10 Best Hack Squat Alternatives for Gym and Home

The Hack Squat is done standing with a machine. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Bodyweight Squat, the Squat To Overhead Reach and the Freehand Jump Squat.

Updated Ranked by our 12-factor similarity model How it works

Original Exercise: Hack Squat

Hack Squat
Primary muscle
Quads
Equipment
Machine
Difficulty
Intermediate
Type
Compound

Secondary muscles: Calves, Glutes, Hamstrings

How to perform Hack Squat
  1. Place the back of your torso against the back pad of the machine and hook your shoulders under the shoulder pads provided.
  2. Position your legs in the platform using a shoulder width medium stance with the toes slightly pointed out. Tip: Keep your head up at all times and also maintain the back on the pad at all times.
  3. Place your arms on the side handles of the machine and disengage the safety bars (which on most designs is done by moving the side handles from a facing front position to a diagonal position).
  4. Now straighten your legs without locking the knees. This will be your starting position. (Note: For the purposes of this discussion we will use the medium stance described above which targets overall development; however you can choose any of the three stances described in the foot positioning section).
  5. Begin to slowly lower the unit by bending the knees as you maintain a straight posture with the head up (back on the pad at all times). Continue down until the angle between the upper leg and the calves becomes slightly less than 90-degrees (which is the point in which the upper legs are below parallel to the floor). Inhale as you perform this portion of the movement. Tip: If you performed the exercise correctly, the front of the knees should make an imaginary straight line with the toes that is perpendicular to the front. If your knees are past that imaginary line (if they are past your toes) then you are placing undue stress on the knee and the exercise has been performed incorrectly.
  6. Begin to raise the unit as you exhale by pushing the floor with mainly with the heel of your foot as you straighten the legs again and go back to the starting position.
  7. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
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Ranked Hack Squat Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Hack Squat on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Open "How to perform this exercise" on a card for the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.

  1. Best match
    Bodyweight Squat

    1. Bodyweight Squat

    89% match
    • Quads
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Compound

    Use this when you have nothing to train with, because it works the quads with bodyweight alone.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. You can place your hands behind your head. This will be your starting position.
    2. Begin the movement by flexing your knees and hips, sitting back with your hips.
    3. Continue down to full depth if you are able,and quickly reverse the motion until you return to the starting position. As you squat, keep your head and chest up and push your knees out.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: two-legged squat, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Hack Squat
  2. Squat To Overhead ReachPlay demonstration

    2. Squat To Overhead Reach

    85% match
    • Quads
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and toes slightly turned out.
    2. Lower your body down into a squat position by bending your knees and pushing your hips back.
    3. As you come up from the squat, extend your arms overhead, reaching towards the ceiling.
    4. Return to the starting position by lowering your arms and bending your knees to squat down again.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Hack Squat
  3. Freehand Jump Squat

    3. Freehand Jump Squat

    84% match
    • Quads
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Cross your arms over your chest.
    2. With your head up and your back straight, position your feet at shoulder width.
    3. Keeping your back straight and chest up, squat down as you inhale until your upper thighs are parallel, or lower, to the floor.
    4. Now pressing mainly with the ball of your feet, jump straight up in the air as high as possible, using the thighs like springs. Exhale during this portion of the movement.
    5. When you touch the floor again, immediately squat down and jump again.
    6. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: two-legged squat, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Hack Squat
  4. Squat To Overhead Reach With TwistPlay demonstration

    4. Squat To Overhead Reach With Twist

    84% match
    • Quads
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and toes slightly turned out.
    2. Lower your body into a squat position by bending your knees and pushing your hips back.
    3. As you come up from the squat, raise your arms overhead and twist your torso to one side.
    4. Return to the starting position and repeat the squat, this time twisting your torso to the opposite side.
    5. Continue alternating sides with each squat repetition.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Hack Squat
  5. QuadsPlay demonstration

    5. Quads

    83% match
    • Quads
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
    2. Lower your body by bending your knees and pushing your hips back as if sitting on a chair.
    3. Keep your chest up and your back straight.
    4. Lower yourself until your thighs are parallel to the ground.
    5. Push through your heels to return to the starting position.
    6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Hack Squat
  6. Semi Squat JumpPlay demonstration

    6. Semi Squat Jump

    81% match
    • Quads
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
    2. Bend your knees and lower your body into a squat position.
    3. Jump explosively, extending your hips and knees while swinging your arms for momentum.
    4. Land softly on the balls of your feet and immediately go into the next repetition.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: two-legged squat, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Hack Squat
  7. Bench Jump

    7. Bench Jump

    75% match
    • Quads
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Begin with a box or bench 1-2 feet in front of you. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. This will be your starting position.
    2. Perform a short squat in preparation for the jump; swing your arms behind you.
    3. Rebound out of this position, extending through the hips, knees, and ankles to jump as high as possible. Swing your arms forward and up.
    4. Jump over the bench, landing with the knees bent, absorbing the impact through the legs.
    5. Turn around and face the opposite direction, then jump back over the bench.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Hack Squat
  8. Rocket Jump

    8. Rocket Jump

    75% match
    • Quads
    • Bodyweight
    • Advanced
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Begin in a relaxed stance with your feet shoulder width apart and hold your arms close to the body.
    2. To initiate the move, squat down halfway and explode back up as high as possible.
    3. Fully extend your entire body, reaching overhead as far as possible. As you land, absorb your impact through the legs.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Hack Squat
  9. Sissy SquatPlay demonstration

    9. Sissy Squat

    75% match
    • Quads
    • Bodyweight
    • Advanced
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your toes pointing slightly outward.
    2. Hold onto a stable object for balance if needed.
    3. Slowly lower your body by bending your knees and leaning back, keeping your torso upright.
    4. Continue lowering until your thighs are parallel to the ground or as far as you can comfortably go.
    5. Pause for a moment, then push through your heels to return to the starting position.
    6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: two-legged squat, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Hack Squat
  10. Backward JumpPlay demonstration

    10. Backward Jump

    75% match
    • Quads
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
    2. Bend your knees slightly and jump backwards, pushing off with both feet.
    3. Land softly on the balls of your feet, bending your knees to absorb the impact.
    4. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: quads, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Hack Squat
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Hack Squat

Why You Might Need a Hack Squat Alternative

You might replace the hack squat because the machine isn’t available, you feel anterior knee pain, or you want unilateral work to fix imbalances. The hack squat is a knee-dominant compound that emphasizes knee extension over hip extension; substitutions let you shift load distribution and reduce joint shear. For example, front squats force a more upright torso and increase core demand while maintaining quad bias. Use cues such as 'keep weight on the midfoot, knees tracking outward' and adjust foot height, lower foot placement increases distal quad (vastus medialis) activation, so you maintain the target muscle engagement while changing the movement pattern.

Hack Squat FAQ

What muscles does Hack Squat work?

The hack squat primarily targets the quadriceps, vastus lateralis, medialis, and rectus femoris, while the glutes and hamstrings act as secondary stabilizers. Keep feet shoulder-width and drive through the midfoot to emphasize quad recruitment and limit hip-dominant compensation.

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Similarity scores compare exercise metadata such as movement pattern, muscles, equipment and body position. They are not a safety rating or a check that you own the equipment. Learn about our methodology