The Best Smith Machines of 2024, Reviewed by CPTs

Smith machines are a familiar sight in gyms around the world —  both in a commercial setting and at home. This time-tested piece of equipment can be used for a wide range of purposes, from designing entire body workouts, to acting as a spotter when you plan to lift alone. You can re-rack the bar at multiple points thanks to the hooks, which can be very useful for leg day or chest day, if you don’t have a partner to spot you.

There has been a lot of innovation with regard to Smith machines, so we did some testing and research ourselves to find the best Smith machines on the market for a number of purposes. Sure, these machines aren’t a perfect stand-in for the best squat racks. But if you’re trying to find an all-in-one package that offers a safe and stable barbell workout, Smith machines provide more options and control than free weights typically do. A lot of these picks even go beyond the call of duty you’d often require of a Smith machine, which could make them the true centerpiece of your home gym. Read on for our full list of the best Smith machines.

The 5 Best Smith Machines of 2024

• Best Smith Machine Overall: Force USA G10 Pro
• Best Budget Smith Machine: Titan Fitness Smith Machine
• Best Smith Machine for Small Spaces: RitFit PSR05 2.0 Multifunctional Smith Machine With LAT-Pulldown System
• Best All-in-One Smith Machine: Major Fitness All-in-One Home Gym Smith Machine SML07
• Best Smith Machine on Amazon: Commercial Home Gym

Best Smith Machine Overall: Force USA G10 Pro

Pros

All-in-one machine comes with a lot of build-out options

11-gauge steel makes this machine durable and built to last

You can use this machine with J-hooks, so you’re not limited to only an attached bar

Cons

There are many available add-ons (good!), but they don’t all come standard, so it can creep your budget up pretty high (less good!)

Assembly can be extremely labor- and time-intensive

This machine isn’t cheap (the company’s G3 Trainer is much cheaper and smaller)

When you think of a Smith machine, the likely image in your head is of a rack-like contraption with a barbell that goes up and down, has various points to hook the bar on for self-spotting, and not much else. While you can still get those kinds of machines, many of the modern products — like the Force USA G10 Pro — have some incredible features and build-out options that make them an even better value. 

The Force USA G10 Pro is more than a Smith machine, it’s an entire home gym solution — and that’s why we like it so much. It features adjustable cable ratios, meaning multiple users can lift the right amount of weight for their strength without changing the weights. There are 60 adjustment points on the half-rack, and part of the Smith machine where you can mount jammer arms, a leg press plate, or even monolift attachments. 

This one piece of equipment has the ability to take the place of a power rack, functional trainer, Smith machine, low row, lat pulldown, leg press, dip station, and more. That earns a solid 4 out of 5 for functionality for us — this machine is very versatile. But, you’ll have to purchase a lot of add-ons to really max out the effects. (That said, if you don’t need quite as many features — not to mention a slightly smaller footprint and much lighter product weight — we recommend the more straightforward Titan Fitness Smith Machine.)

The 772-pound rating of the Smith machine is likely more than enough for most people so you can max out with confidence. The reinforced bushings and linear bearings offer smooth and natural movement, so you don’t feel like you’re lifting air at certain points of an exercise. We give this a 4 out of 5 for build quality, especially with the lifetime frame warranty. 

Note that our testers have traditionally had a tough time assembling Force USA trainers, and the G10 is likely to be no exception. Unless you spring for premium services for assembly, we give this a 2 out of 5 for ease of assembly.

Best Budget Smith Machine: Titan Fitness Smith Machine

Pros

Relatively budget-friendly at $1,699.99

This unit comes with sleek built-in weight plate storage

For a smaller, lighter machine, it gets a high durability score from our tester

Cons

The 600-pound weight capacity may be limiting for some lifters

This doesn’t come with J-hooks, so you can’t use it as a squat rack or power rack

If you’re looking for add-ons, we recommend the Force USA G10 Pro or the Major Fitness All-in-One instead of this bare-bones Smith machine

Smith machines can be costly (even for a basic one), and when you’re spending a lot of money on a piece of equipment you want it to work well and stand up to everyday use. A high-quality Smith machine doesn’t have to break the bank. If you’ve ever worked out at a commercial or large gym, you’ve no doubt seen and used something similar to our pick for this category — the Titan Fitness Smith Machine.

