The best adjustable dumbbells for building strength and muscle at home

If you’re planning to strength train at home, then a set of the best adjustable dumbbells should be at the top of your shopping list.

Dumbbells are the most versatile free weights you can buy. There's not a major muscle group you can't train with dumbbells and you'll have the most exercise options of any type of home workout kit.

Really, though, you need a range of dumbbells at different weights so you can appropriately challenge each muscle—light for shoulder exercises, heavy for leg exercises, for instance.

And more importantly, you need to be able to gradually increase the weight you use for each exercise as you get stronger (a fundamental muscle-building concept called progressive overload).

You could buy a set of fixed-weight dumbbells and a rack if you have the budget and the space, or you could buy adjustable dumbbells. These space-savvy gadgets offer a range of weight options that you can switch between in seconds, or, if you’re on the hunt for a bargain, more basic spinlock sets are a more affordable alternative.

The team at Fit&Well has tested plenty of pairs over the years, so we've pooled our experience to help you find the right pair for your training needs, with recommendations for beginners, experienced exercisers and thrifty lifters.

The best adjustable dumbbells you can buy right now

Best overall

Two years after receiving a set of the Bowflex SelectTech 552i, they're still my go-to at home. Why? Because they’re reliable, easy to use, and come with enough weight options (15 per dumbbell, from 5lb to 52.5lb) to suit a range of exercises. During the years of consistent use, I’ve had zero problems.

Whether I want a super-light weight for shoulder rotator cuff exercises like external rotations, or something heavier for a few muscle-building staples, like floor presses and bent-over rows, the Bowflex ‘bells have got my back. Changing the weight takes seconds. Dials on either end of the dumbbell have clearly displayed weight options; simply twist both sides to your desired load and you’re ready to lift.

Admittedly, it’s not as efficient as the Core Fitness’s one-twist weight-changing mechanism (our top choice dumbbell for fast weight changes). But because the dials move so seamlessly, I found the overall difference in the time it takes to alter the load was negligible. There are only two reasons why these adjustable dumbbells didn’t receive a blemish-free five-star rating. The plastic finish—they are not the prettiest of products, and the plastic plates twinned with the rubber handle give them a slightly cheap look. However, there have been no durability issues with my set.

My other gripe is the dumbbells’ bulk. They function fine for most movements, but during exercises like biceps curls, where the elbows are meant to be pinned to your sides, I found the cumbersome design could catch on my thighs, forcing me to alter my form.

Overall, this is an excellent product though. It does the job of 15 dumbbells while taking up a fraction of the space, and the weight options jump up in small (2.5lb) increments, allowing you to gradually increase the weight as your strength grows. That’s why, if you told me I could train with just one set of adjustable dumbbells for the next year, these are what I’d choose.

Read our full Bowflex SelectTech 552i review

Best budget

The Amazon Basics Adjustable Dumbbells are a more budget-friendly way to work out at home. These weights don't come with smartphone apps, quick-release toggles, or fancy designs, but they offer a decent weight range at a lower price. The US retailer's dumbbells come packed into a carry case, so you can store them between workouts or take them away while traveling.

There's no cradle, though, and the weight plates are round, so they are liable to roll around while on the ground. There are two handlebars with a textured grip, but we found that it was quite rough and uncomfortable to hold, so we'd definitely recommend using a set of workout gloves with these weights.

You'll need to do manual adjustments to the dumbbells by unscrewing the collars and switching or removing weights. It's a bit more time consuming, but these traditional-looking weights cost significantly less than other models, so it might be worth the trade-off. Especially since we used them across a range of exercises and found they were a reliable, sturdy set of adjustable dumbbells.

Read our full Amazon Basics Adjustable Dumbbells review

Best for home training

NordicTrack’s updated Select-A-Weight are a notable step up from its first foray into the world of adjustable dumbbells. They are sleeker and sturdier, with lighter knurling on the handles that offer a better balance of grip and comfort: the predecessors left another of our writers with blisters on their hands after the first use. But it keeps the feature that set NordicTrack’s adjustable dumbbell apart in the first place: a two-step weight-changing mechanism.

