We buy them · We test them · No sponsored rankings
9 sets reviewed · ranked by score · live prices
Adjustable dumbbells replace an entire rack with one pair, which is why they are the first serious purchase most UK home gyms make. They are also easy to get wrong: prices run from £40 to over £1,000, increment sizes vary from 1.5kg to 3.5kg, and none of the selectorised designs can be dropped.
We rank every set below on the same criteria - build quality, value, adjustment speed, weight range, increment granularity, compactness, noise and grip - using manufacturer specs and aggregated owner and specialist reviews. Rankings are ours alone; brands cannot pay to appear here, and live prices come straight from Amazon where a set is sold there.
The short version: the Stealth wins on fine 1.5kg increments, the Nuobell feels the best in hand, the PowerBlock is the most durable, the Bowflex 1090i is the pick for heavy lifters, and the MuscleSquad is the best value way in.
#1Assassin Goods
The 1.5kg increments are a genuine game-changer for progressive overload, and the 41.5kg max is among the highest in the twist-select category. Solid metal construction - but like all selectorised dumbbells, they must not be dropped.
#4NUO Athletics
The smoothest, zero-rattle twist mechanism we've tested - genuinely feels like a fixed dumbbell. But it's the most expensive range on the UK market and locked to 2kg increments.
#5PowerBlock
The tank of adjustable dumbbells. Nothing else comes close on durability, and the expansion system lets you grow from 22.7kg to 40.8kg without replacing the whole set. The boxy shape is divisive, but if you plan ahead and value longevity, this is the smartest long-term investment.
#6Bowflex (Nautilus)
The 1090i is the big brother to the 552i: the same two-second dial, but 4 to 41kg per hand instead of topping out at 24kg. For stronger lifters that extra range is the whole point, and one pair still replaces 17 sets. The catch is physical. It is a long, bulky dumbbell with plastic plates you must never drop, and it costs more. For the right lifter, it is the best value way to own heavy adjustables.
#7Bowflex (Nautilus)
The world's best-known adjustable dumbbell, and the easiest to live with: two dials, a two-second weight change, and 2 to 24kg in one 43cm unit. The catch is the plastic plates and tray, which you must never drop, and increments that coarsen to 3kg jumps near the top. Brilliant for most home gyms, just not the most precise or the most durable.
#11MuscleSquad
The best value adjustable dumbbell range in the UK. Four models from £65 to £450 mean there's an entry point for everyone, and the 32.5kg model hits the sweet spot of price, weight range, and compactness.
#13NordicTrack
NordicTrack's Select-A-Weight is a competent dial-adjust pair, 5 to 25kg, with a twist: Bluetooth and iFIT, so classes on the app can set your weight and log your sets. The hardware is fine rather than exceptional, the increments are a coarse 2.3kg, and the real value depends on whether you will use (and pay for) iFIT. For a connected home gym it makes sense; as plain dumbbells it is dear.
#15BrainGain
BrainGain has significantly expanded their range and now offers genuine competition to MuscleSquad with their 40kg 16-in-1 (consistent 2.5kg increments). The 24kg model is one of the cheapest selectorised pairs in the UK. The confusing lineup of similar-sounding models with different increment patterns is the main drawback - make sure you're buying the right one.
#21Opti (Argos)
The Opti vinyl set is the sub-£50 Argos spinlock option, and it is exactly what it looks like: a pair of bars with cement-filled vinyl plates and screw collars. For a light beginner, rehab, or an occasional-use home, it does a job for very little money. But the 20kg is spread across the whole set (so only around 8 to 9kg per hand), the plates are bulky and the collars work loose, so most people outgrow it quickly. Spend a little more on cast iron.
For most people, yes. One pair replaces up to 26 pairs of fixed dumbbells and a rack, which saves serious money and floor space. The trade-off is that selectorised designs cannot be dropped and weight changes take a few seconds between sets.
The cheapest spinlock and vinyl sets start around £40. Mid-range selectorised sets with proper mechanisms (MuscleSquad, BrainGain) run £145 to £450. Premium sets (Stealth, PowerBlock, Nuobell) run £449 to £1,099. The mid-range is the sweet spot for most lifters. For traditional cast iron spinlock sets, see our cast iron picks.
Smaller is better for progressive overload, especially on isolation exercises like lateral raises and curls. A 2.5kg jump can be a 25% increase at lighter weights. The Stealth's 1.5kg increments are the finest in the UK market; the PowerBlock gets to roughly 1.1kg with adder weights.
No. Every selectorised adjustable dumbbell we have tested can be damaged by impact, and dropping voids the warranty. If you train movements where bailing is likely, buy fixed rubber hex dumbbells instead.
