12 Best Legs Workouts at Home

You don’t need a gym membership or fancy equipment to get stronger legs. Your legs carry you through the day, and keeping them strong helps with everything—from walking up stairs to improving your overall posture and balance.

If you're working out from home and want to focus on your legs, you’ve got options. These 12 simple but effective leg exercises can be done in your living room, bedroom, or even your backyard. No machines. No nonsense. Just your body weight (or a couple of basic weights if you have them) and some motivation.

Let’s get into it.

1. Bodyweight Squats

This one’s the classic. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, keep your chest up, and lower your hips back and down—like you're sitting in a chair. Then stand back up. Keep your weight centered in your heels and your knees aligned with your toes.

Why it works: It targets your quads, hamstrings, and glutes. Plus, it wakes up your core too.

2. Lunges

Stand tall. Step one leg forward, bend both knees until your back knee nearly touches the floor, and then push back up. Switch legs.

Why it works: Lunges work your legs one at a time, which helps fix muscle imbalances and improves balance.

3. Wall Sit

Slide your back down a wall until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Hold it. That’s it. Feels easy for the first few seconds—then it doesn’t.

Why it works: Great for building leg endurance and mental toughness.

4. Glute Bridges

Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Lift your hips until your body forms a straight line from shoulders to knees. Squeeze your glutes at the top.

Why it works: Strengthens your glutes and hamstrings, which is key if you sit a lot during the day.

5. Step-Ups (Use a Chair or Step)

Stand in front of a sturdy chair or step. Step one foot up, press through the heel, then bring the other leg up. Step down one foot at a time and repeat.

Why it works: Builds power in your quads and glutes, and mimics real-life movement.

6. Calf Raises

Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart. Slowly raise your heels off the floor, then lower back down. You can do this on flat ground or on a step for more range of motion.

Why it works: Often overlooked, strong calves help with stability and prevent ankle injuries.

7. Sumo Squats

Take a wider-than-normal squat stance and point your toes slightly outward. Lower yourself down like a regular squat, but you’ll feel more work in your inner thighs.

Why it works: Targets your inner thighs and glutes in a slightly different way than a standard squat.

8. Bulgarian Split Squats (Use a Chair)

Stand in front of a chair, place one foot behind you on it, and squat down with the standing leg. It’s like a lunge, but harder.

Why it works: Really focuses on one leg at a time, building strength and balance.

9. Jump Squats

Do a normal squat, then explode upward into a jump. Land softly and go right into the next rep.

Why it works: Adds a cardio element while still building muscle.

10. Side Lunges

Step out to the side, keeping the other leg straight while bending the lunging leg. Push off and return to center. Alternate sides.

Why it works: Hits your inner and outer thighs and improves lateral movement—something most exercises don’t do.

11. Donkey Kicks

On all fours, kick one leg back and up like a donkey. Keep your core tight and move with control. Switch legs after reps.

Why it works: Great glute isolation move—perfect for toning and strengthening.

12. Single-Leg Glute Bridge

Same as the regular glute bridge, but this time, raise one leg off the floor. Perform the bridge using only the grounded leg.

Why it works: Builds unilateral strength and targets the glutes.

Putting It Together: Sample Leg Day at Home

You can mix and match these based on your fitness level and time. Here's a basic structure:

Beginner Leg Day (2–3 rounds):

• Bodyweight Squats – 15 reps
• Wall Sit – 30 seconds
• Glute Bridge – 15 reps
• Calf Raises – 20 reps
• Side Lunges – 10 on each side

Intermediate Leg Day (3–4 rounds):

• Jump Squats – 10 reps
• Bulgarian Split Squats – 8 reps on each leg
• Sumo Squats – 12 reps
• Donkey Kicks – 12 reps each leg
• Step-Ups – 10 reps each leg

Tip: Rest 30–60 seconds between sets or exercises, depending on your fitness level.

Final Thoughts

Getting strong legs doesn’t have to mean big machines or hours in the gym. You can build real strength, balance, and endurance with your body weight right at home. The key is consistency and effort.

Start with a few of these moves, build up your form and reps, and stay patient. Your legs do a lot for you—give them a little time each week, and you’ll feel (and see) the results.