10 Best Lateral Raise - With Bands Alternatives for Shoulder Training

The Lateral Raise - With Bands is done standing with a band. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Alternating Deltoid Raise.

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Original Exercise: Lateral Raise - With Bands

Lateral Raise - With Bands
Primary muscle
Shoulders
Equipment
Band
Difficulty
Intermediate
Type
Isolation
How to perform Lateral Raise - With Bands
  1. To begin, stand on an exercise band so that tension begins at arm's length. Grasp the handles using a pronated (palms facing your thighs) grip that is slightly less than shoulder width. The handles should be resting on the sides of your thighs. Your arms should be extended with a slight bend at the elbows and your back should be straight. This will be your starting position.
  2. Use your side shoulders to lift the handles to the sides as you exhale. Continue to lift the handles until they are slightly above parallel. Tip: As you lift the handles, slightly tilt the hand as if you were pouring water and keep your arms extended. Also, keep your torso stationary and pause for a second at the top of the movement.
  3. Lower the handles back down slowly to the starting position. Inhale as you perform this portion of the movement.
  4. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
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Ranked Lateral Raise - With Bands Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Lateral Raise - With Bands 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. Band Front Lateral RaisePlay demonstration

    1. Band Front Lateral Raise

    80% match
    • Delts
    • Band
    • Beginner
    • Isolation

    A looser match: it uses the same equipment, but it works the delts rather than the shoulders.

    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 lift the band up in front of you until your arms are parallel to the ground.
    3. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the band 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 Lateral Raise - With Bands
    • Primary muscle: delts, not shoulders
    • Equipment: a band, the same as the Lateral Raise - With Bands
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Lateral Raise - With Bands
  2. Band Y-raisePlay demonstration

    2. Band Y-raise

    79% match
    • Delts
    • Band
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    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 inwards.
    2. Keep your arms straight and lift them up and out to the sides, forming a 'Y' shape with your body.
    3. Squeeze your shoulder blades together at the top of the movement.
    4. Slowly lower your arms 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: raise, the same as the Lateral Raise - With Bands
    • Primary muscle: delts, not shoulders
    • Equipment: a band, the same as the Lateral Raise - With Bands
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Lateral Raise - With Bands
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lateral Raise - With Bands
  3. Best match
    Alternating Deltoid Raise

    3. Alternating Deltoid Raise

    77% match
    • Shoulders
    • Dumbbell
    • Intermediate
    • Isolation

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

    How to perform this exercise
    1. In a standing position, hold a pair of dumbbells at your side.
    2. Keeping your elbows slightly bent, raise the weights directly in front of you to shoulder height, avoiding any swinging or cheating.
    3. Return the weights to your side.
    4. On the next repetition, raise the weights laterally, raising them out to your side to about shoulder height.
    5. Return the weights to the starting position and continue alternating to the front and side.

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

    Why this matches
    • Movement: raise, the same as the Lateral Raise - With Bands
    • Primary muscle: shoulders, the same as the Lateral Raise - With Bands
    • Equipment: free weights, not a band
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Lateral Raise - With Bands
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lateral Raise - With Bands
  4. Band Front RaisePlay demonstration

    4. Band Front Raise

    76% match
    • Delts
    • Band
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    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 Lateral Raise - With Bands
    • Primary muscle: delts, not shoulders
    • Equipment: a band, the same as the Lateral Raise - With Bands
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Lateral Raise - With Bands
  5. Side Lateral Raise

    5. Side Lateral Raise

    74% match
    • Delts
    • Dumbbell
    • Intermediate
    • Isolation

    A looser match: it works the delts rather than the shoulders.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Pick a couple of dumbbells and stand with a straight torso and the dumbbells by your side at arms length with the palms of the hand facing you. This will be your starting position.
    2. While maintaining the torso in a stationary position (no swinging), lift the dumbbells to your side with a slight bend on the elbow and the hands slightly tilted forward as if pouring water in a glass. Continue to go up until you arms are parallel to the floor. Exhale as you execute this movement and pause for a second at the top.
    3. Lower the dumbbells back down slowly to the starting position as you inhale.
    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 Lateral Raise - With Bands
    • Primary muscle: delts, not shoulders
    • Equipment: free weights, not a band
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Lateral Raise - With Bands
  6. Lever Lateral RaisePlay demonstration

    6. Lever Lateral Raise

    74% match
    • Delts
    • Lever
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    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 Lateral Raise - With Bands
    • Primary muscle: delts, not shoulders
    • Equipment: a machine, not a band
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Lateral Raise - With Bands
  7. Side Laterals To Front Raise

    7. Side Laterals To Front Raise

    74% match
    • Delts
    • Dumbbell
    • Intermediate
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. In a standing position, hold a pair of dumbbells at your side. This will be your starting position.
    2. Keeping your elbows slightly bent, raise the weights directly in front of you to shoulder height, avoiding any swinging or cheating.
    3. At the top of the exercise move the weights out in front of you, keeping your arms extended.
    4. Lower the weights with a controlled motion.
    5. On the next repetition, raise the weights in front of you to shoulder height before moving the weights laterally to your sides.
    6. Lower the weights to the starting position.

