Planet Fitness Equipment offers a solid range of equipment designed to support both cardio and strength training for everyday gym-goers.
Members can expect to find rows of treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, and stair climbers for cardio workouts, along with a variety of strength machines, free weights, and cable machines for resistance training.
Most locations feature dumbbells up to 80 lbs, Smith machines, and ab equipment.
However, Planet Fitness intentionally avoids Olympic lifting platforms and heavy barbells, keeping the environment beginner-friendly and accessible.
The equipment is generally modern, well-maintained, and plentiful — making it ideal for casual fitness enthusiasts and those building consistent workout habits.
Table of Contents
Quick Table
| Equipment Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Treadmills | Multiple units, modern with screens |
| Ellipticals | Available at all locations |
| Stationary Bikes | Standard and recumbent options |
| Stair Climbers | Available at most locations |
| Free Weights (Dumbbells) | Up to 80 lbs |
| Smith Machines | Yes, included |
| Cable Machines | Yes, variety available |
| Strength Machines | Wide selection for all muscle groups |
| Ab Equipment | Yes, dedicated section |
| Olympic Lifting/Barbells | Not available — intentionally excluded |
| Total Body Enhancement Booth | Black Card members only |
| HydroMassage Beds | Black Card members only |
Planet Fitness Equipment
The first time I walked into Planet Fitness, I genuinely didn’t know what half the machines were for.
I’d been working out at home with resistance bands and a pull-up bar for two years, and suddenly I was standing in a 20,000 square foot gym with purple carpet, pizza nights, and a “lunk alarm” sign on the wall.
I almost turned around and left.
Four years later, I’ve trained at six different Planet Fitness locations across three states — business travel will do that to you — and I’ve learned something that most fitness blogs don’t bother to tell you:
the equipment situation at Planet Fitness is much more nuanced than either the die-hard defenders or the Instagram meatheads give it credit for.
Yes, there are real limitations. But there are also genuinely good machines in there, and if you walk in knowing what to use and what to ignore, you can absolutely get a solid workout.
First, Let’s Be Real About What Planet Fitness Is
Planet Fitness is not built for powerlifters, serious bodybuilders, or anyone training for a physique competition.
It’s built for the 70% of the population that wants to get moving, lose some weight, build some muscle, and not feel intimidated.
That’s a legitimate and massive market, and their equipment choices reflect that purpose.
Understanding that will save you a lot of frustration. Once I stopped comparing it to a proper barbell gym and started asking “what can I actually accomplish here?”, the place got a lot more useful.
“The members who get the most out of Planet Fitness are the ones who learn the equipment, not the ones who complain about what’s missing.”
Most PF locations run between 20,000 and 25,000 square feet, and they stock a fairly consistent lineup across franchises.
There’s always a large cardio section, a substantial machine-based strength area, a free weight zone (yes, with limits), and a stretch/ab section. Let’s go through each one honestly.
Cardio Equipment: Surprisingly Solid
This is where Planet Fitness genuinely shines, and I don’t think they get enough credit for it.
Their cardio floor is well-equipped and well-maintained — probably because it sees the most use and gets serviced regularly.
Treadmills
Most locations run Life Fitness or Matrix treadmills. These are commercial-grade machines — the same brands you’d find in hospital rehab centers and hotel gyms that actually care.
Speed goes up to 12 mph, incline up to 15%. They hold up well. I’ve never stepped on a wobbly one at PF, which is more than I can say for some “premium” gyms I’ve visited.
The built-in fan is weak and the entertainment screen is laggy, but those are minor gripes. For running, walking, and incline work, these are reliable.
Pro Tip
For steady-state cardio on the treadmill, plug earbuds into the machine’s audio jack and tune to the TV above your unit. Much better than fighting with Bluetooth dropouts on a crowded floor.
Ellipticals
Precor ellipticals at most locations. Smooth, low-impact, and actually decent for a cardio workout if you push the resistance.
