Trying to build a bigger bum? Here's everything you need to know on how to grow your booty (2024)

If you're reading this, then you're probably wondering how to get a bigger bum. But before you got to this point, you’ve likely tried the following three things to no avail: a few squats in your bedroom, a couple of hip raises, and a whole load of Google searches resembling the phrase: ‘how to build a bigger booty.’

However, a sporadic burst of gym sessions - unfortunately, we stress - won’t promise the pert, round derrière of your dreams. And there’s way more to getting a bigger bum than a solid week in workout mode. Plus, you’ve probably (just like we have) made some of these common mistakes in your quest for a rear that rivals a Kardashian.

Which is why we’ve put together the ultimate guide to growing your butt, covering everything from the best bum exercises to the booty-building tips - all tried and tested by the experts, of course.

So, without further ado, here’s everything you need to know to set you on the path to a perkier peach…

The best bum exercises you need to know

Lucie Cowan, a personal trainer at Third Space in London explains that building a firm, toned bum is all about strength. She says that while squats and lunges might be some of the best moves out there to build muscle in your glutes, if you want to really shape and change your butt, you need to be adding weight to these moves as well as trying out a variety of different exercises.

So, let’s get to it…

Building a firm, toned bum is all about strength, explains Cowan. Squats and lunges might be some of the best moves out there to build muscle in your glutes, but if you want to really shape and change your butt, you need to be adding weight to these moves as well as trying out a variety of different exercises.

The deadbug

• Get yourself into a tabletop position with your arms raised straight above your head. Pull your ribs down, tensing your core and holding it down into the mat.
• Then lower and stretch one leg straight down as you lower the opposite/diagonal arm.
• Bring back up and repeat. Try for 10-15 per side as a warm up.

Hip raises

• From table top, lower your legs down.
• Then pull one knee into your chest and thrust up with the other leg, putting the pressure in the ball of your foot rather than the heel and tensing your glute on that leg as hard as you can at the top.
• Try for 10 on each side to warm up.

Kettlebell swings

• Stand with your feet a little wider than hip width apart. Lift the kettlebell, keep your ribs down and core tensed, with your chest 'proud' and facing the mirror (but resist the urge to look up - keep your chin down).
• Swinging the kettlebell back between your legs, you then want to imagine someone is electric shocking your butt basically, tensing your glutes as hard as possible and thrusting forwards, using the momentum to swing the kettlebell forward and up, ideally to chin level.
• Repeat this, but try to hinge from your hip rather than bending your knees, remembering that it's that big glute tense creating the momentum to push the kettlebell forward.

Banded walk

• Using a resistance band, step both of your feet onto the band with about 1ft between them. Pull the band tight so it's hard to move your feet in either direction.
• Then twist the band around so that each hand is holding the end part of the band that's under the opposite foot.
• Then lead with your knees and walk sideways like a crab, in a squat position, keeping your core tensed, your back straight, shoulders up/back/down and your butt down.
• Walk 10 steps one way and back 10 steps the other, repeating for three sets.

Bulgarian split squats

• These are somewhere between a squat and a lunge - with one leg balanced behind you on a bench/box and all of your weight in your front leg, which you bend down from the knee.
• Aim for three sets of 15.

Deadlift

This is the most challenging move of the lot, but a great all-body workout, especially for the glutes! We'd really advise learning this with a PT, even if you've done a barbell deadlift before.

• Standing in the middle of the bar, get a good grip on each handle. Your feet should be a little wider than hip-width apart.
• Squat down so your bum is as far back and down as you can get - it should feel like you're just about to fall backwards if you go any further. All your weight should be in your heels and your toes should be almost lifting off the ground.
• Lift the bar just up until the point where it feels like it's about to leave the ground (this will activate your shoulder and back muscles and stop you from snatching it up too quickly), take a deep breath in and lift straight up.
• Big glute tense at the top, and lower the bar back down to the ground.

Weighted reverse lunge

• With a dumbbell in each hand, standing upright with your core tensed and your shoulders up back and down, step backwards with one leg, lowering your knee to the ground.
• Then return to upright. Start with bodyweight if you've never done lunges before and gradually build yourself up to 12kgs or 14kgs.
  

