10 Best Front Cable Raise Alternatives for When You Can't Use Cables

Ranked Front Cable Raise Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Front Cable Raise 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. Best match

   

   1. Front Plate Raise

   88% match

   • Delts
   • Other
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   Pick this when you want to work the delts with more balance to manage.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. While standing straight, 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 and locked with a slight bend at the elbows and the plate should be down near your waist in front of you as far as you can go. Tip: The arms will remain in this position throughout the exercise. This will be your starting position.
   2. Slowly raise the plate as you exhale until it is a little above shoulder level. Hold the contraction for a second. Tip: make sure that you do not swing the weight or bend at the elbows. Your torso should remain stationary throughout the movement as well.
   3. As you inhale, slowly lower the plate back down to the starting position.
   4. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Movement: raise, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Front Cable Raise
2. Play demonstration

   2. Weighted Front Raise

   88% match

   • Delts
   • Weighted
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing your thighs.
   2. Keeping your arms straight, exhale and lift the dumbbells in front of you until they are at shoulder level.
   3. Pause for a moment at the top, then inhale and slowly lower the dumbbells back down to the starting position.
   4. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Movement: raise, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Equipment: free weights, not a cable
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Front Cable Raise
3. 

   3. Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise

   88% match

   • Delts
   • Cable
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

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

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Start by standing to the right side of a low pulley row. Use your left hand to come across the body and grab a single handle attached to the low pulley with a pronated grip (palms facing down). Rest your arm in front of you. Your right hand should grab the machine for better support and balance.
   2. Make sure that your back is erect and your feet are shoulder width apart from each other. This is the starting position.
   3. Begin to use the left hand and come across your body out until it is elevated to shoulder height while exhaling.
   4. Feel the contraction at the top for a second and begin to slowly lower the handle back down to the original starting position while inhaling.
   5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
   6. Switch arms and repeat the exercise.

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

   Why this matches

   • Movement: raise, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Equipment: a cable, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Front Cable Raise
4. 

   4. Cable Seated Lateral Raise

   88% match

   • Delts
   • Cable
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   The same equipment, done seated instead.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand in the middle of two low pulleys that are opposite to each other and place a flat bench right behind you (in perpendicular fashion to you; the narrow edge of the bench should be the one behind you). Select the weight to be used on each pulley.
   2. Now sit at the edge of the flat bench behind you with your feet placed in front of your knees.
   3. Bend forward while keeping your back flat and rest your torso on the thighs.
   4. Have someone give you the single handles attached to the pulleys. Grasp the left pulley with the right hand and the right pulley with the left after you select your weight. The pulleys should run under your knees and your arms will be extended with palms facing each other and a slight bend at the elbows. This will be the starting position.
   5. While keeping the arms stationary, raise the upper arms to the sides until they are parallel to the floor and at shoulder height. Exhale during the execution of this movement and hold the contraction for a second.
   6. Slowly lower your arms to the starting position as you inhale.
   7. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions. Tip: Maintain upper arms perpendicular to torso and a fixed elbow position (10 degree to 30 degree angle) throughout exercise.

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

   Why this matches

   • Movement: raise, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Equipment: a cable, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Body position: seated, not standing
5. Play demonstration

   5. Lever Lateral Raise

   85% match

   • Delts
   • Lever
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   A good swap when you have a lever machine to work with, and it still works the delts.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Adjust the seat height and position yourself on the machine with your back against the pad.
   2. Grasp the handles with an overhand grip and keep your arms straight.
   3. Exhale and raise your arms out to the sides until they are parallel to the floor.
   4. Pause for a moment at the top, then inhale and slowly lower your arms 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

   • Movement: raise, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Equipment: a machine, not a cable
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Front Cable Raise
6. Play demonstration

   6. Band Front Raise

   84% match

   • Delts
   • Band
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

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

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold the band in front of your thighs with your palms facing down.
   2. Keep your arms straight and slowly raise them forward until they are parallel to the ground.
   3. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your arms back down to the starting position.
   4. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Movement: raise, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Equipment: a band, not a cable
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Front Cable Raise
7. 

   7. Front Dumbbell Raise

   84% match

   • Delts
   • Dumbbell
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   A good swap when you have dumbbells to work with, and it still works the delts.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Pick a couple of dumbbells and stand with a straight torso and the dumbbells on front of your thighs at arms length with the palms of the hand facing your thighs. This will be your starting position.
   2. While maintaining the torso stationary (no swinging), lift the left dumbbell to the front with a slight bend on the elbow and the palms of the hands always facing down. Continue to go up until you arm is slightly above parallel to the floor. Exhale as you execute this portion of the movement and pause for a second at the top. Inhale after the second pause.
   3. Now lower the dumbbell back down slowly to the starting position as you simultaneously lift the right dumbbell.
   4. Continue alternating in this fashion until all of the recommended amount of repetitions have been performed for each arm.

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

   Why this matches

   • Movement: raise, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Equipment: free weights, not a cable
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Front Cable Raise
8. 

   8. Front Two-dumbbell Raise

   84% match

   • Delts
   • Dumbbell
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Pick a couple of dumbbells and stand with a straight torso and the dumbbells on front of your thighs at arms length with the palms of the hand facing your thighs. This will be your starting position.
   2. While maintaining the torso stationary (no swinging), lift the dumbbells to the front with a slight bend on the elbow and the palms of the hands always facing down. Continue to go up until you arms are slightly above parallel to the floor. Exhale as you execute this portion of the movement and pause for a second at the top.
   3. As you inhale, lower the dumbbells back down slowly to the starting position.
   4. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Movement: raise, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Equipment: free weights, not a cable
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Front Cable Raise
9. Play demonstration

   9. Smith Upright Row

   84% match

   • Delts
   • Smith-machine
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, facing the smith machine.
   2. Grasp the barbell with an overhand grip, hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
   3. Keep your back straight and your core engaged.
   4. Pull the barbell up towards your chin, leading with your elbows.
   5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the barbell 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: delts, the same as the Front Cable Raise
   • Equipment: a machine, not a cable
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Front Cable Raise
10. 

    10. Standing Dumbbell Straight-arm Front Delt Raise Above Head

    84% match

    • Delts
    • Dumbbell
    • Intermediate
    • Isolation

    How to perform this exercise

    1. Hold the dumbbells in front of your thighs, palms facing your thighs.
    2. Keep your arms straight with a slight bend at the elbows but keep them locked. This will be your starting position.
    3. Raise the dumbbells in a semicircular motion to arm's length overhead as you exhale.
    4. Slowly return to the starting position using the same path as you inhale.
    5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

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

    Why this matches

    • Movement: raise, the same as the Front Cable Raise
    • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Front Cable Raise
    • Equipment: free weights, not a cable
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Front Cable Raise
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Front Cable Raise