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Big Arms Workout

15 min
 · 
8 exercises
Barbell Curls
3 sets
10 reps
Seated Dumbbell Concentration Curls
3 sets
12 reps
Cable Overhead Triceps Extensions
3 sets
12 reps
Standing Dumbbell Bicep Hammer Curls
3 sets
12 reps
Dumbbell Bicep Reverse Curls
3 sets
12 reps
Triceps Dips
3 sets
12 reps
Tricep Cable Rope Push Downs
3 sets
12 reps
Tricep Dumbbell Kickbacks
3 sets
12 reps
This Big Arms Workout 15 min-minute gym workout plan effectively targets your arms. Easily follow this workout with confidence on your phone or printable exercise program with our clear exercise demonstrations. You can also look up step-by-step instructions for each of the 8 exercises and see which muscle groups they target. Enjoy!

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Big Arms Workout
15 min
 · 
8 exercises
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Barbell Curls
3 sets
10 reps
Set 1 of 3
Rest before next set
Get ready
321GO
Primary muscle group(s):
Biceps
Secondary:
Forearms
  1. Stand straight holding a barbell with an underhand grip, your hands shoulder width apart and your arms fully extended towards the floor.
  2. Keep your elbows close to your sides.Your palms should be facing away from you. This is the start position.
  3. Keeping your upper arms stationary, curl the barbell forward and up in a smooth arcing motion while exhaling. Only your forearms should move.
  4. Continue upwards until  the bar is at shoulder level with your biceps fully contracted. Hold for a count of one while squeezing your biceps.
  5. Inhale as you return to the starting position.
  6. Repeat.

This exercise can be performed using a cable station, with a straight bar attachment connected to the lower pulley.<em><strong> </strong></em>

Primary muscle group(s):
Biceps
Secondary:
Abs, Forearms
  1. Holding a dumbbell in each hand, stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
  2. Let your arms hang by your side with your palms facing in to the side of your body.
  3. Keep your elbows close to your sides.
  4. Curl the dumbbells up towards your shoulders. Do not swing your hips to get the weight moving.
  5. Continue raising the dumbbells until they are level with your shoulders with your palms facing in. Your forearm should be in a vertical position.
  6. Squeeze or flex your bicep and hold for a count of one.
  7. Slowly lower the dumbbells to the starting position.
  8. Repeat.

You can also perform this exercise by alternating between left and right arms or one arm at a time.

Primary muscle group(s):
Biceps
Secondary:
Forearms
  1. Sit on a flat bench holding a dumbbell in each hand  with an underhand grip.
  2. Keep your back straight and shoulders back.
  3. Keep your arms fully extended with your elbows close to your sides.
  4. Rotate your palms so that they are facing in towards you. This is the start position.
  5. Keeping your upper arms upper arm stationary, start to curl the dumbbells upwards in a smooth arc.
  6. As you curl the dumbbells upwards rotate your wrists, so that your palms  face in towards you at the end of the movement.
  7. Continue the movement until  the dumbbells are at shoulder level and your biceps are fully contracted.
  8. Hold for a count of one as you squeeze your biceps.
  9. return to the start position, rotating your wrists back to an underhand grip position.
  10. Repeat.

This exercise can be performed by alternating between arms.

