Exercise guide · Intermediate · Compound

Dumbbell Incline Bench Press: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The dumbbell incline bench press is a compound upper body exercise that targets the upper portion of the pectoral muscles, with additional emphasis on the shoulders and triceps. It is performed on an incline bench using dumbbells, requiring stability and control throughout the movement.

Primary muscles
Chest
Secondary muscles
Shoulders , Triceps
Equipment
Dumbbell
Level · type
Intermediate · Compound
Demonstration of the dumbbell incline bench press
Front view: muscles worked by the dumbbell incline bench press. Primary: chest. Secondary: shoulders and triceps.
Back view: muscles worked by the dumbbell incline bench press. Primary: chest. Secondary: shoulders and triceps.
Primary Secondary

How to do the dumbbell incline bench press

  1. Step 1: Set up an incline bench at a 45-degree angle.
  2. Step 2: Sit on the bench with your feet flat on the ground and your back pressed firmly against the bench.
  3. Step 3: Hold a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing forward, and lift them to shoulder height.
  4. Step 4: Slowly lower the dumbbells to the sides of your chest, keeping your elbows at a 90-degree angle.
  5. Step 5: Push the dumbbells back up to the starting position, fully extending your arms.
  6. Step 6: Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the dumbbell incline bench press by training goal
Goal Sets Reps Rest Effort
Strength 3–5 3–6 3–5 min 1–3 reps in reserve
Muscle growth 3–4 6–12 2–3 min 1–2 reps in reserve
Muscular endurance 2–3 12–20 1–2 min 1–3 reps in reserve

Ranges follow the ACSM position stand on progression in resistance training. Muscle grows across a wide range of loads when sets end close to failure (Schoenfeld et al., 2017), longer rests between heavy sets support strength and size (Schoenfeld et al., 2016), and stopping a rep or two short of failure works about as well as training to failure (Grgic et al., 2022). Estimate your working weights with the strength calculators.

Dumbbell Incline Bench Press alternatives

More exercises that train the chest as their main target:

More chest exercises

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Sources

  1. American College of Sports Medicine. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(3):687-708.
  2. Schoenfeld BJ, Grgic J, Ogborn D, Krieger JW. Strength and hypertrophy adaptations between low- vs. high-load resistance training. J Strength Cond Res. 2017;31(12):3508-3523.
  3. Schoenfeld BJ, Pope ZK, Benik FM, et al. Longer interset rest periods enhance muscle strength and hypertrophy in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res. 2016;30(7):1805-1812.
  4. Grgic J, Schoenfeld BJ, Orazem J, Sabol F. Effects of resistance training performed to repetition failure or non-failure on muscular strength and hypertrophy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sport Health Sci. 2022;11(2):202-211.

Step-by-step instructions and demonstration media are from the ExerciseDB exercise dataset.

This guide is general fitness information, not medical advice. Stop if an exercise causes pain and speak to a doctor or physiotherapist about injuries or health conditions before starting a new programme.