The Best Abs Exercises

Top Exercises

Stability Ball Crunch

Beginner / Stability (Swiss) Ball / Abs / core

A classic core builder that utilizes an unstable surface to recruit more muscle fibers. It primarily strengthens the upper abdominals and improves spinal stability.

Sideways Lifts Vertical

Intermediate / Bodyweight-only / Abs / core

Targets the medial deltoids through a vertical range of motion. It builds shoulder roundness and improves overall upper-body silhouette.

Lever Seated Leg Raise Crunch

Intermediate / Leverage Machine / Abs / core

A compound core movement that targets both the upper and lower abdominals simultaneously by combining a leg raise with a torso crunch.

Cable Seated Crunch

Beginner / Cable Machine with Rope Attachment / Abs / core

A machine-based abdominal exercise that allows for heavy resistance and precise control over the rectus abdominis.

Cable Hanging Leg Raise

Intermediate / Cable Crossover Machine / Abs / core

An advanced core exercise. Attaching cables to the feet adds resistance to the hip flexors and lower abdominals during the hanging lift.

Weighted Crunch

Intermediate / Dumbbells / Abs / core

A resistance-based abdominal exercise designed to build muscle thickness. Adding weight forces the rectus abdominis to work harder against gravity for maximum hypertrophy.

Seated Leg Raise

Beginner / Bodyweight-only / Abs / isolation

An isolation exercise for the lower abs and hip flexors. It builds the strength needed for more advanced hanging leg raises.

Seated Alternate Crunch

Beginner / Bodyweight-only / Abs / core

A rotational core exercise targeting the abdominals and obliques. The seated position forces a strict contraction by isolating the upper body.

Pulse-Up

Intermediate / Bodyweight-only / Abs / isolation

A high-tension core exercise for the lower abdominals. The vertical hip lift forces the rectus abdominis to work under constant load.

Potty Squat

Beginner / Bodyweight-only / Abs / squat

A deep squat designed to improve functional mobility and lower body flexibility. It emphasizes full range of motion in the hips, knees, and ankles.

Oblique Crunches Floor

Beginner / Bodyweight-only / Abs / core

A classic floor-based core move for the obliques. It creates a powerful mind-muscle connection for better abdominal control and functional rotation.

March Sit

Beginner / Bodyweight-only / Abs / isolation

A core and hip flexor exercise. The marching motion challenges pelvic stability while the seated position isolates the abdominal wall.

Explore by Muscle Groups

Explore by Equipment

Bodyweight-only

BOSU Balance Trainer

Cable Crossover Machine

Cable Machine with Rope Attachment

Captain's Chair

Hi-Lo Cable Machine

Lat Pulldown Machine

Leverage Machine

Mini Loop Bands

Resistance Bands

Seated Cable Row Machine

Stability (Swiss) Ball