Best Beginner Chest And Back Workouts For Women

About

Beginner exercises are tailored to individuals with less than one year of experience, focusing on foundational movements with easily manageable equipment, while still offering a challenging workout for varied fitness levels.

Targeting the chest muscles involves horizontal pressing and shoulder adduction movements, essential for developing strength and balance in the pectoral area.

Back exercises emphasize pulling motions, complementing chest exercises and promoting structural integrity within the upper torso.

The combination of chest and back exercises facilitates balanced development by engaging opposing muscle groups responsible for push and pull motions.

The 15 Best Beginner Chest and Back Exercises for Women

Ranked By

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
    35lbs
    2
    8reps
    35lbs
    3
    8reps
    35lbs
  • 2. Dumbbell Bench Press

    SETS LOGGED
    8,452,674
    Chest Strength
    99 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells
    Photo of Flat Bench
    Flat Bench

    The Dumbbell Bench Press is a great exercise for beginners that targets the chest, triceps, and shoulders. Using dumbbells helps improve stability and ensures both sides of the body work equally without compensating for weaknesses.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Bench Press is a great exercise for beginners that targets the chest, triceps, and shoulders. Using dumbbells helps improve stability and ensures both sides of the body work equally without compensating for weaknesses.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    12.5lbs
  • 3. Dumbbell Fly

    SETS LOGGED
    6,618,981
    Chest Strength
    98 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells
    Photo of Flat Bench
    Flat Bench

    The Dumbbell Fly is an effective exercise for strengthening and building the chest muscles. It also engages the shoulders for support. This exercise helps to develop muscle balance by working each side of the body independently.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Fly is an effective exercise for strengthening and building the chest muscles. It also engages the shoulders for support. This exercise helps to develop muscle balance by working each side of the body independently.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    10lbs
    2
    8reps
    10lbs
    3
    8reps
    10lbs
  • 4. 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
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs
  • 5. 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
    40lbs
    2
    8reps
    40lbs
    3
    8reps
    40lbs
  • 6. 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
    30lbs
    2
    8reps
    30lbs
    3
    8reps
    30lbs
  • 7. Cable Crossover Fly

    SETS LOGGED
    2,687,316
    Chest Strength
    95 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Crossover Cable
    Crossover Cable

    The Cable Crossover Fly is a chest exercise that uses cables to maintain tension and control. This exercise helps isolate different parts of the chest for a focused workout.

    How to do it

    The Cable Crossover Fly is a chest exercise that uses cables to maintain tension and control. This exercise helps isolate different parts of the chest for a focused workout.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs
  • 8. Hammerstrength Chest Press

    SETS LOGGED
    1,521,759
    Chest Strength
    92 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Hammerstrength (Leverage) Machine (all forms)
    Hammerstrength (Leverage) Machine (all forms)

    The Hammerstrength Chest Press is a chest workout that targets your chest, shoulders, and triceps using a specialized machine. It helps you maintain focus on the exercise and learn proper movement without worrying about balance.

    How to do it

    The Hammerstrength Chest Press is a chest workout that targets your chest, shoulders, and triceps using a specialized machine. It helps you maintain focus on the exercise and learn proper movement without worrying about balance.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    22.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    22.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    22.5lbs
  • 9. Hammerstrength Decline Chest Press

    SETS LOGGED
    747,338
    Chest Strength
    77 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Hammerstrength (Leverage) Machine (all forms)
    Hammerstrength (Leverage) Machine (all forms)

    The Hammerstrength Decline Chest Press is a machine exercise that targets the lower chest. It provides stability, allowing you to focus on building strength without worrying about balance.

    How to do it

    The Hammerstrength Decline Chest Press is a machine exercise that targets the lower chest. It provides stability, allowing you to focus on building strength without worrying about balance.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    22.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    22.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    22.5lbs
  • 10. 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
    30lbs
    2
    8reps
    30lbs
    3
    8reps
    30lbs
  • 11. Hammerstrength Incline Chest Press

    SETS LOGGED
    1,162,003
    Chest Strength
    84 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Hammerstrength (Leverage) Machine (all forms)
    Hammerstrength (Leverage) Machine (all forms)

    The Hammerstrength Incline Chest Press is a machine exercise that targets your upper chest, shoulders, and triceps. It provides stability and focuses your effort on these muscle groups by using a fixed range of motion.

    How to do it

    The Hammerstrength Incline Chest Press is a machine exercise that targets your upper chest, shoulders, and triceps. It provides stability and focuses your effort on these muscle groups by using a fixed range of motion.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    22.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    22.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    22.5lbs
  • 12. 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
    30lbs
    2
    8reps
    30lbs
    3
    8reps
    30lbs
  • 13. 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
    30lbs
    2
    8reps
    30lbs
    3
    8reps
    30lbs
  • 14. Smith Machine Bench Press

    SETS LOGGED
    922,042
    Chest Strength
    66 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Smith Machine
    Smith Machine
    Photo of Flat Bench
    Flat Bench

    The Smith Machine Bench Press is a chest exercise that works your triceps and shoulders too. The Smith Machine helps keep the movement steady, making it easier to focus on properly performing the exercise.

    How to do it

    The Smith Machine Bench Press is a chest exercise that works your triceps and shoulders too. The Smith Machine helps keep the movement steady, making it easier to focus on properly performing the exercise.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    25lbs
    2
    8reps
    25lbs
    3
    8reps
    25lbs
  • 15. 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
    25lbs
    2
    8reps
    25lbs
    3
    8reps
    25lbs

Alternative Workouts

Alternative Beginner Workouts for Women

Alternative Chest and Back Workouts for Women

Alternative Beginner Chest and Back Workouts