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Bro Split Workout (5-Day, One Muscle a Day)

By the FORMA team·Updated June 2026
The bro split dedicates each day to a single muscle group — chest, back, shoulders, arms, then legs — for maximum volume and pump per session. It's a bodybuilding classic best suited to lifters who train 5 days a week and enjoy a high-volume, high-focus session for each body part.
GoalBuild muscle
LevelIntermediate–Advanced
EquipmentFull gym
Days / week5
StyleHypertrophy
Sets × reps4 × 8–12

The weekly schedule

Every exercise below links to a full guide with form cues and a demo. Do 4 sets of 8–12 reps, resting ~90 sec between sets.

Day 1 · Chest

  1. Barbell Bench Press4 × 8–12
  2. Push-Up4 × 8–12
  3. Incline Dumbbell Press4 × 8–12
  4. Cable Chest Fly4 × 8–12
  5. Machine Chest Press4 × 8–12
  6. Dumbbell Bench Press4 × 8–12

Day 2 · Back

  1. Chin-Up4 × 8–12
  2. Pull-Up4 × 8–12
  3. Bent-Over Row4 × 8–12
  4. Barbell Shrug4 × 8–12
  5. Lat Pulldown4 × 8–12
  6. Seated Cable Row4 × 8–12

Day 3 · Shoulders

  1. Overhead Press4 × 8–12
  2. Lateral Raise4 × 8–12
  3. Face Pull4 × 8–12
  4. Arnold Press4 × 8–12
  5. Dumbbell Shoulder Press4 × 8–12
  6. Machine Shoulder Press4 × 8–12

Day 4 · Arms

  1. Dumbbell Biceps Curl4 × 8–12
  2. Hammer Curl4 × 8–12
  3. Triceps Dip4 × 8–12
  4. Triceps Push-Down4 × 8–12
  5. Close-Grip Bench Press4 × 8–12
  6. Skull Crusher4 × 8–12

Day 5 · Legs

  1. Barbell Back Squat4 × 8–12
  2. Leg Press4 × 8–12
  3. Walking Lunge4 × 8–12
  4. Hip Thrust4 × 8–12
  5. Deadlift4 × 8–12
  6. Good Morning4 × 8–12

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Frequently asked questions

Is the bro split effective for building muscle?

It can be, especially at higher training ages, but it only hits each muscle once a week. For most lifters, a split that trains muscles twice weekly (PPL, upper/lower) edges it out.

Who is the bro split best for?

Lifters who can train 5 days a week and want a high-volume, focused session per body part — often intermediate to advanced bodybuilders.

How many exercises per muscle in a bro split?

Because each muscle gets a whole day, 5–7 exercises per session is common to accumulate enough volume.

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