Shortlist · Fitness · 6 models
Best adjustable dumbbells: six sets from a 12 kg beginner pair to the Bowflex 552i, on range, steps and length
An adjustable dumbbell replaces a rack you have no room for. The figures that matter are the weight range, how many settings sit inside it and how far apart they are, how the weight is changed, how long the dumbbell is at its lightest setting, and whether the listing is one dumbbell or two. Six sets from Bowflex and five smaller makers, from a 12 kg beginner pair to a 24 kg dial dumbbell.
Quick answer
- 2–24kgOne serious dumbbellBowflex SelectTech 552i: 2 to 24 kg in 15 dial settings, 43 cm, 24.8 kg loaded, the maker's figures in a manual.
- to 24kgA 24 kg pair for lessHakeno adjustable dumbbells, 2 by 24 kg: the pair in one box.
- 4–20kgShort, no baseEisenlink 4 to 20 kg: square steel plates, 2 kg steps, 26.5 cm long.
- to 12.5kgBeginner pair, small stepsYagud 12.5 kg pair: eleven twist settings, docks included.
- 2–12kgLight pair with traysEnterSports 2 to 12 kg pair: five settings by turning the handle.
- 2.5–12.5kgQuiet pair for a flatLifePro PowerFlow Plus: 2.5 to 12.5 kg, encased plates that do not roll.
The six at a glance
| Model | Weight range | Settings | Adjustment | Length | Sold as | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowflex SelectTech 552i (single, 2–24 kg)for one serious dumbbell with 15 settings | 2–24 kg | 15 (1 kg steps to 5, then 2–3 kg) | Dial at each end | 43 cm | Single dumbbell | View listing |
| Hakeno Adjustable Dumbbells 2 × 24 kg (pair)for a 24 kg pair at a lower price | to 24 kg† | 15† | Rotate the handle, double lock† | 43 cm† | Pair | View listing |
| Eisenlink Adjustable Dumbbell 4–20 kg (single)for a short dumbbell with no base | 4–20 kg† | 9, in 2 kg steps† | Twist handle, plates snap together† | 26.5 cm† | Single dumbbell | View listing |
| Yagud Adjustable Dumbbells 12.5 kg (pair)for a beginner pair with small steps | to 12.5 kg† | 11† | Twist the handle† | 40 cm† | Pair | View listing |
| EnterSports Adjustable Dumbbells 2–12 kg (pair)for a light pair with trays | 2–12 kg† | 5: 2, 4.5, 7, 9.5, 12 kg† | Turn the handle† | 36 cm† | Pair | View listing |
| LifePro PowerFlow Plus Adjustable Dumbbells (pair)for a quiet pair in a flat | 2.5–12.5 kg† | 5† | Slide selector† | 35 cm† | Pair | View listing |
Scroll sideways to see every column
† Figure from a retailer listing or otherwise awaiting confirmation from the manufacturer; other figures come from manufacturer manuals and leaflets.
Bowflex publishes its figures and a manual; every other set here has a listing and nothing else, and the table flags those cells. The Yagud and LifePro listings do not make clear whether their weight figure is one dumbbell or the pair, so those are flagged too.
What an adjustable dumbbell gives up, and what it does not
A fixed dumbbell is a lump of iron you cannot break. An adjustable one is a handle that picks up a chosen number of plates from a tray, by a dial, a twist or a slider, and leaves the rest behind. It gives up three things: it is the same length at every weight, so a 2 kg setting is as long as a 24; the mechanism does not like being dropped; and the plates are plastic-coated, which is kinder to floors and less kind to the dumbbell. It gives up nothing in the exercise itself. A 20 kg press is a 20 kg press.
So the choice is about the range and the steps you will use, whether you are buying one or two, and whether length matters for what you do.
Bowflex SelectTech 552i, for one serious dumbbell
for one serious dumbbell with 15 settings
Bowflex SelectTech 552i (single, 2–24 kg)
- Weight range
- 2–24 kg
- Settings
- 15 (1 kg steps to 5, then 2–3 kg)
- Adjustment
- Dial at each end
- Length
- 43 cm
- Sold as
- Single dumbbell
Check price on Amazon
The original dial dumbbell: turn the dials at each end to any of 15 settings from 2 to 24 kg (1 kg steps to 5, then 2 to 3 kg) and lift; the unused plates stay in the tray. Bowflex publishes the figures and the manual: 43 by 21.2 by 22.8 centimetres, 24.8 kg at full load, a storage tray included, pairing with the JRNY app. This listing is one dumbbell with a two-year guarantee.
