Best Beginner Chest Workouts To Build Strength

About

This workout is designed to enhance pectoral strength using a structured approach beneficial for beginners.

The exercises incorporate compound movements that engage multiple muscle groups with additional focus on isolated actions for targeted muscle activation.

Beginners, defined as individuals with less than one year of experience, can start with reduced weights to emphasize mastering the movements while still achieving efficiency and safety.

The workout's emphasis on horizontal pressing exercises ensures substantial engagement of the chest muscles, complementing strength development across the upper body.

The 15 Best Beginner Chest Exercises to Build Strength

Ranked By

Ranked based on Fitbod's internal data set of the most effective exercises. Learn More

  • 1. Dumbbell Bench Press

    SETS LOGGED
    8,452,674
    Chest Strength
    99 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells
    Photo of Flat Bench
    Flat Bench

    The Dumbbell Bench Press is a great exercise for beginners that targets the chest, triceps, and shoulders. Using dumbbells helps improve stability and ensures both sides of the body work equally without compensating for weaknesses.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Bench Press is a great exercise for beginners that targets the chest, triceps, and shoulders. Using dumbbells helps improve stability and ensures both sides of the body work equally without compensating for weaknesses.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs
  • 2. Dumbbell Fly

    SETS LOGGED
    6,618,981
    Chest Strength
    98 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Dumbbells
    Dumbbells
    Photo of Flat Bench
    Flat Bench

    The Dumbbell Fly is an effective exercise for strengthening and building the chest muscles. It also engages the shoulders for support. This exercise helps to develop muscle balance by working each side of the body independently.

    How to do it

    The Dumbbell Fly is an effective exercise for strengthening and building the chest muscles. It also engages the shoulders for support. This exercise helps to develop muscle balance by working each side of the body independently.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    17.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    17.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    17.5lbs
  • 3. Cable Crossover Fly

    SETS LOGGED
    2,687,316
    Chest Strength
    95 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Crossover Cable
    Crossover Cable

    The Cable Crossover Fly is a chest exercise that uses cables to maintain tension and control. This exercise helps isolate different parts of the chest for a focused workout.

    How to do it

    The Cable Crossover Fly is a chest exercise that uses cables to maintain tension and control. This exercise helps isolate different parts of the chest for a focused workout.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs
  • 4. Hammerstrength Chest Press

    SETS LOGGED
    1,521,759
    Chest Strength
    92 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Hammerstrength (Leverage) Machine (all forms)
    Hammerstrength (Leverage) Machine (all forms)

    The Hammerstrength Chest Press is a chest workout that targets your chest, shoulders, and triceps using a specialized machine. It helps you maintain focus on the exercise and learn proper movement without worrying about balance.

    How to do it

    The Hammerstrength Chest Press is a chest workout that targets your chest, shoulders, and triceps using a specialized machine. It helps you maintain focus on the exercise and learn proper movement without worrying about balance.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    40lbs
    2
    8reps
    40lbs
    3
    8reps
    40lbs
  • 5. Hammerstrength Decline Chest Press

    SETS LOGGED
    747,338
    Chest Strength
    77 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Hammerstrength (Leverage) Machine (all forms)
    Hammerstrength (Leverage) Machine (all forms)

    The Hammerstrength Decline Chest Press is a machine exercise that targets the lower chest. It provides stability, allowing you to focus on building strength without worrying about balance.

    How to do it

    The Hammerstrength Decline Chest Press is a machine exercise that targets the lower chest. It provides stability, allowing you to focus on building strength without worrying about balance.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    40lbs
    2
    8reps
    40lbs
    3
    8reps
    40lbs
  • 6. Hammerstrength Incline Chest Press

    SETS LOGGED
    1,162,003
    Chest Strength
    84 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Hammerstrength (Leverage) Machine (all forms)
    Hammerstrength (Leverage) Machine (all forms)

    The Hammerstrength Incline Chest Press is a machine exercise that targets your upper chest, shoulders, and triceps. It provides stability and focuses your effort on these muscle groups by using a fixed range of motion.

    How to do it

    The Hammerstrength Incline Chest Press is a machine exercise that targets your upper chest, shoulders, and triceps. It provides stability and focuses your effort on these muscle groups by using a fixed range of motion.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    40lbs
    2
    8reps
    40lbs
    3
    8reps
    40lbs
  • 7. Smith Machine Bench Press

    SETS LOGGED
    922,042
    Chest Strength
    66 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Smith Machine
    Smith Machine
    Photo of Flat Bench
    Flat Bench

    The Smith Machine Bench Press is a chest exercise that works your triceps and shoulders too. The Smith Machine helps keep the movement steady, making it easier to focus on properly performing the exercise.

