Best Hip Thrust Machines 2026: 5 Compared

Which one is right for you?

1★ Best PickA+Best OverallBells of Steel Hip Thruster

Lying, plate-loaded hip thrust machine: weight horns and a padded, adjustable hip belt instead of a barbell, pivoting back pad, angled footplate. V2 rated at 600 lb combined on the weight horns. Premium price and a large footprint — best suited to frequent hip thrust training.

The most complete hip thrust setup here: plates load onto weight horns and a padded belt carries the load, so there is no bar to roll over your legs. Bells of Steel rates the current V2 at 600 lb combined on the horns and lists a pivoting back pad, an angled footplate and a belt that latches and adjusts in length. It is the most expensive product in this guide and needs a dedicated spot, which is justified mainly if you hip thrust several times a week.

Bells of Steel Hip Thruster

$1,199.00Reference price

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Specifications▼

Type

Lying, plate-loaded hip thrust machine

Resistance

Plates on weight horns + padded hip belt

Rated capacity

600 lb combined on weight horns (V2)

Back support height

—

Back pad

Pivoting

Foot platform

Angled footplate, 31.75 × 18.75 in

Type

Lying, plate-loaded hip thrust machine

Resistance

Plates on weight horns + padded hip belt

Rated capacity

600 lb combined on weight horns (V2)

Back support height

—

Back pad

Pivoting

Foot platform

Angled footplate, 31.75 × 18.75 in

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2ABest Dual-PurposeREP Fitness AB-5200 FID Adjustable Bench

Adjustable FID bench: 17.5 in tall at flat (incl. pad), 1,000 lb capacity, 10 back-pad and 4 seat angles (decline with the optional post). Used with a barbell and pad for hip thrusts. Best for home gyms that want one bench for pressing and hip thrusts.

An adjustable FID bench that also serves as a hip thrust support: REP lists it at 17.5 in tall at flat including the pad, with a 1,000 lb capacity, 11-gauge steel and a 115 lb bench weight, so it stays put under load. There is no belt or bar holder, so you roll or lift the barbell into position each set. In exchange it is also a flat and incline press bench (decline with the optional post), which saves space in a mixed home gym.

REP Fitness AB-5200 FID Adjustable Bench

$500.00Reference price

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Specifications▼

Type

Adjustable bench (flat/incline; decline with optional post)

Resistance

Free barbell (not included)

Rated capacity

1,000 lb

Back support height

17.5 in at flat (incl. pad)

Back pad

10 back-pad angles, 4 seat angles

Foot platform

None (feet on floor)

Type

Adjustable bench (flat/incline; decline with optional post)

Resistance

Free barbell (not included)

Rated capacity

1,000 lb

Back support height

17.5 in at flat (incl. pad)

Back pad

10 back-pad angles, 4 seat angles

Foot platform

None (feet on floor)

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4BDedicated Machine OptionTitan Fitness Hip Thrust Machine

Titan's dedicated hip thrust machine; Titan's current listing is a standing, plate-loaded design. Model and rated capacity could not be confirmed from Titan in October 2026 — check the listing.

Titan's dedicated hip thrust machine. The model on Titan's own site in October 2026 is the Standing Hip Thrust Machine, a plate-loaded design you use standing rather than lying against a bench. Pickly could not confirm which Titan model the store link offers or its rated capacity from Titan, so check the listing for the model name, capacity and pad adjustment range before buying.

Titan Fitness Hip Thrust Machine

$499Reference price

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Specifications▼

Type

—

Resistance

—

Rated capacity

—

Back support height

—

Back pad

—

Foot platform

—

Type

—

Resistance

—

Rated capacity

—

Back support height

—

Back pad

—

Foot platform

—

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5B-Essential AccessoryBarbell Hip Thrust Foam Pad

Foam pad that wraps a barbell to spread pressure across the hips. Recommended for any barbell hip thrust; not needed on belt-loaded machines.

