"Top 5 Adjustable Dumbbells for 2023: A Comprehensive Review and Testing"

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When creating your perfect home gym, one of the most common hurdles is finding a way to replace the bulky racks of various weight dumbbells without breaking the bank or sacrificing valuable space. The solution lies in a set of adjustable dumbbells that are versatile and streamlined, allowing for maximum gains without taking up extra space. These dumbbells are especially useful as you progress in strength training and require heavier weights to advance in your workouts.

Dumbbells are an essential tool for strength training, as they assist in perfecting form, correcting muscle imbalances, and increasing gains. Adjustable dumbbells offer a space-saving alternative to traditional single-weight dumbbells seen at gyms, and modern versions have improved in design, ease of use, and storage capabilities. With adjustable dumbbells, you can have a single set of dumbbells that range from light enough for barre classes to heavy enough for serious muscle building.

Our in-house testing lab spent eight hours evaluating 13 popular adjustable dumbbell products. We conducted five predetermined exercises with each set and assessed them for grip, design, and comfort when sweaty. After testing, we found that the FitRX SmartBells are the best adjustable dumbbells for strength training, with a price point that is half that of popular Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells. These easy-to-adjust dumbbells range from 5 to 52 pounds and have a non-slip handle that is easy to grip, although less secure once hands become sweaty. Though slightly clunky, the dumbbells do offer plenty of weight options for a variety of workouts and come with their storage solution.

Weight range and space-saving potential are the standout features of the ETHOS adjustable dumbbell set, which replaces ten sets of dumbbells ranging from 5 to 50 pounds. With smooth transitions between weight increments, the dumbbells are easy to adjust, and the rubbery grip maintains texture even when hands are wet. While the weights occasionally require wiggling to fit back into their base securely, the overall performance warrants recommending this product.

The Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells, with a weight range of 5 to 52 pounds and a 2.5 lb and 5 lb increment option, are the most popular adjustable dumbbells. These weights are easy to adjust, but each end of the dumbbell requires its adjustment. Though they offer plenty of weight options, uneven weight distribution between ends could potentially affect form and safety.

Price at time of publish: $99 for one dumbbell

Weight Range: 5 to 52.5 lb | Weight Configurations: 15 | Dimensions: 16.5” L  x 8.25” W x 9” H | Storage Rack Included: Yes | Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

Price at time of publish: $299 for a pair

Weight Range: 5 to 50 lb | Weight Configurations: 15 | Dimensions: Not listed | Storage Rack Included: Yes | Warranty: None

Although versatile, the bar of these weights is too long at 17 inches, which can be cumbersome during certain movements. In addition, points were deducted for repeated issues with the storage rack. When moving the dumbbell and its base as a unit, one of the dumbbells slipped out, which poses a significant safety hazard as it can fall on one's foot. Despite the high quality of the dumbbells, the storage base feels too flimsy to be trusted thanks to the light plastic material.

Price at time of publish: $379 for a pair

Weight Range: 5 to 52.5 lb | Weight Configurations: 15 | Dimensions: 17” L x 8” W x 9” H | Storage Rack Included: Yes | Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

The SMRTFT Nüobell weights are easy to adjust, with just one hand needed to turn the handle to your desired weight (up to 80 pounds; buyers can also purchase a 50-pound SMRTFT Nüobell if they don’t require as much weight). A satisfying “click” lets you know you’re adjusting correctly, so you won't be surprised when you pick up the weight. The plates' pancake design, which helps them nest together, made for a sleeker, more compact design (and less rattling).

The grip held up to both dry and sweaty hands, though it might be too big for smaller hands to grasp. Furthermore, the storage rack seemed flimsy. During testing, the storage base fell off when lifted up with the dumbbells still attached — a worrisome safety issue.

