21 Finest Rear Delt Workouts For Boulder Shoulders

Are you seeking to strengthen your higher again, forearms, and shoulders? You’ve come to the correct place. Body weight rear delt workout routines play a giant half in any health of the very best exercise routines meant for constructing muscle. Shoulder exercises will strengthen your higher physique muscular tissues and forestall accidents when coaching on the gymnasium.

So what are the best shoulder exercises particular to your delts? Within the information beneath, we’ll train you about the very best exercises to strengthen your again, develop your muscular tissues, and hold your core secure. 

Additionally, you will study the advantages of rear delt workout routines, reminiscent of larger power general and higher well being on a day-to-day foundation. Beneath, we’ll define key details about the deltoid muscle and its anatomy. Lastly, we reply the most typical questions on rear delt workout routines. 



RELATED: 16 Best Chest Exercises & Workouts For Men

21 Finest Rear Delt Workouts

  1. Incline Reverse Dumbbell Fly
  2. Seated Bent Over Dumbbell Raise
  3. Standing Bent Over Dumbbell Raise
  4. Lying Rear Delt Circles
  5. Barbell Face Pull
  6. Snatch Grip Push Press
  7. Standing Rope Face Pull
  8. Bent Over Rear Delt Cable Raise
  9. Inverted Row Exercise
  10. Resistance Band Reverse Fly
  11. Resistance Band Face Pull
  12. Single Arm Bent Over Row
  13. Standing Bent Over Lateral Raise
  14. Cable Machine High Pull Using Ropes
  15. Assisted Pullups
  16. External Rotation On the Side
  17. Workout On the Rear Deltoid Machine
  18. Standard Pushups
  19. Incline Bench Press
  20. Overhead Press With Dumbbells
  21. Straight Arm Circles

Beneath, we describe the 21 greatest rear delt and tricep exercises to spice up your general well being and strengthen your muscular tissues.

1. Incline Reverse Dumbbell Fly

The incline reverse dumbbell fly lets you contract your shoulder and again muscular tissues effectively. You’ll solely want a bench and a few dumbbells to carry out this train. It’s a easy but, necessary exercise. It should strengthen your shoulder or rear delt muscular tissues.

This train is ideal for inexperienced persons, and you’ll full about ten repetitions or as many as you favor. Take heed to your physique to keep away from pulling any muscular tissues.

Comply with these steps:

  1. Lie down on a bench at a 45-degree incline along with your abdomen touching the bench. 
  2. Maintain dumbbells in each arms. 
  3. Increase each dumbbells at shoulder degree to the perimeters on the similar time. 
  4. Maintain them in place for a second. 
  5. Decrease the dumbbells and repeat.

Targets: Rhomboid muscular tissues and rear deltoid muscular tissues
Reps: 8-12 per set
Units: 3-4
Relaxation: 120 seconds between every set

2. Seated Bent-Over Dumbbell Increase

Seated Bent-Over Dumbbell Raise

The seated bent-over dumbbell elevate works nice at getting these rear deltoids stronger and injury-proof. Out of all of the dumbbell rear delt workout routines, this exercise makes one of many largest impacts on bettering your higher physique power. 



Be sure to make use of low-weight dumbbells, particularly if you’re a newbie. Lighter weights let you elongate your movement right into a reverse fly.

Comply with these steps:

  1. Sit down on a flat bench along with your ft shoulder-width aside.
  2. Bend your higher physique ahead at a 60-degree angle whereas holding a dumbbell in every hand down at your ft.
  3. Convey your arms out to the perimeters and maintain them for one second.
  4. Decrease your arms and repeat.

Targets: Rhomboid muscular tissues, trapezius muscle, and triceps
Reps: 10-15 per set
Units: 2-4
Relaxation: 90 seconds between every set

3. Standing Bent-Over Dumbbell Increase

Rear deltoid workout routines just like the standing bent-over dumbbell elevate solely require dumbbells and your individual power. Would you like the very best shoulder coaching and ab workout with this rear deltoid train? It really works greatest while you go slowly.

Convey the dumbbells up along with your ft shoulder width after which slowly decrease them down.

Comply with these steps:

  1. Bend on the waist whereas holding a dumbbell in every hand.
  2. Stand along with your ft hip-width aside.
  3. Elevate the dumbbells at shoulder degree to the perimeters.
  4. Decrease the dumbbells again to the beginning place and repeat.

