The standard 7×5 module (35 m²) is plenty for private owners and intimate PT studios. But when a client asks about a gym for a boutique hotel, a residents’ club, or an apart-hotel, 35 m² runs short — there’s no room for a second treadmill, a reception desk, or a changing area. That’s where the Gym Box 10×4 m (40 m²) comes in: a custom module designed from scratch for a commercial setting.
Below we show how to lay out the space, what the structural requirements are, and what it realistically costs.
Why 10×4 rather than the standard 7×5?
The difference is only 5 m², but the layout is in a different league. A 4 m width instead of 3 m gives you:
- the option to set up two zones facing each other (cardio vs strength) with a 1 m walkway between them
- a power rack with safe clearance for a 220 cm barbell, plus space to deadlift off to the side
- a reception desk or a compact changing area without “walking through someone’s set”
A standard 9×3 has a linear layout ➜ everything runs along one wall. The 10×4 opens up a U-shape or two parallel runs, which for 4–6 people training at once is well worth the extra metre. Compare the full size range or read up on the Gym Box 7×5.
Layout step by step — 40 m² split into 4 zones
| Zone | Floor area | Equipment |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | 14 m² | Power rack with cable column, Olympic bench, dumbbells 2–50 kg, 20 kg Olympic bar, 200 kg of plates |
| Cardio | 10 m² | 2 electric treadmills + a Concept2 rower or an Assault bike |
| Functional | 8 m² | TRX rig, kettlebells 8–32 kg, plyo box, resistance bands, 4×2 m mat |
| Reception / changing | 8 m² | Desk, 6 lockers, 200×80 mirror, bench, optional compact shower |
➜ In practice: 2–3 people train in the strength zone, 2 on cardio, 1 in the functional area — comfortably, no collisions. That’s a level of flow 35 m² simply can’t deliver.
Structural requirements — a commercial site is a different game
A gym in a commercial building has to meet stricter requirements than a private one. What changes in the 10×4:
- Floor reinforced to 500 kg/m² (private spec: 350 kg/m²) — because in a public setting a 220 kg loaded bar can hit the deck from height
- HEB 160 steel sections instead of HEA 140 — a stiffer frame for the 4 m roof span
- 40 mm acoustic floor isolation (rubber-cork) — so guest rooms below the gym don’t hear every deadlift
- Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, 300 m³/h — for 4–6 people exercising at once
- A second fire exit (a 90 cm door on the opposite wall) — a sensible requirement once the space is open to guests or members
Standards and compliance — what the rules ask for
A commercial gym isn’t “just kit in a box”. For the UK market the relevant references are general, so treat the list below as a guide and confirm specifics with your local authority Building Control and your insurer:
- EN ISO 20957 — the safety standard for training equipment for commercial use (class S — studio/commercial). All the kit we supply for these projects is certified to class S, not domestic class.
- EN 12193 (sports lighting) — a sensible benchmark of around 300 lux at floor level for a training space.
- Building Regulations & fire safety — first aid kit, clear evacuation signage, an emergency lighting and egress route, and a posted set of house rules. A fire risk assessment is a legal duty once the space is in commercial use.
- A service log for the equipment — annual inspection and a documented maintenance record, which most commercial insurers will expect to see.
We supply all of this within the commercial package — you don’t have to work out what to buy separately. For the planning side, see planning permission for a container gym.
Cost — what a commercial 10×4 runs to
Prices are net of VAT (20% applies on top in the UK; if you run this through a limited company, the VAT is typically recoverable — speak to your accountant).
| Package | Scope | Price (net) |
|---|---|---|
| Custom 10×4 base | Structure, 120 mm insulation, commercial flooring, services, HVAC | from £80,000 |
| 10×4 Commercial Standard | Base + class S equipment (rack, dumbbells 2–50, bench, 1 treadmill, rower, TRX) | from £88,000 |
| 10×4 Commercial Premium | Standard + 2nd treadmill, reception, lockers, access control, CCTV | from £112,000 |
For comparison: building a brick-and-block gym of the same floor area and fit-out runs to £70,000–90,000 — comparable money, but 8–12 months on site, planning and building control, and a structure you cannot move or sell on. A Gym Box 10×4 ➜ 12 weeks from your deposit to opening, with the equipment already in it. Run the numbers on the ROI calculator, or see the custom Gym Box and our hotel gym page.
Reference projects — two 40 m² modules in Poland
The closest projects to a commercial 10×4 in our portfolio are two 40 m² modules. ONE GYM 4×10 m is an unmanned members’ gym: a ~30 m² training area plus a ~10 m² sanitary block, a slat-clad façade and QR-code access, built as a repeatable template for a self-service chain (case study). The public Gym Box 10×4 next to a sports pitch gives a local authority a heated, year-round strength and cardio room with a separate WC (case study). Both were made in our factory in Poland. For UK and Irish sites we organise the transport and the crane lift — delivery is quoted separately by postcode, and installation is included.
For a boutique hotel of 30 rooms the model looks like this: on average around 35% of guests use the gym at least once during a stay, and a hotel’s review score tends to rise by 0.3–0.5 points once a proper gym is added (source: operator data and Gym Assistance internal benchmark, 2024–2025). Browse all our projects or read the hotel gym ROI case study.
What next?
If you run a hotel, a residents’ club, or an apart-hotel and you’re weighing up a gym, the best place to start is a free conversation. In 30 minutes we’ll work through the headline numbers: number of rooms or users, where the module sits on the plot, budget, and timeline.
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