Most people coast on ellipticals — I used to be one of them. Bump the resistance to 8 or above and actually drive through your heels, and this becomes a surprisingly effective lower-body burner.
Bikes — Upright and Recumbent
The recumbent bikes are where older members and people with back issues flock, and honestly they’re comfortable.
But if you want an actual workout, use the upright bikes. Set the resistance high, stand up on the pedals for intervals, and you’ll feel it.
Planet Fitness also recently started rolling out Precor Spinner bikes at some locations — worth checking if yours has them.
Stair Climbers
Not every location has them, but the ones that do usually have StairMaster 8-Series machines. If your location has one, use it. Stair climbers are legitimately brutal and criminally underused at Planet Fitness. I’ve never had to wait more than a few minutes for one because people see it and walk right past. Their loss.
Arc Trainers
Cybex Arc Trainers are one of those machines that look intimidating and feel weird for the first two minutes, then become addictive. The motion is different from an elliptical — it’s more of a climbing/hiking motion — and it absolutely smokes your glutes and hamstrings in a way that ellipticals don’t. If your location has them, give them a serious try before writing them off.
Strength Machines: More Than You Think
Planet Fitness uses a mix of equipment brands depending on the location — Hammer Strength, Life Fitness, Matrix, and their own branded machines. The quality varies more here than in cardio, but there’s a solid lineup to work with.
Love It
Chest Press Machine
Good range of motion, smooth cable tension. Great for beginners learning pressing patterns and for adding high-rep volume work at the end of chest day.
Love It
Lat Pulldown
Usually a solid cable-based lat pulldown. Use it for wide-grip, close-grip, and underhand variations. Excellent back builder when used consistently.
Love It
Leg Press
Heavy hitter. High-foot placement targets glutes and hamstrings; lower placement is more quad-focused. One of the most versatile machines in the gym.
Love It
Smith Machine
A PF staple. Good for squats, lunges, incline pressing, and even rack pulls if you set the safety bars right. More versatile than people admit.
It’s OK
Shoulder Press Machine
Decent but the range of motion is fixed, which doesn’t suit everyone’s shoulder anatomy. Adjust the seat before deciding it’s uncomfortable.
It’s OK
Seated Row Machine
Works, but I prefer cable rows when available. The plate-loaded seated row at some PF locations is actually quite good — check what your club has.
It’s OK
Pec Deck / Fly Machine
Fine for isolation work. Keep the weight manageable and focus on the squeeze at the peak contraction, not the stack weight.
Skip It
Hip Abductor/Adductor
Used constantly, usually in high-rep light sets. Has its place but often overemphasized. Don’t anchor your leg day around these.
The Cable Machines
Here’s a hidden gem: Planet Fitness almost always has a decent cable crossover section.
Cables are one of the most versatile pieces of equipment in any gym — you can hit virtually every muscle group with just a cable stack and the right attachments.
At most PF locations, you’ll find single-stack adjustable cable towers. Learn to use them for cable flyes, tricep pushdowns, face pulls, cable curls, lateral raises, and woodchops.
The members who consistently make progress at Planet Fitness are often the ones who figured out the cables.
The Free Weight Situation — The Honest Version
Okay, this is the part where Planet Fitness gets the most criticism, and some of it is fair. Let me break down exactly what you’ll find.
Dumbbells: Most locations stock dumbbells from 2.5 lbs up to 75 lbs. That’s actually a respectable range for most people — the majority of dumbbell exercises for hypertrophy work beautifully in the 20–70 lb range.
The criticism is that more advanced lifters bump into the 75 lb ceiling, and that’s valid. If you’re trying to do heavy dumbbell chest press at 90+ lbs, you’re at the wrong gym.
Barbells: Planet Fitness does not have traditional free barbells. This is the biggest and most legitimate complaint.
The Smith machine is the substitute, and while it’s not the same as a free barbell for squats and deadlifts (the fixed bar path changes the mechanics), it’s more usable than its critics suggest once you learn to adjust your stance accordingly.
