We love floor-based abs exercises as much as the next guy, but sometimes it’s nice not to have to lie on a sweaty gym mat or dirty floor to bust out some sit-ups or crunches.
Also, floor-based abs exercises are not exactly functional. After all, apart from sitting up in bed, when was the last time you used your abs to pull your torso upright? Floor abs exercises are often hard to load, too. You’ve got to rely on the weight of your upper body or legs to hit your abs. Depending on your body size and strength, this may be too much or too little weight to work your abs.
The good news is that there are LOTS of great abs exercises you can do while standing. Some are easy and ideal for beginners, while others are hardcore and perfect for more advanced exercisers.
In this article, we reveal the 17 best standing abs exercises for all fitness levels.
Abs Anatomy 101
When most exercisers talk about abs, they actually mean their core. The core is the collective term for all the muscles of the midsection. Some functional fitness experts also like to include additional muscles in their core collective, including the lats and glutes. However, that just complicates an already complex subject!
So, for the purposes of this article, when we say abs, we actually mean the core, and that covers the following muscles:
Rectus abdominus
The rectus abdominis is the long, flat muscle on the front of your stomach. It’s divided into vertical halves and horizontal sections by lines of ligamentous tissue, giving it that famous six-pack appearance.
However, you’ll need to be pretty lean to see these lines, typically below ten-percent body fat for men and under 15 percent for women.
The functions of the rectus abdominis are flexion and lateral flexion of the spine.
Obliques
The obliques are basically your waist muscles, and there are two sets – the internal and the external obliques. These muscles rotate and laterally flex your spine. However, when both sides co-contract, they also play a part in flexion and work alongside your rectus abdominis.
Transverse abdominis
Known as the TVA for short, this muscle encircles your midsection like a weightlifting belt. When you brace your abs, it contracts inward and compresses your internal organs. This creates intra-abdominal pressure, which helps to support your lumbar spine.
So, while you won’t be able to see your TVA working, you will be able to feel it. The TVA is involved in all standing abs exercises.
Erector spinae
The erector spinae is a group of three muscles, each of which is divided into three sections. These muscles run up either side of your spine and are involved in extension and lateral flexion. Many standing core exercises also involve the erector spinae, despite the fact they’re technically back muscles. In most cases, the erector spinae act as stabilizers.
All standing abs exercises involve all of these muscles. However, depending on the movement performed, some will be working harder than others. Therefore, in the exercise descriptions, we’ll list the muscles in order of which are doing most of the work.
The Benefits of Standing Abs Exercises
While there is nothing wrong with floor-based abs exercises, standing abs exercises offer some noteworthy advantages and benefits. These include:
Increased functionality
Your core plays a critical role in most human movements. In some situations, it acts as a stabilizer to prevent unwanted movement of your spine. In others, the core is responsible for generating force, e.g., pushing, pulling, and throwing.
Regardless of what they are doing, most of these activities occur when you’re on one or two legs and not lying on your back. Therefore, standing abs exercises are often more functional than their supine counterparts.
Comfort
Standing abs exercises are often more comfortable than similar exercises performed lying on the floor. An exercise mat will help, but one may not be available. With no pressure on your lower back, standing abs exercises are usually more comfortable than floor-based movements.
Convenience
Not everyone trains in a well-equipped gym. Some people prefer to work out in playgrounds, parks, or other large open spaces. Sure, you COULD take a mat with you for abs exercises, but that’s unnecessary if you do standing abs exercises.
With no mat required and often very little equipment, you can do some standing exercises anywhere and anytime, making them the perfect excuse-free workout.
No more mobility issues
Older exercises and people with mobility issues may find getting down on the floor to do sit-ups, crunches, etc., awkward. Getting back up may present an even more significant challenge. Many standing abs exercises are ideal for older exercises and anyone who finds getting down to floor level difficult.
Standing Abs Exercise Drawbacks
Standing abs exercises are generally safe and effective. However, there are a couple of drawbacks to consider, too:
Limited loading
While there are numerous standing abs exercises that utilize an external load, other movements rely on your body weight for resistance. Because of the direction of gravity, this may mean there is very little tension on the muscles you’re training.
You can contract the target muscles harder to get a better training effect, but, even then, some exercises will be too easy if you already have a well-conditioned core.