Targets: Rhomboid muscular tissues, decrease again muscular tissues, trapezius muscle, and triceps
Reps: 6-10 per set
Units: 2-4
Relaxation: 120 seconds between every set

4. Mendacity Rear Delt Circles

For the mendacity rear delt circles, you’ll have to get a flat bench and a few dumbbells. Your complete physique will get a pleasant exercise with this one train. Primarily, you’ll lie down in a superman place and strengthen your core.



Comply with these steps:

  1. Lie down in your abdomen on a flat bench.
  2. Maintain a superman place and produce two dumbbells in entrance of your head in every hand.
  3. Convey the dumbbells to the facet right into a round place till your arms attain your hips.
  4. Now, transfer the dumbbells again to the beginning place and repeat the method.

Targets: deltoid muscular tissues and trapezius muscle
Reps: 8-12 per set
Units: 3-4
Relaxation: 90 seconds between every set

5. Barbell Face Pull

Barbell Face Pull

Pulling actions are important for the rear deltoid exercise, generally known as the barbell face pull. Maintain your elbows large to get the muscular tissues working because the train intends. You should use a cable machine or a barbell for the train. Additionally, you will want a bench at an incline to carry out the exercise.

Comply with these steps:

  1. Lie down in your abdomen on the inclined bench whereas holding a barbell beneath in each arms.
  2. Maintain your elbows large and pull the barbell as much as your eye degree.
  3. Be sure to contract your shoulder blades collectively.
  4. Decrease the barbell again to the beginning place and repeat.

Targets: shoulder muscular tissues and higher again muscular tissues
Reps: 8-10 per set
Units: 3-4
Relaxation: 30 seconds between every set

6. Snatch Grip Push Press

The snatch grip push press is a extra complicated train. We advocate it for these with a reasonable quantity of expertise. Are you a newbie? Then you might wish to keep away from the snatch grip push press.

Nonetheless, the train will certainly increase your muscle mass within the rear deltoids. Because it’s a tougher train, begin with a decrease weight and study the place of the exercise. You will have solely a barbell for the rear deltoid exercise. 

Comply with these steps:



  1. Maintain the barbell behind your head in your shoulders and grip it with each arms.
  2. It is advisable have a slight bend in your knees after which straighten them out.
  3. Instantly, elevate the barbell over your head.
  4. Decrease the barbell whereas bending your knees on the similar time.
  5. Repeat for as many repetitions as you favor.

Targets: shoulder muscular tissues, trapezius, quadriceps, glutes, and core
Reps: 8-10 per set
Units: 2-4
Relaxation: 120 seconds between every set

7. Standing Rope Face Pull

Standing Rope Face Pull

You will have a cable machine to carry out the standing rope face pull train. The pulley system wants to remain at chest top or decrease to get the correct power coaching in your deltoid muscular tissues. In any other case, you received’t carry out the exercise appropriately if it’s arrange too excessive.

Comply with these steps:

  1. Grip the rope with each arms and take just a few steps backward.
  2. Drop your shoulders and hold your ft shoulder-width aside with a slight bend.
  3. Pull the rope towards your face with the elbows barely greater than your wrists till your shoulder blades contact.
  4. Transfer the rope again to the beginning place.

Targets: posterior deltoid muscular tissues and rotator cuff muscular tissues
Reps: 8-12 per set
Units: 3-4
Relaxation: 90 seconds between every set

8. Bent-Over Rear Delt Cable Increase

Bent-Over Rear Delt Cable Raise

You will have a cable machine for the bent-over rear delt cable elevate train. The exercise strengthens your shoulder muscular tissues, as your shoulders are the primary half transferring throughout the train. The efficient cable rear delt workout routines may also help you repair muscle imbalances over time.

Comply with these steps:

  1. Maintain the left cable pull along with your proper hand, and maintain the correct cable utilizing your left hand.
  2. Bend your again at a 90-degree degree to your legs and hold your ft hip-width aside.
  3. Pull the cables and lift your arms to the perimeters till it reaches shoulder degree.
  4. Transfer your arms again to the beginning place and repeat.

Targets: rear delt muscle and higher again muscular tissues
Reps: 5-10 per set
Units: 2-4
Relaxation: 30 seconds between every set

9. Inverted Row Train

Inverted Row Exercise

You will have to make use of a Smith machine for the inverted row train. The rear delt row exercise forces you to drag up your complete physique utilizing your triceps, higher again, and shoulder muscular tissues. That approach, you’ll shortly construct up power and develop your muscle mass.



Comply with these steps:

  1. Put your legs and physique in a straight line beneath a barbell whereas holding onto the barbell with each arms.
  2. Maintain your arms straight out.
  3. Pull up your physique utilizing your shoulder muscular tissues along with your elbows outstretched.
  4. Maintain your physique straight to strengthen your core.
  5. Transfer again to the beginning place and repeat.

