10 Best Circus Bell Alternatives for Shoulder Strength

The Circus Bell is done standing. Ranked closest by our scoring: Car Drivers, the Weighted Kneeling Step With Swing and the Rack Delivery.

Circus Bell

Each substitute is scored on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. Read how we rank alternatives

How to Do the Circus Bell

The steps for the Circus Bell itself, so you can judge how close each substitute below really is.

Delts, with forearms, glutes, hamstrings, lower back, traps, triceps · Other · Advanced · Compound

  1. The circus bell is an oversized dumbbell with a thick handle. Begin with the dumbbell between your feet, and grip the handle with both hands.
  2. Clean the dumbbell by extending through your hips and knees to deliver the implement to the desired shoulder, letting go with the extra hand.
  3. Ensure that you get one of the dumbbell heads behind the shoulder to keep from being thrown off balance. To raise it overhead, dip by flexing the knees, and the drive upwards as you extend the dumbbell overhead, leaning slightly away from it as you do so.
  4. Carefully guide the bell back to the floor, keeping it under control as much as possible. It is best to perform this event on a thick rubber mat to prevent damage to the floor.

The 10 Best Circus Bell Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Circus Bell on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Cards with a "How to perform it" link open to show the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.

Each link re-ranks the list below for the kit it names. Pick one to hide the substitutes you cannot set up.

  1. Car Drivers

    1. Car Drivers

    93% match

    Delts · Intermediate · Compound

    Pick this when you want an easier version that still works the delts.

    • Barbell
    How to perform it
    1. While standing upright, hold a barbell plate in both hands at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions. Your palms should be facing each other and your arms should be extended straight out in front of you. This will be your starting position.
    2. Initiate the movement by rotating the plate as far to one side as possible. Use the same type of movement you would use to turn a steering wheel to one side.
    3. Reverse the motion, turning it all the way to the opposite side.
    4. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Circus Bell
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Circus Bell
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Circus Bell
  5. Single-arm Linear Jammer

    5. Single-arm Linear Jammer

    85% match

    Delts · Advanced · Compound

    It still works the delts, through a different movement.

    • Barbell
    How to perform it
    1. Position a bar into a landmine or securely anchor it in a corner. Load the bar to an appropriate weight.
    2. Raise the bar from the floor, taking it to your shoulders with one or both hands. Adopt a wide stance. This will be your starting position.
    3. Perform the movement by extending the elbow, pressing the weight up. Move explosively, extending the hips and knees fully to produce maximal force.
    4. Return to the starting position.

    Sets and reps: 3 to 5 sets of 5 to 8 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Circus Bell
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Circus Bell
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Circus Bell

Circus Bell FAQ

What muscles does Circus Bell work?

The Circus Bell primarily targets the deltoids, especially the anterior and lateral heads, while recruiting the upper trapezius, triceps, and core stabilizers. It uses an overhead or angled pressing pattern that loads shoulder flexion and abduction, so scapular control matters for efficient force transfer.

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