171 Best Calves Exercises, With Photos and Muscle Maps

Lower leg, below the knee. Pointing and flexing the foot; ankle stability.

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Calves highlighted on the body.

Exercises 171
Primary Target 16 movements
Stretches 24
Location Lower leg, below the knee

Calves Exercises — Primary Target 16

These load the calves directly. Fitnit-tracked movements first, then those with step-by-step photographs.

Balance Board Balance Board beginner Not specified Barbell Seated Calf Raise Barbell Seated Calf Raise beginner Barbell Calf Press Calf Press beginner Machines Calf Press On The Leg Press Machine Calf Press On The Leg Press Machine beginner Machines Calf Raises - With Bands Calf Raises - With Bands beginner Resistance Bands Dumbbell Seated One-Leg Calf Raise Dumbbell Seated One-Leg Calf Raise beginner Dumbbells Rocking Standing Calf Raise Rocking Standing Calf Raise beginner Barbell Seated Calf Raise Seated Calf Raise beginner Machines Smith Machine Calf Raise Smith Machine Calf Raise beginner Machines Smith Machine Reverse Calf Raises Smith Machine Reverse Calf Raises beginner Machines Standing Barbell Calf Raise Standing Barbell Calf Raise beginner Barbell Standing Calf Raises Standing Calf Raises beginner Machines Calf Raise On A Dumbbell Calf Raise On A Dumbbell intermediate Dumbbells Donkey Calf Raises Donkey Calf Raises intermediate Not specified Standing Dumbbell Calf Raise Standing Dumbbell Calf Raise intermediate Dumbbells Jumping Jacks beginner No Equipment

Exercises That Also Work the Calves 155

The calves assists rather than leads in these — useful for volume without repeating the same movement.

Squats Squats beginner No Equipment AI tracked Alternate Leg Diagonal Bound Alternate Leg Diagonal Bound beginner Not specified Backward Drag Backward Drag beginner Not specified Ball Leg Curl Ball Leg Curl beginner Exercise Ball Barbell Side Split Squat Barbell Side Split Squat beginner Barbell Barbell Squat Barbell Squat beginner Barbell Barbell Walking Lunge Barbell Walking Lunge beginner Barbell Bear Crawl Sled Drags Bear Crawl Sled Drags beginner Not specified Bench Sprint Bench Sprint beginner Not specified Box Jump (Multiple Response) Box Jump (Multiple Response) beginner Not specified Box Skip Box Skip beginner Not specified Carioca Quick Step Carioca Quick Step beginner Not specified Chair Squat Chair Squat beginner Machines Depth Jump Leap Depth Jump Leap beginner Not specified Double Leg Butt Kick Double Leg Butt Kick beginner No Equipment Dumbbell Lunges Dumbbell Lunges beginner Dumbbells Dumbbell Squat Dumbbell Squat beginner Dumbbells Fast Skipping Fast Skipping beginner No Equipment Front Box Jump Front Box Jump beginner Not specified Front Cone Hops (or hurdle hops) Front Cone Hops (or hurdle hops) beginner Not specified Goblet Squat Goblet Squat beginner Kettlebell Hack Squat Hack Squat beginner Machines Hip Lift with Band Hip Lift with Band beginner Resistance Bands Hurdle Hops Hurdle Hops beginner Not specified

Showing 24 of 155. Browse the full library →

Calves Stretches 24

Mobility work for the same muscles. Full stretch library →

Ankle Circles Ankle Circles beginner Not specified Calf Stretch Elbows Against Wall Calf Stretch Elbows Against Wall beginner Not specified Calf Stretch Hands Against Wall Calf Stretch Hands Against Wall beginner Not specified Hug A Ball Hug A Ball beginner Exercise Ball Knee Circles Knee Circles beginner No Equipment Runner's Stretch Runner's Stretch beginner Not specified Seated Calf Stretch Seated Calf Stretch beginner Not specified Seated Floor Hamstring Stretch Seated Floor Hamstring Stretch beginner Not specified Standing Gastrocnemius Calf Stretch Standing Gastrocnemius Calf Stretch beginner Not specified Standing Soleus And Achilles Stretch Standing Soleus And Achilles Stretch beginner Not specified Standing Toe Touches Standing Toe Touches beginner Not specified The Straddle The Straddle beginner Not specified

Showing 12 of 24. All stretches →

Calves Exercises by Equipment

Barbell 60 calves exercises Machines 19 calves exercises Kettlebell 17 calves exercises No Equipment 15 calves exercises Dumbbells 11 calves exercises Resistance Bands 3 calves exercises Exercise Ball 1 calves exercise

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best calves exercises?

Fitnit lists 171 calves exercises, 16 of which train the calves as the primary muscle. The top of that list is Balance Board, Barbell Seated Calf Raise, Calf Press, Calf Press On The Leg Press Machine.

Where are the calves?

Lower leg, below the knee. Pointing and flexing the foot; ankle stability.

How do I stretch the calves?

Fitnit lists 24 calves stretches, including Ankle Circles, Calf Stretch Elbows Against Wall, Calf Stretch Hands Against Wall. Each has photographs and instructions.

Can I train calves at home with no equipment?

Yes — 15 of these need no equipment at all, including Squats, Double Leg Butt Kick, Fast Skipping.

Other Muscle Groups

Chest Exercises Pressing movements and drawing the arms across the body Back Exercises Pulling movements, spinal extension and posture Shoulders Exercises Raising and rotating the arm in every direction Biceps Exercises Bending the elbow and turning the palm upward Triceps Exercises Straightening the elbow Forearms Exercises Grip strength and wrist movement All Muscle Groups The full body map Exercise Library Every movement Fitnit lists

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