Exercise Profile
- Target Muscle Group
- Exercise TypeStrength
- Equipment RequiredDumbbell
- MechanicsCompound
- Force TypePush (Bilateral)
- Experience LevelBeginner
- Secondary Muscles
Shoulders, Triceps
Chest
Incline Dumbbell Bench Press Overview
The incline dumbbell bench press is a variation of the incline bench press and an exercise used to build the muscles of the chest. The shoulders and triceps will be indirectly involved as well.
Utilizing an incline will allow you to better target the upper portion of the chest, a lagging part for a lot of lifters.
The use of dumbbells will also promote balanced and equal strength among both sides of the chest. They can also help prevent shoulder and pec injuries when performing presses.
You can include incline dumbbell bench press in your chest workouts, upper body workouts, push workouts, and full body workouts.
Incline Dumbbell Bench Press Instructions
- Pick up the dumbbells off the floor using a neutral grip (palms facing in). Position the ends of the dumbbells in your hip crease, and sit down on the edge of an incline bench.
- To get into position, lay back and keep the weights close to your chest. Once you are in position, take a deep breath, and press the dumbbells to lockout at the top.
- Slowly lower the dumbbells under control as far as comfortably possible (the handles should be about level with your chest).
- Contract the chest and push the dumbbells back up to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
**Dropping the dumbbells to the side is discouraged unless you are experienced with the technique or using excessively heavy weights.
**Ideally you should twist the dumbbells back to neutral (palms facing each other), bring your knees up so the ends of the dumbbells are touching your thighs, then use the weight of the dumbbells to rock back to an upright, seated position.
Incline Dumbbell Bench Press Tips
- Maintain more tension through the pecs by not locking out the elbows entirely.
- Keep the weights slightly tilted at a 45 degree angle in order to keep the elbows in a neutral position.
- Don’t allow the dumbbells to collide at the top of each rep - bouncing them together may cause you to lose stability within the shoulder and injure yourself.
- Squeeze the dumbbells as tight as possible to improve a phenomenon known as “irradiation” which promotes greater shoulder stability.
- Keep your shoulder blades pinched together to ensure the shoulders remain in a safe position.
- Imagine you’re trying to push yourself away from the weights rather than pushing the weights away from yourself.
- If you’re feeling pain within the shoulder joint itself (specifically at the front), ensure your shoulder blades are slightly retracted and try to keep the shoulder girdle “packed”.
- Ensure you maintain some tension in your abs and don’t allow your lower back to excessive arch.
- Keep your feet flat on the floor and don’t allow the lower body to move during the set.
47 Comments
What is the recommended rest time between sets for this workout
If you're training to get leaner, 60-90 seconds. If you're training for mass and strength, two minutes.
If I feel it more in my triceps what am I doing wrong?
Hi, Alex. Keep in mind that these tips I'm sharing are without seeing what you're doing when you perform the exercises. That said, I hope this will help.
When you lie back on the bench, keep your chest high and your shoulders back. This will help activate the chest.
Also, press until the arms are almost straight, but don't lock out completely. This will decrease the triceps involvement. Also, forcefully squeeze the chest when you press up. You should feel the muscles tighten at the end of the rep.
Finally, take your time performing the reps. If you need to, count one thousand one, one thousand two to press, and repeat when you go back down.
Hope this helps!
Is it a 45• degree angle the bench or at what degree ?
Hey Leno - yes, 45 degree incline
I don't have an incline bench or an exercise ball. I do have a bench though.
I just put the chair upsidedown then put some board behind for balance, i just make sure the chair is behind the wall so it wont move. Idk if its effective
I don’t have a inclined bench so can I do this exercise on a chair?
Hi, I don't have a bench or an exercise ball with me at the moment. So may I know if there is any substitute for this exercise that I can do, at least until I get myself a bench. Thank you.
Hey Ryan - you can try close grip bench press.
Hey good morning just a quick question I’m not really a fan of the gym due to covid so I have a few weights at home so I’m doing home workouts so here is my question, I would love to do some incline dumbbells but I literally don’t know what I can use in my house to support the incline what would you use in my position?
Hey Kobi - do you have an exercise ball?
I have no bench at home normally doing floor press both for barbell and dumbbell.
