Barbell Bench Press

Also known as: bench press, flat bench press

Secondary muscles
Triceps, Delts
Body part
Chest
Position
Lying
Laterality
Bilateral (both sides together)
Category
Strength

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Every other press in this family is measured against the flat barbell version. The fixed bar lets both arms share one implement, so you can load it heavier than any dumbbell or cable variant and progress in small, trackable jumps. Most lifters work it in the 3 to 10 rep range and treat it as their pressing benchmark.

How to do the Barbell Bench Press

  1. Lie flat on a bench with your feet flat on the ground and your back pressed against the bench.
  2. Grasp the barbell with an overhand grip slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
  3. Lift the barbell off the rack and hold it directly above your chest with your arms fully extended.
  4. Lower the barbell slowly towards your chest, keeping your elbows tucked in.
  5. Pause for a moment when the barbell touches your chest.
  6. Push the barbell back up to the starting position by extending your arms.
  7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Tip: Squeeze the bar hard and bend it toward your feet to keep the elbows in and the lats tight.

Muscles worked

Primary

Pectorals · Chest

The pecs press the arms together and forward and are worked hardest at the bottom of the rep when the elbows are below the body.

Secondary

  • Triceps — The triceps take over in the top half of the press to lock the elbows, and they do more with a closer grip.
  • Delts — The front delts assist every press and take a bigger share on incline variations.

Common mistakes

  • Elbows flared to 90 degrees — this puts the shoulder in a poor position at the bottom; tuck the elbows to about 45 to 60 degrees and touch the bar on the lower chest.
  • Losing shoulder blade position — the shoulder blades should be pulled back and down before the unrack and stay there; if they roll forward, the chest loses leverage.
  • Bouncing off the chest — control the bar to a light touch and pause for a beat before pressing; a bounce hides how much you can actually press.
  • Feet dancing around — plant the feet flat and drive them into the floor for the whole set to keep the body tight.

Where it fits in a workout

Bench press goes first in a chest or push session when you are strongest. Superset it with a row for a push and pull pair, or follow it with flies for volume.

How many sets, how heavy and how hard: see what the ACSM position stands support.

Variations and alternatives

Similar exercises

Without barbell

Easier and harder

When to talk to someone

  • Chest discomfort, feeling faint or lightheaded, or trouble breathing during or after exercise can be signs of a heart attack. In the US, call 911 right away; elsewhere, call your local emergency number.
  • Heart, metabolic or kidney disease, or symptoms like these when you are active: talk to your doctor before you start or step up training.
  • Pregnant: ask your obstetric care provider which exercise suits you.

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More exercises

Sources

  1. ACSM position stand on exercise quantity and quality (Garber et al., 2011)
  2. ACSM preparticipation health screening (Riebe et al., 2015)
  3. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 804 on exercise in pregnancy (2020)
  4. CDC: About Heart Attack Symptoms, Risk, and Recovery (2024)

Sources checked on October 17, 2026. Full citations are in the exercise library.

Animation and exercise data: ExerciseDB, licensed to SetGrip. General information, not medical or coaching advice.