We compared 51 pec deck and chest fly machines and picked the six worth the floor space.
I’ve owned and run a commercial gym for over 20 years, so I’ve trained on and maintained a lot of these. My team and I spent two full weeks on this guide, testing what we could get our hands on and comparing the rest spec by spec.
A good pec deck runs smooth and fits your frame. Most give you a rear delt fly too. A bad one feels notchy and hurts your shoulders.
Related
Building out the rest of the room? See our best all-in-one home gyms and best short power racks, or start from scratch with how to build a home gym.
Editor's note · updated October 19, 2026
We rebuilt this guide for 2026. What changed:
- Two cards now match the machines they link to. The multi-station pick is the Body-Solid EXM2500B, and the Marcy is the 150 lb-stack home gym. Both cards had described different models.
- The Titan is now our budget pick. It’s the cheapest machine here. The Body-Solid GPM65B moves to best plate-loaded.
- The Hammer Strength is now our top pick. Compactness now follows each machine’s real footprint. The Hammer covers 19.1 sq ft and the Axiom 31.8, and that gap moved it ahead.
- Every overall score now follows our published weights.
Compare the 6 best pec deck machines
Life Fitness Axiom
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Body-Solid GPM65B
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Marcy 150 lb Home Gym
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Titan Fitness Plate-Loaded Pec Fly Machine
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Body-Solid EXM2500B
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| Best for | Overall | Longest warranty | Plate-loaded | Most versatile | Budget | Multi-station gym |
| Rating (*) | ||||||
| Quality | 96% | 94% | 74% | 74% | 81% | 88% |
| Pec deck rating | 91% | 91% | 82% | 79% | 80% | 70% |
| Versatility | 85% | 83% | 73% | 86% | 74% | 86% |
| Brand reputation & reviews | 94% | 94% | 82% | 78% | 74% | 75% |
| Compactness | 86% | 74% | 84% | 83% | 95% | 62% |
| Value for money | 78% | 84% | 74% | 82% | 88% | 90% |
| Type | Selectorised | Selectorised | Plate-loaded | Selectorised home gym | Plate-loaded | Selectorised multi-station gym |
| Movement type | Dual-function (true pec deck + reverse delt) | Dual-function (true pec deck + reverse delt) | Dual-function | Multi-function (press arms with a butterfly) | Dual-function | Multi-function (multi-press arms with a pec fly) |
| Gauge steel | 11 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 12 |
| Weight capacity (lbs) | 295 | 262.5 (weight stack) | Plate-loaded (1 in post) | 150 | 400 (plates) | 210 (weight stack) |
| Max user weight (lbs) | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | Not listed |
| Machine weight (lbs) | 580 | 543 | 91 | 260 | 109 | Not listed |
| Width (") | 56 | 75 | 54 (arms out) | 42 | 28 | 79 |
| Length (") | 49 | 61 | 42 | 68 | 32 | 89 |
| Height (") | 71 | 81 | 66 | 78 | 65 | 83 |
| Footprint (sq ft) | 19.1 | 31.8 | 15.8 | 19.8-23.1 | 6.2 | 48.8 |
| Warranty | 5 yr bearings; 1 yr belts & grips; 3 months labour & upholstery | 10 yr frame;5 yr pulleys/plates/guide rods;1 yr bearings/cables/grips | Lifetime (Body-Solid) | 2-year limited parts warranty | 1 yr limited | Lifetime (manufacturer) |
| Price | $$$$ | $$$$ | $$ | $ | $ | $$$ |
Hammer Strength Pectoral Fly/Rear Deltoid
Our testing and selection process
How we picked the pec deck machines
- We started as buyers. I run MyGym, and between the commercial floor and our home setups, the team has trained on a lot of these machines.
- We logged 51 pec deck and chest fly machines in one spreadsheet: frame, stack or plate load, movement path, size, warranty and owner feedback.
- Each machine got the weighted score below. That score decides each “best for” slot.
- We trained on what we could and leaned on owner reports from our community for the rest.
You can read more about the process in our review guidelines.
How we score pec deck machines
Six weighted factors make up the score:
- Quality (25%) - the frame and fittings, and how the movement feels.
- Pec deck rating (20%) - how well it isolates the chest, and whether it’s a true pec deck or a fly.
- Versatility (15%) - what else it trains beyond the chest.
- Brand reputation & reviews (10%) - how the brand and its owners rate it.
- Compactness (15%) - footprint and the space you need to use it.