As the name suggests, this Smith machine from Titan Fitness is just that — a Smith machine. No add-ons or extra features here, just a sturdy piece of equipment you can use and abuse that’ll keep coming back for more. This Smith machine features two self-spotting safety catches that you can adjust to eight different positions to fit your height. Our expert tester used this machine for hours, rating it a 4 out of 5 for overall experience. The only dock came from the rotation of the bar when unracking: “You really have to crank the bar to disengage it from the safeties. It’s not the worst thing, but it’s one extra thing to think about.”

A few nice extras on this product are band pegs, so you can do accommodating resistance training, as well as six 8-inch weight storage posts to keep your plates close by when lifting. On the other hand, it doesn’t have J-hooks, making this a basic Smith machine, which we expect for a budget pick. That gives versatility and attachments a 3 out of 5.

There are a few drawbacks, such as the loadable length on the sleeve being only 13.25 inches compared to the best barbells, which usually have 16 inches of space. In addition, the weight capacity is lower than many other options on this list at 600 pounds — which is more than enough for most people — but still lower than a lot of other Smith machines. If you need a higher weight capacity, we recommend the Commercial Home Gym.

Still, our tester loaded this up with up to 400 pounds (getting a bit close to the limit) and reported no problems. “Power shrugs with 400 pounds? No problem. This gets a 4.5 out of 5 for durability, because it seems to hold up really well even when I crank up the weight.” That’s good news, because this machine only comes with a 1-year warranty. If you want a longer warranty but can’t spring for the size and price of the Force USA G10 Pro, we recommend the RitFit PSR05 2.0, which has a 3-year warranty.

[Related: Best Plate Storage Racks]

Best Smith Machine for Small Spaces: RitFit PSR05 2.0 Multifunctional Smith Machine With LAT-Pulldown System

Pros

Space-saving Smith machine still versatile thanks to landmine attachment and band pegs

Comes with lat pulldown bar and low row bar, which comes standard with the model (rather than having to purchase an attachment)

Many of the best pull-up bars offer multigrip functionality, which is what this bar offers

Cons

The warranty provided is short and has a lot of caveats about what it does not cover (including environmental damage)

We wish the company listed more details about the alloy steel that forms the frame

The Smith bar only has a 500-pound weight capacity (higher than some, but certainly lower than some customers may need)

If you only have a small area, but want to use a Smith machine and cable machine — complete with a lat pulldown and low row system — all at once? Enter the RitFit PSR05 2.0 Multifunctional Smith Machine With LAT-Pulldown System. It comes with built-in storage and a lat pulldown bar you don’t have to pay extra for, so we give this machine a 4 out of 5 for versatility and attachments. You really can get in a ton of different exercises in a little bit of space, marking this a solid Smith machine for small spaces.

In addition to building your back with lat pulldowns and low rows — the system uses a 2:1 pulley ratio for upper body work and a 1:1 ratio for lower body work — the PSR05 2.0 also comes with a band peg for adding the best resistance bands to your workout and a landmine attachment if you have a barbell to slide in. With a 1,000-pound weight capacity for the uprights and safety support hooks, beginners and advanced athletes alike can get all their training in. With a 500-pound capacity for the Smith bar, though, you might feel more comfortable loading up with the Commercial Home Gym. 

With a footprint of less than 14 square feet and a product weight of just 140 pounds, this is one of the lightest models you’re going to find. That might make you a bit concerned about durability, and we wish the company were more forthcoming about the grade of metal being used. The company’s statement about featuring “robust construction” is a lot less detail than we like to see, so it’s hard to compare it to the 11-gauge steel of the Force USA G10 Pro or the 14-gauge steel of the Major Fitness All-in-One. Still, it has pretty good weight capacity ratings, so much exercise versatility, and a best-in-class price. But because of the lack of transparency, we rate this a 2.5 out of 5 for build quality.