Targets: trapezius, lattissimus dorsi, biceps, and posterior deltoids 
Reps: 5-10 per set
Units: 3-4
Relaxation: 90 seconds between every set

10. Resistance Band Reverse Fly

Resistance bands are nice methods to work your muscular tissues as effectively, together with the rear delt muscle. To get the rear delts correctly exercised, strive a robust resistance band and hold your arms prolonged straight when pulling. The resistance band reverse fly exercise will get your shoulder joints transferring and strengthening.

Comply with these steps:

  1. Put the resistance band round a pole and maintain the band in each arms.
  2. Transfer again just a few steps till the resistance band is taut.
  3. Convey your arms as much as shoulder degree and pull on the band with each arms concurrently.
  4. Pull the bands to the facet till your shoulder blades contact.
  5. Convey your arms again collectively to the centre and repeat.

Targets: rhomboid muscular tissues within the higher again and posterior deltoids 
Reps: 8-12 per set
Units: 3-4
Relaxation: 120 seconds between every set

11. Resistance Band Face Pull

Resistance Band Face Pull

You possibly can deal with rear delt growth proper at house utilizing a resistance band face pull exercise. Just like a cable pulley, the resistance band may also help you develop your muscular tissues. Additionally, you will want to make use of a pole or a bedpost to wrap the band round.

Comply with these steps:

  1. Wrap the resistance band round a pole.
  2. Maintain the band in each arms and take just a few steps again.
  3. Maintain your arms at shoulder degree and pull the band again towards your face.
  4. Convey the resistance band again to the unique place and repeat.

Targets: rear deltoids, trapezius, and rhomboids 
Reps: 8-12 per set
Units: 2-4
Relaxation: 30 seconds between every set



12. Single-Arm Bent-Over Row

Single-Arm Bent-Over Row

The single-arm bent-over row exercise is a wonderful technique to strengthen your posterior deltoids. It’s nice for bettering your mobility within the shoulder joints. You will have merely two dumbbells and a bench to finish the train.

Comply with these steps:

  1. Place your left knee and left hand on the bench whereas retaining your elbow straight.
  2. Maintain your different foot on the ground and straighten your again.
  3. Maintain a dumbbell in your proper hand whereas your arm falls to the ground.
  4. Bend your proper elbow and pull up till your shoulder blades squeeze collectively.
  5. Slowly reverse the motion and produce the dumbbell down towards the ground.
  6. Repeat the steps.

Targets: rear deltoids, again, transverse abdominals, and biceps
Reps: 10-12 per set
Units: 3
Relaxation: 60 seconds between every set

13. Standing Bent-Over Lateral Increase

The standing bent-over lateral elevate is just not a simple train for inexperienced persons, so ensure that to begin with light-weight dumbbells. As soon as your deltoids get stronger and your shoulder muscular tissues develop, you can begin to extend the burden of your dumbbells. That approach, you’ll not danger damage as a newbie.

Comply with these steps:

  1. Maintain a dumbbell in every hand with the palms dealing with one another.
  2. Stand along with your ft hip-width aside, along with your higher physique bent on the hips and a slight bend in your knees.
  3. Increase your arms out to the facet till you attain shoulder degree.
  4. Squeeze your shoulder blades on the finish of the motion.
  5. Slowly, transfer the dumbbells again to the beginning place.
  6. Repeat the actions.

Targets: hamstrings, triceps, decrease again muscular tissues, rhomboid muscular tissues, and trapezius muscle
Reps: 10-12 reps per set
Units: 2-3
Relaxation: 90 seconds between every set   

14. Cable Machine Excessive Pull Utilizing Ropes

Coaching routines in your shoulder muscular tissues ought to embrace the cable machine excessive pull with ropes. It’s a superior technique to change issues up when understanding your shoulders and again. You will have a cable machine that has a rope connected with two handles.

The train offers a unique angle at which your deltoids get exercised, which may additional strengthen these muscular tissues.

Comply with these steps:

  1. Maintain your ft hip-width aside and your physique dealing with the gear.
  2. Put the cable attachment to your chest and fasten the rope deal with.
  3. Take just a few steps again and stretch out your arms.
  4. Pull the ropes towards your physique and hold your elbows excessive to strengthen the deltoid muscular tissues.
  5. Have your elbows barely bent again to the beginning place slowly and intentionally. Repeat the steps.