    How to do it

    The Smith Machine Bench Press is a chest exercise that works your triceps and shoulders too. The Smith Machine helps keep the movement steady, making it easier to focus on properly performing the exercise.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    45lbs
    2
    8reps
    45lbs
    3
    8reps
    45lbs
  • 8. Smith Machine Incline Bench Press

    SETS LOGGED
    747,394
    Chest Strength
    92 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Smith Machine
    Smith Machine

    The Smith Machine Incline Bench Press is a chest exercise that targets the chest, shoulders, and triceps. It offers stability, making it ideal for beginners who want to focus on their form and strength without worrying about balance.

    How to do it

    The Smith Machine Incline Bench Press is a chest exercise that targets the chest, shoulders, and triceps. It offers stability, making it ideal for beginners who want to focus on their form and strength without worrying about balance.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    40lbs
    2
    8reps
    40lbs
    3
    8reps
    40lbs
  • 9. Hand Release Push Up

    SETS LOGGED
    806,763
    Chest Strength
    94 mScore
    Chest

    The Hand Release Push Up is a modified version of the standard push up that helps improve your strength by ensuring full range of motion. By lifting your hands off the ground at the bottom of the movement, you engage your muscles more effectively during the exercise.

    How to do it

    The Hand Release Push Up is a modified version of the standard push up that helps improve your strength by ensuring full range of motion. By lifting your hands off the ground at the bottom of the movement, you engage your muscles more effectively during the exercise.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    6reps
    2
    6reps
    3
    6reps
  • 10. Single Arm Cable Press

    SETS LOGGED
    298,585
    Chest Strength
    85 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
    Hi-Lo Pulley Cable

    The Single Arm Cable Press is a great exercise for strengthening your chest, shoulders, and triceps. It helps identify and fix strength differences between your arms while mimicking the motion of throwing a punch, making it useful for combat sports.

    How to do it

    The Single Arm Cable Press is a great exercise for strengthening your chest, shoulders, and triceps. It helps identify and fix strength differences between your arms while mimicking the motion of throwing a punch, making it useful for combat sports.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    17.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    17.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    17.5lbs
  • 11. Alternating Medicine Ball Push Up

    SETS LOGGED
    518,478
    Chest Strength
    55 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Medicine Balls
    Medicine Balls

    The Alternating Medicine Ball Push Up is a challenging push-up variation that targets the chest, shoulders, and triceps. Using a medicine ball helps improve balance and strength on both sides of the body.

    How to do it

    The Alternating Medicine Ball Push Up is a challenging push-up variation that targets the chest, shoulders, and triceps. Using a medicine ball helps improve balance and strength on both sides of the body.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    5reps
    2
    5reps
    3
    5reps
  • 12. Balance Trainer Push Up

    SETS LOGGED
    588,535
    Chest Strength
    29 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of BOSU® Balance Trainer
    BOSU® Balance Trainer

    The Balance Trainer Push Up is a challenging version of the regular push-up that helps improve your stability. It uses an unstable surface, making the exercise harder and enhancing your overall strength in pushing movements.

    How to do it

    The Balance Trainer Push Up is a challenging version of the regular push-up that helps improve your stability. It uses an unstable surface, making the exercise harder and enhancing your overall strength in pushing movements.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    6reps
    2
    6reps
    3
    6reps
  • 13. Cable Chest Press

    SETS LOGGED
    435,174
    Chest Strength
    76 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Crossover Cable
    Crossover Cable
    Photo of Freemotion Machine (all forms)
    Freemotion Machine (all forms)

    The Cable Chest Press is a great exercise for working your chest, shoulders, and triceps. Using cable machines keeps tension on your muscles and lets you adjust the direction of the resistance.

    How to do it

    The Cable Chest Press is a great exercise for working your chest, shoulders, and triceps. Using cable machines keeps tension on your muscles and lets you adjust the direction of the resistance.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    35lbs
    2
    8reps
    35lbs
    3
    8reps
    35lbs
  • 14. Incline Cable Chest Press

    SETS LOGGED
    108,055
    Chest Strength
    48 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Freemotion Machine (all forms)
    Freemotion Machine (all forms)

    The Incline Cable Chest Press strengthens the upper chest muscles by using cables at an incline. This exercise helps improve muscle growth and provides added safety for your joints while also engaging your core.

    How to do it

    The Incline Cable Chest Press strengthens the upper chest muscles by using cables at an incline. This exercise helps improve muscle growth and provides added safety for your joints while also engaging your core.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    35lbs
    2
    8reps
    35lbs
    3
    8reps
    35lbs
  • 15. Machine Bench Press

    SETS LOGGED
    1,758,222
    Chest Strength
    68 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Bench Press Machine
    Bench Press Machine

    The Machine Bench Press is a great exercise for beginners to strengthen the chest, shoulders, and triceps. It uses a fixed range of motion, making it easier to focus on pushing rather than balancing.

    How to do it

    The Machine Bench Press is a great exercise for beginners to strengthen the chest, shoulders, and triceps. It uses a fixed range of motion, making it easier to focus on pushing rather than balancing.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    45lbs
    2
    8reps
    45lbs
    3
    8reps
    45lbs

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