Best dumbbells 2024 for your home workouts

If you were on a desert island and could only take one piece of workout equipment, it should be dumbbells (followed by an adjustable weight bench). I’ve been lifting weights four times a week for four years, and they are, simply, one of my favourite pieces of home gym equipment for building strength, muscle, and burning fat. You can do compound exercises with them and train unilaterally. Not to mention, they’re compact and relatively inexpensive.

There are three main types of dumbbells: iron, rubber-coated, and adjustable. Iron dumbbells are the oldest, and Arnie would’ve trained with them; they’re durable and last for years. Rubber-coated dumbbells are popular for home gyms as their material dampens noise when dropped and is least likely to leave a dent in your floor. Adjustable dumbbells are brilliant for beginners as they offer a wide weight variety and replace multiple sets of dumbbells. But, they are the most expensive.

Dumbbells also come in different shapes— circular and hex— which you’ll want to consider before buying. At T3, we’ve lost count of how many bicep curls and squats we’ve done testing dumbbells, at the gym and from our home gyms, AKA the living room. Below are our top picks of the best dumbbells to start your strength training journey.

Best dumbbells to buy right now

Best overall

We wish we have enough space (and money) to buy a complete set of Eleiko Plate Dumbbells. These premium home weights are a delight to look at and use, although they will be most appreciated by bodybuilders and weightlifters. The sloped, oversized plate design might seem odd initially, but using the weights for the first time will change the minds of even the harshest critics.

Considering the hefty price and the premium nature of the Eleiko Plate Dumbbell, it's hard to recommend them to anyone apart from gym owners, hardcore lifters and premium home gym equipment aficionados. If you're either of those, you should start saving now, so you can have a complete collection of Eleiko's finest rotating dumbbells sooner. We love them, and you will, too, should you decide to invest in them.

Read our full Eleiko Plate Dumbbell review.

Best premium

We tested Technogym’s Connected Dumbbells at their boutique store in Piccadilly and were highly impressed. These dumbbells offer a decent weight variety going from 2kg all the way up to 24kg, in two-kilo increments, which is plenty for a range of full-body exercises for beginners.

What makes these dumbbells really special though is they have a built-in sensor that tracks your reps, sets and weight used. But, it doesn’t stop there. The AI Coach on the Technogym app– you get two free months included when you buy the dumbbells, then it’s £7.99 a month– uses the data from the dumbbells to offer personalised workout plans tailored to your goals. Very smart!

Speaking of smart, these dumbbells are beautifully designed and aren’t something you’d be ashamed to leave out in your living room if you had guests round. They also have a knurled metal handle, which offers superb grip, and adjusting their weight couldn’t be easier, thanks to the ‘twist handle’ method.

Read our full Technogym Connected Dumbbell review

Best affordable

Corength is Decathlon's own brand – you can buy its products at Decathlon in the UK and Walmart in the US – but unlike other own-brand products, Corength dumbbells are high quality and priced affordably.

These durable iron-cast adjustable dumbbells are one of the best sets you can get your hands on. There's enough weight plates to load 10kg onto each dumbbell or, if you want to go heavier, you can add all the plates onto one. We appreciate they're not the heaviest dumbbells on the planet and that the spinlock system takes a little longer to adjust the weight (so not ideal if you're doing drop sets), but you can't really complain at this price. Plus, these dumbbells can hold up to 32kg, so you can always buy this additional weight plate set if you need to move more mass.

Best adjustable

These beasts from Bowflex pack 2-24 or 4-41kg in each dumbbell, depending on the model you go for, with weight selection as easy as spinning a dial. When paired with a simple weights bench, they offer an effective alternative to a gym floor yet don't require an entire rack to the house.

The spinning dial is easy to navigate, and the included plastic stand makes it simpler to guide the weights back into place when you're finished, although, with certain configurations, you do have to be quite careful.

Overall, a great solution for those who like to push on with intensive 'drop set' workouts or those who are tight on space. In fact, our only real reservation is the price, which will make you sweat before you even try to lift them.

Read our full Bowflex SelectTech 1090i dumbbell review

Best for heavy lifters

Taking everything into consideration, including the price, the versatility, the weight spread, the construction – all of it – we recommend the Primal 34kg Adjustable Dumbbell for home use, especially for those who like to go heavy (or go home) in their workouts. One minor issue is that you will probably need two of them to perform exercises effectively, and admittedly, it’ll cost you.

However, the quality of these dumbbells are top-notch. Made from cast iron with a polypropylene cover and grippy knurling on the handles, these dumbbells have been designed to last. They use a built-in sliding mechanism so the weight can be switched quickly and effortlessly between sets too. Rest assured, these dumbbells will allow you to pack on muscle at home without taking over your living room floor.

Read our full Primal Personal Series 34kg Adjustable Dumbbell review

Best for hard floors

The Mirafit rubber dumbbells are sexy, and they know it. The solid cast weight is connected with a 32mm knurled solid steel grip, and the rubber coating protects the flooring and reduces noise. The weights are clearly marked on the ends for easier identification. There really isn't much to say about these dumbbells: you get what you pay for, in a good way. The only possible downside is that they might roll around a bit on hard floors, but that's it, really. Get these if they are in stock; they will serve you well.

Best for beginners

Although not as enjoyable to use or as versatile as traditional dumbbells, there’s no escaping just how useful a set of adjustable dumbbells is for most folk looking to get fitter, build muscle or burn fat from home. With its unique stacking system, the units feel well-balanced even when fully loaded. The recessed grips allow plenty of range of motion for various exercises.

We liked the fact that these dumbbells take up very little room, making them really easy to store, and offer a very affordable way of achieving a decent weight spread without needing an entire rack or tower full of individual dumbbells. They are around half the price of purchasing a set of 1-10kg pairs with a stand or rack and require a fraction of the space.

Read our full Powerblock Sport 2.4 review

How we test the best dumbbells

The best dumbbells are not only good for advanced gun sculpting. 💪 They can also provide a full-body workout, get you fit, boost metabolism and build muscle. Therefore, the dumbbells in this guide are thoroughly examined by our experts using a variety of workouts. We only recommend weights that are safe to use at home and can effectively help you achieve your home fitness goals.

In fact, dumbbells are tested in a home environment to ensure they perform well in the surroundings they are supposed to be used. We look at performance details as well as how convenient it is to use and store the dumbbells.

How to buy the best dumbbells for you

As with many things in life, the humble dumbbell comes in a confusing array of shapes, sizes, weights and mechanisms, so choosing the right one for you is important. Here's what to think about before you buy:

• Shape: Typically, a dumbbell will either be rounded or hexagonal. The latter won't roll away when you put it down and are also good for press-up variations. Whereas rounded dumbbells are often easier to store and are available in a wider weight range.
• Weight: This often comes down to whether you want a fixed weight dumbbell or an adjustable dumbbell. The latter is a great option for beginners, because they take up less space and allow you to tailor the weight to your ability at the time. Whereas fixed weight dumbbells are best for more experienced lifters who are in need of a specific weight, or looking to add to their current dumbbell range. If you decide on the latter, you should also consider what exercises you want to do with your dumbbells. As the weight you'd need for lateral raises will be much lighter than what you'd use to squat with, so make sure you think about this.
• Material: You can get cast iron, stainless steel, rubber or urethane dumbbells. One isn't necessarily better than the other, it's personal preference what you go for. However, the latter are good for home gyms as they'll have more of a 'bounce' and are less likely to damage your floor if dropped. Whereas the former are often more attractive and more long-lasting.

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