For biceps growth

Cross-Body Hammer Curl vs Preacher Curl

For biceps growth, preacher curl rates well ahead on our research criteria: more of the work on the biceps, more stretch.

Cross-body hammer curl is easier on the joints.

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.

#12

of 19

Cross-Body Hammer Curl

Research score

Target tension

Strong

Excellent

Loaded stretch

Good

Strong

Progression

Good

Strong

Low cost

Excellent

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 cross-body hammer curl

You train at home
You want something easier on your joints
One side is weaker than the other

Good reasons to choose preacher curl

You want the biceps to do the work, not other muscles
You want more load on the biceps while they’re stretched
You want to keep adding weight in small steps

Cross-Body Hammer Curl

Preacher Curl

You need

Dumbbells

EZ bar, bench

Skill

Easy to learn

Type

Isolation

One side at a time

Yes

Why they rank where they do

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

Questions

Which is better for biceps growth, cross-body hammer curl or preacher curl?

For biceps growth, preacher curl rates well ahead on our research criteria: more of the work on the biceps, more stretch. Cross-body hammer curl is easier on the joints. 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 cross-body hammer curl or preacher curl easier to learn?

About the same: both are easy to learn.

Can you do cross-body hammer curl or preacher curl at home?

Cross-body hammer curl needs dumbbells, so a home gym covers it. Preacher curl needs an EZ bar and a bench, so for most people it’s a gym exercise.

Which is easier on the joints, cross-body hammer curl or preacher curl?

Cross-body hammer curl: it rates Excellent for joint and recovery cost in our research rubric, against Good for preacher curl.

More comparisons

Cross-Body Hammer Curl Preacher Curl All biceps exercises

Cross-Body Hammer Curl vs Preacher Curl

For biceps growth, preacher curl rates well ahead on our research criteria: more of the work on the biceps, more stretch.

Cross-body hammer curl is easier on the joints.

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 cross-body hammer curl

You train at home
You want something easier on your joints
One side is weaker than the other

Good reasons to choose preacher curl

You want the biceps to do the work, not other muscles
You want more load on the biceps while they’re stretched
You want to keep adding weight in small steps

Cross-Body Hammer Curl

Preacher Curl

You need

Dumbbells

EZ bar, bench

Skill

Easy to learn

Type

Isolation

One side at a time

Yes

Why they rank where they do

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

Questions

Which is better for biceps growth, cross-body hammer curl or preacher curl?

Is cross-body hammer curl or preacher curl easier to learn?

About the same: both are easy to learn.

Can you do cross-body hammer curl or preacher curl at home?

Cross-body hammer curl needs dumbbells, so a home gym covers it. Preacher curl needs an EZ bar and a bench, so for most people it’s a gym exercise.

Which is easier on the joints, cross-body hammer curl or preacher curl?

Cross-body hammer curl: it rates Excellent for joint and recovery cost in our research rubric, against Good for preacher curl.