The Ultimate Home Gym Setup For Calisthenics

When I first got into calisthenics, I thought: “I don’t need a gym, I just need my bodyweight.” And that’s true — to a point. You can get really far with push-ups, squats, planks, and some creativity. But if you actually want to progress into pull-ups, dips, muscle-ups, levers, or weighted calisthenics, you’ll quickly realize something: you need a few tools.

Not a garage full of machines. Not a $10,000 squat rack. Just a handful of smart, well-chosen pieces of equipment. With the right setup, you can train every muscle group, develop advanced skills, and scale your workouts from beginner to elite — all in your own living room, garage, or balcony.

I’ve tested a lot of gear over the years, and below I’ve put together the exact home gym setup I recommend to anyone who wants to train calisthenics at home. With this list, you’ll cover almost every exercise possible in the sport and set yourself up to progress from your very first pull-up all the way to front levers and weighted dips.

Why Build a Calisthenics Home Gym?

Before we dive into the gear, let me make the case. Why even bother building a home gym if calisthenics is “just bodyweight training”?

A few reasons:

• Consistency. If you have a pull-up bar five steps from your kitchen, you’re much more likely to actually train than if you need to walk to the park or drive to the gym.
  
• Progression. Bodyweight training isn’t just about push-ups and sit-ups. To reach advanced levels, you need tools that allow you to safely scale exercises, add resistance, and work skill progressions.
  
• Versatility. With just a few pieces of equipment, you’ll be able to train every muscle group, from pull-ups and dips to core work, handstands, and even weighted calisthenics.
  
• Value. Instead of paying for years of memberships, you invest once into durable equipment and keep it for life.
  

Pull-Up Bar — The Centerpiece of Your Gym

No calisthenics setup is complete without a pull-up bar. It’s the foundation for pulling strength, core training, and many of the coolest skills in the sport.

I usually recommend a wall-mounted pull-up bar because they’re incredibly stable. You can do dynamic moves like muscle-ups, explosive pull-ups, and front lever rows without worrying about wobble. I already broke down all the pros in my best pull-up bars guide, so I won’t repeat myself here. If you can mount one, my top choice is:

👉 Large Wall Mounted Pull-Up Bar — 119,90 €

If drilling holes isn’t an option, or you want something you can move around, go with a freestanding station instead.

👉 Premium Pull Up Station — 299,90 €

What I like about this one is that it comes with extras: a weight plate holder (and yes, you should actually load it for stability), plus a barbell hook if you ever want to do squats or overhead presses.

⚖️ Which should you choose?

• If you want the most solid, stable option for advanced skills and don’t mind a permanent fixture, go wall-mounted.
  
• If you want something versatile you can move around, go freestanding.
  

You don’t need both — just pick one.

Exercises unlocked: pull-ups, chin-ups, wide grip variations, front and back levers, hanging leg raises, toes-to-bar, muscle-ups (on the wall-mounted version).

Dip Bars — Push Power and Mid-Height Rows

Instead of ordering the freestanding station with a dip extension, I’d actually recommend getting standalone dip bars. Here’s why:

• You can set them up independently and adjust the distance between them to match your frame.
  
• They double as a medium-height bar for bodyweight rows and front lever work.
  
• They’re portable and easy to stash away when not in use.
  

👉 Premium Dip Bars — 149,90 €

Exercises unlocked: dips, straight bar dips, rows, knee raises, L-sits, pseudo planche push-ups, core work.

Parallettes — Range of Motion + Wrist Protection

Parallettes are one of those pieces of gear you don’t realize you need until you have them. Suddenly your push-ups are deeper, your handstand training feels safer on the wrists, and you can finally explore planche leans without pain.

👉 Premium Parallettes Max — 119,90 €

They’re sturdy, stable, and tall enough for deficit work. I use mine constantly for push-ups, L-sits, and handstand push-up progressions.

