Leg Press vs Calf Raise
Which one fits your Leg workout plan?
Contents
Planfit users log Leg Press more often — 39,215 sessions vs 1,215. Compare Leg form, muscles worked, and when to use each.
Compare the benefits of Leg Press and Calf Raise and pick the one that fits your Leg workout.
Leg Press vs Calf Raise: Which Do Planfit Users Choose?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Leg Press more often — 39,215 sessions compared to 1,215 for Calf Raise.
What most people do isn't always what fits you. Leg Press and Calf Raise differ in the muscles they work, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Leg Press and Calf Raise Differ
| What differs | Leg Press | Calf Raise |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | quads, hamstrings, and glutes | calves, hamstrings, and glutes |
| Equipment | a machine | bodyweight only |
| Difficulty | 3 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 39,215 sessions | 1,215 sessions |
How to Do Leg Press
Leg Press Muscles Worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Please bend from the hip to the knee while keeping your abdomen tight.
- 2. Please lower yourself until your thigh is perpendicular to your body.
- 3. While extending your hip, push only until your knee is slightly bent.
Coach's Tips
- 1. Please be careful not to fully extend your knees.
- 2. Please be careful not to let your knees spread apart.
For a full Leg Press guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Leg Press exercise guide.
How to Do Calf Raise
Calf Raise Muscles Worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Please raise your heels as high as possible to contract your calf muscles.
- 2. Please hold while resisting the weight, making sure your heels do not touch the ground.
Coach's Tips
- 1. If it is difficult to maintain your balance, support yourself with your hand on a wall or object.
- 2. Since strain may be placed on your ankle or Achilles tendon (the tendon at the back of your calf and heel), do not lower yourself quickly, and if you feel pain, perform the exercise with just your body weight.
For a full Calf Raise guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Calf Raise exercise guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Leg, Leg Press or Calf Raise?
Planfit users log Leg Press more often — 39,215 sessions against 1,215 for Calf Raise. Both train Leg, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
Do Leg Press and Calf Raise work the same muscles?
Not quite. Leg Press loads quads, hamstrings, and glutes, and Calf Raise loads calves, hamstrings, and glutes.
What equipment do Leg Press and Calf Raise need?
Leg Press needs a machine, and Calf Raise needs bodyweight only.
Which is easier to start with?
Leg Press is the easier place to start. Move to Calf Raise once your form holds up.
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