10 Best Lever Seated Dip Alternatives for When You Lack a Lever

Ranked Lever Seated Dip Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Lever Seated Dip 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. Bench Dips

   85% match

   • Triceps
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

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

   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, the same as the Lever Seated Dip
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever Seated Dip
2. Play demonstration

   2. Reverse Dip

   77% 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, the same as the Lever Seated Dip
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Seated Dip
3. Play demonstration

   3. Ring Dips

   73% 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, the same as the Lever Seated Dip
   • Equipment: a suspension trainer, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Seated Dip
4. Play demonstration

   4. Elbow Dips

   68% 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, the same as the Lever Seated Dip
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Seated Dip
5. 

   5. Dips - Triceps Version

   66% 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, the same as the Lever Seated Dip
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: hanging, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Seated Dip
6. Play demonstration

   6. Chest Dip

   62% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Advanced
   • Compound

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

   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 triceps
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: hanging, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Seated Dip
7. Play demonstration

   7. Impossible Dips

   57% match

   • Triceps
   • Bodyweight
   • Advanced
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Position yourself between two parallel bars with your arms fully extended and your body suspended in the air.
   2. Bend your knees and cross your ankles.
   3. Lower your body by bending your elbows until your upper arms are parallel to the ground.
   4. Pause for a moment, 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 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: triceps, the same as the Lever Seated Dip
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: inverted, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Seated Dip
8. Play demonstration

   8. Stalder Press

   57% match

   • Triceps
   • Bodyweight
   • Advanced
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms extended overhead.
   2. Bend your knees slightly and engage your core.
   3. Lower your body down into a squat position while keeping your arms extended overhead.
   4. As you squat down, press your arms down towards the ground, engaging your triceps.
   5. Pause for a moment at the bottom of the squat, then push through your heels to stand back up while simultaneously raising your arms back overhead.
   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: triceps, the same as the Lever Seated Dip
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: inverted, not seated
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Seated Dip
9. Play demonstration

   9. Three Bench Dip

   49% match

   • Triceps
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   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, the same as the Lever Seated Dip
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever Seated Dip
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Seated Dip
10. Play demonstration

    10. Bench Dip On Floor

    47% 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, the same as the Lever Seated Dip
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Lever Seated Dip
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Seated Dip