Best adjustable dumbbells for muscle-building workouts

Using a set of the best adjustable dumbbells in your workout can help you develop strength and build muscle without a whole rack of weights. These adjustable dumbbell sets combine several weights in one, and you can quickly change the load, even mid-workout.

Many come as a set of two, and you can find individual adjustable dumbbell weights if you want to add some resistance to bodyweight moves like squats or take on multi-muscle compound exercises like dumbbell swings.

The best adjustable dumbbells all serve a similar purpose—strength training exercise—but there are differences between models. We found the dial-based adjustment mechanism on the Ativafit 55lbs Adjustable Dumbbell Set is one of the easiest to use, for instance.

Then there are premium models like the Bluetooth-enabled Bowflex SelectTech 552i, which retail for $600/£500. They're a substantial investment, but these smart adjustable dumbbells sync to Boxflex's companion smartphone app for workout tracking.

Fortunately, you can also find high-quality adjustable dumbbell sets without breaking the bank. The 25lb/11kg Flybird Adjustable Dumbbells retail for $275/£225 and there are plenty of dumbbells on sale throughout the year if you want to pick up discounted weights.

Whether you want to take on extended muscle-building workouts or increase the load of bodyweight moves like lunges and squats, we've tested the best adjustable dumbbells, with a specific focus on storage, ease of the adjustment mechanism, and the quality of the grip.

The best adjustable dumbbells you can buy right now

The Core Home 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 (2.2kg) to 50lbs (22.6kg) 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 model. 

• Read our full Core Home Fitness adjustable dumbbell review

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 thought they were a reliable, sturdy set of adjustable dumbbells.

• Read our full Amazon Basics Adjustable Dumbbells review

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 at 14.6 x 7.9 x 6.7 inches 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.

You’ve got two buying options to choose from – the 25lb/11kg model, which starts at 5lb/2.3kg and increases by 5lb/2.3kg each twist, or the 55lb/25kg model which begins at 11lb/5kg and increases by 11lb/5kg. Unfortunately, the bigger jumps in weight make it trickier to build strength steadily.

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 (opens in new tab)

Whether you train in a home gym or your spare bedroom, the NordicTrack Select-A-Weight Dumbbells are a solid bit of kit if you’re looking to save some space – without compromising on weight selection. 

The weights range between 10lb/4.5kg - 50lb/22.5kg and use a pin for plate selection and an inner plastic dial to add on smaller weights of 2.5lb/1kg or 5lb/2kg, which makes them perfect for just about any training style – especially gradual strength training.

There’s a lot to enjoy with these dumbbells – the octagonal plate shape prevents the weights from rolling around and creates stability and versatility, and they feel sturdy overall. You also get a free 30-day iFit family membership trial which offers plenty of classes incorporating the dumbbells. 

They’re among some of the best adjustable dumbbells we’ve tested, but they’re still not quite perfect. The weight-changing mechanism is fiddly and time-consuming, which isn’t ideal when you’re trying to catch an uninterrupted sweat. The design also relies quite heavily on plastic – including plastic handles – and we got small blisters on first use. 

NordicTrack Select-A-Weight dumbbells are also not cheap at $499 – although you’d be hard-pressed to find many sets offering this sort of weight range. Unfortunately, these dumbbells aren’t shipping to the UK, but other models are available from the company. They are big at 16.5 x 8-inches, and getting the dumbbells into our apartment proved a challenge, but this is less hassle than the 30 or so sets you’d otherwise need.

• Read our full NordicTrack Select-A-Weight adjustable dumbbells review

Arguably the most well-known adjustable dumbbells on the market, the Bowflex SelectTech 552i Adjustable Dumbbells are a premium set with a super-sleek design. They also boast an incredible weight range offering 15 sets of dumbbells (30 actual dumbbells!) in one piece of kit. 

They can adjust from 5lbs (2kg) to 52.5 lbs (24 kg) with a varied setting range which only misses out a few kg markers. These are quite cumbersome in design and might be best for resistance-savvy trainers who would make full use of the range, of which there is real versatility for your training. 

The adjustment dials are located at the end of the barbells and incredibly easy to move and click into place, however, you need to turn both the dials in opposite directions for the weights to align (ie right hand turns clockwise to reach the 20lb weight marker and your left hand turns anti-clockwise to reach the same marker). This can be a little bit of a faff and if you don’t align the same markers you end up with an uneven barbell distribution. Watch out for moves like burpees and press ups though as the instructions clearly state not to lean on them. Like the Core Home Fitness model, these come with a two-year warranty.

We did like the hand hold here though – it has a soft rubber coating. Add that to the well-sized barbells and it makes for an easy grip.

• Read our full Bowflex SelectTech 552i review

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 heaviest weight plate we tested at 55lbs (25kg). 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 sadly 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 to choose the best adjustable dumbbells

There are various factors to take into account when weighing up the pros and cons of the best adjustable dumbbells. Below we have listed a few helpful considerations.

Weight range

The first thing anyone will want to consider is what weight range you want to go for. This will vary for individuals. If you use weights for gaining muscle mass you will want to look for adjustable dumbbells with a higher range in order for you to perform fewer reps with a heavier weight.

Alternatively, you might prefer cardio, fat burning workouts and adding a little weight can up the intensity. You will benefit from dumbbells of a lower weight range for high-rep sets.

Practicality

You also will want to consider the practicality of adjusting the dumbbells. Some sets feature an adjustable plate system enabling you to adjust the weights with a dial which is said to be most convenient.

Whereas others are more traditional in their setup and require a screw feature for removal. The latter is good for feeling confident about the weights being securely placed but will take up more setup time during your workout. 

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 a 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. 

What the experts say

Personal trainer Jolene Stammers (opens in new tab), who specializes in online and one-to-one coaching, has shared her tips on what makes the best adjustable dumbbells and why. 

“For me and my clients, my first priority when buying adjustable dumbbells ideally is buying them just once,” Stammers tells us. “So, consider how versatile they can be, starting as light as you need them by adding and removing plates, or turning a dial.

Then being able to make good progress as you take on your fitness and strength journey by working a bit harder with progression. Think of the material of the dumbbells. Some are full of sand – if that escapes, it can be messy. Some are metal – so wooden flooring could get marked.”

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