Lack of understanding
Standing abs exercises are a trending topic right now (#standingabs). Unfortunately, this means a lot of wannabe fitness experts are posting standing abs exercises with little understanding of how the core muscles work.
For example, holding a weight in your hands and then twisting your torso does NOT load your obliques. The force is vertical, whereas the obliques work in the transverse plane, i.e., horizontally. In essence, there is no resistance to rotation.
It doesn’t matter if you hold a 20-pound weight or a 100-pounder; twisting with a weight in your hands won’t challenge your obliques. However, your arms will probably get a good workout!
Similarly, doing standing crunches are all but pointless, as the weight (your upper body) is pulling your spine into flexion – your abs aren’t doing much, if any, of the work.
So, don’t make poor exercise choices. Remember that some self-certified fitness influencers are nothing but a pretty face with a six-pack and a loud voice and don’t actually know what they’re talking about.
Instead, think about the function of the muscles you want to engage, perform movements that work that muscle, and then apply a load, if necessary, to make that movement more challenging.
The 17 Best Standing Abs Exercises
Now you know the pros and cons of standing abs exercises and the muscles these movements work. So, it’s time to reveal the 17 best standing abs exercises for all fitness levels!
1. Standing cable crunch
Muscles targeted: Rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis.
The key to an effective crunch is shortening the distance between your sternum and pelvis. Making a discernable C-shape with your spine ensures that your abs do the work, not your hip flexors. If you can’t feel this exercise in the front of your abdomen, there is a good chance you are flexing your hips more than your spine.
Steps:
- Fix a rope handle to a high cable pulley machine. Take one end in each hand and take a step backward to tension the cable.
- Pull the handles down so your hands are in front of your shoulders.
- Stand with your knees slightly bent, feet shoulder-width apart.
- Flex your spine and draw your sternum down toward your pelvis.
- Lift your chest to get a stretch in your abs, and repeat.
Benefits:
- Easy to scale by reducing or increasing the load.
- More effective than the kneeling variation of this exercise.
- A very lower back-friendly core exercise.
Tips:
- Exhale as you contract your abs to increase muscle engagement.
- Hold the handles in one hand only to work the obliques more.
- You can also do this exercise with a resistance band:
2. Pallof press
Muscles targeted: Obliques, rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis.
The Pallof press was invented by Bostonian physical therapist John Pallof. This is an anti-core exercise, meaning you’ll be using your midsection to prevent unwanted movement. This is how your core often has to work in nature, making Pallof presses a very functional abs exercise.
Steps:
- Attach a D-shaped handle to a cable machine set to mid-chest height.
- Stand side-on to the pulley with the handle in both hands. Your feet should be about shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Brace your core.
- Pull your hands into your chest and step away from the machine.
- Without moving your hips or shoulders, extend your arms out in front of you.
- Bend your arms and return your hands to your chest.
- Repeat for the required number of reps and then switch sides.
Benefits:
- Minimal lower back stress.
- Very scalable – just add or subtract weight according to your needs.
- An excellent exercise for integrating the upper and lower body with the core.
Tips:
- The narrower your stance, the more challenging this exercise becomes.
- Vary the height of your arms to work your core from different angles.
- Do this exercise with a resistance band for home workouts.
3. Overhead Pallof press
Muscles targeted: Rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis.
Where regular Pallof presses are an anti-rotation exercise, this version is an anti-extension exercise, so it hits your anterior abs more than your obliques. This challenging exercise is basically a standing, moving plank.
Steps:
- Attach a rope handle to a high pulley. Grab the handle and then turn your back to the machine. Hold your hands at shoulder height and brace your core. Adopt a split stance for balance.
- Without leaning forward or backward, press your arms above your head.
- Return your hands to your shoulders and repeat.
Benefits:
- A full-body standing abs exercise.
- Good for increasing core and upper body stability.
- Can be made as hard or as easy as required by adjusting the weight
Tips:
- You can also do this exercise with a resistance band.
- The closer/narrower your feet, the more challenging this exercise will be.
- Exhale as you raise your arms to increase core engagement.
4. Dumbbell side bend
Muscles targeted: Obliques, rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis.
Many people do this exercise with a dumbbell in each hand – don’t be one of them. Using two weights means one dumbbell counterbalances the other, rendering the exercise useless. Use one dumbbell only, and you’ll get a much better core workout.
