Transform Your Home Gym With These Adjustable Dumbbells
Transform Your Home Gym With These Adjustable Dumbbells
We updated this article in April 2023 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research done by our team.
If you strength train at home and you’re looking to turn your workout routine up a notch, you might be looking for some top of the line home gym equipment. Enter: the best adjustable dumbbells, a.k.a the most efficient and space-saving option on the market. Say goodbye to your traditional hand weights, and say hello to these state-of-the-art dumbbells that can replace an entire set.
While adjustable dumbbells are often expensive, experts say they’re well worth the price tag. “Adjustable dumbbells are often a bit of an investment, but they really give you a lot of bang for your buck,” says Lauren Del Turco, C.P.T. “Whether you don’t have the room for—or just don’t feel like collecting—a whole slew of weights, an adjustable set is a really space-efficient way to have access to basically an entire rack of dumbbells in one.”
Meet the Experts: Lauren Del Turco, C.P.T. is a certified personal trainer and health and wellness journalist; Marisa Golan, NASM C.P.T. is a certified personal trainer and owner of E(M)powered.
And while adjustable dumbbells can take a little getting used to in terms of switching from one resistance level to another, the actual function of the equipment remains the same. Any exercise you can do with a standard dumbbell, you can generally do with an adjustable one. Just pay attention to the details when making your purchase—if you like to have two equally-weighted dumbbells to perform bilateral exercises like overhead shoulder presses or walking lunges, it’s important to purchase a set of adjustable dumbbells. Some adjustable dumbbells only come as a single adjustable weight, so you would need to purchase two in order to have a set.
Our top picks
Ready to get strong? Read on for the best adjustable dumbbells to lift with right now—and don’t forget your motivational water bottle to stay hydrated and your favorite massage gun for recovery.
1) 55 lb Select-a-Weight Dumbbell Pair
NordicTrack
Amazon
$349.00
We know, these are pricey—but you’re getting multiple sets of weights in one. These adjustable dumbbells come with 15 weight increments per dumbbell. Plus, this space-saving adjustable dumbbell set delivers the same value as 30 individual dumbbells in a fraction of the space.
“I have the NordicTrack Select-A-Weight 55-lb Dumbbell Set and love them,” says Del Turco. “Each can be adjusted to anything from 10 to 55 lbs, offering enough options that both my husband and I can really get in a great workout using them. I find them to be quick and easy to adjust—and I also like that I can take out the two 2.5 lb weight inserts in each dumbbell to use when I want to work with super lightweight, like during my warm-up and muscle activations.”
RELATED: 15 Best Dumbbell Exercises to Strengthen Every Part of Your Body
2) Adjustable Dumbbell Weights
Nice C
Amazon
$32.99
If you’re looking for a set of light weights for cardio or barre workouts, then these compact adjustable dumbbells are for you. The weight ranges from 2.3 to 4.5 lbs. With over 4.100 5-star ratings on Amazon, shoppers love how lightweight and easy these dumbbells are to use for their at-home workouts.
“These are the perfect weights for at home workouts especially in the current situation. I can get my cardio and strength training in with these and a yoga mat. It’s easy to put on and remove weights and also steady to grip on,” one shopper said.
3) 4-in-1 Adjustable Dumbbell Set
PINROYAL
Amazon
$119.99
Golan recommends this set for its versatility. She says it’s an “extremely versatile set that can be transformed into dumbbells, [a] push-up stand, barbell, and kettlebell.” Also important: a nonslip comfortable handle design that makes for a safer workout. This set comes in a 5.5-44-lb range, but it’s important to keep in mind that that’s 44 lbs total, not per dumbbell. Each individual dumbbell adjusts up to 22 lbs.
4) SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells (pair)
Bowflex
Amazon
$429.00
Golan loves these adjustable dumbbells because they have a wide range of weight options (5-52.5 lbs), making it a great choice for a variety of fitness levels. “The wide range of weight options allow you to use these dumbbells with heavier exercises like lunges, goblet squats, and deadlifts as well as lighter exercises like shoulder raises, curls, etc,” Golan explains. Plus, these dumbbells come in 2.5 lb increments up to the first 25 lbs.
Golan isn’t the only one who appreciates these dumbbells. In fact, they’ve amassed more than 17,000 5-star reviews on Amazon. “Excellent design, adjustment mechanism is smooth and perfect for fast effortless operation,” shares one satisfied Amazon customer.
5) Adjustable Dumbbell Barbell Weight Pair
Nice C
Amazon
$69.99
Though not as extensive as the other options on this list, these adjustable dumbbell barbells are perfect for those looking to get a 2-for-1 benefit with their weights. These feature a non-slip neoprene handle. The basic set includes two dumbbells that can be adjusted between .6-11 lbs each, but with the added barbell handle, the set can be used for exercises like back squats or chest press with resistance up to 22 lbs. There are also heavier sets available, if the 22-lb max doesn’t meet your needs.
