Exercise guide · Beginner · Compound

Dumbbell Seated Curl: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The dumbbell seated curl is a strength exercise targeting the biceps, performed while seated to minimize body movement and focus on arm isolation.

Primary muscles
Biceps
Secondary muscles
Forearms
Equipment
Dumbbell
Level · type
Beginner · Compound
Demonstration of the dumbbell seated curl
Front view: muscles worked by the dumbbell seated curl. Primary: biceps. Secondary: forearms.
Back view: muscles worked by the dumbbell seated curl. Primary: biceps. Secondary: forearms.
Primary Secondary

How to do the dumbbell seated curl

  1. Step 1: Sit on a bench with your feet flat on the ground and a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing forward.
  2. Step 2: Keep your back straight and your elbows close to your torso.
  3. Step 3: Exhale and curl the dumbbells up towards your shoulders, contracting your biceps.
  4. Step 4: Pause for a moment at the top, then inhale and slowly lower the dumbbells back down to the starting position.
  5. Step 5: Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the dumbbell seated curl by training goal
Goal Sets Reps Rest Effort
Strength 3–5 3–6 3–5 min 1–3 reps in reserve
Muscle growth 3–4 6–12 2–3 min 1–2 reps in reserve
Muscular endurance 2–3 12–20 1–2 min 1–3 reps in reserve

Ranges follow the ACSM position stand on progression in resistance training. Muscle grows across a wide range of loads when sets end close to failure (Schoenfeld et al., 2017), longer rests between heavy sets support strength and size (Schoenfeld et al., 2016), and stopping a rep or two short of failure works about as well as training to failure (Grgic et al., 2022). Estimate your working weights with the strength calculators.

Dumbbell Seated Curl alternatives

More exercises that train the biceps as their main target:

More biceps exercises

See the best bicep exercises, ranked →

Sources

  1. American College of Sports Medicine. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(3):687-708.
  2. Schoenfeld BJ, Grgic J, Ogborn D, Krieger JW. Strength and hypertrophy adaptations between low- vs. high-load resistance training. J Strength Cond Res. 2017;31(12):3508-3523.
  3. Schoenfeld BJ, Pope ZK, Benik FM, et al. Longer interset rest periods enhance muscle strength and hypertrophy in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res. 2016;30(7):1805-1812.
  4. Grgic J, Schoenfeld BJ, Orazem J, Sabol F. Effects of resistance training performed to repetition failure or non-failure on muscular strength and hypertrophy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sport Health Sci. 2022;11(2):202-211.

Step-by-step instructions and demonstration media are from the ExerciseDB exercise dataset.

This guide is general fitness information, not medical advice. Stop if an exercise causes pain and speak to a doctor or physiotherapist about injuries or health conditions before starting a new programme.