How to Get Bigger Hands: Strength and Flexibility Exercises (2024)

Maybe you’re trying to palm a basketball or grip a football more securely. Perhaps you want to spread your fingers a little wider across a piano keyboard or guitar frets. Or maybe you’ve just always wished your hands were a little bigger.

But can you increase the size of your hands, or is that like hoping you can stretch enough to be a little taller?

The truth is, the actual size of your hands is limited by the size of your hand bones. No amount of stretching, squeezing, or strength training can make your bones any longer or wider.

That said, the hand is powered by about 30 muscles, and they can grow stronger and more flexible with a variety of exercises.

And increasing the strength and reach of your fingers and thumbs, even just a little, may help you no matter what sport or instrument you play.

To bolster your grip on a basketball, football, or a stubborn jar of salsa, you can do several simple exercises.

These exercises will not only increase the strength and thickness of certain hand muscles, but they may make your hands appear a bit bigger.

As with any exercise, a good warmup is helpful in preventing injury and discomfort. Before performing these strengthening exercises, soak your hands for a few minutes in warm water or wrap them in a heated towel.

These treatments can also help to relieve hand pain or stiffness caused by arthritis or other musculoskeletal conditions.

The following exercises can be done two or three times per week, but be sure to wait 2 days in between exercises to allow your hand muscles to recover.

Squeezing a soft ball

  1. Hold a soft stress ball in your palm.
  2. Squeeze it as hard as you can (without causing any pain).
  3. Hold the ball tightly for 3 to 5 seconds, and then release.
  4. Repeat, working your way up to 10 to 12 repetitions with each hand.

For a variation, hold a stress ball between the fingers and thumb of one hand and hold for 30 to 60 seconds.

You may also improve your grip strength by regularly using other exercise implements that require squeezing.

Making a fist and releasing

  1. Make a fist, wrapping your thumb across the outside of your fingers.
  2. Hold this position for 1 minute, and then open your hand.
  3. Spread your fingers as wide as you can for 10 seconds.
  4. Repeat 3 to 5 times with each hand.

Working with clay

Form a ball with some modeling clay and then role it out. Manipulating clay will strengthen your hands, while creating sculptures with detailed features will also improve your fine motor skills.

Practicing wrist curls and reverse wrist curls

  1. Sit straight up with your feet flat on the floor.
  2. Hold a light dumbbell (2 to 5 pounds to start) in one hand.
  3. Rest that hand, palm up, on your leg so that it’s extending just off the edge of your knee.
  4. Flex your wrist up so that you bring the weight just above the knee.
  5. Slowly bend the wrist back down to the starting position.
  6. Do 10 repetitions, and then switch hands.
  7. Do 2 to 3 sets of 10 repetitions with each hand.

For reverse wrist curls, do the same thing only have your palms facing down.

Stretching your hand muscles can increase their flexibility and range of motion.

The following exercises can be done daily. Just be careful not to overextend your fingers so that you strain any of the muscles or tendons.

Thumb stretch

Hand span is measured across the back of the hand. It’s always a topic of conversation around the NFL draft, where having a longer hand span is seen as a plus for quarterbacks.

But the ability to grip and throw a football well has more to do with strength, flexibility, and technique.

To help widen your hand span — the maximum distance from your thumb to your little finger — follows these steps:

  1. Gently pull your thumb away from the other fingers with the thumb of your opposite hand. You should feel a slight stretch.
  2. Hold for 30 seconds, and then relax.
  3. Repeat with your other hand.

Flat stretch

  1. Rest one hand, palm down, on a table or other firm surface.
  2. Slowly straighten all your fingers so that your hand is as flat against the surface as possible.
  3. Hold for 30 seconds, and then switch hands.
  4. Repeat 3 to 4 times with each hand.

Finger lift

The finger lift takes a little more time, but it’s helpful in increasing range of motion.

