Home Gym Glossary: 40 Equipment Terms Explained
A plain-English home gym glossary: gauge, hole spacing, safeties, Olympic bar, plate loadable, motor horsepower, resistance types and other terms in equipment guides.
By HomeGymWiki Editors
Updated October 4, 2026
This guide is based on public information and manufacturer specifications. We do not claim hands-on testing. Prices and availability change often; check Amazon for current details.
Equipment pages are full of jargon. This glossary explains the terms you will meet in reviews and buying guides, in plain English.
Racks and benches
- Power rack
- A four-post cage with adjustable safety bars for squats, presses and pull-ups. Also called a squat cage.
- Half rack
- A rack with two uprights, or a shortened cage, that takes less space than a full cage.
- Squat stand
- Two freestanding uprights that hold a barbell, usually with fewer safety options.
- Safeties (safety arms)
- Adjustable bars or straps that catch the barbell if you cannot complete a lift.
- J-cup
- The hooks that hold the barbell on the rack uprights.
- Steel gauge
- A measure of steel thickness. A lower gauge number means thicker steel.
- Hole spacing
- The distance between adjustment holes in the uprights. Tighter spacing allows finer height changes.
- Westside spacing
- A hole pattern with tighter spacing near the bench press zone.
- Footprint
- The floor area a rack or machine occupies.
- Weight capacity
- The maximum load the maker says the equipment is designed for. Check what it applies to.
- Flat, incline and decline bench
- Bench positions that change the angle of the back.
- Adjustable bench
- A bench with multiple back and seat positions.
Weights
- Olympic bar
- A barbell with 2-inch sleeves that fits Olympic plates. Typically about 7 feet long.
- Standard bar
- A barbell with 1-inch sleeves that fits standard plates.
- Bumper plate
- A rubber-coated plate designed to be dropped.
- Iron plate
- A metal plate that is not designed to be dropped.
- Collar
- A clamp that keeps plates on the bar.
- Adjustable dumbbell
- A dumbbell with changeable weight, using dials, pins or plates.
- Weight increment
- How much weight changes with each adjustment.
- Kettlebell
- A cast weight with a handle, used for swings and carries.
Cardio
- Motor horsepower (CHP)
- A treadmill motor rating. Continuous horsepower is more useful than peak horsepower.
- Deck size
- The length and width of a treadmill running surface.
- Incline
- A treadmill feature that raises the deck to simulate hills.
- Walking pad
- A compact, flat treadmill designed for walking, often for use under a desk.
- Folding treadmill
- A treadmill whose deck folds up for storage.
- Magnetic resistance
- Resistance created by magnets. Usually quiet and smooth.
- Air resistance
- Resistance created by a fan flywheel. The harder you pull, the more resistance.
- Water rower
- A rowing machine that uses a water tank for resistance.
- Flywheel
- A spinning wheel that provides resistance and smooth motion on bikes and rowers.
- Recumbent bike
- An exercise bike with a reclined seat and back support.
- Q factor
- The distance between the pedals on a bike.
Home gym terms
- All-in-one home gym
- A single machine with multiple stations, such as a cable or rod system.
- Cable machine
- A machine that uses a pulley and cable with a weight stack or plates.
- Equipment mat
- A mat that protects floors and reduces vibration under machines.
- Assembly
- Putting the equipment together at home. See our safety checklist.
Popular buying guides
About the author
HomeGymWiki Editors
The HomeGymWiki editorial team researches home gym equipment from manufacturer specifications, published reviews and buyer feedback, and writes plain-English buying guides.