Dumbbell Incline Bench Press alternatives
The best alternative to the Dumbbell Incline Bench Press is the Barbell Incline Bench Press: both hands share one bar, so you can load the most weight and add it in small jumps.
The Dumbbell Incline Bench Press is a incline press: a press on an upward angle, which shifts the load toward the upper chest and front shoulders. Every swap below keeps that movement and the same main muscle, so it can take the Dumbbell Incline Bench Press’s place in your workout with the same sets and reps. They’re grouped by the equipment they need.
Dumbbell Incline Bench Press alternatives with dumbbells
Dumbbell Incline Alternate Press
Working one side at a time lets you fix imbalances and adds core work to stay square.
Dumbbell Incline Bench Press alternatives with your bodyweight
Incline Push-up
No equipment needed; make it harder with a slower lowering or a pause at the hardest point.
Dumbbell Incline Bench Press alternatives on a cable machine
Cable Incline Bench Press
The cable keeps tension on the muscle through the whole rep, including the end where free weights go slack.
Cable One Arm Incline Press
On the cable stack, so the weight changes in small steps and the tension never drops off. Here, working one side at a time lets you fix imbalances and adds core work to stay square.
Dumbbell Incline Bench Press alternatives on a machine
Lever Incline Chest Press
The machine sets the path, so you can push close to failure without balancing the weight or needing a spotter.
Dumbbell Incline Bench Press alternatives with a barbell
Barbell Incline Bench Press
Both hands share one bar, so you can load the most weight and add it in small jumps.
Barbell Reverse Grip Incline Bench Press
A barbell version you can load heavy and track week to week. Here, the underhand grip brings the biceps in more.
Dumbbell Incline Bench Press alternatives on a Smith machine
Smith Incline Bench Press
The bar runs on rails, so you can load it heavy and stop anywhere without a spotter.
Smith Incline Reverse-grip Press
The fixed bar path lets you focus on the muscle instead of balancing the weight.
How to swap it in
Use the substitute in the same slot, for the same sets and rep range you used on the Dumbbell Incline Bench Press. Start a little lighter for the first session while you learn the new movement, then add weight or reps each week. Stick with one swap for a few weeks so you can see whether you’re getting stronger.
Need the original? How to do the Dumbbell Incline Bench Press, step by step →
Questions
What is the best alternative to the Dumbbell Incline Bench Press?
The Barbell Incline Bench Press is the closest swap: it’s the same incline press and trains the same chest. Both hands share one bar, so you can load the most weight and add it in small jumps.
What can I do instead of the Dumbbell Incline Bench Press at home?
Incline Push-up and Dumbbell Incline Alternate Press all work with little or no equipment and keep the same movement: a press on an upward angle, which shifts the load toward the upper chest and front shoulders.
What muscles should a Dumbbell Incline Bench Press alternative work?
The Dumbbell Incline Bench Press works your pectorals, shoulders and triceps. A good substitute keeps the movement the same, a press on an upward angle, which shifts the load toward the upper chest and front shoulders, so the same muscles do the work even if the equipment changes.
Can I replace the Dumbbell Incline Bench Press completely?
Yes. Pick one substitute from the list and give it the same sets and rep range, then add weight or reps week to week the way you would have on the Dumbbell Incline Bench Press. Switching back and forth every session makes progress harder to see.
Track Dumbbell Incline Bench Press in SPLYT
Dumbbell Incline Bench Press is already in SPLYT’s exercise library. Log your sets, reps and weight on iPhone or Apple Watch, with last time’s weights already filled in.