- Value for money (15%) - what you get for what you pay, warranty included.
Quality (25%)
Frame first. Most pec decks use 12 to 14-gauge steel, where a lower number means thicker. Commercial machines go to 11-gauge, which adds weight and cost.
On a pec deck, that matters less than you’d think. A fly isn’t a heavy, jerky movement, so you’re not going to bend the frame. The joints and pulleys decide whether it still feels tight in five years. Around 12 or 13-gauge is plenty, and even 14-gauge isn’t a deal-breaker.
Then the movement. A good machine lets you do the exercise the right way:
- Back flat on the pad, shoulders back. So the seat height has to adjust.
- Don’t go more than 2 to 3 inches past the T line. Further back strains the rotator cuff, so the start positions shouldn’t run too far behind you.
- Elbows down, chest up. The back pad should meet your shoulder blades without blocking the arms.
Range of motion is rarely a problem on the chest fly. The rear delt fly is where cheap machines fall short.
Rotating handles help if you’re very tall or short, but they aren’t a must.
Capacity: read the stack properly
Spec sheets mix up their numbers. “Capacity” can mean the stack, the user’s weight, user plus plates, or several stations added together. We pulled out the stack or plate load for each machine so the scores compare like with like.
Some stack machines use a 2:1 pulley. On those, a 200 lb stack feels like about 100 lb, so check the ratio before you compare stacks.
Pec deck rating (20%)
Pec deck and chest fly get used as if they’re the same thing. They aren’t quite. On the left below is a chest fly machine. On the right is a true pec deck, with pads your forearms push against.
The difference is where you get the range:
- A pec deck gives more range at the end of the movement. Your elbows nearly meet, and you can’t cheat with your shoulders as you tire. It’s the better isolator.
- A chest fly gives more stretch at the start and lets you handle more weight. That stretch and overload are better for growth.
Several machines here do both, including our top pick.
Independent arms get talked up a lot. Few people train one arm at a time on a pec deck. The real benefit is safety: you can bring one handle round at a time before you sit down.
Versatility (15%)
Nine times out of ten, a pec deck doubles as a rear delt fly. Multi-station home gyms sometimes drop the rear delt fly to fit in a chest press.
So decide what you need: pec deck, rear delt fly, chest press, or all three. A dedicated two-in-one machine does the first two best. A multi-station gym gives you the press and more, with a less refined fly.
Plates or a stack? A stack wins for convenience, and it matters more here than on most machines. Pec decks are finishers. You’ll use them for drop sets and burnouts, and stripping plates mid-set gets old fast. If that’s how you train, buy a stack.
Brand reputation & reviews (10%)
We look at each brand’s track record, how it handles support and warranty claims, and what owners say about the machine.
Compactness (15%)
We score compactness from the footprint row in the table: the less floor the frame covers, the higher the score. Machines that need extra room around them, like a plate-loaded frame you load from behind, lose a few points.
Listed footprints only tell you the floor the frame sits on. With the arms swung fully out, the handles of most pec decks sit 65 to 75 inches apart.
Two rules for planning your space:
- Allow 75 inches of width, whatever the spec sheet says.
- Add 15 to 20 inches behind a plate-loaded machine, so you can load it.
Value for money (15%)
Pec decks run from budget plate-loaded frames to commercial machines that cost as much as a small car. Price follows three things: plates or stack, how many stations, and whether it’s a dedicated machine.
Warranty counts here too. Life Fitness gives a long frame warranty, Body-Solid gives a lifetime one, and most budget machines give one to two years. Avoid anything that only covers the frame for 90 days, however cheap it is.
Find the best pec deck machine for you
Best Overall | Longest Warranty | Plate-Loaded | Most Versatile | Budget | Multi-Station
We list the machines by job, so the card order isn’t the score order. Here’s how all six score overall:
Hammer Strength Pectoral Fly/Rear Deltoid
Best Overall Pec Deck MachineQuick specs
- Machine type: Selectorised
- Movement type: Dual-function
- Footprint (sq ft): 19.1
Hammer Strength’s commercial pec fly and rear delt machine. The biggest stack here, on a frame that needs less floor than the Axiom.
Our take
What I like
- The resistance feels even from start to finish. There’s no dead spot at the stretch or the squeeze.
- It’s dead still under load. Nothing shifts, even on heavy rear delt sets.
What I don’t
- At about 580 lb, it’s a big delivery. Plan the route in before you order.
