These are the best adjustable dumbbells, according to personal trainers and strength coaches

Weight range: 5 to 52.5 lbs. per adjustable dumbbell | Individual or set: Set | Number of dumbbell sets replaced: 15 | Adjustment method: Dial

Our top choice for adjustable dumbbells is the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells. They offer a smooth weight adjustment range from 5 to 52.5 pounds, easily controlled by turning the dials at each end.

What sets them apart is that you can adjust them in increments of 2.5 pounds for the first 25 pounds, providing more precise progressions in your training. Most other brands begin with larger 5-pound increments. This feature makes them ideal for gradual strength-building and fine-tuning your workouts.

"Bowflex generally makes pretty high-quality equipment across the board," says Domenic Angelino, CPT, of the International Personal Trainer Academy. He goes on to emphasize that the ability to make micro-adjustments of 2.5 pounds is essential "because being able to make minor adjustments allows you to better tailor the weight of your dumbbells to your current level of fitness."

He also likes that the brand offers a wide range of weights. "It's better to purchase an adjustable dumbbell with a wide range of weight options because it will last you longer," he says. As you get stronger, you'll need to increase the weight, which means you could outgrow your dumbbells if the weight range isn't wide enough. This makes the Bowflex SelectTech 552 version a responsible investment that fits most people's needs.

A disadvantage is that the length of the dumbbell and bar itself remains the same regardless of the weight you choose, so if you prefer more compact equipment at lighter weight ranges, these might feel a bit unwieldy or awkward. 

Weight range: 10 to 55 lbs. per adjustable dumbbell | Individual or set: Set | Number of dumbbell sets replaced: 15 |Adjustment method: Pin

The NordicTrack Select-a-Weight Dumbbells scored high for the weight selection system, which was our favorite usability feature. The pin adjustment is safe and easy to use, allowing you to adjust the weight in 2.5- or 5-pound increments ... although the 2.5-pound adjustments aren't available between every 5-pound marker. There are 15 total weight options including 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 22.5, 25, 30, 32.5, 35, 40, 42.5, 45, 50, 52.5 and 55 pound dumbbells. 

The set comes with custom-molded storage trays featuring clear weight labels that are easy to read, even for my aging eyes. This set is also priced in the midrange — less than the Bowflex version, but more than some of our other options (which feature smaller weight ranges), providing excellent functionality without the higher cost.

Jason Kozma, CPT, says that NordicTrack makes a good choice, especially if you're interested in trying the trainer-led strength workouts that the brand makes available through their iFit app.

Just keep in mind that while the weight adjustments are smooth, you may need to change multiple settings to select your desired weight. This might not be an issue if you typically take a few minutes to rest between sets, but if you prefer circuit workouts with little to no rest between exercises or sets, the process could slow you down. It’s also important to store the dumbbells in their trays immediately after use as the dumbbell heads are round (not hexagonal with flat edges) and could roll around or move. 

Weight range: 5 to 25 lbs. per adjustable dumbbell | Individual or set: Set | Number of dumbbell sets replaced: 5 | Adjustment method: Dial

We found the Flybird Adjustable Dumbbells to be the best value — they were more budget-friendly than others and offered plenty of safety features. During lifting, the buckle structure on the weight plates locks the plates so they don't fall off. The safety lock design also ensures the weights can only be adjusted while sitting on the provided tray.

The noncircular shape is also appealing to our experts. Sergii Putsov, CPT, PhD, and head of Sport Science at Torokhtiy Weightlifting, says this is ideal because they won't roll away if you're placing them on the ground between sets, and the design works well for push-ups and floor circuits, thanks to their stability.

Gregor Parella, CPT, CSCS and fitness consultant for Ringside 24, also prefers this brand due to the 5-pound increment adjustments available up to 25 pounds and the fact they come with storage trays.

Of course, it's important to note that these dumbbells top out at 25 pounds, which may not be ideal if you're working on building strength with the goal of lifting heavier weights. The brand offers a 55-lb adjustable dumbbell for roughly $350, but the weight increases at 10-pound increments (15, 25, 35, 45 and 55 pounds), which may not offer the versatility you need, particularly when performing exercises that require less weight. 

Weight range: 5 to 50 lbs. (expandable up to 70 or 90 lbs.) per adjustable dumbbell | Individual or set: Set | Number of dumbbell sets replaced: 15 | Adjustment method: Pin

Yes, the PowerBlock Elite USA 90 Adjustable Dumbbells cost a pretty penny; you would need to consider these to be an investment in a home gym. However, with the 2.5-pound weight increments (5, 7.5, 10, 15, 17.5, 20, 25, 27.5, 30, 35, 37.5, 40, 45, 47.5, 50), purchasing the "stage 1" 50-pound set allows you to effectively replace the equivalent of 825 pounds of free weights. Plus, you can buy expansion kits to increase the weight range of each dumbbell up to 70 or 90 pounds ("stage 2" or "stage 3"), and with the purchase of additional accessories, they can be transformed into a straight barbell or curl bar too. 

Hooking the dumbbells onto the straight bar (which costs an extra $149) was relatively easy. The bar itself is 15 pounds, so with the 50-pound set we were able to perform exercises like chest press and deadlift in a range of 25 to 115 pounds — not too shabby. Had we had the 90-pound expansion set, it would have allowed us to lift up to 195 pounds total. For anyone looking for one piece of equipment to do it all, this saves a ton of home space, as purchasing separate Olympic barbells and plate weights isn't necessary.