Targets: rear deltoid muscular tissues, center deltoids, rhomboid muscular tissues, and trapezius muscle
Reps: 10-12 reps per set
Units: 2-3
Relaxation: 60 seconds between every set   

15. Assisted Pullups

Assisted Pullups

Pullups are a wonderful movement for strengthening your higher again and shoulders. They make for an efficient train, however you might not have the power to drag your self up at the start. Most inexperienced persons don’t have that sort of power. 

As such, you might wish to carry out assisted pullups as a newbie utilizing an assisted pullup machine. You’ll get stronger deltoids, trapezius muscle, and biceps with the exercise.

Comply with these steps:

  1. Decide the burden that you just desire on the machine.
  2. Put your knees on the knee pad and alter the peak to suit your physique. 
  3. Seize the handles above you and prolong your arms.
  4. Decrease your physique to the start place. 
  5. Pull your physique as much as the identical degree because the handles.
  6. Maintain the place for a few seconds and drop down slowly.
  7. Repeat the steps.

Targets: deltoid muscular tissues, trapezius muscle, biceps, latissimus dorsi
Reps: 6-8 reps per set
Units: 2-3 units
Relaxation: 90 seconds between every set

16. Exterior Rotation On the Facet

External Rotation On the Side

The exercise right here focuses on an exterior rotation motion. The movement will make your posterior deltoids get exercise. Additionally, you will hit these rotator cuff muscular tissues to strengthen them effectively. You will have a dumbbell to carry out the train, together with a towel.

Comply with these steps:

  1. Lie down in your facet with a light-weight dumbbell in your hand.
  2. Bend your elbow to 90 levels with the higher arm on the facet. Put a rolled towel between your arm and torso.
  3. Rotate your arm upward and maintain for a number of seconds.
  4. Slowly decrease your arm again all the way down to the beginning place and repeat. 

Targets: rear deltoids, rhomboids, trapezius muscle, and rotator cuff muscle
Reps: 10-12 reps per set
Units: 2-3 units
Relaxation: 30 seconds between every set

17. Exercise On the Rear Deltoid Machine 

Workout On the Rear Deltoid Machine 

Hit up your native gymnasium and check out one other nice exercise in your posterior deltoid muscular tissues. The rear deltoid machine will assist strengthen these shoulder muscular tissues. The gear works to focus on these particular muscular tissues. It received’t be straightforward in your again, however the machine will hold you secure and injury-free.

Comply with these steps:

  1. Sit down on the rear deltoid machine and face the pad. Alter the peak of the seat to maintain the handles degree along with your shoulders.
  2. Maintain the handles with palms dealing with down and transfer your arms backward.
  3. Be sure your shoulder blades contact.
  4. Maintain for just a few seconds and produce the motion again to the beginning place.
  5. Repeat the motion.

Targets: rear deltoids, rhomboids, and center trapezius muscle
Reps: 10-12 reps per set
Units: 2-3 units
Relaxation: 90 seconds between every set

18. Customary Pushups

Standard Pushups

Pushups present a serious technique to get your shoulders stronger in a easy train that you are able to do anyplace. You possibly can construct muscle mass and strengthen your higher again with variety of pushups.

Some even declare that the standard pushup is one of the simplest ways to spice up your rear delt muscle development. You are able to do the train without having an oz of kit.

Comply with these steps:

  1. Get on the ground along with your abdomen dealing with the bottom. Put your legs behind you.
  2. Put your ft about hip-width aside. 
  3. Decrease your higher physique nearer to the ground. Maintain the place for a number of seconds.
  4. Push your self up and hold your physique parallel to the ground to strengthen your core.
  5. Repeat the primary 4 steps.

Targets: shoulder muscular tissues, triceps, and pectoral muscular tissues.
Reps: 10-15 reps per set
Units: 2-3 units
Relaxation: 30 seconds between every set

19. Incline Bench Press

Incline Bench Press

As an efficient technique to hold your shoulders sturdy, the incline bench press can enhance your deltoid muscle development. It could even strengthen your pectoral muscular tissues. The perfect half? It’s a simple train to carry out. You will have a bench and a dumbbell or a barbell.

Comply with these steps:

  1. Get the bench to a 45-degree incline.
  2. Get grip in your barbell or dumbbell.
  3. Bend your arms to the facet and raise the weights upward above your chest.
  4. Stretch your arms out totally in entrance of your chest.
  5. Convey the weights again to the primary place and repeat the steps. 

