Gym etiquette comes down to one idea: share the space and leave it as you found it. Re-rack your weights, wipe down equipment, don’t hog machines during rests, ask “how many sets left?” before jumping in, keep your phone and filming out of other people’s way, and give people space while they lift. Everyone was new once, and most regulars are friendlier than they look.
1. Re-rack your weights
The number one rule. Take plates off the bar when you’re done, put dumbbells back in the right spot (heaviest at one end, lightest at the other), and return collars, bands and attachments.
Leaving a bar loaded with 140 kg on the leg press is not a flex; it’s a chore for the next person, who may not be able to unload it safely. Leaving dumbbells on the floor creates a trip hazard.
2. Wipe down equipment
Use the spray and paper or wipes after benches, mats, handles and cardio machines. Many gyms require a towel on benches. It takes ten seconds and everyone appreciates it.
3. Share equipment when it’s busy
Ask how many sets are left
“How many sets do you have left?” is the polite, normal question. Ask between sets, when the person isn’t mid-lift or concentrating before a heavy set.
Working in
If someone has several sets left, ask “Mind if I work in?” You alternate sets: they do a set, you adjust the weight, do yours, and so on. It’s common on machines and benches, less common on barbell lifts with very different weights. If they say no, that’s OK too.
Don’t hog stations
- Don’t save equipment with a towel or bottle while you go elsewhere.
- Don’t use three stations at once for a giant circuit during peak hours.
- Keep rests reasonable, and don’t sit scrolling on a machine for five minutes between sets.
Rest is still important; how long to rest between sets depends on the exercise. A rest timer helps you rest as long as you need without drifting. Brick starts one automatically when you log a set and notifies you when it’s time to go, so you’re not sitting on the bench waiting for your phone to tell you something.
Supersets at busy times
Supersets are a great way to save time, but at peak hours they can tie up two pieces of equipment. Pick exercises close to each other, or save big supersets for quieter hours. More in supersets and drop sets.
4. Respect personal space
- Don’t walk directly in front of someone mid-set, especially between them and the mirror; many people use it to check their form.
- Give barbell lifters room. Don’t stand right behind someone’s squat or next to their bar during a deadlift.
- Step back from the dumbbell rack to do your sets so others can reach theirs.
- Don’t interrupt people mid-set, even to ask a question. Wait until they’ve finished and taken their headphones off.
Barbell DeadliftStand with feet hip-width apart and the bar over the middle of your feet. Bend down and grip the bar just outside your knees, with a flat back and chest up.How to do the Barbell Deadlift →
5. Phones, filming and privacy
- Calls: take them away from the gym floor, or keep them short and quiet.
- Music: headphones only. No speakers.
- Filming your own sets for form checks is useful and generally fine if your gym allows it. Set the phone up so it doesn’t block anyone, and keep other people out of the frame.
- Never film or photograph other people without their permission, and never post content mocking someone. It’s disrespectful and in many places illegal.
- Changing rooms: no phones out. Ever.
6. Noise
A grunt on a heavy set is normal. Prolonged screaming on every set of curls is not. Some gyms allow chalk and dropping deadlifts on platforms; others don’t. Learn your gym’s rules:
- Chalk: use it where allowed, keep it in the bowl or a chalk ball, clean up spills.
- Dropping weights: control the bar down unless you’re on a lifting platform with bumper plates, and never drop dumbbells from overhead.
7. Hygiene
- Wear clean clothes and use deodorant.
- Bring a towel and use it.
- Wear shoes on the gym floor (except where your gym allows socks for deadlifts or certain areas).
- Don’t train when you’re contagious.
8. Spotting and helping
Asking a stranger for a spot is completely normal: “Could you spot me for one set?” Tell them how many reps you’re aiming for and whether to help only when the bar stops. If someone asks you and you’re not confident spotting, it’s fine to say so.
If you see someone stuck under a bar or about to drop a weight on themselves, help or alert staff immediately. That’s the one time unsolicited help is always welcome.
9. Unsolicited advice
Most people don’t want form tips from strangers. If you think someone’s technique could hurt them, and you’re genuinely knowledgeable, a friendly “Do you want a tip on that?” is the most you should offer. Accept “no thanks” gracefully. And if you’re on the receiving end of unwanted advice, a polite “Thanks, I’m working with a plan” ends it.
10. Be friendly
A nod, a “nice set,” letting someone work in, offering to help unload a heavy bar: gyms with a good atmosphere are built from small gestures like these. And if you’re new and nervous, know that most regulars respect people who show up and try. See gym anxiety and first time at the gym for practical tips.
Quick checklist
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Re-rack plates and dumbbells | Leave loaded bars or weights on the floor |
| Wipe equipment | Leave sweat on benches |
| Ask how many sets are left; offer to work in | Save stations or scroll on equipment |
| Give lifters space | Walk in front of mirrors mid-set |
| Film only yourself, with permission | Film or photograph others |
| Use headphones | Play music on a speaker |
| Help in an emergency | Give unsolicited form lectures |
Frequently asked questions
Is it rude to ask how many sets someone has left?
No, it's the standard polite question. Ask between their sets, not during one, and accept the answer. If they have several sets left, ask if you can work in or come back later.
Can I do curls in the squat rack?
If the gym is quiet and nobody is waiting, nobody will mind. When it's busy and there are only a couple of racks, use dumbbells or an EZ bar elsewhere so people who need the rack for squats can use it.
Is it OK to film my workout at the gym?
Usually yes for your own form checks, as long as your gym allows it, you don't block equipment, and other people aren't identifiable in the frame without their consent. Never film someone else without asking.
Should I correct someone's form if it looks dangerous?
Generally, don't give unsolicited advice. If you see something genuinely dangerous, like a bar about to fall or someone stuck under a bench press, help or alert staff. For form, leave it to staff unless the person asks.