With over 2,400 5-star Amazon reviews, these are an affordable and popular choice. “I love this set! The weights and bar are well made. It’s perfect for a great work out at home. I live in an apartment, and it is perfect for my small space,” shares one happy reviewer.
6) Adjustable Dumbbell for Workout Strength Training
Ativafit
Amazon
$99.99
For those new to weight training, or simply wanting lighter weights, Golan says this is the set for you. “[It’s a] great option for beginners with the lower weight range of 2.5-12.5 lbs.” She also says the dumbbells have a nice textured rubber grip to prevent slipping.
7) 33lb Chrome Dumbbell Set
Sunny Health & Fitness
Amazon
$59.87
This easy-to-use, basic adjustable dumbbell set is great for small spaces. Super affordable, this set includes two 2.75-lb handles, 8 2.5-lb plates, and 4 1.25-lb plates. The set also includes cogs to secure the weight plates in place. All told, each dumbbell can adjust from 2.75-16.5 lb, offering a good range of weights for someone just starting a strength training routine.
While the system is basic, it’s also highly functional and well-reviewed, with more than 1,300 5-star reviews on Amazon. “I’m a personal trainer so I’m at the gym almost every day and have access to just about every kind of professional equipment I could want to use. For this reason, I want practical, space-saving, economical equipment for my home gym,” says one satisfied customer. “These are solidly made, and fit any plates made for a 1-inch bar. The case is nice enough to keep them in, and they do look great too. Great space-saver, and a very economical way to have a whole range of weights in lighter dumbbells.”
8) Adjustable Dumbbell Set
Core Home Fitness
Core Home Fitness
$349.99
With rave reviews on the brand’s site, these weights are a great space-saving option. They let you change weights in 5-lb increments with the simple twist of a handle—no knobs to turn or levers to slide. With adjustable weights ranging from 5-50 lbs, you can enjoy an entire 10-piece set in a single dumbbell.
9) 15-lb Adjustable Dumbbell Set
LifePro
Amazon
$129.99
This adjustable set includes six weight increments in each dumbbell, so you get the equivalent of 12 dumbbells in one, ranging from 2.5 to 15 lbs each. Easy to store and move around, this lightweight set is great for beginners—and boasts a 4.6-star Amazon rating.
“I was skeptical because the price range from other similar items was so far apart, but when it came in, I was surprised, great build quality and it was as described!” said one satisfied Amazon customer. “I love it, the quality is so good, and it was an affordable one. Looking forward to a heavier set, but this is great overall 10/10.”
10) SelectTech 1090 Dumbbells
Bowflex
Bowflex
$799.00
These adjustable weights are no joke—just like their price tag. That said, they do replace 17 sets of dumbbells in an impressive range of weights—between 10-90 lbs—making them a great option for serious weightlifters who want to be able to crank out shoulder presses with 75-lb dumbbells (or more). Also, customers say they are incredibly easy to use. With over 1900 4- and 5-star reviews on the brand’s website, they just might be worth the investment (especially when you consider how much you would end up paying for individual sets of dumbbells with the same weight increments).
“I love using these dumbbells they are simple and everything I need for my weightlifting goals. My husband lifts way heavier than I do so it’s nice to be able to just dial in what we want and pick it up, without having tons of floor space used up to hold a whole weight rack,” wrote one satisfied customer.
11) Adjustable Cast Iron Dumbbell Set
Yes4All
amazon.com
$179.99
This easy-to-use pair of adjustable dumbbells feature a non-slip, textured handle and offer 1.25, 2.5, and 5.0 lb plates for a custom workout every time. They also come with star-lock collars with a rubber trim to keep plates in place. And for those who have a more extensive home gym setup, these plate also fit all standard 1.15 in barbells.
“I'm quite pleased with these,” wrote one of over 2,000 five-star reviewers on Amazon. “I love that there’s so much flexibility in weight with these. Rather than having to pay an arm and a leg and sacrifice a ton of room real estate for a massive set of individual dumbbells, this set allows you to choose whatever weight you want in a compact fashion. The weights ARE interchangeable with barbell weights, which is an added bonus I never expected, allowing even more versatility and more reason to purchase these over traditional dumbbells. The feel of these is sturdy and hardy. No weight wobbles, no imbalances, just a solid pair of dumbbells.”
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We found the best adjustable dumbbells for weightlifting and resistance training at home. Plus, experts recommend what to look for in adjustable dumbbells.