Is Workout Equipment HSA or FSA Eligible? (2026 Guide)

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Is Workout Equipment HSA/FSA Eligible?

Yes, workout equipment is HSA/FSA eligible, but there's an important requirement you need to know about: you need a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) to use your HSA or FSA funds.

Here is the logic. IRS Publication 502 defines medical expenses broadly, as the costs of "diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease." Workout equipment is a "dual-purpose" item within that definition: the same treadmill can help someone train for a marathon (general fitness, not eligible) or help someone with cardiovascular disease improve their heart health (a specific medical purpose, eligible with documentation). The LMN is that documentation: it connects your equipment purchase to your health condition.

New to these accounts? Start with our HSA vs FSA guide.

What Conditions Qualify Workout Equipment for HSA/FSA?

The list of qualifying conditions is broader than most people realize:

• Cardiovascular conditions (heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol)
• Metabolic conditions (Type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, obesity)
• Musculoskeletal conditions (back pain, arthritis, osteoporosis)
• Mental health conditions (anxiety, depression, stress-related disorders)
• Respiratory conditions (asthma, COPD)
• Preventive care for those at risk of developing these conditions

The qualifying logic is simple: if a licensed provider would recommend regular exercise to help prevent, manage, or reverse one of these conditions, your workout equipment likely qualifies for HSA/FSA coverage. Several of these appear in Publication 502 by name: its weight-loss rule covers amounts paid "if it is a treatment for a specific disease diagnosed by a physician (such as obesity, hypertension, or heart disease)." And because that same definition of medical expenses explicitly includes prevention, you don't have to wait for a condition to develop: with risk factors like family history, elevated blood pressure, or prediabetes, exercise recommended to keep a condition from developing qualifies the same way.

What Types of Workout Equipment Qualify?

Nearly any home fitness equipment can qualify with proper documentation, so the best HSA approved exercise equipment is whatever supports the exercise your provider recommends for your condition. Here's a breakdown by category:

Cardio Equipment (Treadmills, Bikes, Rowers)

Cardiovascular equipment is the most commonly purchased category for HSA/FSA reimbursement. This makes sense: the American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week for heart health, and cardio equipment makes that achievable at home.

What qualifies:

• Treadmills (manual and motorized)
• Stationary bikes (upright, recumbent, spin)
• Rowing machines
• Elliptical trainers
• Stair climbers
• Air bikes

It doesn't have to be expensive either: budget folding treadmills run $150 – $800, basic stationary bikes $150 – $400, and a manual treadmill is just as eligible as a Peloton Tread. The determining factor is your LMN, not the equipment's features.

Strength Equipment (Home Gyms, Free Weights)

Strength training equipment qualifies because the health case for resistance exercise is well documented: a peer-reviewed review in Current Sports Medicine Reports found it improves insulin sensitivity, increases bone mineral density, and reduces resting blood pressure.

What qualifies:

• Home gym systems (Tonal, BowFlex, cable machines)
• Free weights (dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells)
• Weight benches
• Resistance bands and tubes
• Pull-up bars and dip stations
• Power racks and squat stands

It's also the most affordable entry point: resistance band sets run $5 – $28, adjustable dumbbell sets $70 – $400. Nike Strength gear (dumbbells, benches, and bars) is eligible with an LMN like any other free weights.

Smart Fitness Equipment

Connected fitness equipment is HSA/FSA eligible with an LMN, and its built-in tracking can help document your health improvement over time. Connected equipment from Peloton, Tonal, Hydrow, and NordicTrack all qualifies; each is covered in the brand guide below.

Top HSA/FSA Eligible Workout Equipment Brands

Here are the most popular workout equipment brands. All six are eligible with a Letter of Medical Necessity; what differs is the price and the easiest way to buy.

Is Peloton HSA/FSA Eligible?

Yes, Peloton is HSA/FSA eligible with a Letter of Medical Necessity. This covers the Bike ($1,695), Bike+ ($2,695), and Tread ($3,295). Like any cardio equipment, Peloton qualifies when regular aerobic exercise is recommended to help prevent or manage a condition such as heart disease or high blood pressure.

For the full breakdown of eligibility, subscription coverage, and how to purchase, see our Peloton HSA/FSA Guide.

Is Tonal HSA/FSA Eligible?

Yes, Tonal is HSA/FSA eligible with a Letter of Medical Necessity. The Tonal 2 runs $4,295, plus a $495 required accessories bundle (smart handles, bar, rope, bench, and mat) that unlocks the full movement library. Tonal's wall-mounted trainer delivers strength training through electromagnetic resistance, and it qualifies for conditions including Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss), and metabolic syndrome.

For complete details on using HSA/FSA for Tonal, see our Tonal HSA/FSA Guide.

Is BowFlex HSA/FSA Eligible?

