The lateral raise isolates the side delts — that's where shoulder width comes from.
1Starting positionStart2End positionFinish
Setup
Stand tall, dumbbells by your thighs, elbows slightly bent and locked at that angle. You can lean forward a touch, shoulders down.
Execution
Stand tall with a dumbbell in each hand at your sides, palms facing in — starting position.
Exhale and raise the dumbbells out to the sides to shoulder height, elbows slightly bent.
Inhale and lower them back down without swinging your body.
Common mistakes
Swinging your body — if it won't go up without a heave, it's too heavy.
Shrugging to your ears — that's traps, not delts; keep the shoulders down.
Dumbbells above shoulder height — shoulder level is enough.
Dropping them on the way down — lower slower than you lift.
Alternatives
Equipment taken or the movement doesn't suit you — try Cable Lateral Raise, Upright Row, Seated Side Lateral Raise. All 8 substitutes and what changes →
