10 Best Smith Incline Shoulder Raises Alternatives for When You Don't Have a Smith Machine

Ranked Smith Incline Shoulder Raises Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches Smith Incline Shoulder Raises 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. Harder versions are tagged as progressions and kept out of the top spot even when they score higher.

1. Best match

   Play demonstration

   1. Dumbbell Incline Shoulder Raise

   76% match

   • Serratus
   • Dumbbell
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   A good swap when you have dumbbells to work with, and it still works the serratus.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Set an incline bench to a 45-degree angle and sit on it with a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing down.
   2. Rest the dumbbells on your thighs and lean back onto the bench.
   3. Use your thighs to help raise the dumbbells to shoulder height, then rotate your wrists so that your palms are facing forward.
   4. Exhale and slowly raise the dumbbells above your head, keeping a slight bend in your elbows.
   5. Pause for a moment at the top, then inhale and slowly lower the dumbbells back to shoulder height.
   6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Movement: raise, the same as Smith Incline Shoulder Raises
   • Primary muscle: serratus, the same as Smith Incline Shoulder Raises
   • Equipment: free weights, not a machine
   • Body position: lying on your back, not standing
2. Play demonstration

   Progression

   2. Smith Upright Row

   74% match

   • Delts
   • Smith-machine
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   A looser match: it uses the same equipment, but it works the delts rather than the serratus.

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, facing the smith machine.
   2. Grasp the barbell with an overhand grip, hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
   3. Keep your back straight and your core engaged.
   4. Pull the barbell up towards your chin, leading with your elbows.
   5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the barbell 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: delts, not serratus
   • Equipment: a machine, the same as Smith Incline Shoulder Raises
   • Body position: standing, the same as Smith Incline Shoulder Raises
3. Play demonstration

   3. Kettlebell Pirate Supper Legs

   65% match

   • Delts
   • Kettlebell
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

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

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a kettlebell in one hand.
   2. Bend your knees slightly and hinge forward at the hips, keeping your back straight.
   3. Raise the kettlebell up to shoulder height, keeping your elbow close to your body.
   4. Extend your arm fully overhead, straightening your elbow.
   5. Lower the kettlebell back down to shoulder height, then return to the starting position.
   6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch sides.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: delts, not serratus
   • Equipment: free weights, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as Smith Incline Shoulder Raises
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than Smith Incline Shoulder Raises
4. Play demonstration

   4. Incline Scapula Push Up

   64% match

   • Serratus
   • Bodyweight
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

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

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Set up an incline bench at a 45-degree angle.
   2. Place your hands on the bench slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
   3. Position your feet on the ground, hip-width apart.
   4. Lower your chest towards the bench, keeping your elbows tucked in.
   5. As you lower, retract your shoulder blades, squeezing your scapulae together.
   6. Push through your palms to extend your arms and return 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: serratus, the same as Smith Incline Shoulder Raises
   • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as Smith Incline Shoulder Raises
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than Smith Incline Shoulder Raises
5. Play demonstration

   5. Dumbbell Upright Row

   63% match

   • Delts
   • Dumbbell
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand with an overhand grip.
   2. Let the dumbbells hang in front of your thighs, with your arms fully extended.
   3. Keeping your back straight and your core engaged, exhale and lift the dumbbells straight up towards your chin, leading with your elbows.
   4. Pause for a moment at the top, then inhale and slowly lower the dumbbells back down 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, not serratus
   • Equipment: free weights, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as Smith Incline Shoulder Raises
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than Smith Incline Shoulder Raises
6. 

   6. Standing Front Barbell Raise Over Head

   62% match

   • Delts
   • Barbell
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. To begin, stand straight with a barbell in your hands. You should grip the bar with palms facing down and a closer than shoulder width grip apart from each other.
   2. Your feet should be shoulder width apart from each other. Your elbows should be slightly bent. This is the starting position.
   3. Lift the barbell up until it is directly over your head while exhaling. Make sure to keep your elbows slightly bent when performing each repetition.
   4. Once you feel the contraction, begin to lower the barbell back down 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: raise, the same as Smith Incline Shoulder Raises
   • Primary muscle: delts, not serratus
   • Equipment: free weights, not a machine
   • Body position: standing, the same as Smith Incline Shoulder Raises
   • Balance: harder to stay steady on than Smith Incline Shoulder Raises
7. Play demonstration

   7. Lever Seated Fly

   56% match

   • Pectorals
   • Lever
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

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

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Adjust the seat height and position yourself on the machine with your back against the pad.
   2. Grasp the handles with a pronated grip and keep your elbows slightly bent.
   3. Exhale and push the handles forward, bringing them together in front of your chest.
   4. Pause for a moment, squeezing your chest muscles.
   5. Inhale and slowly return to the starting position, allowing your chest muscles to stretch.
   6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: pectorals, not serratus
   • Equipment: a machine, the same as Smith Incline Shoulder Raises
   • Body position: seated, not standing
8. 

   8. Front Raise And Pullover

   56% match

   • Pectorals
   • Barbell
   • Intermediate
   • Compound

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Lie on a flat bench while holding a barbell using a palms down grip that is about 15 inches apart.
   2. Place the bar on your upper thighs, extend your arms and lock them while keeping a slight bend on the elbows. This will be your starting position.
   3. Now raise the weight using a semicircular motion and keeping your arms straight as you inhale. Continue the same movement until the bar is on the other side above your head . (Tip: the bar will travel approximately 180-degrees). At this point your arms should be parallel to the floor with the palms of your hands facing the ceiling.
   4. Now return the barbell to the starting position by reversing the motion as you exhale.
   5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Movement: raise, the same as Smith Incline Shoulder Raises
   • Primary muscle: pectorals, not serratus
   • Equipment: free weights, not a machine
   • Body position: lying on your back, not standing
9. 

   9. Butterfly

   56% match

   • Pectorals
   • Machine
   • Beginner
   • Isolation

   How to perform this exercise

   1. Sit on the machine with your back flat on the pad.
   2. Take hold of the handles. Tip: Your upper arms should be positioned parallel to the floor; adjust the machine accordingly. This will be your starting position.
   3. Push the handles together slowly as you squeeze your chest in the middle. Breathe out during this part of the motion and hold the contraction for a second.
   4. Return back to the starting position slowly as you inhale until your chest muscles are fully stretched.
   5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

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

   Why this matches

   • Primary muscle: pectorals, not serratus
   • Equipment: a machine, the same as Smith Incline Shoulder Raises
   • Body position: seated, not standing
10. Play demonstration

    Progression

    10. Smith Rear Delt Row

    55% match

    • Delts
    • Smith-machine
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    How to perform this exercise

    1. Adjust the seat height and position yourself on the machine with your chest against the pad and your feet flat on the ground.
    2. Grasp the handles with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
    3. Keep your back straight and your core engaged as you pull the handles towards your chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    4. Pause for a moment at the top of the movement, then slowly release the handles back 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, not serratus
    • Equipment: a machine, the same as Smith Incline Shoulder Raises
    • Body position: standing, the same as Smith Incline Shoulder Raises