28 Calves Exercises (All Equipment)

By equipment

Pick the row that matches what you actually have access to.

Equipment	Exercises
Bodyweight	7	Browse all Bodyweight →
Other Equipment	6	Browse all Other Equipment →
Machine	6	Browse all Machine →
Barbell	3	Browse all Barbell →
Dumbbell	3	Browse all Dumbbell →

Ready-made calves routines

Resistance Bands legs workout 9 exercises · full routine Dumbbell legs workout 13 exercises · full routine Barbell legs workout 60 exercises · full routine Machine legs workout 36 exercises · full routine

Best calves exercises with no equipment

Nothing required but floor space.

Ankle Circles beginner Calf Stretch Elbows Against Wall beginner Calf Stretch Hands Against Wall beginner Knee Circles beginner Seated Calf Stretch beginner Standing Gastrocnemius Calf Stretch beginner Standing Soleus And Achilles Stretch beginner

Beginner calves exercises

Balance Board Other Equipment Barbell Seated Calf Raise Barbell Calf Press Machine Calf Press On The Leg Press Machine Machine Calf Raises - With Bands Resistance Bands Dumbbell Seated One-Leg Calf Raise Dumbbell Rocking Standing Calf Raise Barbell Seated Calf Raise Machine Smith Machine Calf Raise Machine Smith Machine Reverse Calf Raises Machine Standing Barbell Calf Raise Barbell Standing Calf Raises Machine

Common questions

What is the best calves exercise?

There is no single best one — the right pick depends on your equipment and level. Of the 28 calves exercises catalogued here, 2 are compound movements, which recruit the most muscle per set and are usually the highest-value place to start. Balance Board is a common first choice.

How many calves exercises can you do without equipment?

7 of the 28 calves exercises here need no equipment at all, and 13 can be done with home-gym kit such as dumbbells, kettlebells or bands.

Where should beginners start with calves training?

19 of these 28 exercises are rated beginner. Ankle Circles is one of the more accessible entry points. Start with a movement you can control through a full range, then progress load or difficulty before adding volume.

All 28 calves exercises

Ankle Circles Bodyweight · beginner Anterior Tibialis-SMR Other Equipment · intermediate Balance Board Other Equipment · beginner Barbell Seated Calf Raise Barbell · beginner Calf Press Machine · beginner Calf Press On The Leg Press Machine Machine · beginner Calf Raise On A Dumbbell Dumbbell · intermediate Calf Raises - With Bands Resistance Bands · beginner Calf Stretch Elbows Against Wall Bodyweight · beginner Calf Stretch Hands Against Wall Bodyweight · beginner Calves-SMR Foam Roller · intermediate Donkey Calf Raises Other Equipment · intermediate Dumbbell Seated One-Leg Calf Raise Dumbbell · beginner Foot-SMR Other Equipment · intermediate Knee Circles Bodyweight · beginner Peroneals-SMR Foam Roller · intermediate Peroneals Stretch Other Equipment · intermediate Posterior Tibialis Stretch Other Equipment · intermediate Rocking Standing Calf Raise Barbell · beginner Seated Calf Raise Machine · beginner Seated Calf Stretch Bodyweight · beginner Smith Machine Calf Raise Machine · beginner Smith Machine Reverse Calf Raises Machine · beginner Standing Barbell Calf Raise Barbell · beginner Standing Calf Raises Machine · beginner Standing Dumbbell Calf Raise Dumbbell · intermediate Standing Gastrocnemius Calf Stretch Bodyweight · beginner Standing Soleus And Achilles Stretch Bodyweight · beginner

Build a calves workout in one tap

Tell the generator your equipment and how long you have. It picks from these 28 exercises and sets your reps. Free, no signup.

Build a free workout

Calves exercises