Gym Equipment Names UK (2026): Every Machine and Weight Explained
Most gym equipment names fall into five families: cardio machines (treadmill, rowing machine, stair climber), free weights (dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, plates), racks and benches (power rack, squat stand, adjustable bench), resistance machines (leg press, chest press, lat pulldown) and functional kit (slam balls, sleds, plyo boxes).
The short answer: a machine is usually named after the movement it trains. A leg press presses with the legs, a lat pulldown pulls a bar down to work the lats, and a chest press pushes handles away from the chest. The confusing ones are brand names (RowERG, StepMill, FreeClimber) and double names such as cross trainer and elliptical.
Key takeaways
- Gym equipment splits into five families: cardio machines, free weights, racks and benches, resistance machines and functional training kit.
- Most strength machines are named after the movement or muscle they train, such as leg curl, shoulder press or lat pulldown.
- "Stair climber" is the umbrella term for any machine that simulates climbing stairs; a StepMill uses a revolving staircase, while a FreeClimber uses independent pedals.
- An Olympic barbell weighs 20kg in the men's specification and 15kg in the women's, according to the International Weightlifting Federation.
What are the main types of gym equipment?
There are five, and the gym equipment names you hear all belong to one of them. Sport England's fitness and exercise spaces design guidance zones a gym into a cardiovascular area, a resistance and free weights area, and stretching areas, with cardio making up roughly 40–60% of the equipment.
| Family | What it does | Common names |
|---|---|---|
| Cardio machines | Raise your heart rate for fitness and endurance | Treadmill, rowing machine, exercise bike, cross trainer, stair climber, ski erg |
| Free weights | Loads you hold and move freely | Dumbbells, barbells, weight plates, kettlebells, trap bar |
| Racks and benches | Hold a barbell safely and support your body | Power rack, half rack, squat stand, Smith machine, flat and adjustable benches |
| Resistance machines | Guide one movement against a weight stack or plates | Leg press, chest press, lat pulldown, leg curl, cable machine |
| Functional kit | Throwing, carrying, pushing and jumping | Slam ball, medicine ball, sandbag, sled, plyo box |
Our strength equipment guide covers what to buy in each family.
What are the cardio machine names?
Cardio machines are named after the activity they copy, and several have more than one name.
| Name | Also called | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Treadmill | Running machine | Walking or running on a moving belt; a curved treadmill is powered by your own stride |
| Cross trainer | Elliptical | A low-impact striding motion with moving handles for the arms |
| Upright or recumbent bike | Exercise bike | Seated cycling, upright or with back support |
| Indoor cycle | Spin bike | Studio-style cycling with a weighted flywheel |
| Air bike | Fan bike | Arms and legs drive a fan; the harder you push, the more it resists |
| Rowing machine | Rower, ergometer, "erg" | A full-body pull using legs, back and arms |
| Ski erg | Ski trainer | A standing double-pole pull that copies cross-country skiing |
| Stair climber | StepMill, stepper | Simulates climbing stairs; the mechanism varies by machine |
| Climbing machine | Ladder climber | A moving ladder you climb with hands and feet |
Brand names cause most confusion. Concept2 calls its rower, bike and ski machine the Concept 2 RowERG, Concept 2 BikeERG and Concept 2 SkiERG. The TRUE ADX Fan Bike is an air bike, and the Jacobs Ladder - JL is a climbing machine.
Is a StepMill the same as a stair climber?
Yes: "stair climber" is the umbrella term, and a StepMill is one kind. A StepMill, such as the StairMaster 4G Gauntlet Stepmill, uses a revolving staircase with real moving steps. The StairMaster FC 8 Series FreeClimber works differently, with independent stepping pedals. Our StepMill vs stair climber guide explains how the terms overlap.
What are the free weight names?
Free weights are any load you hold and move without a fixed track.
- Dumbbell: a short handle with a weight at each end, used one in each hand. Hex dumbbells have six-sided heads that do not roll.
- Barbell: a long bar loaded with plates at both ends. A fixed barbell has its weight built on; an Olympic bar takes plates.
- Weight plates: discs that load a bar. Bumper plates are rubber and made to be dropped; tri-grip plates have handles cut in.
- Trap bar: also called a hex bar, a six-sided frame you stand inside for deadlifts and carries.
- EZ curl bar: a short bar with angled grips for curls.
- Kettlebell: a cast ball with a handle, used for swings.
The barbell is the one item with an official specification. The International Weightlifting Federation's equipment rules set the men's bar at 20kg and the women's at 15kg, with the largest discs 450mm across and colour-coded by weight: 25kg red, 20kg blue, 15kg yellow, 10kg green.
Our best barbells guide compares bar types, and our dumbbell weight guide explains which weights to start with.
JORDAN Steel Series Straight Olympic Bars With Bearings£162 – £264View product →
JORDAN Hex Rubber Dumbbell Set£825 – £3,150View product →
What is the difference between a power rack, half rack, squat stand and Smith machine?
All of them hold a barbell for squats and presses; they differ in safety and freedom of movement.
| Name | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Power rack | A four-post cage; you lift inside it with safety bars either side | Training alone with heavy weights |
| Half rack | Two main uprights with safety arms in front | Smaller rooms, open feel |
| Squat stand | Two independent or linked uprights holding the bar | Tight spaces and lighter budgets |
| Smith machine | A bar fixed on vertical rails that locks at any height | Guided pressing and squatting |
| Rig | A run of linked uprights with several stations | Studios and group training |
The Attack Strength Counter Balance Smith Machine (£2,680) is a Smith machine; the JORDAN J75 Rig with J-Hooks is a rig.