Primary muscle group(s):
Biceps
Secondary:
Abs, Forearms
  1. Set up a cable station with a straight bar attachment connected to the low pulley.
  2. Stand close to the station, feet shoulder width apart either side of the pulley.
  3. Grip the bar with a shoulder width underhand grip.
  4. Keep your elbows close to your sides.
  5. Curls your arms upward from the elbows in a smooth arc.
  6. Continue until your forearms are vertical with your palms facing your shoulders. Hold for a count of one while flexing your biceps.
  7. Lower the bar back to the starting position in a smooth motion.
  8. Repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Biceps
Secondary:
Forearms
  1. Holding a water bottle in each hand, stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
  2. Let your arms hang by your side with your palms facing in to the side of your body.
  3. Keep your elbows close to your sides.
  4. Curl the water bottles up towards your shoulders. Do not swing your hips to get the weight moving.
  5. Continue raising the water bottles until they are level with your shoulders with your palms facing in. Your forearm should be in a vertical position.
  6. Squeeze or flex your bicep and hold for a count of one.
  7. Slowly lower the water bottles to the starting position.
Seated Dumbbell Concentration Curls
3 sets
12 reps
Set 1 of 3
Rest before next set
Get ready
321GO
Primary muscle group(s):
Biceps
Secondary:
Forearms
  1. Sit on a flat bench with your legs spread, knees bent and your feet flat on the floor with a dumbbell between your feet.
  2. Use either arm to pick the dumbbell up and hold it with an underhand grip.
  3. Place the back of that upper arm on the top of your inner thigh on the same side. Your palm should be facing away from your thigh.
  4. Keep your arm fully extended downwards without letting the dumbbell rest on the floor. This is the start position.
  5. Curl the dumbbell forward and up in a smooth arc, contracting your biceps and exhaling.
  6. Continue curling the dumbbell upward until your biceps are fully contracted and the dumbbell is at shoulder level.  Hold for a count of one while squeezing your biceps.
  7. Return to the start position in a controlled, smooth arc inhaling as you do so. Do not swing the dumbbell down.
  8. Repeat for all the repetitions for that arm then switch and repeat the movement with your other arm.

Throughout this exercise, only your forearms should move. This exercise can be performed standing in a bent over position. Here there is no upper arm support so it's important to ensure there is no movement or swinging of the upper arm. This harder version of concentration curls isn't recommended for people who suffer lower back issues.

Primary muscle group(s):
Biceps
Secondary:
Abs, Forearms
  1. Set up an incline bench at 45 degrees.
  2. Holding a dumbbell in each hand, sit on the bench, keeping your shoulders and back firmly against the back rest.
  3. Put your arms down by your side with your palms facing in to your body.
  4. Slowly curl your arms up, rotating your wrist outwards (thumbs pointing away from your body) until the dumbbell is level with your shoulders. (Your palms should be facing your shoulders)
  5. Flex or squeeze your bicep at the top of the movement and hold for a count of one.
  6. Slowly lower the dumbbells back to the start position, turning your palms back in to your body. Repeat.

You can also perform this exercise using one arm at a time or by alternating your arms (Left, right, left, right...)

Primary muscle group(s):
Biceps
Secondary:
Forearms
  1. Set up a preacher curl bench making sure that the seat is set at the right height for you. The seat shouldn’t be so low that you need to raise your shoulders, or so high that you need to lean over the support pad.
  2. Rest you arms on the support pad with your triceps near the top and your elbows midway down the pad.
  3. Grip the EZ curl bar with an underhand grip at shoulder width.
  4. Curl the bar in towards your chin and upper chest in a single smooth arc. Hold for a count of one.
  5. Lower the bar by extending your arms back to the starting position.

This exercise is designed to isolate and focus attention on the biceps. Therefore, resistance is stronger at the start of each repetition. So when you begin each repetition, don't explode upwards too quickly!

