When most people think about upgrading their home gym, they focus on the big stuff first: the rack, the bench, the barbell, the adjustable dumbbells, the cable machine, and so on.
Those are all very important, of course.
But a lot of what makes a home gym feel easy to use, efficient, clean, and enjoyable to train in comes down to the smaller stuff.
I’m talking about the home gym accessories that help you stay organized, switch exercises faster, maintain your equipment, keep the space cleaner, and in some cases, just make your workouts more fun.
None of these are necessarily flashy. Most of them are pretty affordable. And together, they can make a very noticeable difference in how your gym functions on a day-to-day basis.
In this article, I’ll breakdown the home gym accessories I use in my own garage gym, including what each one is good for, where it works best, and any limitations you should know about.
Table of Contents
Watch My Home Gym Accessories Video
Check out my YouTube video on the best home gym accessories below:
Lock-Jaw Collars
A good set of collars is one of the easiest performance upgrades you can make.
I personally love and recommend Lock-Jaw barbell collars, which are leagues better than the cheap collars from Amazon or wherever else. Those might seem fine at first, but if you’re doing deadlifts or other lifts where the bar gets dropped with any real force, cheap collars can and will slide, shift, or even pop open.
The Lock-Jaw collars are:
- extremely secure
- very well-constructed
- very durable over the long
They do cost more, but in my view they’re worth it if you care about keeping the plates locked in place.
Plus, you can save a lot if you use my coupon KING code for a full 20% off!
If you’re interested in learning which Lock-Jaw collar (or collars) is best for you, you can check out my Lock-Jaw collar buying guide, or watch my in-depth Lock-Jaw comparison video below:
Wall Control Pegboard Storage System
If you have a growing number of cable attachments and miscellaneous gym accessories and gear, eventually you need a large versatile system for storage and organization.
That’s where a pegboard system comes in.
I use and highly recommend Wall Control, and while I wouldn’t say a pegboard system like this is an absolute must-have for every “beginner” home gym, it kind of becomes one after your attachment collection reaches a certain point.
Once you’ve got multiple handles, straps, carabiners, pins, and other accessories, having them all organized in a way that’s easy to see and easy to access makes a big difference.
What I like about Wall Control specifically is:
- the variety of hook types, shapes, and sizes
- the shelves
- and the option to add custom designs or logos
You can save when you get yours by using code KING for 10% off on WallControl.com.
Magnetic Storage Hooks (Short)
One of the easiest and most useful categories of home gym accessories is magnetic storage.
If you’ve got a rack, cable machine, storage system, or other steel equipment, magnets let you add storage without using up rack holes, drilling anything into the wall or otherwise permanently or semi-permanently mounting anything.
The first type I use is a short magnetic storage hook.
It’s compact, but it’s surprisingly strong for its size. The hook itself is on the smaller side, so you can’t fit a ton on it spacewise, but it works well for things like a couple of D-handles or other smaller cable attachments.
I’ve even put my relatively heavy Prime RO-T8 handles on these, and at that point, they are more apt to slide a bit, but they can still handle it.
These particular magnetic hooks tend to be much stronger when mounted on the underside of a crossmember rather than on the vertical face of an upright.
That can be a pretty handy space to store stuff since it’s often dead space anyway.
Magnetic Storage Hooks (Long)
This long magnetic hook is basically the upgraded version of the short one.
It has a stronger magnet and a lot more usable hanging space because the hook juts out much farther. That makes it better for larger accessories or for situations where you want more room to stack multiple items.
Because it sticks out farther, you just need to be careful where you place it. Specifically, don’t put it at eye height or anywhere your face might end up, because it’s the kind of thing you could absolutely walk into if you’re not paying attention.
Overall, I like this one a bit better than the short hooks, but they both have their place.
Magnetic Storage Hangers (Dual-Prong)
Probably my favorite home gym accessories in the magnetic storage category are these dual-prong magnetic hangers.
This design has two long hangers; even longer than the single long magnetic hangers that I already discussed. And they come off a single point, so you get double the storage in basically the same amount of space.
What I really like about this one, though, is that it’s actually stronger than the other magnetic hooks I showed, while also being easier to reposition because its shape gives you better leverage to pull it off.