Targets: shoulder muscular tissues and pectoral muscular tissues
Reps: 8-12 per set
Units: 2-3 units
Relaxation: 60 seconds between every set

20. Overhead Press With Dumbbells

Overhead Press With Dumbbells

To create power and develop your shoulder muscular tissues, the overhead press with dumbbells is a superb train to strive. You should use light-weight dumbbells in case you’re a newbie and heavier weights as you achieve extra power.

Comply with these steps:

  1. Stand straight and hold your ft hip-width aside.
  2. Elevate the dumbbells to the extent of your shoulders.
  3. Elevate the dumbbells over your head. Maintain it there for a few seconds.
  4. Decrease it again down slowly. Repeat the steps.

Targets: deltoids, trapezius muscle, triceps, and pectorals
Reps: 8-12 per set
Units: 2-3 units
Relaxation: 60 seconds between every set

21. Straight Arm Circles 

Straight Arm Circles 

The best forearm exercises embrace straight arm circles, which work the muscular tissues all throughout your arms, shoulders, and higher again. It’s an effective way to stretch out your muscular tissues and heat up earlier than a exercise or settle down on the finish. The exercise may also enhance your mobility.

Comply with these steps:

  1. Arise straight and stretch your arms out right into a T place. 
  2. Make circles along with your arms and widen them over time.
  3. Reverse the route of your circles after 20 or 30 seconds.

Targets: Trapezius muscle, biceps, and triceps
Reps: 10-15 per set
Units: 2-3
Relaxation: 30 seconds between every set

Understanding the Deltoid Muscle Anatomy

The deltoid muscle is the primary one comprising the shoulder. It stretches to attach with the higher again muscular tissues, just like the trapezius muscle. It begins on the shoulder blade and strikes towards the collarbone. The deltoid has three elements that make up all the shoulder muscular tissues, which embrace:

  • The lateral deltoid
  • The posterior deltoid
  • The anterior deltoid

The three elements are important for the mobility of your higher arm and shoulder. The lateral deltoid is required to rotate the shoulder joint to the facet and away from the remainder of the physique. It’s also accountable for transferring the shoulder joint downward.

The posterior deltoid muscles assist transfer the arm outward and backward. Primarily, posterior deltoids enable you transfer your arm towards your again or backbone. It could assist with motions like getting dressed or throwing an object. The anterior deltoid is necessary for rotating the shoulder joint. It additionally lets you bend your joints.

Understanding the Deltoid Muscle Anatomy

Ultimate Ideas

Now that you just’ve discovered about the very best rear delt workout routines to spice up muscle development round your shoulders, you’ll be able to enhance your well being and guarantee to carry out the correct weight coaching workout routines. You’ll strengthen your physique, stop accidents, and probably scale back your danger of osteoporosis. 
You may additionally discover it attention-grabbing to study concerning the top exercises to strengthen your forearms.

Finest Rear Delt Workouts – Continuously Requested Questions (FAQs)

How do you hit rear delts with dumbbells?

You possibly can simply work your rear deltoid muscular tissues with the dumbbell rear lateral elevate exercise. Rear delt coaching utilizing dumbbells does require the correct place when utilizing any particular train. You’ll want to focus on the shoulder muscles with the correct posture, transfer slowly, and hold your ft and again in secure positions. 

How can I goal my rear delts at house?

You possibly can work your rear delts proper at house through the use of resistance bands, barbells, dumbbells, and even equipment-free workout routines. As an illustration, you’ll be able to carry out pushups each day to strengthen your rear deltoid muscular tissues proper at house.

Do shrugs work rear delts?

You should use dumbbell shrug workout routines to strengthen your rear deltoid muscular tissues and your trapezius muscle. Be sure to squeeze the shoulder blades collectively when performing the shrugs. That approach, you’re positive to have stronger higher again muscular tissues and shoulders.

Do pull-ups hit rear delts?

The perfect shoulder workout routines additionally embrace pull-ups, which work in your deltoid muscular tissues. The perfect half is that pull-ups could make an influence on all the foremost muscular tissues in your higher physique from the chest upwards. You’ll work your biceps, triceps, forearms, pectoral muscular tissues, and rear delts.

Does lat pulldown work rear delt?

The lat pulldown train does enable you strengthen the rear deltoid muscular tissues. The exercise additionally makes a big influence in your rhomboid muscular tissues, trapezius muscle, latissimus dorsi muscle within the again, and biceps.

Is the rear delt again or shoulder?

The rear delt muscular tissues are shoulder muscular tissues necessary for motion. These muscular tissues are obligatory for pulling motions and work to stabilize the shoulder when exercising.

Leave a Comment