Back · Bodyweight

Inverted Row on Bench

How to do the inverted row on bench, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.

Animated demonstration of the Inverted Row on Bench
Equipment
Bodyweight
Difficulty
Intermediate
Logged as
Reps
Movement
HorizontalPull
Mechanic
Compound

How to do it

Set a bar in a rack at about waist height and lie underneath it with your heels on a bench, body straight from head to feet. Grip the bar overhand with arms extended, then pull your chest toward the bar by squeezing your shoulder blades, and lower with control.

  1. 1Back and biceps pulling the chest to the bar
  2. 2Shoulder blades squeezing together at the top
  3. 3A rigid plank from head to heels throughout

Common mistakes

  • Letting the hips sag or the ribs flare
  • Jerking or using momentum to reach the bar
  • Flaring the elbows wide away from the body

Muscles worked

The inverted row on bench mainly works the lats and mid traps, with the biceps, forearms, and rear delts assisting.

  • LatsPrimary
  • Mid TrapsPrimary
  • BicepsSupport
  • ForearmsSupport
  • Rear DeltsSupport
  • Upper TrapsMinor
  • Lower TrapsMinor
  • Upper AbsMinor
  • Lower AbsMinor
  • GlutesMinor

Kovo programs the inverted row on bench 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 back exercises

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Last reviewed June 2026.