Seated Triceps Press

How to do the Seated Triceps Press

1. Sit down on a bench with back support and grasp a dumbbell with both hands and hold it overhead at arm's length. Tip: a better way is to have somebody hand it to you especially if it is very heavy. The resistance should be resting in the palms of your hands with your thumbs around it. The palm of the hand should be facing inward. This will be your starting position.
2. Keeping your upper arms close to your head (elbows in) and perpendicular to the floor, lower the resistance in a semi-circular motion behind your head until your forearms touch your biceps. Tip: The upper arms should remain stationary and only the forearms should move. Breathe in as you perform this step.
3. Go back to the starting position by using the triceps to raise the dumbbell. Breathe out as you perform this step.
4. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Muscles worked

Role	Muscles
Primary	triceps
Equipment	dumbbell
Difficulty	beginner
Type	isolation

No dumbbell? Train the same muscles with these

Ordered by how likely you are to own the 6 options.

Body-Up Bodyweight Body Tricep Press Bodyweight Standing Towel Triceps Extension Bodyweight Band Skull Crusher Resistance Bands Speed Band Overhead Triceps Resistance Bands Bench Dips Bodyweight

Harder than the Seated Triceps Press

Bench Press with Chains expert · Barbell Reverse Band Bench Press intermediate · Barbell Pin Presses intermediate · Barbell

Superset the Seated Triceps Press with

Opposing biceps work — alternate sets without extra rest.

Alternate Hammer Curl biceps Alternate Incline Dumbbell Curl biceps Concentration Curls biceps Cross Body Hammer Curl biceps

Common questions

What muscles does the Seated Triceps Press work?

The Seated Triceps Press primarily works the triceps. Band Skull Crusher, Body-Up, and Body Tricep Press train the same muscle, across 9 equipment types.

What equipment do you need for the Seated Triceps Press?

Dumbbells. Without dumbbells, Body-Up, Body Tricep Press, and Standing Towel Triceps Extension train the same muscle, and 11 of the catalogue's options for this muscle need no equipment.

Is the Seated Triceps Press suitable for beginners?

Yes, the Seated Triceps Press is rated beginner. Bench Press with Chains, Reverse Band Bench Press, and Pin Presses are the progressions from here.

Where should the Seated Triceps Press go in a workout?

Late — the Seated Triceps Press is isolation work, so it follows your compounds. Supersetting it with Alternate Hammer Curl and Alternate Incline Dumbbell Curl cuts session time without extra rest.

Similar exercises

Band Skull Crusher Resistance Bands Body-Up Bodyweight Body Tricep Press Bodyweight Cable Incline Triceps Extension Cable Machine Cable Lying Triceps Extension Cable Machine Cable One Arm Tricep Extension Cable Machine