If you are looking for a multi-joint bodyweight exercise that will make you feel the burn in your arms, back, and chest to the maximum limit, then you should consider dips and push ups.
If you incorporate dips and push-ups into your workout routine and remain persistent, the two exercises will help you build muscle and get stronger.
There are a few important differences when it comes to technique, creativity, variations, muscle groups, equipment, grip manipulations, and the possibilities of burning muscles by performing dips vs push ups.
Dips Vs Push Ups Comparison
The main question is which exercise is better for you — dips or push ups? It honestly depends on what you want to do with your body, and two important factors include training requirements and personality types.
Better For Muscle Mass | Dips |
Better For Muscular Endurance | Push Ups |
Better for Strength and Conditioning | Push Ups |
Better for Equipment Needed | Push Ups |
Better for Creative Variations | Push Ups |
Better for Extreme Training Variations | Tie |
Better for Perfecting Balance | Dips |
Better for Early Muscle Development | Dips |
Best for Whole Body Work Out | Push Ups |
Target Muscles Of Dips And Push Ups
If you want to achieve your goal of effectively strengthening your chest muscles, then first, we must explain the chest muscles that are being worked in dips and push ups. There are four muscles in the chest that are called:
We will concentrate on the pectoralis major, which consists of two main muscles: the clavicular head (known as the upper chest) and the sternal head (which is known as the lower chest).
Dips Overview
Dips might seem like a challenging exercise at first. Many people only know dips on the rings or between the parallel bars. The exercise allows you to manipulate the position of your arms.
If you are looking to strengthen the chest muscles in a better way, then you should keep your arms away from your body. If you want to target the triceps, then the contact of your elbows and forearms with your oblique muscles is necessary.
However, the reverse plank tricep dips are a simple type that can be performed with or without assistance. An untrained person will even have the chance to strengthen the triceps depending on their level.

How To Do A Dip Correctly
- Get into position with a good weight bench or a pair of sturdy dip bars behind you. In a pinch, you could even use the plyometric box.
- Tighten your core and lower your body off the bench, bending at the arms and placing tension on the triceps.
- During the dip, you must keep your head and upper body as straight as possible. Make sure you keep your body upright.
- Hold the dipped position for 1-2 seconds before pushing back up.
Benefits Of Dips
Drawbacks Of Dips
People who love calisthenics and street workouts usually choose to add dips to their routine. A person who is strictly looking to target one or two muscle groups will most likely choose dips as well.
Other people who like dips include gymnasts and people who have not sustained wrist or elbow injuries. If you want a challenging off-balance exercise and you are trying to build a big chest and triceps without weights, then dips are a great choice for you.
Related Article - Alternatives For Dip Exercises
Push Ups Overview
Many people consider the push up to be the best planking exercise ever. The push up allows you to activate the part of the body that you want and combine it with many different movements.

How To Do A Push Up Correctly
- Start in a face-down prone position lying on the floor on your belly. Put your feet together.
- Place your hands at shoulder width and tense your core. If you are using a set of push up bars, place your hands on them instead.
- Using your arms, raise yourself into a plank position with your weight supported by your hands and your toes.
- Lower yourself until your arms reach a 90-degree angle and hold for a second.
- Complete the movement by pushing the floor away from you and returning to the original plank position.
- Repeat the exercise at a steady pace with controlled breathing.
Benefits Of Push Ups
Drawbacks Of Push Ups
Related Article - Best Push Up Bars
Triceps Dips Vs Diamond Push-Ups
The main rivalry between dips and push ups is around the tricep muscles. There is only one push up exercise and only one dip exercise that will target the tricep muscles in particular.
The famous debate is the triceps dips vs. diamond push ups. Diamond push ups offer many benefits but the important question is which exercise is better?


Similarities Between Dips & Push Ups
Dips and push ups are two exercises the mainly target the chest muscles and triceps, along with activating the deltoid muscles [1]. You can even call dips and push ups rivals in a way.
They are both classic exercises in the world of fitness. Here is our brief review of the main similarities between dips and push ups:
Differences Between Dips & Push Ups
The differences between dips and push ups are quite extensive. The parts of both exercises are unique in many ways. Here is our brief review of the main differences between dips and push ups:

People Also Ask (FAQs)
Yes, you can build muscle by doing dips. They are known as an upper-body exercise that mainly targets the triceps, along with the chest, shoulders, and even the back. Dips are one of the most effective workouts for increasing the strength and size of the upper body.
You can perform dips and push ups every day, but it might be better if you did them on separate days. When you perform dips one day, it will allow your push up muscles to rest.
Then you can perform push ups the next day, allowing your dip muscles to relax. It is important to note that the whole body will require recuperation after working out, not just individual muscles.
Conclusion
Dips are commonly used as an upper body strength and muscle builder, while push ups are an excellent way to strengthen your chest muscles. The two exercises are able to hit every area of the chest equally.
In the end, it all comes down to personal preference when you have to decide between dips and push ups. Only you know what you want to achieve in a workout, and only you know your personal preferences when it comes to exercise.
References:
1.https://www.physio-pedia.com/Deltoid
2.https://www.livescience.com/glute-muscles