Best Chest And Back Workouts With Barbells To Build Muscle Mass

About

Barbells provide a versatile workout tool designed to effectively assist in building muscle mass by allowing varied resistance adjustments.

Chest exercises primarily include horizontal presses and adduction movements, targeting the pectoral muscles and enhancing upper torso strength.

Similarly, back exercises focus on pulling movements like rows and pull-ups, strengthening the upper back muscles.

For optimal results, workouts emphasize a balance of compound and isolation exercises using moderated weights and higher repetitions, tailored to individual capability, including variations for individuals based on their physical attributes.

Combining chest and back exercises enhances training efficacy by working opposing muscle groups, ensuring a comprehensive strength-building approach.

The 15 Best Chest and Back Exercises with Barbells to Build Muscle Mass

Ranked By

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

  • 1. Barbell Bench Press

    SETS LOGGED
    7,520,931
    Chest Strength
    98 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells
    Photo of Flat Bench
    Flat Bench

    The Barbell Bench Press is a key exercise for building upper body strength, targeting the chest, shoulders, and triceps. It’s commonly used in fitness programs and is essential for evaluating upper body strength.

    How to do it

    The Barbell Bench Press is a key exercise for building upper body strength, targeting the chest, shoulders, and triceps. It’s commonly used in fitness programs and is essential for evaluating upper body strength.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    75lbs
    2
    8reps
    75lbs
    3
    8reps
    75lbs
  • 2. Barbell Incline Bench Press

    SETS LOGGED
    3,397,831
    Chest Strength
    96 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells
    Photo of Incline Bench
    Incline Bench

    The Barbell Incline Bench Press is a variation of the standard bench press that targets your chest while focusing more on the shoulders and upper chest. It's great for building strength in these areas.

    How to do it

    The Barbell Incline Bench Press is a variation of the standard bench press that targets your chest while focusing more on the shoulders and upper chest. It's great for building strength in these areas.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    75lbs
    2
    8reps
    75lbs
    3
    8reps
    75lbs
  • 3. Barbell Decline Bench Press

    SETS LOGGED
    1,082,644
    Chest Strength
    73 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells
    Photo of Decline Bench
    Decline Bench

    The Barbell Decline Bench Press is a chest exercise that emphasizes the lower chest. It also strengthens your triceps and shoulders while lying on a decline bench.

    How to do it

    The Barbell Decline Bench Press is a chest exercise that emphasizes the lower chest. It also strengthens your triceps and shoulders while lying on a decline bench.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    70lbs
    2
    8reps
    70lbs
    3
    8reps
    70lbs
  • 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
    60lbs
    2
    8reps
    60lbs
    3
    8reps
    60lbs
  • 5. Floor Press

    SETS LOGGED
    448,603
    Chest Strength
    68 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells

    The Floor Press is an upper-body exercise that targets your chest, triceps, and shoulders. You lie on the floor and press a barbell up, which helps build strength while protecting your shoulders.

    How to do it

    The Floor Press is an upper-body exercise that targets your chest, triceps, and shoulders. You lie on the floor and press a barbell up, which helps build strength while protecting your shoulders.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    55lbs
    2
    8reps
    55lbs
    3
    8reps
    55lbs
  • 6. 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
    7reps
    2
    7reps
    3
    7reps
    4
    7reps
  • 7. Reverse Grip Barbell Bent Over Row

    SETS LOGGED
    886,098
    Back Strength
    79 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells

    The Reverse Grip Barbell Bent Over Row is a great exercise for beginners that works your back, biceps, and shoulders. By using a reverse grip, you can better target your biceps and engage different back muscles. Holding a barbell offers stability, allowing you to focus on lifting properly.

    How to do it

    The Reverse Grip Barbell Bent Over Row is a great exercise for beginners that works your back, biceps, and shoulders. By using a reverse grip, you can better target your biceps and engage different back muscles. Holding a barbell offers stability, allowing you to focus on lifting properly.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    50lbs
    2
    8reps
    50lbs
    3
    8reps
    50lbs
  • 8. Pause Barbell Decline Bench Press

    SETS LOGGED
    204,886
    Chest Strength
    65 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells
    Photo of Decline Bench
    Decline Bench

    The Pause Barbell Decline Bench Press works the lower chest, triceps, and front shoulders. This exercise includes a pause at the bottom to improve strength and explosive power, making it more challenging than regular decline bench presses.

