Dumbbell Lateral Raise vs Cable Shoulder Press

Which one fits your Shoulder workout plan?

Contents

Planfit users log Dumbbell Lateral Raise more often — 54,896 sessions vs 179. Compare Shoulder form, muscles worked, and when to use each.

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

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

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Dumbbell Lateral Raise more often — 54,896 sessions compared to 179 for Cable Shoulder Press.

What most people do isn't always what fits you. Dumbbell 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 Dumbbell Lateral Raise and Cable Shoulder Press Differ

What differsDumbbell Lateral RaiseCable Shoulder Press
Muscles workedside deltsfront delts, side delts, and triceps
Equipmenta dumbbella machine
Difficulty2 of 55 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users54,896 sessions179 sessions

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How to Do Dumbbell Lateral Raise

Dumbbell Lateral Raise demo video

Dumbbell Lateral Raise Muscles Worked: Shoulder

Form

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

Coach's Tips

  1. 1. Please be careful not to lift the dumbbells higher than shoulder height.
  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 Dumbbell Lateral Raise guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Dumbbell Lateral Raise exercise guide.

Want to learn more about Dumbbell 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, Dumbbell Lateral Raise or Cable Shoulder Press?

Planfit users log Dumbbell Lateral Raise more often — 54,896 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 Dumbbell Lateral Raise and Cable Shoulder Press work the same muscles?

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

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

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

Which is easier to start with?

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

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