Barbell Standing Calf Raise
Muscles worked: Calves.
How to do it
- Set a barbell across your upper back as you would for a squat.
- Stand with the balls of your feet on a plate or step, heels hanging free.
- Drop the heels below the step for a full stretch.
- Rise onto the toes as high as you can and hold the top for a beat.
- Lower slowly all the way back down - no bouncing out of the stretch.
Coaching cues
The two cues IronPack shows on this exercise's card mid-workout:
- Bar on the back, balls of the feet on a plate or step
- Full stretch down, hold the top - no bouncing
Logging it
IronPack suggests working in the 8 to 12 rep range, progressing in 5 kg jumps when you own the top of the range. Records are tracked automatically at every rep count from 1 to 12. Loading the bar? Use the plate calculator, and check your estimated 1RM from any hard set.
Related exercises
- Standing Calf Raise - calves
- Seated Calf Raise - calves
- Smith Machine Calf Raise - calves
- Donkey Calf Raise - calves
Track the barbell standing calf raise properly
IronPack logs every set, tracks your records at every rep count, shows these form photos mid-workout, and turns the training into a card game you play with your mates.
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Steps, cues, muscle weighting and logging guidance are IronPack's own app data. Last generated 2026-08-16.