How to choose Pilates equipment for your home — and where I’d splurge, save and compromise.
Building a Pilates studio at home is very different from outfitting a professional studio. I’ve spent more than 20 years working with Pilates equipment, including equipment from Balanced Body, Peak Pilates and Merrithew / STOTT PILATES. When Evolution Pilates became a host studio for the Real Pilates® Teacher Training Program, I moved toward Gratz and Pilates Designs because classical authenticity became increasingly important to me.
That doesn’t mean you need to recreate my studio in your house. Your space, ceiling height, budget and how you actually plan to use the equipment should all factor into what you buy.
Start With a Reformer Tower Combo Unit
If you have the space for a reformer, this is where I would start. In my studio, we have separate reformers, towers and Cadillacs because we’re a professional teaching environment. At home, combining a reformer and tower is usually the best use of both space and money.
A Reformer Tower Combo Unit gives you much more versatility than a reformer alone without requiring the space and ceiling height of a full Cadillac.
There are certainly differences between a budget reformer and the equipment you’d find in a classical studio, so understand what you’re trading off when you save money. But I also don’t think everyone needs to spend thousands of dollars on professional studio equipment to have a useful home practice.
The Chair: Combo or Classical?
The chair is one of my favorite pieces of Pilates equipment because it takes up relatively little space while giving you an enormous amount of work.
At Evolution Pilates, we use both Wunda Chairs and High Chairs, and they serve different purposes. For a home studio, a combo chair can be a smart choice because it gives you more versatility in a smaller footprint.
If you’re committed to the classical method and specifically want a true Wunda Chair, that’s a different purchase. I would choose the Contrology Wunda Chair for that purpose.
So this is one of those places where there isn’t necessarily one “right” answer. Decide whether you want versatility or a specific piece of classical apparatus.
Barrels Are Not Interchangeable
This is one of the things I really want people to understand before buying Pilates equipment for home.
A Ladder Barrel, Spine Corrector and Arc Barrel are not the same thing.
The shape and height of the barrel change how your spine relates to the apparatus, particularly when you’re working in spinal extension. If your thoracic spine is stiff, you may want to begin with something smaller and more contained.
Think about it this way: smaller curve, smaller amount of extension. Bigger hump, bigger backbend.
That doesn’t make one barrel better than another. They simply create different relationships with your body.
A full-size Ladder Barrel is wonderful if you have the space. A Spine Corrector gives you a very different kind of support. And the smaller Arc Barrels can be a great option when you want something more compact or you’re not ready for as much extension.
What About a Cadillac?
This is where your house can make the decision for you.
A Cadillac requires 10+ foot ceilings, and many homes simply don’t have them. At Evolution Pilates, we have separate reformers, towers and Cadillacs because we have the space to do that. Most home users don’t need to replicate that setup.
For most homes, I’d put the money into a good Reformer Tower Combo Unit instead.
If you have wall space but don’t have the ceiling height for a Cadillac, a Swedish Ladder is another interesting option. Swedish bars weren’t created by Joseph Pilates, so they aren’t a replacement for a Cadillac, but they’re found in many serious Pilates studios and can give you additional options for stretching, mobility and movement.
Classical Equipment vs. Accessible Equipment
There is a reason high-end classical equipment costs what it does. You’re paying for materials, construction, design and the experience of using equipment that has been built specifically for the work.
You’re also often looking at three-month-plus lead times.
That’s where shopping through Amazon can be surprisingly useful. You can compare different options, see what is available at different price points and, in some cases, get equipment much faster.
That doesn’t make a $300 piece of equipment equivalent to a $2,000 piece of equipment. It simply means there are times when an accessible option makes sense — especially when you’re creating a home practice rather than outfitting a professional studio.
So What Would I Buy?
If I were starting from scratch at home, I’d think about it in this order:
1. Reformer Tower Combo Unit — the most versatility for the space.
2. Chair — either a versatile combo chair or a classical Wunda Chair, depending on what you’re looking for.
3. Barrel — choose based on your body, your goals and the amount of space you have. Remember that the different shapes aren’t interchangeable.
4. Swedish Ladder — if you have wall space and want to expand what you can do without installing a Cadillac.
Then I’d add the smaller things: a mat, Magic Circle, balls, light weights and other props.
You don’t need to recreate a professional Pilates studio in your house. You need to create a space that makes it easy for you to practice consistently.
And that’s really the point. The apparatus matters, but knowing how and why to use it matters even more.
Want to see the equipment I’m actually recommending?
I’ve put together Mo’s Home Pilates Studio Picks, with the equipment I’d consider for a serious home setup — including where I’d splurge, where I’d save and which pieces serve very different purposes.
[Shop Mo’s Home Pilates Studio Picks →]
Want to learn from home?
You don’t have to figure out your Pilates practice on your own. Evolution Pilates teaches virtually, so you can work with experienced classical Pilates instructors wherever you are. Whether you’re building a complete home studio or simply have a mat and a few props, we can help you make the most of what you have.
[Explore Virtual Pilates at Evolution Pilates →]
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