On top of that, it has a protective rubber coating on the magnet. This is awesome for a couple of reasons:
- It adds friction, which prevents it from sliding down the surface, essentially giving it a stronger hold.
- It protects your rack finish better than the other magnetic pieces that don’t have that rubber backing. No worrying about scratching the powder coat.
I currently use mine for things like ratchet straps as well as my non-magenetic barbell collars since I have several of those and no good place to put them.
Rack Hole Utility Hooks
If you want something that doesn’t rely on magnets, rack hole utility hooks are your best bet.
These just drop right into the holes on your rack uprights, so they’re very easy to install and move around. In that sense, they’re actually faster to reposition than magnetic accessories, since you don’t have to pull a magnet off the steel and re-seat it.
The tradeoff is that they can be a little unstable compared to a fixed or magnetic option. They generally stay in place just fine, but the main thing to watch out for is when you remove an attachment from the hook. If you pull carelessly, you can end up taking the hook off with the attachment.
For something so small and light, they’re surprisingly strong. In fact, they can even hold a barbell for storage purposes (not as a replacement for j-cups!).
Some people use these in the back of their rack, near the top, to store their bar in an accessible spot that’s still out of the way.
Magnetic Storage Basket
For smaller loose items, a magnetic storage basket is an awesome, little-known accessory.
Sometimes, you’ve got a bunch of little pieces that aren’t well-suited for hanging, and you don’t want them scattered on a shelf, bench, or the floor.
This basket gives you a place to throw them all in one spot. And you can put the basket wherever you have a sufficiently large steel surface to stick it. Since the magnet on this basket is wide, I put mine on my Wall Control panels since it has enough surface area. It wouldn’t work as well on a rack upright since only part of the magnet would make contact.
This particular basket also has small clips on the sides, which gives you some extra hanging/storage options beyond just what fits inside the basket itself.
Smooth-Gate Carabiners
A very underrated home gym accessory is a smooth-gate carabiner (like this budget version or this upgraded one).
Most cable systems come with a standard carabiner, and usually it works fine. But a lot of the stock ones have a fairly sharp edge around the gate. That means when you’re clipping and unclipping attachments, it’s easier to pinch or poke yourself, and it’s just not that pleasant to use.
A smooth-gate carabiner solves that by having softer, more rounded edges around the opening.
Bonus points if you get a carabiner design with a wider opening at the bottom; giving it a more oval shape.
The benefit of this shape is that it doesn’t restrict which end of the carabiner can hold the attachment, since some cable attachments will only sit properly in the wide end of a standard carabiner clip.
Swivel Snap Shackles
If you thought a better carabiner was a nice upgrade, a swivel snap shackle is an even bigger one.
This is one of my favorite accessory upgrades for cable systems.
The swivel design helps reduce cable twisting over time, because it allows rotation instead of letting the cable wind up in one direction and create twisting throughout the system.
But that’s only one benefit, and it’s not the best benefit, in my opinion.
The biggest benefit is just how ridiculously fast and easy it is to swap cable attachments. You can pop an attachment off and put another one on way faster than with a standard carabiner.
That makes your workouts more efficient, especially if you’re moving through different exercises quickly or doing supersets/circuits.
It’s also cool that you can spin the handles for fun, and it will go for about a full fifteen seconds!
There are different sizes of snap shackles available. I use the 2-3/4″ ones. It’s no bigger than it has to be to fit on virtually any cable system and work with virtually any cable attachment.
Liquid Chalk
Liquid chalk is a staple in my gym.
I’ve used the same brand for years. The feel is great and long-lasting, and it’s a big bottle for a good price, so the value is definitely there.
The main reason I like liquid chalk so much is that it gives you a really good grip while keeping the gym much cleaner than loose chalk. That’s important in a home gym, especially if you care about the space staying clean and not having chalk dust everywhere. Because, as cool as a chalk block is, it gets everywhere very fast, even if you try not to.
Liquid chalk is also very easy to apply. You just use a little bit, rub it in, let it dry, and you’re ready to go.
Tools: Adjustable Wrenches and Socket Set
Having the right tools in your gym can save you a ton of time when assembling and disassembling equipment. At minimum, I think it’s smart to have a basic adjustable wrench set and a socket set on hand.