Pros & cons
Pros
- 295 lb selectorised stack
- Pivoting arms and handle placement mean no seat change between exercises
- Military-spec cables and sealed-bearing pulleys
Cons
- Top price tier, the priciest machine here
- Short warranty on labour and upholstery for the money
Read more about the Hammer Strength Select Pectoral Fly / Rear Deltoid
Strong lifters, start here.
The Select line is Hammer Strength’s way into its commercial range, and it’s built like the gear in a pro training facility:
- Machine weight: about 580 lb, so it doesn’t move
- Stack: 295 lb, the heaviest here
- Build: heavy-gauge steel, military-spec cables and sealed-bearing pulleys
- Pads: double-stitched with rounded edges, plus placards showing correct form
The handles and arms are set so you can go from pec fly to rear delt without touching the seat. That makes it quick to use and easy for anyone in a shared home gym to figure out.
It costs more than the Axiom. You’re paying for the bigger stack and the overbuilt frame.
The surprise is how little floor it takes. The frame covers 19.1 sq ft against the Axiom’s 31.8, so it suits a spare room or a single garage bay better than its weight suggests. You still need about 75 inches of width once the arms swing out.
That footprint is what puts it top of our overall score:
Bottom line
Get the Hammer Strength if you want the most solid pec deck here in a frame that fits a home gym. It’s the priciest machine on the list, so it only makes sense if you’ll train on it for years.
It might be for you if… you lift heavy and want a machine that won’t flinch.
It’s not for you if… you want the longest warranty. The Axiom covers its frame for 10 years.
Life Fitness Axiom
Best Warranty Pec Deck MachineQuick specs
- Machine type: Selectorised
- Movement type: Dual-function (true pec deck + reverse delt)
- Footprint (sq ft): 31.8
A smooth two-in-one pec deck and rear delt fly with a true commercial feel and a 10-year frame warranty.
Our take
What I like
- The movement feels like the machines in a premium commercial gym. No notches, no grab at the turnaround.
- Switching from chest to rear delts takes seconds. You move the arms, reset the seat if you need to, and go.
What I don’t
- I’d like a heavier stack option for strong lifters doing rear delt drop sets.
Pros & cons
Pros
- 262.5 lb selectorised stack
- Articulating arms adjust for different forearm lengths
- 5 start positions for the chest fly
- 10-year frame warranty, 5 years on pulleys and the stack
- Rated for users up to 300 lb
Cons
- Top price tier
- Big, heavy delivery that needs planning
- Covers 31.8 sq ft, the second-largest footprint here
Read more about the Life Fitness Axiom
Want commercial kit with a warranty to match? Look here.
It feels like a commercial machine because it’s built by a commercial brand. Life Fitness kit fills hotels, college gyms and big chains, and the Axiom line is its take on that quality for smaller spaces. The arms pivot to fit your forearm length, so it suits most body sizes without fuss.
You get two machines in one:
- Pec deck with five start positions, so you can set the stretch you want
- Rear delt fly on the same arms, with no tools needed to switch
- Selectorised stack of 262.5 lb, so drop sets are just a pin move
The price is the catch. It sits in the same top tier as the Hammer Strength, though it’s the cheaper of the two. In return you get a machine that should outlast most of the kit around it, backed by a 10-year frame warranty.
It lost the top spot on floor space. The frame is 75 inches wide and covers 31.8 sq ft, more than any pick here except the EXM2500B. If you have the room, that matters less than the warranty.
On build it’s only two points behind the Hammer:
Bottom line
Buy the Axiom if you want the commercial feel with 10 years of frame cover behind it, and you have the width for it.
It might be for you if… you want the longest warranty on a commercial machine.
It’s not for you if… your room is tight. The Hammer Strength needs far less floor, and the Titan less again.
Body-Solid GPM65B
Best Plate-Loaded Pec DeckQuick specs
- Machine type: Plate-loaded
- Movement type: Dual-function
- Footprint (sq ft): 15.8
A plate-loaded pec and rear delt machine with independent arms and a lifetime warranty. Bring your own plates.
Our take
What I like
- It’s quiet and simple. No stack, no cables to fiddle with, just load and go.
- The adjustable start position makes a real difference. You can dial the stretch in exactly.
What I don’t
- Changing weight mid-set means getting up to swap plates, which kills drop sets.
