Best Beginner Shoulders Workouts With Dumbbells

About

Dumbbells are versatile pieces of equipment, allowing independent movement of each arm, which enhances stability and prevents muscular imbalances.

They can be used in single-arm exercises to engage the core more effectively.

Beginner workouts prioritize simple yet effective movements, suited for individuals with less than a year of training experience.

These routines utilize reduced weights to facilitate learning proper form while providing a challenging workout for any fitness level.

Shoulder exercises primarily target the deltoid muscles responsible for overhead arm motions and contribute to overall upper-body strength.

Common movements include overhead presses and lateral raises.

The 15 Best Beginner Shoulders Exercises with Dumbbells

Ranked By

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

  • 1. 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
    12.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    12.5lbs
  • 2. 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
    12.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    12.5lbs
  • 3. Standing Single Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press

    SETS LOGGED
    135,459
    Shoulders Strength
    86 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Standing Single Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press works your shoulder muscles and helps improve stability by focusing on one side at a time. This standing exercise also engages your core for better posture and balance.

    How to do it

    The Standing Single Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press works your shoulder muscles and helps improve stability by focusing on one side at a time. This standing exercise also engages your core for better posture and balance.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs
  • 4. Dumbbell Lateral Raise To Front Raise

    SETS LOGGED
    190,424
    Shoulders Strength
    91 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Dumbbell Lateral Raise to Front Raise is a shoulder exercise that combines two movements to effectively target the shoulder muscles. This workout helps strengthen your shoulders by raising the dumbbells both to the sides and in front of you.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Lateral Raise to Front Raise is a shoulder exercise that combines two movements to effectively target the shoulder muscles. This workout helps strengthen your shoulders by raising the dumbbells both to the sides and in front of you.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    12.5lbs
  • 5. Dumbbell Standing Front Press

    SETS LOGGED
    129,056
    Shoulders Strength
    88 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Dumbbell Standing Front Press is a shoulder exercise done while standing. It strengthens your shoulders and improves your balance by engaging your core. Using dumbbells helps ensure both sides of your body work equally.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Standing Front Press is a shoulder exercise done while standing. It strengthens your shoulders and improves your balance by engaging your core. Using dumbbells helps ensure both sides of your body work equally.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs
  • 6. Dumbbell Standing Single Arm Front Press

    SETS LOGGED
    85,089
    Shoulders Strength
    85 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Dumbbell Standing Single Arm Front Press is an effective shoulder exercise that builds strength and stability. By pressing a dumbbell from in front of your shoulder, you engage not just your shoulder muscles but also your core for better balance and posture.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Standing Single Arm Front Press is an effective shoulder exercise that builds strength and stability. By pressing a dumbbell from in front of your shoulder, you engage not just your shoulder muscles but also your core for better balance and posture.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs
  • 7. Dumbbell Cuban Shoulder Rotations

    SETS LOGGED
    92,391
    Shoulders Strength
    82 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    Dumbbell Cuban Shoulder Rotations strengthen and improve shoulder mobility, focusing on the rotator cuff. You hold dumbbells at shoulder level and rotate your arms forward for a full range of motion.

    How to do it

    Dumbbell Cuban Shoulder Rotations strengthen and improve shoulder mobility, focusing on the rotator cuff. You hold dumbbells at shoulder level and rotate your arms forward for a full range of motion.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    12.5lbs
  • 8. Elbows Out Bent Over Dumbbell Row

    SETS LOGGED
    312,083
    Shoulders Strength
    94 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Elbows Out Bent Over Dumbbell Row focuses on strengthening your back muscles. By flaring your elbows out, this exercise enhances the engagement of your upper back and rear shoulder muscles, providing a great workout for your upper body.

    How to do it

    The Elbows Out Bent Over Dumbbell Row focuses on strengthening your back muscles. By flaring your elbows out, this exercise enhances the engagement of your upper back and rear shoulder muscles, providing a great workout for your upper body.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    12.5lbs
  • 9. 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
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs
  • 10. 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
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs
  • 11. Dumbbell Underhand Front Raise

    SETS LOGGED
    206,229
    Shoulders Strength
    70 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Dumbbell Underhand Front Raise targets the front of your shoulders using a unique grip. This exercise helps strengthen your shoulder muscles and adds variety to your workout routine.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Underhand Front Raise targets the front of your shoulders using a unique grip. This exercise helps strengthen your shoulder muscles and adds variety to your workout routine.

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

    SETS LOGGED
    43,279
    Shoulders Strength
    73 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    Dumbbell Punches help strengthen your shoulders and arms using dumbbells for resistance. This exercise improves your upper body strength and helps with quick arm movements, making it useful for sports. It also helps balance strength between both sides of your body.

    How to do it

    Dumbbell Punches help strengthen your shoulders and arms using dumbbells for resistance. This exercise improves your upper body strength and helps with quick arm movements, making it useful for sports. It also helps balance strength between both sides of your body.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    12.5lbs
  • 13. Dumbbell Seated Single Arm Shoulder Press

    SETS LOGGED
    50,830
    Shoulders Strength
    81 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells
    Photo of Incline Bench
    Incline Bench

    The Dumbbell Seated Single Arm Shoulder Press is a shoulder exercise that targets your upper body while also engaging your core. Performing it one arm at a time helps improve stability and posture.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Seated Single Arm Shoulder Press is a shoulder exercise that targets your upper body while also engaging your core. Performing it one arm at a time helps improve stability and posture.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    22.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    22.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    22.5lbs
  • 14. Seated Dumbbell Front Press

    SETS LOGGED
    47,941
    Shoulders Strength
    90 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells
    Photo of Incline Bench
    Incline Bench

    The Seated Dumbbell Front Press is a shoulder exercise that helps build strength by using dumbbells while sitting. This position provides stability, allowing you to focus on your shoulders without worrying about balancing your body.

    How to do it

    The Seated Dumbbell Front Press is a shoulder exercise that helps build strength by using dumbbells while sitting. This position provides stability, allowing you to focus on your shoulders without worrying about balancing your body.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs
  • 15. Seated Single Arm Dumbbell Front Press

    SETS LOGGED
    22,298
    Shoulders Strength
    79 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells
    Photo of Incline Bench
    Incline Bench

    The Seated Single Arm Dumbbell Front Press strengthens your shoulders by pressing one arm at a time while seated. This variation helps improve stability and balance by isolating each side of your body, making it ideal for beginners.

    How to do it

    The Seated Single Arm Dumbbell Front Press strengthens your shoulders by pressing one arm at a time while seated. This variation helps improve stability and balance by isolating each side of your body, making it ideal for beginners.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    22.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    22.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    22.5lbs

Alternative Workouts

Alternative Shoulders Workouts with Dumbbells

Alternative Beginner Shoulders Workouts

Alternative Beginner Workouts with Dumbbells