This 45-min full body dumbbell workout builds muscle and tone with structured rep ranges. Track the weight you use each set โ you'll want to reference it and progress from here going forward. Let's get strong!
๐ถYour goal is to reach a challenging point between 8 and 10 reps. If you can't reach 8, it's too heavy!
About this workout
Full-Body 45-Min Dumbbell Muscle Workout ๐ is a free 45 min workout plan with 8 illustrated exercises for your arms, back, chest and legs. Follow the workout online, save it to your WorkoutLabs Fit account or download it as a printable PDF.
Tap any exercise in the workout to see the muscles worked, clear exercise illustrations and step-by-step instructions. Each workout includes sets, reps, rest times and notes so you can follow the plan without guessing.
You'll need dumbbells for this workout. Tap any exercise to see form instructions and possible substitutions if a piece of equipment isn't available.
How long does the Full-Body 45-Min Dumbbell Muscle Workout ๐ take?
The full workout takes about 45 minutes, covering 8 exercises with prescribed sets, reps and rest periods. Using the built-in timers and auto-advance keeps you on pace from start to finish.
Is this workout suitable for my fitness level?
This is an intermediate workout, best suited to people with some training experience. Beginners can still follow it by reducing the weight, doing fewer sets or resting longer between sets โ each exercise includes illustrated form instructions.
What muscles does this workout target?
This routine primarily works your quadriceps, glutes & hip flexors, calves, shoulders, chest, lower back. Tap any exercise in the workout to see a muscle diagram showing exactly which primary and secondary muscles it activates.
How often should I do this workout?
For gain muscle, get toned, aim to do this workout 2โ3 times per week with at least one rest day between sessions. Progress by gradually adding weight or reps, and pair it with workouts for other muscle groups during the week.
Can I download or save this workout?
Yes โ you can download this workout as a free printable PDF using the download button, or save it to a free WorkoutLabs Fit account to follow it on your phone, customize the exercises and track your progress.
This 45-min full body dumbbell workout builds muscle and tone with structured rep ranges. Track the weight you use each set โ you\'ll want to reference it and progress from here going forward. Let\'s get strong!
Auto-advanceStart exercises automatically after a 5-second delay
Calves, Glutes & Hip Flexors, Hamstrings, Lower Back
With your feet shoulder-width apart, stand with dumbbells as your sides with your palms facing each other.
Keeping your back straight and facing forward, squat down until your thighs are parallel to the floor.
Pause for one second.
Pushing up from your heels, raise back up to starting position and repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Quadriceps
Secondary:
Abs, Calves, Hamstrings
Holding a dumbbell in each hand, stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
Keep your shoulders back. And your back straight.
Take a long stride forward with your right leg. Your right foot should be in a position, that when you bend your right knee, your upper and lower leg form a 90 degree angle.
Slowly bend both your knees, to lower your hips until your left (rear) knee is just above the floor. Hold for a count of one.
Return to the start position by slowly straightening your legs and raising your body back to a standing position.
ย Complete all the repetitions for one set full set, then switch legs, or you can alternate between legs for each rep.
Do not let your knee travel past your toes in the down position as this can cause instability and injury.
Primary muscle group(s):
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Quadriceps
Secondary:
Abs, Calves, Hamstrings, Lower Back
Set up the barbell on the squat rack so that it is at the same height as your upper chest.
Position your body under the bar, with knees bent so that the bar is resting high on the back of your shoulders.
Grip the bar with your hands comfortably wider than your shoulders.
Slowly straighten your legs to push upwards, lifting the barbell from the rack and take one step forward.
Stand with your legs shoulder width apart.
Bend your knees forward and allow your hips to bend back as if sitting down,
Continue this movement down until your thighs are parallel to the floor or slightly more, making sure your knees are pointing in the same direction as your feet.
Hold for a count of one.
Push up through your heels while straightening your hips and knees, until you are standing in the start position.
Make any adjustments necessary to your stance and grip before continuing on the next repetition.
Do not rest the bar on your neck. Keep your head facing forward at all times. Keep your back straight throughout the entire movement.