There are four retractable pins on each dumbbell—the bright orange parts that you pull out and slide to choose your load. The two outer ones decide the base weight of 10lb, 20lb, 30lb, 40lb or 50lb, and the inner pins can keep this weight the same, remove 2.5lb or take away 5lb. I found this process took a little longer to get to grips with than adjustable dumbbells from rival brands like Bowflex, and each weight change required a few extra seconds. However, I loved the ability to choose from 15 weight options on each dumbbell, especially since they were separated by 2.5lb increments—perfect for using the strength-boosting progressive overload training principle at home.

The build is a bit plastic-heavy for my liking, although having owned the similarly plastic-y Bowflex SelectTech 552s for two years and had no problems I’m willing to accept their resilience credentials. I like the shape of these NordicTrack dumbbells too. Unlike the brand’s first edition, and the Bowflex ‘bells for that matter, they are chunky to the point of unwieldiness during exercises like biceps curls. Instead, there’s a compact design that didn’t get in the way during any of the many exercises I tried.

Read our full NordicTrack Select-A-Weight Dumbbell Set review

Best heavy

Most adjustable dumbbells max out at about 50lb, which is fine for the majority of people working out at home. However, if you’ve been strength training for some time, you might need something slightly heavier to challenge yourself during larger compound exercises like squats and deadlifts.

If this is the case, the Bowflex SelectTech 1090 adjustable dumbbells are the best option for you. These weights boast 17 weight settings per dumbbell, allowing you to adjust them from 10lb to 90lb in 5lb increments—enough to challenge even seasoned lifters on most exercises. You can flick between them quickly using Bowflex’s smooth dial-based weight-changing mechanism too. There's also the 1090i version which connects to an app with features such as rep counting.

This impressive selection of weight settings does come at a cost though. The Bowflex SelectTech 1090s are big, very big. The extra length of the dumbbells can be cumbersome during exercises like biceps curls, catching on the hips, and they have quite a bulky aesthetic too.

They also feature Bowflex’s plastic-heavy finish, which is why they don't score top marks. Whether you like how this looks is down to personal preference, but for me, I found it cheapened the product compared to some other rivals.

Best for fast changes

The Core Fitness Adjustable Dumbbells will change the way you workout. Not only are they incredibly stylish looking (the aluminium cradle lets them down a bit) but they have a versatile weight spectrum.

Each dumbbell ranges from 5lbs (2.25kg) to 50lbs (22.5kg) and goes up in increments of 5lbs which gives you a ten-piece dumbbell set in a single dumbbell. The contoured hand-hold feels incredibly comfortable and the TwistLock technology means it’s a simple rotation right or left with the hand-hold — a click will tell you when it’s complete — to change weights.

It takes just seconds to change weight during a workout and this made our sessions seamless when switching between upper and lower body exercises. We also loved that the weight plates are a little larger than other models and that they sit at the ends of the barbell. This meant that we could easily grab hold of them when we wanted to execute moves like a sumo squat or single leg RDL.

They’re relatively well priced, costing $250 less than the popular BowFlex models. This makes them seem like a no-brainer to us, as they offer all the benefits of this big-name brand at a smaller price. You’ll also get a two-year warranty when you buy this product.

The model did occasionally need a little extra coaxing out of its cradle (we occasionally had to lever it out using our foot), but we think this minor inconvenience doesn’t detract from the overall performance.

Read our full Core Fitness adjustable dumbbell review

Best for ease of use

If you’re in the market for some fuss-free weights to boost home workouts, then the Flybird Adjustable Dumbbell set is a good option. The dumbbells offer a sleek, easy-to-use design that only requires a simple twist of the handle to shift between weights, making workout transitions remarkably painless.

The handle is quite long and makes the dumbbells feel balanced, with an anti-slip coating for a sturdier grip. The set also has a lock design for weight changes, with the added bonus of a satisfying click when the plates have locked into place — we never found ourselves worrying about our toes or hardwood floors.

