Before you do anything, bookmark this page! It includes over 50 of the best dumbbell moves you can do at home. It's best to have a few sets on hand of varying weights, so you can switch them up based on your strength. These moves will target the arms, upper back, abs, lower back, glutes, and thighs. Choose three to five exercises, and create your own dumbbell workout, or read ahead to the end, and follow along with the five dumbbell workout videos included.
Stand with your feet wider than shoulder width with toes pointed slightly out. If using a dumbbell, hold it at chest level with both hands. Keeping your back flat, push your hips back, bend your knees, and lower your body until your thighs are parallel to the floor and your elbows touch your knees.
With your weight focussed in your heels, push yourself up to the starting position to complete one rep.
Stand with your legs slightly wider than hip-distance apart and toes pointed slightly outward, holding your weight in both hands. Come into a squat, bringing the dumbbell between your legs and keeping your spine straight. Keep your chest open with shoulder blades sliding down your back.
Exhale, pulling abs in as you forcefully straighten your knees and bring your pelvis over your feet, squeezing your glutes as you stand. Your arms will naturally swing forward to around chest height; think of them like a pendulum riding the momentum of your straightening legs.
Inhale and allow the weight to fall between your legs, returning to the squat. This completes one rep.
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Dumbbell Deadlift
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Stand with your feet hip-distance apart.
Hold a dumbbell in each hand by your sides with straight arms.
Push your butt back as you bend your knees, squatting down just enough to tap the front end of the dumbbell to the floor. Keep your back straight, not curved or arched. Your chest should be parallel with the floor.
Straighten your legs to stand up.
This completes one rep.
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Dumbbell Squat
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Stand with your feet hip-distance apart, holding a dumbbell at each shoulder.
Slowly bend your knees as if you were going to sit in a chair, keeping all the weight in your heels. Don't let your knees move beyond your toes, and don't let the knees roll out or in. Squat down as low as you can, keeping your head and chest lifted, your spine long, and your shoulders relaxed.
Press through your heels, and slowly straighten your legs to stand up, completing one rep.
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Dumbbell Thrusters
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Stand with your legs just slightly wider than hip-distance apart, arms raised to shoulder height with elbows bent, holding weights by your ears.
Bend your knees as if you were sitting in a chair, keeping weight on your heels.
Press the dumbbells overhead as you straighten your knees to return to standing, completing one rep.
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Deep Squat With Overhead Reach
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Stand with your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart and toes pointed slightly outward, holding one heavier dumbbell with both hands.
Sit back into your squat, bending your knees to 90 degrees while keeping your elbows straight, and raise the weight overhead.
Lower your arms as you straighten your knees to stand. This completes one rep.
Stand with your feet directly under your hips holding a dumbbell in each hand. Sit back into your squat, keeping the weight in your heels, bringing your thighs parallel to the floor without letting your knees go beyond your toes.
Push through your heels to return to standing while bringing the weights to your shoulders, performing a bicep curl.
Stabilize your torso and keep your arms moving upward, performing an overhead press with the palms facing out.
Lower your arms back to your side to complete one rep.
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Sumo Squat With Side-Arm Raises
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Stand with legs wide and toes pointed outward slightly. Hold a pair of dumbbells in your hands with your arms straight and your palms facing down.
Bend your knees until they're over your ankles while raising your arms to just below shoulder height. Arms should be in line with your legs — you should see the weights in your peripheral vision.
Straighten your legs and lower your arms simultaneously, completing one rep.
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Single-Leg Deadlift With Row
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Stand up straight and hold two dumbbells with palms facing each other.
Lift your left foot up a bit and balance on your right leg. Keeping your back neutral, lean your entire torso forward while raising your left leg, which should stay in line with your body.
Holding this position, perform a row by bending your elbows back so that the dumbbells meet the sides of your chest while squeezing your shoulder blades together. Lower weights back toward the floor.
With your back straight, return upright, coming to your starting position, to complete one rep.
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Single-Leg Scarecrows
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Stand on your left leg, and lift your right knee up until it is level with your hip. Holding a dumbbell in each hand, raise your arms out to the side until your upper arms are parallel to the ground. Bend your elbows to 90 degrees.
Maintaining a strong sense of balance, rotate your upper arms forward to bring your fists to the floor, then rotate the upper arm backward to bring the fists up. Do not lower or raise your upper arms; keep them parallel to the floor. This completes one rep.
Stand tall with your feet hip-width distance apart. Hold a dumbbell in each hand at your sides.
Step forward with the right foot as you bend the elbows in a bicep curl. Lower your hips until both knees are bent at about a 90-degree angle. Keep the front knee directly above the ankle, and lower the left knee to just tap the floor.
