Cable Lateral Raise vs Cable Shoulder Press

Which one fits your Shoulder workout plan?

Contents

Planfit users log Cable Lateral Raise more often — 4,440 sessions vs 179. Compare Shoulder form, muscles worked, and when to use each.

Compare the benefits of Cable Lateral Raise and Cable Shoulder Press and pick the one that fits your Shoulder workout.

Cable Lateral Raise vs Cable Shoulder Press: Which Do Planfit Users Choose?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Cable Lateral Raise more often — 4,440 sessions compared to 179 for Cable Shoulder Press.

What most people do isn't always what fits you. Cable Lateral Raise and Cable Shoulder Press differ in the muscles they work, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.

How Cable Lateral Raise and Cable Shoulder Press Differ

What differsCable Lateral RaiseCable Shoulder Press
Muscles workedside deltsfront delts, side delts, and triceps
One side at a timeYesNo
Difficulty2 of 55 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users4,440 sessions179 sessions

Related comparisons

Not sure whether Cable Lateral Raise or Cable Shoulder Press fits your goal? Get a personalized plan

How to Do Cable Lateral Raise

Cable Lateral Raise demo video

Cable Lateral Raise Muscles Worked: Shoulder

Form

  1. 1. Slowly lift your arms to shoulder height while keeping your elbows slightly bent.
  2. 2. Make sure the palms of your hands are facing the floor or towards the front of your body.
  3. 3. Slowly lower your arms back to the starting position.
  4. 4. However, do not lower your arms completely; only lower them until your shoulders are relaxed.

Coach's Tips

  1. 1. Please be careful not to raise your hands higher than shoulder level.
  2. 2. If your palms are facing behind your body, it may cause shoulder pain, so please keep them facing the floor or in front of your body.

For a full Cable Lateral Raise guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Cable Lateral Raise exercise guide.

Want to learn more about Cable Lateral Raise?Exercise Guide

How to Do Cable Shoulder Press

Cable Shoulder Press demo video

Cable Shoulder Press Muscles Worked: Shoulder

Form

  1. Push your arms up with both hands.
  2. Do not fully lock your arms, hold for a moment at the peak,
  3. then slowly lower them to shoulder height.

Coach's Tips

  1. Engage your core to prevent excessive arching of the back. Control it slowly without any bouncing.

For a full Cable Shoulder Press guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Cable Shoulder Press exercise guide.

Want to learn more about Cable Shoulder Press?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Shoulder, Cable Lateral Raise or Cable Shoulder Press?

Planfit users log Cable Lateral Raise more often — 4,440 sessions against 179 for Cable Shoulder Press. Both train Shoulder, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.

Do Cable Lateral Raise and Cable Shoulder Press work the same muscles?

Not quite. Cable Lateral Raise loads side delts, and Cable Shoulder Press loads front delts, side delts, and triceps.

What equipment do Cable Lateral Raise and Cable Shoulder Press need?

Cable Lateral Raise needs a machine, and Cable Shoulder Press needs a machine.

Which is easier to start with?

Cable Lateral Raise is the easier place to start. Move to Cable Shoulder Press once your form holds up.

Stop Guessing Which One to Do

AI picks your workouts based on your goals, body type, and experience.

Join 4M+ users who found their perfect workout plan

Get Personalized Plans
and More detailed guidance with Planfit

Banner Image