Steps:
- Hold a dumbbell in one hand, arm by your side. Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Brace your core and pull your shoulders down and back.
- Lean to the side and lower the weight down the outside of your leg.
- Stand upright and repeat.
Benefits:
- An effective dynamic oblique exercise.
- Good for increasing lateral mobility.
- A useful forearm and grip strengthening exercise.
Tips:
- Keep your hips and shoulders squared – no twisting.
- Use a kettlebell instead of a dumbbell if you wish.
- Hold a weight in one hand only!
5. Landmine full-contact twists
Muscles targeted: Rectus abdominis, obliques, transverse abdominis.
A landmine is a simple device that turns a barbell into a functional workout machine. You can do many exercises with a landmine, and they’re all excellent. No landmine? No problem! Just wedge the end of your barbell into a corner or against the bottom of a squat rack. Full contact twists are an excellent standing core exercise.
Steps:
- Place one end of your barbell in the landmine, and grab the other in both hands.
- Lift the bar and hold it above your head with your hands close together, palms facing inward.
- Brace your core and pull your shoulders down and back. Press the bar forward and down into the landmine.
- Maintaining your core tension, rotate your shoulders and arms and lower the bar down to one side. Turn your hips in the same direction as your arms.
- Lift the weight back to the center and repeat on the opposite side.
- Continue alternating sides for the duration of your set, driving your arms forward and down throughout.
Benefits:
- An excellent exercise for athletes.
- Can be performed with heavy weights to develop a strong, powerful core.
- A full-body, functional, total core strength exercise.
Tips:
- Raise the weight explosively but lower it slowly to make this exercise as effective as possible.
- Don’t just use your arms for this exercise; put your entire body into each rep.
- Keep flexing your abs throughout.
6. Saxon side bend
Muscles targeted: Obliques, rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis.
The Saxon side bend is named after old-school professional strongman Arthur Saxon. As a strongman performer, Saxon did incredible feats of strength live onstage, often in front of enormous crowds. The Saxon side bend was one of his favorite exercises for developing core strength.
Steps:
- Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Hold and raise a weight above your head, e.g., a medicine ball or a single dumbbell.
- Without twisting your shoulders or hips, lean from one side to the other to challenge your core.
- Adjust your range of motion according to your flexibility and mobility.
Benefits:
- You don’t need heavy weights for this exercise; a little goes a long way.
- Good for improving lumbar spine lateral mobility.
- An effective shoulder stability exercise.
Tips:
- Don’t go too heavy too soon – this exercise is more strenuous than it looks!
- Hold the weight in front of your chest to shorten the lever and make this exercise easier.
- Do not allow your hips or shoulders to twist, as doing so makes this exercise less effective.
7. Cable high-to-low woodchop
Muscles targeted: Obliques, rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis.
This exercise is so-called because, when you do it, you look a little like you are chopping wood. The cable woodchop is an effective oblique strengthener and teaches you how to integrate your upper and lower body with your core.
Steps:
- Attach a D-shaped handle to a high cable machine. Hold the handle in both hands and then stand sideways onto the pulley. Take 1-2 steps away to tension the cable.
- Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent.
- Keeping your arms straight, turn your upper body through 180 degrees so your hands travel diagonally downward to hip height.
- Return to the starting position and repeat.
- Do the same number of reps on each side.
Benefits:
- Easy to modify for all levels of exerciser.
- Teaches you how to brace your core while using your upper and lower body.
- A very lower back-friendly exercise.
Tips:
- You can also do this exercise with horizontal arms or working from low to high.
- Try shifting your weight from one leg to the other as you rotate your upper body.
- No cable machine? Do this exercise with a resistance band attached to a sturdy anchor.
8. Standing oblique crunch
Muscles targeted: Obliques, rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis.
Not all standing abs exercises use cables or weights to strengthen your core. This movement might not be overly challenging, but it provides your abs and obliques with a pleasant workout. Best of all, you can do it anywhere and anytime, as no equipment is involved.
Steps:
- Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart. Clasp your hands behind your head and press your elbows out and back to open your chest. Brace your core.
- Bend one leg and lift your knee out and up. Simultaneously lean sideways and lower your elbow down toward your need.
- Lower your leg, stand back up, and repeat.
- Do the required number of reps and then switch sides.
