Working from home? This is the best workout equipment for you.

Working from home can lead to a pretty inactive lifestyle. You don't have a commute to get you moving in the morning, there are no coworkers to go mingle with across the office, and honestly going to the gym from your house takes a different kind of motivation than going to the gym straight from an office.

Instead of hitting the gym after work hours, turn your house into a home gym that you can access throughout the day and get in some exercise as you work. You don't need a gym membership when there are tons of amazing online fitness programs that are cheaper and more accessible. There is some equipment that we'd recommend to make working out while working from home easier.

You can go all out and get a treadmill or bike desk that allows you to be moving constantly throughout the day, or you could keep it simple with some smaller equipment that's great for getting in quick workouts between meetings and assignments. Jump ropes, free weights, and resistance bands are awesome tools to have on hand.

If you can't access actual workout equipment, you can likely find some alternatives around the house. For example, if you can't get your hands on a dumbbell, you can use a gallon of milk or water as a substitute. 

Let's assume you do want to use real fitness equipment, though. Not everything you'd have in a home gym is suitable for a WFH workout. You could use a long lunch break to go for a run or do some strength training, but we've found some equipment that lets you make the most of your time — and not be caught slacking too much while you're supposed to be working.

This is the best equipment for getting in active and passive workouts throughout your work day at home.

Best companion for every workout

Image: gaiam / mashable composite The Good Durable mat • Comes with access to online yoga library • Textured surface stays in place The Bad Not much to complain about here The Bottom Line Yoga mats aren't reserved just for yoga workouts — they can protect your knees and hands during floor exercises. 1. Yoga mat Yoga mats provide a soft surface for floor exercises.

$29.98 from Gaiam Even if you aren't a yogi, a yoga mat is a super helpful tool to have around. It acts as a cushy surface that can make exercises easier on your hips, knees, and hands. Roll out this Gaiam yoga mat for a midday workout break while working from home.
This particular mat is five millimeters thick, has a sticky textured surface to keep it in place while in use, and comes in a nice variety of pastel colors. Plus, when you buy this mat you get access to Gaiam's online yoga library, so you have a jumping-off point for putting the mat to use.
This mat is super affordable for what you get — a brand name you can trust, a mat that won't fall apart after a few uses, and access to online yoga classes.

Best for exercising at your desk

Image: cubii / mashable composite The Good Allows you to multitask • Approachable for virtually all ages and abilities • Low-key design The Bad Pricey • You won't get the same benefits as a full-sized elliptical The Bottom Line Cubii lets you exercise while sitting at your desk, getting work done. 2. Cubii under-desk elliptical Pedal under your desk to get a workout during work hours.

$349 from Cubii Get your workout in while you kick ass at your job with the Cubii Pro under-desk elliptical. It rests at your feet and allows you to get strides in, burn calories, and maybe even lose weight while sitting at your desk — or on the couch. The design is pretty low-key and Cubii won't take up a ton of space in your home.
This handy little exercise machine is accessible for people of different ages, abilities, and lifestyles. You don't have to be a fitness buff to use Cubii and see results. You can simply pedal your feet while sending emails and get a solid workout in.
The accompanying app allows you to adjust your resistance levels and set/track goals. Bonus: You don't even have to put on workout clothes while you use Cubii.

Best for a passive workout

Image: p.volve / mashable composite The Good One month access to fitness streaming platform • Enhances your existing workouts The Bad Not available in heavier weights The Bottom Line You'll get the most out of ankle weights while doing actual exercises, but they'll still add an extra burn to your everyday movements. 3. Ankle weights Pop on ankle weights to get more out of your movements.

$22.99 from P.volve Ankle weights are meant to add a little extra oomph to your regular workouts by burning more calories and toning your muscles. Wear them while you're working from home and feel an extra burn when you get up to use the bathroom or grab a snack. 
Throughout the day you can get some passive exercise by wearing ankle weights, and then you're ready to go and get in a real workout once you clock out. These 3-pound weights from P.volve are filled with sand to add safe, but challenging resistance to your movement.
If you buy these ankle weights you also get a month of access to P.volve's streaming platform, which includes more than 200 fitness videos, customizable goals and plans, and nutrition information.

Best for toning muscles

Image: fitness gear / mashable composite The Good Multiple weights available • Easy to grip exterior The Bad Not sold as pairs The Bottom Line Tone and build muscles by using these dumbbells on their own or during cardio workouts. 4. Dumbbells Use dumbbells throughout the work day to build muscle definition.