Primary muscle group(s):
Biceps
Secondary:
Forearms
  1. Begin the movement by stepping on to a resistance band with your feet at shoulder-width, toes pointed slightly out.
  2. Holding the handles of the band in each hand, tighten your abdominals and straighten your lower back. Keep your chest up and gaze forward.
  3. Using an underhand grip or hammer fist grip, slowly pull the band towards your shoulders. Keep your upper arm in place, moving only your forearms.
  4. Once you reach the top of the movement, pause, and slowly lower the band to the starting position. Do not lock out your elbows.
Primary muscle group(s):
Biceps
Secondary:
Forearms
  1. Holding a water bottle in each hand, stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
  2. Let your arms hang by your side with your palms facing in to the side of your body.
  3. Keep your elbows close to your sides.
  4. Curl the water bottles up towards your shoulders. Do not swing your hips to get the weight moving.
  5. Continue raising the water bottles until they are level with your shoulders with your palms facing in. Your forearm should be in a vertical position.
  6. Squeeze or flex your bicep and hold for a count of one.
  7. Slowly lower the water bottles to the starting position.
Cable Overhead Triceps Extensions
3 sets
12 reps
Set 1 of 3
Rest before next set
Get ready
321GO
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Forearms
  1. Attach a rope to the bottom pulley of a cable station.
  2. Grip the rope with both hands using a neutral grip. Turn your body away from the cable station.
  3. Fully extend your arms until your hands are directly above your head pointing to the ceiling.
  4. Keep your elbows  close to your head. This is the start position.
  5. Slowly lower the rope behind your head, keeping your upper arms stationary, inhaling as you do so.
  6. When your triceps are fully extended, hold for a count of one while squeezing your triceps.
  7. Return to the starting position by flexing your triceps  and extending your arms. Exhale as you do so.
  8. Repeat.

This exercise can be performed  seated on a plain bench, or one that has a back support You  can also use a single dumbbell instead of the rope.

Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Abs
  1. Sit on a bench with back support.
  2. Grip a dumbbell at one end using both hands. Your palms should be facing inward.
  3. Hold the dumbbell overhead with your arms fully extended.  This is the the start position.
  4. Keep your upper arms close to your head (biceps roughly level with your temples) and near to 90degrees to the floor.
  5. Moving only your forearms, lower the dumbbell in a smooth arc behind your head until your forearms and biceps touch. Hold for a count of one.
  6. Return to the start position by using the triceps to extend your arm and raise the dumbbell. Exhale as you do this.
  7. Repeat.

This exercise can be performed standing. However, it places an extra strain on your back so is not recommended for people with lower back problems. You can also perform this exercise using an EZ bar or straight bar with a close grip behind your head, palms facing forward.

Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
  1. Begin the movement by stepping on to a resistance band with your feet at shoulder-width, toes pointed slightly out.
  2. Push the handles of the band overhead while keeping a slight bend in the elbow. Brace your abdominals and do not arch your back.
  3. Slowly lower your hands behind your head using only the forearms. The upper arms will stay in place with the elbow pointed up.
  4. Push the handles back up, focusing the tension in the triceps.
Standing Dumbbell Bicep Hammer Curls
3 sets
12 reps
Set 1 of 3
Rest before next set
Get ready
321GO
Primary muscle group(s):
Biceps
Secondary:
Forearms
  1. Stand straight holing a dumbbell in each hand with a neutral grip.
  2. Keep your arms fully extended with your palms facing in to your sides.
  3. Keep your elbows tucked in to your sides. This is the start position.
  4. Keeping your upper arm stationary, exhale and curl the dumbbells up towards your shoulders.
  5. Continue  raising the dumbbells until your biceps are fully contracted and the dumbbells are at shoulder level.
  6. Hold for a count of one and squeeze your biceps.
  7. Return to the start position in a smooth movement, inhaling as you do so.
  8. Repeat.

There are many ways to perform this movement. Other examples include; sitting with or without back support, using alternating arms and also using a cable station's lower pulley.

Primary muscle group(s):
Biceps
Secondary:
Forearms
  1. Stand at the cable station with your feet shoulder width apart and with a slight bend at the knee.
  2. Grasp the rope with both hands and your palms facing inward.
  3. Keeping your core strong and your elbows fixed at your sides pull the rope towards the top of your chest (only the lower portion of your arms should be moving).
  4. Tense your biceps at the peak, and then slowly allow the rope to be pulled back down to the starting position.
Dumbbell Bicep Reverse Curls
3 sets
12 reps
Set 1 of 3
Rest before next set
Get ready
321GO
Primary muscle group(s):
Forearms
Secondary:
Biceps
  1. Stand holding a dumbbell in each hand using an overhand grip.
  2. Your arms should be fully extended and your feet shoulder width apart. This is the starting position.
  3. Keeping your upper arms stationary and your back straight, curl the weights up towards your shoulders exhaling as you do so. Use only your forearms for this movement.
  4. Continue curling the dumbbells up until they are at shoulder level and your biceps are fully contracted.
  5. Hold for a count of one as you squeeze your biceps..
  6. Return to the starting position in a smooth arc, inhaling as you do so.
  7. Repeat.

