Is 15 or 30 incline bench press better?

Author: Alva Ritchie  |  Last update: Monday, September 22, 2025

The best incline bench press angle for strength gains and muscle growth in the upper chest is 30 degrees. While some lifters make the mistake of adjusting to a 15 or 45-degree angle, research shows that the influence of bench angle on the upper pecs is greatest at a 30 degree position.

Is a 15 or 30 degree incline better?

For most people, a 30-degree incline is the best incline bench press angle.

Is 15 degrees ok for an incline bench?

The optimal incline bench press angle to bias the upper chest is 15-30 degrees. While there is not that much advantage with one over the other, here are the small differences: 1. You should be able to go heavier at 15 degrees.

Is 30 degree incline good for the chest?

The optimal angle for targeting upper chest muscles in an incline bench press is around 30 degrees, as it maximizes muscle activation while maintaining the auxiliary role of the front deltoids.

What is the best incline bench angle?

Research shows that the correct angle of the Incline Bench Press should be 30 degrees from flat to target the upper chest for muscle growth. Many people will stay much too upright in the starting position when performing this chest exercise, and effectively wind up hitting their shoulder muscles too much.

Build Your Upper Chest Like This Instead!!

Is 225 bench at 15 good?

Although it's unlikely that your teen would have five years of lifting experience — the amount of time it typically takes to be considered advanced — by the time he or she is 15, it's possible. At this level, your 15-year-old-boy could be expected to bench 225 to 255 if he weighs between 140 and 160 pound.

What incline should I build my chest?

As you can see, the angled bench is set to a 30-45 degree incline angle (30 degrees is best) to allow you to hit the upper chest fibers preferentially.

Is a 30 degree incline steep?

The steepness of a slope is quoted in degrees and defined as the change in elevation divided by measured distance horizontally. A slope between 30° and 40° can be defined as 'steep'. Slopes above 40° are termed 'very steep'.

What incline is recommended?

Key Takeaways. Walking on an incline increases workout intensity, helping you burn more calories. Begin with a low incline (1-5%) and gradually increase as your fitness improves. Intermediate inclines (6-10%) offer a balanced challenge for moderate fitness levels.

How high is too high for incline bench?

The ideal bench angle for incline bench press is a range: 15-45 degrees. But here's why 15 degrees might not always be ideal depending on one significant factor. The greater you naturally arch, the higher the incline l'd recommend.

Why can't I feel my chest on the incline bench?

If you can't feel your chest when you're doing an incline press, it could be because you are tucking your elbows too far in on the way down, which over-activates your triceps, and doesn't allow you to get a full range of motion ❌ To fix this, bring the dumbbells outs and let them clear your chest, or when you begin to ...

Is the decline bench worth it?

Decline bench pressing targets the lower chest muscles by increasing the stretch on the pectoralis major muscle and reducing the range of motion. This allows you to lift heavier weights and stimulate muscle growth in the lower chest.

Is 15 incline enough?

“Me trying to explain to people that walking on a treadmill around 15 incline/ 3 mph keeps muscle growth and burns fat faster than jogging or running,” she wrote over a clip of her mid-workout on the treadmill, which has been viewed over 5.3 million times. “Do it for 5x a week for 30 minutes,” she continued.

How big is a 15% incline?

The gradient or treadmill grade equating to incline percentages is a measurement of the height distance for every 100-horizontal distance. e.g. A one-in-100 gradient = 1%, and a rise of 15 meters for every 100 meters is a 15% grade.

What is the best degree for upper chest bench?

The ideal incline bench angle for upper chest that I recommend is 30 degrees (two notches above flat). Universally it's a catch all angle for the upper chest regardless if you arch or not on your bench.

Is a 15% incline steep?

On average, runners can hold their VO2 max effort for around 3-8 minutes. With a 15-minute challenge, runners must also be efficient at clearing lactate and aware of their pacing. 15% Incline: 15% incline is steep! 1 mile of a 15% grade climbs 792 vertical feet.

Is a 15 grade steep?

A slope with 1-foot vertical change for each horizontal foot is a 100% grade. For development, a 15% grade is considered steep and requires extra attention to slope stability and drainage issues (if the elevation change is more than 1 ½ feet over a 10-foot horizontal distance).

What incline is considered steep?

Gradients between 11% and 20% are deemed “moderate,” whereas those over 20% are deemed “steep.”

What bench press is best for pecs?

1. Flat Barbell Bench Press. Not only is the bench press a great chest builder, but building strength in this movement is probably one of the biggest ego boosts out there. Nothing beats the feeling of loading up those 45lb plates, moving under the bar, and pressing it with ease.

How do you bulk up your chest?

Single-arm Dumbbell Press

This is one of the best dumbbell chest exercises that will improve your stabilization strength. Your chest muscles are the main muscle group that is required to perform the single-arm dumbbell press. In addition, this workout targets your triceps, shoulder stabilizers, and your core.

Does incline bench make your chest bigger?

By adjusting your weight bench to a slight incline, you take the focus away from the mid-area of your chest and direct it more to the upper chest and place more emphasis on the shoulders. This isn't a bad thing, as it will help pump out the top of your pecs, giving them that strong appearance.

What is the average bench press in the NFL?

What is the average bench press at the NFL combine? The NFL has an acceptable range of bench presses for footballers based on their size; Linemen (30-39 reps), Tight Ends and Linebackers (25-30 reps), Running Backs (20-25 reps) and Defensive Backs and Receivers (15-20 reps).

What is the world record bench press?

The current world record (equipped, with shirt) is held by American Jimmy Kolb established on July 29th, 2023, at the 2023 IPA Tristar Bash meet, when he successfully locked out 635 kg (1,401 lb), beating the previous record by 23 kg (51 lb).

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