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

    Why this matches
    • Movement: raise, the same as the Lateral Raise - With Bands
    • Primary muscle: delts, not shoulders
    • Equipment: free weights, not a band
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Lateral Raise - With Bands
  8. Dumbbell Scaption

    8. Dumbbell Scaption

    73% match
    • Delts
    • Dumbbell
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. This corrective exercise strengthens the muscles that stabilize your shoulder blade. Hold a light weight in each hand, hanging at your sides. Your thumbs should pointing up.
    2. Begin the movement raising your arms out in front of you, about 30 degrees off center. Your arms should be fully extended as you perform the movement.
    3. Continue until your arms are parallel to the ground, and then return to the starting position.

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

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: delts, not shoulders
    • Equipment: free weights, not a band
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Lateral Raise - With Bands
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lateral Raise - With Bands
  9. Dumbbell Standing Around WorldPlay demonstration

    9. Dumbbell Standing Around World

    72% match
    • Delts
    • Dumbbell
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold a dumbbell in each hand.
    2. Extend your arms straight out to the sides at shoulder height, palms facing down.
    3. Keeping your arms straight, slowly rotate your arms in a circular motion, bringing the dumbbells in front of your body and then overhead.
    4. Continue the circular motion, bringing 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: delts, not shoulders
    • Equipment: free weights, not a band
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Lateral Raise - With Bands
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lateral Raise - With Bands
  10. Front Cable Raise

    10. Front Cable Raise

    70% match
    • Delts
    • Cable
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Select the weight on a low pulley machine and grasp the single hand cable attachment that is attached to the low pulley with your left hand.
    2. Face away from the pulley and put your arm straight down with the hand cable attachment in front of your thighs at arms' length with the palms of the hand facing your thighs. This will be your starting position.
    3. While maintaining the torso stationary (no swinging), lift the left arm to the front with a slight bend on the elbow and the palms of the hand always faces 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.
    4. Now as you inhale lower the arm back down slowly to the starting position.
    5. Once all of the recommended amount of repetitions have been performed for this arm, switch arms and perform the exercise with the right one.

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

    Why this matches
    • Movement: raise, the same as the Lateral Raise - With Bands
    • Primary muscle: delts, not shoulders
    • Equipment: a cable, not a band
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Lateral Raise - With Bands

Why You Might Need a Lateral Raise - With Bands Alternative

You may swap band lateral raises for several reasons: shoulder impingement, no bands available, plateauing load, or a need for different tension curves. Lateral raises primarily load the lateral deltoid during arm abduction; excessive upward rotation or trunk lean lowers deltoid activation and shifts work to the traps. Choose alternatives when you need more constant tension (cables), heavier external load (dumbbells), or stricter isolation to fix imbalances (single-arm machine). Use a 15–30° elbow bend and lead with the elbow to keep force on the lateral head; limit elevation to 90° if you feel anterior shoulder compression.

How to Choose the Right Lateral Raise - With Bands Substitute

Pick a substitute based on equipment, pain profile, and the tension curve you want. Use cables when you need constant tension, set the pulley at hip height and abduct the arm to 90° with the thumb slightly up to emphasize the lateral deltoid. Choose dumbbells for progressive loading and strict tempo: control the eccentric for 2–3 seconds and stop at shoulder level. For shoulder pain, favor lower elevation or isometric holds at 30–45° to maintain activation without dynamic impingement. Prioritize unilateral work to correct side-to-side strength differences.

Lateral Raise - With Bands FAQ

What muscles does Lateral Raise - With Bands work?

The band lateral raise primarily targets the lateral (middle) head of the deltoid during arm abduction. It also uses the supraspinatus for initial lift and the trapezius and serratus anterior for scapular stabilization when you raise the arm to shoulder height.

What is the best bodyweight alternative to Lateral Raise - With Bands?

For bodyweight-focused training, a pike press variation builds shoulder strength by loading the deltoids vertically, set hips high, lower toward the forehead with elbows flared ~45°. If you need isolation, perform an isometric lateral hold against a wall at shoulder height with a 15–30° elbow bend to maintain lateral deltoid activation without added load.

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