Side delts
Lateral shoulder cap work from raises and upright pulls.
Exercises that train the Side delts
- Arms Lateral Raise and Rotation UpPrimary · Bodyweight
- Band Incline Y RaisePrimary · Resistance band
- Band Seated Lateral RaisePrimary · Resistance band
- Band Y RaisePrimary · Resistance band
- Bodyweight Standing Around World Wall SupportedPrimary · Bodyweight
- Cable Bent Over One Arm Lateral RaisePrimary · Cable
- Cable Lateral RaisesPrimary · Cable
- Cable Leaning Lateral RaisePrimary · Cable
- Cable Y RaisePrimary · Cable
- Dumbbell Around the WorldPrimary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Bent Arm Lateral RaisePrimary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Chest Supported Lateral RaisesPrimary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Chest Supported Y RaisePrimary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Incline One Arm Lateral RaisePrimary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Lateral to Front RaisePrimary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell One Arm Lateral RaisePrimary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Seated Lateral RaisePrimary · Dumbbell
- Incline Lateral Raises DumbbellPrimary · Dumbbell
- Kettlebell Long Lever Lateral RaisePrimary · Kettlebell
- Lateral Raise BodyweightPrimary · Bodyweight
- Lateral Raise to Shoulder Press Resistance Band CablePrimary · Cable
- Lateral Raises DumbbellPrimary · Dumbbell
- Lateral Raises Dumbbell Seated with SwingPrimary · Dumbbell
- Lateral Raises on Cable MachinePrimary · Cable
- Leaning Dumbbell Lateral RaisePrimary · Dumbbell
- Lying Lateral Raises BodyweightPrimary · Bodyweight
- Machine Lateral RaisePrimary · Machine
- Side Lateral Raise Resistance BandPrimary · Resistance band
- Standing Y RaisePrimary · Bodyweight
- Arm PulsesSecondary · Bodyweight
- Arm Pulses CrossSecondary · Bodyweight
- Arm Pulses Palms DownwardsSecondary · Bodyweight
- Arm Pulses Palms UpwardsSecondary · Bodyweight
- Arms Up and DownSecondary · Bodyweight
- Arnold Press Cable Resistance Band StandingSecondary · Cable
- Arnold Press DumbbellSecondary · Dumbbell
- Backhand RaiseSecondary · Bodyweight
- Band Behind Neck Shoulder PressSecondary · Resistance band
- Band Front RaiseSecondary · Resistance band
- Band Incline T RaiseSecondary · Resistance band
- Band Seated Neutral Grip Shoulders PressSecondary · Resistance band
- Band Seated Shoulder PressSecondary · Resistance band
- Band Single Arm Overhead PressSecondary · Resistance band
- Banded Feet Elevated Hip ThrustersSecondary · Resistance band
- Barbell Behind Neck Push PressSecondary · Barbell
- Barbell Behind the Back Push Press Single Arm BalanceSecondary · Barbell
- Barbell Bent Over Reverse Raise (Skier)Secondary · Barbell
- Barbell Clean and PressSecondary · Barbell
- Barbell Deadlift High PullSecondary · Barbell
- Barbell Front RaiseSecondary · Barbell
- Barbell Incline Shoulders PressSecondary · Barbell
- Barbell Press UnderSecondary · Barbell
- Barbell Seated Behind Neck Military PressSecondary · Barbell
- Barbell Seated Military PressSecondary · Barbell
- Barbell Seated Overhead PressSecondary · Barbell
- Barbell Standing Close Grip Military PressSecondary · Barbell
- Barbell Standing Military PressSecondary · Barbell
- Barbell Standing Shoulder PressSecondary · Barbell
- Barbell Standing Wide Grip Military PressSecondary · Barbell
- Barbell ThrusterSecondary · Barbell
- Barbell Upright RowSecondary · Barbell
- Barbell Wide Grip Upright RowSecondary · Barbell
- Barbell Z PressSecondary · Barbell
- Bodyweight Full Squat with Overhead Front RaisesSecondary · Bodyweight
- Bodyweight Full Squat with Overhead PressSecondary · Bodyweight
- Bodyweight Rear Lunge Front RaiseSecondary · Bodyweight
- Bodyweight Standing Military PressSecondary · Bodyweight
- Bodyweight Standing Military Press Wall SupportedSecondary · Bodyweight
- Cable Front Raises Straight BarSecondary · Cable
- Cable One Arm Front RaiseSecondary · Cable
- Cable Twisting Overhead PressSecondary · Cable
- Cable Upright Row with EZ BarSecondary · Cable
- Cable Upright Row with Straight BarSecondary · Cable
- Dumbbell Alternate Shoulder PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Alternate Side PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Alternating Arnold PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Arnold Press (Version 2)Secondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Arnold Press SeatedSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Bench Seated PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Biceps Curl to Shoulder PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Cuban Press (Version 2)Secondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell External RotationSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Face Down Lying Shoulder PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Front RaiseSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Front Raise (Version 2)Secondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Half Kneeling Military PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Incline BreedingSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Incline Front RaiseSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Incline Hammer Shoulder PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Incline Lying Front RaiseSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Kneeling Arnold PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Leaning FlySecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Lunge to Overhead PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Lying External Shoulder RotationSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell One Arm Front RaiseSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell One Arm Low FlySecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell One Arm Shoulder Press (Version 2)Secondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Push PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Scott PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Scott Press (360 Degrees)Secondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Seated Alternate Front RaiseSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Seated Alternate PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Seated Alternate Shoulder PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Seated Front RaiseSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Seated on Exercise Ball Shoulder PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Seated Shoulder PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Seated Shoulder Press Parallel GripSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Shoulder ExtensionSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Single Arm Underhand Front RaiseSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Single Arm Upright RowSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Squats to Shoulder PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Standing Alternate Overhead PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Standing Alternate RaiseSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Standing Alternate Vertical Front RaisesSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Standing Behind Back Shoulders PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Standing Curl Arnold PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Standing Front Raise Above HeadSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Standing Overhead PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Standing Palms in PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell Upright Shoulder External RotationSecondary · Dumbbell
- Dumbbell W PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- EZ Bar Seated Close Grip Shoulder PressSecondary · Barbell
- EZ Bar Standing Front RaiseSecondary · Barbell
- EZ Barbell Anti Gravity PressSecondary · Barbell
- Front Raise Resistance BandsSecondary · Resistance band
- Front Raises BarbellSecondary · Barbell
- Iso Lateral Shoulder Press Alternate ArmsSecondary · Machine
- Iso Lateral Shoulder Press Both ArmsSecondary · Machine
- Iso Lateral Shoulder Press Single ArmSecondary · Machine
- Kettlebell Front RaiseSecondary · Kettlebell
- Kettlebell Half Kneeling Shoulder PressSecondary · Kettlebell
- Kettlebell Kneeling One Arm Shoulder PressSecondary · Kettlebell
- Kettlebell Seesaw PressSecondary · Kettlebell
- Kettlebell Single Arm Clean and PressSecondary · Kettlebell
- Kettlebell Standing Bottoms-Up One Arm Shoulder PressSecondary · Kettlebell
- Kettlebell Strict PressSecondary · Kettlebell
- Kettlebell Sumo Deadlift with High PullSecondary · Kettlebell
- Kettlebell ThrusterSecondary · Kettlebell
- Kettlebells Sumo Deadlift with High PullSecondary · Kettlebell
- Low Cable Overhead FlyesSecondary · Cable
- Lying Bench External Shoulder RotationSecondary · Bodyweight
- Military Press BodyweightSecondary · Bodyweight
- One Arm Reverse Dumbbell FlySecondary · Dumbbell
- Overhand ClapSecondary · Bodyweight
- Palm Up Palm Down RotationSecondary · Bodyweight
- Plate Front RaiseSecondary · Bodyweight
- Prone Front Raises Barbell on BenchSecondary · Barbell
- Prone Front Raises Dumbbell on BenchSecondary · Dumbbell
- Pull Apart Cable Resistance BandSecondary · Cable
- Resistance Band Pull ApartSecondary · Resistance band
- Resistance Band Standing External RotationSecondary · Resistance band
- Resistance Band Standing Single Arm Shoulder ExtensionSecondary · Resistance band
- Resistance Band Standing Single Arm Shoulder FlexionSecondary · Resistance band
- Seated Dumbbell One Arm Shoulder PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Seated Shoulder Press BarbellSecondary · Barbell
- Shoulder AbductionSecondary · Bodyweight
- Shoulder CircleSecondary · Bodyweight
- Shoulder ExtensionSecondary · Bodyweight
- Smith Machine Shoulder PressSecondary · Machine
- Standing Arnold Press DumbbellSecondary · Dumbbell
- Standing Dumbbell Alternate Shoulder PressSecondary · Dumbbell
- Standing Front Raise DumbbellSecondary · Dumbbell
- Standing Shoulder Press DumbbellSecondary · Dumbbell
- Standing SwimmerSecondary · Bodyweight
- Suspension Trainer with Grips Front RaiseSecondary · Bodyweight
- Upright Row BarbellSecondary · Barbell
- Upright Row Cable Resistance BandSecondary · Cable
- Upright Row DumbbellSecondary · Dumbbell
- Upright Row EZ BarSecondary · Barbell
- Upward Rotation Bent ArmsSecondary · Bodyweight
- Weighted Standing Shoulder Press with PlateSecondary · Bodyweight
How to train it
Train the Side delts with 2–4 of the movements above. Cover different angles, use 2–4 sets each in a 6–15 rep range, and progress the load over time. Pair primary lifts with assisting movements for complete development.
Open the muscle planner →Side delts FAQ
What are the best exercises for the Side delts?
Arms Lateral Raise and Rotation Up, Band Incline Y Raise, Band Seated Lateral Raise and Band Y Raise are among the most effective side delts exercises. Pair a heavy compound movement with one or two assistance exercises to train the side delts through its full range.
How often should you train the Side delts?
Training the side delts two to three times per week, with roughly 10–20 hard sets in total, works well for most lifters. Leave about 48 hours between demanding side delts sessions so the muscle can recover and grow.