Benches are named by angle. A flat bench stays level, an adjustable bench inclines (and sometimes declines), and an Olympic bench has built-in uprights to hold the bar. A preacher curl bench supports the upper arms for curls.
Our best power rack guide and power rack vs squat rack comparison go deeper.
JORDAN HELIX Freestanding Power Rack - Including J-Hooks£998View product →
JORDAN HELIX Adjustable Weight Bench£356View product →
What are the gym machine names for each muscle group?
Gym machine names almost always tell you the movement or the muscle.
| Muscle group | Machine names |
|---|---|
| Quads and glutes | Leg press, hack squat, leg extension, belt squat, glute press |
| Hamstrings | Leg curl (seated, lying or kneeling) |
| Hips and thighs | Abductor and adductor, often called the outer and inner thigh machines |
| Calves | Standing calf raise, seated calf raise |
| Chest | Chest press, incline press, pec fly (pec deck) |
| Back | Lat pulldown, seated row (low row), vertical row, assisted chin and dip |
| Shoulders | Shoulder press, lateral (deltoid) raise, rear delt fly |
| Arms | Biceps curl, triceps extension, triceps dip |
| Core and lower back | Ab crunch, rotary torso, back extension |
Some machines do two jobs and carry both names, such as the Nautilus Instinct Dual Pectoral Fly / Rear Deltoid. A multi gym, or multi-station, combines several of these on one frame.
What is the difference between selectorised, plate-loaded and cable machines?
These names describe how the weight is added, not the exercise.
- Selectorised: a weight stack inside the frame; you move a pin to choose the load. The Nautilus Instinct LAT Pulldown is one.
- Plate-loaded: you hang weight plates on the machine's horns. The Nautilus Plate Loaded Angled Leg Press is one.
- Cable machine: a weight stack connected to pulleys and handles, so one machine trains dozens of movements. Also called a functional trainer, dual adjustable pulley or, when wide, a cable crossover.
Our selectorised vs plate-loaded guide explains which suits which gym, and our cable machine guide covers the pulley options.
JORDAN HELIX Dual Cable Adjustable Pulley Machine£4,074View product →
Nautilus Plate Loaded Angled Leg PressPrice on requestGet a quote →
What is functional training equipment called?
Functional kit is named after what you do with it. A slam ball is thrown at the floor, a medicine ball at a wall or partner, a sandbag is carried and a sled (or prowler) is pushed.
A plyo box is for jumps and step-ups, and a punch bag or speed ball covers boxing. Our functional training equipment guide and punch bag buyer's guide cover each in detail.
Which gym equipment names should a beginner learn first?
Start with the six pieces that cover every major muscle group and your weekly cardio: a cardio machine, dumbbells, an adjustable bench, a rack with a barbell, a leg press and a lat pulldown or cable machine.
That matches what the NHS asks for. Its physical activity guidelines for adults recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous activity a week, plus strengthening activities that work all the major muscle groups on two or more days, with lifting weights given as an example.
You will not be alone. Sport England's Active Lives survey for November 2024–25 found 15.3 million adults in England took part in fitness activities, up 921,000 on the year before.
Building your own? Our home gym setup guide covers room planning, and our commercial gym equipment list covers a full studio fit-out.
How is your equipment delivered?
Free UK delivery on orders of £250 or more; orders below £250 pay £20. Orders are dispatched within 5 working days, with tracking emailed within 24 hours of dispatch, and delivered across UK mainland by our delivery partners. We do not deliver to Northern Ireland.
For larger machines, choose courier delivery to self-assemble, pre-assembled delivery, or full installation arranged on site, quoted separately before ordering. Business finance through Vercas Financial is available on orders of £5,000 or more for UK limited companies and partnerships of four or more partners.
Not sure what a machine is called?
Describe the movement or send us a photo and we'll tell you what it is and which version suits your space.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the leg machine in the gym called? There are several. The leg press pushes a platform away with your feet, the leg extension straightens the knee against a pad to work the quads, and the leg curl bends the knee to work the hamstrings. The hack squat and belt squat are squatting machines.
What is the arm machine in the gym called? Usually a biceps curl or triceps extension machine, both named after the movement. Many gyms train arms on a cable machine instead, with a rope or bar attachment.
Is a cross trainer the same as an elliptical? Yes. "Cross trainer" is the usual UK name and "elliptical" the usual US name for the same low-impact machine, where your feet move in an oval path and moving handles work the arms.
What is the difference between a Smith machine and a squat rack? A Smith machine fixes the bar to vertical rails, so it only moves straight up and down and can be locked at any height. A squat rack, half rack or power rack holds a free barbell, so you control its path, which trains balance and stabilising muscles as well.
Should beginners use machines or free weights? Both have a place. Machines guide the movement, so they are a simple way to learn which muscles each exercise works. Free weights train balance and coordination and are more versatile. Many people start on machines and dumbbells, then add a barbell and rack.
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Pro Gym Essentials — premium home and commercial gym equipment, delivered across UK mainland. Prices from our live product pages, 3 November 2026. Sources: IWF, Sport England, NHS.
