Lever Chest Press

Also known as: machine chest press, chest press machine, seated chest press

Beginner

Pectorals

Leverage Machine

A fixed handle path means you can press to genuine failure with nobody spotting you, which no barbell bench press will ever allow.

How to do Lever Chest Press

Adjust the seat height and position yourself on the machine with your back flat against the pad.
Grasp the handles with an overhand grip and position your elbows at a 90-degree angle.
Push the handles forward until your arms are fully extended, exhaling during the movement.
Pause briefly at the end of the movement, then slowly return to the starting position, inhaling as you do so.
Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Add to an AI Workout Plan All Chest Exercises

Lever Chest Press Sets and Reps by Goal

Strength

4 sets of 5-6 reps with 2-3 minutes rest. The guided path lets you load heavy safely, so keep the final rep as clean as the first.

Hypertrophy

3-4 sets of 10-12 reps with a 2-second lowering phase and 60-90 seconds rest, stopping 1-2 reps short of failure on everything but the last set.

Endurance

2-3 sets of 15-20 reps at a light load with 45 seconds rest, never locking the elbows so tension stays on the chest the whole set.

Common Lever Chest Press Mistakes

Setting the seat too high, so the handles line up with the collarbones and the front delts take over the press.

Raise or lower the seat until the handles sit level with the mid chest. The forearms should travel straight forward, not upward.

Letting the shoulder blades roll forward off the back pad as the handles move away.

Pin the shoulder blades down and back into the pad before the first rep and hold them there so the chest moves the load.

Letting the weight stack crash on the return because the negative is uncontrolled.

Take two full seconds to bring the handles back and stop just before the plates touch down.

Easier and Harder Than Lever Chest Press

Harder progression

Suspended Push-up

Swap Lever Chest Press For

Cable Incline Fly (on Stability Ball)

Dumbbell Incline Twisted Flyes

Incline Push Up Depth Jump

Lever Chest Press — Frequently Asked Questions

How do you do the Lever Chest Press?

Adjust the seat height and position yourself on the machine with your back flat against the pad. Grasp the handles with an overhand grip and position your elbows at a 90-degree angle. Push the handles forward until your arms are fully extended, exhaling during the movement. Use a leverage machine and keep the movement controlled through the full range. The animated GIF above shows the complete rep at normal speed.

What muscles does the Lever Chest Press work?

The Lever Chest Press primarily targets the pectorals. It is classified as a chest exercise and is performed with a leverage machine.

How many sets and reps of the Lever Chest Press should I do?

For muscle growth: 3-4 sets of 10-12 reps with a 2-second lowering phase and 60-90 seconds rest, stopping 1-2 reps short of failure on everything but the last set. Adjust the load rather than the rep target if form breaks down before the final rep.

Is the Lever Chest Press good for beginners?

Yes. The Lever Chest Press is a beginner-level movement, so it is a reasonable place to start. Keep the load light enough that you can control every rep and stop 2-3 reps short of failure while you learn the pattern.

What can I do instead of the Lever Chest Press?

Try the Cable Incline Fly (on Stability Ball), Dumbbell Incline Twisted Flyes or the Incline Push Up Depth Jump. Each trains the pectorals with a similar movement pattern, so you can swap based on the equipment you have available.

Is the Lever Chest Press the same as the machine chest press?

Yes. The Lever Chest Press is also commonly called the machine chest press or the chest press machine. Different gyms and training programs label it differently, but "machine chest press" and "chest press machine" refer to this same movement.