How far apart should reformers be?
Updated 6 October 2026
Leave 1.20 m (3′ 11″) between reformers side by side, and never less than 80 cm (2′ 7″). Keep an aisle of 1.20 m (3′ 11″) at the foot end for the instructor (90 cm (2′ 11″) at least), 60 cm (2′ 0″) behind the head end and 75 cm (2′ 6″) between a machine and a side wall.
Reformer spacing rules
These are the values the Reformer Studio Planner checks. Distances are measured between the outlines of the machines, frame to frame.
| Rule | Minimum | Recommended | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Space between machines, side by side | 80 cm2′ 7″ | 1.20 m3′ 11″ | Align: 60 cm per side; industry guides: 91 to 122 cm |
| Space between machines, staggered (offset 50 cm or more) | 75 cm2′ 6″ | 75 cm2′ 6″ | Your Reformer (AU): 75 cm |
| Space from a side wall | 60 cm2′ 0″ | 75 cm2′ 6″ | Your Reformer: 0.75 to 1 m |
| Space behind the head (wall or another machine) | 45 cm1′ 6″ | 60 cm2′ 0″ | Align: 45 cm; reformerpilates.com: 60 cm |
| Aisle at the foot end (instructor walkway) | 90 cm2′ 11″ | 1.20 m3′ 11″ | US industry guides: 36 in walkway, 3 to 4 ft aisle |
Guidelines, not building code. Check local fire-safety and accessibility regulations.
What each distance is for
- Space between machines, side by side
- Arms and straps move out to the side in many reformer exercises, and the instructor needs to step between machines to adjust a client.
- Space between machines, staggered (offset 50 cm or more)
- When neighbouring machines are shifted along their length, arms on one machine no longer line up with arms on the next, so the gap can be smaller.
- Space from a side wall
- Arm work next to a wall, and room to get on and off the machine on that side.
- Space behind the head (wall or another machine)
- Space behind the headrest for the shoulder rests, for straps and for the instructor to reach in. It applies to a wall or to the head end of another machine.
- Aisle at the foot end (instructor walkway)
- The walkway the instructor uses along the row, next to the footbar and the springs. When two rows face each other, one aisle serves both.
Can reformers be closer if they are staggered?
Yes, a little. If neighbouring reformers are shifted by 50 cm (1′ 8″) or more along their length, the planner accepts 75 cm (2′ 6″) between them instead of 1.20 m (3′ 11″). With the offset, the arm work of two neighbours no longer happens at the same point along the machines.
Which layout fits more reformers?
Auto-arrange in the planner offers two layouts. Which one fits more machines depends on the shape of the room.
- Facing across an aisle
- Two rows with the foot ends toward each other and one shared aisle in the middle. The heads point to the walls. It suits rooms about as deep as two reformers plus an aisle.
- All facing one way
- Every head points to the same wall and the rows stack away from it. Each row needs its own aisle at the foot end, so it uses more floor per machine, but it suits long, narrow rooms.
| Room | Facing across an aisle | All facing one way |
|---|---|---|
| 7.30 m × 7.30 m23′ 11″ × 23′ 11″ | 6 | 3 |
| 7.00 m × 12.00 m23′ 0″ × 39′ 4″ | 6 | 9 |
| 9.00 m × 10.00 m29′ 6″ × 32′ 10″ | 10 | 10 |
Reformers placed with recommended spacing by auto-arrange in the planner, using the standard reformer.
Questions
- How far apart should reformers be?
- Leave 1.20 m (3′ 11″) between reformers side by side, and never less than 80 cm (2′ 7″). Keep an aisle of 1.20 m (3′ 11″) at the foot end for the instructor (90 cm (2′ 11″) at least), 60 cm (2′ 0″) behind the head end and 75 cm (2′ 6″) between a machine and a side wall.
- How wide should the aisle at the foot end be?
- 1.20 m (3′ 11″) is recommended and 90 cm (2′ 11″) is the minimum. When two rows face each other, a single aisle between the foot ends serves both rows.
- How much space do you need behind the head of a reformer?
- 60 cm (2′ 0″) is recommended and 45 cm (1′ 6″) is the minimum, measured from the end of the frame to the wall or to the next machine.
- Can reformers be closer together if they are staggered?
- Yes, a little. If neighbouring reformers are shifted by 50 cm (1′ 8″) or more along their length, the planner accepts 75 cm (2′ 6″) between them instead of 1.20 m (3′ 11″). With the offset, the arm work of two neighbours no longer happens at the same point along the machines.