8 Pieces of Gym Equipment for Glute Training

Bottom line: The power rack is the one purchase that pays off in every scenario. It supports barbell hip thrusts, squats, and lunges. It is also one of four glute-focused equipment options on this list currently sold as an active WorkoutHealthy listing, alongside the hip adductor/abductor machine, the leg press machine, and adjustable dumbbells.

If you're deciding between equipment options for a facility, skip the specialty glute-isolation units below because none currently ship. Start with the rack or a set of adjustable dumbbells instead.

Not everyone reading this owns the equipment. If you're a member at a commercial gym, Planet Fitness or otherwise, you're looking for which machines to use, not which to buy.

Jump to the "if you don't own this" column in the table below, or skip straight to the FAQ. If you're outfitting a facility or a home gym, the sections below cover real pricing, availability, and buying decisions.

Quick Decision Summary

• Buying for a home gym: Start with a power rack and adjustable dumbbells. Together they cover hip thrusts, squats, lunges, and single-leg work without a dedicated glute machine.
• Buying for a commercial facility: Add the leg press and hip abductor/adductor machine once budget allows, both are active, in-stock listings built for daily commercial use.
• Using a gym you don't own (Planet Fitness or similar): Look for a squat rack, a leg press, and a hip abductor/adductor machine on the floor. They cover the same movement patterns described below.
• Want a dedicated glute-isolation machine (kickback, hip thrust machine, glute ham raise/hyperextension, barbell pad): none of these are currently active listings at WorkoutHealthy. Use the rack-and-dumbbell alternatives noted in the table until they're back in stock.

Glute Equipment Comparison at a Glance

The barbell hip thrust pad, glute kickback machine, glute ham raise/back extension machine, and hip thrust machine prices above are WorkoutHealthy's own review of current commercial listings across several manufacturers, since none of those four types has an active WorkoutHealthy SKU right now. The hip adductor/abductor machine, leg press machine, power rack, and adjustable dumbbell prices are our own listed prices for those active items.

8 Pieces of Gym Equipment for Glute Training

#1 Barbell Hip Thrust Pad

A barbell hip thrust pad sits between the bar and your hips during hip thrusts, distributing pressure so the bar doesn't dig in. It also works for squats and lunges.

This item is currently not an active listing at WorkoutHealthy. Check our Glute & Hip Thrust Machines collection for availability, or fold a gym mat or towel over the bar in the meantime.

#2 Glute Kickback Machine

A glute kickback machine isolates one glute at a time using a "donkey kick" style movement, letting you target the muscle without involving the rest of the body.

This machine is currently not an active listing at WorkoutHealthy. See the Glute & Hip Thrust Machines collection for what's currently available, or substitute a cable kickback attachment or resistance band.

#3 Glute Ham Raise / Back Extension Machine

A glute ham raise (or back extension) machine trains the glutes and hamstrings together as part of the posterior chain, using bodyweight as resistance. It also engages the lower back and core as stabilizers.

This machine is currently not an active listing at WorkoutHealthy. See the Back Workout Machines collection for current availability, or use a 45-degree hyperextension bench if your gym has one.

#4 Hip Adductor/Abductor Machine

The adductor side isn't essential for glute development on its own, but the TKO Strength Signature Hip Abduction/Adduction Machine (7015-G2) combines both movements in one station. The hip abductor works the outer glutes and hips; the adductor works the inner thigh.

It has a 200 lb. weight stack, swiveling thigh pads, and an adjustable range of motion. Priced at $3,800 to $4,000, it's an active WorkoutHealthy listing. It's also one of the more common machines you'll find on a commercial gym floor.

#5 Leg Press Machine

The Body-Solid Commercial Leg Press Machine loads the glutes as part of a compound lower-body movement, along with the quads and hamstrings. Different foot positions shift emphasis across those muscle groups.

It's plate-loaded with a 1,500 lb. carriage capacity, an extra-wide footplate, and an adjustable back pad. Priced at $3,300 to $3,500, it's an active listing. It's standard equipment at nearly every commercial gym.