Exercises unlocked: deficit push-ups, handstands, handstand push-ups, L-sits, tuck planche, planche leans, V-sits.

Gymnastics Rings — The Most Versatile Tool

If I could only keep one piece of equipment forever, it would be rings. They transform simple moves like dips or push-ups into total-body challenges, and they’re joint-friendly because your hands can rotate naturally.

👉 Workout Rings Set — 49,90 €

The wood feels great in the hands, the thickness is perfect, and the straps are strong and durable. You can hang them from your pull-up bar or even outdoors on a tree branch.

For better value, I’d actually grab the bundle below.

👉 Statics Set (Parallettes Max + Workout Rings + Light Wrist Wraps) — 169,90 €

You get both parallettes and rings, plus bonus wrist wraps, for cheaper than buying separately. If you don’t already own either piece, this is the way to go.

Exercises unlocked: ring push-ups, dips, rows, pull-ups, muscle-ups, front and back levers, skin-the-cat, iron cross progressions.

Resistance Bands — Assistance and Overload

Resistance bands are like a Swiss Army knife for calisthenics. They can help you learn pull-ups and dips, add resistance to push-ups or squats, and they’re fantastic for warming up shoulders and joints.

👉 Premium Resistance Bands Set (4) — 54,90 €

With four thickness levels, you’ll always have the right band for assistance or overload.

Exercises unlocked: assisted pull-ups, assisted dips, banded push-ups, band pull-aparts, shoulder prehab, face pulls.

Dip Belt — Enter Weighted Calisthenics

At some point, your bodyweight won’t be enough. When you can bang out 15 pull-ups or 20 dips, you need to overload the movement to keep building strength. That’s where a dip belt comes in.

👉 Premium Dip Belt — 49,90 €

Strong, comfortable, and built to last. Pair it with a bumper plate or kettlebell, and suddenly your calisthenics turn into serious strength training.

👉 Example: CAP Rubber-Coated Bumper Plate (choose the weight you need).

Exercises unlocked: weighted pull-ups, weighted dips, weighted muscle-ups.

Gym Mats — Protect Your Floor

If you’re training at home, save yourself the headache of scratched floors and noisy drops. A good set of mats will protect your floor, reduce noise, and give you grip for handstands and push-ups.

👉 Home Gym Mats — 49,90 €

I use six of them in my setup, which is enough to cover the main training zone. If you want more space, just buy extras.

Total Budget Breakdown

Now for the big question: how much does this all cost? Let’s run the numbers.

Option A: Wall-Mounted Setup

• Wall Mounted Pull-Up Bar: 119,90 €
  
• Premium Dip Bars: 149,90 €
  
• Statics Set (Parallettes Max + Rings + Wrist Wraps): 169,90 €
  
• Resistance Bands Set (4): 54,90 €
  
• Premium Dip Belt: 49,90 €
  
• Home Gym Mats: 49,90 €
  

Total: 593,50 €

Option B: Freestanding Setup

• Premium Pull Up Station: 299,90 €
  
• Premium Dip Bars: 149,90 €
  
• Statics Set (Parallettes Max + Rings + Wrist Wraps): 169,90 €
  
• Resistance Bands Set (4): 54,90 €
  
• Premium Dip Belt: 49,90 €
  
• Home Gym Mats: 49,90 €
  

Total: 773,50 €

💡 Use code CS10 for 10% off, which brings both totals down even further.

Final Thoughts

Here’s the beauty of calisthenics: with less than the cost of a single year at a commercial gym, you can set yourself up with a complete home training system that will last for decades.

With just a pull-up bar, dip bars, parallettes, rings, bands, a dip belt, and some mats, you can train everything — push, pull, legs, core, and advanced skills. You’ll have the tools to progress from your very first pull-up to front levers, handstands, and weighted calisthenics, all without ever needing to leave your home.

So if you’re serious about training, don’t wait. Build your setup once, and you’ll never outgrow it.