  1. Start with your hand palm down and flat on a firm surface.
  2. Gently lift each finger, one at a time, off the table high enough so that you feel a stretch along the top of your finger.
  3. After you have stretched each finger, repeat the exercise 8 to 10 times.
  4. Then repeat with your other hand.

Like feet, ears, eyes, and every other part of your body, the shape and size of your hands are unique to you.

But you can check out the average measurements for adults and children, if you’re curious to see how your mitts measure up.

Hand size is usually measured in three different ways:

  • Length is measured from the tip of your longest finger down to the crease just below the palm.
  • Breadth is measured across the widest part of the hand, where the fingers meet the palm.
  • Circumference is measured around the palm of your dominant hand and below the knuckles, not including the thumb.

Here are the average adult hand sizes for men and women, according to a comprehensive study by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA):

GenderLengthBreadthCircumference
male7.6 in (19.3 cm)3.5 in (8.9 cm)8.6 in (21.8 cm)
female6.8 in (17.3 cm)3.1 in (7.9 cm)7.0 in (17.8 cm)

Besides the more than two dozen muscles, a hand contains 26 bones.

The length and width of those bones are determined by genetics. A parent or grandparent with small or large hands can pass those traits down to you.

For women, bone growth usually stops by the mid-teens, and for men, it’s a few years later. Muscle size, however, can be increased much later.

Hand strengthening exercises can make the muscles larger or thicker, if not longer.

A broken hand or other trauma can also affect the shape and size of the hand.

While you can’t make your fingers any longer or your palm any larger, a few easy exercises can make your hands stronger and increase your fingers’ flexibility.

These exercises can give you a firmer grip and a slightly wider hand span. Just be sure to perform them carefully so as not to injure the hands that you rely on for so much, regardless of their size.

Resources

How to Get Bigger Hands: Strength and Flexibility Exercises (2024)

FAQs

Will my hands get bigger if I workout? ›

Exercise increases blood flow to your heart and lungs, as well as to the muscles you're working. This can reduce blood flow to your hands, making them cooler. In turn, the blood vessels in your hands may react by opening wider — which could lead to hand swelling.

How can I improve my hand flexibility? ›

Lift your fingers.

Hold each of your fingers one to two seconds, and then lower them. Repeat with your right hand and then repeat eight to 10 times for each hand. This exercise can help increase the range of motion of your hands, as well as finger flexibility.

How can I make my wrists and hands bigger? ›

To get bigger wrists, you can do curls and extensions, knuckle pushups, any exercise asking to squeeze your wrist hard (pull ups, chin ups and, deadlifts) or using hand grips. Don't overtrain, as it will impair your everyday life and set you back weeks in your progress.

What are the best exercises to strengthen your hands? ›

  1. #1: Putty Grip and Squeeze. I like using the putty versus a ball because you can squeeze all the way through to your palm. ...
  2. #2: Thumb Pinch Strengthening. So many hand strengthening exercises forget the thumb. ...
  3. #3: Isometric Hooks (Claw) ...
  4. #4: Rubber Band Abduction. ...
  5. #5: Rubber Band 'C' with Fingers and Thumb.

Why are my hands so small? ›

Genetics. And most people with smaller hands, feet, etc, have family members with the same description. It isn't a bad thing. It isn't something you shouldn't worry about because it is a trait that makes you, YOU!

What age do hands stop growing? ›

Hands roughly stop growing at around the end of puberty for females that is around 13–16, and for males around 15–18. Of course, it may be earlier or later for some people because everyone is different.

Do hands get bigger with age? ›

The hands and faces of some grownups do get a little bit bigger as they get older. This happens because the brain produces something called growth hormone, which helps make the bones of kids grow a lot longer and wider.

How can I improve my hand strength at home? ›

4 At Home Exercises to Build Grip Strength
  1. Newspaper Scrunch. Once you've caught up on all the news (or maybe beforehand depending on how you're feeling) take a sheet of newspaper. ...
  2. Wine Bottle Wrist Rotation. You can use a bottle of wine or a pan for this simple exercise. ...
  3. Bucket Carry. Nice and simple. ...
  4. Wet Towel Wring.
Jun 4, 2021

Can your fingers get bigger? ›

Changes in “finger size” can be attributed to temperature change, eating certain foods, and doing activities with your hands. Your finger size may change as much as half of a size in one day, or at the very least between summer and winter.

