Build and tone your upper body with this intermediate dumbbell superset workout! Each exercise is paired with its antagonist muscle group — no rest between sets. Use light weights, focus on motion, and finish in under 15 minutes. Let\'s burn!
Dumbbell Upper Body Supersets: Build & Tone is a free 15 min workout plan with 6 illustrated exercises for your arms, back, chest and shoulders. 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 Dumbbell Upper Body Supersets: Build & Tone take?
The full workout takes about 15 minutes, covering 6 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 – each exercise includes illustrated form instructions.
What muscles does this workout target?
This routine primarily works your chest, lower back, biceps, triceps, neck & upper traps, shoulders. 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 2–3 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 – 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.
More free arms, back, chest and shoulders workouts
Build and tone your upper body with this intermediate dumbbell superset workout! Each exercise is paired with its antagonist muscle group — no rest between sets. Use light weights, focus on motion, and finish in under 15 minutes. Let\'s burn!
Auto-advanceStart exercises automatically after a 5-second delay
Place a pair of dumbbells on the floor. Lie on your back in between the dumbbells. Bend your knees and move your feet towards your butt.
Grab the dumbbells and hold them above you. Allow your upper arms to remain on the floor. Begin the movement by pushing the dumbbells over your chest. Pause at the top and squeeze your chest muscles.
Slowly bring the weights down to the starting position, allowing your arms to rest for a brief moment before beginning the next repetition.
Stand tall with a tight core and flat back. Hold a pair of dumbbells at your side with an overhand grip. Bend slightly at the knees as you push your hips back. Keep your chest and head up. Upper body should be almost parallel with the floor.
With your elbows at a 60-degree angle, bring the dumbbells up. Pause when your upper arm is parallel with the floor. Contract the muscle then slowly return the dumbbells to the starting point.
Primary muscle group(s):
Lower Back, Upper Back & Lower Traps
Secondary:
Abs, Biceps, Shoulders
Place a dumbbell on each side of a flat bench.
Place your right knee on the end of the bench.
Bend your torso from the waist until your upper body is parallel to the floor, while placing your right hand on the bench in front of you for support.
With your left hand, pick up the dumbbell with an overhand grip. The palm of your hand should be facing into you.
Keep your lower back straight. This is the start position.
Using your back muscles, pull the dumbbell straight up to the side of your chest, keeping your upper arm close to your side. Exhale as you do so.
At the top of the movement, hold for a count of one and squeeze your back muscles.
Return to the start position inhaling as you do so. Repeat.
Complete all repetitions for one side before switching sides.
This exercise can be performed using a cable station, with a stirrup handle attached to either the high or low pulley.
Primary muscle group(s):
Middle Back / Lats, Upper Back & Lower Traps
Secondary:
Biceps
Stand tall with a tight core and flat back. Hold a pair of water bottles at your side with an overhand grip. Bend slightly at the knees as you push your hips back. Keep your chest and head up. Upper body should be almost parallel with the floor.
With your elbows at a 60-degree angle, bring the water bottles up. Pause when your upper arm is parallel with the floor. Contract the muscle then slowly return the water bottles to the starting point.
Primary muscle group(s):
Middle Back / Lats
Secondary:
Abs, Biceps
Begin the movement by stepping on to a resistance band with your feet at shoulder-width, toes pointed slightly out.
Bend slightly at the knees and forward at the hips. Maintain a braced core and flat back throughout.
Leading with your elbows, pull the handles of the resistance band back, bringing your shoulder blades closer together. Hold this contraction and slowly release to the starting position.
Rest
0:00
next up
Superset B - Standing Dumbbell Bicep Curls, Double Arm Tricep Kickbacks
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.
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.
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
Secondary:
Abs
Sit on a bench with back support.
Grip a dumbbell at one end using both hands. Your palms should be facing inward.
Hold the dumbbell overhead with your arms fully extended. This is the the start position.
Keep your upper arms close to your head (biceps roughly level with your temples) and near to 90degrees to the floor.
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.
Return to the start position by using the triceps to extend your arm and raise the dumbbell. Exhale as you do this.
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
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.
Bend slightly at the knees and forward at the hips. Maintain a flat back throughout.
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.
Slowly return to the starting position and begin again.
Primary muscle group(s):
Triceps
Secondary:
Upper Back & Lower Traps
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.
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.
Pause at the top of the movement and feel the contraction in your triceps. Slowly lower the water bottles and begin again.
Rest
0:00
next up
Superset C - Two Arm Dumbbell Front Shoulder Raises, Dumbbell Bent Over Lateral Rear Delt Raises
Holding a pair of dumbbells with an overhand grip, stand tall with your chest up and core braced.
Begin by lifting the dumbbells in front of you. Keep the abdominals contracted as you raise the dumbbells. Feel the contraction in the shoulder muscles.
Once the dumbbells reach shoulder height, pause and slowly lower the dumbbells to the starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Shoulders
Stand straight holding a water bottle in each hand with an overhand grip.
Hold the water bottles in front of your thighs with your palms of the facing your thighs. Keep your arms fully extended. This is the start position.
Raise the left water bottle out and upwards, while keeping a slight bend in your elbow. Your palms must always face down for this exercise.
Continue raising the water bottle until your arm is a little above parallel to the floor. Exhale as you are raising the water bottle.
Pause for a count of one.
Inhale and slowly lower the water bottle to the start position.
As you lower the left water bottle, begin to lift the right water bottle, duplicating the movement.
When both water bottles have been raised and lowered in a cycle, that is one repetition.
Repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Shoulders
Holding the handle of a resistance band in each hand, step on the middle of the band with both feet. Stand up straight with a tight core and flat back.
Begin by lifting your hands straight up in front of you with an overhand grip. Be sure to keep a slight bend in the elbows at all times.
Pause at the top to feel the contraction then slowly lower the bands to the starting position.
Begin by holding a pair of dumbbells and standing with a braced core. Bend at the knees slightly and lean forward from the hips. Maintain a flat back throughout.
Keeping your elbows slightly bent throughout the movement, lift the dumbbells up and out to the side. Be sure to focus the contraction in the back of the shoulders.
Pause at the top of the movement then slowly bring the dumbbells to the starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Upper Back & Lower Traps
Secondary:
Shoulders
Begin by holding a pair of water bottles and standing with a braced core. Bend at the knees slightly and lean forward from the hips. Maintain a flat back throughout.
Keeping your elbows slightly bent throughout the movement, lift the water bottles up and out to the side. Be sure to focus the contraction in the back of the shoulders.
Pause at the top of the movement then slowly bring the water bottles to the starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Upper Back & Lower Traps
Secondary:
Middle Back / Lats
Adjust the cables so that the handles sit at chest height.
Grip the handle, across your body in a neutral grip, with both hands.
Keeping only a slight bend at your elbow, pull the cable back across your body using the muscles in your back.
Hold the flexed position for a full second before allowing the cable to pull you slowly back to the starting position.
Workout done!
Exercises done
of 6
Total time
Access 1000+ more workouts, build your own plans and track progress with Fit