10 Best Cable Seated Lateral Raise Alternatives for Delt Size

Ranked Cable Seated Lateral Raise Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Cable Seated Lateral Raise 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. Handstand Push-up

   49% match

   • Delts
   • Bodyweight
   • Advanced
   • Compound

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

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Find a wall and face away from it, standing a few feet away.
   2. Place your hands on the ground shoulder-width apart and kick your feet up against the wall, coming into a handstand position.
   3. Bend your elbows and lower your head towards the ground, keeping your body in a straight line.
   4. Push through your hands and extend your arms to return to the starting position.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Cable Seated Lateral Raise
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
   • Body position: inverted, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Seated Lateral Raise
2. Play demonstration

   2. Three Bench Dip

   45% match

   • Triceps
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   A looser match: it works the triceps rather than the delts.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Sit on a bench with your hands gripping the edge, fingers pointing forward.
   2. Slide your butt off the bench, supporting your weight with your hands.
   3. Bend your elbows and lower your body until your upper arms are parallel to the ground.
   4. Push yourself back up to the starting position.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: triceps, not delts
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Cable Seated Lateral Raise
3. 

   3. Handstand Push-ups

   44% match

   • Delts
   • Bodyweight
   • Advanced
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. With your back to the wall bend at the waist and place both hands on the floor at shoulder width.
   2. Kick yourself up against the wall with your arms straight. Your body should be upside down with the arms and legs fully extended. Keep your whole body as straight as possible. Tip: If doing this for the first time, have a spotter help you. Also, make sure that you keep facing the wall with your head, rather than looking down.
   3. Slowly lower yourself to the ground as you inhale until your head almost touches the floor. Tip: It is of utmost importance that you come down slow in order to avoid head injury.
   4. Push yourself back up slowly as you exhale until your elbows are nearly locked.
   5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Cable Seated Lateral Raise
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
   • Body position: inverted, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Seated Lateral Raise
4. Play demonstration

   4. Bench Dip On Floor

   44% match

   • Triceps
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Sit on the edge of a bench or chair with your hands gripping the edge, fingers pointing forward.
   2. Slide your butt off the bench, supporting your weight with your hands.
   3. Lower your body by bending your elbows until your upper arms are parallel to the floor.
   4. Push yourself back up to the starting position by straightening 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

   • Primary muscle: triceps, not delts
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Cable Seated Lateral Raise
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Seated Lateral Raise
5. Play demonstration

   5. Bench Dip (Knees Bent)

   43% match

   • Triceps
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Sit on the edge of a bench or chair with your hands gripping the edge next to your hips.
   2. Slide your butt off the bench and straighten your legs in front of you, keeping your heels on the ground.
   3. Bend your elbows and lower your body towards the ground, keeping your back close to the bench.
   4. Pause for a moment at the bottom, then push yourself back up to the starting position.
   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: triceps, not delts
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Cable Seated Lateral Raise
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Seated Lateral Raise
6. Play demonstration

   6. Triceps Dip (Bench Leg)

   42% match

   • Triceps
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Sit on the edge of a bench with your hands gripping the edge, fingers pointing forward.
   2. Walk your feet forward, sliding your butt off the bench, and straighten your arms.
   3. Bend your elbows and lower your body towards the ground, keeping your back close to the bench.
   4. Push through your palms to straighten your arms and return to the starting position.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: triceps, not delts
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Cable Seated Lateral Raise
7. Play demonstration

   7. Captains Chair Straight Leg Raise

   42% match

   • Abs
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   A looser match: it works the abs rather than the delts.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Sit on the captain's chair with your back against the backrest and your forearms resting on the arm pads.
   2. Keep your upper body stable and your back straight.
   3. Engage your abs and lift your legs up in front of you, keeping them straight.
   4. Continue lifting until your legs are parallel to the ground or as high as you can comfortably go.
   5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your legs back down to the starting position.
   6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: abs, not delts
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
   • Body position: hanging, not seated
8. Play demonstration

   8. Left Hook. Boxing

   40% match

   • Delts
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent.
   2. Keep your left hand up to protect your face and your right hand by your chin.
   3. Rotate your hips and pivot on your left foot as you extend your left arm forward in a punching motion.
   4. Twist your torso and engage your core muscles to generate power in the punch.
   5. Snap your arm back to the starting position and repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Cable Seated Lateral Raise
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
   • Body position: standing, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Seated Lateral Raise
9. 

   9. Kneeling Arm Drill

   38% match

   • Shoulders
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. This drill helps increase arm efficiency during the run. Begin kneeling, left foot in front, right knee down. Apply pressure through the front heel to keep your glutes and hamstrings activated.
   2. Begin by blocking the arms in long, pendulum like swings. Close the arm angle, blocking with the arms as you would when jogging, progressing to a run and finally a sprint.
   3. As soon as your hands pass the hip, accelerate them forward during the sprinting motion to move them as quickly as possible.
   4. Switch knees and repeat.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: shoulders, not delts
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
   • Body position: kneeling, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Seated Lateral Raise
10. Play demonstration

    10. Chest Dip (On Dip-pull-up Cage)

    37% match

    • Pectorals
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    How to perform this exercise

    1. Adjust the dip bars to a height that allows you to comfortably grip them.
    2. Stand between the bars and place your hands on each bar, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
    3. Jump up and straighten your arms, supporting your body weight on the bars.
    4. Bend your knees and cross your ankles behind you.
    5. Lower your body by bending your elbows, keeping your chest up and your shoulders down.
    6. Continue lowering until your shoulders are below your elbows or until you feel a stretch in your chest.
    7. Push through your palms and extend your elbows to raise your body back up to the starting position.
    8. 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, not delts
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: hanging, not seated
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Seated Lateral Raise