Bicep Curl Machines And Preacher Curl Benches

A bicep curl machine pins your upper arm to a pad so the elbow does the work and the rest of the body stays out of it. This collection gathers seated curl machines, preacher curl benches and two-in-one bicep/tricep units from Body-Solid and Muscle D Fitness. It is built for home lifters who want strict, repeatable curls and for facilities adding a dedicated arm station.

How to choose a bicep curl machine or preacher curl bench

• Preacher curl bench. The simplest setup is an angled arm pad and a seat, loaded with your own EZ bar or dumbbells. The Body-Solid Powerline preacher curl bench (PPB32X) has an adjustable seat, extra-wide pads and a 300 lb weight capacity. The Body-Solid GPCB329B preacher bench holds its arm pad at a set 30-degree angle, and the Muscle D preacher curl bench uses 11-gauge steel with an adjustable seat and commercial upholstery.
• Preacher curl machines. Muscle D's Power Leverage V2 line builds the preacher position into a machine. The plate-loaded Power Leverage V2 Iso-Lateral Biceps Curl / Preacher Curl lets each arm work independently, stores plates on the frame and adds an adjustable preacher pad angle, while the Power Leverage V2 Biceps Curl / Preacher Curl shares the 11-gauge steel frame and gas-assisted seat adjustment.
• Selectorized curl machine. For quick weight changes between users, the Body-Solid S2AC Pro ClubLine bicep arm curl, rated for commercial use, runs a fully shrouded 160 lb stack, with a 235 lb stack offered as an upgrade, plus a 6-position seat and a variable-resistance cam.
• Bicep/tricep combo. If space allows one arm machine, a combo covers both sides. The Body-Solid GCBT-STK bicep/tricep machine offers a 7-position seat and 28 starting positions, and the Body-Solid Pro Dual DBTCSF switches between curls and extensions with dual grip handles.

Trainer's take: setting up for strict curls

As a certified personal trainer, the first thing I check on any curl station is where the elbow sits. Line it up with the machine's pivot point and keep the back of the upper arm flat on the pad from the bottom of the rep to the top. If the seat is too low, the shoulders creep forward and the curl turns into a shrug.

Pick a weight you can lower under control for 10 to 12 reps, and add load only when every rep looks the same. Small jumps matter on arms, and Body-Solid lists 2.5 lb and 5 lb stack adapter plates as options for machines like the S2AC. For a tight home gym, a bench like the PPB32X measures about 34 by 35 inches, while a stack machine such as the S2AC needs closer to 41 by 51 inches.

Bicep curl machine FAQ

What is the bicep curl machine called?

You will see it sold as an arm curl, biceps curl or preacher curl machine. "Preacher" means the upper arm rests on an angled pad in front of you; Body-Solid's S2AC, for example, is listed as a Bicep Arm Curl.

What is a preacher curl machine?

It is a preacher bench with the resistance built in. Instead of curling a loose bar, you curl a handle attached to a lever arm or weight stack, so the path stays the same on every rep.

Should I buy a preacher curl bench or a machine?

A bench is smaller but needs bars and plates. A machine takes more floor space and adds a fixed path and faster weight changes.

Can a bicep curl bench train triceps too?

The benches here are built around curls. If you want both, a combo unit such as the GCBT-STK or DBTCSF handles curls and triceps work on one frame.

Building out the rest of arm day? Browse our tricep machines, add free-weight options from workout benches, or fit a curl bar and rope to an existing station with cable machine attachments and accessories. Before you buy, skim our strength equipment buying guide, and if you curl with dumbbells, the adjustable dumbbell buying guide is a useful next read.