The glutes are the largest and one of the strongest muscles in the human body. They work hard every day, allowing you to sit, stand, climb stairs, and lug heavy things around. Building stronger glute muscles (yep, there are multiple) will not only improve your speed and explosiveness but will also protect your lower back and knees from injury. Plus, all good glute workouts, at the gym or at home, target the gluteus maximus, or glute max for short — so you’ll maximize your benefits both during and after your workout. 

Whether you’re trying to sculpt your glutes or build muscle strength, these simple glute exercises accomplish all that and more.

What are the Best Exercises for Sculpting Your Glutes?

The best glute-sculpting exercises are lunges, squats, deadlifts, bridges, kicks, hip thrusts, and step-ups. Each of these exercises — whether done with or without weights — will build muscle and strength in your glutes.

How to Target Your Glutes

When targeting your glutes, aim for exercises that activate the muscles in your rear. The most effective exercises for sculpting the glutes include hip thrusts, step-ups, lunges, squats, bridges, kicks, and deadlifts. As you build strength in this area, you can incorporate weights into these glute exercises for even better results.

The Benefits of Sculpting Your Glutes

Adding glute exercises to your workout routine is the best way to keep these important muscles strong and healthy. From preventing injuries and improving athletic performance to keeping your body in alignment and improving balance, there are many advantages to dedicating time to targeting your glutes.