Having the right types of fitness equipment at home will make it easier to be consistent this year with your wellness goals. Traditional dumbbells can take up more space than necessary and may not be practical for all living spaces, but adjustable dumbbells are an excellent alternative to help you get some strength training in at home. They fit in the smallest of spaces, and you can use them for a wide range of exercises targeting different muscle groups. Bench press to work your chest muscles, try a bicep curl or even add them to your go-to bodyweight exercises for some added resistance.
I’ve reviewed various adjustable dumbbells throughout my years of experience testing home fitness equipment, testing the weight adjustment system, seeing the different weight capacities they come in and more. This guide will help you pick the best adjustable dumbbells for your needs. Take a look at our top picks and what to look for when shopping for adjustable dumbbells.
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What are the best adjustable dumbbells overall?
The BowFlex SelectTech 552 adjustable dumbbells stand out as the best overall choice in our roundup. The dial system lets users easily select their preferred weight, from 5 to a maximum weight of 52.5 pounds. The great quality of the construction makes these a fine choice for intense home workouts, while the compact design makes them suitable for small spaces. If the BowFlex dumbbells are not quite your style (or go out of stock; see note below), other solid choices I enjoyed were the Core Adjustable Dumbbells and Ativafit 71.5 Adjustable Dumbbell Set. You have a good selection to pick from based on your needs and taste. Take a look at our top picks below.
Editor’s note, June 10, 2024: BowFlex filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year and the brand is now owned by Johnson Health Tech, which also owns Horizon Fitness and Matrix. You can still buy BowFlex products through its website and via retailers such as Amazon and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Best adjustable dumbbells for 2025
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These BowFlex dumbbells are a fan favorite that was hard to come by during the peak of the pandemic. After finally getting my hands on a set, I understood why. They were packed well and easy to set up compared to the others that I had to unbox. Not only were the dumbbells properly secured to the rack with straps, but I found it easy to slide them out onto the floor in my living room. BowFlex offers the option to add a dumbbell stand and a bench at the time of purchase, but I decided against it because of the lack of space in my home.
The BowFlex dumbbells are a standard round shape and have a sleek black and red design. They’re made up of steel, nylon, ABS plastic and thermoplastic rubber. These dumbbells replace 15 sets of weights and range from 5 to 52.5 pounds. There are dials on opposite sides of the individual dumbbell, which you have to twist one at a time to change to your desired weight. Logically, I wouldn’t expect to have to turn the dial in two different places (or directions) on a single dumbbell, but the design makes it a seamless process without any of the weight getting snagged.
I liked that these dumbbells have a rubber grip on the steel handle, which made them comfortable to hold for long periods. One complaint I’ve heard about the BowFlex adjustable dumbbells is that they’re bulky, making it hard to do certain exercises such as deadlifts and overhead presses. I did find the dumbbells to be oversized, but I noticed that was the pattern with most adjustable dumbbell designs. I didn’t love how bulky it felt to have the weights overhead or for deadlifts, but I didn’t mind them when I did chest presses, bicep curls, lunges or squats.
A yearlong JRNY membership is also included with your purchase if you’d like to take on-demand strength classes to get the most out of your dumbbells. If you’re looking for a reliable, tried-and-true set of adjustable dumbbells, then you’ll like the BowFlex’s style.
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After the BowFlex, the Core adjustable dumbbells had my second favorite packaging. It made sense to me that, upon unboxing these dumbbells, the rack was at the very top. This made it easy to not have to lift the heavy weights first before locating the rack. I also liked that the weight plates are magnetic and can be easily separated before the dumbbell is placed on the rack. These were also the only ones that came with a loose handle that latched onto the base and then the weight plates.
Core’s dumbbells range from 5 to 50 pounds, and you can change the weight in 5-pound increments. They’re easy to use since you can change the weight with just a twist of the handle, and they have the fastest weight transition for an adjustable dumbbell with a manual design.
Although these dumbbells are round, I liked the sleek design and found them to be the least bulky of all the adjustable dumbbells I tried. I liked the contoured and soft grip handle which made the dumbbell comfortable to hold and molded perfectly into my hand. I also noticed they didn’t roll around when I placed them on the floor, which made them feel extra secure and was a bonus since I live on the top floor and didn’t want to disturb my downstairs neighbors.
One thing I didn’t like about these dumbbells was that I would have to hold the rack down when I changed it to a heavier weight. This was because the weights felt stiff and would get stuck as you pulled them out of the rack. This could’ve easily been my own user error, but Core also offers an optional stand for purchase. Based on customer reviews, the stand is sturdy and eliminates the issues I experienced compared to just having the rack alone. Another solution I figured out was to place the rack on a rubber mat; it provided a better grip and made it easier to slide out the dumbbell.