The bench press and overhead press are both classified as pushing movements, however, one is a horizontal pushing exercise and the other is a vertical pushing exercises. Both exercises target similar muscle groups, including the chest, triceps, and shoulders. The bench press targets the lower and middle chest fibers more than the overhead press. Whereas, the overhead press targets more of the lateral deltoid, anterior deltoid, upper traps, and upper chest. If you’re focused on building the chest, the bench press is more ideal. If you’re goal is to increase the size and strength of your shoulders, we recommend the overhead press. For a more in-depth comparison of the bench press versus the overhead press, check out this article: Overhead Press vs. Bench Press: Pros, Cons, & Differences