Barbell glute bridge

The glute bridge from the floor with a barbell across the hips: the bridge with external load, ACE's intermediate hip bridge.

Bridge family

Barbell glute bridge

Harder option

The glute bridge from the floor with a barbell across the hips: the bridge with external load, ACE's intermediate hip bridge.

DemandMedium

Equipment requiredA barbell + Floor space

Muscle focusGlutes · Hamstrings

Gets into position, then repeats the movement. Technical checks passed; qualified exercise review is pending.

Watch it bigger, and flip through similar moves, in the studio.Open in the studio

Source-researched guide. Clinical review is pending.

How to move

Lie on the back with the knees bent and a padded barbell across the hips, held in place with both hands.
Drive the hips up until the body is straight from the shoulders to the knees.
Lower them to the floor.

Form cues

Pad the bar.
Squeeze the glutes at the top rather than arching the back.

Practice and cautions

No universal dose is assigned. Choose a manageable amount for your current capacity, leave room for controlled repetitions, and allow recovery. A clinician’s individual plan takes priority.

This is movement education, not an assessment or treatment prescription. Stop for sharp or increasing pain, dizziness, numbness or tingling; seek individual guidance for symptoms, injury or restrictions.

Add to a routine Log a session

Sources and review status

Sources support the educational description; they do not establish that this exercise is suitable for you.

ACE · Hip bridge with a barbell (intermediate; the bodyweight glute bridge is beginner) ↗
ACE · Understanding the barbell hip thrust (a glute bridge with external load) ↗
Free Exercise DB · community text ↗
Unlicense · Free Exercise DB contributors; derived from wrkout/exercises.json. Text import; no photographs or media. · Revision f00c92c7dcf1216a928a52c3706c7ce8e2f71ed5

No variation is labeled clinically validated.

Loading movement options…

What it works

Muscles

Main: Glutes. Also: Hamstrings.

Equipment

A barbell

Level

Intermediate. See the easier and harder options above.

Similar moves

Single-leg glute bridge demonstrated on the 3D figure

3D demoSingle-leg glute bridgeIntermediate · No equipment

Glute kickback (quadruped hip extension) demonstrated on the 3D figure

3D demoGlute kickback (quadruped hip extension)Beginner · No equipment

Physioball Hip Bridge demonstrated on the 3D figure

3D demoPhysioball Hip BridgeBeginner · Exercise ball

Barbell deadlift demonstrated on the 3D figure

3D demoBarbell deadliftAdvanced · A barbell

Barbell good morning demonstrated on the 3D figure

3D demoBarbell good morningIntermediate · A barbell

Barbell hip thrust demonstrated on the 3D figure

3D demoBarbell hip thrustIntermediate · A barbell + A bench or box

Browse more

Questions people ask

What muscles does the Barbell glute bridge work?

Mainly the glutes, with help from the hamstrings.

What equipment do I need for the Barbell glute bridge?

A barbell.

Is the Barbell glute bridge good for beginners?

It is graded intermediate. If it is too hard right now, start with the Glute bridge.

What is an easier alternative to the Barbell glute bridge?

Try the Glute bridge. Both are written steps in the same progression.

How do I make the Barbell glute bridge harder?

Progress to the Barbell back squat, or add load, range or slower lowering once your form is solid.