Arms
The main muscle group listed for this exercise.
Exercise guide
Hammer Curls
Hammer Curls is a beginner-friendly arm exercise performed with dumbbells.
Dumbbell
The equipment listed for this variation.
Beginner
The recorded setup and movement complexity.
Arms
No secondary muscle group is listed for this variation.
Strength
Movement pattern: elbow flexion. This is an isolation exercise.
Beginner
This level reflects the setup and movement complexity recorded for this exercise.
Instructions
How to do Hammer Curls
- Stand up with your torso upright and a dumbbell on each hand being held at arms length. The elbows should be close to the torso.
- The palms of the hands should be facing your torso. This will be your starting position.
- Now, while holding your upper arm stationary, exhale and curl the weight forward while contracting the biceps. Continue to raise the weight until the biceps are fully contracted and the dumbbell is at shoulder level. Hold the contracted position for a brief moment as you squeeze the biceps. Tip: Focus on keeping the elbow stationary and only moving your forearm.
- After the brief pause, inhale and slowly begin the lower the dumbbells back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Related workouts
Workout templates that use this exercise.
If you want to see this movement inside a more complete training session, start here.
3-Day Full Body Split
A three-day split that spreads total weekly work across three full-body sessions.
View workout4-Day Upper Lower Split
A simple four-day split that gives each half of the body two quality sessions each week.
View workout5-Day Bodybuilding Split
A traditional five-day bodybuilding split for lifters who enjoy focusing on one or two regions per session.
View workoutRelated exercises
More exercises in the same lane.
Use these when you want a similar movement pattern, a different setup, or more exercise options for the same target area.
Alternate Hammer Curl
Alternate Hammer Curl is a beginner-friendly arm exercise performed with dumbbells.
View exerciseAlternate Incline Dumbbell Curl
Alternate Incline Dumbbell Curl is a beginner-friendly arm exercise performed with dumbbells.
View exerciseConcentration Curls
Concentration Curls is a beginner-friendly arm exercise performed with dumbbells.
View exerciseDumbbell Alternate Bicep Curl
Dumbbell Alternate Bicep Curl is a beginner-friendly arm exercise performed with dumbbells.
View exerciseRelated tools
Related calculators for this exercise.
Use these calculators when you want to connect the exercise itself to calories, protein, strength targets, or training volume.
FAQ
Common questions about Hammer Curls.
What muscles does Hammer Curls work?
Hammer Curls primarily trains the arms.
Is Hammer Curls beginner-friendly?
Yes. It is listed as beginner-friendly.
What equipment do I need for Hammer Curls?
This variation uses dumbbells.
Track this exercise for free in Logbook.
Once the movement is in your plan, use Logbook to record sets, reps, load, and progress without guessing what happened last week.