Liftworthy
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Liftworthy

Every exercise ranked by research, by lifters and by results. Find what’s S-tier for your goal, then train it.

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Explore/Biceps

Best exercises for

Biceps

Every curl worth doing, and a few that aren’t.

Live ranking · updated by evidence & ratings

Biceps workout My tier list
S
Bayesian Cable Curl
Machine Preacher Curl
Incline Dumbbell Curl
A
Cable Curl
EZ-Bar Curl
Preacher Curl
Rope Hammer Curl
Barbell Curl
Dumbbell Curl
Concentration Curl
Spider Curl
B
Cross-Body Hammer Curl
Zottman Curl
Hammer Curl
High Cable Curl
Chin-Up
Drag Curl
C
Reverse Curl
Band Curl
D
—
F
—

Full ranking

  1. 1S
    Bayesian Cable Curl
    Cable
    No ratings yet
    95
    Research
    Lifters
  2. 2S
    Machine Preacher Curl
    Machine
    No ratings yet
    94
    Research
    Lifters
  3. 3S
    Incline Dumbbell Curl
    Dumbbell
    No ratings yet
    85
    Research
    Lifters
  4. 4A
    Cable Curl
    Cable
    No ratings yet
    83
    Research
    Lifters
  5. 5A
    EZ-Bar Curl
    Barbell
    No ratings yet
    81
    Research
    Lifters
  6. 6A
    Preacher Curl
    Barbell
    No ratings yet
    79
    Research
    Lifters
  7. 7A
    Rope Hammer Curl
    Cable
    No ratings yet
    79
    Research
    Lifters
  8. 8A
    Barbell Curl
    Barbell
    No ratings yet
    76
    Research
    Lifters
  9. 9A
    Dumbbell Curl
    Dumbbell
    No ratings yet
    76
    Research
    Lifters
  10. 10A
    Concentration Curl
    Dumbbell
    No ratings yet
    71
    Research
    Lifters
  11. 11A
    Spider Curl
    Dumbbell
    No ratings yet
    70
    Research
    Lifters
  12. 12B
    Cross-Body Hammer Curl
    Dumbbell
    No ratings yet
    69
    Research
    Lifters
  13. 13B
    Zottman Curl
    Dumbbell
    No ratings yet
    69
    Research
    Lifters
  14. 14B
    Hammer Curl
    Dumbbell
    No ratings yet
    68
    Research
    Lifters
  15. 15B
    High Cable Curl
    Cable
    No ratings yet
    68
    Research
    Lifters
  16. 16B
    Chin-Up
    Bodyweight
    No ratings yet
    61
    Research
    Lifters
  17. 17B
    Drag Curl
    Barbell
    No ratings yet
    56
    Research
    Lifters
  18. 18C
    Reverse Curl
    Barbell
    No ratings yet
    54
    Research
    Lifters
  19. 19C
    Band Curl
    Band
    No ratings yet
    42
    Research
    Lifters

From the research

1.8×more biceps growth when lifters focused on squeezing the muscle instead of just moving the weight.Schoenfeld et al., 2018 · 30 untrained men; 8 weeks.

What is the best biceps exercise?

Right now Bayesian Cable Curl ranks first, with an overall score of 95 from the research rubric. It’s followed by Machine Preacher Curl and Incline Dumbbell Curl. The best choice for you depends on your equipment and how it feels on your joints, which is why every exercise links to alternatives.

Why it ranks: Arm behind the body puts the biceps under load in its longest position.

How these scores are calculated →