If you’re new to strength training or are looking to reduce the cost of buying a full-blown rack of traditional dumbbells, then a pair of adjustable dumbbells is a great option.
Although I’m a die-hard fan of traditional dumbbells, adjustable dumbbells definitely have a place in your home gym set-up. They can save you space, money (in the long run), and even time, as you can quickly adjust the weight settings during circuits or supersets without long delays.
The SelectTech 552 from Bowflex is our favourite, as not only do they offer a fantastic weight variety (from 5 to 52lbs), which is easy to select thanks to the smooth dial system, but they also go up in small weight increments of 2.5lbs. This makes progressive overload easier, particularly if you’re a beginner, and lowers the risk of injury.
Check out our top picks of adjustable dumbbells below, including spinlock designs for if you’re on a bit of a budget and compact models for smaller spaces.
The top three
Whether you're doing a HIIT workout or have multiple dropsets, you can easily switch between 5lbs to 52lbs at the spin of a dial with these adjustable dumbbells. They may not be the cheapest, but Bowflex is big in the game when it comes to adjustable equipment, so they're reliable and top quality.
Although these don't have a clever weight changing mechanism like the other two dumbbells listed, they're ideal for beginners looking to add some light weight to their workouts. In this set you'll get a 2kg solid bar, four 1kg plates and two 2kg plates, so plenty to get started with.
These sleek-looking smart dumbbells are some of the best we've used. Unlike the Bowflex dumbbells, these are adjusted via Bluetooth Connectivity at just the tap of the button. They have a slightly wider weight range too (8lbs up to 50Ibs) and the app can even keep track your reps – that's pretty smart.
Bryony is the Active Writer for T3, covering fitness, wearable and outdoor content. She has been strength training for more than four years, with dumbbells having a firm place in her workout routines. She's always ready to offer the latest news, recommendations and advice on the best pieces of home gym equipment.
Best adjustable dumbbell to buy right now
Best overall
Switching weight on these beefy monsters by Bowflex is as easy as spinning a dial. This works exceptionally well for mid-workout weight changes when you need to act fast and be efficient. It’s also a lot less frustrating than having to unscrew a metal spin collar to change the plates when you’re in the zone.
The included plastic stand enables users to change the weights between sets in a smooth fashion. However, with no colour coordination, you do have to pay careful attention to certain configurations. They are definitely not the cheapest out there, but they are certainly the most reliable and have become some of the most popular adjustable dumbbells thanks to their high-quality design and ease of use.
The SelectTech 552 are our favourite adjustable dumbbells out there simply because they offer weightlifters everything they need, especially those into fast-paced HIIT or intense 'drop set' workouts.
Need something heavier but equally as quality as this one? Have a look at our Bowflex SelectTech 1090i Adjustable Dumbbell review.
Best affordable
Not all adjustable dumbbells have a clever weight-changing mechanism. If you’re looking for a more budget adjustable weight, you could opt for a dumbbell with a quick-fix collar design like this kit Decathlon's own Domyos. We’re not sure why it’s called a “kit” when there is only one dumbbell supplied per purchase, but still, they are cheap enough to warrant buying two, priced at just £25 (approx. $28/AU$44) per dumbbell.
Naturally, the quality doesn’t come close to what you’d find with some of the others on this list, but with a 2kg solid bar, four 1kg plates and two 2kg plates, who cares for that price? Weight range is obviously lacking here but still an excellent choice for beginners or those looking to add low weight to their cardio endeavours.
Read our full Domyos Weight Training Dumbbell Kit review
Best premium
The DumbbellConnect by JaxJox is probably one of the most innovative sets of adjustable weights we’ve laid our eyes on. They're well made, clever, look great and - in most instances - work effortlessly. With Bluetooth connectivity, each unit can be adjusted digitally via the tap of a button to offer 16 different weights ranging from 8lbs up to 50Ibs (3.6kg - 22.7kg)
While not a major concern, the care required when docking the dumbbells to switch between weights could become irritating for those that prefer fast-paced, HIIT-style workout sessions. That said, they work well, look the part and come with an app that syncs up with the dumbbells to track your reps alongside on-demand classes led by fitness professionals. Adjustable dumbbells don’t get any smarter than this!