#6 Hip Thrust Machine

A hip thrust machine uses a guided track to replicate the barbell hip thrust movement without needing a bar or bench. Research comparing the back squat to the barbell hip thrust found greater gluteus maximus muscle activity during the hip thrust (Contreras et al., 2015). That's the same hip-extension pattern these machines are built around.

This machine is currently not an active listing at WorkoutHealthy. Dedicated plate-loaded hip thrust machines from other manufacturers commonly run $2,200 to $3,700. See the Glute & Hip Thrust Machines collection for availability, or do barbell hip thrusts off a bench inside a power rack instead.

#7 Power Rack

A power rack supports the widest range of barbell exercises tied to glute training: hip thrusts with a bench, squats, lunges, and deadlifts. Adjustable safety bars let you lift heavier with a spotter substitute built in.

The Body-Solid GPR400 Power Rack is priced at $800 to $880 and is an active listing, a 1,000 lb rated, bare cage built for hip thrusts, squats, lunges, and deadlifts. Pair it with a bench for hip thrust work.

#8 Dumbbells

Adjustable dumbbells, while not machines, cover exercises a machine can't: lunges, step-ups, single-leg RDLs, and glute bridges, all trained one side at a time.

Check out our guide to 25 dumbbell glute exercises for the full exercise list. Active options range from the PowerBlock Elite EXP 50 ($375 to $425) to the PowerBlock Elite EXP 90 ($775 to $825). You don't need to go heavy to cover most of these movements.

What Actually Separates These Options

Once you set aside brand names, these eight items split into four categories based on what they do mechanically:

• Hip extension/hip thrust pattern: the barbell hip thrust pad, glute kickback machine, and hip thrust machine all load the same basic movement, driving the hips forward against resistance. A power rack and bench can replicate this pattern without a dedicated machine.
• Compound lower-body pressing: the leg press machine and power rack (for squats) load the glutes as part of a multi-joint movement, along with the quads and hamstrings.
• Hip abduction/adduction: the hip adductor/abductor machine isolates the muscles on the outside and inside of the hip. It contributes to how the glutes look from behind but doesn't replace direct hip extension work.
• Posterior chain/hip hinge: the glute ham raise/back extension machine trains the glutes and hamstrings together using bodyweight resistance.
• Free-weight/unilateral: dumbbells add single-leg and single-side work that machines can't replicate as easily.

Loading style differs too: some are pin-loaded stack machines (hip adductor/abductor), some are plate-loaded (leg press, power rack), and some use bodyweight or free weights (glute ham raise, dumbbells).

That distinction matters more for a facility's budget and maintenance than for which one "works better." Plate-loaded and pin-loaded machines both train the same muscles when used with proper form.

Home Gym Owner vs. Commercial Gym or Studio

If You're Building a Home Gym

Prioritize equipment that does more than one job. A power rack and a set of adjustable dumbbells cover hip thrusts, squats, lunges, step-ups, and single-leg work in the footprint a single dedicated glute machine would take up.

Add a leg press or hip adductor/abductor machine later if floor space and budget allow. Both are more useful once your basic strength work is established.

If You're Buying for a Commercial Gym or Studio

Members expect variety, and a facility can support single-purpose equipment that a home gym can't justify. The hip adductor/abductor machine and leg press are both active WorkoutHealthy listings built for daily commercial use.

Specialty glute-isolation machines (kickback, dedicated hip thrust units, glute ham raise benches) round out a glute-focused corner once member demand supports the investment. None of those three specific machines are currently active listings here. Plan for a lead time, or use a rack-and-bench setup in the meantime.

Building a Glute Station With What's Actually In Stock: A Cost Breakdown

Four of the eight equipment options in this guide don't currently have an active WorkoutHealthy listing. Here's what it actually costs to cover the same movement patterns using only what's active today.

