2 Days a Week Dumbbell Workout with Free PDF

If you’re looking for a two days dumbbell workout program, you came to the right place. Recently, I’ve created various “2 days a week dumbbell workout” plans for beginners. So, you can download one of the programs if you want to gain strength and mass.

Something is always better than nothing. So, doing dumbbell workouts out even two days a week can help you build strength, increase lean mass, and improve overall fitness.

The primary goal of a general fitness enthusiast is to feel active, strong, and productive. And you can achieve these with a healthy diet and workouts.

I’ve designed a complete series of dumbbell workout programs. So whenever you get more than two days for exercise, you can follow one of the routines below:

If you do dumbbell exercises without a workout bench, you can follow this routine.


Summary of 2 Day Dumbbell Workout Routines

Routine Types 1. Push/Pull
2. Upper/Lower Split
3. Full Body
Program Duration8 Weeks
Equipment RequiredDumbbells and
Flexible Workout Bench
GoalBuild/Maintain
Strength and Mass
LevelBeginner to Intermediate
Targeted GenderMen and Women
One Session Duration45-60 minutes
Rest Between sets1-3 minutes
Related: 30 Day Dumbbell Workout Plan With PDF

Push/Pull 2 Days a Week Dumbbell Workout

Push Pull Legs Split

Week 1

Day 1 (Muscle to work on: Chest, Shoulder, Triceps and Quads)

  1. Dumbbell Squat: 3 sets of 10-12 reps each
  2. Dumbbell Lunges: 2 sets of 8 to 10 reps
  3. Dumbbell Floor Press: 2 sets of 10 to 12 reps
  4. Incline Dumbbell Bench Press: 3 sets of 10 to 12 reps
  5. Dumbbell Overhead Press: 3 sets of 10 to 12 reps
  6. Dumbbell Lateral Raises: 2 sets of 8 to 10 reps

Day 2 (Muscle to work on: Back, Biceps, and Hamstring)

  1. Dumbbell Deadlift: 3-4 sets of 6 to 8 reps
  2. One-arm Kneeling Dumbbell Rowing: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps
  3. Alternate Dumbbell Bicep Curl: 3 sets of 10 to 12 reps
  4. Prone Incline Dumbbell Curl: 2 sets of 8 to 10 reps
  5. Dumbbell Pullover: 3 sets of 10 to 12 reps
  6. Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift: 3 sets of 6 to 8 reps

Week 2

Day 1 (Chest, Shoulder, Triceps, Quads, and Glute)

  1. Dumbbell Front Squat: 3 sets of 12 to 15 reps
  2. Dumbbell Bench Press: 3 sets of 10 to 12 reps
  3. Incline Dumbbell Bench Press: 3 sets of 10 to 12 reps
  4. One-arm Dumbbell Overhead Extension: 3 sets of 12 to 15 reps
  5. Dumbbell Overhead Press: 3 sets of 10 to 12 reps
  6. Dumbell Lateral Raises: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps
  7. Dumbbell Hip Bridge: 3 sets of 10 to 12 reps

Day 2 (Back, Biceps, Forearms, and Hamstring)

  1. Dumbbell Deadlift: 3-4 sets of 6 to 8 reps
  2. Dumbbell Bent-over Row: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps
  3. Dumbbell Reverse Fly: 2 sets of 8 to 10 reps
  4. Standing Dumbbell Curl: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps
  5. Concentration Curl: 3 sets of 8 to 10 reps
  6. Dumbbell Wrist Curl: 2 sets of 8 to 12 reps
  7. Dumbbell Leg Curl: 3 sets of 8 to 10 reps

2 Day Split Dumbbell Workout

Upper Lower Split Routine For Mass

The 2 Day split dumbbell workout will allow you to work on your upper and lower body separately.

So if you want to focus on the upper and lower body individually, you can follow this schedule.

Week 1

Day 1 (Upper Body)

  • Incline Dumbbell Bench Press: 4 sets x 10-12 reps
  • Dumbbell Pullover: 3 sets x 8-10 reps
  • Dumbbell Overhead Press: 4 sets x 10-12 reps
  • Dumbbell Lateral Raises: 3 sets x 8-10 reps
  • Dumbbell Reverse Fly: 3 sets x 8-10 reps
  • One-arm Kneeling Dumbbell Rowing: 3 sets x 8-10 reps

Day 2 (Lower Body)

  • Dumbbell Squat: 4 sets x 12-15 reps
  • Dumbbell Lunges: 3 sets x 8-10 reps
  • Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift: 3 sets x 6-8 reps
  • Dumbbell Glute Bridge: 3 sets x 8-12 reps
  • Dumbbell Calf Raises3 sets x 12-15 reps

Week 2

Day 1 (Upper Body Dumbbell Workout)

