10 Best Leverage Shoulder Press Alternatives for Any Setup

The Leverage Shoulder Press is done seated with a machine. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Lever Shoulder Press, the Machine Shoulder (Military) Press and the Smith Seated Shoulder Press.

Leverage Shoulder Press

Each substitute is scored on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. Read how we rank alternatives

How to Do the Leverage Shoulder Press

The steps for the Leverage Shoulder Press itself, so you can judge how close each substitute below really is.

Delts, with triceps · Machine · Intermediate · Compound

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

The 10 Best Leverage Shoulder Press Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Leverage Shoulder Press on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Cards with a "How to perform it" link open to show the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.

Each link re-ranks the list below for the kit it names. Pick one to hide the substitutes you cannot set up.

  1. Lever Shoulder PressPlay demonstration

    1. Lever Shoulder Press

    99% match

    Delts · Intermediate · Compound

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

    • Lever
    How to perform it
    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 of the machine with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
    4. Push the handles upward and forward until your arms are fully extended, but not locked.
    5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the handles 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
    • Movement: strict overhead press, the same as the Leverage Shoulder Press
    • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Leverage Shoulder Press
    • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Leverage Shoulder Press
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Leverage Shoulder Press
  2. Machine Shoulder (Military) Press

    2. Machine Shoulder (Military) Press

    99% match

    Delts · Intermediate · Compound

    It uses the same equipment and still works the delts.

    • Machine
    How to perform it
    1. Sit down on the Shoulder Press Machine and select the weight.
    2. Grab the handles to your sides as you keep the elbows bent and in line with your torso. This will be your starting position.
    3. Now lift the handles as you exhale and you extend the arms fully. At the top of the position make sure that you hold the contraction for a second.
    4. Lower the handles slowly back to the starting position as you inhale.
    5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

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

    Why this matches
    • Movement: strict overhead press, the same as the Leverage Shoulder Press
    • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Leverage Shoulder Press
    • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Leverage Shoulder Press
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Leverage Shoulder Press
  3. Smith Seated Shoulder PressPlay demonstration

    3. Smith Seated Shoulder Press

    99% match

    Delts · Intermediate · Compound

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

    • Smith-machine
    How to perform it
    1. Adjust the seat height so that the handles are at shoulder level.
    2. Sit on the machine with your back against the pad and your feet flat on the floor.
    3. Grasp the handles with an overhand grip and lift them off the supports, extending your arms fully.
    4. Lower the handles down to shoulder level, keeping your elbows slightly bent.
    5. Press the handles up overhead until your arms are fully extended.
    6. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the handles back down to shoulder level.
    7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

    Why this matches
    • Movement: strict overhead press, the same as the Leverage Shoulder Press
    • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Leverage Shoulder Press
    • Equipment: a machine, the same as the Leverage Shoulder Press
    • Body position: seated, the same as the Leverage Shoulder Press

Leverage Shoulder Press FAQ

What muscles does Leverage Shoulder Press work?

The leverage shoulder press primarily targets the anterior and lateral deltoids, with secondary activation of the triceps and upper trapezius. It also engages the rotator cuff for stabilization and the serratus anterior during overhead scapular upward rotation.

Find Alternatives for Any Exercise

Search the exercise database and filter the ranked substitutes by the equipment you own.