- The back pad could be thicker for long sessions.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Plate-loaded, so you choose the jumps, down to fractional plates
- Independent arms with dual overhead cams
- 2 x 2 in steel frame with DuraFirm pads
- Lifetime warranty from Body-Solid
Cons
- 1 in plate post, so Olympic plates need an adapter sleeve, sold separately
- Needs room behind it to load plates
Read more about the Body-Solid GPM65B
Got a stack of plates already? Then you’re halfway to a proper pec deck.
There’s no stack, which is most of the saving. You load plates onto the post and that’s your resistance. The upside is fine control. With small plates you can add a few pounds at a time, rather than jumping a whole stack plate.
Check your plates before you buy, though. The post takes standard 1-inch plates. If your plates are Olympic, you’ll need Body-Solid’s adapter sleeve, which is sold separately.
Buy it if
- You already own plates and want a proper pec deck and rear delt fly.
- You like small, precise jumps in weight.
Skip it if
- You love drop sets. A stack machine like the Hammer Strength suits you better.
- You want a stack. Every plate change means getting up.
The Titan does the same job for less and on less floor. The GPM65B’s edge is its lifetime warranty.
Body-Solid’s lifetime warranty helps its brand score, behind only the two commercial names:
Bottom line
Own plates? The GPM65B is a sturdy, no-fuss pec and rear delt machine. The lifetime warranty makes it a safe buy.
It might be for you if… you already own plates and want a lifetime warranty.
It’s not for you if… you want the cheapest option. The Titan costs less.
Marcy 150 lb Home Gym
Most Versatile Pec Deck Home GymQuick specs
- Machine type: Selectorised home gym
- Movement type: Multi-function
- Footprint (sq ft): 19.8-23.1
A budget home gym with a 150 lb stack. Press arms switch to a butterfly with one pin, alongside arm and leg stations.
Our take
What I like
- It’s an easy first machine. Pick a weight with the pin, sit down, and train most of your body in one place.
What I don’t
- The butterfly isn’t as smooth or as adjustable as a dedicated pec deck.
- Stronger lifters will outgrow a 150 lb stack fast.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Cheapest stack machine here
- Dual-action press arms do chest press and a vertical butterfly
- Leg and preacher curl stations on the same frame
- Weight stack lock stops kids using it
Cons
- No rear delt fly
- 2-year limited warranty
Read more about the Marcy 150 lb Home Gym
This isn’t really a pec deck. It’s a budget home gym that happens to include a decent butterfly.
The press arms do double duty. With one pin you switch them from a chest press to a vertical butterfly, so you get a fly without buying a second machine. The same frame gives you leg work and a preacher curl pad.
For a beginner building a first home gym, that’s good value. You cover most of the body on one stack.
What you give up:
- Lighter stack. 150 lb won’t challenge a strong lifter for long.
- No rear delt fly. You’ll need bands or dumbbells for that.
- Limited seat adjustment. Shorter and taller lifters may struggle to line the arms up with their chest.
Want a bigger stack and more stations? See the Body-Solid EXM2500B below.
It ties the EXM2500B for the best versatility score:
Bottom line
The Marcy is a cheap full-body gym with a butterfly built in. For a beginner, that covers a lot of ground.
It might be for you if… you’re starting out and want most of a gym on one stack.
It’s not for you if… you want a rear delt fly. Pick the Titan or the Hammer Strength.
Titan Plate-Loaded Fly Machine
Best Budget Pec DeckQuick specs
- Machine type: Plate-loaded
- Movement type: Dual-function
- Footprint (sq ft): 6.2
The cheapest pec deck here. A plate-loaded frame with independent arms, 360° swivel handles and a rear delt fly.
Our take
What I like
- It’s simple and tough. You get chest flys and rear delts with nothing extra to go wrong.
- It feels stable for such a light machine.
What I don’t
- The rear delt fly could start deeper. I’d like one more start setting.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Smallest footprint here, about 6 sq ft
- 2 x 2 in steel frame, plates up to 400 lb
- Swivel handles turn a full 360°
- Independent arms with dual overhead cams
Cons
- 1-year limited warranty
- Arms reach about 75 in wide when fully out
Read more about the Titan Fitness Plate-Loaded Fly Machine
Most home gyms can actually afford this one.
A dedicated machine beats an all-in-one at its own job. The catch is that most dedicated pec decks are built for gyms, so they’re big and expensive.
The Titan fixes both. Plates keep the price down, and the frame sits on about 6 square feet. Budget about 75 inches of width once the arms swing out, plus room behind to load plates.
The padding is better than you’d expect at this price. The vinyl feels firm and the foam holds its shape.
