1. Home
  2. Exercises
  3. Standing Barbell Calf Raise
Legs

Standing Barbell Calf Raise

A compound move for strengthening the calves with added resistance.

A great exercise for building calf strength and size using a barbell for added resistance.

See all variants of this movement→
How to doTips
Body Part
Legs
Level
Intermediate
Muscles
calves
Modality
Isolation
Direction
Push
Equipment
Barbell
Goal
Strength
,
Hypertrophy

How to do:

  1. Place a barbell across your shoulders, ensuring it is balanced and secure.
  2. Stand upright with your feet shoulder-width apart.
  3. Slowly lift your heels off the ground, standing on the balls of your feet.
  4. Pause briefly at the top, squeezing your calf muscles.
  5. Lower your heels back down in a controlled manner.
  6. Repeat for 12-15 reps per set.
  7. Perform 3-4 sets total.

Tips:

  • Keep the movement slow and controlled to maximize muscle engagement.
  • Avoid locking your knees.
  • Ensure the barbell is properly balanced to prevent strain on your back.
  • Use a step platform to increase the range of motion.

Similar Exercises

Calf Raise
Seated Calf Raise
Single-Leg Calf Raise

Related Guides

Best Calf Exercises Ranked by Effectiveness (2026 Guide)
Calf Raise: Standing vs Seated vs Donkey — Which Variation Builds Bigger Calves?

This exercise in Workout Days

Strength and Conditioning Intermediate
Leg Power Day
Intermediate
12 weeks
This page in other languages:
EN - English
ES - Español
ZH - 中文
RU - Русский
DE - Deutsch
PT - Português
FR - Français
AR - العربية
Gym Plus
PlansWorkoutsExercisesAI CoachOnline TrackerLearnBlogPrivacyTerms

©2026 Gym Plus: AI-powered workout tracker.

Gym Plus
PlansWorkoutsExercisesLearn
Sign in