It is 43 centimetres long at every weight, the plastic housing should not be dropped, and a pair is two purchases.
For one dumbbell that will cover everything from 2 kg curls to 24 kg squats for years, it is the one.
Strengths
- Fifteen settings with 1 kg steps at the light end
- Maker's figures published and consistent
- Quieter than plate dumbbells
Limitations
- Sold singly here; a pair is two purchases
- 43 cm long at every weight, awkward for curls at 2 kg
- Plastic housing does not like being dropped
Good for
- one serious dumbbell for a flat
- progressive training from 2 to 24 kg
Look elsewhere if
- anyone who will drop weights
Hakeno 2 by 24 kg, for a 24 kg pair for less
for a 24 kg pair at a lower price
Hakeno Adjustable Dumbbells 2 × 24 kg (pair)
- Weight range
- to 24 kg†
- Settings
- 15†
- Adjustment
- Rotate the handle, double lock†
- Length
- 43 cm†
- Sold as
- Pair
Check price on Amazon
A pair of adjustable dumbbells to 24 kg each in one box, at a fraction of two Bowflexes. Its figures are the listing’s, as the maker has no site to check.
The trade is the mechanism and the warranty: a no-name dial against Bowflex’s.
For a pair that reaches 24 kg at the lowest price, it is the budget route.
Strengths
- Two 24 kg dumbbells in one box
- Fifteen settings, like the Bowflex
- Listing offers three years
Limitations
- No maker page; listing facts only
- 43 cm long at every weight
- Coated plates and a plastic handle
Good for
- a heavy pair on a budget
Look elsewhere if
- anyone who wants a maker's figure to check
Eisenlink 4 to 20 kg, for a short dumbbell with no base
for a short dumbbell with no base
Eisenlink Adjustable Dumbbell 4–20 kg (single)
- Weight range
- 4–20 kg†
- Settings
- 9, in 2 kg steps†
- Adjustment
- Twist handle, plates snap together†
- Length
- 26.5 cm†
- Sold as
- Single dumbbell
Check price on Amazon
Square steel plates that snap together, so the dumbbell stands on the floor without a tray and is only 26.5 centimetres long: this variant runs from 4 to 20 kg in 2 kg steps, nine settings, sold singly. Larger variants to 36 kg are on the same listing.
The steps are 2 kg with no 1 kg option, and there is no maker page.
For presses and curls where a 43 cm dumbbell gets in the way, it is the one.
Strengths
- Short: 26.5 cm, not 43
- No base, stands anywhere
- Steel plates, not plastic housings
Limitations
- 2 kg steps, no 1 kg
- Single dumbbell
- No maker page
Good for
- curls and presses where a short dumbbell matters
Look elsewhere if
- someone who wants 1 kg steps
Yagud 12.5 kg pair, for a beginner pair with small steps
for a beginner pair with small steps
Yagud Adjustable Dumbbells 12.5 kg (pair)
- Weight range
- to 12.5 kg†
- Settings
- 11†
- Adjustment
- Twist the handle†
- Length
- 40 cm†
- Sold as
- Pair
Check price on Amazon
Eleven settings by twisting the handle, up to 12.5 kg per dumbbell in this variant, sold as a pair with storage docks; 18 and 24 kg variants exist. Eleven steps over 12.5 kg means small jumps, which is what a beginner’s shoulders need.
Forty centimetres long at every setting, and the listing’s weight field is ambiguous.
For a first pair where the jumps between settings matter, it is the one.
Strengths
- Eleven settings, fine steps
- Pair with docks
Limitations
- Listing does not make clear what the 12.5 kg figure refers to
- 40 cm long at every weight
- No maker page
Good for
- a beginner pair with small jumps
Look elsewhere if
- heavier lifting
EnterSports 2 to 12 kg pair, for a light pair with trays
for a light pair with trays
EnterSports Adjustable Dumbbells 2–12 kg (pair)
- Weight range
- 2–12 kg†
- Settings
- 5: 2, 4.5, 7, 9.5, 12 kg†
- Adjustment
- Turn the handle†
- Length
- 36 cm†
- Sold as
- Pair
Check price on Amazon
A pair from 2 to 12 kg each in five settings (2, 4.5, 7, 9.5 and 12 kg) by turning the handle, 36 centimetres long, 24 kg for the pair, with trays; 18 and 27 kg variants are on the same listing.
