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Workout Plans

The 12 Best Workout Splits

If you are serious about building muscle and strength, you need a good program. Making things up as you go along will not work! Here are 12 of the best workout splits. Try them all to see which one works for you.
Patrick Dale, PT, ex-Marine

Written by Patrick Dale, PT, ex-Marine

Last Updated onJuly 20, 2020

Best Workout Splits

Best Workout Splits

In strength training, there are lots of different ways to arrange your workouts, and almost everyone who lifts weights is either on the look-out for the perfect workout split or believes they have found it. 

Best Workout Splits: Show
  • Sets, Reps, and Rest Periods
  • 1. The full-body split
  • 2. The upper body/lower body split
  • 3. The push-pull-legs split
  • 4. The agonist and same synergist split
  • 5. The agonist and opposing synergist split
  • 6. The anatomical split
  • 7. The body part split
  • 8. The power building split
  • 9. The AM/PM split
  • 10. The strength sport split
  • 11. The one lift a day split
  • 12. The upper/lower/full-body split
  • Wrapping up

But the reality is, there is no “one size fits all” magic routine that will work for everyone. We’re all individuals with different wants and needs, and that means what works for one person may not work for someone else.

There are a lot of factors that will determine if a workout split is right for you, including:

  • The amount of time you have available to train
  • Your experience
  • How well you recover between workouts
  • Your goals
  • Your weaknesses

Here are 12 tried and tested workout splits for you to try. Consider the pros and cons of each one and then slot your preferred exercises into the one you choose. The exercises are listed for example only – adapt your chosen split so that it’s right for you.

Sets, Reps, and Rest Periods

For your workout to be effective, you need to choose the set and rep range than best matches your training goal. That doesn’t mean you can’t work outside these ranges, and occasionally doing higher or lower reps can be beneficial for keeping your workouts fresh and interesting.

But, for best results, the majority of your training should reflect your current fitness goal.

The accepted rep ranges and recovery periods are:

  • Muscular endurance: 13-20 reps, 30-60 seconds rest between sets
  • Hypertrophy (muscle growth): 6-12 reps, 60-90 seconds rest between sets
  • Strength: 1-5 reps, 3-5 minutes rest between sets
  • Power: 1-5 reps, 3-5 minutes rest between sets

Regarding weight, you should choose a weight that forces you to reach muscular failure somewhere within your selected rep range. For example, for hypertrophy, if you can do 15 reps, the weight is too light, but if you only manage four reps, it’s too heavy. Adjust your weights to ensure you stay within or very close to the appropriate rep range.

1. The full-body split

Some bodybuilders think that full-body splits are only suitable for beginners, but that’s not necessarily the case. In fact, up until the 1940s and 1950s, almost all bodybuilders did full-body workouts.

Golden Era Bodybuilding

Full-body workouts are ideal for exercisers who can’t train more than a couple of times a week. But, on the downside, you won’t be able to train each muscle group with a ton of volume. For older lifters and those who struggle to recover between workouts, less training volume may not be a bad thing.

 Workout 1Workout 2Workout 3
1SquatsLeg pressLunges
2Bench pressChest pressPush-ups
3Seated rowsBent over rowsSingle-arm rows
4Dumbbell shoulder pressBarbell shoulder pressShoulder press machine
5Lat pulldown – wide gripPull-upsLat pulldown – narrow grip
6Leg extensionsLeg curlsCalf raises
7Barbell curlsDumbbell curlsCable curls
8Parallel bar dipsTriceps pushdownsSkull crushers
9PlanksCable crunchesHanging knee raises
1045-degree back extensionsSide bendsCable woodchop
Read also 4-Day Split Workout: 10 Weeks To More Growth and Power.

2. The upper body/lower body split

Upper body/lower body splits are ideal for exercises who, until now, were following a full-body workout plan. This training split allows for increased volume but also provides plenty of recovery between workouts. To avoid boredom, each upper body and lower body workout should be slightly different.

Tom Platz
Tom Platz

On the downside, unless you are prepared to do very long upper body workouts, your upper body won’t receive as much training volume as your legs.

 Upper bodyLower bodyUpper bodyLower body
1Bench pressSquatsInc. DB bench pressDeadlifts
2Pull-upsSplit squatsPulldownsLeg press
3Shoulder pressRomanian deadliftsLateral raisesNordic curls
4Bent over rowsLeg curlsChest supported rowsLeg extensions
5Barbell curlsSeated calf raisesDumbbell curlsStanding calf raises
6Triceps pushdownsAb rolloutsClose grip bench pressWeighted crunches

3. The push-pull-legs split 

The push-pull-legs training split is arguably one of the most popular ways to organize your workouts. It’s been used by thousands of successful bodybuilders including the Austrian Oak Arnold Schwarzenegger.

With this split, you can train each muscle group once per week, or ramp things up and train everything twice. Because the latter option involves six workouts per week, it is probably best left to advanced lifters with excellent recovery abilities.

