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Home » Exercise Guides » Shoulders
Fact Checked
Fact Checked
This article was written by one of our team of experienced writers, and fact-checked by our experts or our editors. The numbers in parentheses (e.g., 1, 2, 3, etc.) throughout the article are reference links to peer-reviewed studies.
Our team of experts includes a board-certified physician, nutritionists, dietitians, certified personal trainers, strength training experts, and exercise specialists.
Read Our Editorial Process

Dumbbell Front Raise: Build Strong Deltoids & Upper Chest

The dumbbell front raise is one of the most commonly utilized shoulder isolation exercises that is used for building muscle mass. In this guide we've explained how to do it with tips, variations, and more.

Written by Matthew Magnante, ACE

Last Updated on11 August, 2024 | 5:24 AM EDT

Ask Question?

For many, the front delts are an overdeveloped muscle group and either don’t need much or any extra work because they’re involved in essentially all pressing exercises. 

But for those who feel their front delts need a little more work, the dumbbell front raise is usually the go-to movement. 

In this guide, we’ve explained how to do it with tips, variations, and more. 

Dumbbell Front Raise Details
Basic Information
Body Part
Shoulders
Primary Muscles
Anterior Deltoids, Deltoids, Trapezius, Upper Pectorals
Secondary Muscles
Core Muscles, Deltoid (Anterior), Deltoid (Lateral), Pectoralis Major (Clavicular Head), Serratus Anterior, Supraspinatus
Equipment
Dumbbells
Exercise Characteristics
Exercise Type
Strength
Movement Pattern
Push
Force Type
Concentric
Unilateral/Bilateral
Unilateral
Compound/Isolation
Isolation
Bodyweight Exercise
No
Training Parameters
Difficulty Level
Intermediate
Target Training Goals
Hypertrophy
Suitable Workout Phases
Main workout
Risk Level
Low
Weight Category
Light (e.g., light dumbbells, medicine balls)
Recommended Rep Ranges
GoalRep Range
Strength6-8
Hypertrophy8-12
Endurance12-15
Power4-6
Muscular endurance12-20
Stability core8-12
Flexibility mobility8-12
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Muscles Worked

Front raises are almost purely an anterior deltoids focused exercise. However, other muscles are involved in the movement.

Deltoid anterior

The deltoid muscles connect the arm to the trunk of the body and allow us to move the ball and socket shoulder joint freely. Three heads make the shoulder muscles – anterior, lateral, and posterior. Anterior delts move the arm forward and up (e.g., dumbbell front raise). 

Pectoralis Major Clavicular Head

The pectoralis chest muscles are composed of various heads that initiate a separate function. The upper clavicular fibers provide flexion of the extended arm like reaching overhead.  

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How To Do The Dumbbell Front Raise

This is a rather simple exercise but to ensure you do it correctly, we’ve provided step-by-step exercise instructions. 

  1. While standing, hold the dumbbells by your sides using a neutral/hammer grip.
  2. With the elbows slightly bent or extended, raise the dumbbells up in front of you until your hands are just above shoulder height. 
  3. Lower the dumbbells back down and repeat. 

Here’s a video example…

Dumbbell front raise tips

  • Choose a challenging weight that you can lift without having to swing it. 
  • Advanced lifters are better able to utilize momentum to overload the front delts further. 
  • You can perform the exercise using both arms at the same time although it’s very common to do the alternating variation.  
  • Using a neutral grip is better for the health of the shoulders. The pronated or overhand grip is more likely to cause internal rotation of the shoulder which is not ideal. 

Related: Comprehensive Guide For Building Cannonball Deltoids

Dumbbell Front Raise Variations:

Here are three variations of this exercise that we recommend. 

1. Barbell front raise

Using a barbell for any exercise usually means that you can lift more weight overall. So you can really overload the front deltoids and build strength that will carry over into building muscle. 

We recommend using a fixed barbell which is much shorter than an Olympic or standard barbell. 

Here’s an article on barbell weights that we think you’ll enjoy. 

2. Cable front raise

Cables are a superior tool for shoulder isolation exercises such as the front raises, lateral raise, and rear delt raise. That’s because the constant tension of the cables keeps the shoulders in a stretched position 

But to maximize this benefit, you must position yourself appropriately. 

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To do this, you’ll want to first attach a single-grip handle to the cable machine. Then, you’ll set up as you normally would by grabbing the handle by your hip.

Next, you want to walk forward until you feel a slight stretch in your front delts and then perform the front raise as you normally would.

Here’s a visual reference…

3. Incline front raise 

When you do this using dumbbells or cables… it doesn’t necessarily matter. But doing the front raise on an incline bench places your shoulders under a similar stretch similar to the cables.

You’ll have to adjust the bench to find an ideal incline angle but the lower the bench, the more stretch you’ll get on the shoulders. 

Avoid this exercise if you have shoulder issues though as it can place a lot of strain on the area. 

How To Incorporate The Dumbbell Front Raise Into Your Training Routine

Because the dumbbell front raise is a shoulder movement, it just makes sense to do it alongside your other shoulder exercises. 

Keep in mind though that bench pressing, shoulder pressing, and any type of press heavily involves the front delts. So, you may not need to do many sets and reps. 

You’ll have to look at your front delts and determine whether or not it needs more work, although many times, it’s overdeveloped especially compared to the rear and side delts. It’s all about balance. 

But 

Read this Head by Head Guide to Deltoid Training for more information on properly training the shoulder muscles. 

Wrapping Up

The dumbbell front raise is a staple isolation exercise for working the anterior deltoids and we have a feeling it’ll never go out of style – as this exercise was used by the Golden Era legends and well before that too.

Again, not everyone will need to isolate the front delts but for those who do, we hope this guide was helpful.  

Interested in measuring your progress? Check out our strength standards for Bench Press, Dumbbell Front Raise, Shoulder Press, and more.


If you have any questions about this article, please feel free to contact Matthew Magnante by leaving a comment below.

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Matthew Magnante, ACE

Matthew Magnante, ACE

Matthew is an ACE (American Council On Exercise) certified fitness professional who has had a passion for fitness since elementary school and continues to research and learn how to build muscle effectively through training and diet. He also loves to help others to achieve their fitness goals and spread the knowledge where needed. Matthew's other passions include learning about mindfulness, strolling through nature, traveling, and always working to improve overall.

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