Gym Fitout Cost Calculator
Estimate the cost of fitting out a gym or fitness studio in Australia, split across the build works and the equipment package.
Total tenancy area including change rooms and reception.
Budget the build and the equipment as two separate lines. On a typical 300 square metre gym the split runs roughly 60% build and 40% equipment, and lumping them together hides which side has blown out.
💰 Ways to save
- Buy refurbished commercial equipment for the cardio and selectorised lines and buy new only for free weights and racks. Refurbished treadmills and bikes from a reputable reconditioner typically cost 40% to 60% of new with a twelve month warranty, and cardio is the equipment category that gets replaced soonest anyway. Racks, benches, plates and dumbbells barely wear out, so buying those new is money well spent.
- Choose the tenancy for its slab and its ceiling before you fall in love with the location. A ground floor tenancy on slab handles dropped weights without engineering, whereas an upper level suspended slab may need a structural engineer's assessment, extra rubber and an acoustic report before the landlord will even sign. That assessment plus remediation can add $20,000 to $80,000, which no fitout quote will have included.
- Negotiate the equipment supplier to include delivery, assembly, installation and the first service in the package price. Freight and installation on a full commercial package commonly runs $6,000 to $15,000 and suppliers will absorb it on a competitive deal. Ask for the preventative maintenance schedule in writing too, because unserviced commercial cardio fails inside three years.
- Phase the fitout so you open with the equipment that earns revenue and add the rest from cash flow. A functional floor, free weights, a modest cardio line and working change rooms is enough to sell memberships. Turf tracks, sled lanes, recovery rooms and a second studio can wait six to twelve months, and deferring $60,000 of capex in year one materially changes how long your working capital lasts.
or from $2,498/week over 5 years , indicative finance
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## Gym fitout costs in Australia in 2026
Pricing reviewed: June 2026.
Pricing reviewed June 2026. Indicative Australian costs, not a quote.
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Understanding gym fitout costs in Australia
Gym fitout costs in Australia in 2026
A gym fitout is really two projects sharing a budget: the build works that turn a tenancy into a fitness space, and the equipment package that fills it. As a 2026 benchmark, the build side runs roughly $900 to $1,400 per square metre for a straightforward 24/7 style facility, $1,300 to $2,000 for a boutique studio where finishes and lighting are the product, and $2,000 plus for a full service club with wet areas. Equipment adds $45,000 for a light free weight and cardio setup, $100,000 to $130,000 for a standard commercial package, and $200,000 to $300,000 for premium branded gear. A 300 square metre 24/7 gym with a standard package realistically lands between $380,000 and $520,000 all in.
The build versus equipment split
Regional pricing varies less than you would expect on equipment, because it is freighted from the same distributors, but build rates in Sydney and Melbourne sit around 15% above Adelaide, Hobart and regional centres. Where regional operators lose ground is on lead times and on getting specialist trades such as commercial refrigeration or three phase electrical work scheduled promptly.
Across most projects the split sits near 60% build and 40% equipment, and understanding which side is moving matters when you are trying to hit a number. Equipment is the flexible half: you can specify down, buy refurbished, lease, or phase purchases over the first year. Build works are far less compressible because flooring, power, air conditioning, plumbing and compliance are not optional. Owners who try to save on the build usually end up with an underpowered air conditioning system or insufficient power circuits, both of which are painful and expensive to correct once the equipment is bolted down.
Flooring and load ratings
Rubber flooring is the most misunderstood line in a gym quote. Price depends on thickness and application: 15mm interlocking tiles for a general floor run about $60 to $90 per square metre supplied and laid, while 30mm to 50mm platform rubber for a lifting zone runs $120 to $220 per square metre. Under that, the slab matters more than the rubber. A ground floor slab on ground handles dropped bumper plates without complaint. A suspended slab on an upper level or above a basement car park frequently needs a structural engineer to assess point loads and impact, and the answer can be additional rubber, a floating platform or a restriction on deadlifting entirely. Get that assessment before you sign the lease, not after.
Noise and vibration in shared buildings
If you have neighbours below or beside you, acoustics will shape your fitout. Dropped weights transmit as structure borne vibration that ordinary acoustic insulation does nothing for, and music transmits as low frequency through the slab. An acoustic report costs $2,500 to $6,000 and is commonly a condition of the landlord's consent or the development approval. Remediation ranges from a floating floor system at $150 to $300 per square metre through to isolated stud walls and resilient ceiling hangers. Tenancies above residential apartments are the highest risk of all, and many operators simply avoid them.
Access control, CCTV and 24/7 trading
Unstaffed 24/7 operation carries a hardware and compliance cost that a standard fitout quote will not cover. A full access control system with member fobs or app entry, tailgate detection, door hardware and integration to your member management platform runs $12,000 to $25,000, plus ongoing software fees of $150 to $400 a month. CCTV with adequate coverage and offsite retention adds $6,000 to $15,000. Insurers generally expect monitored cameras, duress buttons, a defibrillator and a documented induction before they will write unstaffed hours, and some councils condition trading hours in the development consent. Confirm all of that before you commit to a 24/7 model.
Approvals, services and lead time
Most gym fitouts need a change of use approval because a retail or office tenancy is not classified for a recreation facility, and that is a development application in many councils taking six to sixteen weeks. Air conditioning is the other quiet budget killer: a gym generates far more heat load per square metre than an office, so the base building system is usually undersized and an upgrade of $25,000 to $60,000 is common. Power upgrades for a cardio floor and three phase supply for some plant add more. Allow four to seven months from lease signing to opening day, and hold at least 10% contingency, because gym fitouts uncover more surprises than almost any other commercial fitout type.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fit out a gym in Australia?
A 300 square metre 24/7 style gym typically costs $380,000 to $520,000 including equipment. Build works run about $900 to $1,400 per square metre for a standard facility and $2,000 plus for a full service club, with equipment adding $45,000 for a light setup to $300,000 for a premium branded package.
How is the cost split between the build and the equipment?
Roughly 60% build and 40% equipment on a typical project. Equipment is the flexible half because you can buy refurbished at 40% to 60% of new, lease, or phase purchases. Build works such as flooring, power, air conditioning and plumbing are largely fixed costs.
What does gym rubber flooring cost?
About $60 to $90 per square metre supplied and laid for 15mm interlocking tiles across a general floor, and $120 to $220 per square metre for 30mm to 50mm platform rubber in a lifting zone. On a 300 square metre gym with a dedicated lifting area, expect $20,000 to $35,000 in total.
Can I put a gym on an upper floor?
Sometimes, but you will need a structural engineer to assess point and impact loads on the suspended slab, and an acoustic report costing $2,500 to $6,000. Remediation such as a floating floor runs $150 to $300 per square metre. Tenancies above residential apartments are the highest risk and often not viable for free weights.
What does a 24/7 access control system cost?
A full system with member fobs or app entry, tailgate detection, door hardware and member management integration runs $12,000 to $25,000, plus $150 to $400 a month in software fees. Add $6,000 to $15,000 for CCTV. Insurers typically require monitored cameras, duress buttons and a defibrillator for unstaffed hours.
How long does a gym fitout take?
Allow four to seven months from lease signing to opening. Change of use development approval alone commonly takes six to sixteen weeks, and air conditioning upgrades or structural assessments can add more. Hold at least 10% contingency because gym fitouts uncover more service surprises than most commercial projects.
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