The shallow rear delt start is my one real gripe. For most people it’s fine. If you have long arms, it may not be.
It’s the cheapest machine here, and it scores second on value:
Bottom line
The Titan is basic, and that’s fine. It costs a fraction of a commercial pec deck and does the same two jobs, as long as you can live with a few rough edges.
It might be for you if… you want a real pec deck and rear delt fly on a tight budget.
It’s not for you if… you want stack convenience. The Hammer Strength is the step up.
Body-Solid EXM2500B
Best Multi-Station GymQuick specs
- Machine type: Selectorised multi-station gym
- Movement type: Multi-press arms with a pec fly
- Footprint (sq ft): 48.8
A five-station home gym on a 210 lb stack, with a multi-press that also does a pec fly. Backed by a lifetime warranty.
Our take
What I like
- You get presses, a pec fly, pulldowns, rows and leg work from one stack, without changing cables.
What I don’t
- The pec fly runs off the press arms, so it isn’t as targeted as a dedicated pec deck.
- The leg station is an extension and curl only. There’s no leg press.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Five stations on one 210 lb stack
- 2 x 4 in 12-gauge steel frame with sealed bearings
- Nylon bushings keep the stack quiet
- Lifetime manufacturer warranty
Cons
- About 89 x 79 in of floor, the biggest here
- 210 lb stack caps heavy pressing
Read more about the Body-Solid EXM2500B
Need one machine for the whole body?
The EXM2500B is a multi-station home gym, not a pec deck. Its multi-press arms handle bench, incline and decline presses, and they also do the pec fly. Around them you get a lat pulldown, seated row, ab crunch and a leg extension and curl.
| Body-Solid EXM2500B | Hammer Strength | |
|---|---|---|
| Pec fly | Via the press arms | True pec deck |
| Rear delt fly | No dedicated station | Yes |
| Other stations | Press, pulldown, row, legs, abs | None |
| Stack | 210 lb | 295 lb |
| Price | $$$ | $$$$ |
The 210 lb stack is the limit. Strong lifters will run out of weight on presses. For most people training at home, it’s plenty.
Its fly runs off the press arms, so it trails the dedicated machines on our pec deck rating:
Bottom line
If you’re not lifting heavy and need a whole gym, the EXM2500B saves you buying five machines. My worry is that strong lifters will outgrow the stack, so think about where your training is heading before you buy.
It might be for you if… you want a whole-body gym that also does a pec fly.
It’s not for you if… the pec deck is what you’re after. The Hammer Strength is far better at that one job.
Other pec deck machines we looked at
- Powertec standalone pec deck. I loved it, but Powertec stopped making it about ten years ago. I’ve hunted eBay and the used-kit sites, and it’s gone.
- Steelflex Chest and Rear Deltoid Fly. Gorgeous, and a joy to use. Too expensive for most home gyms.
- Legend Fitness Pec Deck (model 901). Another great machine that fell short on price. It’s made in the USA, and you can choose the colours.
- Freemotion Pec Fly / Rear Delt. A superb machine, and the priciest we looked at. You could kit out half a gym for the same money.
The bottom line
For most people with the budget, buy the Hammer Strength. It’s the most solid machine here, it does the pec deck and rear delt fly properly, and it fits a smaller room than you’d expect.
If you want the longest warranty and have the width, the Life Fitness Axiom is the one. On a tight budget, the Titan gives you both movements for far less. Already own plates and want a lifetime warranty? The Body-Solid GPM65B. For a whole gym on one stack, look at the Marcy or the Body-Solid EXM2500B.
There are two things to do now:
- If you want to compare them again, click here to skip back to the table.
- If you want to put a pin in it, bookmark this page and come back. We keep it updated.
Stay strong and smart.
Pec deck FAQs
Do pec deck machines work?
Yes, as long as the geometry is right, like on the Hammer Strength. In a 2012 study comparing eight chest exercises, the pec deck came second only to the bench press for chest muscle activation. You can’t load it as heavily as a press, so it’s not your main mass builder. It’s excellent for isolating the chest.
What does the pec deck work?
Mainly the pectoralis major, helped by the pec minor and serratus anterior. Your front delts help too, more so on a fly-style machine like the Titan. Train one arm at a time and your obliques work to keep you steady.
Are pec decks safe?
Yes, if the machine fits you and you control the stretch. Take extra care if you’ve had shoulder trouble. Letting your arms go too far back can aggravate the shoulder or cause impingement, so set the start position no more than 2 to 3 inches behind your chest.
