Progression ladder for the Barbell Curl

Pick an exercise to see the easier and harder steps either side of it, and log your sets so you can see when you are ready to move up.

Easier and harder steps around the Barbell Curl

These are the substitutes for the Barbell Curl, ranked by difficulty from the substitutes list: the ones we score below it, then the ones we score above it. They are not reviewed progression steps, so treat the order as a starting point and judge the jump yourself.

Easier steps

Nothing in the substitutes for the Barbell Curl scores easier than it.

Where you are now

Barbell Curl

  • Beginner
  • Barbell
  • Biceps

Harder steps (6)

  1. Close-grip EZ Bar Curl

    Close-grip EZ Bar Curl

    • Beginner
    • Barbell
    • Biceps
  2. Close-grip Standing Barbell Curl

    Close-grip Standing Barbell Curl

    • Beginner
    • Barbell
    • Biceps
  3. Close-grip Ez-bar Curl With Band

    Close-grip Ez-bar Curl With Band

    • Beginner
    • Ez-barbell
    • Biceps
  4. Barbell Biceps Curl (With Arm Blaster)

    • Beginner
    • Barbell
    • Biceps
  5. Wide-grip Standing Barbell Curl

    Wide-grip Standing Barbell Curl

    • Beginner
    • Barbell
    • Biceps
  6. Ez-bar Biceps Curl (With Arm Blaster)

    • Beginner
    • Ez-barbell
    • Biceps

Log a workout on the Barbell Curl

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