10 Best Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press Alternatives for Any Setup

The Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press is done lying on your back with dumbbells. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Hammer Grip Incline DB Bench Press, the Incline Dumbbell Bench With Palms Facing In and the Dumbbell Incline Bench Press.

Updated Ranked by our 12-factor similarity model How it works

Original Exercise: Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press

Primary muscle
Pectorals
Equipment
Dumbbell
Difficulty
Intermediate
Type
Compound

Secondary muscles: Chest, Shoulders

How to perform Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
  1. Set up an incline bench at a 45-degree angle.
  2. Sit on the bench with your back against the backrest and feet flat on the ground.
  3. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with an overhand grip, palms facing inwards.
  4. Extend your arms straight up above your chest, keeping a slight bend in your elbows.
  5. Lower the dumbbells slowly towards your shoulders, keeping your elbows close to your body.
  6. Pause for a moment at the bottom, then press the dumbbells back up to the starting position.
  7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
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Ranked Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Dumbbell Palms In 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. Incline Dumbbell Bench With Palms Facing In
    • Pectorals
    • Dumbbell
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie back on an incline bench with a dumbbell on each hand on top of your thighs. The palms of your hand will be facing each other.
    2. By using your thighs to help you get the dumbbells up, clean the dumbbells one arm at a time so that you can hold them at shoulder width.
    3. Once at shoulder width, keep the palms of your hands with a neutral grip (palms facing each other). Keep your elbows flared out with the upper arms in line with the shoulders (perpendicular to the torso) and the elbows bent creating a 90-degree angle between the upper arm and the forearm. This will be your starting position.
    4. Now bring down the weights slowly to your side as you breathe in. Keep full control of the dumbbells at all times.
    5. As you breathe out, push the dumbbells up using your pectoral muscles. Lock your arms in the contracted position, hold for a second and then start coming down slowly. Tip: It should take at least twice as long to go down than to come up.
    6. Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
    7. When you are done, place the dumbbells back in your thighs and then on the floor. This is the safest manner to dispose of the dumbbells.

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

    Why this matches
    • Movement: incline press, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Pectorals
    • Dumbbell
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    The same equipment, taken with an overhand grip.

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

    Sets and reps: 3 to 5 sets of 5 to 8 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: incline press, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Pectorals
    • Barbell
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    A good swap when you have a barbell to work with, and it still works the pectorals.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Set up an incline bench at a 45-degree angle.
    2. Lie down on the bench with your feet flat on the ground.
    3. Grasp the barbell with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
    4. Unrack the barbell and lower it slowly towards your chest, keeping your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
    5. Pause for a moment at the bottom, then push the barbell back up 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
    • Movement: incline press, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
  2. Barbell Incline Bench Press - Medium Grip
    • Pectorals
    • Barbell
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie back on an incline bench. Using a medium-width grip (a grip that creates a 90-degree angle in the middle of the movement between the forearms and the upper arms), lift the bar from the rack and hold it straight over you with your arms locked. This will be your starting position.
    2. As you breathe in, come down slowly until you feel the bar on you upper chest.
    3. After a second pause, bring the bar back to the starting position as you breathe out and push the bar using your chest muscles. Lock your arms in the contracted position, squeeze your chest, hold for a second and then start coming down slowly again. Tip: it should take at least twice as long to go down than to come up.
    4. Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
    5. When you are done, place the bar back in the rack.

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

    Why this matches
    • Movement: incline press, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Pectorals
    • Barbell
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Set up an incline bench at a 45-degree angle.
    2. Lie down on the bench with your feet flat on the ground.
    3. Grasp the barbell with a reverse grip, hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
    4. Unrack the barbell and lower it slowly towards your chest, keeping your elbows tucked in.
    5. Pause for a moment when the barbell touches your chest.
    6. Push the barbell back up to the starting position, fully extending your arms.
    7. 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 Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Pectorals
    • Dumbbell
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Set up an incline bench at a 45-degree angle.
    2. Sit on the bench with your back against the pad and feet flat on the ground.
    3. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with an overhand grip, palms facing forward.
    4. Start with your arms fully extended, perpendicular to the ground.
    5. Lower the dumbbells slowly to the sides of your chest, keeping your elbows at a 90-degree angle.
    6. Pause for a moment at the bottom, then push the dumbbells back up to the starting position.
    7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 to 5 sets of 5 to 8 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: incline press, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Pectorals
    • Dumbbell
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Set an incline bench to a 45-degree angle and sit on it with a dumbbell in each hand, resting on your thighs.
    2. Lie back on the bench and position the dumbbells at shoulder level with your palms facing each other.
    3. Press the dumbbells up and away from your body until your arms are fully extended.
    4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the dumbbells back down 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
    • Movement: incline press, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Pectorals
    • Dumbbell
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Set up an incline bench at a 45-degree angle.
    2. Sit on the bench with a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing each other.
    3. Plant your feet firmly on the ground and keep your back straight against the bench.
    4. Start with the dumbbells at shoulder level, elbows bent and palms facing each other.
    5. Press the dumbbells up and away from your body, extending your arms fully.
    6. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the dumbbells back to the starting position.
    7. 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 Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
  3. Decline Dumbbell Bench Press
    • Pectorals
    • Dumbbell
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Secure your legs at the end of the decline bench and lie down with a dumbbell on each hand on top of your thighs. The palms of your hand will be facing each other.
    2. Once you are laying down, move the dumbbells in front of you at shoulder width.
    3. Once at shoulder width, rotate your wrists forward so that the palms of your hands are facing away from you. This will be your starting position.
    4. Bring down the weights slowly to your side as you breathe out. Keep full control of the dumbbells at all times. Tip: Throughout the motion, the forearms should always be perpendicular to the floor.
    5. As you breathe out, push the dumbbells up using your pectoral muscles. Lock your arms in the contracted position, squeeze your chest, hold for a second and then start coming down slowly. Tip: It should take at least twice as long to go down than to come up..
    6. Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions of your training program.

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

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press
    • Body position: lying on your back, the same as the Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press

How to Choose the Right Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press Substitute

Choose a substitute by matching movement pattern, available load, and shoulder tolerance. Prioritize exercises that preserve horizontal adduction and controlled shoulder flexion (e.g., incline close-grip DB press or cable low-to-high fly) if your goal is upper-pec growth. If shoulder pain limits range, pick neutral-grip machine presses or single-arm variations that allow scapular retraction and controlled eccentrics; cue a 2–3 second descent and keep elbows tracking ~45° to minimize deltoid dominance.

Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press FAQ

Can I build muscle without doing Dumbbell Palms In Incline Bench Press?

Yes. Use progressive overload with alternatives that maintain horizontal adduction, incline cable presses, unilateral incline DB presses, or machine inclines, to drive hypertrophy. Focus on full scapular retraction, controlled eccentrics, and increasing load or reps over time to stimulate growth.

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Similarity scores compare exercise metadata such as movement pattern, muscles, equipment and body position. They are not a safety rating or a check that you own the equipment. Learn about our methodology