The New Rules of Gym Etiquette in 2026, From a Personal Trainer

The gym isn’t just a place to get regular cardio or access gobs of strength equipment—it’s also a community. That said, the gym works best when its members are respectful and kind. If you want to get the most out of your workout experience, it pays not to be a total jerk.

Some gym etiquette is obvious: don’t steal people’s stuff, clean up your messes, and politely share equipment. But other tips may not be as intuitive, especially if you’re new to the fitness scene.

Not to fret. I drew on my experience as a certified personal trainer and longtime gym-goer to round up ten tips for good gym karma. Keep these pointers in mind as you head back to your local fitness center in the new year—or visit it for the first time.

1. Stash your stuff in the locker room.

If you’re in a time crunch, you might be tempted to skip the locker room and plop your bag on the gym floor. Not only is this pretty gross (because who knows the last time that floor was sanitized?), it also creates a tripping hazard. For the safety of your fellow gym-goers, take the extra two minutes to properly store your stuff in the locker room. Or, if it feels easier, leave the non-essentials in your car or at home.

2. Respect the posted time limits. 

Gyms commonly place time limits on popular pieces of equipment. For example, each user gets up to 30 minutes on the treadmill before it’s someone else’s turn. These aren’t “suggestions,” and you’re not the exception just because your workout’s still going when the clock runs out.

Of course, if the machines aren’t fully occupied, then it’s OK to go beyond the posted limit (which is typically posted on the machine or displayed at the gym floor entrance). But when the facility is busy? Monitor the minutes and plan your workout accordingly so it wraps on time, every time.

3. Don’t be pushy with your favorite machines. 

Sure, you may prefer the elliptical that faces the window, or the brand new set of dumbbells, but you don’t own them. So it’s not OK to ask someone to move to a different machine or swap equipment just because they’ve got your favorite. If it’s really that important, wait your turn. Otherwise, pick the next best option…and get on with your workout.

4. Keep your music to yourself. 

Listening to music is a great, science-backed way to boost workout performance—but not everyone feels inspired by heavy metal, or showtunes, or [insert your genre of choice].

Leave your portable speaker at home and pop in those earbuds instead. Also, be mindful that you’re not obnoxiously singing along out loud. Basically, make sure whatever you’re jamming out to is audible to you—and you alone.

5. Read the room before striking up a convo. 

Yes, the gym is a community, but not everyone wants to chat during their workout. If you’re tempted to make small talk, first look for cues that the other person is open to it. For example, if they’ve smiled, made eye contact, and have at least one earbud popped out, they may be down to connect.

If you do initiate a convo, please don’t comment on someone’s body. (It’s not the compliment you think it is.) Instead, ask simple, situational questions like “What’s that exercise you just did?” or “Where’d you get your shoes?”

6. Don’t hog airspace. 

Few things are more annoying than those people who pick up free weights and do their exercises standing in front of the rack, clogging access for everyone else. Don’t be those people. Grab what you need and then promptly relocate to a less-trafficked area to perform your moves.

7. Wipe down equipment after use. 

What sounds more appealing: Hopping on an elliptical coated in a stranger’s sweat, or one that’s been freshly cleaned?

The sanitizing wipes aren’t there for aesthetics. You’re supposed to use them. This minimizes the spread of germs and makes everyone’s gym experience a little more pleasant. Ideally, you’d give a quick wipe to everything you use, but at a minimum, please spritz your mat along with the handrails and buttons on sweat-inducing machines, like the treadmill, elliptical, stationary bike, and stair stepper.

8. Return equipment to its proper home.

This may sound like one of those obvious, kindergarten-esque rules, but there’s a reason gyms look disheveled by the end of the day: people don’t put things back where they found them. That makes equipment harder for the next user to find and can even create safety issues if, say, a dumbbell is left in the middle of a walkway, or a weight plate is placed precariously on the edge of a bench. Not to mention, gym staff may not be able to lift as heavy as you, meaning they can’t put that weight away.

You can avoid all this by putting things back in the correct spot. If you find something out of place to begin with? Do a good deed and return it to its proper home.

9. Save your social media influencing for later.

The gym isn’t your personal TikTok filming studio, so please keep your tripod and ring light at home. If you do want to video yourself, say, to check your form, or share your workout with a friend, find a quiet corner or a studio room that’s not in use. Then, set up your camera so that it’s facing you and only you. It’s not a great idea to film other people at the gym without their consent, even if you do so accidentally.

10. Give others the benefit of the doubt.  

No one’s perfect, and chances are we’ve all committed some of the above blunders. Most of the time, people aren’t trying to be annoying; they’re just oblivious. So instead of getting bent out of shape when someone doesn’t wipe down their spin bike or stays on the treadmill ten minutes too long, take a deep breath and let it go…or find a way to politely educate them. You’ll never regret spreading good gym karma.

Want more Outside health stories? Sign up for the Bodywork newsletter.