10 Best Lever Incline Chest Press Alternatives for Gym or Home

Ranked Lever Incline Chest Press Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Lever Incline Chest 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

   

   1. Leverage Incline Chest Press

   92% match

   • Pectorals
   • Machine
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

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

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Load an appropriate weight onto the pins and adjust the seat for your height. The handles should be near the top of the pectorals at the beginning of the motion. Your chest and head should be up and your shoulder blades retracted. This will be your starting position.
   2. Press the handles forward by extending through the elbow.
   3. After a brief pause at the top, return the weight just above the start position, keeping tension on the muscles by not returning the weight to the stops until the set is complete.

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

   Why this matches

   • Movement: incline press, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
   • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
   • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
2. Play demonstration

   2. Lever Chest Press

   90% match

   • Pectorals
   • Lever
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   Pick this when you want an easier version that still works the pectorals.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Adjust the seat height and position yourself on the machine with your back flat against the pad.
   2. Grasp the handles with an overhand grip and position your elbows at a 90-degree angle.
   3. Push the handles forward until your arms are fully extended, exhaling during the movement.
   4. Pause briefly at the end of the movement, then slowly return to the starting position, inhaling as you do so.
   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: pectorals, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
   • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
3. 

   3. Leverage Chest Press

   90% match

   • Pectorals
   • Machine
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Load an appropriate weight onto the pins and adjust the seat for your height. The handles should be near the bottom or middle of the pectorals at the beginning of the motion.
   2. Your chest and head should be up and your shoulder blades retracted. This will be your starting position.
   3. Press the handles forward by extending through the elbow.
   4. After a brief pause at the top, return the weight just above the start position, keeping tension on the muscles by not returning the weight to the stops until the set is complete.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
   • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
4. 

   4. Incline Cable Chest Press

   88% match

   • Pectorals
   • Cable
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

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

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Adjust the weight to an appropriate amount and be seated, grasping the handles. Your upper arms should be about 45 degrees to the body, with your head and chest up. The elbows should be bent to about 90 degrees. This will be your starting position.
   2. Begin by extending through the elbow, pressing the handles together straight in front of you. Keep your shoulder blades retracted as you execute the movement.
   3. After pausing at full extension, return to the starting position, keeping tension on the cables.

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

   Why this matches

   • Movement: incline press, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
   • Equipment: a cable, not a machine
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
5. Play demonstration

   5. Lever Decline Chest Press

   82% match

   • Pectorals
   • Lever
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   The same equipment, done lying on your back instead.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Adjust the seat height and backrest of the leverage machine to a comfortable position.
   2. Sit on the machine with your back against the backrest and your feet flat on the floor.
   3. Grasp the handles with an overhand grip and position your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
   4. Push the handles forward and away from your body until your arms are fully extended.
   5. Slowly lower the handles back towards your chest, keeping your elbows slightly bent.
   6. Pause for a moment at the bottom, then push the handles 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

   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
   • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
   • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
6. 

   6. Leverage Decline Chest Press

   82% match

   • Pectorals
   • Machine
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Load an appropriate weight onto the pins and adjust the seat for your height. The handles should be near the bottom of the pectorals at the beginning of the motion. Your chest and head should be up and your shoulder blades retracted. This will be your starting position.
   2. Press the handles forward by extending through the elbow.
   3. After a brief pause at the top, return the weight just above the start position, keeping tension on the muscles by not returning the weight to the stops until the set is complete.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
   • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
   • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
7. 

   7. Smith Machine Decline Press

   81% match

   • Pectorals
   • Smith-machine
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

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

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Position a decline bench in the rack so that the bar will be above your chest. Load an appropriate weight and take your place on the bench.
   2. Rotate the bar to unhook it from the rack and fully extend your arms. Your back should be slightly arched and your shoulder blades retracted. This will be your starting position.
   3. Begin the movement by flexing your arms, lowering the bar to your chest.
   4. Pause briefly, and then extend your arms to push the weight back to the starting position.
   5. After completing the desired number of repetitions, rotate the bar to rack the weight.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
   • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
   • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
8. Play demonstration

   8. Machine Inner Chest Press

   80% match

   • Pectorals
   • Lever
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Adjust the seat height and position yourself on the machine with your back flat against the pad.
   2. Grasp the handles with an overhand grip and position your elbows at a 90-degree angle.
   3. Push the handles forward until your arms are fully extended, exhaling during the movement.
   4. Pause for a moment at the end of the movement, then slowly return to the starting position, inhaling as you do so.
   5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

   Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
   • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
9. Play demonstration

   9. Resistance Band Seated Chest Press

   79% match

   • Pectorals
   • Band
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Sit on a chair or bench with your back straight and feet flat on the ground.
   2. Hold the resistance band handles in each hand, with your palms facing down and elbows bent at a 90-degree angle.
   3. Extend your arms forward, pushing the resistance band away from your chest.
   4. Pause for a moment at the end of the movement, then slowly 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: pectorals, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
   • Equipment: a band, not a machine
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
10. 

    10. Incline Dumbbell Press

    77% match

    • Pectorals
    • Dumbbell
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    How to perform this exercise

    1. Lie back on an incline bench with a dumbbell in each hand atop your thighs. The palms of your hands will be facing each other.
    2. Then, using your thighs to help push the dumbbells up, lift the dumbbells one at a time so that you can hold them at shoulder width.
    3. Once you have the dumbbells raised to 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. Be sure to keep full control of the dumbbells at all times. Then breathe out and push the dumbbells up with your chest.
    5. Lock your arms at the top, hold for a second, and then start slowly lowering the weight. Tip Ideally, lowering the weights should take about twice as long as raising them.
    6. Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
    7. When you are done, place the dumbbells back on your thighs and then on the floor. This is the safest manner to release the dumbbells.

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

    Why this matches

    • Movement: incline press, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Lever Incline Chest Press
    • Equipment: free weights, not a machine
    • Body position: lying on your back, not seated
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Incline Chest Press