10 Best Lever Standing Chest Press Alternatives for Limited Equipment

Ranked Lever Standing Chest Press Alternatives

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

   Play demonstration

   1. Chest Dip

   70% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Advanced
   • Compound

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

   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, the same as the Lever Standing Chest Press
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: hanging, not standing
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Standing Chest Press
2. Play demonstration

   2. Reverse Dip

   63% match

   • Triceps
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

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

   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 pectorals
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Lever Standing Chest Press
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Standing Chest Press
3. Play demonstration

   3. Ring Dips

   59% 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 pectorals
   • Equipment: a suspension trainer, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Lever Standing Chest Press
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Standing Chest Press
4. 

   4. Bench Dips

   57% match

   • Triceps
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   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 pectorals
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: seated, not standing
5. Play demonstration

   5. Elbow Dips

   54% 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 pectorals
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Lever Standing Chest Press
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Standing Chest Press
6. Play demonstration

   6. Incline Push-up (On Box)

   54% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Place your hands on the edge of a box or elevated surface, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
   2. Extend your legs behind you, resting on the balls of your feet, creating a straight line from your head to your heels.
   3. Lower your chest towards the box by bending your elbows, keeping your body in a straight line.
   4. Pause for a moment at the bottom, 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 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Lever Standing Chest Press
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Lever Standing Chest Press
7. Play demonstration

   7. Modified Hindu Push-up

   52% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Start in a push-up position with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and your feet hip-width apart.
   2. Lower your body towards the ground, bending your elbows and keeping your core engaged.
   3. As you lower your body, shift your weight back and lift your hips up towards the ceiling, creating an inverted V shape with your body.
   4. Continue to lower your body until your chest is just above the ground, then reverse the movement, pushing your hips back down and extending 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: pectorals, the same as the Lever Standing Chest Press
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Lever Standing Chest Press
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Lever Standing Chest Press
8. Play demonstration

   8. Push-up (Wall)

   50% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand facing a wall, about arm's length away.
   2. Place your hands on the wall at shoulder height, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
   3. Step back with your feet, keeping them hip-width apart.
   4. Engage your core and keep your body in a straight line from head to heels.
   5. Bend your elbows and lower your chest towards the wall, keeping your body straight.
   6. Pause for a moment, then push yourself back to the starting position.
   7. 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: pectorals, the same as the Lever Standing Chest Press
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as the Lever Standing Chest Press
9. Play demonstration

   9. Incline Push-up

   46% match

   • Pectorals
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Place your hands on an elevated surface, such as a bench or step, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
   2. Extend your legs behind you, resting on the balls of your feet, creating a straight line from your head to your heels.
   3. Lower your chest towards the elevated surface by bending your elbows, keeping your body in a straight line.
   4. Pause for a moment at the bottom, 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 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Lever Standing Chest Press
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: lying face down, not standing
10. 

    10. Incline Push-up Medium

    46% match

    • Pectorals
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Compound

    How to perform this exercise

    1. Stand facing a Smith machine bar or sturdy elevated platform at an appropriate height.
    2. Place your hands on the bar, with your hands about shoulder width apart.
    3. Position your feet back from the bar with arms and body straight. This will be your starting position.
    4. Keeping your body straight, lower your chest to the bar by bending the arms.
    5. Return to the starting position by extending the elbows, pressing yourself back up.

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

    Why this matches

    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Lever Standing Chest Press
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
    • Body position: lying face down, not standing