Best Beginner Back Workouts To Build Strength

About

This workout targets the development of strength by incorporating exercises designed to enhance maximal lifting capacity, emphasizing higher weights coupled with lower repetitions.

Compound movements are included to engage various muscle groups, while isolation exercises hone in on specific muscles.

The routine is tailored for beginners, ensuring it consists of user-friendly movements with readily accessible equipment to minimize the risk of injury.

It focuses on the back muscle group, responsible for pulling movements and contributing to shoulder stability, through exercises such as Rows, Pull-Ups, and Lat Pull-Downs.

Beginners, defined as individuals with less than one year of fitness experience, will find the weight slightly moderated for technique mastery, suitable for all stages of their fitness journey.

The 15 Best Beginner Back Exercises to Build Strength

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Ranked based on Fitbod's internal data set of the most effective exercises. Learn More

  • 1. Cable Row

    SETS LOGGED
    6,108,322
    Back Strength
    98 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Row Cable
    Row Cable

    The Cable Row is an exercise that strengthens your back, shoulders, and biceps. It uses a cable machine for proper positioning and resistance control, helping you build muscle and strength in your upper body.

    How to do it

    The Cable Row is an exercise that strengthens your back, shoulders, and biceps. It uses a cable machine for proper positioning and resistance control, helping you build muscle and strength in your upper body.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    45lbs
    2
    8reps
    45lbs
    3
    8reps
    45lbs
  • 2. Dumbbell Row

    SETS LOGGED
    8,648,581
    Back Strength
    99 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells
    Photo of Flat Bench
    Flat Bench

    The Dumbbell Row is a great exercise that strengthens your back, shoulders, and biceps while also engaging your core for stability. You can do this exercise using a flat bench and dumbbells, making it accessible even with limited equipment.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Row is a great exercise that strengthens your back, shoulders, and biceps while also engaging your core for stability. You can do this exercise using a flat bench and dumbbells, making it accessible even with limited equipment.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    30lbs
    2
    8reps
    30lbs
    3
    8reps
    30lbs
  • 3. Lat Pulldown

    SETS LOGGED
    8,113,246
    Back Strength
    100 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Lat Pulldown Cable
    Lat Pulldown Cable

    The Lat Pulldown is a great exercise for strengthening your back, shoulders, and biceps. It's similar to a Pull Up but is more stable, making it easier for beginners to control the movement and adjust the resistance.

    How to do it

    The Lat Pulldown is a great exercise for strengthening your back, shoulders, and biceps. It's similar to a Pull Up but is more stable, making it easier for beginners to control the movement and adjust the resistance.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    55lbs
    2
    8reps
    55lbs
    3
    8reps
    55lbs
  • 4. Bent Over Barbell Row

    SETS LOGGED
    3,003,534
    Back Strength
    96 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells

    The Bent Over Barbell Row is an effective exercise for strengthening your back, shoulders, and arms. It uses a barbell for stability, helping you focus on building strength, making it a good introduction to more advanced lifting techniques.

    How to do it

    The Bent Over Barbell Row is an effective exercise for strengthening your back, shoulders, and arms. It uses a barbell for stability, helping you focus on building strength, making it a good introduction to more advanced lifting techniques.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    45lbs
    2
    8reps
    45lbs
    3
    8reps
    45lbs
  • 5. Hammerstrength High Row

    SETS LOGGED
    1,357,345
    Back Strength
    95 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Hammerstrength (Leverage) Machine (all forms)
    Hammerstrength (Leverage) Machine (all forms)

    The Hammerstrength High Row is an exercise that strengthens your back muscles. It uses a machine to help stabilize your movement, making it easier to focus on lifting weights properly.

    How to do it

    The Hammerstrength High Row is an exercise that strengthens your back muscles. It uses a machine to help stabilize your movement, making it easier to focus on lifting weights properly.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    45lbs
    2
    8reps
    45lbs
    3
    8reps
    45lbs
  • 6. Hammerstrength Iso Row

    SETS LOGGED
    1,388,040
    Back Strength
    95 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Hammerstrength (Leverage) Machine (all forms)
    Hammerstrength (Leverage) Machine (all forms)

    The Hammerstrength Iso Row is a back exercise that uses a specialized machine for better support and focus on your movements. This machine provides stability, allowing you to concentrate more on the effort rather than balancing yourself.

    How to do it

    The Hammerstrength Iso Row is a back exercise that uses a specialized machine for better support and focus on your movements. This machine provides stability, allowing you to concentrate more on the effort rather than balancing yourself.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    45lbs
    2
    8reps
    45lbs
    3
    8reps
    45lbs
  • 7. Machine Row

    SETS LOGGED
    1,784,270
    Back Strength
    97 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Row Machine
    Row Machine

    The Machine Row is a great exercise for working on your back muscles. Using a machine helps you maintain stability and control, making it perfect for beginners to practice the seated row technique.