Do not swing your hips or arms to use momentum for this exercise. This exercise can be performed using a barbell, straight bar or E-Z bar attachment connected to the low pulley of a cable station.

Primary muscle group(s):
Biceps
Secondary:
Abs, Forearms
  1. Holding a dumbbell in each hand, stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
  2. Let your arms hang by your side with your palms facing in to the side of your body.
  3. Keep your elbows close to your sides.
  4. Curl the dumbbells up towards your shoulders. Do not swing your hips to get the weight moving.
  5. Continue raising the dumbbells until they are level with your shoulders with your palms facing in. Your forearm should be in a vertical position.
  6. Squeeze or flex your bicep and hold for a count of one.
  7. Slowly lower the dumbbells to the starting position.
  8. Repeat.

You can also perform this exercise by alternating between left and right arms or one arm at a time.

Primary muscle group(s):
Biceps
Secondary:
Forearms
  1. Holding a water bottle in each hand, stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
  2. Let your arms hang by your side with your palms facing in to the side of your body.
  3. Keep your elbows close to your sides.
  4. Curl the water bottles up towards your shoulders. Do not swing your hips to get the weight moving.
  5. Continue raising the water bottles until they are level with your shoulders with your palms facing in. Your forearm should be in a vertical position.
  6. Squeeze or flex your bicep and hold for a count of one.
  7. Slowly lower the water bottles to the starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Biceps
Secondary:
Forearms
  1. Begin the movement by stepping on to a resistance band with your feet at shoulder-width, toes pointed slightly out.
  2. Holding the handles of the band in each hand, tighten your abdominals and straighten your lower back. Keep your chest up and gaze forward.
  3. Using an underhand grip or hammer fist grip, slowly pull the band towards your shoulders. Keep your upper arm in place, moving only your forearms.
  4. Once you reach the top of the movement, pause, and slowly lower the band to the starting position. Do not lock out your elbows.
Triceps Dips
3 sets
12 reps
Set 1 of 3
Rest before next set
Get ready
321GO
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Chest, Forearms, Shoulders
  1. Standing between the bars of a dip station, grip the bars with an overhand grip,keeping your elbows tucked in close to your body.
  2. Allow your body weigh to hang so it is being supported by your arms and shoulders. Keep your hips straight.
  3. Push down through your palms with your arms, lifting your body up until your arms are almost straight. (Do not lock your elbows)
  4. Lower your body by slowly bending your elbows and continue down until you feel a slight stretch in your shoulders.
  5. Pause, then push yourself back to the starting position.
  6. Repeat.

By keeping your back straight and not leaning forward, you will work your triceps harder.If you wish to work on your chest leaning forward puts more emphasis on your pecs. As your strength increases, you can add weight by using a dip belt.

Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Chest
  1. Begin by using the weight stack to offset your bodyweight on an Assisted Dip machine. Now, position your knees securely on the padded surface while holding on to the bars on either side of you.
  2. Before lowering yourself, make sure that your core is tight and that your elbows are pointing directly behind you. Slowly, lower yourself until your upper arms are parallel with the floor.
  3. Push yourself back to the starting position and squeeze your triceps at the top. Lower yourself again slowly for the next repetition.
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
  1. Sit at the Triceps Dip machine but make sure to brace your core throughout the movement. Place your hands on the bar with your elbows pointing behind you. Your arms will make a 90 degree angle.
  2. Slowly push down on the bars, focusing all the movement in your triceps.
  3. When you reach the bottom, pause and do not lock out your elbows. Slowly return to the starting position but do not let the weight touch the stack.
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Shoulders
  1. Sit on a chair with your hands either next to your hips or slightly under the hips.
  2. Lift up onto your hands and bring your hips forward.
  3. Bend your elbows and lower your hips down, keeping shoulders down and hips close to the chair.
  4. Push back up but don’t lock your elbows and repeat.
Tricep Cable Rope Push Downs
3 sets
12 reps
Set 1 of 3
Rest before next set
Get ready
321GO
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Abs, Forearms
  1. Set up a cable station with a straight bar on attached to the top pulley.
  2. Grip the bar with an overhand grip,with your hands slightly less than shoulder width apart.
  3. Position your feet shoulder width apart,with knees slightly bent for stability.
  4. Pull the bar down until your forearms are parallel to the floor with your elbows close to your body and your wrists locked in a straight position. This is your staring point.
  5. Moving only your forearms, push the bar down towards the floor until your arms are fully extended and you feel a stretch in your triceps. Hold for a count of one and squeeze your triceps.
  6. Return to the start position moving your forearms only. Hold for a count of one then repeat.

Do not move your elbows or swing your hips for momentum during this movement.

Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Abs, Lower Back
  1. Holding a pair of dumbbells with an overhand grip, stand tall with your chest up and core braced. Bend at the hips while keeping your back completely flat.
  2. Once your upper body is parallel with the floor, bring your upper arms to your sides. Begin by pushing the dumbbells back and behind you.
  3. Pause at the top of the movement and feel the contraction in your triceps. Slowly lower the dumbbells and begin again.
Tricep Dumbbell Kickbacks
3 sets
12 reps
Set 1 of 3
Rest before next set
Get ready
321GO
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Abs, Forearms
  1. Start by standing to the right of a flat bench with a dumbbell on the floor to your right.
  2. Place your left knee on the bench with your left hand palm down n the bench in front of it. In this position, keep your back straight.
  3. Pick up the dumbbell with your right hand using an overhand grip.
  4. Raise your arm until it is in line with your body, keeping your elbow tucked into your side and bent to a 90 degree angle. Your forearm should be pointing straight down to the floor.
  5. Extend your arm using your triceps to lift the weight until it is level with your shoulder.
  6. Hold for a count of one while squeezing your tricep.
  7. Lower to the starting position by bending your elbow to 90 degrees.Hold and repeat.
  8. Complete the set for your right arm before changing stance to work your left arm.

Only your forearm should move during this exercise. Keep your elbow in line with your shoulders at all times throughout the movement.

Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Abs, Lower Back
  1. Holding a pair of dumbbells with an overhand grip, stand tall with your chest up and core braced. Bend at the hips while keeping your back completely flat.
  2. Once your upper body is parallel with the floor, bring your upper arms to your sides. Begin by pushing the dumbbells back and behind you.
  3. Pause at the top of the movement and feel the contraction in your triceps. Slowly lower the dumbbells and begin again.
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
  1. Attach a resistance band to a door frame or other stable surface. Grab the handles of the band and walk backward until the slack tightens.
  2. Bend slightly at the knees and forward at the hips. Maintain a flat back throughout.
  3. Bring your upper arms up and tight to your side. From here, you will pull the band back using the forearms only. The contraction will be felt exclusively in the triceps.
  4. Slowly return to the starting position and begin again.
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Upper Back & Lower Traps
  1. Holding a pair of water bottles with an overhand grip, stand tall with your chest up and core braced. Bend at the hips while keeping your back completely flat.
  2. Once your upper body is parallel with the floor, bring your upper arms to your sides. Begin by pushing the water bottles back and behind you.
  3. Pause at the top of the movement and feel the contraction in your triceps. Slowly lower the water bottles and begin again.
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