 PushPullLegs
1Bench pressPull-upsSquats
2Incline dumbbell pressPulldownsLeg press
3Cable flyesSeated rowsRomanian deadlifts
4Shoulder pressPulloversLeg curls
5Lateral raisesFace pullsSeated calf raises
6Triceps kickbacksBarbell curlsStanding calf raises
7Triceps pushdownsPreacher curls 

4. The agonist and same synergist split

In strength training anatomy, the agonist is the main muscle involved in an exercise, and the synergist is a smaller, assistance muscle. For this workout, that means training chest and triceps together, or back and biceps.

The advantage of this method is that the synergist should be well and truly warmed up by the time you get around to training it. But, on the downside, it may also be quite fatigued so you won’t be able to train it as hard as you might otherwise like.

 Chest and tricepsBack and bicepsLegs and shoulders
1Bench pressPull-upsSquats
2Decline bench pressSeated rowsHack squat
3Incline flyesLat pulldownsLeg curls
4Cable skull crushersSingle-arm rowsRomanian deadlifts
5Triceps pushdownsConcentration curlsShoulder press
6Close-grip push-upsEZ bar curlsUpright rows
7  Lateral raises

5. The agonist and opposing synergist split 

For this workout, after you have trained your chosen agonist muscles, you then work the opposing synergist – for example, chest and biceps, and back and triceps. The opposing synergist should be fresh and strong, so you can hammer it with plenty of volume.

Benching Iron
Benching Iron

However, it also means that you’ll end up training your synergists twice a week, once directly and once indirectly. This could lead to over-development and even overuse injuries.

 Chest and biceps Back and triceps Legs and shoulders
1Bench pressPull-upsSquats
2Decline bench pressSeated rowsHack squat
3Incline flyesLat pulldownsLeg curls
4Cable skull crushersSingle-arm rowsReverse hypers  
5Concentration curlsTriceps pushdownsShoulder press
6EZ bar curlsClose-grip push-upsUpright rows
7  Lateral raises

6. The anatomical split  

This split is a favorite of Australian strength coach Ian King. Instead of thinking in terms of muscle groups, exercises are arranged according to their main joint action and plane of movement.

This split is great for exercisers that want to achieve a balance between muscle groups. As an added benefit, it includes two leg workouts, and that’s something most bodybuilders can really benefit from.

 Vertical push & pullLegs – quads dominantHorizontal push & pullLegs – hips dominant
1Barbell push-pressFront squatsChest supported rowsDeadlifts
2Chin-upsBulgarian split squatsBarbell bench pressGood mornings
3Dumbbell shoulder pressLeg extensionsBent over rowsLeg curls
4Lat pulldownsBox jumpsInc. DB bench pressNordic curls
5Triceps pushdownStanding calf raisesDumbbell curlsSeated calf raises
6Barbell reverse curls Concentration curls 

7. The body part split

The body part split involves training just one muscle group per day. If you choose this split, you should find you have plenty of energy and time to really hammer each muscle group into submission.

Phil Heath Bench Press
Phil Heath

But, if you miss a workout, you will have to wait a week before you can train it again, and that could lead to lost muscle size.

Also, for this plan to work, you need to train as many as six times per week. This is a big-time commitment. If you have a habit of missing workouts, this may not be the plan for you. But, if you are happy to go to the gym every day, this split could be just what you want.

 ChestBackShouldersLegsArms
1Inc. DB bench pressPull-upsSeated DB pressSquatsBarbell curls
2Barbell bench pressLat pulldownsShoulder press machineHack squatEZ bar skull crushers
3Decline bench pressT-bar rows  Lateral raisesGood morningsDumbbell curls
4Chest press machineSingle-arm rowsFront raisesLeg curlsTriceps pushdowns
5Cable flyesPullover machineFace pullsHip thrustConcentration curls
6   Seated calf raisesTriceps kickbacks
7   Standing calf raises 

8. The power building split

Power building is a combination of powerlifting and bodybuilding and is designed to increase strength and muscle size in equal measure. Each workout is built around one of the three lifts contested in powerlifting – the squat, bench press, and deadlift.

Benefits Of Deadlifts

With just three sessions per week, this is a great split for busy exercisers who can’t commit to more frequent workouts. But, by focusing on the big three, it’s also a somewhat unbalanced split, as some muscle groups may end up being neglected. This can be avoided by adding a fourth workout that coverers any body parts that are not part of the main three sessions.

 Squat dayBench press dayDeadlift dayAssistance day*
1SquatsBench pressDeficit deadliftsShoulder press
2Leg pressClose grip bench pressBack extensionsFace pulls
3Romanian deadliftsDumbbell flyesNordic leg curlsBarbell curls
4Leg curlsSkull crushersKroc rowsWeighted crunches
5Standing calf raises Lat pulldowns 

*Optional

9. The AM/PM split

This split involves training twice a day. You train a large muscle group in the morning and a smaller muscle group in the evening. This makes good use of your energy and also saves you from having to spend hours in the gym at a time. You’ll also have two post-training meals, which may help kick muscle anabolism up a gear. It’s an excellent option for anyone who drives past their gym on the way to and then from work.

