10 Best Seated Leg Tucks Alternatives for Core Strength

Seated Leg Tucks are done seated. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Seated Flat Bench Leg Pull-in, the Leg Pull In Flat Bench and the Arms Overhead Full Sit-up. A harder version, the Decline Sit-up, is listed below as a progression rather than a swap.

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

Original Exercise: Seated Leg Tucks

Seated Leg Tucks
Primary muscle
Abs
Equipment
Bodyweight
Difficulty
Intermediate
Type
Isolation
How to perform Seated Leg Tucks
  1. Sit on a bench with the legs stretched out in front of you slightly below parallel and your arms holding on to the sides of the bench. Your torso should be leaning backwards around a 45-degree angle from the bench. This will be your starting position.
  2. Bring the knees in toward you as you move your torso closer to them at the same time. Breathe out as you perform this movement.
  3. After a second pause, go back to the starting position as you inhale.
  4. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
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Ranked Seated Leg Tucks Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches Seated Leg Tucks 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. Harder versions are tagged as progressions and kept out of the top spot even when they score higher.

  1. Best match
    Seated Flat Bench Leg Pull-in

    1. Seated Flat Bench Leg Pull-in

    95% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Isolation

    It uses the same equipment and still works the abs.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on a bench with the legs stretched out in front of you slightly below parallel and your arms holding on to the sides of the bench. Your torso should be leaning backwards around a 45-degree angle from the bench. This will be your starting position.
    2. Bring the knees in toward you as you move your torso closer to them at the same time. Breathe out as you perform this movement.
    3. After a second pause, go back 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
    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
    • Body position: seated, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
  2. Leg Pull In Flat BenchPlay demonstration

    2. Leg Pull In Flat Bench

    95% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on a flat bench with your legs extended straight out in front of you.
    2. Place your hands on the bench beside your hips for support.
    3. Engage your abs and lift your legs off the ground, bringing your knees towards your chest.
    4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your legs 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: abs, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
    • Body position: seated, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
  3. Arms Overhead Full Sit-upPlay demonstration

    3. Arms Overhead Full Sit-up

    89% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Isolation

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

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
    2. Extend your arms overhead, keeping them straight.
    3. Engaging your abs, slowly lift your upper body off the ground, curling forward until your torso is upright.
    4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your upper body 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: abs, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
    • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
  4. Frog Sit-ups

    4. Frog Sit-ups

    89% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation

    Pick this when you want an easier version that still works the abs.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie with your back flat on the floor (or exercise mat) and your legs extended in front of you.
    2. Now bend at the knees and place your outer thighs by the floor (or mat) as you make the soles of your feet touch each other.
    3. Now try pushing both soles and bringing them up as near you as possible while you keep the outer thighs on the floor (or at least almost touching it). Tip: In this position your legs should create a diamond shape.
    4. Now, cross your arms in front of you by touching the opposite shoulders. This will be your starting position.
    5. As you exhale flatten your lower back to the floor while curling the torso upwards. Tip: This will be like performing the first 1/4 movement of a sit up. Hold at the top position for a second.
    6. As you inhale, slowly lower back to the starting position.
    7. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

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

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
    • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than Seated Leg Tucks
  5. Sit-up

    5. Sit-up

    89% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie down on the floor placing your feet either under something that will not move or by having a partner hold them. Your legs should be bent at the knees.
    2. Place your hands behind your head and lock them together by clasping your fingers. This is the starting position.
    3. Elevate your upper body so that it creates an imaginary V-shape with your thighs. Breathe out when performing this part of the exercise.
    4. Once you feel the contraction for a second, lower your upper body back down to the starting position while inhaling.
    5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

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

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
    • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than Seated Leg Tucks
  6. Lying Leg Raise Flat BenchPlay demonstration

    6. Lying Leg Raise Flat Bench

    88% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Isolation

    The same equipment, done lying on your back instead.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie flat on a flat bench with your back pressed against it.
    2. Place your hands under your glutes for support.
    3. Keep your legs straight and together, and lift them up towards the ceiling.
    4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your legs 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: abs, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
    • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
  7. CocoonsPlay demonstration

    7. Cocoons

    87% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
    2. Place your hands behind your head with your elbows pointing outwards.
    3. Engaging your abs, slowly lift your upper body off the ground, curling forward until your torso is at a 45-degree angle.
    4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your upper body back down to the starting position.
    5. Repeat 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: abs, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
    • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
  8. Flat Bench Leg Pull-in

    8. Flat Bench Leg Pull-in

    86% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie on an exercise mat or a flat bench with your legs off the end.
    2. Place your hands either under your glutes with your palms down or by the sides holding on to the bench (or with palms down by the side on an exercise mat). Also extend your legs straight out. This will be your starting position.
    3. Bend your knees and pull your upper thighs into your midsection as you breathe out. Continue this movement until your knees are near your chest. Hold the contracted position for a second.
    4. As you breathe in, slowly return to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

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

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
    • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than Seated Leg Tucks
  9. Exercise Ball Crunch

    9. Exercise Ball Crunch

    86% match
    • Abs
    • Stability-ball
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie on an exercise ball with your lower back curvature pressed against the spherical surface of the ball. Your feet should be bent at the knee and pressed firmly against the floor. The upper torso should be hanging off the top of the ball. The arms should either be kept alongside the body or crossed on top of your chest as these positions avoid neck strains (as opposed to the hands behind the back of the head position).
    2. Lower your torso into a stretch position keeping the neck stationary at all times. This will be your starting position.
    3. With the hips stationary, flex the waist by contracting the abdominals and curl the shoulders and trunk upward until you feel a nice contraction on your abdominals. The arms should simply slide up the side of your legs if you have them at the side or just stay on top of your chest if you have them crossed. The lower back should always stay in contact with the ball. Exhale as you perform this movement and hold the contraction for a second.
    4. As you inhale, go back to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

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

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: abs, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
    • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than Seated Leg Tucks
  10. Decline Sit-upPlay demonstration

    Progression

    10. Decline Sit-up

    86% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie on a decline bench with your feet secured and your knees bent.
    2. Place your hands behind your head or across your chest.
    3. Engage your abs and lift your upper body off the bench, curling forward towards your knees.
    4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your upper body 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: abs, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as Seated Leg Tucks
    • Body position: lying on your back, not seated

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