Keep the weight in your heels as you push back to the starting position, completing one rep.
Holding the weights at your shoulders with your palms facing out, step backward about three feet with your left foot. Press the weights up to the ceiling.
Lower the weights to your shoulders as you bend your knees, making 90-degree angles with both legs.
Straighten both legs as you press the weights back toward the ceiling. This completes one rep.
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Reverse Lunge With Bicep Curl
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Begin with your feet together, holding dumbbells at your sides.
Step your right foot back into a deep lunge as you bend your elbows, bringing weights to your shoulders for the bicep curl. Make sure your left knee is directly over your ankle, and bend your right knee so it almost touches the floor.
Focus on your left glute as you step your right foot forward to return to the starting position, lowering weights back to your sides. Repeat, lunging the left foot back. This counts as one rep.
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Reverse Lunge and Press
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Stand with your feet together, holding the weights at your shoulders with your palms facing out.
Step your left foot back coming into a lunge, making 90-degree angles with your front and back knee.
Push off your left foot, bringing your left knee forward so it is even with your left hip while raising your arms above your head. Do this motion with control.
This completes one rep.
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Side Lunge to Curtsy Squat
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Holding a 10-pound dumbbell at your chest, step your left leg wide to the left, coming into a lateral lunge, bending your left knee. Keep your chest lifted and your weight in your left heel.
Push off with your left foot and cross the left leg behind your right, coming into a curtsy, bending both knees. This completes one rep.
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Side Lunge to Curtsy
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Holding a dumbbell in your right hand, side lunge to the left, bringing your right hand to your left foot. Lower your butt as much as possible. Keep your toes pointed forward and your left knee bent to no more than 90 degrees.
Push off gently with your left foot, and come into a curtsy position with your left leg crossing behind your right as you press your weight overhead. Keep your hips square and your curtsy tight. Both feet should be pointed forward.
This completes one rep.
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Side Lunge With Bicep Curl
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Holding a pair of dumbbells, stand with your feet and knees together. Perform a bicep curl by bending your elbows to bring the weights to your shoulders.
Lower your arms toward the floor as you take a large step to the left with your left foot, lunging toward the floor. Make sure your left knee does not extend past your toes, and keep your right leg relatively straight.
As you push off through your left foot to return to standing, perform a bicep curl.
This completes one rep.
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Dumbbell Sumo Squat
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Stand with your feet wide, toes pointing out, holding both dumbbells in front of the chest. Bend your knees, lowering your hips deeply, so your thighs are parallel with the floor. Make sure to keep your weight back in your heels.
Rise back up, straightening the legs completely and squeezing the glutes at the top of the movement to get the most from the exercise.
This completes one rep.
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Sumo Squat With Bicep Curls
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Hold a pair of dumbbells in your hands with your arms straight and your palms facing away from you. Step your feet apart so there's about 20 inches between your heels. Point your toes out slightly.
When you're ready, bend your knees and elbows at the same time. Keep your shoulders over your hips, and lower down so your weight is back in your heels. Then straighten your legs and arms.
This completes one rep.
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Sumo Squat Side Bends
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Start in a wide stance with your toes pointed out; hold a dumbbell just above your head with elbows wide to sides.
Bend your knees over your toes, coming into a squat with your thighs almost parallel to the floor.
Keep low in your sumo squat as you alternate side bending to the left and right.
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Deadlift With Front Row
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Stand upright holding your dumbbells in each hand, arms at your sides, with your knees slightly bent.
Keeping your arms straight and knees slightly bent, slowly hinge forward, bending at your hips (not your waist), lowering the weights as far as possible without rounding your back, which should remain straight.
Squeeze your glutes to return to standing, keeping your back straight. Once you're standing, pull the weights up the front of your body, bringing them to your chin with elbows going wide. Lower the weights to complete one rep.
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Overhead Shoulder Press
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Hold a dumbbell in each hand just above the shoulders, palms facing in.
Straighten the arms above you.
Bend the elbows coming back to the starting position to complete one rep.
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Wide Bicep Curl
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Stand with your feet slightly wider than hips-width-distance apart.
Holding a dumbbell in each hand, hold the arms out wide with a slight bend in the elbows, palms facing up.
Bend at the elbows, pulling the weights toward your ears.
Extend the arms out wide again to complete one rep.
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Overhead Triceps Extensions
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Stand with your feet hip-distance apart.
Hold one dumbbell (go for your heavier weight) with both hands, bending the elbows behind your head.
Straighten your arms to lift the dumbbell into the air, then slowly bend the arms to lower. This counts as one rep.
