Best Gym Equipment for Building Your Glutes & Legs at Home

You don't need to head to a commercial gym every time you want a serious lower-body workout.

With the right home gym equipment for glutes and legs, you can build an effective lower-body training setup around exercises that target your glutes, quads, hamstrings and calves without leaving home.

But which equipment is actually worth adding to your setup?

From dedicated hip thrust machines to leg presses, hack squats and resistance bands, we're breaking down some of the best gym equipment for training your glutes and legs at home.

What Equipment Do You Need to Train Your Glutes and Legs at Home?

There's no single machine that you need to build your lower body.

Your glutes and legs include several major muscle groups, including the glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings and calves, so a well-rounded training routine should include different movement patterns rather than relying on one exercise.

That might include:

• Hip extension movements such as hip thrusts
• Squat variations
• Leg press variations
• Hip abduction exercises
• Single-leg exercises
• Resistance band exercises

The equipment you choose should ultimately depend on your goals, available space, budget and the exercises you enjoy performing.

Here are four options worth considering.

1. Hip Thrust Equipment: Put the Focus on Your Glutes

If building your glutes is high on your list of training goals, hip thrust equipment can be a valuable addition to your home gym.

The hip thrust is a hip-extension exercise that places a strong emphasis on the glutes, making it a popular movement for lower-body strength and muscle-building workouts.

And you don't necessarily need a dedicated hip thrust machine to perform it.

Depending on your home gym setup, hip thrusts can be performed using a weight bench with a barbell or dumbbell, while other equipment can provide additional support or resistance for the movement.

Why Add Hip Thrusts to Your Leg Day?

Hip thrusts complement exercises such as squats and leg presses by giving you a different way to train your lower body.

They primarily target the glutes, while the hamstrings and other surrounding muscles also contribute to the movement.

As you progress, resistance can be gradually increased using appropriate equipment, making the hip thrust suitable for progressive strength training.

For a more complete glute and leg workout, combine hip thrusts with movements such as leg presses, hack squats, lunges and resistance band exercises.

Best for: Glute-focused strength training and adding a hip-extension movement to your lower-body workouts.

Shop: Explore Hip Thrust Equipment at World Fitness Australia.

2. Leg Press Machine: Train Your Entire Lower Body

If you want one machine capable of challenging several of your major lower-body muscle groups, the leg press deserves a spot on your shortlist.

Leg presses primarily train your quadriceps while also involving your glutes and hamstrings.

The supported position also makes the movement different from free-weight squat variations, giving you another way to add lower-body resistance training to your program.

WFA Pick: BodyIron Compact Leg Press & Calf Raise Machine

For home gyms where space matters, the BodyIron Compact Leg Press & Calf Raise Machine combines two lower-body exercises in one station.

The oversized footplate provides room for foot positioning during your leg presses, while the machine can also be used for calf raises.

Its adjustable padded seat and support handles help provide stability while you're training.

That gives you one machine for targeting your quads, glutes, hamstrings and calves without needing separate stations for each.

Best for: General lower-body strength training and home gyms looking for a dedicated leg machine with a more compact footprint.

Shop: Leg Press Machines

3. Hack Squat Machine: Build Stronger Quads and Glutes

Squats are a staple of lower-body training, but a barbell isn't the only way to perform them.

A hack squat machine guides you through a supported squat pattern, making it another option for loading your lower body.

Hack squats are particularly useful for targeting the quadriceps, while the glutes and other lower-body muscles also contribute throughout the movement.

And if you're building a home gym, you don't necessarily need separate machines for your hack squats and leg presses.

WFA Pick: BodyIron Leg Press & Hack Squat

The BodyIron Leg Press & Hack Squat combines two major lower-body exercises into one plate-loaded machine.

Switch the setup and you can perform:

• Traditional leg presses
• Hack squats
• Forward thrusts
• Calf raises

That gives you multiple ways to train your quads, hamstrings, glutes and calves without dedicating floor space to two completely separate machines.

For someone building a lower-body-focused home gym, a combination machine like this can make a lot of sense.

Best for: Serious leg training, quad development and home gym users wanting both leg press and hack squat functionality from one machine.

Shop: Leg Press & Hack Squat Machines

4. Resistance Bands: Small but Versatile

Not every lower-body upgrade needs to weigh 100kg.

Resistance bands are one of the simplest and most affordable ways to add extra resistance to your glute and leg workouts.

They're compact, portable and can be used on their own or alongside other equipment.

