Unspoken Gym Etiquette

Good luck with your fitness journey.

I will add one. If you arrive to an exercise class at the last minute and it is busy, take a space where there is one. You may feel more comfortable at the back, but it's rude to squash people who got to the class in good time, so they then have to go at the front.

It is OK to ask how long someone is going to be using a piece of equipment if you want to use it next, but wait until they have finished their set.
Ask if you want to use a weight off someone else's station.
Only use squat racks for exercises where you are actually using it to rack a bar, not for curls, press-ups etc or just admiring yourself in the mirror.
Put weights away after you've used them.
You should get an induction on how to use the machines the first time you go for H&S reasons, but don't be afraid to ask if you've forgotten.

I just move the towel...

Don't hog two pieces of equipment at once for alternating sets by leaving a towel on the one you're not using.

If it's your first time doing a class then try to arrive a few minutes early so you can let the instructor know. This is especially relevant for any class that uses weights (eg Body Pump) because they'll need to show you what you need and how to set everything up.

Don't set up your phone to film yourself directly in front of the kettlebell storage so others can't access the equipment.

I would go further and say don't set up your phone to film yourself in the gym at all as it's just annoying for other gymgoers who may not want to star in your TikTok or Instagram reel!

Don't hog a machine for 15-20 minutes by spending 30 seconds on each set, and then 5 minutes in between each set looking at your phone.

But as per another poster above, no need to feel like you don't belong. Everybody is just trying to do the same as you and improve themselves.

I’ll add another one. Don’t call people who are seasoned gym goers ‘gym bunnies’.

If there's a length of turf for sleds/lunges etc don't set yourself up a glute bridge station directly across it. Don't set up your phone to film yourself directly in front of the kettlebell storage so others can't access the equipment. Don't leave the bar loaded with 200kg.
All of these happen frequently and really annoy me.

Oh and not etiquette but be confident - you belong there as much as anybody. Whether it's your first time and you're using 2kg weights or you live there and you're throwing around 60kg dumbbells. Don't let anyone make you feel you shouldn't be there.

Ask for advice if using a machine for the first time! The employees are normally happy to help out and show you, but just guessing and pushing buttons can end in disastrous results (don't ask me how I know 😂)

Put the weights back in the correct slot.

Don't clank your weights. If you do, they're too heavy for you. In fairness, it's nearly always men that do this. It makes me jump out of my skin.

Clean the equipment you've used for the next person.

Watch where you're going - it's really easy to accidentally get in someone's way!

Don't sit on your phone for aaaaasages hogging the machines.

Put your weights back

I've noticed it varies a lot from gym to gym (not helpful) but the two key things are to wipe down equipment after use, nobody wants to touch your sweat, and not to hog one piece of machinery if it busy and people are waiting around.