The number on a weight stack is not the weight you feel at the handle. Between the two sits the pulley ratio, and it changes three things: the resistance, how far the cable travels, and how fine your weight steps are. Here is how to read it before you compare the machines in our Cable Machines collection.
The Short Answer
- Handle resistance is about the stack weight divided by the ratio. A 200 lb stack gives about 200 lbs at 1:1, 100 lbs at 2:1 and 50 lbs at 4:1.
- Cable travel is the stack travel multiplied by the ratio. At 2:1 the handle moves twice as far as the stack rises.
- Weight steps shrink with the ratio. At 2:1, a 10 lb plate adds about 5 lbs at the handle.
- Compare machines on handle resistance, not stack size. A 200 lb stack at 2:1 gives less resistance than a 150 lb stack at 1:1.
How a Pulley Ratio Works
On a 1:1 machine, the cable runs from the handle over fixed pulleys straight to the stack. Select 100 lbs and you feel about 100 lbs at the handle, and the stack rises as far as the handle moves.
On a 2:1 machine, the cable also wraps around a pulley that moves with the stack, so two lengths of cable share the load. The handle feels about half the stack weight and travels twice as far as the stack rises. A 4:1 setup doubles that effect again: a quarter of the weight, four times the travel.
Pulleys add a little friction, so the real resistance lands close to, not exactly on, the stack weight divided by the ratio.
What 2:1 Changes in Practice
Longer cable travel
A stack can only rise as far as its frame allows. At 1:1, that limits how far you can pull the handle. At 2:1, the same stack travel gives twice the cable, enough for long movements such as rows, presses, lunges and rotations from a low or high pulley. Functional trainers often use 2:1 for this reason: they fit that travel in a frame about 7 ft tall.
Finer weight steps
Each plate counts half at the handle, so progression is smoother: a 10 lb plate on a 2:1 stack adds about 5 lbs. This matters most on single-arm and isolation work, where a 10 lb jump can be too large.
A lighter starting point
The lightest setting is the top plate and the parts that move with it. At 2:1 that starting weight feels half as heavy, which helps for warm-up sets and small muscles such as the shoulders.
A lower maximum
The same ratio also halves the top of the range: two 160 lb stacks give about 80 lbs per handle. If you plan heavy lat pulldowns or rows, compare that figure with the weights you use today, or choose heavier stacks. On the Body-Solid GFT100 Functional Trainer, the 210 lb option raises the maximum to about 105 lbs per side.
Choosing a Ratio
- 2:1 suits a functional trainer or crossover used for many movements and by users of different levels: long travel, fine steps and a light starting point.
- 1:1 keeps the full stack at the handle. It suits heavy pulling over a short cable path, such as a dedicated lat pulldown or seated row.
- 4:1 starts very light and lets the handle move fast, which suits beginners and quick, sport-specific movements.
For a home gym, the key question is whether the handle resistance covers your heaviest pulls. For a facility, check it against your strongest members too, and confirm the ratio of every station on a multi-station machine before ordering.
Cable Machines in Our Collection
Ratio published by the brand, stack weight per side and approximate resistance at each handle.
| Machine | Ratio | Stack per side | At the handle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body-Solid GFT100 Functional Trainer | 2:1 | 160 or 210 lbs | About 80 or 105 lbs |
| Body-Solid GDCC250B Cable Crossover | 2:1 | 160 lbs | About 80 lbs |
| TKO 9050 Functional Trainer | 2:1 | 210 lbs | About 105 lbs |
Body-Solid does not publish the ratio of the Pro Clubline SCC1200G Cable Crossover, and TKO does not publish it for the stations of the 8-Stack Jungle Gym 7033. Ask us and we will confirm it with the brand before you order.
FAQ
How do I compare a 2:1 machine with the 1:1 machine at my gym?
Divide each stack weight by its ratio, then compare. If you pull 120 lbs on a 1:1 lat pulldown, you need about 240 lbs of stack on a 2:1 machine for the same load.
Does a 2:1 ratio make a machine lighter?
Only compared with the number on the stack. Set the weight by the resistance at the handle: 80 lbs at the handle is 80 lbs, whatever the ratio. What matters is whether that figure reaches the weights you train with.
Where do I find the ratio of a machine?
On the spec sheet or product page, written as "2:1", "weight ratio" or "1/2 cable ratio". If it is not listed, ask the dealer before you order.
