Best Workouts With Barbells To Build Muscle Mass For Women

About

Barbells are a fundamental piece of equipment for strength training, known for their versatility and ability to promote both power and hypertrophy.

Workouts focusing on building muscle mass integrate compound movements to target a diverse range of muscle groups, along with isolation movements for specific areas.

These routines typically utilize lower weights and higher repetitions to prioritize muscle growth, supporting goals of enhancing size and development.

Training sessions can be tailored for women, refined based on average parameters such as 5’5” height, 140-pound weight, and 34 years of age, though personal capabilities will naturally vary.

By incorporating barbell exercises, participants can efficiently work towards muscle growth and building size.

The 15 Best Exercises with Barbells to Build Muscle Mass for Women

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
    45lbs
    2
    8reps
    45lbs
    3
    8reps
    45lbs
  • 2. 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
    40lbs
    2
    8reps
    40lbs
    3
    8reps
    40lbs
  • 3. 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
    40lbs
    2
    8reps
    40lbs
    3
    8reps
    40lbs
  • 4. 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
    50lbs
    2
    8reps
    50lbs
    3
    8reps
    50lbs
  • 5. 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
    40lbs
    2
    8reps
    40lbs
    3
    8reps
    40lbs
  • 6. 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
    45lbs
    2
    8reps
    45lbs
    3
    8reps
    45lbs
  • 7. Barbell Curl

    SETS LOGGED
    5,529,638
    Biceps Strength
    96 mScore
    Biceps
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells

    The Barbell Curl is a great exercise that targets your biceps by isolating the muscle. Using a barbell helps keep your movements stable so you can focus on building strength without losing balance.

    How to do it

    The Barbell Curl is a great exercise that targets your biceps by isolating the muscle. Using a barbell helps keep your movements stable so you can focus on building strength without losing balance.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    25lbs
    2
    8reps
    25lbs
    3
    8reps
    25lbs
  • 8. Close-Grip Bench Press

    SETS LOGGED
    3,536,639
    Triceps Strength
    92 mScore
    Triceps
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells
    Photo of Flat Bench
    Flat Bench

    The Close-Grip Bench Press targets the triceps more than the standard bench press by keeping your hands closer together. This exercise is ideal for adding triceps strength to your chest workout.

    How to do it

    The Close-Grip Bench Press targets the triceps more than the standard bench press by keeping your hands closer together. This exercise is ideal for adding triceps strength to your chest workout.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    35lbs
    2
    8reps
    35lbs
    3
    8reps
    35lbs
  • 9. 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
    35lbs
    2
    8reps
    35lbs
    3
    8reps
    35lbs
  • 10. 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
    25lbs
    2
    8reps
    25lbs
    3
    8reps
    25lbs
  • 11. Barbell Shoulder Press

    SETS LOGGED
    3,319,013
    Shoulders Strength
    96 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Barbells
    Barbells

    The Barbell Shoulder Press is a strength exercise that mainly works your shoulder muscles. It helps improve your ability to lift weight overhead with stability and strength.

    How to do it

    The Barbell Shoulder Press is a strength exercise that mainly works your shoulder muscles. It helps improve your ability to lift weight overhead with stability and strength.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    30lbs
    2
    8reps
    30lbs
    3
    8reps
    30lbs
  • 12. 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
    22.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    22.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    22.5lbs
  • 13. 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
    35lbs
    2
    8reps
    35lbs
    3
    8reps
    35lbs
  • 14. 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
    25lbs
    2
    8reps
    25lbs
    3
    8reps
    25lbs
  • 15. 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
    35lbs
    2
    8reps
    35lbs
    3
    8reps
    35lbs

Alternative Workouts

Alternative Workouts with Barbells for Women

Alternative Workouts with Barbells to Build Muscle Mass

Alternative Workouts to Build Muscle Mass for Women