Best Glutes Exercises

This shortlist highlights 57 exercises that target the glutes. It is a curated editorial roundup built from movement type, equipment, and difficulty data — not a lab ranking or coaching substitute.

How we chose these exercises

  • We group exercises by the attribute a reader is most likely filtering on first, such as target muscle, equipment, or difficulty.
  • We favor exercises with clear movement intent and dependable metadata for muscle group, equipment, and difficulty.
  • Beginner-friendly movements and low-equipment options are surfaced earlier when the shortlist serves broad training intent.
  • This page is a curated editorial ranking rather than a personalized training plan or medical recommendation.

Featured exercises

57 curated exercises for this shortlist.

B

Bretzel stretch

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Hamstrings, Lats, Chest
C

Cable pull through

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Hamstrings, Calves, Quadriceps
C

Cossack squat

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Quadriceps, Calves, Abs
D

Dumbbell Side Squat

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Quadriceps, Hamstrings
E

Extensión de gluteo en máquina

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
None
E

Extensión de gluteos en polea

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
None
G

Glute Drive

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Hamstrings, Quadriceps
G

Glute Kickback (Machine)

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
None
L

Lateral Walk

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
None
M

Machine Hip Abduction

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
None
P

Plank Jacks

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Obliques, Abs, Calves
R

Rack Deadlift

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Biceps
S

Seated Hip Adduction

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
None
S

Smith machine squat

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Quadriceps
W

Wall-sit

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Quadriceps, Calves, Abs
A

Alternate back lunges

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Quadriceps
A

Arco femorale una gamba

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Lats
b

box jumps

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Calves
C

Clamshell

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Abs
E

Elliptical

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Quadriceps, Traps, Biceps
F

Foam Roller Gluteus

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
None
F

Frog Stretch

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
None
F

Full Sit Outs

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Obliques, Abs
H

Hip Bridge

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Abs, Obliques
H

Horse Stance (Side Splits)

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
None
I

Isometric Squat to Failure

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Quadriceps
K

Knee to Chest Stretch

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Hamstrings
P

Plank with Alternating Leg Lift

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
None
R

Reverse Wood Chops

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Lats, Shoulders, Biceps
S

Seated Hip Abduction

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
None
S

Seated Pancake Good Morning

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
None
S

Shinbox IR Stretch

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Obliques
S

Single Leg Glute Bridge

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
None
S

Squat Thrust

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Quadriceps, Abs, Soleus
S

Sumo Squats

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Quadriceps
U

Unilateral Hip Thrust

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Abs
U

Unilateral Lunges

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Quadriceps, Hamstrings
К

Коробочный присед

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Quadriceps, Soleus
B

Barbell Hip Thrust

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
None
D

Dumbbell Frog Press

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
None
D

Dumbbell Hip Thrust

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Quadriceps
F

Front Squats

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Abs
K

Kettlebell One Legged Deadlift

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
None
K

Kettlebell Swings

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Hamstrings
L

Low Box Squat - Wide Stance

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Quadriceps
r

rubber band glute kickback

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
None
s

seated figure four

Category
Isolation
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
None
S

Superman

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Lats
S

Supine Hip Abduction

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Quadriceps
B

Banded Clamshell

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Abs, Quadriceps
B

Bulgarian Squat with Dumbbells

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Quadriceps, Hamstrings
C

Clean

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Quadriceps, Hamstrings, Lats
C

Copenhagen Adduction Exercise

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Quadriceps, Obliques, Serratus Anterior
D

Double Kettlebell Front Squat

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Quadriceps, Hamstrings, Calves
D

Dumbbell Front Squat

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Quadriceps, Shoulders, Abs
D

Dumbbell Rear Lunge

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Quadriceps, Soleus
D

Dumbbell Single-leg Hip Thrust

Category
Compound
Primary Muscle
Glutes
Secondary Muscle
Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Training references

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best glutes exercises?

Best Glutes Exercises highlights options such as Bretzel stretch, Cable pull through, Cossack squat. The right pick depends on your training goal, available equipment, and experience level.

How did you choose these glutes exercises?

We curated this shortlist using muscle-targeting data, equipment tags, movement type, and difficulty so the page reflects practical training intent.

Should beginners start with every exercise in this glutes list?

No. Start with the exercises that match your current technique, mobility, and equipment access, then progress as your form and strength improve.