Best Beginner Shoulders Workouts For Women

About

This workout focuses on engaging and strengthening the deltoid muscles, which are essential for upper body movement and stability.

The exercises included are simple, using easy-to-operate equipment while minimizing the risk of overuse or injury, making them suitable for individuals with less than one year of fitness experience.

Reps and weight are tailored to an average woman's profile—5’5”, 140lbs, aged 34 years—though individual capabilities can vary significantly.

Movements like overhead presses and straight arm raises emphasize isolating the shoulder muscles to enhance both strength and endurance effectively.

Prioritizing proper form and controlled technique is essential to obtaining the best results while reducing the risk of strain.

The 15 Best Beginner Shoulders Exercises for Women

Ranked By

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

  • 1. Dumbbell Back Fly

    SETS LOGGED
    1,248,270
    Shoulders Strength
    97 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells
    Photo of Incline Bench
    Incline Bench

    The Dumbbell Back Fly targets the back of your shoulders while providing stability from an incline bench. This exercise helps strengthen your posterior deltoid by isolating the muscle effectively.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Back Fly targets the back of your shoulders while providing stability from an incline bench. This exercise helps strengthen your posterior deltoid by isolating the muscle effectively.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    10lbs
    2
    8reps
    10lbs
    3
    8reps
    10lbs
  • 2. Cable Lateral Raise

    SETS LOGGED
    1,978,112
    Shoulders Strength
    97 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
    Hi-Lo Pulley Cable

    The Cable Lateral Raise is a shoulder exercise that targets the middle deltoid muscle. Using a cable machine allows for better control and can help identify strength differences between your left and right sides.

    How to do it

    The Cable Lateral Raise is a shoulder exercise that targets the middle deltoid muscle. Using a cable machine allows for better control and can help identify strength differences between your left and right sides.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    10lbs
    2
    8reps
    10lbs
    3
    8reps
    10lbs
  • 3. Dumbbell Front Raise

    SETS LOGGED
    5,823,163
    Shoulders Strength
    98 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Dumbbell Front Raise is an exercise that strengthens the front part of your shoulders. It helps build muscle and balance strength between both sides of your body using dumbbells.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Front Raise is an exercise that strengthens the front part of your shoulders. It helps build muscle and balance strength between both sides of your body using dumbbells.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    7.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    7.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    7.5lbs
  • 4. Dumbbell Shoulder Press

    SETS LOGGED
    6,772,064
    Shoulders Strength
    99 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells
    Photo of Flat Bench
    Flat Bench

    The Dumbbell Shoulder Press is an exercise that focuses on strengthening the shoulders. Using dumbbells helps engage stabilizing muscles and can improve balance between both sides of the body.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Shoulder Press is an exercise that focuses on strengthening the shoulders. Using dumbbells helps engage stabilizing muscles and can improve balance between both sides of the body.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    12.5lbs
  • 5. Dumbbell Shoulder Raise

    SETS LOGGED
    3,935,648
    Shoulders Strength
    98 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Dumbbell Shoulder Raise is an exercise that focuses on strengthening the middle part of your shoulders. It helps improve muscle balance and can enhance shoulder strength by using dumbbells.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Shoulder Raise is an exercise that focuses on strengthening the middle part of your shoulders. It helps improve muscle balance and can enhance shoulder strength by using dumbbells.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    7.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    7.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    7.5lbs
  • 6. Cable Rear Delt Fly

    SETS LOGGED
    645,918
    Shoulders Strength
    82 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Crossover Cable
    Crossover Cable

    The Cable Rear Delt Fly targets the rear shoulders to improve your shoulder balance and posture. Using a cable machine allows for better muscle activation with constant tension. This exercise also strengthens the upper back and helps correct shoulder imbalances.

    How to do it

    The Cable Rear Delt Fly targets the rear shoulders to improve your shoulder balance and posture. Using a cable machine allows for better muscle activation with constant tension. This exercise also strengthens the upper back and helps correct shoulder imbalances.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    12.5lbs
  • 7. Cable Shoulder Press

    SETS LOGGED
    164,564
    Shoulders Strength
    77 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Crossover Cable
    Crossover Cable

    The Cable Shoulder Press is an exercise that strengthens your shoulder muscles, especially the front and middle parts. Using cables keeps tension on the muscles, improving stability and control during the movement.