But if you’ve got equipment with larger hardware, like the Rogue Monster series or the REP PR-5000, then you should also have a larger adjustable wrench that opens up to 1.5 inches.
And beyond that, you should have a larger ratchet with the appropriate socket size:
- for REP (metric hardware), that means 36 mm
- for Rogue (imperial hardware), that means 1.5 inches
Having these tools will save you SO MUCH time and effort that it’s foolish not to have them if you plan on keeping and changing your home gym over the long term.
Barbell Maintenance
If you own even one barbell, you should have some 3-in-1 oil and at least one nylon brush.
Those are the basic tools for barbell maintenance.
The idea is simple: put a little oil on the bar, scrub it in with the brush, and clear out chalk, debris, and oxidation. That helps keep rust at bay and keeps the bar in better shape long term.
An even better option than a regular nylon brush is the Barbell Rescue brush, which I admittedly don’t own, but it’s a popular and effective design because it covers way more surface area at one time. It makes the whole scrubbing process even more efficient.
Silicone Spray
Silicone spray is another one of my favorite maintenance-related home gym accessories.
Importantly, silicone spray is a dry lubricant. It helps reduce friction without attracting dust and debris the way an oily or greasy lubricant can.
The main place I use it is on weight stack guide rods, where it helps the plates move up and down more smoothly and improves the feel of the cable motion.
You can use it on other areas where you notice friction, including metal-on-metal contact points as well as metal-on-plastic, including for example, the weight carriages on your rack cable system.
MagBak Magnetic Phone Case
The MagBak magnetic phone case is one of the more unique home gym accessories on my list, and it’s one that I use all the time — both in and out of the gym.
I bought mine over a year ago. And at the time, the big thing I wanted when searching for a phone case for gym use was a very strong magnet. I wanted to be able to stick my phone to the rack or another steel surface at whatever height I wanted, without worrying that it would fall off due to a weak magnet.
Being able to have your phone in front of you, or just near you, is so convenient. If you use your phone for entertainment, following along with training videos, or just logging your workouts, this case makes your life so much easier.
Now, as much as I love this case, I will admit it’s a bit expensive. But I think it’s worth it for how much I use it in the gym. But beyond that, it’s also a great case outside of the gym with a convenient finger loop for holding and a kickstand for horizontal or vertical viewing.
Drink Holder
A drink holder definitely falls into the “nice-to-have” category rather than the must-have category, but I still like it.
The one I own is the Massenomics Drink Spotter Lite. It’s a good enough size to hold my bottle of choice: the 26 oz. Ice Shaker Bottle.
And unlike the classic Drink Spotter design, which installs in your rack’s holes, the Drink Spotter Lite has a strong magnet on the back, which makes moving it faster and more convenient.
The main benefit of this, or any drink holder, is simple: it lets you keep your water bottle off the floor and move it around the rack wherever it’s most convenient. That’s a small benefit, but it does make your training space feel a little more efficient, intentional, and a bit less cluttered.
Gym Towels
I think it’s smart to have some regular clean gym towels for wiping off sweat, especially in the summer when my garage gym gets hotter and I’m sweating more.
I also like having some separate rags for maintenance and cleanup tasks, like:
- wiping up silicone spray
- wiping up 3-in-1 oil
- cleaning up spilled water
- or handling other random messes in the gym
Leaf Blower
A leaf blower is quick and easy way to clean up debris on your gym floor.
Some people don’t like using one because they think it just blasts dust and debris onto the equipment instead of truly cleaning. And there’s some truth to that if you use it carelessly.
But I still think it’s very useful.
The key is to be strategic about how you use it. Don’t just crank it to the highest setting and blast everything indiscriminately. Use it intentionally; in the right direction and at the right power level.
The model I own is the EGO 530 CFM leaf blower. It’s solid both inside the gym and out in my yard, and the price isn’t bad either.
Mop, Cleaning Solution, and Spray Bottle
Another cleaning setup I recommend is a simple combo of:
- a mop
- a cleaner solution
- and a spray bottle
I own an O-Cedar mop, which has a couple of nice things about it:
- it uses removable/washable pads
- It has a reservoir with additional water (or water + cleaning solution) that you can spray directly on the floor
For the cleaning solution, I use Zep Neutral pH Floor Cleaner. It’s concentrated, so you only need a small amount. I put maybe a capful of the cleaner into a spray bottle and fill the rest with water for proper dilution.
