Chest · Dumbbell

Incline Chest Flyes

How to do the incline chest flyes, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.

Animated demonstration of the Incline Chest Flyes
Equipment
Dumbbell
Difficulty
Advanced
Logged as
Weighted reps
Movement
Fly
Mechanic
Isolation

How to do it

Lie back on an incline bench holding a dumbbell in each hand above your shoulders, palms facing inward. With a slight bend in your elbows, lower the dumbbells out to the sides in a wide arc, then bring them back together above your chest.

  1. 1Feel your upper chest stretch as you lower the dumbbells in an arc on an incline bench
  2. 2Keep a slight bend in your elbows and squeeze your pecs as you bring the weights together
  3. 3Maintain constant tension by stopping just short of touching

Common mistakes

  • Avoid dropping your elbows too low below the bench
  • Don't let your shoulders roll forward; keep them retracted
  • Avoid locking your elbows; maintain a gentle bend

Muscles worked

The incline chest flyes mainly works the upper chest and mid chest, with the lower chest and front delts assisting.

  • Upper ChestPrimary
  • Mid ChestPrimary
  • Lower ChestSupport
  • Front DeltsSupport

Incline Chest Flyes strength standards

See how your incline chest flyes ranks, from Bronze to Champion. These are the same standards the Kovo app uses to rank your lifts.

  • Bronzee1RM15 lb
  • Silvere1RM32.5 lb
  • Golde1RM57.5 lb
  • Platinume1RM85 lb
  • Diamonde1RM100 lb
  • Champione1RM115 lb

Find your rank

Enter your best set. We estimate your 1RM and match it to a tier.

Kovo tracks this rank automatically as you train, across every lift, and levels you up as you get stronger.

Kovo programs the incline chest flyes 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

See all chest exercises →

Last reviewed April 2026.