Best Exercises for Muscle Building (2025 Guide)

Top Best Exercises for Muscle Building in 2025

 Core Compound Lifts 

• Deadlift – engages hamstrings, glutes, lower back, lats, traps 
  
  
• Squats (barbell/dumbbell) – targets legs, glutes, lower back 
  
  
• Bench Press (incline/decline) – hits best exercises chest, best exercises lower chest, and triceps
  
  
•  Upper‑Body Muscle Builders

• Best exercises back / lats / traps:

  
  
• Dumbbell row: strengthens middle back, best exercises back.
  
  
• Pull‑ups or pulldowns: engage lats, biceps, traps
  
  
• Shrugs: top exercises for traps—build upper back bulk.
  
  

• Best exercises biceps & top exercises for triceps:

  
  
• Dumbbell biceps curls: classic best exercises biceps option
  
  
• Hammer curls: hits both biceps and forearms 
  
  
• Triceps dips or skull crushers: go-to top exercises for triceps

• Best exercises chest:

  
  
• Dumbbell bench press: core best exercises chest move 
  
  
• Dumbbell flexes: shaping the chest, including best exercises lower chest
  
  
•  Lower‑Body & Core Work
  
  

• Top exercise for legs:

  
  
• Goblet squats or barbell squats: for quads, hamstrings, glutes
  
  
• Deadlifts: double as top exercises for hamstrings and glutes.

• Best exercises glutes:

  
  
• Hip thrusts and deadlifts—strong glute activation 
  
  
  

• Best exercises hamstrings:

  
  
• Romanian or stiff-leg deadlifts: hit the hamstrings hard
  
  

• Best exercises lower abs:

  
  
• Leg raises and hanging knee raises: engage the lower core 
  
  

• Best exercises lower back:

• Back extensions or deadlifts: strengthen and protect the lumbar region 
  
  

•  Home and Dumbbell‑Based Routines

  
  

• Best exercises home & best exercises using dumbbells:

• Dumbbell deadlifts – for the  lower-body move
  
  
• Dumbbell bench press – chest builder
  
  
• Dumbbell row – back strength
  
  
• Dumbbell lunges – targeted leg/glute work
  
  
• Dumbbell curls + skull crushers – biceps and triceps
  
  
• Dumbbell shoulder press or shrugs – upper-body hits
  
  
• Best exercises using body weight:
  
  
• Push-ups, pull-ups, bodyweight squats, lunges, dips, planks 
  
  
• These moves ensure you can build muscle with minimal equipment.
  
  

•  Cardio & Conditioning

  
  
• Top exercise bikes:
  
  
• Stationary or spin bikes offer low-impact cardio while engaging your lower-body muscles and improving endurance.