The steps are 2.5 kg apart and 12 kg is the ceiling.
For arms and shoulders at a low price, it does the job.
Strengths
- A pair in one purchase
- Five steps covering the light range most people use
Limitations
- Big jumps of 2.5 kg between settings
- 12 kg is the ceiling of this variant
- No maker page
Good for
- a beginner pair for upper body work
Look elsewhere if
- squats, rows or anyone past 12 kg
LifePro PowerFlow Plus, for a quiet pair in a flat
for a quiet pair in a flat
LifePro PowerFlow Plus Adjustable Dumbbells (pair)
- Weight range
- 2.5–12.5 kg†
- Settings
- 5†
- Adjustment
- Slide selector†
- Length
- 35 cm†
- Sold as
- Pair
Check price on Amazon
Five settings from 2.5 to 12.5 kg by a slide selector, with the plates encased so nothing clatters or rolls, 35 centimetres long, sold as a pair.
Five steps 2.5 kg apart, a 12.5 kg ceiling, and the listing’s weight is unclear.
For a flat with a neighbour below and a beginner above, it is the quiet pair.
Strengths
- Encased plates: no clatter, no rolling
- Pair in one purchase
Limitations
- Five steps, 2.5 kg apart
- 12.5 kg ceiling
- No maker page
Good for
- a quiet beginner pair for a flat
Look elsewhere if
- anyone who will outgrow 12.5 kg
How to choose
- One or two. Single: Bowflex, Eisenlink. Pair: Hakeno, Yagud, EnterSports, LifePro.
- Ceiling. 24 kg: Bowflex, Hakeno. 20: Eisenlink. 12 to 12.5: the rest.
- Steps. 15: Bowflex. 11: Yagud. 9: Eisenlink. 5: EnterSports, LifePro.
- Length. 26.5 cm: Eisenlink. 35 to 36: LifePro, EnterSports. 40 to 43: Yagud, Bowflex.
- Maker’s figures. Bowflex only.
Who should buy fixed dumbbells instead
If you have a garage wall and will train for years, a rack of fixed rubber hex dumbbells in 2 kg steps is indestructible, droppable and faster to switch between in a superset. Adjustable dumbbells are for the home with no wall to give.
Which one, by situation
- One for everything, for years: Bowflex SelectTech 552i.
- A heavy pair on a budget: Hakeno 2 by 24 kg.
- Short and compact: Eisenlink 4 to 20 kg.
- Beginner pair, fine steps: Yagud 12.5 kg pair.
- Cheapest light pair: EnterSports 2 to 12 kg.
- Quietest: LifePro PowerFlow Plus.
Sources
Facts checked 23 October 2026
- Bowflex UK — SelectTech 552i single dumbbell page and BD552i owner's manual — Manufacturer documentation, checked 23 October 2026
- Amazon listing (Bowflex) — Retailer listing, checked 23 October 2026
- Amazon listing (HAKENO) — Retailer listing, checked 23 October 2026
- Amazon listing (Eisenlink) — Retailer listing, checked 23 October 2026
- Amazon listing (Yagud) — Retailer listing, checked 23 October 2026
- Amazon listing (EnterSports) — Retailer listing, checked 23 October 2026
- Amazon listing (Lifepro) — Retailer listing, checked 23 October 2026
One dumbbell or two?
Read the listing twice. The Bowflex 552i and the Eisenlink here are sold singly; the Hakeno, EnterSports, Yagud and LifePro are pairs. Most exercises want two; a single heavy dumbbell does goblet squats, rows and carries, and many people start with one Bowflex and buy the second later.
How heavy do I need?
For a beginner doing presses, rows and squats, 12 kg per hand runs out in three to six months and 24 kg lasts years; a 20 kg goblet squat is a real exercise. The 12 to 12.5 kg pairs here are for arms and shoulders; the Bowflex, Hakeno and Eisenlink are for the whole body.
What are the steps and why do they matter?
The settings between the lightest and heaviest. Bowflex's 15 steps give 1 kg jumps at the light end; the EnterSports and LifePro have five steps 2.5 kg apart, which is a big jump when you are pressing 7 kg. More steps means you progress every week instead of every month.
Why does length matter?
A dial dumbbell is the same length at 2 kg as at 24, because the plates stay on the tray and the handle spans them all. The Bowflex is 43 cm long and the Yagud 40, which is awkward for curls and for bringing two together over your chest. The Eisenlink's square plates make it 26.5 cm and genuinely short.
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