Best Upper Body Workouts With Dumbbells For Men

About

Dumbbells serve as versatile tools for upper body workouts, offering isolated weight distribution and core engagement when used for unilateral exercises.

The proposed workout adapts preferences observed among men based on average statistics (5'10", 180 lbs, age 35), with options to modify reps and weights to accommodate individual capabilities.

Targeted muscle groups include the chest, back, shoulders, biceps, triceps, trapezius, abs, lower back, neck, and forearms, with a focus on compound movements such as bench press, shoulder press, rows, and isolation exercises.

Employing these elements enables comprehensive development of upper-body strength and stability.

The 15 Best Upper Body Exercises with Dumbbells for Men

Ranked By

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

  • 1. Arnold Dumbbell Press

    SETS LOGGED
    2,297,498
    Shoulders Strength
    96 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Arnold Dumbbell Press is an exercise that mainly works your shoulders. It involves lifting dumbbells while rotating your palms, providing a more comfortable and effective movement compared to a regular shoulder press.

    How to do it

    The Arnold Dumbbell Press is an exercise that mainly works your shoulders. It involves lifting dumbbells while rotating your palms, providing a more comfortable and effective movement compared to a regular shoulder press.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    25lbs
    2
    8reps
    25lbs
    3
    8reps
    25lbs
  • 2. Dumbbell Bench Press

    SETS LOGGED
    8,452,674
    Chest Strength
    99 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells
    Photo of Flat Bench
    Flat Bench

    The Dumbbell Bench Press is a great exercise for beginners that targets the chest, triceps, and shoulders. Using dumbbells helps improve stability and ensures both sides of the body work equally without compensating for weaknesses.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Bench Press is a great exercise for beginners that targets the chest, triceps, and shoulders. Using dumbbells helps improve stability and ensures both sides of the body work equally without compensating for weaknesses.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    30lbs
    2
    8reps
    30lbs
    3
    8reps
    30lbs
  • 3. 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
    30lbs
    2
    8reps
    30lbs
    3
    8reps
    30lbs
  • 4. Dumbbell Floor Press

    SETS LOGGED
    1,187,266
    Chest Strength
    45 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Dumbbell Floor Press is a great upper body exercise that strengthens your chest, triceps, and shoulders. It is safer than the bench press because it allows for a more controlled movement and is perfect for those who want to limit strain on their shoulders.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Floor Press is a great upper body exercise that strengthens your chest, triceps, and shoulders. It is safer than the bench press because it allows for a more controlled movement and is perfect for those who want to limit strain on their shoulders.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    30lbs
    2
    8reps
    30lbs
    3
    8reps
    30lbs
  • 5. Dumbbell Fly

    SETS LOGGED
    6,618,981
    Chest Strength
    98 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells
    Photo of Flat Bench
    Flat Bench

    The Dumbbell Fly is an effective exercise for strengthening and building the chest muscles. It also engages the shoulders for support. This exercise helps to develop muscle balance by working each side of the body independently.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Fly is an effective exercise for strengthening and building the chest muscles. It also engages the shoulders for support. This exercise helps to develop muscle balance by working each side of the body independently.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    22.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    22.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    22.5lbs
  • 6. 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
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs
  • 7. Dumbbell Rear Delt Raise

    SETS LOGGED
    4,323,992
    Shoulders Strength
    97 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Dumbbell Rear Delt Raise is an exercise for the shoulders, focusing on the rear deltoids. By leaning forward with your hips back, you can effectively work the muscles at the back of your shoulders.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Rear Delt Raise is an exercise for the shoulders, focusing on the rear deltoids. By leaning forward with your hips back, you can effectively work the muscles at the back of your shoulders.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs
  • 8. 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
    35lbs
    2
    8reps
    35lbs
    3
    8reps
    35lbs
  • 9. 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
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs
  • 10. Iron Cross

    SETS LOGGED
    579,037
    Shoulders Strength
    85 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Iron Cross is a full-body exercise that works multiple muscle groups by combining an arm raise with a squat. It helps strengthen your shoulders and lower body while improving overall stability.

    How to do it

    The Iron Cross is a full-body exercise that works multiple muscle groups by combining an arm raise with a squat. It helps strengthen your shoulders and lower body while improving overall stability.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    12.5lbs
  • 11. Side Laterals to Front Raise

    SETS LOGGED
    841,909
    Shoulders Strength
    87 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Side Laterals to Front Raise is an exercise that targets different parts of your shoulders. You lift weights out to the sides and then bring them in front to work your shoulder muscles more effectively.

    How to do it

    The Side Laterals to Front Raise is an exercise that targets different parts of your shoulders. You lift weights out to the sides and then bring them in front to work your shoulder muscles more effectively.

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

    SETS LOGGED
    954,627
    Shoulders Strength
    92 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells

    The Standing Dumbbell Shoulder Press is an exercise that strengthens your shoulders using dumbbells. Standing while you do this adds balance challenges, engaging more muscles for stability.

    How to do it

    The Standing Dumbbell Shoulder Press is an exercise that strengthens your shoulders using dumbbells. Standing while you do this adds balance challenges, engaging more muscles for stability.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs
  • 13. 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
    25lbs
    2
    8reps
    25lbs
    3
    8reps
    25lbs
  • 14. 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
    15lbs
    2
    8reps
    15lbs
    3
    8reps
    15lbs
  • 15. 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
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs

Alternative Workouts

Alternative Upper Body Workouts for Men

Alternative Workouts with Dumbbells for Men

Alternative Upper Body Workouts with Dumbbells