    How to do it

    The Pause Barbell Decline Bench Press works the lower chest, triceps, and front shoulders. This exercise includes a pause at the bottom to improve strength and explosive power, making it more challenging than regular decline bench presses.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    70lbs
    2
    8reps
    70lbs
    3
    8reps
    70lbs
  • 9. Pause Barbell Incline Bench Press

    SETS LOGGED
    324,932
    Chest Strength
    85 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Incline Bench
    Incline Bench
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells

    The Pause Barbell Incline Bench Press is a strength-building exercise that mainly works the upper chest, shoulders, and triceps. It involves pausing at the bottom of the lift to improve control and stability, making it a great way to build muscle and break through exercise plateaus.

    How to do it

    The Pause Barbell Incline Bench Press is a strength-building exercise that mainly works the upper chest, shoulders, and triceps. It involves pausing at the bottom of the lift to improve control and stability, making it a great way to build muscle and break through exercise plateaus.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    75lbs
    2
    8reps
    75lbs
    3
    8reps
    75lbs
  • 10. Inverted Row

    SETS LOGGED
    318,451
    Back Strength
    85 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells
    Photo of Smith Machine
    Smith Machine

    The Inverted Row is a bodyweight exercise that strengthens your back while keeping your spine straight. It’s similar to a standard row but allows you to use your own body weight for added stability and support.

    How to do it

    The Inverted Row is a bodyweight exercise that strengthens your back while keeping your spine straight. It’s similar to a standard row but allows you to use your own body weight for added stability and support.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    7reps
    2
    7reps
    3
    7reps
    4
    7reps
  • 11. Landmine Row

    SETS LOGGED
    593,522
    Back Strength
    90 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells
    Photo of Landmine
    Landmine

    The Landmine Row is a strength exercise that mainly works your back, shoulders, and biceps. It uses a landmine to create a unique movement, helping increase muscle mass and strength while varying your workout routine.

    How to do it

    The Landmine Row is a strength exercise that mainly works your back, shoulders, and biceps. It uses a landmine to create a unique movement, helping increase muscle mass and strength while varying your workout routine.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    55lbs
    2
    8reps
    55lbs
    3
    8reps
    55lbs
  • 12. Single Arm Landmine Row

    SETS LOGGED
    247,726
    Back Strength
    80 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells
    Photo of Landmine
    Landmine

    The Single Arm Landmine Row is an exercise that targets your back muscles. By using one arm at a time, you can focus on building strength evenly and improving stability.

    How to do it

    The Single Arm Landmine Row is an exercise that targets your back muscles. By using one arm at a time, you can focus on building strength evenly and improving stability.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    30lbs
    2
    8reps
    30lbs
    3
    8reps
    30lbs
  • 13. Reverse Grip Bench Press

    SETS LOGGED
    98,801
    Chest Strength
    43 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells
    Photo of Flat Bench
    Flat Bench

    The Reverse Grip Bench Press is an exercise that strengthens the upper chest, triceps, and shoulders. By using an underhand grip, it increases upper chest activation and improves overall upper body strength, requiring proper form for safety.

    How to do it

    The Reverse Grip Bench Press is an exercise that strengthens the upper chest, triceps, and shoulders. By using an underhand grip, it increases upper chest activation and improves overall upper body strength, requiring proper form for safety.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    60lbs
    2
    8reps
    60lbs
    3
    8reps
    60lbs
  • 14. Pause Bench Press

    SETS LOGGED
    274,997
    Chest Strength
    44 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells
    Photo of Flat Bench
    Flat Bench

    The Pause Bench Press is a modified bench press that focuses on the lower part of the lift. This exercise works the chest, triceps, and shoulders, helping you build strength and control by pausing briefly with the barbell at chest level before pressing it up.

    How to do it

    The Pause Bench Press is a modified bench press that focuses on the lower part of the lift. This exercise works the chest, triceps, and shoulders, helping you build strength and control by pausing briefly with the barbell at chest level before pressing it up.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    75lbs
    2
    8reps
    75lbs
    3
    8reps
    75lbs
  • 15. Pendlay Row

    SETS LOGGED
    315,969
    Back Strength
    59 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells

    The Pendlay Row is a back exercise that also works your biceps and shoulders. It involves lifting a barbell from the ground to improve strength and muscle mass, with each rep starting from a complete stop for better form and power.

    How to do it

    The Pendlay Row is a back exercise that also works your biceps and shoulders. It involves lifting a barbell from the ground to improve strength and muscle mass, with each rep starting from a complete stop for better form and power.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    50lbs
    2
    8reps
    50lbs
    3
    8reps
    50lbs

Alternative Workouts

Alternative Workouts with Barbells to Build Muscle Mass

Alternative Chest and Back Workouts to Build Muscle Mass

Alternative Chest and Back Workouts with Barbells