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Bent-Over Row
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Lean forward and bend both knees, remembering to keep a flat back.
Extend your arms so they are straight. Lift the dumbbells straight up to chest level, squeezing your shoulder blades together as you do. Be sure to keep your elbows in and pointed upward. Don't arch your back.
Slowly lower the weights back to the starting position to complete one rep.
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Rotated Row
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Start in a shallow squat, holding the weight in your right hand.
Pull your elbow back, squeezing your right shoulder blade toward your spine while you twist to the right. This counts as one rep.
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Single-Leg Touch
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Holding a 10-pound dumbbell in your right hand, stand on your left leg with your right foot lifted.
Keeping your back flat, bend your left knee while bending forward at your hips to lightly touch the dumbbell to the ground. Keep your right knee bent and your right leg close to your body.
Push through your left heel and return to the starting position to complete one rep; try to keep your right foot off the ground the entire time.
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Bent-Over Reverse Fly
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Holding a dumbbell in each hand, stand with the knees slightly bent. Keeping your back flat, bend forward at the hip joint.
Exhale and lift both arms to the side, maintaining a slight bend in the elbows and squeezing your shoulder blades together. Then, with control, lower the dumbbells back toward the ground. This completes one rep.
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Pilates Boxer
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Stand with your feet hip-distance apart. Bend your elbows behind you, keeping your upper arms even with your back.
Bend your knees to come into a half squat while creasing at your hips so your spine is almost parallel to the floor. Keep your spine neutral with the pelvis and head forming one long line.
As you exhale, simultaneously extend your right arm straight out in front of you and the left arm straight behind you. Rotate both wrists so your front palm is down and your back palm is up.
With control, return to the starting position and repeat on the other side. This completes one rep.
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Overhead Circle
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Stand with your feet slightly wider than your hips with your knees soft. Hold the dumbbell overhead with both hands.
Keeping your abs pulled to the spine, circle the weight around your head starting to the left. Your ribs can move slightly, but your pelvis should stay still. Then reverse directions to complete one rep.
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Standing Weighted Twist
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Stand with your knees slightly soft, holding a dumbbell at chest level.
Keep your pelvis stable as you rotate your rib cage right and left, to complete one rep. Be sure to keep your abs pulled toward your spine as you twist from side to side.
Holding an eight- to 10-pound dumbbell overhead, twist to the left, pivoting your right foot as needed.
Exhale, and slice the dumbbell across your body to the right as you raise your right knee, bringing the weight to the outside of your right hip.
Raise the weight back to starting position, and lightly tap your right toes to the floor. This completes one rep.
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Overhead Triceps Extensions
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Stand with your feet hip-distance apart.
Hold one dumbbell (go for your heavier weight) with both hands, bending the elbows behind your head.
Straighten your arms to lift the dumbbell into the air, then slowly bend the arms to lower. This counts as one rep.
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Standing Side Bend
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Stand with your feet a little wider than hip-distance apart, holding a dumbbell over your head. Squeeze your head with your upper arms to fire up your core and protect your neck.
Bend sideways to the right, squeezing your waist on the right side, but focus more on the energy of your torso stretching upward rather than collapsing to the side. Keep your neck as neutral as possible, looking forward, not down.
Pull the left ribs down to return to standing upright. Then side bend to the other side to complete one rep.
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High Knees
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Hold one dumbbell at chest height and run in place while lifting your knees high to the level of your waist. Engage your abs as the knee comes up.
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Low-to-High Woodchop
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Stand with your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart, holding a 10-pound dumbbell.
Squat and twist to the right, bringing the weight to the outside of your right knee.
Exhale and twist to the left while raising your arms overhead, pivoting on your right foot. This completes one rep.
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Man Maker Burpee
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Start with a wide stance, toes slightly pointed out.
Lower into a deep squat, grabbing your free weights with your hands.
Walk or jump your feet back into plank position. Optional: do a push-up.
From plank position, begin your row: with your core tight and your glutes engaged, exhale, stabilizing your torso as you lift your right elbow to row. Feel your right scapula sliding toward your spine as you bend your elbow up toward the ceiling.
Keeping your neck long and energized, return the weight to the ground, and repeat the movement on your left side.
Jump your feet back in toward the hands, drop your hips toward the ground, and lift your chest.
In a squat, curl your weights into the chest, and stand.
Do an overhead press by extending your arms above your head, weights in hand. Carefully lower the weights to the starting position.
Begin standing with a 10-pound dumbbell on each side of your body. If this is too heavy and you find that your form is incorrect, use lighter weights.
