Big biceps signal to the world that you’ve put in some serious sweat equity at the gym. The biceps are a small muscle, but to grow them takes time, knowledge, and intellectual programming. The good news for you is training the biceps is pretty simple — you curl, curl, and curl some more.
To help you figure out which is best for you, we’ve culled the eight best biceps exercises onto one list along with some more info on the muscle itself and how to incorporate biceps training into your routine.
Try out this circuit for a new way to hit those curls. It’s engineered to help you build up your biceps, so you’ll be glad you switched up your routine! You can turn the workout into a fun challenge to gauge your arms’ strength:
- Set a timer for 2 minutes per round.
- Do 3 rounds of the circuit total, resting 1 minute between each.
- Track the number of close-grip push-up holds you complete in total; that’s your score.
The Warm-up:
Prone cobra:
How To:
- Lie face down on the floor with your legs straight, arms at your sides, and palms down.
- Drive your hips into the floor.
- Contract your glutes, raising your legs off the floor.
- Simultaneously inhale and tighten the muscles in your upper back, raising your chest, head, and arms off the floor; rotate your thumbs toward the ceiling as you do this.
- Hold for 4 seconds, and then return to the start.
- That’s 1 rep.
- Do 2 sets of 10.
Related article: Use These Five Exercises For A Better Warm-up And Enhance Your Workouts
The Cannonball Biceps Workout:
Do 3 rounds of this muscle-building circuit. Rest 1 minute between each round. Start with medium-weight dumbbells; aim for 12 reps in the first two rounds, 10 in the last round. Focus on flawless form.
Tall kneeling hold curl:
How To:
- Kneel on your shins, thighs perpendicular to the floor, holding dumbbells with an underhand grip.
- Curl the weights until your forearms are parallel to the floor; this is the start.
- Without moving your left arm, lower your right arm to your side.
- Do one full curl.
- Lower to the start.
- Repeat with your left arm.
- That’s 1 rep; do 10 to 12.
Related article: Want Bigger Better Biceps? Incorporate These 6 Curling Moves For Bursting Size
Floor JM press:
How To:
- Lie face up on the floor holding dumbbells above your chest, arms straight, and palms facing in.
- Bend your elbows so the dumbbells end up directly over your shoulders and the points of your elbows are near your ribs.
- Pause and return to the starting position.
- That’s 1 rep; do 10 to 12.
Related article: Grow Your Bicep Size And Strength With These 9 Highest Rated Exercises
Wall curl:
How To:
- Stand with your back pressed against a wall, holding two 20-pound dumbbells with an underhand grip.
- Curl them upward toward your chest as you keep pressing your back and upper arms into the wall.
- Squeeze your biceps at the top of the curl; then lower the dumbbells.
- That’s 1 rep; do 10.
Related article: What Is The Best Push Up Variation? The 17 Right Here That Increases Overall Body Strength
Close-grip push-up hold:
How To:
- Assume a push-up position, your hands directly under your shoulders.
- Keeping your elbows close to your body, lower your torso until your chest is 2 inches from the floor.
- Hold 4 seconds; return to the start.
- That’s 1 rep; do as many as you can before the time’s up or your form fails.