A barbell hip thrust pad wraps around the bar so the load spreads across the front of the hips instead of pressing into the hip bones — for most people that is what makes heavier barbell hip thrusts bearable. It works on any bench setup, and it is the cheapest item in any hip thrust setup. You do not need one on a belt-loaded machine like the Bells of Steel.

Barbell Hip Thrust Foam Pad

$24.99Reference price

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Specifications▼

Type

Foam barbell pad (accessory)

Resistance

Free barbell (pad wraps the bar)

Rated capacity

n/a

Back support height

n/a (use a bench)

Back pad

n/a

Foot platform

n/a

Type

Foam barbell pad (accessory)

Resistance

Free barbell (pad wraps the bar)

Rated capacity

n/a

Back support height

n/a (use a bench)

Back pad

n/a

Foot platform

n/a

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Side-by-side on the same scale

How to read this table: values come from each maker's official product pages (a few from retailers' copies of the same spec), checked in October 2026. “—” means the value could not be confirmed from those sources; “n/a” means the item does not apply to that product. Pickly did not test these products.

Table checked 2026-10-31

Why hip thrust pad height and foot position matter

Back support height: the edge of the bench or pad should meet your upper back just below the shoulder blades. If it is too high for your build, the top position is hard to reach without arching the lower back; if it is too low, the range of motion shrinks. There is no standard height for hip thrusting, but many flat benches are built near the powerlifting bench range of about 42–45 cm (roughly 16.5–17.7 in), and REP lists the AB-5200 at 17.5 in including the pad. Shorter lifters often prefer a lower support and taller lifters a higher one, so compare the published height with your own build before buying.

Foot placement: feet should be positioned so that at the top of the movement, shins are roughly vertical (knee directly above ankle). Too close to the body and the knee angle is too acute; too far away and the hamstrings take over. A footplate on a dedicated machine gives you a fixed reference point, so the same stance is easier to repeat session to session; on the floor you find it again each time.

The bar pad: a loaded barbell resting directly on the front of the hips is uncomfortable for most people, and that discomfort can end a set before the glutes tire. A foam hip thrust pad wraps around the bar to spread the pressure. Machines that load plates onto horns and use a hip belt, like the Bells of Steel Hip Thruster, take the barbell out of the setup entirely.

Bells of Steel Hip Thruster and dedicated hip thrust machines

The Bells of Steel Hip Thruster is a lying, plate-loaded hip thrust machine. Instead of a barbell, you load plates onto weight horns and the force reaches your hips through a padded belt, so you do not roll a bar over your legs or deadlift it into place. Bells of Steel lists the current V2 at 600 lb combined capacity on the weight horns (the first version was rated lower), with a pivoting back pad, an angled footplate and a belt that latches and adjusts in length. A retailer copy of the spec lists the footplate at 31.75 × 18.75 in and the frame at a little over 5 ft long. It is the most expensive product here and needs its own floor space, so it makes the most sense if you hip thrust often.

The REP Fitness AB-5200 is an adjustable FID bench rather than a dedicated machine. REP lists the 2.0 version at 17.5 in tall at flat including the pad, with a 1,000 lb weight capacity, 11-gauge steel, a 115 lb bench weight, 10 back-pad angles and 4 seat angles; decline angles need the optional adjustable post. For hip thrusts you use it with a barbell and a pad, so you still roll or lift the bar into position each set, but the same bench also covers flat and incline pressing — useful if floor space is tight.

The Valor Fitness hip thrust bench is the lighter dedicated option in this list. Pickly could not find a Valor product page for it in October 2026, so its rated capacity, height and foot-platform details are marked “—” in the table. Some products sold for hip thrusts are padded boxes rather than benches with a footplate, so read the listing's rated capacity and dimensions and compare them with your bodyweight plus the load you plan to use.