Because the short 3-year warranty doesn’t cover environmentally-related damage, you may not want to keep this product in a garage gym that’s even a little exposed to the elements. Many of the smaller components of the item, including the bolts and washers that help hold it together, are only covered for 1 year. If you need a longer warranty, the Force USA G10 Pro has a lifetime warranty on the frame and a 10-year warranty on moving parts.

Best All-in-One Smith Machine: Major Fitness All-in-One Home Gym Smith Machine SML07

Pros

All-in-one machine includes space for J-hooks and spotter arms, meaning you can also use this with an Olympic bar

A great bargain if you already own weight plates — the pulley system works with plates rather than a pre-set stack

Multiple pull-up grips

Cons

If you don’t own weight plates, you’ll have to pay a bit extra to load the cables with weight

Pretty large, as is expected with an all-in-one cable machine

Smith bar has below-average 265-pound weight capacity

Want to outfit your home gym in one quick and easy purchase? We recommend the Major Fitness All-in-One Home Gym Smith Machine SML07. Like the best power racks, you’ll be able to use it with J-hooks and a regular barbell — but you’ll get the benefits of Smith machines with the fixed bat path and safety catch. You’ll also get a 360-degree landmine, pull-up bar, a cable pulley system, and seven free handle attachments — all before you even have to purchase any extras. All this earns the SML07 a 4.5 out of 5 for versatility and attachments.

The unit features eight Smith machine holes, 13 pulley holes, and 12 upright holes so you can tailor your workout experience to precisely what you’re looking to do. And the possibilities are pretty broad indeed. That is, unless you want to load up the Smith bar: it’s only got a 265-pound weight capacity, which is pretty darn low. If you need a higher capacity, we recommend the Commercial Home Gym, which boasts a 770-pound Smith bar capacity.

The spotter arms are also rated with a 500-pound static capacity, which means you won’t necessarily want them to rescue you from a 500-pound dynamic lift (like failing a squat). For this reason, we’re giving ease of use a 3 out of 5 because ease certainly includes your peace of mind while training heavy by yourself. 

That said, especially for beginners, those weight ratings may be more than adequate. And since you’ve got so many training options built into this machine, you’ll be able to continue your progressive overload training in a wide variety of ways. We also like how there’s built-in storage for the plates, which you’ll also use as weights for the pulley system.

We like that you can easily bundle this product — for some extra cash, of course — with options to add just a bench, a bench and 230 pounds of weight plates, or a bench and 320 pounds of weight plates. This kind of convenience is something we always appreciate when selecting a Smith machine for a home gym, giving this a value of 4.5 out of 5.

Best Smith Machine on Amazon: Commercial Home Gym

Pros

Available via Amazon, this machine comes standard with jammer arms and foot plates

Smith bar weight capacity is quite high compared to similar models

The company is listed as a small business brand on Amazon, which may be a priority for some

Cons

Unlisted product weight and Smith bar starting weight

No warranty; you’ll have to purchase a protection plan from Amazon for an extra cost

Clocking in at about $3,500, there are cheaper models to consider

Whether you’re shopping for the best protein powders on Amazon or going for a big home gym purchase, the brand’s reliable shipping and customer service can be comforting for a lot of consumers. Shopping for a big piece of gym equipment online can be overwhelming at the best of times, and we have to admit that the enormous selection of Smith machines on Amazon is shocking. We did the work though, and if you’re looking to purchase a Smith machine from Amazon, the Commercial Home Gym is a solid bet. 

Sturdy, multi-functional, and pretty darn good-looking, the Commercial Home Gym combines a Smith machine, power rack, chin-up bar, crossover cable system, and more all into one package. This Smith machine with cables has dual 176-pound stacks and high-tensile cables with a 2,000-pound rating.

