90+ Fitness Equipment Statistics 2021/2022 [Research Review]

The fitness equipment industry exploded over the past two years in response to the pandemic. As people moved away from gyms and sports, they still needed an outlet to enjoy the vast benefits of exercise. In response, many turn to some form of exercise equipment or accessories to support their regiments. 

To better understand the size, growth, and trends in the fitness equipment industry, we analysed, researched, and compiled over 90 statistics about fitness equipment, home fitness equipment, and the fitness industry as a whole:

Top fitness equipment statistics for 2021

• The fitness equipment industry is estimated to be worth $11.30 billion as of 2021, up 11% from an explosive 2020
• The pandemic led to 2020 being a major growth year for home fitness and the equipment industry, jumping more than 25.10% to $10.18 billion
• The home fitness and fitness equipment industry is projected to be worth anywhere from $14.74 to $21.13 billion by 2028. 
• One of the biggest markets of growth in China, expecting to have a 16% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2021 to 2027. 
• Consumer fitness equipment sales grew 68.37% from $3.32 billion in 2010 to $5.59 billion in 2020
• At-home fitness equipment was the fastest growing fitness trend in 2021 
• Only 15.18% of current gym members think their membership is the best way to achieve their fitness goals in 2021 - while 49.92% now see at-home fitness equipment as their best option

Fitness equipment industry stats by region

• North American fitness equipment market worth $3.55 billion in 2020
• The US Fitness Equipment industry's projected value for 2024 is $4.4 billion, with 50% of that revenue coming from home users
• Europe accounted for 30% of revenue for the global fitness equipment industry and is expected to grow significantly in to 2017

Statistics about different types of fitness equipment

The two main segments of equipment are cardio and strength equipment. Because the benefits of cardio equipment and the benefits of strength training equipment are significantly different, both segments have seen drastic growth, as more consumers opt for a little bit of both. 

The cardio equipment industry:

• By 2024, cardio equipment like treadmills, ellipticals, and recumbent bikes will make up 65% of the total fitness market.
• The global market value of strength equipment is $950 million, while treadmills are worth 790 million in just the United States alone.
• Treadmills are one of the most popular cardio fitness equipment and is still growing at a rate of 4.3% per year

Wholesale consumer sales of specific equipment in the US as of 2020 in comparison to 2019:

• Abdominal machines - $219.2 million - up 4.41% 
• Free weights - $410.5 million - up 104.22% 
• Elliptical machines - $927 million - up 17.93%
• Exercise bikes - $789 million - up 67.16% 
• Home gyms -$ 385 million - up 73.75% 
• Treadmills - $1.535 billion - up 44.13% 
• Rowing machines - $135.4 million - up 47.17%
• Stair-climbing machines - $31.9 million - up 27.6%
• Exercise benches - $214.6 million - up 77.94%

Fitness equipment and home gym equipment-related injury statistics

• A report estimates 459,978 people were injured in 2012 while they were actively using exercise equipment or exercising 
• 1,500 gym goers where injured on gym equipment and needed to be treated in the emergency room in 2009
• Exercise equipment causes injuries to approximately 16,500 children between 5 years old and 14 years old annually.
• From 1990 to 2007:
  • 114 people died from using free weights and weight machines.
  • Over 970,000 people were treated in emergency rooms for weight training-related injuries.

When analysing child injuries due to home fitness equipment from 1990 to 2008, one study found:

• 241,573 children were treated in the ER of a US hospital due to a home fitness equipment-related injury
• There was an average of 12,714 children being brought into the ER per year
• Those under the age of 10 were involved in 71.4% of the recorded injuries
• 37% of these injuries were recorded as a laceration
• The body parts most commonly injured were the head (28.6%), fingers or hands (22.0%), and foot (10.9%)
• The equipment most responsible for these injuries were stationary bikes (26.5%), treadmills (25.3%), and jump ropes (21.5%)

Fitness equipment sales to consumers vs gyms 

 Although fitness equipment sales to gyms grew 32.84% from 2010 to 2019, the pandemic led to a 16.85% in 2020

Sales to consumers:

• Sales of consumer fitness equipment increased by 68.3% from 2010 to 2020 ($3.32 billion to $5.59 billion).
• Over the past year, 42.72% of female consumers and 37.7% of US consumers overall bought workout equipment in the past year.
• 37.72% of consumers of sports equipment specifically purchased work-out equipment in 2018

How many pieces of fitness equipment do consumers purchase per year:

• 0 - 5.11%
• 1 - 9.82%
• 2 - 14.73%
• up to 5 - 21.22%
• up to 10 - 9.63%
• More than 10 - 13.56%
• Don't know - 25.93%

Pandemics impact on fitness equipment sales statistics

Sales at eBay for fitness equipment skyrocketed in 2020, specifically:

• Dumbbells - up 1,980%
• Weight plates - up 1,300%
• Benches - up 530%
• Barbells - up 355%
• Pushup products - up 200%
• Kettlebells - up 1,000%

In 2020, sales for fitness equipment grew drastically in the UK as well, specifically sales of:

• Steppers - up 6500%
• Weight benches - up 4130%
• Exercise bikes - up 2113%
• Weights - up 1743%
• Yoga and pilates equipment - up 1269%
• Gym accessories - up 1048%
• Cross trainers - up 815%
• Treadmills - up 549%
• Rowing machines - up 300%
• Scales - up 125%

One study measuring the impact of the pandemic on UK consumer behaviour since March 2020 found:

• 52.2% began doing home workouts 
• 53.3% purchased workout equipment
• Spent an average of £162 on home fitness equipment over the past year

Of the UK consumers that have done home workouts since March 2020:

• 31.7% say they did not exercise regularly before
• 76.0% say they will continue to do them post-pandemic

Another study found that interest in buying home fitness equipment due to COVID in March 2020 grew significantly in Poland. When looking at the data by type of product, they found each product grew by:

• Dumbbells - up 639%
• Training benches - up 207%
• Bicycles & trainers - up 100%
• Mats - up 97%
• Rowing machines - up 84%
• Treadmills - up 80%
• Steppers - up 50%
• Bars - up 50%

How much do fitness studios spend on fitness equipment?

• 30% of fitness studios spend less than $1,000 per year on new equipment
• 65% of fitness studios only set aside a budget of $5,000 per year for fitness equipment

Reasons for the large growth of Fitness Equipment

Our March of 2021 survey of 11,193 gym members found that:

• 70.97% weren't exercising at their gym
• 34.94% of US gym members don't plan on returning to the gym, even after being vaccinated
• 29.80% of gym members had cancelled their memberships at this point in the pandemic with another 25.76% pausing theirs

A US-based survey of 3,500 people on how the pandemic has impacted their fitness habits, they found that:

• 76% of people have tried working out at home during the pandemic
• 66% prefer home workouts to the gym and other alternatives
• 82% of millions began working out from home Among millennials, the number is even higher: 82% made the switch, and 81% like it more.

What's the average cost of a home gym?

• Multiple analyses show the average price of at-home fitness equipment puts the average cost of a home gym in the range of $1,000 - $4,000
• Home gyms are cost-effective in comparison to the average cost of gym memberships, which on average will cost you $5,007 dollars over 10 years.  

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