Depending on the type of band, lower-body exercises can include:

• Banded squats
• Lateral band walks
• Glute bridges
• Hip abductions
• Clamshells
• Kickbacks
• Banded hip thrusts

They're particularly handy for warm-ups and activation work before your heavier lower-body exercises.

For example, you might perform lateral band walks or banded glute bridges before moving into your hip thrusts, leg presses or hack squats.

They're also useful if you're just starting to build a home gym and don't have room for larger equipment yet.

WFA Pick: SKLZ Mini Bands

The SKLZ Mini Bands are part of World Fitness Australia's current resistance band range and provide a compact option for adding resistance to lower-body exercises.

World Fitness also carries other resistance and power band options, so you can choose the type and resistance that suits your workouts.

Best for: Glute activation, home workouts, warm-ups, accessory exercises and smaller training spaces.

Shop: Resistance Bands

Hip Thrust vs Leg Press vs Hack Squat: Which Is Best for Glutes?

If your main goal is to train your glutes, you don't necessarily need to choose only one.

Each movement has a different role in a lower-body program.

Hip Thrust:
A glute-focused hip extension exercise. It's a strong choice when you want to directly load your glutes.

Leg Press:
A compound lower-body exercise that trains the quads while also involving the glutes and hamstrings.

Hack Squat:
A squat-pattern exercise that places a strong emphasis on the quads while also training the glutes.

Resistance Bands:
A versatile addition for glute activation, abduction exercises, warm-ups and accessory work.

Rather than looking for one "best glute exercise", a more complete approach is to combine different lower-body movement patterns across your training week.

How to Build a Glute and Leg Home Gym

You don't have to buy every piece of equipment at once.

Start by looking at your space, budget and training priorities.

For a Small Home Gym

Start with resistance bands and free weights if you already own them.

Bands take up virtually no space and can give you plenty of lower-body exercise options while you're building your setup.

For a Glute-Focused Home Gym

If glute training is your main priority, consider adding hip thrust equipment that suits your available space and training setup.

You can then complement your hip thrusts with resistance-band exercises and other lower-body movements.

For a Complete Leg-Day Setup

A leg press and hack squat combination machine gives you two major compound lower-body movements from one station.

Pair it with hip thrust equipment and resistance bands for a setup that covers hip extension, squat, press and abduction-style movements.

Sample Glute & Leg Home Gym Workout

Once you've got your equipment sorted, here's one way you could put it together.

Resistance Band Lateral Walks: 2 x 10–15 steps each direction
Hack Squat: 3 x 8–12 reps
Leg Press: 3 x 8–12 reps
Hip Thrust: 3 x 8–12 reps
Banded Hip Abductions: 3 x 12–20 reps
Calf Raises: 3 x 10–15 reps

You don't need to perform every lower-body exercise in every session.

Training volume, exercise selection and resistance should be appropriate for your experience and goals. Focus on good technique first and gradually progress your resistance, repetitions or overall training volume as you become stronger.

If you're new to strength training or unsure whether an exercise is appropriate for you, seek guidance from an appropriately qualified fitness or health professional.

Don't Forget Progressive Overload

Buying a glute machine won't build your glutes by itself.

Whichever equipment you choose, your training still needs to provide enough challenge to encourage adaptation over time.

That's where progressive overload comes in.

Depending on the exercise, you might progress by gradually:

• Increasing resistance
• Performing more repetitions
• Adding sets
• Improving your technique and range of motion
• Increasing training volume over time

You don't need to make every workout dramatically harder than the last. Small, sustainable increases over time are what matter.

And don't forget that muscle growth also depends on factors outside the gym, including adequate nutrition, protein intake, sleep and recovery.

Build Your Lower-Body Home Gym

The best gym equipment for building your glutes and legs at home depends on how you want to train.

If you want to put more focus on your glutes, hip thrust equipment gives you options for adding loaded hip extension to your lower-body training.

If you're looking for broader lower-body training, a leg press lets you challenge your quads, glutes and hamstrings, while a hack squat adds another powerful squat-pattern movement to your routine.

And don't overlook resistance bands. They're inexpensive, compact and useful whether you're just getting started or adding activation and accessory work to a heavier leg session.

You don't need every lower-body machine available.

Choose equipment that fits your space, supports your goals and most importantly, you'll actually use consistently.

Ready to build your home leg-day setup?

Explore Lower Body Gym Equipment at World Fitness Australia and find equipment for your glutes, quads, hamstrings and calves.

Buy Smart. Train Hard.