How to Do Standing Bicep Curls: Form and Guide

Master the standing bicep curl with our expert guide. Learn the correct technique, common mistakes, and tips for bigger, stronger arms.

How to Perform

  1. Stand upright with your feet shoulder-width apart and a dumbbell in each hand at arm's length.
  2. Rotate your palms so they face forward while keeping your elbows tucked close to your torso.
  3. Exhale and curl the weights toward your shoulders by contracting your biceps while keeping your upper arms stationary.
  4. Continue the movement until the dumbbells are at shoulder level and your biceps are fully contracted.
  5. Inhale and slowly begin to lower the dumbbells back to the starting position in a controlled manner.
  6. Straighten your arms completely at the bottom to ensure a full range of motion before starting the next repetition.

Common Mistakes

  • Using momentum or swinging the hips to lift the weight.
  • Allowing the elbows to flare outward or drift forward during the curl.
  • Failing to fully extend the arms at the bottom of the movement.
  • Curling the wrists excessively at the top of the rep.

Muscles Worked

Primary movers

  • Biceps

Stabilizers

  • Brachialis
  • Brachioradialis
  • Forearms

Related Guides

Biceps · Arms