Read our full Jaxjox DumbbellConnect review
Best digital
Working out with the Core Fitness Adjustable Dumbbell and Stand is an absolute pleasure. It's easy to use, has a great weight range and looks pretty much like a traditional dumbbell. Yet, it takes up significantly less space than the 10 dumbbells it replaces. The asking price looks steeper than if you just bought a hex dumbbell on its own, but buying the Core Dumbbells is waaaaaaay cheaper than getting 10 pairs of dumbbells, not to mention it's also more convenient to use.
We would recommend the Core Fitness Adjustable Dumbbell and Stand to people who take muscle building at home seriously and would like to have home gym equipment that enables them to progress steadily in the coming months/years. If you need a pair of dumbbells for your HIIT workouts, these weights might be a bit of an overkill. If you want to get big arms, get the Core Fitness Adjustable Dumbbell and Stand set.
Read our full Core Fitness Adjustable Dumbbell and Stand review
Best compact
Touting an unconventional yet compact design, these rather odd-looking dumbbells from Power Block won’t be to the tastes of everyone, but at least they’re something different to have in your home gym. Replacing eight pairs of traditional weights into one contraption that allows you to change the weight in seconds with a selector pin (like a weight stack machine at the gym), these dumbbells are a little limited in terms of weight spread (going up to 10 kg per dumbbell) but they’re well built and take up less space than most on this list.
Read our full PowerBlock Sport 2.4 Adjustable Dumbbell review
Best versatile
The Boxbell 3-in-1 Adjustable Dumbbell is a decent home weight and one that has many functions. It can replace several home weights and is super portable; it's also compact, making it easier to store and use for workouts. The weight spread is pretty good, and 20 kg as a max weight is more than enough for most home lifters.
We would recommend this unique home weight to people who are really pressed for space, such as those living in shared accommodations. The footprint of the weights is tiny, and once you get used to the ins and outs of the Boxbell 3-in-1, you can use them for a variety of home workouts.
Read our full Boxbell 3-in-1 Adjustable Dumbell review
How we test the best adjustable dumbbells
Since adjustable dumbbells are compact and perfect for home use, we’re able to test them in real-life settings, giving you a firsthand, honest look at their performance, convenience, and overall value. When testing each pair of dumbbells, we pay close attention to the weight variety, how easy and quickly we can adjust the weight, and the increments by which it goes up in. Of course, we also take into account their design, what materials they’ve been constructed from – as this can affect their longevity and ease of use – how they feel when performing exercises, and how much room they take up.
How to choose the best adjustable dumbbell for you
The first and most obvious is the weight range. If you’re thinking about using these adjustable home weights more for aerobic, fat-burning exercises alongside a cardio workout, for example, look for a pair with a lower weight range, as you’ll be using these in high-repetition exercises. If you’re more about bulking and adding muscle, you will want a pair of loadable dumbbells with a higher range.
Then, let’s talk about the weight-changing mechanisms. Some adjustable weights allow you to change the weight using additional plates that can be fixed to the bar as needed, whereas others have an adjustable plate system built in that uses a dial to alter the required weight before you curl or lift easily. The second option is more efficient (you won’t have to stop mid-workout to screw and unscrew plates off and on), but they cost more.
How do adjustable dumbbells work?
This depends on the type of adjustable dumbbells that you buy and there are three types: digital, dial and spinlock.
- Digital: These allow you to adjust their weight by using the buttons on the side of the holding docks. The weight you select will appear on the little screen and then the relevant plates will attach themselves to the bars – pretty nifty! Obviously this is the easiest way to adjust your weights, but the docking stations do need to be plugged in to work.
- Dial: These have a dial at either end that you simply turn to select your desired weight whilst they’re sitting in their holding dock. Once you’ve chosen, similar to the digital dumbbells, different weight plates will either be unlocked or locked onto the bar.
- Spinlock: These consist of two small bars and weight plates that you slide onto the bar and secure in place with a spinlock. They also have a traditional dumbbell design and the cheapest type of adjustable dumbbell. Two things to bare in mind with this type of dumbbell is that they take longer to adjust and won’t have as wide a weight variety as dial or digital adjustable dumbbells.
FAQ
Are adjustable dumbbells a good investment?
Adjustable dumbbells have a hefty upfront cost, but they can save you a lot of money and space in your home gym. Most adjustable dumbbells replace at least four or five individual dumbbells – that's a lot of space saved straight away. Once you add up the cost of getting those dumbbells one by one, you'll see just how much better of a deal it is to get an adjustable dumbbell. Not everyone needs adjustable dumbbells, but if you're planning on building muscle or doing full-body workouts at home, your best option is to use adjustable dumbbells.