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How many reps should you do with shoulder shrugs?

Author

Mia Kelly

Published Jan 19, 2026

Aim for 3 sets of 10 repetitions to start. You can increase the number of reps as you build up your shoulder strength. Over time, try working up to doing 3 sets of 20 repetitions, 4 times a week. If you're doing this exercise to ease shoulder or neck pain, try doing the exercise without weights at first.

Should you go heavy on shrugs?

Nothing is better for building the traps than heavy weight. As long as you use good form on the movement, then the heavier the better.

Do shrugs give you bigger shoulders?

Just shrugging your shoulders while you're just standing and not doing anything else might not make your shoulders stronger and broader.

How many trap shrugs should I do?

Perform 3 sets of 6-12 reps. Increase the weight on each set and decrease the reps. Shrugs are a very effective exercise for building your traps, but most people who perform shrugs do them incorrectly (i.e. they use too much weight and don't fully contract the muscle).

Are shoulder shrugs effective?

Dumbbell shrugs are an excellent exercise to develop strong shoulders and upper trapezius muscles. There are many ways to target your trap muscles – which are the muscles that protrude up around your shoulders and neck – with back exercises, but the dumbbell shrug is straightforward and effective.

38 related questions found

Do shrugs build muscle?

Shoulder shrugs are a popular choice of exercise for strengthening your shoulder muscles and upper arms too. Shoulder shrugs can be done anywhere and only take a few minutes. Even better, shoulder shrugs are perfect for most fitness levels and can be modified for different levels of strength.

Will shrugs increase neck size?

No, the shrug exercise does not make the neck bigger. The shrugs do hit muscles near your neck like the upper trapezius and the levator scapulae, but the won't really help thicken and make your neck look more muscular.

How do you shrug properly?

Perform dumbbell shrugs by grabbing a pair of dumbbells and holding them by your sides with a neutral grip. Keep your arms straight as you lift your shoulders toward your ears. Pause for a moment before lowering your shoulders back to the starting position. Repeat this movement for the desired amount of time.

How often should you do shrugs?

Traditionally in your workout, you're going to do three or maybe four sets of 8 – 10 repetitions on that body part and only three days per week. So it is a lot more volume, so you should see some kind of change. If anything, you should see a difference in the amount of MMC you have to that muscle.

What day should I do shrugs?

ON SHOULDER DAY – UPPER TRAPS

So this is the perfect time to train your upper traps with a shrug exercise and you can choose between using a barbell, dumbbells, low cable pulley or Hammer Strength machine. All are good and you can switch it around from week-to-week by doing them in a Round Robin format.

What muscle do shrugs work?

Shoulder shrugs primarily target the upper trapezius muscle and you are also hitting synergistic and stabilizing muscles, including the middle trapezius, levator scapulae and erector spinae.

Do shrugs help deadlift?

No, shrugs do not help deadlifts because, during deadlifts, the shoulders are never shrugged up when standing in an upright position. Shrugs do not address weak points or technique issues that people may have at different points in the deadlift. So while they are under tension, they don't contribute meaningfully.

How do I build huge traps?

5 best exercises to build bigger traps

  1. Shrugs. It wouldn't be a list of the best exercises for traps if we didn't mention shrugs. ...
  2. Barbell Deadlift. ...
  3. Rack pulls. ...
  4. Upright rows. ...
  5. Face pulls.

Do traps make neck bigger?

Building bigger traps will absolutely make your upper body look more muscular, but it won't make your neck any thicker. The best exercises for the neck are isolation exercises: Neck curls.

Can I do traps everyday?

Working your traps 3 or 4 times per week should allow you to get maximum pump in the muscle and still allow time for recovery. When performing your at home workout routines you should do between 4 to 6 sets of each trap exercise.

Are big traps good?

“Having big traps doesn't help improve anything in particular on the field, other than some intimidation factor,” says Tony Gentilcore, co-founder of Cressey Performance (Hudson, Massachusetts). Tony Bonvechio, owner of Bonvec Strength, adds, “Big traps are not functional to sports performance.”

Are shoulder shrugs good for rotator cuff?

"Strong shoulder blade muscles equal a good environment for a strong cuff." Chepeha's suggested exercises for strengthening the shoulder and back complex include movements and exercises along the lines of shrugs, rowing and lat pulldowns. "Anything where you squeeze your shoulder blades together is great," she said.

How do you do dumbell shrugs?

Dumbbell Shrug Instructions

  1. Assume a standing position with the dumbbells on both sides of your body.
  2. Hinge forward, inhale, and grab the dumbbells with a neutral grip.
  3. Stand up tall and ensure your spine remains neutral.
  4. Contract the traps to elevate the shoulders. ...
  5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Are shoulder shrugs a waste?

Shoulder Shrugs

It's just useless. Like the bicep, the traps are a small muscle, that can be worked more effectively whilst doing other bigger compound multi joint exercises like deadlifts, rows and overhead presses that will also work bigger main muscles like your lats and deltoids.

How do I bulk up my neck?

1. Neck curlup

  1. Bring your chin to your chest and then lift your head off of the ground about 2 inches. ...
  2. Start by doing 3 sets for 10 repetitions and gradually build up to more.
  3. Take your time because these muscles are often underdeveloped and can cause neck strain if you try too much too fast.

How can I get big shoulders?

Exercises for wider shoulders

  1. Sit on the edge of a bench with dumbbells at your side.
  2. Bend forward and rest your torso on your thighs.
  3. Keep your back flat.
  4. Slowly lift the weights up and to the side until your elbows are at shoulder height.
  5. Slightly bend your elbows and tilt your hands forward as you do this.

Do shrugs help posture?

The flexion and extension of the neck can either invite or prevent an injury. Shoulder shrugs can help with this while also keeping neck spasms away. Your traps help in keeping your upper back upright. So, doing shoulder shrugs mean no more hunching as they will help you keep your back straight.