Plyo Box

27 exercises

A plyo box is a sturdy wooden, steel or foam box used for jumping, stepping and elevating your feet or hands. It is the go-to tool for box jumps, step-ups and Bulgarian split squats, and it can double as a low bench.

MediumSpace needed

Budget

✓Home friendly

Best for

Quadriceps Glutes Calves Hamstrings Full Body

Benefits

Box jumps build explosive leg power and athleticism.
Step-ups and split squats train each leg on its own.
A versatile height for incline push-ups, dips and elevated exercises.

Beginner advice

A 3-in-1 box with heights of about 50, 60 and 75 cm grows with you, and soft foam boxes are the safest choice for beginners because they forgive a missed jump. Start low — a 30–50 cm step-up or jump is plenty at first.

Safety

Step down instead of jumping down to spare your Achilles tendons, and make sure the box sits firmly on a non-slip floor before every jump.