8 Best Dumbbell Seated Lateral Raise Alternatives for Shoulder Definition

Ranked Dumbbell Seated Lateral Raise Alternatives

8 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Dumbbell 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. Play demonstration

   1. 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 free weights
   • Body position: hanging, not seated
2. 

   2. Bench Dips

   40% match

   • Triceps
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

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

   How to perform this exercise

   1. For this exercise you will need to place a bench behind your back. With the bench perpendicular to your body, and while looking away from it, hold on to the bench on its edge with the hands fully extended, separated at shoulder width. The legs will be extended forward, bent at the waist and perpendicular to your torso. This will be your starting position.
   2. Slowly lower your body as you inhale by bending at the elbows until you lower yourself far enough to where there is an angle slightly smaller than 90 degrees between the upper arm and the forearm. Tip: Keep the elbows as close as possible throughout the movement. Forearms should always be pointing down.
   3. Using your triceps to bring your torso up again, lift yourself back to the starting position.
   4. Repeat for the recommended amount 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 free weights
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Dumbbell Seated Lateral Raise
3. Play demonstration

   3. Elbow Dips

   35% 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 next to your hips.
   2. Slide your hips forward off the bench and straighten your legs, 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 through your hands to straighten your arms and lift your body 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 free weights
   • Body position: standing, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Dumbbell Seated Lateral Raise
4. Best match

   Play demonstration

   4. Handstand Push-up

   35% 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 Dumbbell Seated Lateral Raise
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
   • Body position: inverted, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Dumbbell Seated Lateral Raise
5. Play demonstration

   5. Chest Dip

   34% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Advanced
   • Compound

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

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Position yourself on parallel bars with your arms fully extended and your body straight.
   2. Lower your body by bending your elbows until your shoulders are below your elbows.
   3. 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, not delts
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
   • Body position: hanging, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Dumbbell Seated Lateral Raise
6. Play demonstration

   6. Reverse Dip

   34% match

   • Triceps
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Position yourself between two parallel bars with your arms fully extended and your body straight.
   2. Lower your body by bending your elbows until your upper arms are parallel to the ground.
   3. Pause for a moment, 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: triceps, not delts
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
   • Body position: standing, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Dumbbell Seated Lateral Raise
7. 

   7. Dips - Triceps Version

   33% match

   • Triceps
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. To get into the starting position, hold your body at arm's length with your arms nearly locked above the bars.
   2. Now, inhale and slowly lower yourself downward. Your torso should remain upright and your elbows should stay close to your body. This helps to better focus on tricep involvement. Lower yourself until there is a 90 degree angle formed between the upper arm and forearm.
   3. Then, exhale and push your torso back up using your triceps to bring your body back to the starting position.
   4. Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount 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 free weights
   • Body position: hanging, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Dumbbell Seated Lateral Raise
8. Play demonstration

   8. Ring Dips

   30% match

   • Triceps
   • Bodyweight
   • Advanced
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Start by hanging from the rings with your arms fully extended and your body straight.
   2. Lower your body by bending your elbows until your shoulders are below your elbows.
   3. Push yourself back up to the starting position by straightening your arms.
   4. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: triceps, not delts
   • Equipment: a suspension trainer, not free weights
   • Body position: standing, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Dumbbell Seated Lateral Raise