How to do the Dumbbell Step-up
Stand in front of a sturdy bench or box holding a dumbbell in each hand.
Place your whole foot on the bench.
Step up by driving through the top leg, without pushing off the bottom one.
Step down under control and finish your reps before switching legs.
Sets and reps
| Goal | Sets | Reps | Rest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle growth | 3–4 | 8–12 | 1.5 min |
| Muscular endurance | 2–3 | 15–20 | 1 min |
When you hit the top of the rep range on every set, add 4 kg (10 lb) next session and work back up.
Starting points from training research. Stop each set 1–3 reps short of failure.
Muscles worked
Alternatives
Same muscles, similar movement: swap in one of these if the Dumbbell Step-up doesn’t suit your gym or your joints.
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