Titan Fitness hip thrust and budget approaches

Titan Fitness sells a dedicated hip thrust machine. The model on Titan's own site in October 2026 is the Standing Hip Thrust Machine, a plate-loaded design you use standing rather than lying back against a bench — a different setup from the other products here. Pickly could not confirm which Titan model the store link offers, or its rated capacity, from Titan, so those cells are “—”. If you choose it, check that the listing's capacity and pad adjustments suit your height.

Barbell hip thrust on a standard flat bench: before investing in a dedicated machine, note that a standard flat bench works for hip thrusts if its edge meets your upper back just below the shoulder blades and it cannot slide — set it against a wall or a rack, or use a heavy bench. You will need a hip thrust pad. The drawback is setup friction: rolling the barbell over your legs, finding your foot position again and the bench creeping on smooth flooring. For occasional hip thrusts a standard bench is enough; if they are a main lift several times a week, that friction is the main reason to buy a dedicated machine.

Loading: hip thrust loads can climb faster than many people expect, so check the rated capacity against your target working weight before you buy. Of the products here, two have a maker-published rating Pickly could confirm: 600 lb combined on the Bells of Steel weight horns and 1,000 lb for the REP bench. For the others, use the number printed on the listing, and if none is given, ask the seller before loading heavy.

Hip thrust technique and glute activation cues

Setup cues: back resting just below the shoulder blades on the pad, feet flat with shins vertical at the top of the movement, and the bar (padded) or belt across the hip crease rather than the belly or upper thighs. Most coaches cue driving through the heels rather than the toes to keep the work on the hips. At the top, the hips are level with the knees and the torso is roughly horizontal — think “table top” position.

Squeeze at the top: a common cue for the hip thrust is a deliberate glute squeeze at full extension before lowering. Letting the weight bounce off the top shortens the time the glutes spend working. Pause for 1–2 seconds at full extension, then lower under control; the pause also stops momentum from doing the work.

Foot distance adjustment: if you feel the movement mainly in your hamstrings, your feet are too far from your body — move them slightly closer. If you feel it mainly in your quadriceps, your feet are too close — move them further out. In a good position the main sensation is in the glutes with some hamstring involvement. Small changes between sessions are normal, so check the cue each time you set up.

How to choose: frequency, capacity, height and space

Start with how often you will hip thrust and what else the equipment must do. If hip thrusts are a main lift several times a week and barbell setup is what slows you down, the Bells of Steel Hip Thruster removes the bar from the setup. If you also need a bench for pressing, the REP AB-5200 does both jobs, at the cost of using a barbell and pad for every hip thrust set. If you hip thrust only occasionally, a stable flat bench you already own plus a foam pad covers it.

Compare rated capacity with your plans, not just today's weights. Bells of Steel rates the V2 at 600 lb combined on the weight horns — that is plate weight, since your body rests on the pad and footplate — and REP rates the AB-5200 at 1,000 lb. Pickly could not confirm a maker rating for the Valor or Titan products, so if you expect to load heavily, ask the seller for the rating before you buy.

Check the height against your build. REP publishes 17.5 in at flat including the pad, which is in the same range as many flat benches; Bells of Steel's pivoting pad height was not published on the pages Pickly could read. If you are well below or above average height, look for the pad height in the listing or the manual, or choose a support you can adjust with mats or plates under your feet.

Measure your space. A retailer copy of the Bells of Steel spec lists the machine at a little over 5 ft long and wide, and the V2 is heavy enough that it stays where it is put; REP lists the AB-5200 at 57.6 × 25.8 in and 115 lb. A bench can be moved aside after a session, while the Bells of Steel needs a permanent spot.

Who should skip which: skip the Bells of Steel if you hip thrust only occasionally, are short on space or want one item for every exercise. Skip the REP if your main goal is avoiding barbell setup. Skip the Valor and Titan if you need a confirmed rated capacity before buying and the listing does not give one. Skip the foam pad only if you use a belt-loaded machine like the Bells of Steel, which does not put a bar across your hips.