Primary muscle group(s):
Hamstrings, Quadriceps
Secondary:
Calves, Glutes & Hip Flexors
Begin the movement by stepping on to a resistance band with your feet at shoulder-width, toes pointed slightly out.
Bring your hands to your shoulders, keeping the handles of the band behind your shoulders. Brace your core and keep your chest up.
Bend first at the knees then at the hips. Be sure to keep the chest up and abdominals tight. There should be no arch in your back.
Pause when your thighs are parallel with the floor, then slowly return to the starting position, feeling the tension from the band in your quadriceps.
Primary muscle group(s):
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Quadriceps
Secondary:
Hamstrings
With your feet shoulder-width apart, stand with water bottles as your sides with your palms facing each other.
Keeping your back straight and facing forward, squat down until your thighs are parallel to the floor.
Pause for one second.
Pushing up from your heels, raise back up to starting position and repeat.
Holding a dumbbell in each hand, stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
Keep your shoulders back. And your back straight.
Take a long stride forward with your right leg. Your right foot should be in a position, that when you bend your right knee, your upper and lower leg form a 90 degree angle.
Slowly bend both your knees, to lower your hips until your left (rear) knee is just above the floor. Hold for a count of one.
Return to the start position by slowly straightening your legs and raising your body back to a standing position.
ย Complete all the repetitions for one set full set, then switch legs, or you can alternate between legs for each rep.
Do not let your knee travel past your toes in the down position as this can cause instability and injury.
Primary muscle group(s):
Quadriceps
Secondary:
Abs, Calves, Hamstrings
Stand up straight while holding two dumbbells. Maintain a tight core and flat back as you carefully place your right foot on top of a bench behind you with toes facing down.ย
Bend at the front knee as you drop the back knee, maintaining perfect form. Front knee should not go over the toes.
Allow your thigh to come to parallel with the floor.
Pause then slowly return to the starting position without locking out your knee.
Repeat then switch sides once set is complete.
Primary muscle group(s):
Hamstrings, Quadriceps
Secondary:
Calves, Glutes & Hip Flexors
Place a bench in front of you. Hold a pair of dumbbells and stand facing the bench. Brace your core and keep your gaze straight ahead.
Bring your right knee up and step up on to the bench. Placing all of the effort in your right leg, bring your body up into a standing position on the bench.
Slowly lower yourself to the starting position and switch legs.
Stand up straight with a tight core and flat back.
Position your feet wider than shoulder-width. Your toes should be facing out diagonally.
Holding a dumbbell with both hands in front of you, look straight ahead and bend at the knees while driving your hips backward. Your knees should be following your toes in a diagonal line.
Complete this wide stance squat by having your thighs come parallel with the ground.
Pause and slowly return to the starting position without locking your knees.
Repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Quadriceps
Secondary:
Abs, Calves, Glutes & Hip Flexors, Hamstrings
Set a barbell on a rack at your shoulder height.
Step under the bar and rest the back of your shoulders against the bar. Do not put the bar on your neck.
Hold on to the bar using an overhand grip so that your palms are facing forward.
Lift the barbell off the rack by pushing up with your legs while straightening your torso.
Step away from the rack and position your legs in a wider than shoulder width position and with your toes slightly pointed out.
Keep your head up and look straight ahead at all times, as looking down will put you off balance.
Ensure your back is straight. This is the start position.
As you inhale, slowly lower the bar by bending your knees while keeping a straight posture with your head up.
Continue down until the angle between you upper legs and calves is slightly less than 90-degrees . As a guide, the front of your knees should be in line with your toes. Do not allow your knees to extend out beyond your toes.
Hold for a count of one.
As you exhale, raise the bar back to the start position, by pushing through your heels as you straighten your legs.
Pause for a count of one.
Repeat.
This is an exercise which carries some risk. If you have back issues, substitute this exercise for the dumbbell squat or leg press instead.ย Never slouch your back forward as this can cause back injury. This exercise is best performed inside a squat rack for safety purposes.
