Build Your Muscles With the 8 Best Adjustable Dumbbells

The problem with most dumbbells is that they’re only as good as their weight. After a while, as you get used to the weight of the bells and your strength grows, the effectiveness of the dumbbells diminishes.

After a while, they’re not doing anything except getting in the way.

That’s why adjustable dumbbells are the way to go. Although they’re somewhat more expensive than regular dumbbells, they don’t outgrow their usefulness nearly as quickly. In the end, you’ll end up saving money, because instead of going out and buying a new set of dumbbells, you’ll just put more weight on your existing set.

Don’t you wish everything in life was that easy?

Things to Consider

Buying adjustable dumbbells makes sense, but it doesn’t make sense to go out and buy them without thinking things through first. If you want to be a smart shopper, here are a few tips to keep in mind before you swipe your credit card.

1. Weight

Weight is, obviously, the most important thing in a dumbbell, but it factors into the picture in several different ways. You want to consider the minimum weight of the dumbbell, the maximum weight of the dumbbell and the weight of the incremental increases to the dumbbell.

2. Stability

One advantage of standard dumbbells is security. Since they’re often one solid piece, there’s no chance of the dumbbell breaking or getting imbalanced. This is not necessarily true of adjustable dumbbells. The last thing you want is for the weights to slide off and land on your toes.

3. Size

Just how much space does that dumbbell take up, anyway? One of the big reasons to choose adjustable dumbbells over standard dumbbells is the fact that they’re more compact. But if you buy a clunky adjustable dumbbell, you may not be doing yourself any more favours.

4. Ease of use

Some dumbbells are a real hassle to modify. You want a dumbbell that you can adjust quickly and easily. That way, if you decide to increase the weight mid-workout, you can do it without losing your stride.

5. Price

As I said, adjustable dumbbells are quite a bit more expensive than regular models. Many of them cost $100 or more. Buy what you need, but don’t buy a fancy dumbbell that you can’t afford.

QUICK OVERVIEW

The Best Adjustable Dumbbells

---

Products	Features
EDITOR’S PICK 4 350+ 350+ Yaheetech Dumbbell SetYaheetech Dumbbell Set	Up to 66 lbs Antirust chrome finish and PE collars PRICE RANGE: Under $100 Up to 66 lbs Antirust chrome finish and PE collars PRICE RANGE: Under $100 Check price at Amazon
MOST REVIEWED 4.7 7,655+ 7655+ Bowflex SelectTech 552Bowflex SelectTech 552	5-52.5 lb. per dumbbell Combines 15 sets of weights into one PRICE RANGE: Under $350 5-52.5 lb. per dumbbell Combines 15 sets of weights into one PRICE RANGE: Under $350 Check price at Amazon
TOP PICK 4.5 1,020+ 1020+ PowerBlock Sport 24PowerBlock Sport 24	Up to 24 lbs 8 weight increments PRICE RANGE: Under $350 Up to 24 lbs 8 weight increments PRICE RANGE: Under $350 Check price at Amazon
BUDGET PICK 4.3 2,495+ 2495+ CAP Barbell DumbbellsCAP Barbell Dumbbells	Weighs 40 pounds Spin locks PRICE RANGE: Under $100 Weighs 40 pounds Spin locks PRICE RANGE: Under $100 Check price at Amazon
BUDGET PICK 4.5 665+ 665+ ATIVAFIT DumbbellATIVAFIT Dumbbell	Up to 27.5 lbs 5 weight increments PRICE RANGE: Under $150 Up to 27.5 lbs 5 weight increments PRICE RANGE: Under $150 Check price at Amazon

Best Adjustable Dumbbells Under $100

Yaheetech 66 LB Weight Dumbbell Set

The Yaheetech 66 LB Weight Dumbbell Set is a great option for those on a budget. If you’re looking for affordable dumbbells around 100 pounds, this is your best bet since it’s a whole set and not just one piece. 

The set includes four 5.5-pound plates, four 4.4-pound plates, four 3.3-pound plates, and four 2.8-pound plates. Each dumbbell bar weighs 1.32 pounds, and there are also two screw-on PE collars to secure the dumbbells. 

The main problem I have with the dumbbells is that they’re a little bulky and the bar measures 18.5 inches. It is already somewhat larger than your standard bar, and balancing the larger size takes a bit of getting used to. There’s no getting around the fact that these dumbbells are a great value, however.

Best Adjustable Dumbbells Under $150

CAP Barbell Adjustable Dumbbell

Although it’s definitely on the low end of the weight spectrum, the CAP Barbell Adjustable Dumbbell Set is a good adjustable dumbbell set, especially if you’re just getting started or you want more control over how you add weight to your exercises.

The total combined weight of the CAP Barbell weights is 40 pounds. This includes four 6-pound plates and four smaller 2.5-pound plates. Each dumbbell weighs three pounds, adding up to your total of 40 pounds. Two spin-lock collars are included, so the weighted plates don’t go sliding off the handles.