You can store your weight on the included six weight storage posts and perform pull-ups on a multi-grip pull-up bar. It does require assembly, but there is an option to pay extra for in-home installation to save you even more time. The rack is able to handle loads up to 990 pounds, so you can rest assured you won’t run out of training options here. The Smith bar also can handle an impressive 770 pounds, which exceeds most models we’ve tested. 

One thing we don’t love is that this doesn’t seem to come with an automatic warranty — instead, you’ll have to shell out an extra $139.99 for a 2-year protection plan. That’s a lot more money, especially considering the initial price tag. (If you need a cheaper machine, we recommend the Titan Fitness Smith Machine.) Still, those 2 years you can buy are longer than the 1-year warranty that other best-in-class products offer. 

How We Tested and Chose the Best Smith Machines

A Smith machine is usually quite an investment, and because of that, we took great care in choosing the picks that made it onto this list. Some of the most important factors we considered were build quality, attachments, weight capacity, and safety features. We also took price into consideration, but Smith machines are generally not cheap, with even the most budget-conscious ones creeping into the thousand-dollar range. Using our BarBend equipment testing methodology, we ranked those categories into scores of 1 (uh oh) to 5 (oh yeah). Here’s what we gave special consideration to. 

Attachments

Smith machines are versatile pieces of equipment on their own, but many companies go beyond that and turn them into the base for an entire home gym solution. Certain machines, such as the Force USA G10 Pro pack on attachments like a half-rack, lat-pulldown, and functional trainer. Other companies try to keep it centered around what a smith machine is usually used for, like the Titan Fitness Smith Machine, which only adds some plate storage posts and band pegs in order to keep the price down.

Build Quality

Quality is a big factor when it comes to any of the best home gym essentials, but more so when it comes to a piece that you’re counting on to save you — if you need it. Some Smith machines use thick, rolled steel for their uprights providing a very sturdy and durable machine that has a high weight capacity and is designed to take a lot of use every day. Others are more budget-friendly but may not have as rugged of materials used to manufacture their products. We took this into consideration when making these picks. Build quality can also influence the life of your machine. Products with high-quality builds will often come with longer warranties but are also usually more expensive — although not always. For example, the Force USA G10 Pro offers a lifetime warranty related to the structural aspects of the product, meaning that they’re confident their product will last a very long time because of its build quality.

Weight Capacity

Weight capacity and safety go hand-in-hand when it comes to squat racks and Smith machines. If you’re loading the machine with more than it’s rated for, that is inherently unsafe, which is why we try to point out weight capacity when discussing our picks. A product may check all the boxes you’re looking for, but if it can’t handle the weight you’re going to use it to lift, then it will be unsafe to use.

Safety Features

Safety is a major reason folks buy Smith machines in the first place. If you’re self-spotting and get to a point where they might fail a rep, instead of having to bail on a bar or drop it on yourself, just turn your wrists over and hook the safeties that come attached to the bar onto the rack. Most Smith machines’ safety spotter systems are made similarly with hooks to catch the bar; some even feature a counterweight to further help with your lifts.

[Related: Best Budget Barbells]

Benefits of the Best Smith Machines

Most of the Smith machines we feature here offer much more than just the bare minimum — instead, many can function as a Smith machine, a power rack, a cable machine…in other words, a home gym all its own. According to Amanda Capritto, a certified personal trainer and our expert contributor, “Functional trainers are like an all-in-one gym playground. Even with the simplest models, AKA cable machines, you can do most every exercise you need in order to build muscle and increase strength. But functional trainers these days are more than just cable machines. You can add any attachment you can dream up to a functional trainer to create your all-in-one home gym machine.”

