Best Chest Workouts To Build Muscle Mass

The Barbell Bench Press is a key exercise for building upper body strength, targeting the chest, shoulders, and triceps. It’s commonly used in fitness programs and is essential for evaluating upper body strength.

How to do it

1. Lie on a bench with your shoulder blades squeezed together and feet flat on the ground.
2. Ensure your head, shoulders, and butt are on the bench throughout the exercise.
3. Grip the barbell slightly wider than your shoulders and lift it above your chest.
4. Engage your core by tightening your stomach muscles as you lower the barbell to your chest, keeping your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
5. Gently touch your chest with the barbell, then push it back up to the starting position while exhaling.

The Barbell Incline Bench Press is a variation of the standard bench press that targets your chest while focusing more on the shoulders and upper chest. It's great for building strength in these areas.

How to do it

1. Lie back on an incline bench (45-60 degrees), keeping your shoulder blades squeezed together and feet flat on the floor.
2. Grip the barbell just outside shoulder-width and lift it above your shoulders with your arms extended.
3. Brace your core, lower the barbell to your upper chest by flexing your elbows at a 45-degree angle, then gently touch your chest.
4. Exhale and push the barbell back to the starting position.

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

1. Lie back on a bench, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
2. Place your feet flat on the ground, under your knees.
3. Hold the dumbbells outside shoulder-width apart, above your chest.
4. Keep your elbows at a 45-degree angle and engage your core.
5. Extend your arms fully and then lower the dumbbells back to starting position.

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

1. Lie on your back on a bench, squeezing your shoulder blades together and keeping your feet flat on the ground.
2. Ensure the bench supports your head, shoulders, and buttocks.
3. Hold the dumbbells above your shoulders with palms facing inward and elbows slightly bent.
4. Engage your core and slowly lower the dumbbells out to the sides in a wide arc, keeping your elbows slightly bent.
5. When the dumbbells are level with your chest, exhale and lift them back to the starting position.

Push ups are a simple and effective exercise for strengthening your upper body using just your body weight. They are easy to do anywhere and are great for beginners and advanced exercisers alike.

How to do it

1. Start with your hands on the floor, slightly wider than your shoulders.
2. Keep your body straight, with your core engaged and hips extended.
3. Bend your elbows, lowering your chest towards the floor at a 45-degree angle with your arms.
4. Push back up to the starting position.

The Tricep Push Up is a bodyweight exercise that strengthens your chest, triceps, and shoulders. By keeping your elbows close to your sides, you emphasize the tricep muscles more than regular push ups.

How to do it

1. Lie face down with your legs straight and hands below your chest, elbows tucked in.
2. Push up by straightening your arms, keeping your body in a straight line from head to heels.
3. Lower your chest back down by bending your elbows.

The Barbell Decline Bench Press is a chest exercise that emphasizes the lower chest. It also strengthens your triceps and shoulders while lying on a decline bench.

How to do it

1. Lie down on a decline bench, placing your heels on the ground and squeezing your shoulder blades together.
2. Make sure the bench supports your head, shoulders, and buttocks.
3. Grab the barbell with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width and hold it above your shoulders.
4. Tighten your core and lower the barbell to your chest, keeping your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
5. Lightly touch the barbell to your chest, then push it back to the starting position.

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

1. Set the pulleys to just above head height.
2. Stand with one foot forward, holding the pulley handles at shoulder height with palms facing forward.
3. Engage your core and keep your spine straight.
4. With arms extended, sweep the handles down in a wide arc towards the bottom of your ribcage.
5. Return to the starting position.

Decline Push Up is a challenging version of the standard Push Up. It mainly works your chest, triceps, and shoulders, focusing more on the upper chest because your feet are elevated. This exercise helps strengthen your upper body effectively.

How to do it

1. Place your hands on the floor outside of shoulder width.
2. Elevate your feet on a bench or box.
3. Keep your hips and knees straight.
4. Lower your chest towards the floor by bending your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
5. Push back up to the starting position after your chest is close to the floor.

The Dumbbell Incline Bench Press is a great exercise to strengthen your chest and shoulders. By using dumbbells, you improve stability and balance, helping to build strength in both sides of your body.

How to do it

1. Lie on a bench with your back supported and your shoulder blades squeezed together.
2. Keep your feet flat on the ground and adjust the bench to a 45-60 degree angle.
3. Hold the dumbbells just outside shoulder-width at shoulder height.
4. Brace your core and extend your arms straight up at a 45-degree angle from your body.
5. Exhale as you lower the dumbbells back to the starting position.

The Floor Press is an upper-body exercise that targets your chest, triceps, and shoulders. You lie on the floor and press a barbell up, which helps build strength while protecting your shoulders.

How to do it

1. Lie on your back on the floor with your shoulder blades squeezed together and your knees bent, feet flat on the ground.
2. Ensure your head, shoulders, and butt are touching the floor, and the barbell is at arm height on a rack.
3. Unrack the barbell and place it above your shoulders.
4. Brace your core by breathing deeply and tightening your abdomen.
5. Bend your elbows at a 45-degree angle and lower the barbell to touch your elbows gently to the floor.
6. Exhale and press the barbell back to the starting position.

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

1. Sit upright in the Hammerstrength chest press machine and squeeze your shoulder blades together.
2. Place your heels flat on the ground under your knees, ensuring your back is against the pad.
3. Hold the handles with an overhand grip outside shoulder-width.
4. Engage your core by breathing into your stomach and tightening your abdominal muscles.
5. Push the handles to extend your arms while keeping your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
6. Slowly return to the starting position.

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

1. Sit in the decline chest press machine and press your shoulder blades together.
2. Keep your feet flat on the ground and ensure your back rests against the pad.
3. Grab the handles just below your chest, with an overhand grip, hands shoulder-width apart.
4. Engage your core and push the handles to fully extend your arms, keeping your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
5. Slowly return to the starting position.

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

1. Sit upright in the machine and squeeze your shoulder blades together.
2. Keep your heels on the ground and your back against the pad.
3. Grab the handles above your chest with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width.
4. Brace your core and push through your palms to extend your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
5. Once your arms are straight, slowly return to the starting position.

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

1. Lie on your back on a bench with your shoulder blades squeezed together.
2. Make sure your head, shoulders, and butt stay on the bench.
3. Place your feet flat on the ground and keep your knees bent.
4. Position the bar over your chest, holding it just outside shoulder-width with an overhand grip.
5. Engage your core and unhook the bar, lowering it slowly towards your chest while keeping your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
6. Touch your chest gently with the bar, then exhale and push it back to the starting position.