5 Best Upper-Body Workouts for Men To Build Muscular Shoulders

Building well-defined, muscular shoulders requires a workout regimen that targets each part of the shoulder—the anterior, lateral, and posterior deltoids—to create balanced strength and definition. To take any guesswork out of the equation, I’ve designed five upper-body workouts for men to build strong, muscular shoulders.

As a trainer, I often see men focusing on heavy lifting with limited range of motion, which can lead to disproportionate development and potential injury. The best approach to achieving fuller, more symmetrical shoulders involves a mix of compound and isolation movements. This blend will activate all areas of the shoulder complex, leading to a more balanced look while enhancing shoulder stability and endurance.

Shoulders are involved in nearly every upper-body exercise, making them prone to overuse. Therefore, prioritizing form over excessive weight is key to avoiding injury. Consistency with a varied routine will drive optimal results and prevent workout plateaus. Including supersets that combine push and pull movements also promotes better muscle engagement, contributing to muscular definition and size.

In this article, we’ll review five effective upper-body workouts for men designed specifically to build shoulder strength and muscle. Each workout includes a targeted superset to maximize time under tension, giving you the best shot at adding volume and shape to your shoulders.

Table of Contents

Workout #1: Overhead Press Power Set

What you need: A pair of dumbbells, a barbell, and a bench. This power-focused routine emphasizes heavy pressing movements to build strength and volume in the anterior and lateral delts.

The Routine:

1. Barbell Overhead Press – 4 sets of 8 reps
2. Dumbbell Lateral Raise – 3 sets of 12 reps
3. Seated Arnold Press – 3 sets of 10 reps

Directions: Complete each exercise in sequence with a 45-second rest between exercises. After finishing the set, rest for 1-2 minutes and repeat for a total of 3 rounds.

1. Barbell Overhead Press

1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a barbell at chest height with an overhand grip.
2. Press the barbell overhead, fully extending your arms and keeping your core tight.
3. Lower the barbell back to your chest, maintaining control.

2. Dumbbell Lateral Raise

1. Hold a dumbbell in each hand by your sides, palms facing inward.
2. Lift the weights out to the sides until your arms are parallel to the floor.
3. Lower the weights slowly to the starting position.

3. Seated Arnold Press

1. Sit on a bench with dumbbells held in front of you, palms facing your body.
2. Press the dumbbells overhead while rotating your palms outward.
3. Reverse the movement, bringing the dumbbells back in front of you.

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Workout #2: Shoulder Definition Circuit

What you need: Resistance bands and dumbbells. This circuit incorporates resistance bands to enhance time under tension for better muscle activation.

The Routine:

1. Resistance Band Front Raise – 3 sets of 12 reps
2. Dumbbell Reverse Fly – 3 sets of 12 reps
3. Face Pulls – 3 sets of 15 reps

Directions: Perform all exercises as a circuit with minimal rest between exercises. Rest for 1 minute after completing the circuit and repeat for a total of 3 rounds.

1. Resistance Band Front Raise

1. Stand on the center of the band and hold one end in each hand.
2. Raise your arms straight in front of you to shoulder height.
3. Lower with control back to the starting position.

2. Dumbbell Reverse Fly

1. Bend forward at the hips with a dumbbell in each hand.
2. Lift the weights out to the side, keeping a slight bend in your elbows.
3. Lower back down slowly, maintaining control.

3. Face Pulls

1. Attach a resistance band at chest height, gripping each end with an overhand grip.
2. Pull the band toward your face, separating your hands at the top.
3. Return to the starting position in a controlled motion.

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Workout #3: Superset for Size

What you need: Dumbbells and a bench. This superset isolates the shoulders for targeted muscle growth, focusing on the anterior and lateral deltoids.

The Routine:

1. Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press – 4 sets of 10 reps
2. Dumbbell Upright Row – 3 sets of 12 reps
3. Incline Reverse Fly – 3 sets of 10 reps

Directions: Perform each exercise in order, resting for 30-45 seconds between exercises. After finishing each set, rest for 1-2 minutes and complete 3 rounds in total.

1. Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press

1. Sit on a bench with a dumbbell in each hand at shoulder height.
2. Press the dumbbells overhead until your arms are fully extended.
3. Lower the weights back to shoulder height.

2. Dumbbell Upright Row

1. Hold a dumbbell in each hand in front of your thighs.
2. Lift the weights vertically to your chest, keeping your elbows pointed outward.
3. Lower the dumbbells back down with control.

3. Incline Reverse Fly

1. Set the bench at a 45-degree incline and lie face down, holding a dumbbell in each hand.
2. Lift the weights out to the side until they’re parallel to the floor.
3. Slowly return to the starting position.

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Workout #4: Rear Delt Sculptor

What you need: Resistance bands and a pair of light dumbbells. This workout targets the often-neglected rear delts, adding depth to your shoulders.

The Routine:

1. Dumbbell Rear Delt Row – 3 sets of 12 reps
2. Band Pull-Aparts – 3 sets of 15 reps
3. Prone Y-Raise – 3 sets of 12 reps

Directions: Complete each exercise consecutively. Rest for 1 minute after each round, and repeat for a total of 3 rounds.

1. Dumbbell Rear Delt Row

1. Bend at the hips with dumbbells in each hand.
2. Row the weights outward toward your hips, focusing on your rear delts.
3. Lower back down with control.

2. Band Pull-Aparts

1. Hold a resistance band in front of you with your arms extended.
2. Pull the band apart by moving your arms outward, keeping them straight.
3. Return slowly to the starting position.

3. Prone Y-Raise

1. Lie face down on a bench with a dumbbell in each hand.
2. Raise your arms into a “Y” position overhead.
3. Lower back down to the starting position.

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Workout #5: Explosive Shoulder Finisher

What you need: A pair of dumbbells. This workout combines explosive moves with control exercises to activate all shoulder muscles and finish your shoulder session with intensity.

The Routine:

1. Push Press – 4 sets of 8 reps
2. Dumbbell Shrugs – 3 sets of 15 reps
3. Alternating Dumbbell Front Raise – 3 sets of 12 reps per arm

Directions: Perform each exercise in sequence, resting for 45 seconds between each. Rest for 1-2 minutes after completing the set and repeat for a total of 3 rounds.

1. Push Press

1. Hold a dumbbell in each hand at shoulder height.
2. Perform a small dip with your knees and press the weights overhead using your legs.
3. Lower back down to shoulder height.

2. Dumbbell Shrugs

1. Stand holding a dumbbell in each hand at your sides.
2. Shrug your shoulders up toward your ears.
3. Lower them back down slowly.

3. Alternating Dumbbell Front Raise

1. Hold a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing your body.
2. Raise one arm straight in front of you to shoulder height.
3. Lower back down and alternate arms.

Tyler Read, BSc, CPT