Holding onto the dumbbells, lower down and perform a burpee. If this is too much pressure on your hands or wrists, you can set the dumbbells down in front of you for this part. If you're a beginner, you can perform a modified burpee.
With control, push your body off of the ground as you simultaneously pick up the dumbbells. Be sure to keep your core engaged and your spine in a neutral position when pushing yourself off the ground.
Standing tall with your core engaged, bend your arms and hold the dumbbells on or slightly above your shoulders and lower down into a squat. As you stand up, push both dumbbells overhead.
This counts as one rep.
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Leaning Camel
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Start on your knees. If this hurts your knees, fold up a mat or towel and kneel on that for a little cushioning. Your thighs should be parallel.
Hold a five- to eight-pound dumbbell with both hands in front of your chest.
Take a breath in, and as you exhale, lean back, squeezing your glutes, and use your abs to keep your spine straight. As you inhale, return your torso back to the starting position.
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Plank and Rotate
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Begin in a plank position holding a five-pound dumbbell in each hand, keeping your wrists stiff to protect the joints. Open your feet a little wider than hip distance.
Lift your left hand to the ceiling, twisting through your entire torso. Your pelvis will rotate, but keep it level.
Bring your left hand back to the floor, and repeat this action on the other side to complete one rep.
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Plank With Row
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Start in a plank position, holding a weight in your right hand.
Keep your torso stable as you pull your elbow toward the ceiling, squeezing your right shoulder blade toward your spine.
Lower the weight to the floor with control to complete one rep.
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Dumbbell Push-Up With Renegade Row
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Begin balancing in plank position, shoulders stacked over the wrists, with a dumbbell on the floor in each hand.
Bend the elbows behind you, and lower the torso into a push-up. Press back up to plank.
Start in a plank position holding a dumbbell in each hand. Open your feet wider than hip width for a stronger base of support.
Lift your left arm behind you as high as you can. Bring the left arm back into plank to complete one rep.
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Side Plank With Reverse Fly
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Start in a side plank on your left side, holding your weight in your right hand with your right arm parallel to the floor.
Exhale and pull your abs toward your spine to stabilize your torso as you raise your right arm to the ceiling. Do not let your hand travel behind your shoulder. Lower the weight back to starting position to complete one rep.
If you feel unstable in this position, split your legs, bringing your right leg forward to steady yourself.
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Weighted Donkey Kick
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Start on all fours, and place a weight in the crease of your right knee.
Keeping your right knee bent at a 90-degree angle, lift your right leg up until you feel your right glute engage. Flex your foot, and slowly pulse the foot toward the ceiling by squeezing your glute. Do not move the torso at all — the motion is just in the hip joint.
Grab a set of dumbbells, and sit on a flat workout bench.
With one dumbbell in each hand resting on your thighs, lie back onto the bench.
Hold the dumbbells above your chest, shoulder-width apart, creating a 90-degree angle between your upper arm and forearm. Palms should be facing forward.
Exhale as you push the dumbbells up, fully extending your arms. Hold for one second.
Inhale and lower the dumbbells to the sides of your chest with control.
This counts as one rep.
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Lying Overhead Reach
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Lie on your back with your hips and knees both at 90-degree angles, using your low abs to press your lower back into the mat. Raise your arms toward the ceiling, keeping the elbow joint slightly bent.
Reach your arms overhead, bringing the dumbbells to tap the dumbbells on the floor above your head. Do not let your back arch away from the floor as your lower the weights.
Raise your arms back to the starting position to complete one rep.
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Overhead Reach With Leg Lower
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Lie on your back with your arms reaching toward the ceiling, holding one weight with both hands. With the sole of your left foot on the mat, bring your right toes toward the ceiling.
Exhale and lower your arms and leg toward the floor, keeping your lower back touching the mat.
Inhale and return to starting position to complete one rep.
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V-Sit With Single-Arm Chest Fly
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Begin sitting with your heels planted about two feet from your butt, holding the weights at chest level with a slight bend in your elbows. Lean back a few inches, pulling your abs toward your spine to keep your spine long and straight.
The left arm remains still, as you open your right arm to the side, making sure the weight doesn't go beyond your shoulder.
Bring your right arm back to centre to complete one rep.
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Coordination Fly
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Lie on your back with a three- to five-pound dumbbell in each hand. Raise your arms straight up above your chest, with a slight bend at each elbow. Raise your legs up to tabletop, with knees and hips bent to 90-degree angles.
Inhale and open your arms to your side, with a slight bend at each elbow. Exhale as you bring your arms back up to starting position.
