10 Alternatives to Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl for Home

The Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl is done seated with dumbbells. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Dumbbell Over Bench Wrist Curl, the Seated Palm-up Barbell Wrist Curl and the Seated Palms-down Barbell Wrist Curl. Two harder versions, the Dumbbell Over Bench One Arm Neutral Wrist Curl and the Dumbbell Over Bench One Arm Wrist Curl, are listed below as progressions rather than swaps.

Updated Ranked by our 12-factor similarity model How it works

Original Exercise: Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl

Primary muscle
Forearms
Equipment
Dumbbell
Difficulty
Beginner
Type
Isolation

Secondary muscles: Forearms

How to perform Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
  1. Sit on a bench with your feet flat on the ground and hold a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing up.
  2. Rest your forearms on the bench, allowing your wrists to hang off the edge.
  3. Keeping your upper arms stationary, exhale and curl the dumbbells up towards your shoulders.
  4. Pause for a moment at the top, then inhale and slowly lower the dumbbells back down to the starting position.
  5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
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Ranked Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl 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. Harder versions are tagged as progressions and kept out of the top spot even when they score higher.

  1. Seated Palm-up Barbell Wrist Curl
    • Forearms
    • Barbell
    • Beginner
    • Isolation

    A good swap when you have a barbell to work with, and it still works the forearms.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Hold a barbell with both hands and your palms facing up; hands spaced about shoulder width.
    2. Place your feet flat on the floor, at a distance that is slightly wider than shoulder width apart.
    3. Lean forward and place your forearms on top of your upper thighs with your palms up. Tip: Make sure that the front of the wrists lay on top of your knees. This will be your starting position.
    4. Lower the bar as far as possible while inhaling and keeping a tight grip.
    5. Now curl bar up as high as possible while flexing the forearms and exhaling. Hold the contraction at the top for a second and Tip: Only the wrist should move.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: curl, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Primary muscle: forearms, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
  2. Seated Palms-down Barbell Wrist Curl
    • Forearms
    • Barbell
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Hold a barbell with both hands and your palms facing down; hands spaced about shoulder width.
    2. Place your feet flat on the floor, at a distance that is slightly wider than shoulder width apart.
    3. Lean forward and place your forearms on top of your upper thighs with your palms down. Tip: Make sure that the back of the wrists lay on top of your knees. This will be your starting position.
    4. Lower the bar as far as possible while inhaling and keeping a tight grip.
    5. Now curl bar up as high as possible while flexing the forearms and exhaling. Hold the contraction at the top for a second and Tip: Only the wrist should move.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: curl, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Primary muscle: forearms, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
  3. Progression

    • Forearms
    • Dumbbell
    • Beginner
    • Isolation

    Pick this when you want a harder single-arm version that still works the forearms.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on a bench with a dumbbell in one hand and your arm extended over the bench, palm facing up.
    2. Keep your upper arm stationary and curl the dumbbell towards your shoulder, keeping your wrist in a neutral position.
    3. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the dumbbell back to the starting position.
    4. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch arms.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: curl, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Primary muscle: forearms, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Forearms
    • Dumbbell
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on a bench with your feet flat on the ground and hold a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing up.
    2. Rest your forearms on your thighs, allowing your wrists to hang off the edge.
    3. Slowly curl your wrists upward, squeezing your forearms at the top of the movement.
    4. Pause for a moment, then lower your wrists back down to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: curl, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Primary muscle: forearms, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
  4. Progression

    • Forearms
    • Dumbbell
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on a bench with your feet flat on the ground and hold a dumbbell in one hand, palm facing down.
    2. Rest your forearm on the bench with your wrist hanging off the edge.
    3. Slowly curl your wrist upwards, bringing the dumbbell towards your forearm.
    4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the dumbbell back down to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch to the other arm.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: curl, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Primary muscle: forearms, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
  5. Seated One-arm Dumbbell Palms-down Wrist Curl
    • Forearms
    • Dumbbell
    • Beginner
    • Isolation

    Pick this when you want to work the forearms one side at a time.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on a flat bench with a dumbbell in your right hand.
    2. Place your feet flat on the floor, at a distance that is slightly wider than shoulder width apart.
    3. Lean forward and place your right forearm on top of your upper right thigh with your palm down. Tip: Make sure that the back of the wrist lies on top of your knees. This will be your starting position.
    4. Lower the dumbbell as far as possible as you keep a tight grip on the dumbbell. Inhale as you perform this movement.
    5. Now curl the dumbbell as high as possible as you contract the forearms and as you exhale. Keep the contraction for a second before you lower again. Tip: The only movement should happen at the wrist.
    6. Perform for the recommended amount of repetitions, switch arms and repeat the movement.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: curl, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Primary muscle: forearms, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
  6. Seated One-arm Dumbbell Palms-up Wrist Curl
    • Forearms
    • Dumbbell
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on a flat bench with a dumbbell in your right hand.
    2. Place your feet flat on the floor, at a distance that is slightly wider than shoulder width apart.
    3. Lean forward and place your right forearm on top of your upper right thigh with your palm up. Tip: Make sure that the front of the wrist lies on top of your knees. This will be your starting position.
    4. Lower the dumbbell as far as possible as you keep a tight grip on the dumbbell. Inhale as you perform this movement.
    5. Now curl the dumbbell as high as possible as you contract the forearms and as you exhale. Keep the contraction for a second before you lower again. Tip: The only movement should happen at the wrist.
    6. Perform for the recommended amount of repetitions, switch arms and repeat the movement.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: curl, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Primary muscle: forearms, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
  7. Seated Two-arm Palms-up Low-pulley Wrist Curl
    • Forearms
    • Cable
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Put a bench in front of a low pulley machine that has a barbell or EZ Curl attachment on it.
    2. Move the bench far enough away so that when you bring the handle to the top of your thighs tension is created on the cable due to the weight stack being moved up.
    3. Now hold the handle with both hands, palms up, using a shoulder-width grip.
    4. Step back and sit on the bench with your feet about shoulder width apart, firmly on the floor.
    5. Lean forward and place the forearms on your thighs with the back of your wrists over your knees. This will be your starting position.
    6. Lower the bar as far as possible, while inhaling and keeping a tight grip.
    7. Now curl the bar up as high as possible while contracting the forearms. Tip: Only the wrist should move; not the forearms.
    8. After a second contraction at the top go back to the starting position as you inhale.
    9. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: curl, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Primary muscle: forearms, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Equipment: a cable, not free weights
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Forearms
    • Dumbbell
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on a bench with your feet flat on the ground and hold a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing down.
    2. Rest your forearms on the bench, allowing your wrists to hang off the edge.
    3. Slowly curl your wrists upward, bringing the dumbbells towards your body.
    4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the dumbbells back down to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: forearms, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl

Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl FAQ

What muscles does Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl work?

The exercise mainly targets the wrist flexors: flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris and palmaris longus, with secondary tension in the brachioradialis and forearm pronators. The neutral grip shifts some load to brachioradialis and reduces extreme ulnar or radial deviation.

What is the best bodyweight alternative to Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl?

A practical bodyweight alternative is isometric palm-press holds against a wall or table: press your palms into the surface while flexing at the wrists and hold 10–30 seconds. That produces targeted wrist flexor tension without external load and preserves joint alignment; cue: keep the elbow fixed and squeeze at peak contraction.

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