Squat
Squat Machines for Home Gyms
A squat machine guides your squat along a set path and supports your back or hips, so you can load your legs hard with less need for a spotter. This section holds the squat machines we sell for home and garage gyms, from Smith machines to belt squat boxes.
| Quick fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Types covered | Smith, hack, combo, leverage, belt, pendulum, sissy |
| Resistance | Plates, belt loading or weight stack, by model |
| Brands we carry | Including Body-Solid, TAG Fitness, BodyKore, Ape, Apollo |
| Free shipping | Body-Solid, TAG Fitness, Spirit Fitness, Vortex |
| Also listed | Racks, cages and multi-station gyms |
| Planning help | Free 3D home gym design |
Want a free-weight barbell across your back instead? That calls for a rack, and our squat racks cover stands, half racks and cages.
Fitting out a studio, school or club? Look at our heavier builds for gyms and studios instead.
Searching for a foldable deep-squat glute trainer? That style is not listed here. This section holds gym-style machines for loaded leg work.
Which Squat Machine Types Do We Carry?
What are the different types of squat machines? Seven main types cover this section. They differ in the path the weight travels, where the load sits on your body and how much floor they take.
| Type | Suits | Example here | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smith machine | Solo squats and presses on a guided bar | Apollo IR-U2063 Smith Machine | Bar path is fixed, not free |
| Hack squat | Quad-focused squats with back support | HACK SQUAT (Ape) | Angle biases the quads |
| Leg press and hack combo | Two lifts in one frame | TAG Fitness Leg Press / Hack Squat Combo | Long frame; check floor length |
| Leverage squat | Compact squats on a lever arm | Body-Solid GSCL360B Leverage Squat Machine | Pad fit for your height |
| Belt squat | Leg work with nothing on your shoulders | BodyKore MX1182 Squat Box | Needs a flat, non-slip floor |
| Pendulum squat | Squats along a guided arc | Ape Plate Loaded Pendulum Squat | Longer footprint than most |
| Sissy squat | Quad isolation in a small footprint | Body-Solid GSS50B Sissy Squat | Limited loading options |
The Smith machine is the largest group here. Its bar rides a guided vertical path, so the machine handles the balance and you handle the load. The Apollo IR-U2063 Smith Machine adds multiple bar lock points, six plate storage horns and integrated pull-up grips. Set the catches below your lowest controlled depth, and line any bench up with the bar path.
Looking for a leg press for a home gym? Combo units are where to start. The TAG Fitness Plate Loaded Leg Press / Hack Squat Combo converts from a 45-degree leg press to a fully adjustable hack squat, and it loads through an under-carriage plate system.
A hack squat puts your back against a pad on an angled track, so the squat stays upright and the work shifts toward the quadriceps. York's ST Power Front Squat Hack Squat Combo adds a built-in weight storage system and a large adjustable footplate, and it comes in black, silver and white.
How Do Belt, Pendulum and Sissy Squats Differ?
These three change where the load sits and how your hips and knees move. Pick by your biggest limit:
- Nothing on your shoulders: belt squat
- Room for a longer machine: pendulum squat
- Least floor space: sissy squat stand
A belt squat hangs the weight from a belt at your hips. The BodyKore MX1182 Squat Box gives you a stable base for belt-loaded squats and works with bands.
A pendulum squat swings you along a guided arc, with plates on a lever arm and pads that brace your back and shoulders. The Ape Plate Loaded Pendulum Squat takes Olympic plates and has a wide, angled footplate for changing your stance.
A sissy squat stand braces your lower legs while you lean back and bend your knees, which isolates the quadriceps. The Body-Solid GSS50B has an adjustable leg pad and band attachment points, and BodyKore and York Barbell list sissy squat stands too.
How Much Room Does a Squat Machine Need?
Floor space is the first filter. These listed sizes, one machine for each of five types, show how far the types differ:
| Machine | Type | Listed size |
|---|---|---|
| Body-Solid GSCL360B | Leverage squat | 62"L x 43"W x 56"H |
| Apollo IR-U2063 | Smith machine | 87.2" x 60.2" footprint, 86.2" tall |
| TAG Fitness combo | Leg press and hack | 104"L x 40"W x 54"H |
| Ape Pendulum Squat | Pendulum squat | 2300 x 1000 x 1850 mm |
| HACK SQUAT (Ape) | Hack squat | 1360 x 1500 x 1500 mm |
Smith, combo and pendulum machines can run longer than 7 ft, so measure your room and the route to it before you pick a type.
The Body-Solid GSCL360B Leverage Squat Machine is the compact option. It pairs a foot platform set at 20 degrees with extra-thick, contoured shoulder and back pads on a frame of 3 x 3 in., 12-gauge steel.
The two Ape machines are listed in millimeters, and 2300 mm is about 7.5 ft. Body-Solid publishes a GSCL360B data sheet. TAG publishes a combo brochure for its leg press and hack squat unit.
Weighing a Smith machine against a rack? Our Smith machine vs power rack guide compares bar control, solo safety and the room each one takes.
How Do You Choose a Squat Machine for Home?
Choose by room first, then by the way you want to train. Six checks settle most decisions:
- ✅ A movement path that matches your goal
- ✅ Plates, belt or stack, based on what you own
- ✅ Pads and footplate that adjust to your height
- ✅ Safety stops you can reach when training alone
- ✅ A capacity the maker publishes for the exact model
- ✅ Frame and warranty details on the product page
Choose a Smith machine or leverage squat if you train alone and want the path fixed for you. Choose a combo if you want a leg press and a hack squat from one frame; our hack squat vs leg press guide shows how the two lifts load the legs differently. If you train around pain or a diagnosed back condition, ask a clinician which pattern suits you first.
Add isolation work once your squat pattern is set. Our leg extension and curl range trains the quads and hamstrings one joint at a time.
Squat Machine Questions
How much does a squat machine cost?
It depends on the type and the build. In this section, sissy squat stands and belt-squat boxes sit at the low end, while Smith machines, plate-loaded combos and pendulum machines cost more.
Each product page shows the live price. Plate-loaded machines need plates you add yourself, which raises the total.
What are the benefits of using a squat machine?
A fixed path and built-in support let you push your legs hard with less need for a spotter and little balance demand. That makes solo and high-rep work easier to manage.
A machine does not replace free-weight squats for lifters who want that skill, so some home gyms hold both a machine and a rack.
What muscles do squat machines work?
Mainly the quadriceps and glutes, with the hamstrings, adductors and calves helping. The machine's path and your foot position shift the emphasis.
Hack and sissy squats lean toward the quads, while a belt squat loads the hips.
How to use a squat machine?
Set the pads, footplate and safety stops first, then start with a light load. Brace your core, lower under control to a depth where your lower back stays flat, and press back up.
Pad and stop settings differ by model, so follow the maker's manual for yours.
Plan Your Squat Setup
Not sure which type fits your room? Book a free 3D home gym design and our team will lay the space out in 3D. Installation is available when you buy equipment from us.
Hamilton Home Fitness ships from Tennessee to all 50 states, with 30-day returns on working, undamaged equipment in its original packaging (a restocking fee and return shipping apply). To check a footprint or ceiling height before you order, call or text 423-458-2453.
Secure Payments