Primary muscle group(s):
Quadriceps
Secondary:
Calves, Glutes & Hip Flexors, Hamstrings, Lower Back
With your feet shoulder-width apart, stand with dumbbells as your sides with your palms facing each other.
Keeping your back straight and facing forward, squat down until your thighs are parallel to the floor.
Pause for one second.
Pushing up from your heels, raise back up to starting position and repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Quadriceps
Secondary:
Calves, Hamstrings
Sit down on a leg press machine and place your legs on the platform directly in front of you at shoulder width.
Lower the safety bars holding the weighted platformย and press the platform all the way up until your legs are fully extended in front of you bot do NOT lock your knees. Your torso and legs should be at a 90degree angle to each other. This is the start position.
Inhaling, slowly lower the platform until your upper and lower legs form a 90-degree angle. Pause for a count of one,
Return to the starting position by pushing through the heels of your feet, engaging your quadriceps. Exhale as you do so.
Repeat.
After completing the desired number of repetitions, make sure you lock the safety pins of the machine before alighting.
Always check to make sure that when you re-rack the weight the platform is securely locked.
Place an exercise step or something similar on the floor in front of you. It should be two or three inches high.
Holding a dumbbell in each hand, place your toes and the balls of your feet on the step. Make sure the arches of your feet are not on the step and your heels are on the floor.
Raise your heels as high as possible by pushing through the balls of your feet and toes while extending your ankles. Hold for a count of one.
Return to the starting position by bending your ankles until you feel a stretch in your calves.
Repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Quadriceps
Secondary:
Calves, Hamstrings
Sit down on a leg press machine and place your legs on the platform directly in front of you at shoulder width.
Lower the safety bars holding the weighted platformย and press the platform all the way up until your legs are fully extended in front of you bot do NOT lock your knees. Your torso and legs should be at a 90degree angle to each other. This is the start position.
Inhaling, slowly lower the platform until your upper and lower legs form a 90-degree angle. Pause for a count of one,
Return to the starting position by pushing through the heels of your feet, engaging your quadriceps. Exhale as you do so.
Repeat.
After completing the desired number of repetitions, make sure you lock the safety pins of the machine before alighting.
Always check to make sure that when you re-rack the weight the platform is securely locked.
Primary muscle group(s):
Calves
Sitting on a calf raise machine, position your upper thighs under the top pad. The pad should be resting just above your knees.
Place the balls of your feet on the foot plate.
Keeping the balls of your feet in position, lower your heels as far as possible.
Slowly raise your heels as if standing on your toes. Continue as far as possible until you feel a stretch in your lower calves. Hold for a count of one.
Slowly lower your heels back to the starting position and repeat.
If the machine isn't equipped with foot plates, you can use barbell plates placed under the machine to increase your range of motion. Don't
Primary muscle group(s):
Calves
Secondary:
Abs
Set up two weight plates on the ground next to each other. Position a loaded barbell across your trap muscles. Step on to the weight plates with the balls of your feet.
With a tight core and flat back, raise yourself up with your feet only. Pause at the top of the raise.
Slowly lower yourself down but do not touch the ground. Raise yourself back up.
Sit on a military press bench or bench that has a back support, holding a dumbbell in each hand with an overhand grip.
Place the dumbbells on top of your thighs with your palms facing down.
Raise the dumbbells to your shoulders.
Rotate your wrists so that the palms of your hands are facing away from you. This is the start position.
As you exhale,ย push the dumbbells up and over your head by extending your arms until the dumbbells touch at the top of the movement.
Pause for a count of one.
Slowly return to the start position inhaling as you do so.
Repeat.
This exercise can be performed standing or sitting onย flat bench. For people with lower back problems, the version described is better.
Primary muscle group(s):
Chest, Shoulders
Secondary:
Triceps
Holding aย water bottle in each hand, stand straight, with your feet shoulder width apart.
Raise theย water bottles to head height by rotating your arms forward and up.
Your triceps should be parallel to the floor and your elbows bent at 90 degrees. This is the start position.