See Details Free weights are great to have around the house. If you're working from home you can just casually lift a dumbbell while doing some work — as long as you can master typing one handed. These neoprene dumbbells come in different weights ranging from 1 pound to 20 pounds, with a unique color for each size.
Lifting hand weights is great for toning and focusing on smaller muscle groups, giving you better definition. The interior of these dumbbells is made from balanced cast iron, while the outside is coated in neoprene, making the weights easy to grasp — even when your hands are sweaty.
You can use dumbbells on their own or add them to your cardio workouts for more intensity. These weights are sold individually with prices ranging from $1.99 to $29.99.

Best for a quick workout

Image: nike / mashable composite The Good Affordable • Adjustable length The Bad One reviewer noted the rope was too light for their needs The Bottom Line A jump rope provides a quick and easy workout while taking up virtually no space. 5. Jump rope Sneak in a quick cardio workout with this adjustable jump rope.

$15 from Dick's Sporting Goods You were probably a jump rope champ in elementary school gym class, but skipping rope is actually a really great cardio exercise for people of all ages. This Nike jump rope is affordable and comes in two colors.
This rope is made of durable, high-density plastic and you can adjust the length to fit your needs. With it you'll get fast, smooth rotations for a seamless workout — just try not to accidentally whip your ankles. 
You can sneak in a quick workout between meetings or assignments with this jump rope as it takes up very little space and requires almost no prepping. It's a great piece of exercise equipment if you're pressed for time but want to get in some cardio. P.S.: Try to be considerate if you have downstairs neighbors.

Best for a full-body workout

Image: p.volve / mashable The Good Works muscles throughout your whole body • Compact size The Bad Might be awkward to use at first • Bands might be too long if you're short The Bottom Line Imitate a pilates workout at home with this total-body toning system. 6. P.3 trainer Get in a total-body workout on your lunch break with this resistance trainer.

$69.99 from P.volve Dumbbells are great, but if you want a full-body tone, you need the P.3 trainer from P.volve. It's basically like a resistance band for your entire body. Depending on the exercise you do, the P.3 trainer will tone your arms, target your lower body, or engage your core.
With this one small piece of equipment, you can mimic the benefits of a pilates machine at home. It engages muscles from your ankles all the way up to your hands, truly giving you a total-body workout.
The P.3 trainer includes two resistance bands of different lengths, two ankle straps, an attachable handle, and an attachable 1.5-pound ball. Take a stretch break from working and use the P.3 standing or on a mat.

Best for all-day movement

Image: imovr / mashable composite The Good Super customizable • Allows you to walk while working • Desk is adjustable to walk, sit, or stand The Bad Expensive The Bottom Line This desk allows you to be as active as you want while working throughout the day. 7. Treadmill desk Be active all day with this treadmill desk.

$2,392 from iMovR We're gettin' fancy here with this treadmill desk. This is the ultimate WFH workout setup. It combines a treadmill base with an adjustable standing desk to give you options throughout the day — you can walk, stand, or sit.
The desk features a control pad where you're able to adjust the treadmill and you're able to have multiple user profiles on the treadmill, so you can share with anyone else in your household who might work from home. The desk also comes with a monitor arm, so you can adjust your monitor to the correct position depending on how you're using the desk.
This setup is super customizable with different tabletop materials and colors, base colors, monitor arms, keyboard trays, and more. This is a super great setup for someone who likes to be active throughout the day and gets sick of sitting for eight hours straight. It's not cheap, but that's to be expected for what you're getting.

Best for cardio

Image: fitdesk / mashable composite The Good Affordable • Supportive seat back • Folds up for easy storage The Bad Not comfortable enough for all-day use The Bottom Line This bike allows for a super engaging workout while doing other tasks. 8. Bike desk This bike desk allows you to do a full-on cardio workout while working on your computer.

$299.99 from FitDesk If you're more of a biker than a walker, you might prefer this stationary bike desk. This is a folding exercise bike with an adjustable desk platform that gives you the ability to get in a full cardio workout while typing away at your laptop or tablet.
Unlike the treadmill desk, this bike desk is not really suitable for all-day use — unless you're cool with your ass hurting. It does have a seat back for some added comfort, but it's connected to a bike seat, which is not the most comfortable for prolonged sitting.
The bike is adjustable and is optimized to be as comfortable as it can be. The desk has a built-in tablet holder and storage, so it's a legit work surface. It even features resistance bands for some upper-body exercise, too. For what you're getting, this thing is actually really affordable at $300.