Benefits:
- A standing, equipment-free abs exercise you can do anywhere and anytime.
- Ideal for beginners.
- A good way to mobilize your hips and lower back as you work your abs.
Tips:
- Do this exercise with an alternating action if preferred.
- Make this exercise harder by wearing ankle weights.
- Pause at the mid-point of each rep to maximally contract your abs and make this exercise more effective.
9. Standing bicycle crunch
Muscles targeted: Rectus abdominis, obliques, transverse abdominis.
Regular bicycle crunches are an excellent, if highly challenging, abs exercise. This standing version is far more accessible, making it ideal for beginners. It’s also a useful teaching exercise before attempting full bicycle crunches and can also be used as a warm-up. However, the overload on your abs is pretty low, so make sure you contract your muscles hard to gain any benefits.
Steps:
- Stand with your feet together, knees slightly bent for balance. Place your hands on your temples. Brace your abs.
- Bend one leg and lift your knee up and across the front of your body. Simultaneously lean forward and lower your opposite knee to your elbow.
- Stand up straight, lower your foot to the floor, and then repeat on the other side.
- Continue alternating sides for the duration of your set.
Benefits:
- A good standing abs exercise for beginners.
- An excellent hip and spine mobility exercise.
- A good move to prepare you for full bicycle crunches.
Tips:
- Do not clasp your hands behind your neck, as you are more likely to pull with your arms if you do.
- Pause at the midpoint of each rep for maximum effectiveness.
- Drive your supporting foot into the floor to make balancing on one leg easier.
10. Single-arm dumbbell press
Muscles targeted: Obliques, rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis.
While dumbbell presses are usually viewed as an upper-body exercise, they also provide an effective abs workout. Done standing, the single-arm dumbbell press is as good for your abs as it is for your shoulders.
Steps:
- Hold a dumbbell in one hand at shoulder height. Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Brace your core.
- Without leaning sideways, press your weight up and overhead to arm’s length.
- Lower the weight back to your shoulder and repeat.
- On completion of your set, swap sides and repeat.
Benefits:
- An effective and accessible lateral core exercise.
- A great time-saver – work your core, deltoids, and triceps simultaneously.
- An excellent way to integrate your core with your upper body.
Tips:
- Do the same number of reps on both sides.
- Stand with your feet closer together to make this exercise harder.
- You can also do this exercise with a barbell instead of a dumbbell:
11. Suitcase deadlift
Muscles targeted: Obliques, rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis.
When most people do deadlifts, they do them to build full-body strength or a bigger, more muscular back. However, this variation is a very effective if challenging standing abs exercise. You’ll need to use all your core muscles to maintain a neutral spine, so your abs will be acting as stabilizers. This is how your core usually works in nature, so this is a very functional movement.
Steps:
- Place a kettlebell or dumbbell on the floor and stand next to it so the handle is parallel to your feet.
- Bend down and hold the handle with a neutral or palms-in grip.
- Pull your shoulders down and back, brace your core, and look straight ahead.
- Drive your feet into the floor and stand up straight. Do not lean sideways or round your back.
- Lower the weight back to the floor, allow it to settle for 1-2 seconds, and repeat.
- Turn around and do the same number of reps on the opposite side.
Benefits:
- A very functional exercise.
- Teaches you how to safely lift heavy objects off the ground.
- Helps identify and fix left-to-right strength imbalances.
Tips:
- Use gym chalk to prevent your hands from slipping.
- Perform this exercise in front of a mirror to ensure you don’t lean to the side.
- You can also do this exercise with a barbell.
12. Single-arm farmer’s walk
Muscles targeted: Obliques, rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis.
This is another standing core exercise that many people do for an entirely different reason. Farmer’s walks are a well-known grip and general conditioning exercise. However, when performed using just one weight, it quickly becomes a very challenging abs workout.
Steps:
- Hold a heavy dumbbell or kettlebell in one hand with your arm by your side. Brace your core and set your hips and shoulders so they are level.
- Without leaning to either side, walk around your training area.
- Having completed the required distance, lower the weight to the floor, swap hands, and repeat.
Benefits:
- A very functional standing abs exercise.
- An excellent way to spot and fix left-to-right strength imbalances.
- A challenging grip-building exercise.
Tips:
- Use chalk to stop your hands from slipping.
