Adjustable dumbbells offer an extremely versatile and convenient way to train all muscle groups—major and minor—from the comfort of your home and on your own schedule. Whether you’re looking to bulk up or simply add muscle toning to your existing at-home fitness regimen, this compact and highly customizable piece of kit can help you achieve your aims.
We reviewed dozens of adjustable dumbbells to identify the best of the best. We examined a range of factors, including materials, weight range, grip, versatility, convenience, cost, and average customer reviews. All of these top-rated adjustable dumbbells can be purchased online at Amazon.com.
Having considered a large number of adjustable dumbbells, we chose the Bowflex SelectTech Adjustable Weights as our top pick. These dumbbells have a generous combined load capacity of 105 pounds, can be adjusted in 2.5-pound increments, use a simple adjustment dial that lets you switch weights in just 1 or 2 seconds, are built to last a lifetime (or several!), and are among the most compact adjustable dumbbell sets on the market.
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The 5 Top-Rated Adjustable Dumbbells
| Editor’s Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Adjustable Dumbbells Overall | Bowflex SelectTech Adjustable Weights | 4.7 |
| Best Cast Iron Adjustable Dumbbells | CAP Barbell Adjustable Dumbbell Set | 4.3 |
| Best Budget Adjustable Dumbbells | Topeakmart Adjustable Dumbbell Weight Set | 4.3 |
| Best Selectorized Adjustable Dumbbells | PowerBlock Sport 24 Adjustable Dumbbell | 4.5 |
| Best Water-Filled Adjustable Dumbbells | Astolily Adjustable Fitness Dumbbells |
5.0 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change
Best Adjustable Dumbbells Overall: Bowflex SelectTech Adjustable Weights
If you’ve been to a gym in the last ten years, the chances are you’ll have spotted or used a pair of Bowflex SelectTech Adjustable Weights. These weights are among the most popular in North America with both commercial gyms and individual users alike.
Here’s why…
The SelectTech take convenience and customization to a whole new level, allowing users to literally dial in every set of lifts to suit their precise needs and session goals. These dumbbells are composed of two adjustable sets of weights with attached stands. Instead of playing around with safety stoppers and wasting valuable workout time, with these dumbbells you simply rotate a dial on the end of the dumbbell and, hey presto!, the plates are automatically adjusted to that weight.
While this feature alone will be enough to win over most would-be buyers, what we love most about these weights is the ability for precise customization. With just a turn of the aforementioned dial, you can adjust the weight of each dumbbell in 2.5-pound increments from 5 to 52.5 pounds, which means you can cover the same range as provided by 15 sets of non-adjustable weights with just one set. This system not only saves you from removing or adding weights manually, of course, but also saves you a great deal of space in your workout area and reduces the clutter caused by unused plates.
Finally, makers Bowflex also put a cherry on top of the SelectTech cake in the form of a generous 2-year warranty and very handy app that lets you follow trainer-led workouts, build custom workouts, and create a workout journal.
Bowflex SelectTech Adjustable Weights Key Features:
- Adjustment range: 5 to 52.5 pounds
- Automatic dial adjustment
- Adjusts in 2.5-pound increments
- 15 settings
- 2-year warranty
- Workout app included
Best Cast Iron Adjustable Dumbbells: CAP Barbell Adjustable Dumbbell Set
The CAP Barbell Adjustable Dumbbell Set is a great choice for users keen to have a wider weight range and for stronger lifters who plan on packing their dumbbells with loads that would make even Popeye or your average NFL defensive linesman proud.
This set contains a total of 28 plates with weights ranging from 2.5 to 10 pounds, meaning you can easily customize your load to work on different muscle groups and dial-in each individual set to suit your specific goals. And with a max weight of 200 pounds, there’s plenty of scope for progress…
What really makes these dumbbells a standout amongst their peers, however, is the outstandingly high quality of the materials and construction. They are made with cold rolled steel bars with medium-depth, diamond-shaped knurling that provides a secure grip without tearing up your skin and solid cast iron steel plates with a rust and corrosion-resistant epoxy finish. The density of cast iron also means that each plate is significantly heavier than sand or cement-filled dumbbells or even stainless steel plates, meaning the full set of weights will take up considerably less space in your home.
Finally, these dumbbells use threaded ends and come with spin-lock collars with rubber o-rings to secure the plates onto the handle and ensure you can enjoy a safe workout without any fear of ten-pound plates tumbling onto your toes!
CAP Barbell Adjustable Dumbbell Set Key Features:
- 200-pound capacity
- Cast iron plates with rust and corrosion-resistant epoxy finish
- 17″ steel bars with knurled grip
- Spin-lock collars
- Package includes: 2 x 17” dumbbell handles; 4 x 2.5-pound plates; 4 x 5-pound plates; 16 x 10-pound plates; 4 star-lock collars.
