A clear focus for every session
Upper/Lower Body Workout at Home
Give upper-body and lower-body training their own place in your week. Choose a three-day rotation or a four-day split, then adapt each session to your equipment and experience.
These practical plans combine barbell, dumbbell, band, and bodyweight options. Follow the sets and reps as a starting guide, open the exercise links for instructions, and use the equipment swaps when you need a different setup.

Understand the split
Upper days. Lower days. Room to recover.
Upper-body sessions
Train your chest, back, shoulders, and arms through a mix of pressing, rowing, and pulling movements. Both upper days include pushing and pulling.
Lower-body sessions
Combine squats or lunges with hip hinges, then add calf and core work. Adjust the exercise choices and resistance to your ability.
Choose one plan. The three-day and four-day schedules are alternatives. Begin with one or two working sets while learning, use manageable resistance, and add sets only when you are ready. Optional exercises can be skipped.
Three sessions, alternating focus
Three-day upper/lower rotation
Train on nonconsecutive days such as Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Continue the rotation into the following week instead of restarting with upper body every Monday.
Week one
Monday · Upper
Wednesday · Lower
Friday · Upper
Week two
Monday · Lower
Wednesday · Upper
Friday · Lower
Across two weeks, you complete three upper and three lower sessions—an average of 1.5 sessions per half each week. If you prefer to train your whole body at every visit, explore our full-body workout plans.
Three-day rotation · UpperView session +
Use this upper session on each upper day in the two-week rotation. Start at the lower end of the sets and rep ranges.
- Barbell bench press or dumbbell floor press
2–3 × 6–10
Use a suitable rack and safeties for barbell work. - One-arm dumbbell row
2–3 × 8–12 per side
Keep the torso steady and avoid twisting. - Dumbbell shoulder press
2 × 8–12
Choose a comfortable range of motion. - Band face pull
1–2 × 12–15
Use a suitable secure anchor. - Standing dumbbell curl · optional
1–2 × 10–15
Keep the upper arms still.
Three-day rotation · LowerView session +
A squat, hip hinge, single-leg movement, and simple calf and core work. Use bodyweight or light weights while learning.
- Barbell back squat or goblet squat
2–3 × 6–10
Choose goblet squats if you do not have a safe rack setup. - Dumbbell Romanian deadlift
2–3 × 8–12
Hinge at the hips with a controlled range. - Reverse lunge or floor split squat
2 × 8–10 per leg
Use a fixed support if balance limits you. - Bodyweight calf raise
2 × 12–20
Use support and move without bouncing. - Plank
2 × 15–40 seconds
Shorten the hold before your position changes.

Keep upper-body training balanced
Press, pull, then add the extras
Build the session around your main presses and rows. Curls, lateral raises, and band triceps work come afterward, with modest resistance and controlled repetitions.
If you already have a demanding session, skip optional accessories. More exercises are not a requirement for a useful workout.
Experienced with dips? They can replace a secondary chest press when your setup and technique are suitable; you do not need to add them on top.
A repeatable weekly structure
Four-day upper/lower split
This schedule gives you two upper and two lower sessions each week. A and B use different emphases while keeping the week balanced.
Start the week
Monday · Upper A
Tuesday · Lower A
Wednesday · Rest or easy activity
Finish the week
Thursday · Upper B
Friday · Lower B
Weekend · Recovery or easy activity
Four-day plan · Upper AView session +
A pressing emphasis with a row included to keep the session balanced. Complete the exercises as straight sets.
- Barbell bench press or dumbbell floor press
3 × 6–10
Use a load you can control throughout each set. - One-arm dumbbell row
3 × 8–12 per side
Keep the pulling movement controlled. - Dumbbell incline press or push-up
2 × 8–12
Choose one option; use an incline push-up if needed. - Dumbbell lateral raise
2 × 10–15
Use light dumbbells and a comfortable range. - Band triceps pushdown · optional
1–2 × 10–15
Check the anchor before use.
Four-day plan · Lower AView session +
A squat emphasis with a hip hinge and single-leg work. Choose the main squat that fits your equipment.
- Barbell back squat or goblet squat
3 × 6–10
Use an appropriate rack and safeties for barbell squats. - Dumbbell Romanian deadlift
2 × 8–12
Keep the weights close to your legs. - Bulgarian split squat or floor split squat
2 × 8–10 per leg
Start with bodyweight if needed. - Bodyweight calf raise
2 × 12–20
Add resistance only when you can control the movement. - Plank
2 × 15–40 seconds
Stop before your hips sag.
Four-day plan · Upper BView session +
A pulling emphasis with shoulder and chest pressing retained. Unweighted and assisted bar work are valid options.
- Pull-up or assisted pull-up
3 × 3–8
A dumbbell row or suitable band pull-down can fill this slot. - Barbell overhead press or dumbbell press
2–3 × 6–10
Use the version you can set up safely. - Barbell bent-over row or supported dumbbell row
2 × 8–12
Choose support if holding the hinge limits your technique. - Push-up or dumbbell bench press
2 × 8–12
Adjust the push-up height or dumbbell load. - Standing dumbbell curl
2 × 10–15
Keep wrists comfortable and avoid swinging. - Band face pull · optional
1–2 × 12–15
Use a light resistance you can control.
Four-day plan · Lower BView session +
A hip-hinge emphasis with a squat or lunge pattern alongside it. Choose one main deadlift variation rather than stacking several heavy hinges.
