Chest · Bodyweight
Diamond Push-up
How to do the diamond push-up, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Horizontal Press
- Mechanic
- Compound
How to do it
Start in a push-up position with hands close together, forming a diamond shape with your index fingers and thumbs. Lower your chest to your hands, then push back up to the starting position.
- 1Feel your triceps working intensely as you push up with hands in a diamond shape
- 2Keep your elbows close to your body and core engaged
- 3Lower slowly to maximize tricep tension
Common mistakes
- Avoid letting your elbows splay out or flare
- Don't let your hips sag; maintain a straight body line
- Avoid collapsing your shoulders; keep them down and stable
Muscles worked
The diamond push-up mainly works the mid chest and triceps, with the upper chest, lower chest, upper abs, and front delts assisting.
- Mid ChestPrimary
- TricepsPrimary
- Upper ChestSupport
- Lower ChestSupport
- Upper AbsSupport
- Front DeltsSupport
- ForearmsMinor
- Lower AbsMinor
- ObliquesMinor
Kovo programs the diamond push-up for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More chest exercises
- How to do the archer push-up
- How to do the assisted dip
- How to do the resistance band chest flyes
- How to do the resistance band push-up
- How to do the barbell bench press
- How to do the paused bench press
Last reviewed April 2026.