Barbell Curl Exercise Guide
Reviewed by
Valerie Zeller
Printable version
Barbell Curl is a strength exercise that works your biceps.
Barbell Curl is a great basic move. When done correctly, it can effectively target your arms and upper body.
It requires barbell to do.
How to do Barbell Curl
Setup
Grasp bar with shoulder width underhand handle.
Exercise
With elbows to side, raise bar until forearms are vertical. Lower until arms are fully extended. Repeat.
Tips
When elbows are fully flexed, they can travel forward slightly allowing forearms to be no more than vertical. This additional movement allows for relative release of tension in muscles between repetitions. Exercise can also be performed with straight barbell. Movement with cambered bar as shown above is also known as EZ Barbell Curl or EZ Bar Curl.
Illustrated Guide
Learn how to do barbell curl from this step-by-step illustrations:
Muscles Worked
The muscles used for barbell curl may change slightly based on the your trained range of motion and technique, but in the most general case, the muscles used for barbell curl are:
Primary Muscles
- Biceps
Synergyst Muscles
- Forearm Muscles
Frequently Asked Questions
Training, Progressions and Regressions
Interested in how to improve your Barbell Curl faster?
Barbell Curl Training and Progressions
Standards and Averages
Wonder how do others perform in Barbell Curl and how should you?
Barbell Curl Standards and Averages
Alternatives
Wonder how to work the same muscles with other exercises?
Variations
Wonder how to make Barbell Curl either easier or more challenging?
Discover more
Classification
| Type(s) | Strength, Isolated |
| Muscles Worked | Biceps Brachii, Forearm Muscles |
| Difficulty Level(s) | Basic, Easy |
| Equipment | Barbell |
| Location | At Gym |
Muscles Worked
| Target muscle(s) | Biceps |
| Synergyst muscle(s) | Forearm Muscles |