We like that you can use the weights separately; we used them for things like plate lunges and squat presses. We didn’t like that they have a round shape, which makes them susceptible to rolling away during a workout. This could have been avoided if they’d been designed with at least one flat side, like the Core Home Fitness models.

These dumbbells definitely sit at the top-end of the price scale, alongside brands like Bowflex and NordicTrack, but you can usually find them cheaper or buy them as singles to save a bit of cash. All in all, a solid option for most home-based strength training and speedy drop sets.

Read our full Flybird adjustable dumbbells review

Best for value

The Ativafit 55lbs Adjustable Dumbbell Set would suit most households as they offer a weight range of 5.5lbs (2.5kg) to 55lbs (25kg). These are a mid-range set that mimic the premium models and yet are about $100/ £100 cheaper.

While they don’t have as much versatility in the weight range, they are a ten dumbbell set in one, they do offer the second heaviest weight plate we tested at 55lbs (25kg) after the Bowflex SelectTech 1090. They are also pretty compact and would be best for serious trainers who have limited space.

They certainly look the part despite the grey plastic-looking barbell, which lowers the tone slightly and they have a hand-hold that feels like it is moulding into your hand as you perform an exercise.

For a weight adjustment you simply press a little red safety button on the top of the barbell and turn the single weight dial at the end of the dumbbell at the same time – a click tells you when it’s complete.

The weight cannot be changed without both of these actions. The weights are evenly distributed along the barbell, but disappointingly, they do rattle a bit when removing/inserting them into the cradle and also when performing exercises.

Read our full Ativafit 55lb adjustable dumbbells review.

How we test adjustable dumbbells

We test adjustable dumbbells for at least several months, in some cases years, to check their durability and the performance of their weight selection mechanisms over time.

We use them in a range of lifting situations and with their lightest and heaviest weights to see if the weights are stable while in motion and if there is any unwanted noise or weight shifting.

The weight selection mechanisms are assessed for ease of use, we check the grip to ensure it is sufficient even under the weight's heaviest loads, and we look at the overall finish to make sure it can handle rough treatment.

How to choose the best adjustable dumbbells

Although they're good value in the long-run, adjustable dumbbells are a sizeable investment, so it's worth spending some time considering what you want to use them for.

To make things a bit easier, we asked Elizabeth Butler-Clack, a physical performance coach at the digital coaching platform P3RFORM with an MSc in strength and conditioning, what you should look out for.

Weight-changing design

“Many adjustable dumbbells allow you to change the weight by turning the grip when the dumbbell is placed in the base. Other designs require the user to turn a dial on each side of the dumbbell,” says Butler-Clack.

These designs are called selectorized adjustable dumbbells. She explains they’re great for allowing users to change the weight quickly between sets and exercises, making them a top option for circuit workouts and at-home training.

Others, like the Amazon Basics Adjustable Dumbbells in our list, are less tech-heavy, using changeable plates and spinning collars to secure them into place. These tend to be cheaper than selectorized sets, but it will take you longer to change their weight.

Weight range and increments

“The weight range and increments [the weights increase by] do vary between dumbbells,” Butler-Clack says. “It’s important you choose a dumbbell with a weight range and increment size that best fits your needs to avoid having to purchase multiple sets.”

If you’re newer to strength training, a pair that max out at 25lb per dumbbell (like the more affordable Flybird Adjustable Dumbbell Set) will likely be heavy enough. However, if you’re an experienced lifter, the 55lb Bowflex SelectTech 552i might be more your speed.

The increments are also important to consider. One of the reasons we loved the Bowflex dumbbells was their ample offering of weight options (15, to be exact) with small jumps of 2.5lb between them in most cases. This way, you can gradually increase the weight you lift as you grow stronger.

In contrast, the Core Home Fitness Adjustable Dumbbell increases in larger increments of 5lb, making it better suited to those used to heavier loads.

Material

it is handy to know that different adjustable dumbbell sets are made of different materials. Some are more steel based and could cause damage to wood or tiled surface. If this is a concern for you, a set with less hardy materials i.e. more rubbery in form, will be ideal.

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