10 Best Dumbbell Single Leg Deadlift Alternatives for Glute and Hamstring Strength

The Dumbbell Single Leg Deadlift is done standing with dumbbells. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Single Leg Bridge With Outstretched Leg, the Leg Lift and the Single Leg Glute Bridge.

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

Original Exercise: Dumbbell Single Leg Deadlift

Dumbbell Single Leg DeadliftPlay demonstration
Primary muscle
Glutes
Equipment
Dumbbell
Difficulty
Intermediate
Type
Compound

Secondary muscles: Hamstrings, Lower Back

How to perform Dumbbell Single Leg Deadlift
  1. Stand with your feet hip-width apart, holding a dumbbell in your right hand.
  2. Shift your weight onto your left leg and lift your right foot slightly off the ground.
  3. Keeping your back straight, hinge forward at the hips and lower the dumbbell towards the ground.
  4. At the same time, extend your right leg straight behind you, maintaining a slight bend in your left knee.
  5. Lower the dumbbell until your torso and right leg are parallel to the ground.
  6. Pause for a moment, then engage your glutes and hamstrings to return to the starting position.
  7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch sides.
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Ranked Dumbbell Single Leg Deadlift Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Dumbbell Single Leg Deadlift 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.

  1. Kick Out SitPlay demonstration

    1. Kick Out Sit

    74% match
    • Hamstrings
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    A looser match: it works the hamstrings rather than the glutes.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on the edge of a bench or chair with your feet flat on the ground and your knees bent at a 90-degree angle.
    2. Lean back slightly and place your hands on the edge of the bench or chair for support.
    3. Engaging your hamstrings, lift your feet off the ground and extend your legs straight out in front of you.
    4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly bend your knees and bring your feet back towards your body.
    5. 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: hamstrings, not glutes
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Dumbbell Single Leg Deadlift
  2. Best match
    Single Leg Bridge With Outstretched LegPlay demonstration

    2. Single Leg Bridge With Outstretched Leg

    71% 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
    1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
    2. Extend one leg straight out in front of you.
    3. Engage your glutes and lift your hips off the ground, forming a straight line from your knees to your shoulders.
    4. Hold for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your hips back down to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch legs.

    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 Dumbbell Single Leg Deadlift
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: lying on your back, not standing
  3. Single Leg Platform SlidePlay demonstration

    3. Single Leg Platform Slide

    69% match
    • Hamstrings
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Start by standing with one foot on a platform or slide board.
    2. Bend your knee slightly and slide the foot on the platform backward, extending your leg.
    3. Keep your core engaged and maintain a straight posture throughout the movement.
    4. Slowly return to the starting position by sliding your foot back to the initial position.
    5. Repeat the movement for the desired number of repetitions, then switch legs.

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

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: hamstrings, not glutes
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Dumbbell Single Leg Deadlift
  4. Moving Claw Series

    4. Moving Claw Series

    68% match
    • Hamstrings
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. This move helps prepare your running form to help you excel at sprinting. As you run, be sure to flex the knee, aiming to kick your glutes as the hip extends.
    2. Reload the quad as the leg moves back forward, attacking the ground on the next step.
    3. Ensure that as you run, you block with the arms, punching through in a rapid 1-2 motion.

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

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: hamstrings, not glutes
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Dumbbell Single Leg Deadlift
  5. Leg Lift

    5. Leg Lift

    59% match
    • Glutes
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. While standing up straight with both feet next to each other at around shoulder width, grab a sturdy surface such as the sides of a squat rack or the top of a chair to brace yourself and keep balance.
    2. With or without an ankle weight, lift one leg behind you as if performing a leg curl but standing up while keeping the other leg straight. Breathe out as you perform this movement.
    3. Slowly bring the raised leg back to the floor as you breathe in.
    4. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
    5. Repeat the movement with the opposite leg.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps on each side, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Dumbbell Single Leg Deadlift
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: kneeling, not standing
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Dumbbell Single Leg Deadlift
  6. Single Leg Glute Bridge

    6. Single Leg Glute Bridge

    56% match
    • Glutes
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lay on the floor with your feet flat and knees bent.
    2. Raise one leg off of the ground, pulling the knee to your chest. This will be your starting position.
    3. Execute the movement by driving through the heel, extending your hip upward and raising your glutes off of the ground.
    4. Extend as far as possible, pause and then return to the starting position.

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

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: glutes, the same as the Dumbbell Single Leg Deadlift
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: lying on your back, not standing
  7. Glute Bridge MarchPlay demonstration

    7. Glute Bridge March

    53% match
    • Glutes
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
    2. Engage your glutes and lift your hips off the ground, forming a straight line from your knees to your shoulders.
    3. While keeping your hips lifted, lift one foot off the ground and bring your knee towards your chest.
    4. Lower your foot back to the ground and repeat the movement with the other leg.
    5. Continue alternating legs in a marching motion while maintaining the bridge position.
    6. 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 Dumbbell Single Leg Deadlift
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: lying on your back, not standing
  8. Reverse Hyper On Flat BenchPlay demonstration

    8. Reverse Hyper On Flat Bench

    53% match
    • Glutes
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie face down on a flat bench with your hips at the edge and your legs hanging off the bench.
    2. Hold onto the bench for stability.
    3. Keeping your legs straight, raise them up towards the ceiling as high as you can.
    4. Squeeze your glutes at the top of the movement.
    5. Slowly lower your legs back down to the starting position.
    6. 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 Dumbbell Single Leg Deadlift
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: lying face down, not standing
  9. Glute Bridge Two Legs On BenchPlay demonstration

    9. Glute Bridge Two Legs On Bench

    52% match
    • Glutes
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on the edge of a bench with your back against it and your feet flat on the ground.
    2. Place your hands on the bench beside your hips for support.
    3. 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.
    4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your hips back down to the starting position.
    5. 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 Dumbbell Single Leg Deadlift
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: lying on your back, not standing
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Dumbbell Single Leg Deadlift
  10. Twist Hip LiftPlay demonstration

    10. Twist Hip Lift

    52% match
    • Glutes
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
    2. Place your hands by your sides for support.
    3. Engage your glutes and lift your hips off the ground, forming a straight line from your knees to your shoulders.
    4. While keeping your hips lifted, twist your lower body to the right side, bringing your knees towards the ground.
    5. Return to the starting position and repeat the twist to the left side.
    6. 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 Dumbbell Single Leg Deadlift
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: lying on your back, not standing

Why You Might Need a Dumbbell Single Leg Deadlift Alternative

The Dumbbell Single Leg Deadlift stops being useful once your grip gives out before your glutes do, and a barbell removes that ceiling by putting the load in both hands. Others land here because balancing on one leg while hinging forward is the hard part, not the muscles worked, and want both feet on the floor while they learn the hinge first. A home gym with dumbbells but no barbell needs a different route, and a kettlebell trades straight in for the dumbbell: it is the same one-leg hinge with a different handle in your hand. What stays the same across these swaps is the forward hinge at the hips and the stretch through the glutes and hamstrings; what changes is how much weight you hold, how much balance it demands, and whether one leg or both stay planted.

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Similarity scores compare exercise metadata such as movement pattern, muscles, equipment and body position. They are not a safety rating or a check that you own the equipment. Learn about our methodology