Exercise guide · Intermediate · Compound

Dumbbell One Arm Incline Chest Press: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The dumbbell one arm incline chest press is a unilateral upper body exercise that targets the pectoral muscles, with secondary emphasis on the shoulders and triceps. It is performed on an incline bench using a single dumbbell, which increases the demand for core stability and coordination.

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

How to do the dumbbell one arm incline chest press

  1. Step 1: Adjust the incline bench to a 45-degree angle.
  2. Step 2: Sit on the bench with your back against the pad and feet flat on the ground.
  3. Step 3: Hold a dumbbell in one hand with an overhand grip, resting it on your shoulder.
  4. Step 4: Push the dumbbell up and away from your body, extending your arm fully.
  5. Step 5: Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the dumbbell back down to the starting position.
  6. Step 6: Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch to the other arm.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the dumbbell one arm incline chest 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 One Arm Incline Chest Press alternatives

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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.