10 Best Dumbbell Seated Wrist Curl Alternatives for Grip

Ranked Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up 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. Best match

   Play demonstration

   1. Dumbbell Over Bench Wrist Curl

   95% match

   • Forearms
   • Dumbbell
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   It uses the same equipment and still works the forearms.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Sit on a bench with your forearms resting on the bench and your palms facing up, holding a dumbbell in each hand.
   2. Allow your wrists to hang over the edge of the bench.
   3. Slowly curl your wrists upward, squeezing your forearms at the top of the movement.
   4. Pause for a moment, then slowly 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 Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Primary muscle: forearms, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
2. 

   2. Seated Palm-up Barbell Wrist Curl

   95% match

   • 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 Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Primary muscle: forearms, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
3. Play demonstration

   3. Dumbbell One Arm Wrist Curl

   93% match

   • 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 bench or chair with your feet flat on the ground.
   2. Hold a dumbbell in one hand with an underhand grip, resting your forearm on your thigh.
   3. Allow your wrist to extend, letting the dumbbell roll down towards your fingers.
   4. Slowly curl your wrist back up, bringing the dumbbell towards your forearm.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch to the other hand.

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

   Why this matches

   • Movement: curl, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Primary muscle: forearms, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
4. Play demonstration

   4. Dumbbell Over Bench Neutral Wrist Curl

   91% match

   • 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 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.

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

   Why this matches

   • Movement: curl, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Primary muscle: forearms, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
5. 

   5. Seated Palms-down Barbell Wrist Curl

   91% match

   • 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 Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Primary muscle: forearms, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
6. Play demonstration

   Progression

   6. Dumbbell Over Bench One Arm Wrist Curl

   88% match

   • 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 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 Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Primary muscle: forearms, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
7. 

   7. Seated One-arm Dumbbell Palms-up Wrist Curl

   88% match

   • 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 Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Primary muscle: forearms, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
8. 

   8. Standing Palms-up Barbell Behind The Back Wrist Curl

   86% match

   • Forearms
   • Barbell
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Start by standing straight and holding a barbell behind your glutes at arm's length while using a pronated grip (palms will be facing back away from the glutes) and having your hands shoulder width apart from each other.
   2. You should be looking straight forward while your feet are shoulder width apart from each other. This is the starting position.
   3. While exhaling, slowly elevate the barbell up by curling your wrist in a semi-circular motion towards the ceiling. Note: Your wrist should be the only body part moving for this exercise.
   4. Hold the contraction for a second and lower the barbell back down to the starting position while inhaling.
   5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
   6. When finished, lower the barbell down to the squat rack or the floor by bending the knees. Tip: It is easiest to either pick it up from a squat rack or have a partner hand it to you.

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

   Why this matches

   • Movement: curl, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Primary muscle: forearms, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Body position: standing, not seated
9. Play demonstration

   9. Barbell Palms Up Wrist Curl Over A Bench

   86% match

   • Forearms
   • Barbell
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Sit on a bench with your feet flat on the ground and hold a barbell with an underhand grip, palms facing up.
   2. Rest your forearms on the bench, allowing your wrists to hang off the edge.
   3. Keeping your forearms stationary, exhale and curl your wrists upwards as far as possible.
   4. Hold the contracted position for a brief pause, then inhale and slowly lower the barbell back 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 Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
10. Play demonstration

    10. Dumbbell One Arm Seated Neutral Wrist Curl

    85% match

    • 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 up.
    2. Rest your forearm on your thigh, allowing your wrist to hang off the edge.
    3. Keeping your forearm stationary, curl your wrist upward as far as possible.
    4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your wrist back down to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch to the other hand.

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

    Why this matches

    • Movement: curl, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
    • Primary muscle: forearms, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Palms Up Wrist Curl