Calf Raises (Bodyweight)

BWBodyweightStrength

No video available

Rise up on toes

How to Perform Calf Raises (Bodyweight)

1Stand tall with feet hip-width apart, toes pointing forward, and arms relaxed at your sides or hands on hips for balance.
2Engage your core and keep your chest up, shoulders back, and gaze forward.
3Rise onto the balls of your feet by pressing through your toes, lifting your heels as high as possible.
4Exhale as you reach the top, squeezing your calves at the peak for 1 second.
5Slowly lower your heels back down until they are just below the starting level for a full stretch.
6Inhale as you lower, maintaining control without letting heels slam down.
7Repeat for desired reps, keeping movements smooth and continuous.
8Key form tips: Keep knees soft (not locked), avoid bouncing or using momentum, and ensure weight stays on the balls of your feet—common mistakes include leaning forward or not fully stretching at the bottom.

Muscles Worked

Front

Back

Primary

Secondary

Primary

Lower legs

Equipment Required

Body weight

Uses 100% of bodyweight

Track this exercise

Log your sets, track PRs, and monitor progress with Styrki.

Start tracking free

Quick answers

What muscles does Calf Raises (Bodyweight) work?: Calf Raises (Bodyweight) primarily targets the Lower legs.
What equipment do I need for Calf Raises (Bodyweight)?: Calf Raises (Bodyweight) is a bodyweight exercise. No additional equipment is required, though you may add resistance for progression.
How do I perform Calf Raises (Bodyweight) correctly?: Calf Raises (Bodyweight) is performed in 8 steps. Start by: Stand tall with feet hip-width apart, toes pointing forward, and arms relaxed at your sides or hands on hips for balance. See the full step-by-step instructions above for complete form guidance.
What type of exercise is Calf Raises (Bodyweight)?: Calf Raises (Bodyweight) is a strength training exercise designed to build muscle and increase force production. It primarily works the Lower legs.

More Lower legs Exercises

View All

Double-Unders

Lower legs

Video

Ankle Rolls

Lower legs

Kettlebell Tibialis Raise

Lower legs

Learn More

View all training guides

Let AI program your Calf Raises (Bodyweight)

Styrki picks your Calf Raises (Bodyweight) sets, weights and progression with adaptive periodization — and auto-detects PRs across 8 record types. Free to track, free forever.

Get the iPhone appFree beta via Apple TestFlight · install takes about a minute

Browse more exercises

How to Perform Calf Raises (Bodyweight)

1Stand tall with feet hip-width apart, toes pointing forward, and arms relaxed at your sides or hands on hips for balance.

2Engage your core and keep your chest up, shoulders back, and gaze forward.

3Rise onto the balls of your feet by pressing through your toes, lifting your heels as high as possible.

4Exhale as you reach the top, squeezing your calves at the peak for 1 second.

5Slowly lower your heels back down until they are just below the starting level for a full stretch.

6Inhale as you lower, maintaining control without letting heels slam down.

7Repeat for desired reps, keeping movements smooth and continuous.

8Key form tips: Keep knees soft (not locked), avoid bouncing or using momentum, and ensure weight stays on the balls of your feet—common mistakes include leaning forward or not fully stretching at the bottom.

Quick answers

What muscles does Calf Raises (Bodyweight) work?

Calf Raises (Bodyweight) primarily targets the Lower legs.

What equipment do I need for Calf Raises (Bodyweight)?

Calf Raises (Bodyweight) is a bodyweight exercise. No additional equipment is required, though you may add resistance for progression.

How do I perform Calf Raises (Bodyweight) correctly?

Calf Raises (Bodyweight) is performed in 8 steps. Start by: Stand tall with feet hip-width apart, toes pointing forward, and arms relaxed at your sides or hands on hips for balance. See the full step-by-step instructions above for complete form guidance.

What type of exercise is Calf Raises (Bodyweight)?

Calf Raises (Bodyweight) is a strength training exercise designed to build muscle and increase force production. It primarily works the Lower legs.