Full commercial setup (4 equipment stations):

• Body-Solid GPR400 Power Rack: $800 to $880
• Body-Solid Commercial Leg Press Machine: $3,300 to $3,500
• TKO Strength Signature Hip Abduction/Adduction Machine (7015-G2): $3,800 to $4,000
• PowerBlock Elite EXP 90 Adjustable Dumbbell Set: $775 to $825
• Total: roughly $8,700 to $9,250 for four movement patterns, hip thrust/squat (rack), compound press (leg press), abduction/adduction (isolation machine), and unilateral free-weight work (dumbbells).

Budget setup (2 pieces):

• Body-Solid GPR400 Power Rack: $800 to $880
• PowerBlock Elite EXP 50 Adjustable Dumbbell Set: $375 to $425
• Total: roughly $1,200 to $1,350, a rack and a set of adjustable dumbbells alone can run barbell hip thrusts, squats, lunges, step-ups, and single-leg RDLs, which overlaps with 5 of the 8 exercise patterns in this guide.

That's roughly a $7,350 to $8,050 gap between the two setups, covering two movement patterns that a rack and dumbbells can't fully replace: direct hip abduction/adduction and heavy compound leg pressing.

Whether that gap is worth closing depends on your floor space. It also depends on how many members will actually use a dedicated abduction/adduction or leg press station versus the free-weight area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What machines should I use for glutes at a commercial gym like Planet Fitness?

Look for a squat/power rack, a leg press machine, and a hip abductor/adductor machine, nearly every commercial gym has some version of all three. If the gym has a dedicated hip thrust machine or glute kickback machine, those work too, but they're less universally available than the first three.

Do I need a dedicated hip thrust machine to grow my glutes?

No. A barbell hip thrust done with a bench and a squat rack loads the same movement pattern.

Research comparing the back squat to the barbell hip thrust found greater gluteus maximus muscle activity during the hip thrust (Contreras et al., 2015). That's the same hip-extension pattern dedicated hip thrust machines are built around.

What's the actual difference between a hip thrust machine and a glute kickback machine?

A hip thrust machine loads hip extension with both legs at once, close to a barbell hip thrust. A glute kickback machine isolates one leg at a time in a single-joint movement. Both target the glutes, but they load them differently.

Is a power rack or a leg press machine the better first purchase?

For most buyers, the power rack. It supports more exercises, hip thrusts with a bench, squats, lunges, deadlifts, than a leg press, which is limited to one pressing pattern. Add a leg press later if budget and space allow.

How much does it cost to set up glute training equipment at home versus a commercial gym?

A home setup built around a power rack and adjustable dumbbells starts around $1,200 to $1,350. A fuller commercial setup that adds a leg press and a hip abductor/adductor machine runs closer to $8,700 to $9,250. See the cost breakdown above for the full math.

Why doesn't WorkoutHealthy currently sell a dedicated hip thrust or glute kickback machine?

Those specific machines, the hip thrust pad, glute kickback machine, glute ham raise/back extension machine, and dedicated hip thrust machine, aren't active listings in our catalog right now. Check the Glute & Hip Thrust Machines collection for current availability, or use the power rack and dumbbell alternatives covered in this guide in the meantime.

Bottom Line

If you're outfitting a facility or home gym today, start with the power rack, it is one of the most flexible purchases on this list and one of four glute-focused equipment options currently active in our catalog.

Add a set of adjustable dumbbells next; together they cover hip thrusts, squats, lunges, and single-leg work without needing a dedicated glute machine.

To browse the full category, including new arrivals as specialty machines come back in stock, visit our Butt Gym Equipment collection.

If you're using equipment you don't own, at a commercial gym like Planet Fitness or elsewhere, the squat rack, leg press, and hip abductor/adductor machine are your most reliable options on any gym floor. See the FAQ above for specifics.

References and Sources

• Contreras, B.M., Vigotsky, A.D., Schoenfeld, B.J., Beardsley, C., & Cronin, J. (2015). A Comparison of Gluteus Maximus, Biceps Femoris, and Vastus Lateralis Electromyographic Activity in the Back Squat and Barbell Hip Thrust Exercises. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 31(6), 452 to 458. PubMed 26214739