Looking to get in an effective ab workout at home? Great news: if you don't belong to a gym or have access to workout equipment, at-home bodyweight workouts can be just as challenging. And that's especially true when it comes to working your abs. For an amazing core burn, all you need are a mat (or a comfortable floor), your own bodyweight, and the right moves — and you know we've got you covered with that last one. Keep reading for 15 easy ab exercises that are simple to learn but actually really challenging (and super effective).
Choose three to five of these bodyweight ab exercises to create your own at-home ab workout. Mix them up so you work different parts of your core, including your lower abs, upper abs, obliques (the sides of your abdomen), and transverse abdominis (your deep abdominal muscles). You'll see classic moves like plank variations, reverse crunches, bicycle crunches, Russian twists, and Pilates-inspired moves (such as double leg lifts and the Pilates swimming move that targets your back muscles — which are also part of your core!). If you need some guidance on how to put these easy ab exercises together into a routine, try this quick bodyweight ab workout that uses six of the moves listed here.
You can do this ab exercise right in your living room.
Test out your balance and build a strong core with V-sits.
You'll feel the burn in your lower abs with this Pilates ab move.
Tackle your lower abs with this fun variation of a crunch.
This no-impact move works your obliques and upper abdominals.
This fun move will have your core shaking.
No-equipment flutter kicks will ignite your abs. If you have a resistance band to add, you'll feel it even more!
This super-effective crunch variation will work both your upper and lower abs at the same time.
The toe-touch crunch builds on the double crunch, adding even more engagement of your lower abs.
There's nothing wrong with sticking to the classics. This old favorite is easy to do anywhere.
This dynamic move puts yet another twist on the classic crunch. By extending your legs and arms, you'll feel even more of a burn.
Similar to the half banana, this move adds a twist to work your obliques.
Planks are hard enough, but if you want to really work your obliques, add in this side crunch.
This classic Pilates move creates an intense burn in your lower abs.
Your posture and core will thank you for breaking into this quick move.