Shoulders · Dumbbell
Dumbbell Lateral Raise
How to do the dumbbell lateral raise, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Dumbbell
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Extension
- Mechanic
- Isolation
See it in motion
How to do it
Stand holding dumbbells at your sides. With a slight bend in your elbows, lift the dumbbells outward to shoulder height, then lower slowly.
- 1Feel your side delts lifting the dumbbells out to shoulder height
- 2Keep a slight bend in your elbows and lead with your elbows, not hands
- 3Maintain core engagement to avoid swaying
Common mistakes
- Avoid shrugging your shoulders up to your ears
- Don't swing the weights or use momentum
- Avoid raising past shoulder level; stop when arms are parallel
Muscles worked
The dumbbell lateral raise mainly works the side delts, with the upper traps assisting.
- Side DeltsPrimary
- Upper TrapsSupport
- ForearmsMinor
Kovo programs the dumbbell lateral raise for you and tracks it every session.
The AI builds your whole program, drops the right lifts into each workout, and adjusts your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More shoulders exercises
- How to do the arnold press
- How to do the barbell overhead press
- How to do the cable face pull
- How to do the cable lateral raise
- How to do the dumbbell front raise
- How to do the dumbbell overhead press
Last reviewed April 2026.