The Best Quads Exercises

Top Exercises

Dumbbell Kneeling Hold to Stand

Intermediate / Dumbbells / Quads / isolation

A functional lower-body and core movement. It improves balance, hip mobility, and unilateral strength while under constant load.

Cossack Squats

Intermediate / Bodyweight-only / Quads / squat

A lateral squat variation that improves hip mobility and frontal plane strength. It targets the quads, glutes, and adductors while stretching the hamstrings.

Bulgarian Split Squat

Intermediate / Bodyweight-only / Quads / squat

A powerful unilateral exercise that targets the quads and glutes. Elevating the rear foot increases the range of motion and demand on the front leg.

Bodyweight Wall Squat

Beginner / Bodyweight-only / Quads / squat

An isometric exercise for lower-body endurance. It targets the quadriceps and glutes while teaching proper spinal alignment against a flat surface.

Bodyweight Overhead Squat

Intermediate / Bodyweight-only / Quads / squat

A challenging mobility and strength exercise. It requires exceptional thoracic, hip, and ankle mobility to maintain an upright posture with arms overhead.

Bodyweight Pulse Squat

Beginner / Bodyweight-only / Quads / squat

A high-tension squat variation. Pulsing at the bottom increases the time under tension for the quads and glutes, enhancing muscle endurance.

Bodyweight Rear Lunge

Beginner / Bodyweight-only / Quads / lunge

A foundational unilateral leg exercise. Stepping backward emphasizes the glutes and hamstrings while being more shoulder and knee-friendly than forward lunges.

Bodyweight Kneeling Sissy Squat

Beginner / Bodyweight-only / Quads / squat

A quad-dominant isolation exercise. It places high tension on the quadriceps by using a leaning-back motion while kneeling.

Bench Squat

Beginner / Dumbbells / Quads / squat

A squat variation that uses a bench to ensure consistent depth. It builds confidence and proper mechanics while targeting the quads and glutes.

Barbell Zercher Squat Hold Isometric

Intermediate / Barbell / Quads / squat

An isometric core and leg exercise. Holding the bar in the crooks of your elbows creates a massive demand on the core and upper back stabilizers.

Barbell Wide Squat

Beginner / Barbell / Quads / squat

Targets the adductors and glutes more effectively than a standard squat. The wide stance improves hip mobility and builds inner thigh strength.

Barbell Step-Up

Beginner / Barbell / Quads / isolation

A functional unilateral exercise for the glutes and quads. Holding a barbell increases the stability requirement and builds explosive single-leg power.