Bench Press Machine vs Dumbbell Bench Press

Maximizing Your Chest Workout Plan

Contents

Planfit users log Dumbbell Bench Press more often — 31,543 sessions vs 181. Compare Chest form, muscles worked, and when to use each.

Customize Your Chest Workout: Explore the Benefits of Bench Press Machine and Dumbbell Bench Press for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Bench Press Machine vs Dumbbell Bench Press : Which is Better?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Dumbbell Bench Press more often — 31,543 sessions compared to 181 for Bench Press Machine.

Popularity is not the whole answer. Bench Press Machine and Dumbbell Bench Press differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.

How Bench Press Machine and Dumbbell Bench Press Differ

What differsBench Press MachineDumbbell Bench Press
Equipmenta machinea dumbbell
Difficulty5 of 52 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users181 sessions31,543 sessions
Not sure whether Bench Press Machine or Dumbbell Bench Press fits your goal? Get a personalized plan

How to Bench Press Machine

Bench Press Machine gif

Bench Press Machine muscles worked: Chest

Form

  1. 1. Tense your chest and push the handle forward while extending your arms.
  2. 2. Do not fully lock your arms, and pause briefly at the point where your chest contracts.
  3. 3. Slowly return the handle to the starting position while feeling your chest stretch.
  4. 4. Repeat the same motion without any rebound.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Engage your core to prevent your lower back from arching excessively.
  2. 2. Keep your wrists straight to avoid bending.
  3. 3. Adjust your range of motion so that your elbows do not go too far behind your body, putting strain on your shoulders.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Bench Press Machine, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Bench Press Machine Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Bench Press Machine methods?Exercise Guide

How to Dumbbell Bench Press

Dumbbell Bench Press gif

Dumbbell Bench Press muscles worked: Chest

Form

  1. 1. Slowly lower the dumbbell so that it is next to your chest.
  2. 2. At this time, your forearms should be perpendicular to the floor.
  3. 3. Slowly lift the dumbbell back to the starting position.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. If you can't lower the dumbbell to chest height, please lower it as much as you can without straining.
  2. 2. Be careful not to let your shoulders come forward of your chest, as this can put strain on your shoulders.
  3. 3. Please be careful not to let your hips come off the bench.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Dumbbell Bench Press, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Dumbbell Bench Press Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Dumbbell Bench Press methods?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Chest, Bench Press Machine or Dumbbell Bench Press?

Planfit users log Dumbbell Bench Press more often — 31,543 sessions against 181 for Bench Press Machine. Both train Chest, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.

What equipment do Bench Press Machine and Dumbbell Bench Press need?

Bench Press Machine needs a machine, and Dumbbell Bench Press needs a dumbbell.

Which is easier to start with?

Dumbbell Bench Press is the easier place to start. Move to Bench Press Machine once your form holds up.

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