Price at time of publish: $745 for a pair

Weight Range: 5 to 80 lb | Weight Configurations: 16 | Dimensions: 17” L x 7.5” W x 7.5” H | Storage Rack Included: Yes | Warranty: 2-year warranty

The MX55 Rapid Change Adjustable Dumbbells stand out for the ability to select one's preferred grip when ordering. Option one features a polymer handle (i.e., plastic) that offers a comfortable, secure grip that's roughly 36mm in circumference. This is the option we tested, and it was very easy to grip with both wet and dry hands and felt comfortable to hold. Option two features a metal knurled handle that feels professional and offers a slimmer circumference of 28.5mm, though the metal might rough up one's hands a bit.

Similar to the Bowflex SelectTech 552 dumbbells, the MX55 Rapid Change bells adjust via a dial for each end of each dumbbell (thus, four total). Remember that one must press down on the dial to "release" the dumbbell from the base, which takes a bit longer than the Bowflex. Be aware that the dial can only turn in one direction, so one might need to turn the dial completely around to adjust down. While one can adjust the weight down outside of the cradle, we wouldn’t recommend it, as the plates can easily spill off the ends, leading to potential injury.

The product includes a storage base and an elevated storage rack, which takes up more space but makes it easier to adjust and lift the dumbbells.

Price at time of publish: $399 for a pair

Weight Range: 10 to 55 lb | Weight Configurations: 19 | Dimensions: 16.5” L x 8.125” W x 7.65” H | Storage Rack Included: Yes | Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

The KISS Gold set is the old-school version of the adjustable weight, with the pair requiring users to actually unscrew the spinlock and load or unload weight plates to make an adjustment. These weights are made of alloy steel, making them sturdy. They feature one of the widest weight ranges we tested (second only to the SMRTFT Nüobell, which can go up to 80 pounds), and the price point is the cheapest. However, the mechanics of manually changing weights mean you’ll need more time between sets, and with the extra connector, these weights take up more storage space.

Price at time of publish: $162 for a pair plus the connector

Weight Range: 4.4 to 66 lb | Weight Configurations: 15 | Dimensions: 17.5” L x 12” W x 5” H | Storage Rack Included: No | Warranty: None

To find the best adjustable weights for your home workouts, we took 13 highly rated options to our New York testing lab. Under the supervision of a personal trainer, our testers spent 8 hours thoroughly testing each pair. We unboxed and assembled the weights ourselves, then we performed 5 to 10 reps each of five common dumbbell exercises: bent-over rows, front squats, biceps curls, forward lunges, and chest presses. After performing these tests with dry hands, we sprayed water on our hands to mimic sweat and repeated the moves. At the end of testing, we collected detailed insights on set-up, adjustability, grip, durability, ease of us, and overall value, compiling these findings to choose our superlatives for best adjustable dumbbells. 

Fitness coach Jamie Song recommends purchasing adjustable weights with smaller increments to give you as much variety as possible. “Five-pound increments are going to be better than 10 pounds, but 2.5 pounds would be better than 5 pounds,” she explains.

“It’s good to invest some money into them so they’re made with quality materials and sturdy construction,” advises Song. “[That way] they last you years and years instead of falling apart when you drop it on the floor a few times. [Adjustable dumbbells are] pretty heavy and bulky, so might as well spend a little money.” 

Along the same line, you may want to look for something that gives you a good length of warranty. Sometimes, parts just break, and our testing revealed a few issues with the storage bases specifically of certain adjustable dumbbells. Prioritizing a warranty could save you a lot of money down the road.

Convenience has a price, and for adjustable dumbbells, that price is often the length and width of the weights. “With one client [I train], the size of the dumbbell was just unnecessarily bulky,” says Song. “So if they were doing certain exercises, they had to adjust their form because the dumbbell was just getting in the way of performing the exercise — which defeats the whole purpose.” Personal trainer Hallie Murphy recommends exercising caution when performing front-loaded exercises or exercises that target the shoulders (like front squats or squat to press) while using adjustable weights. 

Tonya Russell is a Shape contributor who regularly writes about health and wellness. She has been writing about women’s wellness topics for six years, and she is a triathlete, marathoner, and avid fitness enthusiast. She is a believer in hill sprints and swimming for improving your running. In writing this article, she recruited experts who are familiar with adjustable weights and analyzed detailed reviews that talked about the material, safety, and versatility.