Lift your upper back and curl up toward your legs, pushing your weights toward your shins. As you curl up, stretch your legs out in front of you.
This completes one rep.
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Skull Crushers
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Grab a set of dumbbells, and start by lying on your back with the knees bent.
With one dumbbell in each hand, raise your arms so they are above your chest, making sure your elbows are straight but not locked.
Slowly lower both arms toward your head, bending your elbows to 90 degrees as the dumbbells reach the mat. Aim to lower your dumbbells so they are on either side of your head, elbows bent and pressing in toward your head.
Lift your arms back to starting position. This is one rep.
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Dumbbell Crossover Punch
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Begin by lying on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground, about two feet from your butt. Hold weights, five- to eight-pound dumbbells, in both hands at your chest with your elbows on the floor.
Keeping your hands at your chest, roll up to a sitting position. Twist your ribs to the left as you "punch" your right hand to the outside of the left knee.
Bring the right hand back to your chest as you untwist, bringing your torso back to the centre, and roll down to the ground.
Repeat the sit-up, twisting to the right side to complete one rep.
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Double Crunch Pulse With Medicine Ball
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Grab a heavy dumbbell for this move. Begin lying on your back with your legs in the air, toes toward the ceiling, holding the medicine ball over your chest with straight arms. Engage your abs to press your low back into the mat while lifting your head, neck, and upper back off the mat.
Exhale and round your low back so the bottom of the pelvis raises as you lift your upper body an inch higher off the mat. Aim the medicine ball toward your ankles as you perform this double crunch.
Inhale, and lower pelvis and upper back an inch toward the floor and continue slow pulsing.
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Seated Russian Twist
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Sit with your heels about two feet from your butt, holding a dumbbell at your chest. Keeping your back straight, lean your entire torso back a few inches. You should feel your abs working to keep you upright.
Without rounding your spine, rotate your rib cage to the left, then return to centre to twist to the right. This completes one rep.
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Single-Arm Chest Press
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Lie on your back with your heels about a foot away from your butt. Hold a dumbbell in your left hand and bring both hands to the ceiling.
Bend your left elbow, lowering your upper arm to floor. Exhale and straighten your elbow, pressing the weight back to the ceiling to complete a rep.
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Possibly Our Most Challenging Workout Yet! 30-Minute HIIT With Weights
You up for a serious challenge? Then try this calorie-torching HIIT workout from Equinox trainer Anja Garcia. Challenge yourself even more, and take it to the next level by using a set of medium free weights.
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This 15-Minute Arms of Steel Workout Will Build Serious Upper-Body Strength
Get ready to build arms of steel with this 15-minute workout. All you need is a set of medium free weights, and we'll help you strengthen and sculpt your biceps and triceps.
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Work Your Entire Body in 30 Minutes With This Dumbbell Workout
You'll feel strong after this 30-minute dumbbell workout from Barry's Bootcamp trainer and MoveWith coach Ingrid S. Clay. Grab a pair of five- to 15-pound weights, depending on where you are in your fitness journey.
We like to think of this workout as a two-for-one! We're going to work your abs and arms with a bunch of multitasking moves that target both areas and more. Grab a set of dumbbells between five and 10 pounds, and get ready to feel the burn.
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Whether You're a Beginner or a Pro, This Workout Will Tone Your Entire Body
This strength-training workout will increase heart rate and tone your entire body. Each exercise is 25 reps, so take breaks as needed, and know that you can build up to it!
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You're Going to Love This 40-Minute "Tone You All Over" Workout
Tone your entire body with this mix of cardio, bodyweight, and dumbbell exercises from LA-based celebrity trainer Jenn Glysson. She leads an intense workout but offers modifications for all the moves.
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A 20-Minute Fit and Sexy Workout For Your Entire Body
Grab a set of weights, and get ready to work your entire body in just 20 minutes — warmup and cooldown included. We stack the circuits in this sweat session, adding a new exercise to each round.
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Fast and Furious Calorie Burn: 15-Minute Full-Body Workout
Autumn Calabrese, creator of the 21-Day Fix, shortened her signature Dirty 30 Workout just for us. It may only be 15 minutes long, but every second is designed to tone you all over while keeping your heart rate up.
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Torch Calories With This Cardio and Toning Boot Camp
There is no messing around in this 30-minute workout . . . except for the short dance break to shake things up before the final circuit. Barry's Bootcamp trainer Allie Cohen keeps things moving by mixing strength training with cardio moves in this eight-exercise circuit workout.
Get ready to work your entire body in 30 minutes! We suggest grabbing some medium-weight dumbbells, between five and 10 pounds, and some water. You're going to want to hydrate during this one!