• Cost-Effective: Especially when they include multiple features beyond just a Smith machine, these machines give you a lot of bang for your buck. After the initial investment, you’ll find yourself with a wide variety of training opportunities for the price of one.
• Space-Saving: Even though the footprint of all-in-one Smith machines can get pretty big, it’s a lot smaller than having a separate set-up for each type of training equipment you’ve got. By combining a lot into a little, you’ll save a bunch of space.
• Versatile: Whether you’re a beginner or advanced athlete, you’ll be able to take advantage of the versatility of these machines. Some Smith machines allow you to snap on power rack attachments, including pull-up and landmine attachments to J-hooks that allow you to treat them like a squat rack.
• Fixed Bar Path: Although many prefer the free bar path you get in squat racks and power racks, a fixed bar path can help you feel more secure, support your form during learning or rehab phases, and help you train to failure by yourself more safely with quick and easy safety catches.

How Much Do Smith Machines Cost?

Let’s address the elephant in the room — Smith machines are expensive and likely one of the most expensive pieces of gym equipment people will purchase. That said, there are some ways to make them rank among the best budget home gym equipment. Many companies and lots of options on this list offer financing options to help break up the payments over a longer period of time. Instead of paying a few thousand dollars upfront, you can pay somewhere around $100 to $200 per month for a period of time — usually, 24 to 48 months, depending on credit.

Best Smith Machine Overall	Force USA G10 Pro	$2,999.99
Best Budget Smith Machine	Titan Fitness Smith Machine	$1,699.99
Best Smith Machine for Small Spaces	RitFit PSR05 2.0 Multifunctional Smith Machine With LAT-Pulldown System	$539.99
Best All-in-One Smith Machine	Major Fitness All-in-One Home Gym Smith Machine SML07	$1,099.99
Best Smith Machine on Amazon	Commercial Home Gym	$3,499.99

What to Consider Before Buying a Smith Machine

A Smith machine isn’t a casual purchase. They’re large, heavy, and require a lot of steps for assembly. These are some of the things we think you should ponder before you splash the cash.

Your Budget

Smith machines will typically set you back a minimum of $1,000, but you can very easily end up spending five times that amount. For most people, this is going to be one of the deciding factors in which option they pick, because it is such a large chunk of change. For that kind of money, you could get a barbell, plates, and maybe even more. So make sure you know what you’re buying and that you’re committed to the purchase. 

Versatility

Some Smith machines are pretty basic and offer simply the bar, track, and rack, while others come with all kinds of bells and whistles attached. Several on this list have pulleys, attachments for dip bars, half-power racks, and more.

Amanda Capritto, a certified personal trainer and BarBend‘s expert reviewer, is a big fan of Smith machines and other home gym equipment that has options for customization. “There are so many options to suit so many different needs and budgets, and I think that exemplifies what’s so great about having a home gym: It’s yours, and you get to choose what you want in it so that it is affordable for you and leads you to your goals.”

Available Training Space

One of the main downsides to a Smith machine is the size and weight. You need a decently-sized area to house one, and though there are larger and smaller options available, there is a point where it’s just not feasible. Measure out your available area and see which machines can work and which can’t. Be sure to factor in the bar width and some additional breathing room, so you don’t feel hindered while getting your pump on. 

Durability

With such a large upfront investment, you’re going to want to make sure the Smith machine you buy is durable. All of the models on this list are fabricated using steel, so unless you start searching elsewhere for something extra cheap, you can rest assured that the picks on this list will have great longevity.

We always recommend checking to see if other customers have noted any common problems. Any reputable company will also provide some kind of warranty on their product so it’s a good idea to check for that too.

[Related: Best Smart Home Gyms]

Ease of Assembly

For some people, buying anything that requires assembly is part of the fun. For others, it is one of the most exquisite forms of torture. Be aware that all of these machines need some form of assembling, but some are more involved than others. The simpler the machine, the less you’re going to have to wrap your head around. 

Warranties

With an expensive piece of equipment, it’s always nice to have a warranty as a safeguard in case it does break early on. As with all products, warranties are available in varying lengths and coverages. Find one that you are comfortable with and get to training.

Design

None of these machines will have you gazing for hours at their unfathomable beauty. Several, however, have put some thought into innovations that add extra functionality, save you space, or generally make using them a bit easier. Where possible, look for a machine that has done one or more of these things rather than just sticking to the bare minimum.

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