The cleaning solution is super cheap for a big bottle that will last for what seems like forever.
This cleaning setup works well regardless of whether your flooring is:
- stall mats
- rolled rubber
- or even just concrete
Shark Matrix Robot Vacuum
A robot vacuum can actually be a very effective cleaning tool for a home gym.
And modern models are far more capable than most people expect — myself included, as I didn’t have high hopes because of my experience with an older robot vacuum I bought back in 2020.
The Shark Matrix robot vacuum, which I only very recently purchased, does a surprisingly good job even in my larger garage gym. It’s able to cover most of the floor, navigate around equipment, and get into tighter areas better than you’d think.
Compared to older robot vacuum technology, the improvements in navigation and coverage are noticeable. It’s obvious even when letting it go “freestyle” (i.e. without using the mapping tool).
That said, it works best in setups where:
- the gym isn’t extremely cluttered
- and equipment stays relatively consistent in placement
In such environments, it can handle a large portion of your regular cleaning and significantly reduce how often you need to do manual cleanup.
In a bigger gym where things are constantly being moved around, it’s not a perfect solution — but it’s still very usable and more effective than expected.
Just know that’s not a replacement for deeper cleaning, but it’s a strong option for maintaining baseline cleanliness with minimal effort.
Oak Club Mfg Rack-Mounted Basketball Hoop
The Oak Club Manufacturing Iron 3 rack-mounted basketball hoop is exactly the kind of accessory that makes your gym a more enjoyable place to spend time.
It is definitely not a must-have.
But I like it a lot.
You can use it:
- between sets
- as a warm-up
- or just for a little break during a training session
That may sound frivolous to some people, but making your gym more fun can genuinely increase how much you enjoy being in it and how often you want to use it.
If you’d like to learn more about this hoop, you can read my Oak Club basketball hoop attachment review here. Or, you can watch my video on it below:
Dry-Erase Board and Markers
A dry-erase board with markers is a simple but effective way to track your workouts in real time.
Instead of relying entirely on your phone, writing your sets and weights down manually can make your training feel more structured and engaging.
It forces you to stay present during the session and gives you a clear visual of what you’ve done and what’s next. It makes your workouts a bit more focused and intentional, with less time wasted.
It’s also extremely inexpensive and easy to set up, which makes it one of the lowest-risk upgrades you can add to your gym. If you don’t stick with it, you’re out just a few bucks. No biggie.
TIP: When using it, I still recommend logging everything digitally after your workout so you have an ongoing record of your training.
G-Shock Watch
A Casio G-Shock watch is a bit of a not-so-obvious home gym accessory, but it’s something I’ve come to really like using.
Even if you use your phone during workouts, having a separate timepiece is just more convenient for tracking rest periods and staying on pace. You don’t have to pick up your phone between every set, and it keeps things a little more focused.
The built-in features are simple but actually useful:
- an easy-to-read digital display
- a countdown timer for keeping rest periods for going too long
- a stopwatch for timed sets or conditioning work
It’s also extremely durable, which makes it a good fit for a gym environment.
It’s definitely not a must-have, but if you like having a simple, “always-there” way to track time without relying entirely on your phone, it’s a really solid option.
Plus, Casio is an awesome brand, and a G-Shock watch looks great on your wrist outside the gym, too!
I have the GW-M5610U-1 model, which is cool because it’s got the classic G-Shock look but with solar power (in addition to battery) and automatic time syncing with clock towers. It’s affordable, but not the least expensive model. If you want something very similar in looks, but without the extra bells and whistles, and a better price, get the DW5600UE-1V model.
You can’t go wrong with either one.
Final Thoughts on the Best Home Gym Accessories
A lot of the best home gym accessories are not the big flashy purchases.
They’re the smaller upgrades that make your space more organized, your workouts more efficient, your equipment easier to maintain, and your gym more enjoyable to train in.
That’s really the theme of this whole list.
Some of these are close to must-haves. Others are just nice-to-haves. But all of them can improve the experience of training in a home gym in one way or another.
