10 Best Smith Leg Press Alternatives for Home and Gym

Ranked Smith Leg Press Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Smith Leg Press 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

   Play demonstration

   1. Potty Squat With Support

   76% match

   • Glutes
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

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

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, toes pointing slightly outward.
   2. Hold onto a stable support, such as a chair or wall, for balance.
   3. Lower your body down into a squat position by bending your knees and pushing your hips back.
   4. Keep your chest up and your back straight throughout the movement.
   5. Pause for a moment at the bottom, 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 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Smith Leg Press
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Smith Leg Press
2. Play demonstration

   2. Jump Squat

   71% match

   • Glutes
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
   2. Lower your body into a squat position by bending your knees and pushing your hips back.
   3. Jump explosively off the ground, extending your hips, knees, and ankles.
   4. While in mid-air, quickly bring your arms forward for balance.
   5. Land softly on the balls of your feet and immediately go into the next repetition.
   6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Smith Leg Press
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Smith Leg Press
3. Play demonstration

   3. Bodyweight Drop Jump Squat

   69% match

   • Glutes
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
   2. Lower your body into a squat position by bending your knees and pushing your hips back.
   3. Jump up explosively, extending your hips, knees, and ankles.
   4. While in mid-air, quickly bring your feet together.
   5. Land softly on the balls of your feet and immediately drop back into a squat position.
   6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Smith Leg Press
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Smith Leg Press
4. 

   4. Bodyweight Squat

   64% match

   • Quads
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   A looser match: it works the quads rather than the glutes.

   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

   • Primary muscle: quads, not glutes
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Smith Leg Press
5. Play demonstration

   5. March Sit (Wall)

   63% match

   • Glutes
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   Pick this when you want an easier version that works the glutes one side at a time.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your back against a wall and your feet hip-width apart.
   2. Slowly slide your back down the wall until your knees are bent at a 90-degree angle.
   3. Lift your right foot off the ground and bring your knee towards your chest.
   4. Lower your right foot back down and lift your left foot off the ground, bringing your knee towards your chest.
   5. Continue alternating between lifting your right and left foot for the desired number of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Smith Leg Press
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Smith Leg Press
6. Play demonstration

   6. Squat To Overhead Reach

   61% 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, not glutes
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Smith Leg Press
7. Play demonstration

   7. Bodyweight Squatting Row

   60% match

   • Lats
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   A looser match: it works the lats rather than the glutes.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding onto a sturdy object or suspension trainer with your arms extended.
   2. Lower your body into a squat position, keeping your back straight and your knees behind your toes.
   3. From the squat position, pull your body up towards the object or suspension trainer, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
   4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your body back down to the starting position.
   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: lats, not glutes
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Smith Leg Press
8. 

   8. Freehand Jump Squat

   60% 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

   • Primary muscle: quads, not glutes
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Smith Leg Press
9. Play demonstration

   9. Potty Squat

   60% match

   • Abs
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, toes pointing slightly outward.
   2. Lower your body down by bending your knees and pushing your hips back as if you were sitting on a chair.
   3. Keep your chest up and your back straight throughout the movement.
   4. Lower yourself until your thighs are parallel to the ground or as low as you can comfortably go.
   5. Pause for a moment at the bottom, 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 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, not glutes
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Smith Leg Press
10. 

    10. Sit Squats

    60% match

    • Quadriceps
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Compound

    How to perform this exercise

    1. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. This will be your starting position.
    2. Begin the movement by flexing your knees and hips, sitting back with your hips.
    3. Continue until you have squatted a portion of the way down, but are above parallel, and quickly reverse the motion until you return to the starting position. Repeat for 5-10 repetitions.

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

    Why this matches

    • Primary muscle: quadriceps, not glutes
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
    • Body position: standing, not seated
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Smith Leg Press