10 Best Barbell Glute Bridge Alternatives for Home & Gym
The Barbell Glute Bridge is done lying on your back with a barbell. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Glute Bridge Two Legs On Bench, the Rear Decline Bridge and the Bench Hip Extension.
Updated Ranked by our 12-factor similarity model How it works
Original Exercise: Barbell Glute Bridge
- Primary muscle
- Glutes
- Equipment
- Barbell
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Type
- Compound
Secondary muscles: Hamstrings, Lower Back
How to perform Barbell Glute Bridge
- Start by lying flat on your back on the ground with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
- Place a barbell across your hips, holding it securely with both hands.
- Engage your glutes and core muscles, then lift your hips off the ground until your body forms a straight line from your knees to your shoulders.
- Pause for a moment at the top, squeezing your glutes.
- Slowly lower your hips back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Ranked Barbell Glute Bridge Alternatives
10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Barbell Glute Bridge on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Open "How to perform this exercise" on a card for the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.
Best match 1. Glute Bridge Two Legs On Bench
81% match- Glutes
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
Use this when you have nothing to train with, because it works the glutes with bodyweight alone.
How to perform this exercise
- Sit on the edge of a bench with your back against it and your feet flat on the ground.
- Place your hands on the bench beside your hips for support.
- Engage your glutes and hamstrings, then lift your hips off the bench until your body forms a straight line from your knees to your shoulders.
- Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your hips back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Barbell Glute Bridge
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Barbell Glute Bridge
2. Rear Decline Bridge
80% match- Glutes
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Lie on your back with your feet flat on the ground and your knees bent.
- Place your arms by your sides with your palms facing down.
- Engage your glutes and hamstrings, and lift your hips off the ground until your body forms a straight line from your knees to your shoulders.
- Hold this position for a few seconds, then slowly lower your hips back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Barbell Glute Bridge
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Barbell Glute Bridge
3. Bench Hip Extension
79% match- Glutes
- Bodyweight
- Beginner
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Sit on a bench with your back against the bench and your feet flat on the ground.
- Place your hands on the bench for support.
- Engage your glutes and hamstrings, then lift your hips off the bench until your body forms a straight line from your knees to your shoulders.
- Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your hips back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Barbell Glute Bridge
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Barbell Glute Bridge
- Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Barbell Glute Bridge

4. Butt Lift (Bridge)
79% match- Glutes
- Bodyweight
- Beginner
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Lie flat on the floor on your back with the hands by your side and your knees bent. Your feet should be placed around shoulder width. This will be your starting position.
- Pushing mainly with your heels, lift your hips off the floor while keeping your back straight. Breathe out as you perform this part of the motion and hold at the top for a second.
- Slowly go back to the starting position as you breathe in.
Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Barbell Glute Bridge
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Barbell Glute Bridge
5. Pelvic Tilt Into Bridge
78% match- Glutes
- Bodyweight
- Beginner
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
- Place your arms by your sides with your palms facing down.
- Engage your glutes and core muscles.
- Tilt your pelvis upward, lifting your hips off the ground.
- Hold the bridge position for a few seconds.
- Slowly lower your hips back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Barbell Glute Bridge
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Barbell Glute Bridge
6. Low Glute Bridge On Floor
78% match- Glutes
- Bodyweight
- Beginner
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
- Place your arms by your sides, palms facing down.
- Engage your glutes and core, then lift your hips off the ground until your body forms a straight line from your knees to your shoulders.
- Pause for a moment at the top, squeezing your glutes.
- Slowly lower your hips back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Barbell Glute Bridge
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Barbell Glute Bridge
7. Glute Bridge March
75% match- Glutes
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
Pick this when you want to work the glutes one side at a time.
How to perform this exercise
- Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
- Engage your glutes and lift your hips off the ground, forming a straight line from your knees to your shoulders.
- While keeping your hips lifted, lift one foot off the ground and bring your knee towards your chest.
- Lower your foot back to the ground and repeat the movement with the other leg.
- Continue alternating legs in a marching motion while maintaining the bridge position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Barbell Glute Bridge
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Barbell Glute Bridge
8. Twist Hip Lift
75% match- Glutes
- Bodyweight
- Beginner
- Isolation
How to perform this exercise
- Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
- Place your hands by your sides for support.
- Engage your glutes and lift your hips off the ground, forming a straight line from your knees to your shoulders.
- While keeping your hips lifted, twist your lower body to the right side, bringing your knees towards the ground.
- Return to the starting position and repeat the twist to the left side.
- Continue alternating twists for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Barbell Glute Bridge
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Barbell Glute Bridge
9. Reverse Hyper On Flat Bench
74% match- Glutes
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Lie face down on a flat bench with your hips at the edge and your legs hanging off the bench.
- Hold onto the bench for stability.
- Keeping your legs straight, raise them up towards the ceiling as high as you can.
- Squeeze your glutes at the top of the movement.
- Slowly lower your legs back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Barbell Glute Bridge
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: lying face down, not lying on your back
10. Reverse Plank With Leg Lift
67% match- Glutes
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Sit on the ground with your legs extended in front of you and your hands resting on the ground behind you, fingers pointing towards your feet.
- Press through your hands and lift your hips off the ground, coming into a reverse plank position.
- Engage your core and lift one leg off the ground, extending it straight up towards the ceiling.
- Hold for a moment, then lower your leg back down.
- Repeat with the other leg.
- Continue alternating legs for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Barbell Glute Bridge
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: inverted, not lying on your back
Barbell Glute Bridge FAQ
What muscles does Barbell Glute Bridge work?
The barbell glute bridge primarily targets the gluteus maximus through horizontal hip extension; hamstrings and adductors act as synergists while the erector spinae and core stabilize the lumbar spine. Cue: drive the hips up with the heels, squeeze the glutes at lockout, and keep the ribs down to maximize glute activation.
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