Seated Row vs Barbell Row
Maximizing Your Back Workout Plan
Contents
Seated Row uses bodyweight only, Barbell Row uses a barbell — same Back target, different setup and load path.
Customize Your Back Workout: Explore the Benefits of Seated Row and Barbell Row for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Seated Row vs Barbell Row : Which is Better?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Barbell Row more often — 18,910 sessions compared to 296 for Seated Row.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Seated Row and Barbell Row differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Seated Row and Barbell Row Differ
| What differs | Seated Row | Barbell Row |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | bodyweight only | a barbell |
| Difficulty | 2 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 296 sessions | 18,910 sessions |
How to Seated Row
Seated Row muscles worked: Back
Form
- 1. Please pull your elbow to brush past your side.
- 2. Please return to the starting position while maintaining strength in your back.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please keep your chest open so that your shoulders do not hunch forward.
- 2. Engage your core to prevent your back from rounding.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Seated Row, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Seated Row Guide page of our blog!
How to Barbell Row
Barbell Row muscles worked: Back
Form
- 1. Please pull the barbell towards your belly button so that it can go up vertically.
- 2. While bringing your shoulder blades together, naturally pull your elbows and hands.
- 3. While supporting the weight with your back, lower your hands down to below your knees.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to let your elbows flare out.
- 2. Please be careful not to let your back be too upright or move up and down.
- 3. Engage your core to prevent your back from rounding.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Barbell Row, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Barbell Row Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Back, Seated Row or Barbell Row?
Planfit users log Barbell Row more often — 18,910 sessions against 296 for Seated Row. Both train Back, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
What equipment do Seated Row and Barbell Row need?
Seated Row needs bodyweight only, and Barbell Row needs a barbell.
Which is easier to start with?
Seated Row is the easier place to start. Move to Barbell Row once your form holds up.
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