I don't know substitute of incline decline bench press on floor.
Max I could do is lifting my lower body and doing press. Is that OK to do or any suggestions for a better exercise or variation.
You can use a exercise ball for incline exercises, if you have no bench.
Any exercise targeting the upper chest can be used as a substitute. My go to is a regular UCV front raise, but other examples include the low UCV raise, pike push ups, standing flys, etc. YouTube has a lot of different ideas.
At any rate, it isn't necessary to abandon the inclined bench. A plank of wood covered with a towel can work. Just start with light weight to ensure stability and safety.
Hi I’m new to all this weight lifting so I’m just wondering what kind off sets do you do weight wise?
Hey Nathan
Check out some of our pre-written workouts. They'll give you a better understanding of sets and weight.
https://www.muscleandstrength.com/workout-routines
When doing these the space between my thumb and index finger start to hurt. I don’t know if it’s how I am holding the dumbbells but can anyone relate or any tips or reasons why this is happening?
Hey Will
It sounds like your grip strength could use some attention. Try performing some reverse curls to strengthen your grip.
https://www.muscleandstrength.com/exercises/seated-dumbbell-reverse-curl
When I am doing this exercise I feel the stress more in my triceps and shoulders rather than my chest and I’m not sure why
Hey Craig
Try adjusting the angle of your arms to your torso. I recommend a 45-55° angle on the negative portion, and a 55-60° angle on the press.
Hello sir may age 42 yrs my weight 75kg
I am continues workout last 1 year
My goal is Build muscle.I expect the challenge. Of my sun one day I am the best body builder.
Please sand me my workout and diet plan. Thanks
What exercise would be a good substitute for an incline dumbbell workout because I don’t have an incline bench just a regular bench
Hi Nic,
Believe I have just answered your question on another one of your comments on a different landing page. If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out.
Hey Josh, I am new to this site and not sure how to see your other comments. I am doing dumbbell workouts at home and do not have access to a bench. I was wondering if you could let me know what a good substitute would be for the incline dumbbell bench press? Just let me know, thanks!
What answer sir? i want to know what can i substitute for incline bench press because i don't have a bench or an incline bench
The video is gone :(
It isn't. Sometimes it just says video not found for some reason. Reloading the page seems to solve the issue.
Which muscles are best to combine to do a total body workout?
Exp: Abs, biceps, calves, chest, forearm, glutes, hamstrings, lower back, mid back, quads, shoulders, traps, triceps, and lats .
Thanks for ur help!
Too easy
C'mon guys I'm looking at all these questions and they are all common sense questions. Start out with a weight we're you are most comfort at then slowly begin to increase tour weight. Also thus video shows you how exactly to do the work out. I usually do 3 sets of 10
Does it matter if I keep my hand position neutral (palms in)? This makes it easier for me to avoid touching weights at the top.
Can you replace this for benchincline?
is it better to do this before or after push up's? thnx
Before
When doing an exercise such as incline press and regular dumbell press should I alternate between sets or should I fully complete one exercise. Cause I see peopl going back and forth between different excercisr
Complete each exercise before moving on the the next.
Do you use light weights?
How would you do this exercise at home if you don't have a bench you can adjust? I'm using an old piano bench at the moment
Put a few books under one side of the bench haha
When I do the incline chest workouts, they tend to bother my shoulders and I have a hard time feeling them workout my chest. Any advice on what I could be doing wrong?
For this not to happen anymore, just tuck your elbows in a bit more. Dont have them wide. Itll cause strain to your shoulder and won't be working the chest much.
Pop your chest out while benching, focus on mind muscle connection. Try doing a push up with your feet elevated and see I you feel it. Then try to mimic that movement
Hey instead of making incline bench so steep say at 45 degrees.make incline at 30 degrees puts shoulder joints in a safer position when using dumbbells try setting incline at 30 degrees shouldn’t have shoulder pain.I have bursitis in both shoulders surgeries remove bursitis and I go up 90 pound dumbbells at incline 30 degrees and no shoulder pain so try most bodybuilders don’t use incline at 45 degrees doing dumbbell incline press. Because causes shoulder joint pain hope helps
Is your back supposed to be off the bench when bringing the dimbells down?
No. never. Keep your body fixed.