Best Legs Workouts With Barbells To Build Muscle Mass

About

Barbells serve as a fundamental equipment piece, widely utilized for their versatility and efficacy in strength and hypertrophy training.

To effectively build muscle mass, workouts often include compound exercises targeting multiple muscle groups alongside isolated movements for specific development.

Focusing on the six primary lower body muscle groups—glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, adductors, and abductors—this program incorporates exercises such as squats, deadlifts, and lunges for comprehensive activation.

Emphasis is placed on tailored rep and weight schemes to optimize growth potential depending on individual capability.

The 15 Best Legs 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. Back Squat

    SETS LOGGED
    5,271,502
    Quadriceps Strength
    99 mScore
    Quadriceps
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells
    Photo of Squat Rack
    Squat Rack

    The Back Squat is a popular lower body exercise that builds strength and muscle, especially in the legs. It's an important move in powerlifting and overall fitness routines.

    How to do it

    The Back Squat is a popular lower body exercise that builds strength and muscle, especially in the legs. It's an important move in powerlifting and overall fitness routines.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    65lbs
    2
    8reps
    65lbs
    3
    8reps
    65lbs
  • 2. Deadlift

    SETS LOGGED
    4,480,254
    Hamstrings Strength
    99 mScore
    Hamstrings
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells

    The deadlift is a powerlifting exercise that targets the muscles in your back and legs. It helps build overall strength and is commonly used in fitness routines.

    How to do it

    The deadlift is a powerlifting exercise that targets the muscles in your back and legs. It helps build overall strength and is commonly used in fitness routines.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    75lbs
    2
    8reps
    75lbs
    3
    8reps
    75lbs
  • 3. Front Squat

    SETS LOGGED
    1,790,723
    Quadriceps Strength
    96 mScore
    Quadriceps
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells
    Photo of Squat Rack
    Squat Rack

    The Front Squat is a basic exercise that mainly works your quadriceps by holding a barbell in front of your body. This variation helps improve strength and stability, which can benefit various sports and daily activities.

    How to do it

    The Front Squat is a basic exercise that mainly works your quadriceps by holding a barbell in front of your body. This variation helps improve strength and stability, which can benefit various sports and daily activities.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    55lbs
    2
    8reps
    55lbs
    3
    8reps
    55lbs
  • 4. Romanian Deadlift

    SETS LOGGED
    2,878,232
    Hamstrings Strength
    98 mScore
    Hamstrings
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells

    The Romanian Deadlift is a strength exercise that focuses on your glutes and hamstrings. It involves bending at the hips while keeping the knees slightly bent, helping you build strength for other hip hinge movements.

    How to do it

    The Romanian Deadlift is a strength exercise that focuses on your glutes and hamstrings. It involves bending at the hips while keeping the knees slightly bent, helping you build strength for other hip hinge movements.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    70lbs
    2
    8reps
    70lbs
    3
    8reps
    70lbs
  • 5. Barbell Lunge

    SETS LOGGED
    875,639
    Quadriceps Strength
    97 mScore
    Quadriceps
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells

    The Barbell Lunge is a strength exercise that adds weight to the standard lunge, mainly working your thigh muscles (quadriceps). Using a barbell helps you build strength and improves your posture during the exercise.

    How to do it

    The Barbell Lunge is a strength exercise that adds weight to the standard lunge, mainly working your thigh muscles (quadriceps). Using a barbell helps you build strength and improves your posture during the exercise.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    35lbs
    2
    8reps
    35lbs
    3
    8reps
    35lbs
  • 6. Barbell Step Up

    SETS LOGGED
    572,806
    Quadriceps Strength
    89 mScore
    Quadriceps
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells
    Photo of Flat Bench
    Flat Bench

    The Barbell Step Up is a great exercise for building strength in your thighs, glutes, and hamstrings while improving balance. By using a barbell, you add extra resistance, which helps build muscle endurance in your lower body.

    How to do it

    The Barbell Step Up is a great exercise for building strength in your thighs, glutes, and hamstrings while improving balance. By using a barbell, you add extra resistance, which helps build muscle endurance in your lower body.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    30lbs
    2
    8reps
    30lbs
    3
    8reps
    30lbs
  • 7. Bulgarian Split Squat

    SETS LOGGED
    822,003
    Quadriceps Strength
    96 mScore
    Quadriceps
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells
    Photo of Flat Bench
    Flat Bench

    The Bulgarian Split Squat is a lower-body exercise that targets your quadriceps and helps build strength, power, and stability. By placing your back leg on a bench, it challenges your balance and enhances the workout.

    How to do it

    The Bulgarian Split Squat is a lower-body exercise that targets your quadriceps and helps build strength, power, and stability. By placing your back leg on a bench, it challenges your balance and enhances the workout.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    35lbs
    2
    8reps
    35lbs
    3
    8reps
    35lbs
  • 8. Good Morning

    SETS LOGGED
    1,404,842
    Hamstrings Strength
    96 mScore
    Hamstrings
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells
    Photo of Squat Rack
    Squat Rack

    The Good Morning exercise focuses on strengthening the muscles in your back and hamstrings. If you're new to this movement, it's safer to start with dumbbells rather than a barbell.

