The Dumbbell Circuit That Works Every Muscle In 15 Minutes

People performing the renegade row exercise with dumbbells
(Image credit: Getty Images)

You should know by now that you don’t need to spend hours slaving away in a gym. Indeed, more is often less because you need to give your muscles the recovery time they need to adapt and grow.

But even though cutting down on your training time can be beneficial, you must also guarantee that what time you do spend training is 100% effective. That’s what this six-move total-body dumbbell circuit offers – all you need is a pair of dumbbells and the right attitude, and you’ll get out of every session exactly what you put in. So start stripping away body fat and building new muscle mass today.

Dumbbell Circuit

Do the six dumbbell exercises in order, sticking to the reps detailed, without resting until you finish all the reps of the sixth and final move of the circuit. Rest for two minutes, then repeat the circuit. Do four circuits in total.

Pick a dumbbell weight that allows you to perform the hardest lift for you with good form. Increase the weight weekly as you get stronger

Squat

Man performs dumbbell squat

(Image credit: Glen Burrows)

Reps 15 Rest 0sec

Stand tall with feet hip-width apart holding a dumbbell in each hand. Keep your chin and chest up. Brace your core, then bend at the hips and knees to squat down as low as you can. Push back up through your heels.

Alternating lunge

Man performs lunge holding dumbbells

(Image credit: Glen Burrows)

Reps 12 each side Rest 0sec

Stand tall with feet hip-width apart holding a dumbbell in each hand. Keep your chin and chest up. Lunge forward and down until both knees are bent at right angles. Return to the start and alternate leading leg with each rep.

Overhead press

Man performs overhead press with dumbbells

(Image credit: Glen Burrows)

Reps 12 Rest 0sec

Stand tall with feet hip-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand at shoulder height. Keep your chest up and brace your core. Press the weights directly overhead until your arms are fully extended, then lower them back to the start position.

Hammer curl

Man performs hammer curl with dumbbells

(Image credit: Glen Burrows)

Reps 12 Rest 0sec

Stand tall holding a dumbbell in each hand, with elbows by your sides and your chest and chin up. Keeping your elbows tight to your sides, curl the weights up together. Squeeze at the top, then lower under control.

Renegade row

Man performs renegade row with dumbbells

(Image credit: Glen Burrows)

Reps 6 each side Rest 0sec

Get into a press-up position holding dumbbells. Brace your core and glutes to keep your body stable. Row one dumbbell up, leading with your elbow, then lower it back to the floor. Repeat, alternating arms with each rep.

Press-up

Man performs press-up while holding dumbbells

(Image credit: Glen Burrows)

Reps 15 Rest 2min

Get in the press-up position holding dumbbells. Brace your core and glutes to keep your body stable. Bend your elbows, keeping them close to your sides, to lower your chest to the floor. Press back up powerfully.


More Dumbbell Workouts To Try 

Joe Warner
Former editor of Men’s Fitness UK

Joe Warner is a highly experienced journalist and editor who began working in fitness media in 2008. He has featured on the cover of Men’s Fitness UK twice and has co-authored Amazon best-sellers including 12-Week Body Plan. He was the editor of Men’s Fitness UK magazine between 2016 and 2019, when that title shared a website with Coach.