  1. Dumbbell Deadlift: 4 sets x 6-8 reps
  2. Dumbbell Bent-over Row: 3 sets x 8-12 reps
  3. Dumbbell Biceps Curl: 3 sets x 8-12 reps
  4. Flat Dumbbell Bench Press: 4 sets x 8-12 reps
  5. Dumbbell Arnold Press: 3 sets x 8-12 reps
  6. Dumbbell Facepull: 2 sets x 6-10 reps
  7. Tricep Kickbacks/One-arm Overhead Tricep Extension: 3 sets x 8-12 reps
  8. Dumbbell Side Bend: 2 sets x 8-12 reps

Day 2 (Lower Body Dumbbell Workout)

  1. Dumbbell Sumo Squat: 3 sets x 8-12 reps
  2. DB Reverse Lunges: 3 sets x 8-12 reps
  3. Dumbbell Step-up: 2 sets x 6-10 reps
  4. Single-Leg Dumbbell Deadlift: 3 sets x 6-8 reps
  5. Dumbbell Hip Thrust: 3 sets x 8-12 reps
  6. Dumbbell Calf Raises: 3 sets x 8-12 reps

Full Body Dumbbell 2-Day Workouts

2 Day Dumbbell Workout

Week 1

Day 1

  • Dumbbell Squat: 3 sets x 12-15 reps
  • Flat Dumbbell Bench Press: 3 sets x 10-12 reps
  • Dumbbell Pullover: 2 sets x 8-10 reps
  • Dumbbell Overhead Press: 3 sets x 10-12 reps
  • Dumbbell Bent-over Rowing: 3 sets x 10-12 reps
  • Dumbbell Reverse Fly: 2 sets x 8-10 reps
  • Dumbbell Romanian Deadift: 3 sets x 6-8 reps

Day 2

  • Dumbbell Lunges: 3 sets x 8-10 reps
  • Dumbbell Deadlift: 3 sets x 6-8 reps
  • One-arm Kneeling Dumbbell Rowing: 3 sets x 8-10 reps
  • Incline Dumbbell Bench Press: 3 sets x 10-12 reps
  • Arnold Press: 3 sets x 8-10 reps
  • Biceps Curl: 3 sets x 8-10 reps
  • Dumbbell Glute Bridge: 3 sets x 8-12 reps

Week 2

Day 1

  1. Dumbbell Sumo Squat: 3 sets x 8-12 reps
  2. Dumbbell Step-up: 2 sets x 6-10 reps
  3. Dumbbell Bench Press: 3 sets x 8-12 reps
  4. Dumbbell Front Raises: 3 sets x 8-12 reps
  5. Dumbbell Bent-over Rowing: 3 sets x 8-12 reps
  6. Standing Dumbbell Oblique Twist: 3 sets x 8-12 reps
  7. Dumbbell Calf Raises: 3 sets x 8-12 reps

Day 2

  • Dumbbell Deadlift: 4 sets x 6-8 reps
  • Dumbbell One-arm Dumbbell Rowing: 3 sets x 8-10 reps
  • Flat Dumbbell Bench Press: 4 sets x 8-12 reps
  • Dumbbell Arnold Press: 3 sets x 8-10 reps
  • Dumbbell Rear Delt Fly: 3 sets x 6-10 reps
  • One-arm Overhead Tricep Extension: 3 sets x 8-12 reps
  • Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift: 3 sets x 8-12 reps

2 Day Dumbbell Workout Plan PDF


Frequently Asked Questions

Which Routine Should You Follow?

All three routines are effective and help you increase strength, build muscles, and improve overall fitness. Depending on what you like, you can do one of them.

You can also do them concurrently. For example, you can do push/pull during the first two weeks, upper/lower split for the next two weeks, and then 2 day full-body dumbbell workout routine for the next couple of weeks.

When Should I Increase Workout Frequency?

Exercising three to five times a week is needed to achieve the results faster. So it would help if you increase the workout frequency whenever you get a chance to work out more than twice a week.

Is Doing 2 Day a week Dumbbell Workout Builds Muscle?

Working out 2 days a week is not enough to build muscles, whether you work out with dumbbells, barbells, or machines.

A study suggests that the major muscle groups should be trained at least twice a week to maximize muscle growth.1Schoenfeld BJ, Ogborn D, Krieger JW. Effects of Resistance Training Frequency on Measures of Muscle Hypertrophy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Med. 2016 Nov;46(11):1689-1697. doi: 10.1007/s40279-016-0543-8. PMID: 27102172. And it can only be achieved if you work out more than two times a week.

Another study suggested doing resistance training more frequently increases muscular hypertrophy in trained men. 2Schoenfeld BJ, Ratamess NA, Peterson MD, Contreras B, Tiryaki-Sonmez G. Influence of Resistance Training Frequency on Muscular Adaptations in Well-Trained Men. J Strength Cond Res. 2015;29(7):1821-1829. doi:10.1519/JSC.0000000000000970

So, working out two days a week isn’t enough and will take longer to see the visible results.

References

Photo of author
Author
Murshid Akram
I'm an online personal trainer, fitness blogger, and fitness enthusiast. I love researching and writing about exercise and nutrition. I share science-based, practical, and logical information that can help you achieve your desired fitness goal.
Share to...