Space & setup
Planning a Pilates studio layout
The short answer
Allow about 8 ft × 5 ft per reformer station including circulation, plus a 3 ft teaching aisle. A 900 sq ft studio holds 8–10 reformers comfortably with reception and storage. Orientation matters: all machines should face the teaching position.
Station spacing and circulation
The machine occupies 8 ft × 2 ft 3 in. Add 18 in between machines for clients to mount and dismount, and a 3 ft aisle for the teacher to move through. That works out to roughly 8 ft × 5 ft of allocated floor per station once circulation is shared.
Rows of machines should run parallel with a central or end aisle, so the teacher can reach every client without asking anyone to move.
| Room size | Reformers | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 600 sq ft | 5–6 | Tight; minimal reception |
| 900 sq ft | 8–10 | Comfortable with reception and storage |
| 1,200 sq ft | 12–14 | Room for a chair or Cadillac station |
| 1,800 sq ft | 18–20 | Two class spaces or a private room |
Orientation and sightlines
Every client should be able to see the teacher without turning their head awkwardly, and the teacher should be able to see every carriage. Machines facing a single teaching position achieves both; a horseshoe works in wider rooms.
Avoid facing machines into a mirror wall if you also teach prone work — clients spend a lot of the class unable to see anything useful, and the mirror mostly reflects the ceiling.
The things that get forgotten
Spring access on the outer machines: if you push the end reformer tight to a wall, changing its springs becomes a two-person job. Leave 18 in.
Storage for boxes, poles and mats — allow a dedicated 4 ft × 3 ft area, or they end up under the machines where they are a trip hazard.
Frequently asked questions
- How many reformers fit in 1,000 square feet?
- Around 10–12 including circulation, reception and storage. Purely as class floor, 1,000 sq ft would take more, but a working studio needs the ancillary space.
- How far apart should reformers be?
- About 18 in between adjacent frames for mounting and dismounting, plus a 3 ft teaching aisle somewhere in the room.
- Should reformers face a mirror?
- Useful for standing and seated work, less so for supine and prone repertoire. Many studios mirror one wall only.