10 Best Cable Incline Bench Press Alternatives for Upper Chest Strength

Ranked Cable Incline Bench Press Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Cable Incline Bench Press on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Open "How to perform this exercise" on a card for the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.

1. Best match

   Play demonstration

   1. Incline Push-up

   81% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   Use this when you have nothing to train with, because it works the pectorals with bodyweight alone.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Place your hands on an elevated surface, such as a bench or step, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
   2. Extend your legs behind you, resting on the balls of your feet, creating a straight line from your head to your heels.
   3. Lower your chest towards the elevated surface by bending your elbows, keeping your body in a straight line.
   4. Pause for a moment at the bottom, then push yourself back up to the starting position by straightening your arms.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Movement: incline press, the same as the Cable Incline Bench Press
   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Cable Incline Bench Press
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
   • Body position: lying face down, not lying on your back
2. Play demonstration

   2. Incline Push-up (On Box)

   81% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Place your hands on the edge of a box or elevated surface, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
   2. Extend your legs behind you, resting on the balls of your feet, creating a straight line from your head to your heels.
   3. Lower your chest towards the box by bending your elbows, keeping your body in a straight line.
   4. Pause for a moment at the bottom, then push yourself back up to the starting position by straightening your arms.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Movement: incline press, the same as the Cable Incline Bench Press
   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Cable Incline Bench Press
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
   • Body position: standing, not lying on your back
3. 

   3. Incline Push-up Medium

   81% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand facing a Smith machine bar or sturdy elevated platform at an appropriate height.
   2. Place your hands on the bar, with your hands about shoulder width apart.
   3. Position your feet back from the bar with arms and body straight. This will be your starting position.
   4. Keeping your body straight, lower your chest to the bar by bending the arms.
   5. Return to the starting position by extending the elbows, pressing yourself back up.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Movement: incline press, the same as the Cable Incline Bench Press
   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Cable Incline Bench Press
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
   • Body position: lying face down, not lying on your back
4. Play demonstration

   4. Kneeling Push-up

   80% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Start by kneeling on the ground with your hands shoulder-width apart, fingers pointing forward.
   2. Extend your legs behind you, resting on the balls of your feet, so that your body forms a straight line from head to heels.
   3. Engage your core and lower your body towards the ground by bending your elbows, keeping them close to your sides.
   4. Continue lowering until your chest is just above the ground, then push back up to the starting position by straightening your arms.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Cable Incline Bench Press
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
   • Body position: kneeling, not lying on your back
5. 

   5. Incline Push-up Wide

   79% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand facing a Smith machine bar or sturdy elevated platform at an appropriate height.
   2. Place your hands on the bar, with your hands wider than shoulder width.
   3. Position your feet back from the bar with arms and body straight. Your arms should be perpendicular to the body. This will be your starting position.
   4. Keeping your body straight, lower your chest to the bar by bending the arms.
   5. Return to the starting position by extending the elbows, pressing yourself back up.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Movement: incline press, the same as the Cable Incline Bench Press
   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Cable Incline Bench Press
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
   • Body position: lying face down, not lying on your back
6. Play demonstration

   6. Incline Reverse Grip Push-up

   78% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Place your hands on the edge of a bench or elevated surface, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
   2. Extend your legs behind you, resting on the balls of your feet, creating a straight line from your head to your heels.
   3. Lower your chest towards the bench by bending your elbows, keeping them close to your sides.
   4. Pause for a moment at the bottom, then push yourself back up to the starting position by extending your arms.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Movement: incline press, the same as the Cable Incline Bench Press
   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Cable Incline Bench Press
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
   • Body position: lying face down, not lying on your back
7. 

   7. Incline Push-up Reverse Grip

   77% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand facing a Smith machine bar or sturdy elevated platform at an appropriate height.
   2. Place your hands on the bar palms up, with your hands about shoulder width apart.
   3. Position your feet back from the bar with arms and body straight. This will be your starting position.
   4. Keeping your body straight, lower your chest to the bar by bending the arms.
   5. Return to the starting position by extending the elbows, pressing yourself back up.

   Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Movement: incline press, the same as the Cable Incline Bench Press
   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Cable Incline Bench Press
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
   • Body position: lying face down, not lying on your back
8. Play demonstration

   8. Push-up (Wall)

   76% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand facing a wall, about arm's length away.
   2. Place your hands on the wall at shoulder height, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
   3. Step back with your feet, keeping them hip-width apart.
   4. Engage your core and keep your body in a straight line from head to heels.
   5. Bend your elbows and lower your chest towards the wall, keeping your body straight.
   6. Pause for a moment, then push yourself back to the starting position.
   7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Cable Incline Bench Press
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
   • Body position: standing, not lying on your back
9. Play demonstration

   9. Incline Push Up Depth Jump

   75% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Advanced
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Find an elevated surface, such as a bench or step, and place your hands shoulder-width apart on the edge.
   2. Step your feet back, keeping your body in a straight line from head to heels.
   3. Lower your chest towards the edge of the surface, bending your elbows and keeping your body aligned.
   4. Push through your palms to extend your arms and return to the starting position.
   5. Jump off the edge of the surface, landing softly with your knees slightly bent.
   6. Repeat the push-up and depth jump for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Movement: incline press, the same as the Cable Incline Bench Press
   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Cable Incline Bench Press
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
   • Body position: lying face down, not lying on your back
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Incline Bench Press
10. Play demonstration

    10. Push-up

    71% match

    • Pectorals
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    How to perform this exercise

    1. Start in a high plank position with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and your feet together.
    2. Engage your core and lower your body towards the ground by bending your elbows, keeping your body in a straight line.
    3. Pause for a moment when your chest is just above the ground, then push yourself back up to the starting position by straightening your arms.
    4. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches

    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Cable Incline Bench Press
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: lying face down, not lying on your back