Barbell Upright Row vs Dumbbell Lateral Raise

Maximizing Your Shoulder Workout Plan

Contents

Barbell Upright Row works multiple joints at once, Dumbbell Lateral Raise isolates — difficulty 4 of 5 vs 2. See which fits your Shoulder day.

Customize Your Shoulder Workout: Explore the Benefits of Barbell Upright Row and Dumbbell Lateral Raise for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Barbell Upright Row vs Dumbbell Lateral Raise : Which is Better?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Dumbbell Lateral Raise more often — 54,896 sessions compared to 4,261 for Barbell Upright Row.

Popularity is not the whole answer. Barbell Upright Row and Dumbbell Lateral Raise differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.

How Barbell Upright Row and Dumbbell Lateral Raise Differ

What differsBarbell Upright RowDumbbell Lateral Raise
Muscles workedside delts and trapsside delts
Equipmenta barbella dumbbell
Difficulty4 of 52 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users4,261 sessions54,896 sessions
Not sure whether Barbell Upright Row or Dumbbell Lateral Raise fits your goal? Get a personalized plan

How to Barbell Upright Row

Barbell Upright Row gif

Barbell Upright Row muscles worked: Shoulder

Form

  1. 1. Please lift the barbell to shoulder height while keeping it close to your body.
  2. 2. Slowly return to the starting position.

Coach's Comment

  1. Since this exercise can put strain on the shoulders, please substitute it with another exercise if you hear any sounds or feel pain in your shoulders.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Barbell Upright Row, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Barbell Upright Row Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Barbell Upright Row methods?Exercise Guide

How to Dumbbell Lateral Raise

Dumbbell Lateral Raise gif

Dumbbell Lateral Raise muscles worked: Shoulder

Form

  1. 1. Please slowly lift the dumbbell to shoulder height while keeping your elbows slightly bent.
  2. 2. Make sure the palms of your hands are facing down towards the floor.
  3. 3. Slowly lower the dumbbell back to the starting position.
  4. 4. However, do not lower the dumbbell completely; only lower it until your shoulders are relaxed.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to lift the dumbbells higher than shoulder height.
  2. 2. If your palms are facing behind your body, it may cause shoulder pain, so please keep them facing the floor or in front of your body.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Dumbbell Lateral Raise, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Dumbbell Lateral Raise Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Dumbbell Lateral Raise methods?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Shoulder, Barbell Upright Row or Dumbbell Lateral Raise?

Planfit users log Dumbbell Lateral Raise more often — 54,896 sessions against 4,261 for Barbell Upright Row. Both train Shoulder, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.

Do Barbell Upright Row and Dumbbell Lateral Raise work the same muscles?

Not quite. Barbell Upright Row loads side delts and traps, and Dumbbell Lateral Raise loads side delts.

What equipment do Barbell Upright Row and Dumbbell Lateral Raise need?

Barbell Upright Row needs a barbell, and Dumbbell Lateral Raise needs a dumbbell.

Which is easier to start with?

Dumbbell Lateral Raise is the easier place to start. Move to Barbell Upright Row once your form holds up.

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