- Keep your shoulders down and back throughout.
- Lower the weight to the floor as you feel your grip starting to give out. Don’t drop the weight.
13. Standing ab wheel rollout
Muscles targeted: Rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis.
Standing abs exercises don’t come much more challenging than the infamous rollout. This exercise combines extended planks with a pull-over arm action, making it one of the most brutal core exercises around. Only attempt this move if you have mastered the kneeling ab wheel rollout.
Steps:
- Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart. Hold your ab wheel with an overhand grip.
- Brace your core, bend your knees slightly, and lean forward to place the ab wheel on the floor in front of your feet.
- Keeping your arms straight, push the roller out and away, lowering your body toward the floor. Extend your arms as far as you can without losing core tension.
- Pull the wheel back toward your feet, lifting your hips up as you do so.
- Continue for the prescribed number of reps.
Benefits:
- Probably the most challenging standing abs exercise.
- Provides an effective lat-building workout.
- An ideal exercise for home workouts.
Tips:
- Do this exercise facing a wall to prevent the wheel from rolling too far.
- Only extend your arms as far as comfortable to avoid injuring your lower back.
- Rest on your knees to make this exercise easier.
14. TRX Hip drops
Muscles targeted: Obliques, rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis.
The TRX was invented by a Navy SEAL who wanted a portable training device he could take on deployment. TRXs can be used to replicate many machine and dumbbell exercises, and there are several unique bodyweight movements you can do with this type of suspension trainer. TRX hip drops are an especially challenging lateral core exercise.
Steps:
- Attach your TRX to a high anchor point. Hold the handles on both hands and raise your arms above your head so your body is straight.
- Lean your hips out to the side so your body forms a distinct C shape.
- Pull your hips back to the center and repeat.
- Continue for the prescribed number of reps and then switch sides.
Benefits:
- An excellent exercise for home workouts.
- A very functional, challenging standing abs exercise.
- Easy to change the difficulty by varying your range of motion.
Tips:
- Place your feet closer together to make this exercise harder.
- The longer the straps, the more challenging this exercise becomes.
- You can also do this exercise with gymnastic rings and other types of suspension trainer.
15. Single-arm cable chest press
Muscles targeted: Rectus abdominis, obliques, transverse abdominis.
No, we haven’t included this exercise by mistake. Despite its name, the single-arm chest press is actually a terrific standing abs exercise. You’ll need to use all your core muscles to stabilize your midsection as you extend and bend your arm. But yes, it’s also a great chest exercise!
Steps:
- Attach a single handle to a chest-high cable machine. Hold the handle and turn your back on the pulley so the wire runs outside or under your arm.
- Step forward into a split stance for balance. Brace your core.
- With your hips and shoulders still, press your arm forward and out to full extension.
- Return the handle to the side of your chest, and repeat.
- Switch sides and do the same number of reps with the opposite arm.
Benefits:
- Teaches you how to stabilize your spine while moving your arms.
- An excellent exercise for athletes.
- An easy exercise to modify for all fitness levels.
Tips:
- Bring your feet closer together to make this exercise more challenging.
- Use your core to make sure your torso doesn’t twist.
- Pair with single-arm cable rows to work your abs from the front and back.
16. Single-leg Romanian deadlift
Muscles targeted: Obliques, rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis.
Single-leg Romanian deadlifts are an excellent exercise for your glutes and hamstrings. However, you’ll also need to use your core to stabilize your spine and prevent your upper body from twisting. As such, it’s also a great standing abs exercise.
Steps:
- Stand with your feet together and a dumbbell or kettlebell in your left hand. Shift your weight onto your right foot. Brace your core and pull your shoulders down and back.
- Hinging from your hips, bend forward and lower the weight down the front of your leg. Lift your left leg out behind you for balance.
- Stand back up and repeat.
- Rest a moment and then change legs, remembering to switch hands, too.
Benefits:
- Teaches you how to integrate your core with your upper and lower body.
- A very lower back-friendly exercise.
- An excellent balance-building workout.
Tips:
- Do this exercise next to a wall and use your free hand for balance if required.
- You can also keep your non-supporting foot resting lightly on the floor for balance, i.e., a kickstand or B-stance Romanian deadlift.
- Keep your supporting knee slightly bent throughout.
17. Kettlebell around the world
Muscles targeted: Obliques, rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis.