Does small wrist mean weak? ›

Having smaller wrists doesn't mean that you're weak or that you're not man enough. I invite you not to care about your wrist… or even better: be proud of your smaller wrists! You're different, and this is just the way you are. And you have other options when it comes watches, too!

Can you train your fingers to be stronger? ›

Squeezing Can Help to Build Your Finger Strength

For starters, you can squeeze your way to stronger fingers. Pick up a stress ball or a squeeze ball and hold your squeeze for between 10 and 20 seconds. Then, release the ball and rest for about 10 seconds.

Why is my grip strength so weak? ›

Carpal tunnel syndrome is usually the cause of a weak grip. Other causes of weakness in hands include inflammation of the hand joints, a conditions known as tennis or golfers elbow, or an injury to the hand.

How long does it take to build grip strength? ›

To build hand strength and muscle mass, you should use hand grips for at least 24 hours for two weeks. You need to use hand grips at least 2 hours a day in a day. You should use the hand grips regularly for at least six months to see visible changes.

Can I make my hands bigger? ›

The truth is, the actual size of your hands is limited by the size of your hand bones. No amount of stretching, squeezing, or strength training can make your bones any longer or wider. That said, the hand is powered by about 30 muscles, and they can grow stronger and more flexible with a variety of exercises.

What makes your hands fatter? ›

What causes weight gain in your fingers and hands? When you eat more calories than you burn during the day, the calories are saved by your body in the form of excess fat. Everyone's body has a natural way that it tends to distribute weight. And for some of us, that place can be our hands and fingers.

Are small hands weaker? ›

Hand size.

Grip strength is directly proportionate to hand size and someone with large hands and long fingers will generally have greater grip strength than someone with small hands and short fingers.

How big do hands grow? ›

Hands come in all different shapes and sizes. The average length of an adult male's hand is 7.6 inches — measured from the tip of the longest finger to the crease under the palm. The average length of an adult female's hand is 6.8 inches.

Do big hands indicate height? ›

Relationship between height and hand size

The researchers found that hand length can predict height. They also found that doctors can use hand length to determine a person's body mass index (BMI). This may be of value in situations where obtaining an accurate height measurement for a BMI calculation is not possible.

Do hands grow with weight gain? ›

Do hands grow with weight gain? Not really. Fingers, like other long bones, do not become longer after body growth ends. The same is true for the bones in the shanks of the hands.

Do fingers get thicker with weight? ›

Not really. Fingers, like other long bones, do not become longer after body growth ends. The same is true for the bones in the shanks of the hands. Also, there are no muscles in the fingers, so they will not become thicker.

Why do my hands have no strength? ›

Hand weakness can occur due to a variety of conditions, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, and ganglion cysts. A weakened hand or grip can make everyday tasks much more difficult to complete.

How can I build muscle in my hands without weights? ›

Arm lateral raises
  1. Stand with your arms at your sides and your palms facing inward toward your hips.
  2. Keep your arms straight and raise them to the side until your body makes a “T” when viewed from the front.
  3. Slowly lower to the starting position.
  4. Repeat for 10–20 repetitions.
Apr 28, 2020

How can I thicken my wrists? ›

Doing wrist extensions is the best way to gradually start getting bigger wrists.
  1. Rest the back of your forearm on a table or on your leg. ...
  2. Place a light weight in that hand, then slowly lower the weight toward the floor. ...
  3. Do two sets of 10 or 15 reps with each wrist four or five times a week.

Are 7 inch wrists small? ›

Watch Size For A 7in Wrist

A 7 inch wrist is a pretty average man's wrist size, and because of this, both larger and smaller watches are easily worn. Here are some general guidelines around what size watches tend to fit wrist sizes: 6 inch wrist – Small to medium diameter cases around 34-38mm.

