Our 15 Favorite Upper-Body Exercises

These upper-body exercises target your upper back, shoulders, and upper arms for the ultimate work-it-all upper-body routine. Warning: You may never want to part with your sleeveless tops.

Assisted Chin Up

Chin-ups are one of the most efficient upper-body exercises you can do, targeting your back, chest, arms, and shoulders. Use an assisted chin-up machine until you're strong enough to lift your body weight without it.

• Adjust the weight to where you are comfortable. Place your feet (or knees depending on the machine) on the lower level.
• Place hands on the upper bar, wider than shoulder-width apart.
• Squeezing your back muscles, begin lifting your body weight.
• Complete 3 sets of 10 reps.

Deadlift Row

The deadlift row forces you to engage your core, while strengthening your back muscles.

• Grab a dumbbell or kettlebell in your hands in front of you.
• Keeping your back flat, hinge forward, then lift the weight back to chest height.
• Remember to keep knee loose—don't lock your knees in place.
• Complete 3 sets of 10 reps.

Breast Stroke

The breast stroke (yes, as in, the swimming stroke) sculpts your back muscles as the squat position strengthens your legs.

• Begin in a squat position. Hold dumbbells in each hand and raise to chest height.
• Extend the arms straight overhead. Then circle them out to the sides.
• Bring weights back to chest.
• Continue the motion for 3 sets of 10.

Pom-Pom Circle

The circular motion engages your back and shoulder muscles.

• Begin with weights in your hands in a low V position.
• Move your arms in small circle while slowly circling until your arms are in a high V position.
• Reverse the direction—arms circling up and back down is one rep.
• Do 3 sets of 10 reps.

Back Row with Tap

This move sculpts the muscles around your shoulder blades.

• Begin with arms holding dumbbells in front of you. Get into squat position.
• Row the arms back as you alternate tapping your toes behind you.
• Remain in the squat position as you row and tap, like in an isometric squat.
• Complete 10 reps alternating taps for 3 sets.

Balancing Biceps/Triceps

Toned biceps and triceps score major tank top points. These balancing curls target both.

• Begin standing with dumbbells in each hand. Begin standing, then bend right foot behind you, balancing on your lift.
• Curl weights up toward your shoulders for 10 reps.
• Switch legs so you're balancing on your right leg. Hinge forward at the waist.
• Bring arms to your chest and hinge behind you. Continue for 10 reps.
• Do 3 sets of 10 reps of each exercise.

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Curl to Press

This compound motion works your shoulders and biceps.

• Holding dumbbells in each hand, begin standing with arms at your sides.
• Keeping an upright posture, curl your arms toward your shoulder with palms facing inward.
• Press directly up overhead. Back to shoulders and uncurl at sides.
• Finish 3 sets of 10 reps.

Triceps Dips

The triceps dip is one of the best (and easiest!) ways to tone your triceps—no equipment needed.

• Begin sitting on the floor. Place feet flat and hands behind you, fingers facing heels.
• Lift your hips, then lower elbows. Be sure to use your arms to lift and not legs or hips.
• Continue for 10 reps; do 3 sets.

Wide Push Up

The traditional push-up is a great way to tone your arms. Make it more difficult and target your triceps by trying this wider modification.

• Begin kneeling on the ground with hands on the floor, arms straight.
• Your arms should be wider than shoulder-width. Lift knees off the ground so your legs are straight behind you.
• Start bending your elbows to lower your chest to the floor and lift back to start.
• MAKE IT EASIER: Keep knees on the ground in a modified push-up position.
• Complete 10 reps for 3 sets.

Monkey Row

There's still time to tone up your biceps and triceps for bikini season with this monkey row move.

• Place hand on a stability ball, slightly bent forward with legs straight.
• Holding a dumbbell in your opposite hand begin lifting it to chest level.
• From chest level, extend arm out to the side. Then back to chest and lower to the side.
• The four-part movement is one rep. Complete 10 reps on each side for a total of 3 sets.

Shoulder Press Progression

The shoulder press progression begins with one motion and advances as you get stronger.

• Stand with feet hip-width apart and knees slightly bent.
• Holding a dumbbell in each hand at shoulder height, press the weights together over your head.
• Then lower them back down in a controlled motion.
• Continue presses for 10 reps; do 3 sets.
• INTERMEDIATE MOTION: Lower weights to your sides, palms facing thighs.
• Raise weights to chest level, bringing elbows out to the sides. Repeat for 10 reps.
• ADVANCED MOTION: Complete 10 reps of chest presses, then immediately do 10 reps of lateral raises.

Three-Point Row

Banish the bra strap bulge with this three-point row. The motion works your back, medial, and rear deltoids.

• Place your right foot slightly in front of your left foot and lean forward with your hand supported.
• Holding a dumbbell in your left hand, palm facing inward, row dumbbell behind you.
• Straight arm, turn hand so knuckles point out, and row back again.
• Return to start and turn palm so it faces out. And row again.
• Three rows is one rep. Finish 3 sets of 10 reps on each side.

Alternating Shoulder Raise

This move—which targets your shoulders, thighs, and calves—was practically made for a mini dress.

• Stand with feet hip width apart with dumbbells at your sides, palms facing in.
• Rise onto the balls of your feet. Lift your right arm to the side and left arm to the front, hold for two breaths.
• Lower and switch arms. Continue alternating for 10 reps. Rest and repeat for 3 sets.

Serving Trays

Servers have some serious upper-body strength thanks to the real-world variation of this upper-body exercise.

• Stand with feet shoulder width apart. Hold weights palms up with elbows bent.
• With control, rotate hands to the side until thumbs point toward the wall behind you.
• Be sure to keep shoulders down and chest lifted. Repeat for 3 sets of 10 reps.
• MAKE IT HARDER: Engage your core and lift one leg.

Strap-Happy Shaper

Ditch the dumbbells for this last shoulder-sculpting exercise. We can guarantee you'll feel this one in your shoulders, back, and core.

• Begin in a plank position with forearms on the ground beneath your shoulders. And legs lifted straight behind you.
• Start rocking your chest forward and back. Repeat for 3 sets of 10 reps.

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