Many of the best standing core exercises work one side of your abs at a time. This one is slightly different as it works your entire core in one straightforward movement. Done with light weights, this exercise is an excellent warm-up for your whole midsection. But, done with greater loads, it’s a challenging yet fun total abs exercise.
Steps:
- Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent for balance. Brace your abs. Hold a kettlebell in front of your hips.
- Swing the weight around your waist, transferring from one hand to the other behind your back and in front of your hips.
- Use your core muscles to resist being pulled toward the weight.
- Continue for the desired number of reps, rest a moment, and then switch directions.
Benefits:
- A very time-efficient exercise.
- Very little lower back stress.
- An excellent way to mobilize your shoulders and activate your deep core muscles before more demanding exercises.
Tips:
- Keep your feet planted firmly on the floor to maintain your balance.
- Lift your chest and set your shoulders down and back throughout.
- Use gym chalk to stop the kettlebell handle from slipping out of your hands.
Standing Abs Exercises – FAQs
Do you have a question about standing abs exercises or core training in general? That’s okay because we’ve got the answers!
1. Will these standing abs exercises give me a six-pack?
While many of these exercises involve your six-pack muscle – the rectus abdominis – there is no guarantee that doing them will give you six-pack abs. That’s because, for the contours of your abs to be visible, you need to have a low body fat percentage. This is typically ten percent or less for men and below 15 percent for women.
It’s entirely possible to have well-develop abs but for them not to be visible because they’re hidden under a layer of fat.
So, while these standing abs exercises COULD lead to a six-pack, your results hinge on your diet as much as your workouts.
2. How many reps and sets should I do of these exercises?
You can do anywhere from 5 to 30 reps to train your abs. Low reps with heavy weights are best for building brute strength, while higher reps and lighter loads are better for endurance, hypertrophy, and general fitness.
However, some exercises lend themselves to higher or lower reps. For example, suitcase deadlifts work well with bigger loads, while standing bicycle crunches are more suitable for higher reps.
Very high reps, i.e., more than 30, are not recommended as they are largely a waste of time and not challenging enough to be effective.
Regardless, you should take each set to within a couple of reps of failure. Easy sets won’t have much of an effect on the condition of your abs.
Regarding the number of sets, 2-4 should be sufficient for most people. If you feel you need to do more than this, you probably aren’t training close enough to failure, or you are resting too long between sets.
3. XYZ exercise hurts my back – what gives?
While the majority of these standing abs exercises are very lower back-friendly, some will put a strain on your lumbar spine. Others can cause back pain when performed incorrectly or with too much weight.
So, if any of these exercises hurt your back, firstly, make sure you are performing them correctly. Perfect form is critical for a safe and pain-free workout. Then dial back the weight a little to see if that helps.
If you still feel your lower back, skip that movement and do something else. It could be that the exercise in question just doesn’t suit you.
4. Are standing abs exercises better than those performed lying down?
While standing abs exercises offer several advantages, that doesn’t mean they’re better than more traditional lying abs exercises. Ultimately, the best exercises for you are the ones you like, and that meet your workout needs.
If you want to isolate your abs, lying exercises are often best, as they don’t involve many additional muscle groups. But, if you want a more functional workout, standing exercises are arguably the better choice.
Or, you could just combine standing and lying abs exercises and enjoy all the benefits these two different types of training provide. There is no need to choose between them.
5. Will these exercises burn belly fat?
Many people think that doing lots of abs exercises will burn belly fat. Sadly, this is nothing but an old exercise myth. Your body stores and then burns fat from all over your body, not just from the areas you train. As such, if you want to burn fat and get lean, you need to work your entire body and not just where you want to lose the fat from.
So, sorry, these exercises will NOT burn belly fat.
Closing Thoughts
There is no need to head straight to the floor to train your abs. In fact, there are plenty of standing abs exercises that are every bit as effective as the ubiquitous crunches, sit-ups, and leg raises.
Movements like cable high-to-low woodchops, Saxon side bends, standing cable crunches, and standing bicycle crunches are ideal for those times when you don’t want to lie down or just want to hit your abs from a different, more functional angle.
Are standing abs exercises better than ab exercises done on the floor? Not necessarily. However, they may be more suitable for some exercisers and are worth including in any well-balanced core workout plan.