Best Budget Adjustable Dumbbells: Topeakmart Adjustable Dumbbell Weight Set
The Topeakmart Adjustable Dumbbell Weight Set is a great choice for users with no ambition to break any world records but looking for a simple, affordable workout tool that will allow them to build and tone muscle from the comfort of their home.
These cement-filled dumbbells come with four 5.5-pound plates, four 4.4-pound plates, four 3.3-pound plates, and four 2.8-pound plates that give a total maximum load of 66 pounds, which should be more than enough for all but the most serious of lifters. They also use very sturdy, rust-resistant, iron-plated bars with nonslip PVC grips that provide plenty of friction without digging into or chafing the skin on your hands.
One feature in particular may make these dummbells a more attractive option for some buyers than steel or cast iron alternatives—namely, their soft, impact-resistant PVC covers. While heavier and harder materials will likely cause serious damage if dropped, with these weights your tile, wood, or laminate flooring (not to mention your toes!) will likely escape from any mishaps unscathed.
Topeakmart Adjustable Dumbbell Weight Set Key Features:
- 66-pound capacity
- Cement-filled plates
- Impact-resistant plate casing
- 18.5-inch, iron-plated bars
- Spin-lock collars
- 18 plates: 4 x 5.5-pound plates, 4 x 4.4-pound plates, 4 x 3.3-pound plates, 4 x 2.8-pound plates
Best Selectorized Adjustable Dumbbells: PowerBlock Sport 24 Adjustable Dumbbells
The PowerBlock Sport 24 Adjustable Dumbbells might look a little more complex than a set of traditional dumbbells but this first impression belies a design that is far more convenient and user-friendly than that of any other set of adjustable dumbbells on the market.
These dumbbells are a bit of a game-changer as regards the system used for weight adjustment. Instead of spinning off a threaded lock and adding or removing plates as needed, the Sport 24 Dumbbells let you change weights easily with a simple selector pin that shifts between 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 pounds with just the flick of a finger, thereby giving you access to the equivalent of 16 individual weigh blocks in little more than a second and in just one piece of kit.
So, you may be asking, exactly how does this newfangled design work?
The mechanics are surprisingly simple: a nonslip handle fits inside the first weight on the tiered rack, which connects to all subsequent weights courtesy of a pin system that stacks up all the weighs above the selector pin. How’s that for convenience? Not only is this system incredibly easy to use, but it’s also highly space-efficient and can save you plenty of precious minutes when squeezing in a workout before dinner or on breaks when working from home.
While the combined weight of these dumbbells (48 lbs.) might be a little low for more heavyweight lifters, for most of us mere mortals it’s more than enough to build up a sweat and see serious gains in muscle mass with a regular and effective workout routine.
PowerBlock Sport 24 Adjustable Dumbbell Key Features:
- 48-pound capacity
- Each dumbbell adjusts in 3-pound increments from 3 to 24 lbs.
- Compact design
- Padded handle
- Adjust with the flick of a switch
- 10-year warranty
Best Water-Filled Adjustable Dumbbells: Astolily Adjustable Fitness Dumbbells
Water-filled dumbbells are, simply put, one of the greatest “lifehacks” we’ve ever come across for at-home workouts, and the Astolily Adjustable Fitness Dumbbells are the best of the bunch.
Thanks to their unique configuration, these dumbbells solve the dilemma of anyone who has ever wanted a workout kit that can be easily transported between their home and the office. From the box, these dumbbells weigh in at just 2.2 pounds, but after filling the leak-proof, ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) “plates” with water, you suddenly find yourself equipped with two remarkably sturdy dumbbells with a combined weight of up to 45 pounds. Adjusting the weight of each dumbbell, as you might have already guessed, is remarkably easy, and is done by simply pouring out or topping up the water inside the ABS plates.
What we really love about the Astolily is that they offer a very safe alternative to iron or steel dumbbell kits—not only are they unlikely to damage your flooring or furniture in the event of a drop, their soft construction also makes them safe to use around kids and eases any worries you may have about your dumbbells rolling over tiny toes when not in use.
Astolily Adjustable Fitness Dumbbells Key Features:
- 45-pound capacity
- Foldable design
- Unfilled weight: 2.2 lbs.
- ABS material
- Robust plastic handles
- Screw-lock collars
If you’re in search of some useful home workout equipment to stay fit even when you can’t make it to the gym, these top-rated adjustable dumbbells are a great choice. For more at-home fitness and workout gear, check out our reviews of the Best Ankle Weights, the Best Pull Up Bars, and the Best Yoga Mats.
