Dumbbell Incline Row

A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using dumbbells.

Dumbbell Incline Row — Starting position Starting position
Dumbbell Incline Row — End position End position
Difficulty Beginner
Type Strength
Equipment Dumbbells
Primary Muscle Upper Back
AI Rep Counting Log manually

How to Do Dumbbell Incline Row

  1. Using a neutral grip, lean into an incline bench.
  2. Take a dumbbell in each hand with a neutral grip, beginning with the arms straight. This will be your starting position.
  3. Retract the shoulder blades and flex the elbows to row the dumbbells to your side.
  4. Pause at the top of the motion, and then return to the starting position.

Muscles Worked

Front
Back

Primary

Where Dumbbell Incline Row does most of its work.

Secondary

Assisting and stabilising muscles.

Alternatives to Dumbbell Incline Row

10 movements that train the same primary muscle, closest substitutes first — same kind of training, then variations of the movement itself, then a similar difficulty.

  1. 1 Bent Over Two-Dumbbell Row

    Bent Over Two-Dumbbell Row

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using dumbbells.

    beginner Dumbbells
  2. 2 One-Arm Dumbbell Row

    One-Arm Dumbbell Row

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using dumbbells.

    beginner Dumbbells
  3. 3 Bent Over Two-Dumbbell Row With Palms In

    Bent Over Two-Dumbbell Row With Palms In

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using dumbbells.

    beginner Dumbbells
  4. 4 Bent Over Barbell Row

    Bent Over Barbell Row

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a barbell.

    beginner Barbell
  5. 5 Smith Machine Bent Over Row

    Smith Machine Bent Over Row

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a machine.

    beginner Machines
  6. 6 Bent Over One-Arm Long Bar Row

    Bent Over One-Arm Long Bar Row

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a barbell.

    beginner Barbell
  7. 7 Incline Bench Pull

    Incline Bench Pull

    A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the upper back, using a barbell.

    beginner Barbell
  8. 8 Inverted Row with Straps

    Inverted Row with Straps

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back.

    beginner Not specified
  9. 9 Kneeling High Pulley Row

    Kneeling High Pulley Row

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a cable machine.

    beginner Cable Machine
  10. 10 Kneeling Single-Arm High Pulley Row

    Kneeling Single-Arm High Pulley Row

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a cable machine.

    beginner Cable Machine

Frequently Asked Questions

What muscles do dumbbell incline row work?

Dumbbell Incline Row primarily works the upper back. The biceps, forearms and shoulders assist as secondary muscles.

What equipment do I need for dumbbell incline row?

Dumbbell Incline Row uses dumbbells.

Dumbbell Incline Row: is it suitable for beginners?

Yes. Dumbbell Incline Row is rated beginner. Movements you can learn in a session, with a low skill floor and a forgiving failure mode.

What can I do instead of dumbbell incline row?

Bent Over Two-Dumbbell Row, One-Arm Dumbbell Row, Bent Over Two-Dumbbell Row With Palms In train the same primary muscles and are listed with 7 more alternatives above.

Can Fitnit count my dumbbell incline row reps automatically?

Not automatically yet. Fitnit's AI rep counting covers push-ups, squats, dumbbell curls, crunches and pull-ups today; dumbbell incline row can be logged manually in the app, and tracked movements are added over time.

Photographs and step-by-step instructions from free-exercise-db, a public-domain exercise dataset. Muscle mapping and alternatives by Fitnit.

Track Your Dumbbell Incline Row with AI

Fitnit automatically tracks push-ups, crunches, squats, pull-ups, and curls with advanced body tracking technology — and you can manually input any other workout too. Start free — Pro is $8.99/month.