feature different attachments to help customize your workout, and racks to store or hold weights. 

Ultimately an exercise bench can be any bench designed to complement and enhance your strength training exercise.

Benefits of Using an Exercise Bench

Since exercise benches can help diversify your strength training workouts, there are many benefits you can take advantage of while utilizing an exercise bench.

Some of the benefits can include:

• A safe way to lift weights with a free range of motion
• Using your bench to build muscle, and burn fat
• Adjustable angles which allow you to work on different regions of a similar muscle group
• Performing bench presses to increase rate of chest development
• They provide support for unilateral leg exercises
• The ability to pair benches with multiple types of fitness equipment
• The ability to perform a wide variety of strength training exercises

One of the most desirable benefits of utilizing a weight bench is having the ability to perform a wide range of different exercises in a safe manner. Some of the many different exercises you can perform with your exercise bench include:

• Bench press
• Incline bench press
• Decline dumbbell bench pull-over
• Incline bicep curl
• Single-arm dumbbell roll
• Barbell curls lying on an incline bench
• Plyo bench plank hold
• Feet-elevated hip thrust
• Dumbbell skullcrushers
• And much more

Cost of an Exercise Bench Industry-Wide

The cost of an exercise bench can vary depending on a variety of factors, which we will outline in the remainder of this article. 

Generally speaking, you can expect to spend anywhere from $100 to $900 or more on an exercise bench. In addition, it is important to take additional shipping and delivery fees into consideration.

While most people won’t require a bench that is as expensive as $900, it is still important to identify the right bench for your workout related goals. 

Cost of an Exercise Bench at Akfit

At Akfit, we sell a variety of quality exercise benches from top fitness brands such as: 

• Matrix
• Element
• Fit505
• Inspire
• Ironax
• Powerblock
• Spirit
• Torque
• TuffStuff
• Xtreme Monkey

Our exercise benches range in price from $175 up to $898.

7 Factors That Affect the Cost of an Exercise Bench

As previously mentioned, there is no concrete answer for how much your weight bench will cost you. However, there are a few different factors that may impact the overall price of the bench you are purchasing. 

Some of these factors may include:

1) New vs Used

This is obvious, if you are looking to purchase a used exercise bench, you should also be trying to save money. A second-hand piece of fitness equipment is usually cheaper than the same piece of equipment if it is brand new. 

However, before purchasing any used fitness equipment, make sure you ask yourself the following questions:

• Will I get a proper return on my investment?
• Is the equipment in good condition?
• Are all of the parts and the manual included?
• Is the equipment suited for my fitness related goals and needs?
• Is the equipment made from a reputable manufacturer? 

Be sure that you have all of the information you need before making a commitment to purchasing a second-hand product. If your bench is not in good condition, you could be putting your safety at risk when working out. 

For more information, check out our article on purchasing New vs. Used Exercise Equipment. 

2) Adjustable vs Non-adjustable

The ability to adjust the incline and decline on your exercise bench is one of the most sought-after features. This allows you to increase the amount of exercises you can perform on your bench. 

Generally speaking, the more incline and decline adjustments you can make with your bench, the more expensive you can expect it to be. In general, a flat entry-level bench will be the most cost-friendly bench you will find on the market. 

Before investing in an exercise bench, make sure to identify what you intend on using it for. You shouldn’t spend more money for a bench if you don’t intend on putting the adjustable levels to good use. 

3) Foldability

Similarly, the foldability feature on a bench will impact price. 

Having foldable legs on your exercise bench can be a desirable feature as they provide the opportunity to create more floor space when your bench is not in use, similar to foldable treadmills. 

If the legs on your bench can fold, you can easily lean your bench against a wall, or store it away. However, you can expect a bench that can withstand the same amount of weight with this same feature to cost you less money. 

4) Gauge Steel Rating

The gauge steel rating of your exercise bench is essentially how thick the steel of your bench is. The lower the rating, the thicker the steel. 

A bench with a higher gauge steel rating will decrease the cost of your exercise bench. 

Examples of these ratings include:

• 16 gauge steel = 1/16 inches thick
• 14 gauge steel = 5/64 inches thick
• 12 gauge steel = 7/64 inches thick
• 11 gauge steel = 1/8 inches thick
• 7 gauge steel = 3/16 inches thick

Essentially, the stronger the steel the materials in your bench, the higher the maximum weight capacity your bench should be able to handle. In turn, the more weight a bench can withstand, the more expensive it will be.

5) Height

The height of your workout bench can also impact the price. This mostly can be attributed to flat benches if your bench is not adjustable. 

Simply put, a bench that is under 17.5 inches could cost you more than one that is higher. While this may seem odd, this can be attributed to the fact that powerlifting competition benches are usually required to be under this height. 

Also, a bench that is any higher could become difficult for some to utilize their legs while working out and thus making the equipment less desirable. 

6) Other Attachments or Features

If your bench provides you with more features than a standard flat bench, you can expect the cost to go up. Some of these features could include a foot rest which can increase your stability during lifts and to anchor your feet.

Some racks may also feature racks to hold weights, or wheels to provide the opportunity to easily transport them around your workout area. 

While some benches may not come with any attachments, they may be manufactured with the ability to equip some, such as a curl attachment for your arms. 

As previously mentioned, it is best to identify how you intend to use your weight bench before committing to your purchase. 

7) Shipping and Delivery

Shipping and delivery costs affect everything you purchase online. This can all depend on the weight and dimensions of the bench you are purchasing, the distance traveled, and a variety of other factors. 

For more information on what you can expect when it comes to shipping costs, check out our article on our delivery services. 

Reach Out to Akfit

We hope that our article has provided you with the information you need to understand what impacts the cost of an exercise bench. Now it’s time to find the bench that is right for you.

We highly encourage reaching out to us so we can help you find the perfect bench for your strength training needs. You can always book a virtual meeting with our fitness experts or visit us in-store at our Sudbury location to discuss what your fitness related goals e so we can help you find the perfect equipment for you. 

We also sell a variety of other strength training equipment for your home or commercial gym environment that you can pair with your brand new weight bench. 

If you have already found the bench that fits your needs and is within your budget, you can request a delivery or installation here. If you are unsure of what our delivery services may offer, check out our article on what to expect with Akfit’s delivery and installation services. 

Our fitness professionals pride themselves on helping you reach our fitness goals, and we’ve been doing so with our loyal customers for over the last three decades. Whichever your fitness related needs may be, we are always here to help.