    How to do it

    The Cable Shoulder Press is an exercise that strengthens your shoulder muscles, especially the front and middle parts. Using cables keeps tension on the muscles, improving stability and control during the movement.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs
  • 8. Freemotion Shoulder Press

    SETS LOGGED
    95,615
    Shoulders Strength
    82 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Freemotion Machine (all forms)
    Freemotion Machine (all forms)

    The Freemotion Shoulder Press is a beginner-friendly exercise that targets your shoulder muscles. Using a Freemotion machine helps you maintain stability, making it easier to control your movements and focus on your form.

    How to do it

    The Freemotion Shoulder Press is a beginner-friendly exercise that targets your shoulder muscles. Using a Freemotion machine helps you maintain stability, making it easier to control your movements and focus on your form.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs
  • 9. Hammerstrength Shoulder Press

    SETS LOGGED
    662,175
    Shoulders Strength
    91 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Hammerstrength (Leverage) Machine (all forms)
    Hammerstrength (Leverage) Machine (all forms)

    The Hammerstrength Shoulder Press is a machine exercise that targets your shoulder muscles. It provides stability, allowing you to focus on pushing the weights without worrying about balance.

    How to do it

    The Hammerstrength Shoulder Press is a machine exercise that targets your shoulder muscles. It provides stability, allowing you to focus on pushing the weights without worrying about balance.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs
  • 10. Kettlebell Upright Row

    SETS LOGGED
    749,947
    Shoulders Strength
    95 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Kettlebells
    Kettlebells

    The Kettlebell Upright Row targets your shoulders and improves muscle activation by allowing you to pull the kettlebell in different directions. It's a great way to build strength in your upper body while using a kettlebell.

    How to do it

    The Kettlebell Upright Row targets your shoulders and improves muscle activation by allowing you to pull the kettlebell in different directions. It's a great way to build strength in your upper body while using a kettlebell.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs
  • 11. Machine Lateral Raise

    SETS LOGGED
    561,098
    Shoulders Strength
    92 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Shoulder Shrug Machine
    Shoulder Shrug Machine

    The Machine Lateral Raise is a shoulder exercise done on a machine that provides support and stability. It helps you focus on strengthening your shoulders in a controlled way.

    How to do it

    The Machine Lateral Raise is a shoulder exercise done on a machine that provides support and stability. It helps you focus on strengthening your shoulders in a controlled way.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs
  • 12. Machine Shoulder Press

    SETS LOGGED
    1,196,498
    Shoulders Strength
    94 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Shoulder Press Machine
    Shoulder Press Machine

    The Machine Shoulder Press is a safe and effective exercise that targets your shoulders using a machine. It helps you build strength while providing stability, making it ideal for beginners to learn the movement.

    How to do it

    The Machine Shoulder Press is a safe and effective exercise that targets your shoulders using a machine. It helps you build strength while providing stability, making it ideal for beginners to learn the movement.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    22.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    22.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    22.5lbs
  • 13. Smith Machine One-Arm Upright Row

    SETS LOGGED
    86,130
    Shoulders Strength
    89 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Smith Machine
    Smith Machine

    The Smith Machine One-Arm Upright Row is a shoulder exercise that uses one arm at a time for added challenge. It helps build shoulder strength while ensuring you balance strength between both sides.

    How to do it

    The Smith Machine One-Arm Upright Row is a shoulder exercise that uses one arm at a time for added challenge. It helps build shoulder strength while ensuring you balance strength between both sides.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    12.5lbs
  • 14. Smith Machine Overhead Shoulder Press

    SETS LOGGED
    318,975
    Shoulders Strength
    77 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Smith Machine
    Smith Machine

    The Smith Machine Overhead Shoulder Press is a safe way to work your shoulder muscles. This exercise uses a Smith Machine for better control and stability while pressing the bar overhead.

    How to do it

    The Smith Machine Overhead Shoulder Press is a safe way to work your shoulder muscles. This exercise uses a Smith Machine for better control and stability while pressing the bar overhead.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs
  • 15. TRX T Deltoid Fly

    SETS LOGGED
    102,507
    Shoulders Strength
    50 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of TRX
    TRX

    The TRX T Deltoid Fly targets the deltoid muscles, especially those in the shoulders, helping to enhance shoulder stability and flexibility. This exercise supports better shoulder health and may improve posture compared to regular shoulder exercises.

    How to do it

    The TRX T Deltoid Fly targets the deltoid muscles, especially those in the shoulders, helping to enhance shoulder stability and flexibility. This exercise supports better shoulder health and may improve posture compared to regular shoulder exercises.

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

Alternative Workouts

Alternative Beginner Workouts for Women

Alternative Shoulders Workouts for Women

Alternative Beginner Shoulders Workouts