Barbell Wide Squat vs Dumbbell Squat
Maximizing Your Leg Workout Plan
Contents
Planfit users log Dumbbell Squat more often — 2,366 sessions vs 388. Compare Leg form, muscles worked, and when to use each.
Customize Your Leg Workout: Explore the Benefits of Barbell Wide Squat and Dumbbell Squat for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Barbell Wide Squat vs Dumbbell Squat : Which is Better?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Dumbbell Squat more often — 2,366 sessions compared to 388 for Barbell Wide Squat.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Barbell Wide Squat and Dumbbell Squat differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Barbell Wide Squat and Dumbbell Squat Differ
| What differs | Barbell Wide Squat | Dumbbell Squat |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | glutes, hamstrings, and inner thighs | quads, hamstrings, and glutes |
| Equipment | a barbell | a dumbbell |
| Difficulty | 4 of 5 | 2 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 388 sessions | 2,366 sessions |
How to Barbell Wide Squat
Barbell Wide Squat muscles worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Tighten your abdomen and keep your waist straight, then bend at the hip to lower your buttocks down.
- 2. Lower yourself until your knees naturally bend and your thighs are parallel to the ground.
- 3. Push strongly through the center of your feet to rise up.
- 4. As your buttocks rise, straighten your knees and hips in sequence, returning to the starting position.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to lean your upper body too far forward.
- 2. Keep your chest up and engage your core to avoid bending your waist.
- 3. Don't excessively bend your waist while trying to keep it straight.
- 4. Please do not stick your hips too far back.
- 5. Make sure your feet do not come off the ground.
- 6. When standing up, please ensure your knees do not come together.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Barbell Wide Squat, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Barbell Wide Squat Guide page of our blog!
How to Dumbbell Squat
Dumbbell Squat muscles worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Tighten your abdomen and keep your waist straight, then bend at the hip to lower your buttocks down.
- 2. Allow your knees to bend naturally until your thighs are parallel to the ground.
- 3. Push strongly through the center of your feet to rise up.
- 4. As your buttocks rise, straighten your knees and hips in sequence, returning to the starting position.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to lean your upper body too far forward.
- 2. Keep your chest up and engage your core to avoid bending your waist.
- 3. Don't excessively bend your waist while trying to keep it straight.
- 4. Please do not stick your hips too far back.
- 5. Make sure your feet do not come off the ground.
- 6. When standing up, please ensure your knees do not come together.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Dumbbell Squat, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Dumbbell Squat Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Leg, Barbell Wide Squat or Dumbbell Squat?
Planfit users log Dumbbell Squat more often — 2,366 sessions against 388 for Barbell Wide Squat. Both train Leg, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
Do Barbell Wide Squat and Dumbbell Squat work the same muscles?
Not quite. Barbell Wide Squat loads glutes, hamstrings, and inner thighs, and Dumbbell Squat loads quads, hamstrings, and glutes.
What equipment do Barbell Wide Squat and Dumbbell Squat need?
Barbell Wide Squat needs a barbell, and Dumbbell Squat needs a dumbbell.
Which is easier to start with?
Dumbbell Squat is the easier place to start. Move to Barbell Wide Squat once your form holds up.
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