How to get a bigger bum: dos and don'ts

Listen to your body

PT Cowan says the last 1-2 reps of every exercise should feel pretty much impossible. As soon as you aren't feeling that way, up your weights. Even if you have to lower your reps a little from 10-12 to 8, do it in order to build up your ability.

Equally, if by your last set, you're so fatigued you can feel your form is going, lower the reps. 8 great reps alone are better than 8 great reps followed by four where your back is arching, your core isn't switched on and your heart isn't in it.

Focus on your form

Obvious? Yes, but you can’t just go all-in and assume you’ve got a perfect technique straight away. Do you know how hard it is to get a perfect squat?

"Squatting isn’t just for Instagram, it’s for life," explains Level 3 personal trainer Yanar Alkayat. "Get the form right in the gym and not only will you build a stronger booty, but you’ll support your body for every day. Squatting will strengthen your bum muscles (glutes), your thighs (quads) and your core."

So how do you nail the move? Alkayat first instructs placing your feet just wider than hip distance apart and pointing your toes so they’re facing slightly outwards (imagine the left foot is pointing to 11am and the right to 1pm).

Then, with your hands lightly together in front of you (or out in front for extra balance), send your bum back and drop your hips down towards the ground like you’re going to sit on a chair.

Alkayat states that you don’t need to stress about dropping into a deep squat right away. Instead, she says that how deep you go all depends on your strength and mobility.

"Aim for your bum and hips to be parallel to the ground or lower than your knees if you can. Keep your heels flat on the ground, your weight in the heels and your chest out. Sending those knees out will stop you from collapsing forward."

Keep your exercises varied

"Squats, lunges and deadlifts are by far the most-used exercises for training the glutes, but to see results you need to exercise a larger part of the glute area," says David Wiener, Training Specialist at fitness app Freeletics.

So what you’re saying is - that squat challenge won’t give you buns of steel?

Rather - Wiener says - you can build more muscle by adding variations to simple squats and lunges, which will help you to make sure you’re targeting the full muscle group.

“Switching up your workouts regularly will mean your body won’t know what to expect, helping to accelerate results," he adds, as Alkayat echoes how mixing up your squat styles will not only build up your strength and power, but give you a fuller, bigger bum shape overall.

Add in resistance

If your workouts begin to feel easy, chances are you’re not putting in the work you need: Wiener explains that the glutes are a big muscle group and as such they can take a lot; likely more than you think you can handle.

So, he details, if you really want to build your bum, then you need to “make sure you’re pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and adding some heavy resistance.”

Build your booty diet, too

You know they say 'abs are built in the kitchen'? Yeah, turns out that kind of applies to the rest of your bod, too. Including the glutes.

"If you think because you’re training hard that you can eat whatever you like, then I’m afraid you’re mistaken," says Wiener.

In fact, to build muscle and burn fat, he advises sticking to a healthy diet which is packed full of vegetables, lean protein and good fats.

“Lean protein will help your body to repair and build the muscle fibres which are torn during training, helping them to grow bigger and stronger,” he adds.

Disclaimer: while there are no specific foods to increase your bum size, a healthy overall diet could work wonders.

Set realistic goals

Sometimes, slowing down a little is really the best thing you can do. Especially if you’re guilty (which we all are at times) of going too hard too quickly.

"In this day and age, we’re surrounded by images of the perfect body which results in unrealistic body goals and ideals which simply are not achievable," explains Wiener. "You can only work with what mother nature has given you, and if you’re failing to hit your goals, maybe it’s time to stop and think that they might not be realistic for you and your body type.”

That being said - Wiener does state that the glutes react well to consistent and varied training. Which means “most people will be able to add size and definition to this area, but only in proportion to their body as a whole."

Prioritise rest days

Again, going too hard can actually set you back. Yes, you might want to transform your booty sooner rather than later, but it’s super important not to go too hard in the process.

"If your heart is set on meeting a certain goal then you may think you’re wasting time by resting and taking days off from visiting the gym," Wiener says. "The glutes are the largest muscle group in the body, and all of that heavy lifting means the body needs time to repair in order to build and grow.”

Also, he warns that not taking regular rest days could result in injury - which we don’t know about you - but that definitely won’t help you on the way to a bigger backside. Instead, you “should be aiming to take at least two rests each week to give your body the chance to recover from intense training."

Voilà! Everything you need to know on how to get a bigger bum. Now all that's left to do is build that booty...