Legs · Bodyweight
Bodyweight Standing Calf Raise
How to do the bodyweight standing calf raise, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Extension
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Stand tall on a flat floor or the edge of a step with feet hip-width apart. Press through the balls of your feet to raise your heels as high as possible, then lower under control. Use bodyweight only, holding a wall or rail lightly for balance if needed.
- 1Drive through the balls of your feet and feel your calves contract hard
- 2at the top
- 3Lower slowly to feel a stretch through the back of your lower leg
- 4Stay tall through your torso and keep your knees soft
Common mistakes
- Do not bounce at the top or bottom of the rep
- Avoid letting your ankles roll inward or outward
- Do not lock your knees or lean forward
Muscles worked
The bodyweight standing calf raise mainly works the calves.
- CalvesPrimary
- QuadsMinor
- HamstringsMinor
Kovo programs the bodyweight standing calf raise for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More calves & shins exercises
- How to do the ankle cars
- How to do the ankle circles
- How to do the ankle rocks
- How to do the resistance band ankle mobilization
- How to do the calf press
- How to do the calf raises with hold
Last reviewed June 2026.