This is a basic, no-fuss, easy-to-use dumbbell system especially helpful for beginners. There’s a good chance you might outgrow these somewhere down the line, but if you’re on a budget, this might be a good place to start.

---

Ativafit Adjustable Dumbbell

Ativafit Adjustable Dumbbell is the perfect example of value for money if you take your exercise seriously. However, note that only one dumbbell is included in this listing.

The handle is 3.4 inches long and comes with eight 5.5-pound plates so that you can lift up to 27.5 pounds on one dumbbell. The dumbbell is made of chrome-plated steel and is designed to be ultra-compact. 

It even comes with a base tray that keeps your home gym neat and organized and enables you to adjust the weights with a counterweight lock. Still, there’s no getting around the fact that you’d need to drop over $250 to work out with two of these dumbbells at once. If you’re a seasoned muscle hunter, this is an excellent deal.

Best Adjustable Dumbbells Under $175

Evetebol Adjustable Dumbbell

The Evetebol Adjustable Dumbbell is similar to the previous model. It has the same mechanism as the previous one; There are 5 weight increments you can change with a simple counterweight lock. The only difference is that these here are 5-pound increments.

It comes with the base that keeps your floors safe from wear and tear. Moreover, this dumbbell is made from plated steel and it’s made to last for a long time, even with continuous use. Yet again, this one comes as a single piece but definitely pays off if you lift often.

Best Adjustable Dumbbells Under $200

Bayou Fitness Adjustable Dumbbells

The Bayou Fitness Adjustable Dumbbells are almost identical to the previous model. One of the few differences is that these come as a pair, so they’re more affordable than the two previous models.

The dumbbells have the same 5 weight increments and give you the weight of 25 pounds or 50 combined in total. The heavy-duty chrome-plated steel construction makes them extremely sturdy and durable.

The Bayou dumbbells come with the base tray to save space. Still, even though they’re more affordable when you want the pair, the mechanism tends to break after a while.

Best Adjustable Dumbbells Under $350

Ringstar Starring Adjustable Dumbbells

There’s not a lot of difference between the Ringstar dumbbells and the Unipack dumbbells. Both offer 105 pounds of weight, and they even distribute the weight in the same way. The main difference is aesthetics. The Ringstar dumbbells are shinier and a little more attractive.

Like the Unipack, the set includes sixteen 5-pound plates, four 2.5-pound plates four two 1.25-pound plates. The handles weigh 5 pounds and are secured with screw-on collars. The dumbbells are made of cast iron and are treated with a shiny metallic chrome.

The only reason to choose these dumbbells over the Unipak is that you prefer the chrome look to the standard black iron. They’re the same weight, and at the time of this writing, these dumbbells cost $10 more. They work well though and are recommended.

---

PowerBlock Sport 24 Adjustable Dumbbells

I’ve never seen a set of dumbbells quite like Power Block. This innovative design makes it easy and quick to change the weight of your dumbbells even during your workout. Even better, the dumbbell set is compatible with additional weight packs to increase the maximum dumbbell weight further down the road.

The set includes sixteen 3-pound weights. Each dumbbell comes with eight weights, and you adjust the dumbbells in 3-pound increments. Each of the weights is color-coded, and a selector pin at the top makes switching out weights a cinch.

The balance of these weights is frankly incredible, and I love how compact they are and how much freedom is afforded. That said, these dumbbells are fairly expensive and don’t provide that much weight. You can add additional weights, but that’ll put your total cost around $200. With a ten-year warranty, however, it just might be worth it.

Best Adjustable Dumbbells Under $700

Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Weights

At some point, there must be a law of diminishing returns as far as dumbbells are concerned. The BowFlex Dumbbells, like several other sets of adjustable dumbbells on this list, combine to weigh 105 pounds, but they are sold at a premium price.

Unlike the other sets of 105-pound dumbbells, the Select Tech 552 uses a different incremental set of weights. There are seventeen 2.5-pound weights and ten 5-pound weights. Each bar weighs 5 pounds, and there are dials on the ends to secure the weights.

The weights can be used with the BowFlex mobile training app for iOS and Android, connecting you with tools to maximize your training and workout potential. For me, the performance isn’t worth the extra cost, but I’m not a professional athlete or bodybuilder either. If you can afford to pay a little bit more, then you’re sure to be pleased with these dumbbells.

Conclusion

As you can see, if you’re looking to buy adjustable dumbbells, there are plenty of options for you to choose from, both in weight and in price. There are several options that didn’t make it on this list that is perfectly capable dumbbells, and there’s not a lot of wrong answers here.

If you want to combine value and comfort, the BalanceFrom Cast Iron adjustable dumbbells are a wonderful choice, but there isn’t a bad pick on this list.

*All prices mentioned above are at the time of publishing.