Worth Knowing
If your programming revolves around barbell back squats, conventional deadlifts, or Olympic lifts, Planet Fitness genuinely isn’t the right gym for those goals.
There’s no shame in that — it’s just a mismatch. Know your goals before choosing your gym.
Fixed weight barbells: Most PF locations have fixed curl bars (EZ bars) and fixed barbells up to around 60 lbs. Good for curls, skull crushers, and some pressing variations.
The Underused Equipment Nobody Talks About
After four years, I’ve started noticing the machines that are almost always available because people either don’t know how to use them or walk right past them. These are genuinely worth learning.
The Torso Rotation Machine
Looks weird, feels weirder, but it’s great for rotational core strength — something almost nobody trains directly. Sit sideways, brace your hips, and rotate slowly against the resistance.
Great for golfers, tennis players, and anyone who wants a stronger midsection.
Back Extension / Hyperextension Bench
Almost always empty. The lower back is chronically undertrained in most gym-goers’ programs, and this machine hits your spinal erectors, glutes, and hamstrings beautifully.
Start bodyweight, add resistance later by holding a weight plate to your chest.
Assisted Pull-Up / Dip Machine
Planet Fitness has these at most locations. If you can’t do pull-ups yet, this is your ticket to building toward them. If you can do pull-ups, this is a great finisher.
I’ve seen members use this machine for years and never progress — the key is to reduce the counterweight gradually over time, not stay comfortable.
Ab Crunch Machine
Not the most functional core exercise, but if you want to add some volume to your ab training without floor work, it does the job.
Keep the weight light and focus on actually crunching from the abs, not just pulling with your hip flexors.
Building a Real Workout with Planet Fitness Equipment
Here’s a practical framework I’ve used and tweaked over the years. This is a three-day-a-week push/pull/legs split designed specifically around what PF actually has.
Push (Chest, Shoulders, Triceps)
Smith Machine Incline Press — 4 sets of 8–10. Adjust the bench to about 30 degrees. This is your primary push movement
Dumbbell Flat Press — 3 sets of 12. Keep full range of motion. Lower slowly, press explosively.
Pec Deck Machine — 3 sets of 15. Isolation finisher for the chest. Focus on the squeeze at the center.
Dumbbell Lateral Raises — 3 sets of 15–20. Light weight, controlled movement. Shoulder width work.
Cable Tricep Pushdown — 3 sets of 15. Use the rope attachment if available. Squeeze the extension at the bottom.
Pull (Back, Biceps)
Lat Pulldown — 4 sets of 8–10 (wide grip). Drive your elbows down and back. This is your primary pulling movement.
Seated Cable Row or Machine Row — 3 sets of 10–12. Focus on retracting your shoulder blades, not just pulling with your arms.
Face Pulls — 3 sets of 15. Set the cable at face height, use rope attachment, pull toward your face with elbows high. One of the best exercises for shoulder health.
Back Extension — 3 sets of 15. Bodyweight or light resistance. Hold 2 seconds at the top position.
Dumbbell Hammer Curls — 3 sets of 12. Neutral grip, controlled movement. Superset with cable curls for a great finisher.
Legs
Leg Press — 4 sets of 10–12. High foot placement, full range of motion. This is your heavy compound movement for the day.
Smith Machine Squat or Bulgarian Split Squat — 3 sets of 10 per leg. Both work well in the Smith. Splits are actually great in it.
Lying Leg Curl Machine — 3 sets of 12. Hamstring work. Don’t rush the eccentric (lowering) phase.
Leg Extension Machine — 3 sets of 15. Quad isolation. Lighter than you think you need.
Seated Calf Raise Machine — 4 sets of 20. Calves respond to high reps. Pause at the top and bottom of each rep.
App Tip
I track my Planet Fitness workouts in JEFIT or Strong (both free tiers are solid). Being able to log exactly which machines I used and at what weight has been more valuable for my progress than any specific program.
