For biceps growth

Barbell Curl vs Preacher Curl

For biceps growth, the two are close. Preacher curl rates slightly higher: more stretch.

Barbell curl is easier to progress.

Both are good choices that train the biceps the same way, so they swap freely. Rotating between them every few weeks is an easy way to vary your training.

Research score

Target tension

Excellent

Loaded stretch

Fair

Strong

Progression

Excellent

Strong

Low cost

Strong

Good

See the full biceps ranking

What these mean

Target tension.: Whether the muscle you’re training is what gives out first, not your grip, balance or other muscles.
Loaded stretch.: How hard the muscle works while stretched. Training it there is linked to more growth.
Progression.: How easily you can keep adding weight in small steps over months and years.
Low cost.: How easy it is on your joints and recovery, and how quickly you can learn it.

The research score comes from these, scored by hand from the studies. Lifter scores appear once an exercise has 10 ratings. How scores work

When each one fits

Good reasons to choose barbell curl

You want to keep adding weight in small steps
You want something easier on your joints

Good reasons to choose preacher curl

You want more load on the biceps while they’re stretched

Barbell Curl

Preacher Curl

You need

Barbell

EZ bar, bench

Skill

Easy to learn

Type

Isolation

Why they rank where they do

Barbell Curl. The classic heavy curl and easy to load, but the biceps are barely stretched at the bottom.

Preacher Curl. Big stretch, but bouncing out of the bottom is where elbows get tweaked.

Questions

Which is better for biceps growth, barbell curl or preacher curl?

For biceps growth, the two are close. Preacher curl rates slightly higher: more stretch. Barbell curl is easier to progress. Both are good choices that train the biceps the same way, so they swap freely. Rotating between them every few weeks is an easy way to vary your training.

Is barbell curl or preacher curl easier to learn?

About the same: both are easy to learn.

Can you do barbell curl or preacher curl at home?

Barbell curl needs a barbell, so for most people it’s a gym exercise. Preacher curl needs an EZ bar and a bench, so for most people it’s a gym exercise.

Which is easier on the joints, barbell curl or preacher curl?

Barbell curl: it rates Strong for joint and recovery cost in our research rubric, against Good for preacher curl.

More comparisons

Barbell Curl Preacher Curl All biceps exercises

Barbell Curl vs Preacher Curl

For biceps growth, the two are close. Preacher curl rates slightly higher: more stretch.

Barbell curl is easier to progress.

Both are good choices that train the biceps the same way, so they swap freely. Rotating between them every few weeks is an easy way to vary your training.

What these mean

Target tension.: Whether the muscle you’re training is what gives out first, not your grip, balance or other muscles.
Loaded stretch.: How hard the muscle works while stretched. Training it there is linked to more growth.
Progression.: How easily you can keep adding weight in small steps over months and years.
Low cost.: How easy it is on your joints and recovery, and how quickly you can learn it.

The research score comes from these, scored by hand from the studies. Lifter scores appear once an exercise has 10 ratings. How scores work

When each one fits

Good reasons to choose barbell curl

You want to keep adding weight in small steps
You want something easier on your joints

Good reasons to choose preacher curl

You want more load on the biceps while they’re stretched

Barbell Curl

Preacher Curl

You need

Barbell

EZ bar, bench

Skill

Easy to learn

Type

Isolation

Why they rank where they do

Barbell Curl. The classic heavy curl and easy to load, but the biceps are barely stretched at the bottom.

Preacher Curl. Big stretch, but bouncing out of the bottom is where elbows get tweaked.

Questions

Which is better for biceps growth, barbell curl or preacher curl?

Is barbell curl or preacher curl easier to learn?

About the same: both are easy to learn.

Can you do barbell curl or preacher curl at home?

Barbell curl needs a barbell, so for most people it’s a gym exercise. Preacher curl needs an EZ bar and a bench, so for most people it’s a gym exercise.

Which is easier on the joints, barbell curl or preacher curl?

Barbell curl: it rates Strong for joint and recovery cost in our research rubric, against Good for preacher curl.