Shoulders · Dumbbell
Dumbbell Incline Shoulders Press
How to do the dumbbell incline shoulders press, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Dumbbell
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- VerticalPush
- Mechanic
- Compound
How to do it
Sit on a high incline bench set near upright, holding a dumbbell in each hand at shoulder height with palms facing forward. Brace your core and press the dumbbells overhead until your arms are straight. Lower them back to shoulder level under control.
- 1Front delts and triceps driving the dumbbells overhead
- 2Core tight and lower back against the pad
- 3Even press from both arms in a smooth path
Common mistakes
- Arching your lower back off the bench
- Letting the dumbbells drift forward or clash at the top
- Flaring your elbows straight out to the sides
Muscles worked
The dumbbell incline shoulders press mainly works the front delts, with the triceps, side delts, upper chest, and upper traps assisting.
- Front DeltsPrimary
- TricepsSupport
- Side DeltsSupport
- Upper ChestSupport
- Upper TrapsSupport
- ForearmsMinor
- Upper AbsMinor
- Lower AbsMinor
Kovo programs the dumbbell incline shoulders press 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 shoulders exercises
- How to do the battle rope alternating waves
- How to do the arm circles
- How to do the arnold press
- How to do the resistance band front raise
- How to do the resistance band lateral raise
- How to do the resistance band overhead press
Last reviewed June 2026.