Legs · Smith Machine
Smith Leg Press
How to do the smith leg press, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Smith Machine
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Squat
- Mechanic
- Compound
How to do it
Set up a leg-press style attachment or low platform under the Smith machine with your feet shoulder-width on the surface. Unrack the bar, lower the platform by bending your knees, then press through your heels to extend your legs along the track.
- 1Quads and glutes pushing the platform away
- 2Lower back pressed into the support and knees over toes
- 3Even pressure through the whole foot on the return
Common mistakes
- Locking out your knees or letting them collapse inward
- Letting your hips lift off the seat
- Cutting range of motion to chase heavier weight
Muscles worked
The smith leg press mainly works the quads and glutes, with the hamstrings and calves assisting.
- QuadsPrimary
- GlutesPrimary
- HamstringsSupport
- CalvesSupport
- Lower BackMinor
- Upper AbsMinor
Kovo programs the smith leg press for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More quads exercises
- How to do the resistance band squat
- How to do the resistance band squat to press
- How to do the resistance band thruster
- How to do the resistance band squat walk
- How to do the barbell squat
- How to do the barbell bulgarian split squat
Last reviewed June 2026.