If you’re looking for the most effective quad exercises with dumbbells to build massive quads, you came to the right place! We’re here to show you the top 10 best workouts you can do to build your quads in the best way possible.
That way, you can avoid wasting time trying to find answers in a sea of info online, and you can start exercising right away! Let’s begin.
Contents
Quad Exercises With Dumbbells for Massive Muscle
1. Goblet Squat
Beginners are frequently instructed to perform the goblet squat. You may utilize the goblet squat as your main quadriceps booster when working out at home with only dumbbells. Sadly, it can be challenging to lift weights that are heavy enough to exhaust the quadriceps before the arms, shoulders, and back give up.
The goblet squat may be transformed into a true mass builder by adding additional equipment, like a weighted vest, to increase the pressure on your quadriceps. This is how you do it:
- In your palms, place a dumbbell right in front of your chest. As you round the dumbbell’s end, your fingers should be facing upward. Your elbows will be pointing downward.
- With your feet somewhat outside, hip-width apart, and toes pointing slightly out, sit between your legs.
- Keep your chest broad as you drop
- In order to prevent your elbows from hitting your legs and interrupting your squat, keep them tucked and pointed downward
- To go back to the beginning position, push all the way through your foot
2. Dumbbell Front Squat
The dumbbell front squat requires you to carry two weights on each shoulder. The weight that you can handle in your hands and arms will once again be your limiting factor, therefore it can be worthwhile to superset harder goblet squats with smaller dumbbell front squats to exhaust the quads. This is how you do it:
- Put two dumbbells on your shoulders and swing them. Your elbows should be raised, and the dumbbell’s end should rest on your shoulder. This will enable you to squat while maintaining a large chest posture
- With your feet somewhat outside, hip-width apart, and toes pointing slightly out, sit between your legs
- To go back to the beginning posture, keep your elbows up and push with your full foot
3. Dumbbell Walking Lunge
The dumbbell walking lunge exercise is quite difficult. This is the greatest workout you can do to bulk up your quads if all you have just dumbbells at your disposal. To stress your quads, you can perform really high repetitions while moving more quickly.
The muscle-building impact from the walking lunge is increased when holding dumbbells. You’ll understand what I mean if you try lunging a full football field. To do the exercise, follow these steps:
- Step forward with your right leg while keeping the dumbbells at your sides. Your foot will touch the ground and you will drop in one fluid motion
- Push through your front leg and bring your left leg near to your right leg once your left knee is just above or barely touches the floor
- Repeat with your other leg
4. Dumbbell Bulgarian Split Squat
Another exercise you may practice with a lot of repetitions to develop your quads is the Bulgarian split squat. Your front leg must work more to support you since your back leg is raised. The back leg is on the ground in the split squat and lunge, which greatly aids in the workout. The Bulgarian split squat is performed in the following manner:
- Set one foot on a bench and let your shoelaces hang down. You’ll need to experiment with how much your stance leg is positioned forward. Still, the shin should be about vertical at the lowest position
- Dumbbells in hand, lower yourself until your back knee is almost touching the floor.
- Drive up to the highest position using the front leg
5. Dumbbell Split Squat
Dumbbell split squats are a good substitute for walking lunges if you don’t have much room to maneuver. Although there is more stability, the movement is essentially the same. This implies that compared to the walking lunge, you may use heavier weights for this exercise. This is how you do it:
- When in the bottom position, space your feet in a way so that your front shin is nearly vertical. Your knee can go a little bit forward, which is excellent for strengthening your quads
- To have a solid foundation, your feet should be hip-width apart. Splitting your legs like you’re on a tightrope makes it difficult to maintain balance
- Hold dumbbells at your side, distributing your weight equally between your legs, and lower your back knee to the ground
- Emphasize the front leg as you push back to the starting position
6. Dumbbell Step Up
Another quad workout with dumbbells is the step-up. It hits the glutes more directly than the quads, but it’s still a great exercise to have in your repertoire. Utilizing a box that isn’t too tall is advisable. The highest you should go is with your thigh parallel to the floor. This is how you do it:
- Step atop a box while holding dumbbells at your sides. Drive with your leg until you are standing tall
- Lower yourself back to the ground gradually
- Use the front leg primarily and minimize the usage of the back leg
7. Plie’ Squat
The plie squat is quite similar to the sumo deadlift, with the exception that you begin from the top position in this exercise. Everything else is exactly the same aside from that. These are excellent workouts for strengthening the inner thigh, combined with the sumo deadlift. Here’s how to do it:
- Choose a dumbbell, then place it upright on the ground
- Set up with your feet wider than shoulder-width apart and let your arms swing freely to the floor
- Grab the dumbbell’s edges with both hands while squatting
- Drive your feet into the floor while maintaining a tight core and standing tall
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then gradually drop back to the starting position
8. Pistol Squat
The most demanding quad exercise with dumbbells is the pistol squat. Your entire body weight is on one leg since you don’t have a supporting leg. The portion of your body weight above your hips when you are crouching on two legs is 68% of your entire body weight. This is how you do it:
- Place yourself on a raised area. Being on the floor is considerably harder than having your leg dangling off the edge of a box
- To serve as counterbalances, have a pair of light dumbbells at your side. To balance yourself as you fall, elevate your front arm with the dumbbells
- Get down to where your calves are touching and your bum is facing them
- Return to the top
9. Sissy Squat
The dumbbell sissy squat is a highly challenging quad workout. Learn the basic variants before adding weight to the exercise. It could be difficult to do this workout if you have poor knees, but taking it slow may help with knee discomfort. Being a cross between a squat and a leg extension, it varies from a regular squat. This is how you do it:
- As you lean back and hold a dumbbell in the goblet position, drive your knees forward
- As you go deeper, rise to your feet
- Regain the top position by pushing
10. Dumbbell Leg Extensions
A dumbbell exercise that targets the rectus femoris for full quadriceps development is the dumbbell leg extension. Unfortunately, because of the strength curve, there is not much resistance at the bottom of the workout. The most difficult part of the workout is from midway to the top. This is how you do it:
- Put your feet up off the ground by sitting on the edge of a high box. The dumbbell should be positioned between your ankles while your legs are together
- Squeeze your quadriceps at the top while extending your legs
Conclusion
Although building massive quads and exercising, in general, can often be overwhelming, there are ways to make this a much easier and more enjoyable task. The first thing you need to remember is not to overwork yourself. If you want your routine to work and to avoid getting injured, you should make a workout plan that includes the above-listed exercises.
However, making sure that you don’t do them all at once or do more repetitions than your body is ready for is very important. Listen to your body and incorporate the exercises that feel the best.
Another thing to consider is focusing on your diet as well and maintaining a healthy, protein-filled one as well. Do this, and you’ll be ready to build your massive quads in no time!
Lazar Sretenović, an IFBB and REPs Level 3 certified trainer, specializes in personalized fitness programs encompassing weight lifting, EMS, and endurance training. With a focus on tailored nutrition and holistic well-being, Lazar Sretenović guides clients through transformative health journeys, emphasizing safety and individual goals.