10 Best Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise Alternatives for Home or Gym

The Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise is done standing with a cable machine. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Front Cable Raise, the Landmine Lateral Raise and the Cable Seated Lateral Raise.

Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise

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

How to Do the Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise

The steps for the Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise itself, so you can judge how close each substitute below really is.

Delts, with forearms · Cable · Beginner · Isolation

  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.

The 10 Best Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise 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.

Each link re-ranks the list below for the kit it names. Pick one to hide the substitutes you cannot set up.

  1. Front Cable Raise

    1. Front Cable Raise

    88% match

    Delts · Beginner · Isolation

    The same equipment, taken with an overhand grip.

    • Cable
    How to perform it
    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 Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise
    • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise
    • Equipment: a cable, the same as the Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise
  2. Landmine Lateral RaisePlay demonstration

    2. Landmine Lateral Raise

    86% match

    Delts · Intermediate · Isolation

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

    • Barbell
    How to perform it
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent.
    2. Hold the barbell with an overhand grip, resting it on the front of your shoulders.
    3. Keeping your core engaged and back straight, lift the barbell up and away from your body, raising it to shoulder height.
    4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the barbell back down to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

    Why this matches
    • Movement: raise, the same as the Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise
    • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise
    • Equipment: free weights, not a cable
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise
  3. Cable Seated Lateral Raise

    3. Cable Seated Lateral Raise

    84% match

    Delts · Beginner · Isolation

    The same equipment, done seated instead.

    • Cable
    How to perform it
    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 Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise
    • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise
    • Equipment: a cable, the same as the Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise
    • Body position: seated, not standing
  4. Dumbbell One Arm Lateral Raise With SupportPlay demonstration

    4. Dumbbell One Arm Lateral Raise With Support

    84% match

    Delts · Beginner · Isolation

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

    • Dumbbell
    How to perform it
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold a dumbbell in one hand, with your palm facing your body.
    2. Place your other hand on a stable surface, such as a bench or wall, for support.
    3. Keep your back straight and engage your core.
    4. Raise the dumbbell out to the side, keeping your arm straight and your palm facing down.
    5. Continue lifting until your arm is parallel to the ground.
    6. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the dumbbell back down to the starting position.
    7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch sides.

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

    Why this matches
    • Movement: raise, the same as the Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise
    • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise
    • Equipment: free weights, not a cable
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise
  6. Cable Forward RaisePlay demonstration

    6. Cable Forward Raise

    83% match

    Delts · Beginner · Isolation

    It still works the delts, through a different movement.

    • Cable
    How to perform it
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent.
    2. Hold the cable handle with an overhand grip, palms facing down, and your arms fully extended in front of you.
    3. Keeping your arms straight, raise the cable handle up to shoulder level.
    4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the cable handle back down to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise
    • Equipment: a cable, the same as the Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise

Why You Might Need a Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise Alternative

You might substitute this exercise because you lack a cable station, have a rotator-cuff irritation, or want different loading patterns. Cables provide constant tension and a low-pulley angle that emphasizes the lateral and anterior deltoid; dumbbells and bands replicate that tension differently through range of motion. If pain occurs at end-range abduction, choose a neutral-grip dumbbell lateral or band lateral to reduce supraspinatus strain. Use a slight elbow bend and lead with the elbow to keep load on the lateral deltoid rather than the traps.

Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise FAQ

What muscles does Standing Low-pulley Deltoid Raise work?

It primarily targets the lateral (middle) deltoid with secondary activation of the anterior deltoid and supraspinatus. The scapular stabilizers and upper trapezius assist to control the shoulder during horizontal abduction and elevation.

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