Keeping your back straight and using only your arms, extend through your shoulders and elbows to drive the water bottles straight up, exhaling as you do so.
As your arms reach the fully extended position, bring them in towards each other until theย water bottles touch lightly together.
Hold for a count of one, while squeezing your shoulder muscles.
In a controlled movement, return to the starting position, inhaling as you do so.
Repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Shoulders
Secondary:
Abs
Place your left foot onto the middle of a resistance band. Step forward with the right. Tighten your abdominals and avoid arching your back.
Press the handles of the resistance band up and stop once your upper arms are parallel with the ground, making a scarecrow formation. The band should be behind your arms.
Slowly press the resistance band overhead. Do not lock out the elbows. Lower to the starting position and begin again.
Holding a pair of dumbbells, sit on a flat bench and slowly lower yourself back.
Keep a tight core as you push the dumbbells above your chest. The dumbbells will be facing one another and held together.
With a slight bend in the elbow, open up your chest and slowly lower the dumbbells to the sides.
When the dumbbells are parallel with the ground, pause, and return to the starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Abs, Shoulders, Triceps
Stand between two cable stations with the dumbbell grip handles attached to the high pulleys on each side of you.
Hold the handles with an overhand grip. Your arms should be outstretched.
Bend your knees and hips slightly so that you are leaning forward, but not too far.
Bend your elbows slightly and rotate your shoulders in towards the centre of your chest a little. Your elbows should be slightly behind you.
Use a hugging motion, keeping your elbows in a fixed, bent position to bring the grip attachments together in front of your chest.
Slowly return to the starting position until you feel a slight stretch in your chest muscles.
Repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Chest
Secondary:
Shoulders, Triceps
Sit on a pec deck machine with your back flat against the back rest.
Grip the handles and make sure your arms are parallel to the floor. If not parallel,adjust the seat or handles accordingly. This is the start position.
Exhale and slowly push the handles togetherย squeezing your chest to the middle as you do so. Hold for a count of one.
Inhale as you return to the starting position in a controlled movement.
Repeat.
This exercise can be performed using an exercise band or pulleys. There are a variety ofย different machines with different placement of your forearms. With these,ย place your forearms on the pad, with your elbow bent to 90 degrees. Perform the exercise by squeezing your elbows together.
Stand facing the dumbbells with your feet shoulder width apart.
Bend knees and hips to lower your torso in a squatting movement,keep your back straight.
At the bottom of the squat grip the dumbbells with an overhand grip,keeping your arms fully extended.
Return to an upright position holding the dumbbells with your palms facing towards your body and extending your hips forward. Do not round your back.
Return the dumbbells to the floor in the same manner you picked them up.
Repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Lower Back
Secondary:
Abs, Calves, Forearms, Glutes & Hip Flexors, Hamstrings, Quadriceps, Upper Back & Lower Traps
Place a barbell in a clear space on the floor. (Make sure there are no obstructions in your way.
Stand facing the barbell with your legs about 4-6 inches from the bar.
Place your feet shoulder width apart.Your feet can be pointed straight ahead or turned outwards slightly.
Squat down, keeping your back straight and grip the bar with an overhand grip at shoulder width.
Keep your arms fully extended and stand up with the barbell.
As you lift the barbell, your hips and shoulders should rise together and your back should be straight.
As you reach the top of the lift and are standing straight, rotate your shoulders back slightly until you feel a slight stretch in them.
Lower the barbell back to the floor in the same squatting motion you used to lift it.
This exercise can be very dangerous if performed incorrectly. If you are a novice, only perform this exercise with an experienced trainer's supervision.
Primary muscle group(s):
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Hamstrings
Secondary:
Lower Back
Holding the handles of the resistance band, step on to the middle. Place your feet at shoulder-width with toes pointing forward. Tighten your core and keep your chest up.
Bend your knees slightly and drive your hips back but NOT lower than your knees. Again, keep the chest up. This is the starting position.
Forcefully contract your glutes, driving them forward. Do not just lean back. Your glutes should be fully contracted. Pause then return to the starting position.