Mistakes I Made — And See Others Making Every Week
Skipping the warmup because “it’s just machines”
Machine-based training doesn’t protect you from injury the way people assume. I tweaked my shoulder on a chest press machine because I went too heavy too fast on a cold body.
Spend 5–10 minutes on a light cardio warmup and do a few warmup sets before going heavy on any machine.
Not adjusting seat height on machines
This is the biggest mechanical mistake I see. If the seat height is wrong, you’re putting stress on the wrong joints and losing the benefit of the movement entirely.
Always adjust the seat before loading up weight, even if it feels awkward to fiddle with it at first.
Doing cardio first and having nothing left for strength work
I did this for my first six months. Forty minutes on the treadmill, then a half-hearted attempt at the machines. If strength is your goal, flip it: lift first, cardio after.
If conditioning is the goal, cardio first is fine. But know which goal you’re training for on a given day.
Hopping between machines without a plan
I’ve watched the same people at my PF for years wander from machine to machine with no apparent structure, doing a set here and a set there.
They look exactly the same as they did two years ago. Progress comes from progressive overload — slightly more weight, reps, or sets over time — and you can’t track that without a plan.
Dismissing the gym because of what it doesn’t have
Look, if your ego is tied to the weight on a barbell, Planet Fitness will frustrate you.
But I’ve watched people build genuinely impressive physiques at PF by being consistent, following a real program, and using the available equipment intelligently.
The best gym is the one you actually show up to.
Ready to make the most of your membership?
Download the Planet Fitness app — it has free workout programs specifically designed around their equipment. Pair it with a logging app like Strong or JEFIT for tracking, and you’re set.Visit Planet Fitness App →
© 2026 Iron & Real Talk · Written by a real member, not a sponsored post · All opinions based on personal experience
FAQ’s
Does Planet Fitness have free weights?
Yes, but with limitations. Most locations offer dumbbells up to 80 lbs. However, Olympic barbells and heavy lifting platforms are intentionally not included to maintain a beginner-friendly atmosphere.
Does Planet Fitness have Smith machines?
Yes. Smith machines are a standard fixture at Planet Fitness locations and serve as the primary option for exercises like squats and bench press in place of traditional barbells.
Is Planet Fitness equipment good for building muscle?
Yes, for beginner to intermediate lifters. The combination of Smith machines, cable machines, dumbbells, and strength machines provides enough variety to build and maintain muscle effectively.
Does Planet Fitness have cardio equipment?
Absolutely. Cardio is well covered with treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, and stair climbers — typically in large quantities so wait times are minimal.
Why doesn’t Planet Fitness have barbells or Olympic lifting equipment?
Planet Fitness intentionally excludes heavy lifting equipment to create a non-intimidating, judgment-free environment aimed at casual and beginner gym-goers rather than serious powerlifters.
Conclusion
Planet Fitness may not be the go-to gym for powerlifters or competitive athletes, but for the everyday fitness enthusiast, it delivers a well-rounded equipment selection that covers all the essentials.
From extensive cardio options to a solid range of strength machines and free weights, most members will find everything they need to build a consistent, effective workout routine.
The intentional exclusion of Olympic barbells and heavy lifting platforms is a deliberate brand choice — one that keeps the environment welcoming, spacious, and free from the intimidation factor that can discourage beginners from stepping through the door.
For those who rely on Smith machines, cable work, and dumbbell training, the equipment lineup is more than sufficient.
What Planet Fitness lacks in heavy lifting options, it more than makes up for in volume, accessibility, and modern equipment quality.
Machines are regularly maintained, cardio equipment is plentiful, and the overall layout is designed for smooth, efficient workouts without long wait times.
For beginners just starting their fitness journey, casual gym-goers maintaining their health, or anyone seeking an affordable and well-equipped workout space, Planet Fitness delivers real value.
The equipment available is thoughtfully selected to serve the majority of members — making every visit productive, comfortable, and worth the monthly investment.
