This study investigated the effect of resistance exercise order on the oxygen uptake (Vo2) and energy expenditure (EE). Ten trained women (age, 22 +/- 2 years; body mass index, 21 +/- 2 kgxm; peak Vo2, 42.2 +/- 2.9 ml kg min) volunteered for the study. Data were collected in 5 nonconsecutive days: (day 1) assessment of the peak Vo2 in a maximum effort ramp treadmill protocol; (days 2 and 3) determination of 10 repetition maximum (10RM) for the bench press (BP), machine shoulder press (SP), and pulley triceps extension (TE); and (days 4 and 5) performing 3 sets of each exercise with 3-minute rest intervals between sets and exercises until fatigue using 10RM in 2 sequences of opposite order (sequence A [SEQA]: BP, SP, TE; sequence B [SEQB]: TE, SP, and BP). Total Vo2 was assessed during all exercises, recovery intervals, and for 20 minutes after the end of the sequences. Energy expenditure was estimated from net Vo2 by subtracting rest values from total Vo2. No difference was found between the sequences for the total Vo2 (p = 0.68) and net energy cost (p = 0.29) (SEQA: 25.41 +/- 6.51 l and 60.01 +/- 29.26 kcal; SEQB: 24.81 +/- 4.08 l and 57.02 +/- 15.25 kcal; mean +/- SD). Conversely, the Vo2 in the rest intervals between sets was higher for BP when it was placed at the end of SEQ B, and the same occurred with TE in SEQ A. In conclusion, the Vo2 was lower for a given exercise when it was performed first as compared with last in a training session for the upper limbs. However, these differences did not affect the overall Vo2 or EE during sequences performed in the opposite exercise order.