Dumbbells on sale: discounts on muscle-building weights

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Today's best US deals
Today's best UK deals
How to choose
Adjustable mechanisms
FAQs

By Ruth Gaukrodger

published 26 October 2022

Contributions from

Becks Shepherd

in Deals

Finding dumbbells on sale is a great way to work out at home without straining your wallet. These versatile weights are ideal for muscle-building sessions or for adding some resistance to body weight moves like squats and lunges.

If you've been looking for a customizable set like the best adjustable dumbbells, you'll know that these weights can be quite expensive, so it makes sense to save money by picking a pair of dumbbells on sale instead.

There are adjustable or fixed weight varieties and you can find some with hexagonal plates to stop them rolling about when not in use. Plus, they're a great space-saving option for home workouts or training outdoors.

Some of the dumbbells on sale right now include huge savings on the JaxJox adjustable dumbbells, which are available right now from Best Buy for $200 less. If you're after a budget-friendly set, you can save 32% on Sunny Health and Fitness adjustable dumbbells.

We've scoured the internet for the top dumbbells on sale right now, helping you find the best discounts around and checking historical prices to make sure you're actually getting a good deal. Looking for more deals? Check out our cheap fitness tracker deals roundup.

US Retailers

Amazon: Save up to 20% with the retailer's latest dumbbell deals
Best Buy: Grab some muscle-building weights for less
Dick's Sporting Goods: Great savings on dumbbells
Target: There's up to $26 off certain models at Target
Walmart: Save up to 50% on dumbbells at Walmart

UK Retailers

Amazon: Save up to 50% on certain models
Argos: Cheap dumbbells starting at £8
Decathlon: The retailer has knocked 10% off some of its adjustable dumbbells
John Lewis: Stylish, durable weights for reasonable prices
Sports Direct: Low prices across dumbbells and kettlebells
Very.co.uk: Save up to £60 on barbells and dumbbells

Dumbbells on sale: today's best US deals

Dumbbells on sale: Today's best UK deals

How to choose the right dumbbell weight

Different exercises require different weights. You might find that you need a relatively heavy weight to make your squats more challenging, but you only need a light weight to exhaust your arms with a lateral raise. So think carefully about your regime before you buy a new set of dumbbells.

Once you've figured out which exercises you want to focus on, you then need to make sure you're grabbing the perfect weight for it. The correct weight dumbbell is the one you can use to complete your planned number of repetitions (reps) in each set without quite losing form on the last rep. So if you plan to do 12 bicep curls, you should find that your dumbbell weight challenges you when you're on that last rep—but you can still manage to complete it.

Everyone is different when it comes to the above. If you're really new to fitness, it might be worth chatting with a personal trainer—or even your doctor—to get some guidance on what weights you need. You could also try heading to your local gym and lifting different weights, to figure out what works for you.

Adjustable dumbbell mechanisms

Adjustable dumbbells have different types of mechanisms to allow you to switch between the various weights.

Sunny Health and Fitness 40lb adjustable dumbbell landscape

Traditional adjustable dumbbells are made up of a short metal bar and weight plates that are stacked at either end of the bar. They may be held on with a locking clip, or a screw on nut. This system is simple to use, but can be slow to use when switching between weights. You might also find that you get grease on your clothes if using a dumbbell with a screw nut. Budget adjustable dumbbells are usually made this way.

Powerblock pro series adjustable dumbbelll

Stacking adjustable dumbbells are made up of separate components that are held together with a double locking pin. Powerblock, shown above, is a well-known example of this style. As well as selecting your level of weight by moving the double locking pin, you can slip adjuster weights into the block to increase the weight slightly, which can be useful when you’re trying to make incremental progress in the amount of weight that you lift. This style of dumbbell tends to be a block shape and can feel quite bulky if you’re used to single weight dumbbells.

Dial adjustable dumbbells use a rotating mechanism that automatically selects the weight you want to use. You place the dumbbell in its ‘cradle’, turn the dial to the weight you want to use and then pick up the dumbbell, which will now be the correct load. These dumbbells are easy to use, but the weight plates typically have a notch taken out of one side, which allows the weight to be adjusted. This means that each dumbbell is a little ‘bottom heavy’, which can take a bit of getting used to. Examples of this style include Bowflex (above) and Keppi adjustable dumbbells.

FAQs

Adjustable dumbbells vs normal dumbbells

Plenty of space at home? Then getting a set of fixed weight dumbbells may be your preferred option. If you are just starting out you may prefer to buy a limited range of weights and then add to them later. A full set can take up a lot of room, but you can purchase a stand to stack them vertically.

If space is at a premium, an adjustable dumbbell set may be a better bet for you. As these include a large range of weight options, they are more expensive than buying a few pairs of dumbbells in a limited number of weights, but should usually be cheaper than buying a complete set of fixed weights.

Which is the best material for dumbbells

Dumbbells are usually made from different types of metal. Cast iron dumbbells tend to be cheaper and, because cast iron is relatively brittle, are also bulkier than steel dumbbells.

You may find coatings like neoprene on cast iron dumbbells, which can make them more comfortable to hold, and also protects them from wear and tear. Stainless steel dumbbells are stronger and so are usually thinner. They are also typically more expensive.

Ruth Gaukrodger is the fitness editor for Fit&Well and its sister site Coach, responsible for editing articles on everything from fitness trackers to walking shoes. A lot of her time is spent setting up testing protocols for our in-depth buying guides and making sure everything is reviewed to a set standard, so you can be confident we only recommend the best products on the market.

When she's not wrestling with equipment in our dedicated testing centre, you can find her pursuing running PBs around the streets of London or improving her yoga skills from the comfort of her living room. She’s a keen believer in working out for enjoyment first and is always open to hearing about new, fun ways to exercise.

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