Smith Machine Bench Press
Smith Machine Bench Press is a beginner compound machine exercise that mainly works your chest, with help from your shoulders and triceps.


How to do the smith machine bench press
- Place a flat bench underneath the smith machine. Now place the barbell at a height that you can reach when lying down and your arms are almost fully extended. Once the weight you need is selected, lie down on the flat bench. Using a pronated grip that is wider than shoulder width, unlock the bar from the rack and hold it straight over you with your arms locked. This will be your starting position.
- As you breathe in, come down slowly until you feel the bar on your middle chest.
- After a second pause, bring the bar back to the starting position as you breathe out and push the bar using your chest muscles. Lock your arms in the contracted position, hold for a second and then start coming down slowly again. Tip: It should take at least twice as long to go down than to come up.
- Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
- When you are done, lock the bar back in the rack.
Muscles worked
Sets and reps
For strength, do 3-5 sets of 5-8 reps with 2-3 minutes of rest. For muscle growth, 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps with 90 seconds of rest. Add a little weight when you hit the top of the range on every set.
Track your smith machine bench press with GymPlan AI
Log every set in seconds, see your progress on charts, and ask the AI coach to build a plan around your goals and equipment. 7 days free, no card needed.
Start your free trialSmith Machine Bench Press alternatives
Exercises that train the same main muscle, including options with other equipment.
Bench PressBarbell · Beginner
Chest PressMachine · Beginner
Push UpBodyweight · Beginner
Dumbbell Bench PressDumbbell · Beginner
Cable Chest PressCable · Beginner
Svend PressOther · BeginnerFAQ
What muscles does the smith machine bench press work?
It mainly works your chest; your shoulders and triceps assist.
How many sets and reps of smith machine bench press should I do?
For strength, do 3-5 sets of 5-8 reps with 2-3 minutes of rest. For muscle growth, 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps with 90 seconds of rest. Add a little weight when you hit the top of the range on every set.
Is the smith machine bench press good for beginners?
Yes. It is a beginner-friendly movement: start light and focus on the form steps above.