Are 6 inch wrists small? ›

Wrist Sizes

6-inch wrist or smaller – considered small. 7-inch to just under 8-inch wrist – considered average. 8-inch wrist and larger – considered large.

What exercise increases grip strength? ›

Deadlift

The simplest way to stress your forearms and improve your grip strength is lifting heavy. And there's nothing better, or more effective, than deadlifts. Quite simply, lift heavy things off the floor – safely, may we add – and put them back down again.

At what age does grip strength peak? ›

On average, grip strength performance tends to peak around 30–40 years of age [10–12] and then decreases with increasing age in both women and men [7, 9, 13].

What muscle makes your grip stronger? ›

The gripping and wrist actions share several muscles; flexor digitorum profundis (FDP) and flexor pollicis longus (FPL) contribute to wrist flexion and grip force production, while extensor digitorum communis (EDC) contributes to wrist extension and grip relaxation.

Is it OK to train grip every day? ›

If you're already at the gym every day, great, you can incorporate daily forearm training. If not, it's great to have a barbell, light dumbbells, or grip strengtheners at home.

Can you train hand grip everyday? ›

Can I use hand grips every day? Hand grips are used for training or preparing your hand muscles for the exercise sessions. Though they can be used every day, it is important to use them for the right duration and with the right resistance level.

Does squeezing increase grip strength? ›

Squeezing a Tennis or Racquetball

Holding on to and squeezing a ball is a good way to develop strength and it may even help reduce stress. Perform as many reps as possible to fatigue (or until you reduce stress levels), rest for 90 seconds and repeat as necessary.

What causes hands to get bigger? ›

Acromegaly is a rare condition where the body produces too much growth hormone, causing body tissues and bones to grow more quickly. Over time, this leads to abnormally large hands and feet, and a wide range of other symptoms. Acromegaly is usually diagnosed in adults aged 30 to 50, but it can affect people of any age.

Does working out make your hands skinnier? ›

If you want to make your fingers thinner, your efforts should focus on exercise as well as creating a caloric deficit in your diet. Lifestyle changes, such as avoiding foods high in sodium and drinking plenty of water, can also help your fingers look thinner.

Can I gain weight in my hands? ›

Everyone's body has a different way of distributing excess fat. For some people, extra weight goes right to their fingers. It's difficult to target weight loss in a specific area of your body. So, if you're trying to slim down your fingers and hands, you need to lose weight overall.

Will my hands get bigger with age? ›

The hands and faces of some grownups do get a little bit bigger as they get older. This happens because the brain produces something called growth hormone, which helps make the bones of kids grow a lot longer and wider.

Why do hands get thin? ›

Skin becomes thinner as a person ages, or as a result of sun damage, medication, or lifestyle factors. It is not usually reversible, but there are some ways to protect skin and prevent complications. Thin skin on the hands is relatively common.

Why my fingers are skinny? ›

Arachnodactyly ("spider fingers") is a medical condition that is characterized by fingers and toes that are abnormally long and slender, in comparison to the palm of the hand and arch of the foot. In some cases, the thumbs of an individual with the condition are pulled inwards towards the palm.

Why are my hands so bony? ›

Over time, additional changes in bone structure, as well as enlargement of veins, contribute to this 'bony' look.” Bank also stresses that since our hands obtain more sun exposure than our face, it's easy to lose the collagen that keeps them soft and supple.

Can skinny hands get bigger? ›

The truth is, the actual size of your hands is limited by the size of your hand bones. No amount of stretching, squeezing, or strength training can make your bones any longer or wider. That said, the hand is powered by about 30 muscles, and they can grow stronger and more flexible with a variety of exercises.

Do hand muscles grow? ›

Short answer is yes, but only slightly. The muscles in your hands are more aerobic and built for endurance (type 1 muscle fibers). They can get bigger, but it takes a long time. Your grip strength/endurance and finger strength/endurance will improve the more you use dumbells, barbells, etc.

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