Yes, BowFlex equipment is HSA/FSA eligible with a Letter of Medical Necessity. The most popular BowFlex purchase for HSA/FSA users is the SelectTech 552 adjustable dumbbells ($399 a pair), which replace an entire rack of fixed weights. Like all strength equipment, they qualify when resistance training is part of your plan to prevent or manage a condition, from bone density to blood pressure to blood sugar control.

BowFlex's currently shipping lineup also includes treadmills, the Max Trainer hybrid elliptical/stepper, and cable and Power Rod home gym systems; prices vary by model. BowFlex products are available at major retailers and BowFlex.com; buy with your personal card and get reimbursed through Crates, or use an HSA/FSA card where retailers accept one at checkout.

Is NordicTrack HSA/FSA Eligible?

Yes, NordicTrack equipment is HSA/FSA eligible with a Letter of Medical Necessity. The flagship Commercial 1750 treadmill runs $1,999 – $2,299 depending on current sales; the lineup also includes studio bikes, rowers, and ellipticals with iFIT programming. NordicTrack machines qualify the same way other cardio equipment does: when regular aerobic exercise is recommended for heart health, weight management, or a metabolic condition.

NordicTrack is also one of the most HSA/FSA-friendly brands to buy from: through their Truemed partnership, NordicTrack.com accepts HSA/FSA cards directly at checkout.

Is Hydrow HSA/FSA Eligible?

Yes, Hydrow is HSA/FSA eligible with a Letter of Medical Necessity. The Hydrow Rower runs $1,745 – $2,195 and the smaller Hydrow Wave $1,695 – $1,995, depending on retailer sales. Rowing delivers a full-body, low-impact cardio workout, which is why Hydrow qualifies for conditions including cardiovascular disease, obesity, arthritis, back pain (when low-impact exercise is recommended), and metabolic conditions.

For complete details, see our Hydrow HSA/FSA Guide.

Is Concept2 HSA/FSA Eligible?

Yes, Concept2 equipment is HSA/FSA eligible with a Letter of Medical Necessity. Concept2 is the gold standard for rowing machines: the RowErg (formerly known as the Model D) is the most popular rowing machine in the world at $990, or $1,155 with tall legs. Like any rowing machine, it qualifies when full-body, low-impact cardio is recommended for your condition.

Concept2 also makes the BikeErg and SkiErg for cycling and upper-body cardio. The equipment is known for durability (many units last 15 to 20 years), and the PM5 performance monitor tracks every workout, documenting your exercise program.

How Much Can You Save?

Using HSA/FSA funds for workout equipment means paying with pre-tax dollars, and your actual savings depend on your tax bracket. Here's what that looks like across all six brands in this guide:

Example: if you're in the 32% tax bracket, paying for a $4,295 Tonal with pre-tax dollars saves you approximately $1,374 in taxes, like getting a permanent discount on your home gym.

One more boost: contributions made through payroll also skip the 7.65% FICA tax, which is how total savings reach 30% or more for many buyers.

How to Get Your LMN for Workout Equipment

A Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) is documentation from a licensed healthcare provider stating that your workout equipment purchase is medically necessary for your specific health condition. Here's how to get one.

What Your LMN Should Include

Your LMN should specify:

• Your health condition: the specific condition(s) that exercise will help prevent, manage, or reverse
• The recommendation: that exercise or physical activity is part of your care plan
• The equipment needed: the specific type of equipment (or the specific product) recommended
• The medical rationale: how the equipment will help your condition
• Duration: how long the recommendation is valid (typically 12 months)

Important: Your LMN must be dated before your purchase. You cannot get an LMN after buying equipment and retroactively claim reimbursement.

Option 1: Through Your Doctor

You can request an LMN from your primary care physician or specialist.

Process:

• Schedule an appointment (expect a $50 – $150 copay depending on your insurance)
• Discuss your health condition and how exercise fits your care plan
• Request an LMN specifying workout equipment
• Receive documentation (may take 1 to 3 weeks)

Pros: uses your existing healthcare relationship. Cons: requires an appointment, potential copay, and doctors may be unfamiliar with LMN requirements.

Option 2: Through Crates (Recommended)

Crates connects you with licensed healthcare providers who specialize in HSA/FSA eligibility documentation.

Process:

• Complete a quick health assessment online (about 5 minutes)
• A licensed provider reviews your information (typically within 24 to 48 hours)
• If eligible, your LMN is issued and stored in your Crates account
• Purchase your equipment anywhere using your personal card
• Use Crates one-click reimbursement to get your HSA/FSA funds

Pros: fast, convenient, providers understand LMN requirements, includes reimbursement support. Cons: not using your existing doctor.

Crates also tracks your LMN's 12-month window and sends renewal reminders, so ongoing equipment purchases (like additional weights or a second cardio machine) are covered without a new letter each time.