Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press
Also known as: seated dumbbell overhead press, seated db shoulder press, seated dumbbell press, dumbbell seated shoulder press
In SetGrip: Dumbbell Seated Shoulder Press
- Secondary muscles
- Triceps, Upper Back
- Body part
- Shoulders
- Position
- Seated
- Laterality
- Bilateral (both sides together)
- Category
- Strength
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Sitting on a bench with back support takes leg drive and lower-back sway out of the movement, leaving your delts and triceps to do the pressing alone. Most lifters handle noticeably more weight here than in the standing dumbbell press, which makes it the better pick for straight hypertrophy work in the 8-12 rep range.
How to do the Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press
- Sit on a bench with a dumbbell in each hand, resting on your thighs.
- Raise the dumbbells to shoulder height, palms facing forward.
- Press the dumbbells upward until your arms are fully extended overhead.
- Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the dumbbells back to shoulder height.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Tip: Take a breath and brace before unracking, then press up and slightly back so the bar ends over the middle of the foot.
Muscles worked
Primary
Delts · Shoulders
The front and side delts drive the weight off the shoulders and should carry the load all the way to lockout; the burn builds across the whole shoulder cap.
Secondary
- Triceps — The triceps take over in the top half to lock the elbows, and a weak lockout usually means they need direct work.
- Upper Back
Common mistakes
- Leaning back into an incline — if the lower back arches hard, the chest is doing the work; squeeze the glutes, brace the abs and keep the ribs down.
- Pressing around the head — the bar should travel straight up, so pull the chin back to let it pass, then push the head through at the top.
- Stopping short of lockout — finish with the arms straight and the bar stacked over the shoulders and hips, shoulders shrugged slightly up at the top.
- Elbows drifting behind the bar — keep the elbows slightly in front of the bar at the bottom, with the wrists stacked straight above them.
Sets, reps and where it fits
| Goal | Sets × reps | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | 4–5 × 3–6 | 2–3 min |
| Muscle growth | 3–4 × 6–12 | 90–120 s |
| Endurance | 2–3 × 12–20 | 60 s |
Overhead presses go first in a shoulder session or second after bench in a push day. Superset them with a pulldown or pull-up for a vertical push and pull pair.
Variations and alternatives
Similar exercises
Without dumbbell
Frequently asked questions
What muscles does the Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press work?
The Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press primarily works the delts. It also involves the triceps and upper back, which assist the movement and stabilise the joints.
Is the Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press good for beginners?
Yes. The Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press is rated beginner: it uses a dumbbell and the movement is simple to learn. Start light, focus on the full range of motion and add load once every rep looks the same.
What can I do instead of the Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press?
If you cannot do the Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press, try the Seated Band Shoulder Press, the Band Shoulder Press or the Seated Smith Machine Shoulder Press. Each of them trains the delts through a similar movement, so you can swap them in without changing the rest of the workout.
How many sets and reps should I do?
It depends on your goal. For the Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press, a sensible starting point is strength: 4–5 × 3–6 with 2–3 min rest; muscle growth: 3–4 × 6–12 with 90–120 s rest; endurance: 2–3 × 12–20 with 60 s rest. Put it early in the session while you are fresh, before isolation work for the same muscles.
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