Best Beginner Pull Day Workouts With Dumbbells

About

Dumbbells are one of the most versatile and effective pieces of workout equipment.

They allow for isolated movements, ensuring balanced muscle engagement, and activating stabilizing muscle groups for improved overall strength development.

Beginner exercises are designed with accessible movements and controlled risk, catering to those with less than one year of experience in resistance training.

Pull exercises include horizontal row patterns and vertical pull motions, focusing on engaging the back and bicep muscle groups effectively.

By incorporating compound and isolation exercises, beginners can achieve a challenging yet manageable workout in their fitness journey.

Consider this approach as part of a tailored PPL (Push, Pull, Legs) routine for optimal progress.

The 15 Best Beginner Pull Day Exercises with Dumbbells

Ranked By

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

  • 1. 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
  • 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. Dumbbell Bicep Curl

    SETS LOGGED
    10,161,709
    Biceps Strength
    99 mScore
    Biceps
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Dumbbell Bicep Curl is a popular exercise that targets the biceps, helping to build strength and muscle. Using dumbbells allows for better control and range of motion, making it an effective choice for workouts.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Bicep Curl is a popular exercise that targets the biceps, helping to build strength and muscle. Using dumbbells allows for better control and range of motion, making it an effective choice for workouts.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs
  • 4. Hammer Curls

    SETS LOGGED
    8,921,793
    Biceps Strength
    98 mScore
    Biceps
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    Hammer Curls are a bicep exercise that involve turning your wrists for a more natural grip. This helps target the long head of the bicep while building muscle and strength.

    How to do it

    Hammer Curls are a bicep exercise that involve turning your wrists for a more natural grip. This helps target the long head of the bicep while building muscle and strength.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs
  • 5. Seated Dumbbell Curl

    SETS LOGGED
    3,675,670
    Biceps Strength
    95 mScore
    Biceps
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Seated Dumbbell Curl is an exercise that focuses on building your biceps. By using dumbbells while sitting, you can maintain good form and prevent using your body to lift the weights.

    How to do it

    The Seated Dumbbell Curl is an exercise that focuses on building your biceps. By using dumbbells while sitting, you can maintain good form and prevent using your body to lift the weights.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs
  • 6. Waiter Curls

    SETS LOGGED
    655,522
    Biceps Strength
    81 mScore
    Biceps
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    Waiter Curls strengthen your biceps while mimicking the action of holding a tray. This exercise improves muscle control and grip strength, making it great for building arm shape and stability.

    How to do it

    Waiter Curls strengthen your biceps while mimicking the action of holding a tray. This exercise improves muscle control and grip strength, making it great for building arm shape and stability.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs
  • 7. Dumbbell Wide Curls

    SETS LOGGED
    799,835
    Biceps Strength
    70 mScore
    Biceps
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    Dumbbell Wide Curls are a simple exercise that focuses on building your biceps. By keeping your arms flared out, this exercise helps develop the outer part of your biceps for a fuller appearance.

    How to do it

    Dumbbell Wide Curls are a simple exercise that focuses on building your biceps. By keeping your arms flared out, this exercise helps develop the outer part of your biceps for a fuller appearance.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs
  • 8. Cross Body Hammer Curls

    SETS LOGGED
    1,172,804
    Biceps Strength
    91 mScore
    Biceps
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    Cross Body Hammer Curls are a bicep exercise that involves lifting weights across your body. This movement targets the biceps effectively by moving the dumbbell in a diagonal path rather than straight up and down.

    How to do it

    Cross Body Hammer Curls are a bicep exercise that involves lifting weights across your body. This movement targets the biceps effectively by moving the dumbbell in a diagonal path rather than straight up and down.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs
  • 9. Dumbbell Pause Curl

    SETS LOGGED
    121,541
    Biceps Strength
    79 mScore
    Biceps
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Dumbbell Pause Curl targets the biceps with a brief hold at the top position. This exercise builds muscle strength and improves the appearance of your arms, making it great for enhancing bicep curls.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Pause Curl targets the biceps with a brief hold at the top position. This exercise builds muscle strength and improves the appearance of your arms, making it great for enhancing bicep curls.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs
  • 10. Dumbbell Drag Pause Curl

    SETS LOGGED
    89,070
    Biceps Strength
    77 mScore
    Biceps
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Dumbbell Drag Pause Curl targets your biceps by adding a pause at the top of the curl, which helps build strength and size. It is great for maximizing your bicep workouts and focusing on muscle contraction.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Drag Pause Curl targets your biceps by adding a pause at the top of the curl, which helps build strength and size. It is great for maximizing your bicep workouts and focusing on muscle contraction.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs
  • 11. Dumbbell Hammer Pause Curl

    SETS LOGGED
    139,118
    Biceps Strength
    75 mScore
    Biceps
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Dumbbell Hammer Pause Curl is an exercise that strengthens your biceps and forearms by adding a brief pause at the top of the movement. This helps build muscle and grip strength, making it great for improving arm size.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Hammer Pause Curl is an exercise that strengthens your biceps and forearms by adding a brief pause at the top of the movement. This helps build muscle and grip strength, making it great for improving arm size.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs
  • 12. Dumbbell Standing Hammer Curl To Front Press

    SETS LOGGED
    151,445
    Biceps Strength
    70 mScore
    Biceps
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Dumbbell Standing Hammer Curl To Front Press is a strength exercise that works your biceps and shoulders. It involves curling dumbbells towards your chest and then pressing them overhead while standing, which also helps engage your core for stability.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Standing Hammer Curl To Front Press is a strength exercise that works your biceps and shoulders. It involves curling dumbbells towards your chest and then pressing them overhead while standing, which also helps engage your core for stability.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    17.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    17.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    17.5lbs
  • 13. Dumbbell Bent Over Reverse Fly

    SETS LOGGED
    358,110
    Back Strength
    84 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Dumbbell Bent Over Reverse Fly is an exercise that strengthens the back of your shoulders. This move helps balance strength between both sides and engages your upper back as well.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Bent Over Reverse Fly is an exercise that strengthens the back of your shoulders. This move helps balance strength between both sides and engages your upper back as well.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs
  • 14. Dumbbell Drag Curl

    SETS LOGGED
    360,412
    Biceps Strength
    91 mScore
    Biceps
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Dumbbell Drag Curl targets the biceps, specifically the long head, to improve their shape and peak. This exercise isolates the biceps while reducing shoulder movement, making it ideal for those looking to enhance their bicep definition.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Drag Curl targets the biceps, specifically the long head, to improve their shape and peak. This exercise isolates the biceps while reducing shoulder movement, making it ideal for those looking to enhance their bicep definition.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs
  • 15. Dumbbell No Money Curls

    SETS LOGGED
    558,921
    Biceps Strength
    67 mScore
    Biceps
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Dumbbell No Money Curls strengthen your biceps and shoulder stability by rotating your shoulders as you curl. This exercise helps improve posture and prevent injuries, making it great for beginners.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell No Money Curls strengthen your biceps and shoulder stability by rotating your shoulders as you curl. This exercise helps improve posture and prevent injuries, making it great for beginners.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs

Alternative Workouts

Alternative Beginner Pull Day Workouts

Alternative Beginner Workouts with Dumbbells

Alternative Pull Day Workouts with Dumbbells