We like the fact that the weights are color-coded, but until we had used the dumbbells multiple times and memorized the colors of the weights we used most frequently, it was a little tricky to switch between the options.

Finally, the block shape is good for balance and preventing the weights from rolling away on a concrete floor. However, the shape itself and the unique plate-weight system look quite intimidating. They may not be the right fit for a beginner or light strength trainer looking for an option that mimics the look of traditional dumbbells. But for lifters looking for versatility, top quality and space-saving, they could be an appealing choice.

Weight range: 15 to 55 lbs. per adjustable dumbbell | Individual or set: Set | Number of dumbbell sets replaced: 5 | Adjustment method: Dial

For anyone who wants a decent range of weights on a limited budget, the Yes4All version is a good option. This set ranges from 15 to 55 pounds, with increments at 10 pounds each (15, 25, 35, 45 and 55 pounds). This may not be ideal for those who are new to strength training or who need lighter weights, but for intermediate lifters who are happy knocking out a set of dumbbell curls at 15 pounds, shoulder presses at 25 pounds, chest presses or rows at 35 pounds and lower-body exercises at the higher weight limits, it's a good choice. 

We found this brand easy to adjust, with a simple twist of the handle — just make sure you hear the "click" to ensure the weight is selected correctly. Overall, the dumbbells offer a good value for a lower price considering the range goes up to 55 pounds but without as much flexibility in weight increment as some of our other choices. 

Weight range: 5 to 50 lbs. per adjustable dumbbell | Individual or set: Set | Number of dumbbell sets replaced: 10 | Adjustment method: Dial

What we really like about the ETHOS 50-pound selectable dumbbell is that it seems to fill in a weight/price gap that's missing with some of the other adjustable dumbbells we tested. It offers a wide range of weights — from 5 to 50 pounds — at a price point that's more reasonable than some of the other options that offer the same range. 

While most of the higher-priced models offer smaller incremental increases in weight of 2.5 pounds, providing extra versatility in strength training programs, many of the budget models have a much larger increment range of 10 pounds. ETHOS found the middle ground with a solid 5-pound increment increase all the way through. This means that while it doesn't replace 15 sets of dumbbells like some of our other, more expensive choices, it does replace 10 sets, which doubles the 5 sets provided by some of the budget picks. Plus, for most people and situations, a 5-pound increment is a reasonable choice. 

The weight itself is also easy to change with a quick twist of the dial. We did find that it can be a little hard to fit the dumbbells back on the tray in the correct position after use. This isn't too much of an issue at lower weights, as it's easy enough to hold the weight while working to wiggle it back within its "holster," but at heavier weights it can be a bit tricky to keep holding the weight while trying to settle it back in.  

Weight range: 5 to 25 lbs. per adjustable dumbbell | Individual or set: Set | Number of dumbbell sets replaced: 5 | Adjustment method: Dial

The compact, non-intimidating shape of the Lifepro PowerFlow Plus Adjustable Dumbbell Set got top points for price, design and beginner-friendly usability during testing. 

We found the adjustment dial to be one of our favorites. It was intuitive and quick, making changing weights easier than several other brands. For those who don't lift above 25 pounds or who are beginning strength training, this brand felt very comfortable as an entry point to adjustable dumbbells.

Because of their small shape and compact design, they can easily be stored in a closet or next to the television to entice you to work out — at just 14 inches long and 8 inches wide, they're the most compact option (other than the super-lightweight Stakt Weights) on this list. The blue color and shiny black alloy steel make for an aesthetically pleasing set too — we wouldn't find them an eye-sore to have sitting out in a room.

That said, they are smaller than most of the sets we tested. If you have larger hands, they might not feel comfortable. The weights also are limited to 25 pounds (increasing from 5 to 25 in 5-pound increments). If you think you'll need a heavier challenge as your strength improves, the LifePro set might not be the best investment.

Weight range: 2 to 6 lbs. per adjustable dumbbell | Individual or set: Set | Number of dumbbell sets replaced: 3 |Adjustment method: Screw

You won't break any weight-lifting records with the Stakt Weights, but if you're looking for a lightweight set of adjustable dumbbells to use during barre, Pilates or power yoga classes, these will do the trick. Each dumbbell (which is shaped just like a bar with two screw-off ends) maxes out at 6 pounds but drops to 2 pounds when you take the ends off. 

They're ideal for workouts that focus on light resistance, like barre, Pilates and power yoga but also come in handy if you're a true beginner who's just starting to dabble in strength training and don't want to mess with anything larger or heavier. I actually found they were easy to throw in the bottom of my kids' jogging stroller so I could take them with me to the park. At just 12 pounds total (for both weights), they weren't overly cumbersome to lug around and made it possible for me to do some weighted core work while my kids played. 

They're extra compact, which is great for storage, but I did find that the ends could come loose on their own. I never had an end fall off while I was lifting, but it's definitely worth checking between exercises or sets — you wouldn't want to take a 2-pound weight to the foot if one fell while doing biceps curls. 

The price itself is also a bit steep — it's typical to pay anywhere from $2 to $4 per pound of weight when purchasing free weights. If you were buying three sets of dumbbells at 2, 4 and 6 pounds, that would be a total of 24 pounds. The expected cost would range from about $48 to $96. This adjustable set costs $98, placing it just outside of the upper end of the range. Where most adjustable dumbbells offer a cost savings over purchasing the equivalent in individual dumbbells, these come out a bit high ... though not so high that it seems unreasonable.