    How to do it

    The Machine Row is a great exercise for working on your back muscles. Using a machine helps you maintain stability and control, making it perfect for beginners to practice the seated row technique.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    45lbs
    2
    8reps
    45lbs
    3
    8reps
    45lbs
  • 8. Smith Machine Bent Over Row

    SETS LOGGED
    865,614
    Back Strength
    87 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Smith Machine
    Smith Machine

    The Smith Machine Bent Over Row is an exercise that targets the back muscles using a Smith Machine for added stability. It helps beginners improve their form and strength while performing the row movement.

    How to do it

    The Smith Machine Bent Over Row is an exercise that targets the back muscles using a Smith Machine for added stability. It helps beginners improve their form and strength while performing the row movement.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    40lbs
    2
    8reps
    40lbs
    3
    8reps
    40lbs
  • 9. Back Extensions

    SETS LOGGED
    3,608,448
    Lower Back Strength
    96 mScore
    Lower Back
    Photo of Glute Ham Raise Bench
    Glute Ham Raise Bench

    Back extensions strengthen the lower back and improve core stability. This exercise helps build a strong foundation for your back muscles.

    How to do it

    Back extensions strengthen the lower back and improve core stability. This exercise helps build a strong foundation for your back muscles.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    7reps
    2
    7reps
    3
    7reps
  • 10. Stiff-Legged Barbell Good Morning

    SETS LOGGED
    1,887,732
    Lower Back Strength
    95 mScore
    Lower Back
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells
    Photo of Squat Rack
    Squat Rack

    The Stiff-Legged Barbell Good Morning exercise targets the hamstrings and lower back. It uses a barbell for added resistance and helps maintain a straight back while hinging at the hips.

    How to do it

    The Stiff-Legged Barbell Good Morning exercise targets the hamstrings and lower back. It uses a barbell for added resistance and helps maintain a straight back while hinging at the hips.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    35lbs
    2
    8reps
    35lbs
    3
    8reps
    35lbs
  • 11. Superman

    SETS LOGGED
    5,438,343
    Lower Back Strength
    100 mScore
    Lower Back

    The Superman exercise strengthens your lower back, glutes, and upper back. You lie on your stomach and lift your arms and legs off the ground together to engage these muscles.

    How to do it

    The Superman exercise strengthens your lower back, glutes, and upper back. You lie on your stomach and lift your arms and legs off the ground together to engage these muscles.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    2
    8reps
    3
    8reps
  • 12. Australian Chin Up

    SETS LOGGED
    517,270
    Back Strength
    55 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells
    Photo of Squat Rack
    Squat Rack

    The Australian Chin Up is a bodyweight exercise that strengthens your back, biceps, and shoulders. You perform it from a low, inclined position using a bar, making it easier than regular Chin Ups. It's a great way for beginners to build strength towards full Chin Ups.

    How to do it

    The Australian Chin Up is a bodyweight exercise that strengthens your back, biceps, and shoulders. You perform it from a low, inclined position using a bar, making it easier than regular Chin Ups. It's a great way for beginners to build strength towards full Chin Ups.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    6reps
    2
    6reps
    3
    6reps
  • 13. Dumbbell Bent Over Row

    SETS LOGGED
    4,165,923
    Back Strength
    97 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Dumbbell Bent Over Row targets your back and biceps. Using dumbbells helps ensure both sides of your body are trained equally and adds difficulty, making it great for building strength and muscle in your back workouts.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Bent Over Row targets your back and biceps. Using dumbbells helps ensure both sides of your body are trained equally and adds difficulty, making it great for building strength and muscle in your back workouts.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    17.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    17.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    17.5lbs
  • 14. TRX Row

    SETS LOGGED
    439,300
    Back Strength
    45 mScore
    Back
    Photo of TRX
    TRX

    The TRX Row is a bodyweight exercise that strengthens your back. It uses a TRX strap to create instability and allows you to adjust resistance by moving your feet closer or farther from the anchor point.

    How to do it

    The TRX Row is a bodyweight exercise that strengthens your back. It uses a TRX strap to create instability and allows you to adjust resistance by moving your feet closer or farther from the anchor point.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    9reps
    2
    9reps
    3
    9reps
  • 15. Reverse Grip Pull Down

    SETS LOGGED
    881,146
    Back Strength
    86 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Lat Pulldown Cable
    Lat Pulldown Cable

    The Reverse Grip Pull Down is a back exercise that mainly works the lower lats and biceps. Using an underhand grip is gentler on your wrists and elbows, making it great for building strength and thickness in your back.

    How to do it

    The Reverse Grip Pull Down is a back exercise that mainly works the lower lats and biceps. Using an underhand grip is gentler on your wrists and elbows, making it great for building strength and thickness in your back.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    45lbs
    2
    8reps
    45lbs
    3
    8reps
    45lbs

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