Gym etiquette: the unwritten rules

Looking after the equipment

• Re-rack your weights. Put plates back on the stands and dumbbells back in their places, in order. Plates left on bars and dumbbells left on the floor are the most common complaint in any gym.
• Wipe down what you use. Benches, handles, mats and machine seats. Most gyms provide spray and paper towels for exactly this.
• Strip the bar after use. The next person should not have to unload your plates before starting their warm-up.
• Use collars on barbells. They stop plates sliding off, which protects you, the floor and anyone nearby.
• Report broken kit. A frayed cable or a wobbly bench should go straight to staff, not be quietly left for the next person.

It sounds basic, but tidy habits are the quickest way to earn goodwill. Regulars notice who looks after the place, and they are much more likely to help you out when you need it.

Sharing space and kit

In a busy gym you will often want something someone else is using. The polite approach is to ask how many sets they have left, then either wait nearby or ask to work in, which means alternating sets with them. Most people are happy to share, especially racks and benches. Hovering silently a metre away while sighing is not the move.

Do not claim kit you are not using. Leaving a towel on a bench while you wander off for three other exercises is a classic source of friction. The same goes for circuits that tie up four pieces of equipment at peak time. At quieter times it is usually fine. At 6pm on a Monday, less so.

Give people room when they are lifting. Walking directly in front of someone mid-set, especially between them and the mirror they are using to check their position, is distracting and occasionally dangerous. Walk behind them, or wait a few seconds.

If you hear terms like working in, supersets or spotting and are not sure what people mean, our gym jargon guide explains them in plain English.

Noise, phones and filming

Some noise comes with training. A grunt on a heavy lift is normal; bellowing on every rep of a light set gets old quickly. Weights will clank, but dropping dumbbells from shoulder height or slamming plates is hard on kit and floors. Lower them under control unless you are using bumper plates in an area where dropping is allowed.

Headphones are fine and often welcome. Keep calls out of the training area and never play music out loud from your phone. Texting between sets is fine, but not while sitting on the only free bench while three people wait.

Filming yourself to check technique is common and genuinely useful. Make sure nobody else is in the frame without their permission, and never film other people. Some gyms have clear rules about filming, so check first.

Safety: the rules that matter most

Etiquette is not only about manners. Some rules stop people getting hurt. Use safety pins or spotter arms when you squat or bench press with a barbell, and learn how to set them before you need them. Our guide to your first time with a barbell covers this properly.

If you need a spotter, ask someone and tell them clearly how many reps you are going for and how you want them to help. Never assume someone is watching. Keep kettlebells, plates and bags out of walkways, and before you start on a sled or rower, check the space around you.

Shared lanes such as a sled track or a run of open turf need a little extra awareness. Look both ways before stepping onto them, never walk across the path of a moving sled, and return the sled to the start or the agreed spot when you finish. If a group is using the space for a class, wait for a gap or ask the coach where you can safely work.

If you see someone stuck under a bar or looking unwell, help them or fetch a member of staff straight away. That is the one time interrupting a stranger's set is exactly the right thing to do.

Class etiquette

Classes have a few rules of their own. Arrive a few minutes early so the coach can meet you, and mention any injuries or health conditions before the session starts rather than halfway through. If you are running late, join the warm-up quietly rather than skipping it.

During the class, listen to the briefing, work at your own level and take the easier option when you need it; that is exactly what scaling is for. Afterwards, wipe down and put away your kit, and lend a hand with shared equipment if others are tidying. At Lycan Strength, members of all ages and levels train together, and small habits like these are a big part of what makes a group feel welcoming.

If classes are new to you, our guides on your first gym session and gym anxiety will help you feel prepared before you walk in.