    How to do it

    The Good Morning exercise focuses on strengthening the muscles in your back and hamstrings. If you're new to this movement, it's safer to start with dumbbells rather than a barbell.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    45lbs
    2
    8reps
    45lbs
    3
    8reps
    45lbs
  • 9. Pulse Back Squat

    SETS LOGGED
    255,837
    Quadriceps Strength
    71 mScore
    Quadriceps
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells
    Photo of Squat Rack
    Squat Rack

    The Pulse Back Squat is a variation of the traditional back squat that adds a small pulsing movement at the bottom of the squat. This helps build endurance and strength in the glutes, quads, and hamstrings by keeping the muscles engaged for a longer time.

    How to do it

    The Pulse Back Squat is a variation of the traditional back squat that adds a small pulsing movement at the bottom of the squat. This helps build endurance and strength in the glutes, quads, and hamstrings by keeping the muscles engaged for a longer time.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    50lbs
    2
    8reps
    50lbs
    3
    8reps
    50lbs
  • 10. Barbell Back Squat with Deep Partial Squat

    SETS LOGGED
    96,868
    Quadriceps Strength
    60 mScore
    Quadriceps
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells
    Photo of Squat Rack
    Squat Rack

    The Barbell Back Squat with Deep Partial Squat focuses on improving leg strength and mobility by including a deep squat at the bottom. This variation helps activate muscles more effectively and is great for athletes aiming to boost their lower body power.

    How to do it

    The Barbell Back Squat with Deep Partial Squat focuses on improving leg strength and mobility by including a deep squat at the bottom. This variation helps activate muscles more effectively and is great for athletes aiming to boost their lower body power.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    65lbs
    2
    8reps
    65lbs
    3
    8reps
    65lbs
  • 11. Barbell Hip Thrust

    SETS LOGGED
    1,879,257
    Glutes Strength
    98 mScore
    Glutes
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells
    Photo of Flat Bench
    Flat Bench

    The Barbell Hip Thrust is a strength exercise that targets your glutes using a barbell for added resistance. By resting your upper body on a bench, this move helps you build power and strength in your lower body.

    How to do it

    The Barbell Hip Thrust is a strength exercise that targets your glutes using a barbell for added resistance. By resting your upper body on a bench, this move helps you build power and strength in your lower body.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    55lbs
    2
    8reps
    55lbs
    3
    8reps
    55lbs
  • 12. Landmine Squat to Press

    SETS LOGGED
    180,761
    Quadriceps Strength
    66 mScore
    Quadriceps
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells
    Photo of Landmine
    Landmine

    The Landmine Squat to Press is a full-body exercise that targets your legs and shoulders. It helps to build strength, improves coordination, and engages your core for stability.

    How to do it

    The Landmine Squat to Press is a full-body exercise that targets your legs and shoulders. It helps to build strength, improves coordination, and engages your core for stability.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    45lbs
    2
    8reps
    45lbs
    3
    8reps
    45lbs
  • 13. Split Squat

    SETS LOGGED
    204,028
    Quadriceps Strength
    48 mScore
    Quadriceps
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells

    The Split Squat is an exercise that builds leg strength and improves balance by working one leg at a time. You step forward with one leg and lower your body while keeping your torso upright, helping to enhance stability and strength in each leg individually.

    How to do it

    The Split Squat is an exercise that builds leg strength and improves balance by working one leg at a time. You step forward with one leg and lower your body while keeping your torso upright, helping to enhance stability and strength in each leg individually.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    35lbs
    2
    8reps
    35lbs
    3
    8reps
    35lbs
  • 14. Sumo Deadlift

    SETS LOGGED
    508,771
    Hamstrings Strength
    57 mScore
    Hamstrings
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells

    The Sumo Deadlift is a variation of the standard Deadlift, focusing on strengthening the muscles in your back, hamstrings, and glutes. It’s a great exercise for enhancing leg strength and is suitable for beginners as part of their workout routine.

    How to do it

    The Sumo Deadlift is a variation of the standard Deadlift, focusing on strengthening the muscles in your back, hamstrings, and glutes. It’s a great exercise for enhancing leg strength and is suitable for beginners as part of their workout routine.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    75lbs
    2
    8reps
    75lbs
    3
    8reps
    75lbs
  • 15. Overhead Barbell Lunge

    SETS LOGGED
    78,606
    Quadriceps Strength
    85 mScore
    Quadriceps
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells

    The Overhead Barbell Lunge is a full-body exercise that improves stability, posture, and strength. By holding a barbell overhead while lunging, you'll engage your shoulders, core, and legs for a balanced workout.

    How to do it

    The Overhead Barbell Lunge is a full-body exercise that improves stability, posture, and strength. By holding a barbell overhead while lunging, you'll engage your shoulders, core, and legs for a balanced workout.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    45lbs
    2
    8reps
    45lbs
    3
    8reps
    45lbs

Alternative Workouts

Alternative Workouts with Barbells to Build Muscle Mass

Alternative Legs Workouts to Build Muscle Mass

Alternative Legs Workouts with Barbells