Hip thrust machine alternatives

A padded barbell or Smith bar provides another bench-supported hip thrust. A floor glute bridge offers bodyweight hip extension when a bench or loaded setup is unavailable.

The original uses the machine’s hip pad, back support and safety catch. Free and guided bars need their own bench, padding and secure start/finish; a floor bridge changes support, range and loading.

Anatomical illustration of a hip thrust machine at the lowered and raised positions, with the glutes highlighted.
What equipment can you use?

Choose everything you have. Some exercises need two items, such as dumbbells and a flat bench. Choose floor space for options without equipment.

Your replacements

Choose your equipment above to see replacements.

Compare all alternatives

These options need different equipment. Use the finder above to show only the setups you can use.

  • Two side-view anatomical illustrations of a woman performing a barbell hip thrust on a white background. In the left frame her upper back rests on a flat bench, her knees are bent, her hips hang low in front of the bench and she steadies a thickly padded barbell across her hips. In the right frame she has raised the bar until her torso and thighs are nearly level, with both feet flat and the bar still held in place. Red shading covers the buttocks and broad areas of the back, inner and front of both thighs, corresponding to the gluteal, hamstring, adductor and quadriceps regions.

    Similar movement

    Barbell hip thrust

    You need: Barbell and plates + Flat bench + Barbell hip pad

    Why it fits
    Keeps loaded hip extension with the upper back supported.
    What changes
    Secure the flat bench and place a padded free bar across the hip crease. You control the bar rather than a machine lever; use the guide’s setup and lower the plates before releasing it.
    See exercise guide
  • Two anatomical illustrations of a woman performing a Smith machine hip thrust with her upper back on a bench, hips lowered on the left and raised on the right, with red shading on the buttocks and legs.

    Similar movement

    Smith machine hip thrust

    You need: Smith machine + Flat bench + Barbell hip pad

    Why it fits
    Keeps bench-supported hip extension with a guided bar.
    What changes
    Secure the bench across the Smith machine, pad the bar and set its stops and hooks for the intended range. The bar’s rails replace the dedicated machine’s hip lever and release catch.
    See exercise guide
  • Anatomical illustration of a bodyweight glute bridge shown lying down and with the hips raised, with the gluteal region highlighted.

    Similar movement

    Glute bridge

    You need: Floor space (no equipment)

    Why it fits
    Keeps two-foot hip extension without external loading.
    What changes
    Lie with the shoulders on the floor and both feet planted. The floor replaces the machine’s upper-back support, and bodyweight replaces its resistance; do not carry over the machine weight.
    See exercise guide
See the original exercise guide

How we choose replacements

These are curated alternatives, chosen for the movement and the job the exercise does in a workout. A shared muscle group is not enough. Read what changes before choosing: support, range of motion, balance and resistance can all differ. If your goal is to improve a specific lift, alternatives do not replace practice of that lift.

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