Gym etiquette: 12 things everyone appreciates

A short list of the unwritten rules — from putting weights back to sharing a machine — so your first day does not feel like trespassing.

The fear of "what if I do something stupid" keeps people out of the gym more than any workout does. Here is the whole list — it is short and none of it is complicated.

The basics

Put the weights back where they were. This is rule number one and the only thing that genuinely annoys people.
Wipe the equipment down after you. A towel or a spray — every serious gym has them.
Do not leave your things on a machine while you go and use your phone. If you pause for more than 2–3 minutes, the machine is free.
Do not stand right in front of the dumbbell rack while you train — nobody else can reach the weights.

Sharing equipment

Asking is normal. "How many sets do you have left?" is a perfectly ordinary question.
Alternating sets is the best solution when the gym is busy: you do a set, they do a set.
Strip your plates off the bar when you finish, all of them — do not leave two plates on "in case someone needs them".

Safety and space

Do not walk right in front of someone who is lifting. Go around, even if it takes longer.
Ask for a spot without embarrassment — everyone does it and everyone helps. Say how many reps you are aiming for.
Do not give unsolicited advice. Even when it is correct, 9 times out of 10 it is not welcome. The exception is something genuinely dangerous.

Phone and music

Headphones, not a speaker.
Film only yourself, and frame it so other people are not in the shot. In the changing room the phone stays in the bag, no exceptions.

What are not rules (though people think they are)

You do not need to know how every machine works. Ask the staff — that is what they are there for.
You do not need to lift heavy to "earn" your place. An empty bar is a legitimate workout.
You do not need to look fit to walk in. Everyone in the room started somewhere, usually weaker than you imagine.
You do not need expensive gear. Trainers, a t-shirt, a water bottle.

If someone else behaves badly

Say it calmly and briefly ("Sorry, could you put the weights back?"), or tell the staff. An argument in the middle of the gym never ends well and ruins your session more than somebody else's mess.