However, working out twice a day means you’ll need to commit a lot of time to training, and you’ll also need to focus on rest and recovery to avoid overtraining.

AM

 Chest and tricepsBack and bicepsLegsShoulders and arms 
1Bench pressPull-upsSquatsPush-press 
2Inc. DB pressLat pulldownsRomanian deadliftSeated DB press 
3Cable crossoverChest supported rowLeg pressLateral raises 
4Push-upsSingle-arm rowsLeg curlsFront raises 

PM

1DipsBarbell curlsSeated calf raisesEZ preacher curls 
2DB overhead extensionsZottman curlsStanding calf raisesSeated dumbbell curls 
3Cable kickbacksConcentration curlsDonkey calf raisesSkull crushers 
4   Triceps pushdowns 

10. The strength sport split

This plan involves aspects of weightlifting, powerlifting, bodybuilding, and strongman, all wrapped into one four-way split workout. If you have no specific training goals or want to develop a decent level of all-round strength, muscle size, and power at the same time, this could be the workout for you.

Thor Bjornsson
Thor Bjornsson – Image via @thorbjornsson Instagram

But, on the downside, doing a little of everything means you’ll never progress as fast as someone who specializes in just one type of training. However, it’s unlikely that your workouts will ever be boring!

 WeightliftingPowerliftingBodybuildingStrongman
1Power cleansSquatsDB bench pressOverhand deadlift
2Push-pressBench press  Lat pulldownsSingle-arm clean and press
3Power snatchesDeadliftLeg pressZercher squat
4Overhead squatsStrict curlsLeg extensionsFarmers walk
5Box jumps DB shoulder pressSled push
6  DB curls 
7  Triceps pushdowns 

11. The one lift a day split

This split is as simple as it sounds; choose one compound exercise and train it hard. The next day, do the same using a different exercise. Train 5-6 days a week, covering your whole body during that time.

With just one exercise per training day to think about, you can give each workout maximum effort. And even with your warm-up and cool-down, you should be in and out of the gym in 40 minutes or less.

This is not the most balanced training approach, and it’s definitely better for strength than size, but if you are short on time, it’s an excellent option.

MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday
DeadliftBench pressPull-upsDeadliftOverhead pressPower cleanRest

12. The upper/lower/full-body split

Do you want to work your entire body twice per week, but only have time to train three times? This workout is the solution. Do a standard upper and lower split and then round out your week with a short full-body program that utilizes different exercises. You can even use different set and rep schemes to add more variety to your training week.

Arnold Doing Deadlift
Arnold Doing Deadlift

On the downside, the full-body workout can be pretty grueling but, if you do it on Friday night or Saturday morning, you’ve got the whole weekend to recover before you need to train again.

 Upper bodyLower bodyFull body
1Pull-upSquatsDumbbell bench press
2Shoulder pressLeg extensionsLeg press
3Bench pressDeadliftsSeated rows
4Bent-over rowLeg curlsRomanian deadlift
5Lateral raisesLungesHandstand push-ups
6Barbell curlsSeated calf raisesPull-ups
7Dips  

Wrapping up

With a whopping 12 different workout splits to choose from, it’s clear that there really can’t be one program to rule them all. Each one has advantages and disadvantages, and the trick is to choose the one that is best for you!

And even if you discover the ideal split for your abilities and circumstances, it won’t stay the best one forever. You may outgrow it and need something that provides more training volume or frequency. Or your circumstances may change so that you cannot train as often as you’d like. Your training goals could change too, maybe away from bodybuilding and more toward powerlifting.

So, by all means fall in love with your split routine, but there is no need to marry it!

Remember too that, for any split to work, you need to stick with it for at least four to six weeks. That’s long enough to assess its worth. If, at the end of that time, you haven’t “clicked” with your new training split, move on and try another.

Finally, the splits and exercises outlined above are only recommendations.  You can (and should) experiment and modify them to find the right one for you.

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Patrick Dale, PT, ex-Marine

Patrick Dale, PT, ex-Marine

Patrick Dale is an ex-British Royal Marine, gym owner, and fitness qualifications tutor and assessor. In addition, Patrick is a freelance writer who has authored three fitness and exercise books, dozens of e-books, thousands of articles, and several fitness videos. He’s not just an armchair fitness expert; Patrick practices what he preaches! He has competed at a high level in numerous sports, including rugby, triathlon, rock climbing, trampolining, powerlifting, and, most recently, stand up paddleboarding. When not lecturing, training, researching, or writing, Patrick is busy enjoying the sunny climate of Cyprus, where he has lived for the last 20-years.

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