10 Best One Arm Towel Row Alternatives for Limited Equipment

The One Arm Towel Row is done standing. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Band One Arm Standing Low Row, the Cable One Arm Bent Over Row and the Elevator.

One Arm Towel RowWatch the One Arm Towel Row

Each substitute is scored on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. Read how we rank alternatives

How to Do the One Arm Towel Row

The steps for the One Arm Towel Row itself, so you can judge how close each substitute below really is.

Upper Back, with biceps, forearms · Bodyweight · Intermediate · Compound

  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and hold a towel with one hand.
  2. Bend forward at the waist, keeping your back straight and your core engaged.
  3. Extend your arm fully, allowing the towel to hang in front of you.
  4. Pull the towel towards your chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
  5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the towel back to the starting position.
  6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch arms.

The 10 Best One Arm Towel Row Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the One Arm Towel Row on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Cards with a "How to perform it" link open to show the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.

  1. Band One Arm Standing Low RowPlay demonstration

    1. Band One Arm Standing Low Row

    88% match

    Upper Back · Intermediate · Compound

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

    • Band
    How to perform it
    1. Attach the band to a stable anchor point at waist height.
    2. Stand facing the anchor point with your feet shoulder-width apart.
    3. Hold the band with one hand, palm facing inward, and step back to create tension in the band.
    4. Bend your knees slightly and hinge forward at the hips, keeping your back straight.
    5. Pull the band towards your waist, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    6. Pause for a moment at the top of the movement, then slowly release the band back to the starting position.
    7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch sides.

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

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: upper back, the same as the One Arm Towel Row
    • Equipment: a band, not bodyweight only
    • Body position: standing, the same as the One Arm Towel Row
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the One Arm Towel Row
  2. Cable One Arm Bent Over RowPlay demonstration

    2. Cable One Arm Bent Over Row

    88% match

    Upper Back · Intermediate · Compound

    A good swap when you have a cable machine to work with, and it still works the upper back.

    • Cable
    How to perform it
    1. Stand facing a cable machine with your feet shoulder-width apart.
    2. Bend your knees slightly and hinge forward at the hips, keeping your back straight.
    3. Grasp the cable handle with one hand, palm facing inward, and extend your arm fully.
    4. Pull the cable handle towards your body, keeping your elbow close to your side, until your hand reaches your lower chest.
    5. Pause for a moment, then slowly extend your arm back to the starting position.
    6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch sides.

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

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: upper back, the same as the One Arm Towel Row
    • Equipment: a cable, not bodyweight only
    • Body position: standing, the same as the One Arm Towel Row
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the One Arm Towel Row
  3. ElevatorPlay demonstration

    3. Elevator

    87% match

    Upper Back · Intermediate · Compound

    Pick this when you want to work the upper back with less balance to manage.

    • Bodyweight
    How to perform it
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent.
    2. Place your hands on your hips or cross them in front of your chest.
    3. Keeping your back straight, slowly bend forward at the waist, lowering your upper body towards the ground.
    4. Pause for a moment at the bottom, then slowly raise your upper body back up 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: upper back, the same as the One Arm Towel Row
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the One Arm Towel Row
    • Body position: standing, the same as the One Arm Towel Row
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the One Arm Towel Row
  4. Smith One Arm RowPlay demonstration

    4. Smith One Arm Row

    86% match

    Upper Back · Intermediate · Compound

    A good swap when you have a Smith machine to work with, and it still works the upper back.

    • Smith-machine
    How to perform it
    1. Adjust the height of the smith machine bar to waist level.
    2. Stand facing the smith machine with your feet shoulder-width apart.
    3. Bend your knees slightly and hinge forward at the hips, keeping your back straight.
    4. Grasp the bar with one hand using an overhand grip, with your palm facing down.
    5. Keep your elbow close to your body and pull the bar towards your waist, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    6. Pause for a moment at the top of the movement, then slowly lower the bar back to the starting position.
    7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch to the other arm.

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

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: upper back, the same as the One Arm Towel Row
    • Equipment: a machine, not bodyweight only
    • Body position: standing, the same as the One Arm Towel Row
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the One Arm Towel Row
  5. Lever One Arm Bent Over RowPlay demonstration

    5. Lever One Arm Bent Over Row

    85% match

    Upper Back · Intermediate · Compound

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

    • Barbell
    How to perform it
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and hold a barbell with an overhand grip.
    2. Bend forward at the hips, keeping your back straight and your head up.
    3. Let the barbell hang in front of you with your arms fully extended.
    4. Pull the barbell up towards your chest, keeping your elbows close to your body.
    5. Squeeze your shoulder blades together at the top of the movement.
    6. Lower the barbell back down to the starting position.
    7. 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: upper back, the same as the One Arm Towel Row
    • Equipment: free weights, not bodyweight only
    • Body position: standing, the same as the One Arm Towel Row
  6. Bodyweight Standing One Arm RowPlay demonstration

    6. Bodyweight Standing One Arm Row

    84% match

    Lats · Intermediate · Compound

    A looser match: it uses the same equipment, but it works the lats rather than the upper back.

    • Bodyweight
    How to perform it
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and hold a dumbbell in one hand.
    2. Bend forward at the hips, keeping your back straight and your core engaged.
    3. Let the dumbbell hang straight down in front of you, with your arm fully extended.
    4. Pull the dumbbell up towards your chest, keeping your elbow close to your body.
    5. Squeeze your shoulder blades together at the top of the movement.
    6. Lower the dumbbell back down to the starting position.
    7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch sides.

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

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: lats, not upper back
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the One Arm Towel Row
    • Body position: standing, the same as the One Arm Towel Row

One Arm Towel Row FAQ

What muscles does One Arm Towel Row work?

The One Arm Towel Row primarily targets the lats, rhomboids, and middle trapezius while recruiting the posterior deltoid and biceps. Proper technique, scapular retraction before elbow flexion, engages the scapulothoracic muscles to stabilize the shoulder blade and maximize lat and rhomboid activation.

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