The main difference between a flat bench press and an incline bench press is that the incline bench press targets the upper chest and front deltoid to a greater extent than the flat bench press. Conversely, the flat bench press targets the upper, middle, and lower chest more evenly, making it better for overall chest development.

Because the incline chest press puts more stress on your upper pec, it develops this muscle group more, while the flat bench tends to build mass over the entire pec. You’re also actively using your deltoids (shoulders) at this angle, so you don’t want to work on your deltoids the next day.

When it comes to incline vs flat bench press, the incline provides a superior range of motion over the flat press. The flat press offers an overall chest activation while the incline bench focuses on the shoulders and upper chest. The flat bench allows you to put up more weight for increased muscle mass than the incline bench.