- Barbell deadlift or dumbbell Romanian deadlift
2–3 sets
Deadlift: 5–8 reps; dumbbell RDL: 8–12 reps. - Goblet squat or reverse lunge
2 × 8–12
For lunges, count repetitions per leg. - Barbell hip thrust or bodyweight glute bridge
2 × 10–15
Choose a stable setup; avoid overextending the back. - Banded leg curl · optional
1–2 × 12–15
Use the secure setup in the exercise guide. - Bodyweight calf raise
2 × 12–20
Keep the repetitions steady. - Dead bug
2 × 6–10 per side
Alternate slowly while maintaining control.
Build a steady foundation
Make lower-body work fit your level
Start with bodyweight squats or light goblet squats if you are learning. Use a floor split squat when an elevated rear foot makes the movement difficult to control.
Choose one main deadlift variation on Lower B. Record your repetitions and resistance, and build gradually rather than adding several demanding hinges to the same workout.
See the equipment alternatives →
Want an optional fifth day?
Keep the four strength sessions above and add easy activity on Saturday if it suits your recovery. This fifth day is a lighter addition; the strength plan does not require it.
Optional fifth day · Easy movementView session +
Add this to the four-day plan only if it fits your recovery. Keep it comfortably easy and skip it when you need rest.
- Easy walking or cycling
15–25 minutes
Choose a pace that allows comfortable conversation. - Gentle shoulder and hip movements
5–10 minutes
Stay within a comfortable range; do not force stretches. - Optional light exercise practice
A few easy repetitions
Rehearse familiar unloaded movements. Avoid another hard lifting session.
Your equipment, your options
Practical swaps for home training
No bench or rack
Use dumbbell floor press or push-ups instead of bench press. Choose standing dumbbell press, goblet squats, and floor split squats. Barbell squats and bench presses need a suitable setup with safeties.
No pull-up bar
Use a dumbbell row for 8–12 reps per set. A band pull-down is another option with a secure overhead anchor intended for that exercise.
No resistance bands
Keep the main dumbbell or barbell exercises and skip optional band accessories. You can use a suitable dumbbell triceps exercise or rear-delt raise if you already know the movement.
Just dumbbells
Use dumbbell pressing and rows, goblet squats, RDLs, split squats, and bodyweight core exercises. Browse our dumbbell workout plans for a dedicated dumbbell setup.
Choose one exercise for each slot. Alternatives fill a similar role but are not identical movements. Check the condition and load rating of bars, benches, bands, and anchors before use.
Warm up, rest, and progress
Prepare for the lifts
Begin with a few minutes of easy activity. Rehearse the day’s main movements and add lighter practice sets before your working weight.
Allow enough rest
Use roughly 60–120 seconds as a starting point, with two to three minutes or more for demanding compound lifts. Take longer whenever your next set needs it.
Change one thing
Build repetitions within the listed range. Once all sets reach the upper end with consistent technique, increase resistance slightly and work up again.
Leave at least a full day between strength sessions for the same muscle groups, and allow more recovery when needed. Stop an exercise if it causes pain. General warm-up, technique, and recovery guidance: Mayo Clinic on strength training.
The sets, reps, and rest ranges here are example programming choices. Adjust them to your experience and available time. If you are starting from scratch, visit our beginner training programs.
Plan your next session
Upper/lower workout questions
How does an upper/lower split work?
Upper sessions cover chest, back, shoulders, and arms. Lower sessions cover the legs and hips, with calf and core work added as shown. You alternate the two session types instead of training your whole body every workout.
Is three or four days a week better?
Choose the schedule you can maintain and recover from. Three days use a two-week rotation, so each half is trained three times across two weeks. The four-day plan schedules two upper and two lower sessions each week. Neither schedule guarantees better results for everyone.
Can beginners use an upper/lower routine?
Yes, with manageable resistance, easier variations, and fewer sets while learning. Start with the three-day rotation or consider a two-day full-body routine if fewer weekly sessions suit you better. Barbell lifts are optional.
Can I follow it without a bench or rack?
Use dumbbell floor press or push-ups for chest pressing, standing dumbbell press for shoulders, and goblet squats or split squats for legs. Do not attempt a barbell squat or bench press without a suitable safe setup.
What if I cannot do pull-ups?
Use an assisted variation with suitable equipment, or substitute a dumbbell row. A band pull-down is another choice when you have a secure anchor designed for that use.
How long should I rest?
For these example plans, begin with roughly 60–120 seconds between sets. Allow two to three minutes, or more when needed, after demanding compound lifts. Start again when you can repeat the movement with control.
Do I need the fifth day?
No. The three- and four-day plans stand on their own. The optional fifth day is easy activity, not another hard strength session. Skip it if recovery or your schedule would benefit from rest.
How should I increase the weights?
Keep a record of sets, repetitions, and load. Once you reach the top of the rep range on all sets with consistent technique, add the smallest practical weight increase. Return toward the lower end of the range and build up again.
Explore more home workout plans
Full-body training
Train upper and lower body together with two- and three-day options.
Explore full-body workouts →Other split routines
Compare different ways to organize your weekly strength training.
Explore split workouts →Short sessions
Find practical routines for days when you have less time available.
Explore quick workouts →Browse all workout categories · Explore resistance-band training