Best Adjustable Dumbbells 2026
WorkoutHealthy is an authorized PowerBlock dealer. Every PowerBlock price, spec, and warranty term below comes from our own live catalog.
NordicTrack and Bowflex facts come from their own published specs and warranty pages, linked below so you can check current pricing yourself.
The Quick Verdict
The PowerBlock Elite EXP 90 is the best adjustable dumbbell set for most home gyms. It covers 5 to 90 lbs per hand in one compact unit, carries PowerBlock's 5 year warranty on the handle assembly and weight plates, and lands in the same price range as NordicTrack's single 55 lb option while going almost twice as heavy.
Budget lifters should start with the Elite EXP 50. Lifters who already know they will press or row past 90 lbs per hand should buy the Pro 100 EXP outright in the capacity they need, since PowerBlock does not sell a confirmed add-on kit to upgrade a unit after purchase.
Our 3 Picks, Ranked
1. Best Overall: PowerBlock Elite EXP 90
Price: $760 to $840. Weight range: 5 to 90 lbs per hand, adjusted with a selector pin. Cost per pound at max weight: about $8.90.
This is the set we point most home gym buyers to first. It has enough ceiling for years of progressive overload on presses and rows, and it costs about the same today as NordicTrack's 55 lb set while covering 35 more pounds per hand.
Who it's for: Lifters who want one dumbbell set to grow into over several years, in a footprint smaller than a rack of fixed pairs.
Who it's NOT for: Anyone already loading 90 lb dumbbells today. Buy the Pro 100 EXP instead so you are not shopping again in a year.
Shop the PowerBlock Elite EXP 90 →
2. Best Budget Pick: PowerBlock Elite EXP 50
Price: $380 to $420. Weight range: 5 to 50 lbs per hand, adjusted with a selector pin. Cost per pound at max weight: about $8.00.
This is the lowest entry cost into the PowerBlock system and the cheapest per pound pick of the three. It suits beginners, apartment gyms, and anyone whose current lifts top out well under 50 lbs per hand.
Who it's for: New lifters, apartment and small-space setups, and secondary sets for a home gym that already has heavier fixed dumbbells.
Who it's NOT for: Lifters already doing dumbbell presses, rows, or lunges near 50 lbs per hand. You will outgrow this set faster than the price suggests, and there is no confirmed upgrade kit, so you would be buying a second full set.
Shop the PowerBlock Elite EXP 50 →
3. Best for Heavy Lifters: PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP
Price: $500 to $1,200, depending on the capacity you choose. WorkoutHealthy carries it in 40, 60, 80, and 100 lb per hand configurations. Cost per pound at max weight: about $12.00 on the 100 lb config, though the 40 lb config runs closer to $13.50 per pound since more of the price is fixed hardware.
This is the set for lifters who need real weight, not a starter kit. The 100 lb configuration outlifts every other adjustable set in this comparison, including Bowflex's 90 lb ceiling.
Who it's for: Intermediate and advanced lifters doing heavy presses, rows, lunges, or Romanian deadlifts who need a single dumbbell to load past 50 lbs.
Who it's NOT for: Anyone who will not realistically load past 60 or 70 lbs per hand in the next few years. You are paying for capacity you will not use, and the Elite EXP 90 covers that range for less money.
Shop the PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP →
Shipping, Setup, and Warranty Claims: What Actually Happens After You Order
All three PowerBlock sets ship free. Unlike a fixed dumbbell set with a rack, there is no rack to assemble since the selector pin system is built into each dumbbell.
Coverage is 5 years on the handle assembly and weight plates, and 1 year on the selector pin and adder weights, on all three models. As an authorized PowerBlock dealer, WorkoutHealthy handles warranty claims directly rather than routing you to a third party marketplace seller.
Buyers who want a storage rack can add the PowerMax Stand separately. It is not required to use the dumbbells.
Honest Comparison: PowerBlock vs NordicTrack vs Bowflex
We sell PowerBlock and we do not sell NordicTrack or Bowflex. The table below uses our own live pricing for PowerBlock and each competitor's own published specs and warranty pages, linked so you can check today's price yourself.
| Model | Price per pound | Weight range | Expandable later? | Warranty | Dropped-weight durability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PowerBlock Elite EXP 50 | About $8.00 (real price: $380 to $420) | 5 to 50 lbs per hand | No add-on kit. Buy the EXP 90 or Pro 100 EXP instead. | 5 yrs handle and plates, 1 yr selector pin and adders | Selector pin and cradle, fewer moving parts than a rotating dial |
| PowerBlock Elite EXP 90 | About $8.90 (real price: $760 to $840) | 5 to 90 lbs per hand | No add-on kit. Buy the Pro 100 EXP instead. | 5 yrs handle and plates, 1 yr selector pin and adders | Selector pin and cradle, fewer moving parts than a rotating dial |
| PowerBlock Pro 100 EXP | About $12.00 at the 100 lb config (real price: $500 to $1,200) | 5 to 100 lbs per hand | Sold in 4 fixed capacity tiers. No confirmed kit to upgrade a unit you already own; confirm with us before assuming one. | 5 yrs handle and plates, 1 yr selector pin and adders | Selector pin and cradle, fewer moving parts than a rotating dial |
| NordicTrack Select-a-Weight | See current price at NordicTrack | 10 to 55 lbs per hand, jumps of 2.5, 5, and 10 lbs (skips 17.5, 27.5, 37.5, and 47.5 lbs) | No confirmed add-on kit past 55 lbs per hand | 2 yrs handles, 2 yrs plates, 90 days on the adjustment mechanism | Mechanism has plastic parts; our own hands-on review found dropping the weights is not a good idea |
| Bowflex SelectTech 552 | See current price at Bowflex | 5 to 52.5 lbs per hand | Sold as a fixed maximum weight unit. No published path to add capacity later. | 2 yrs on parts, standard | Rotating dial and storage cradle; Bowflex recommends rubber flooring under the cradle to protect the mechanism from a dropped dumbbell |
| Bowflex SelectTech 1090 | See current price at Bowflex | 10 to 90 lbs per hand | Sold as a fixed maximum weight unit. No published path to add capacity later. | 3 yrs on parts, standard | Rotating dial and storage cradle; Bowflex recommends rubber flooring under the cradle to protect the mechanism from a dropped dumbbell |
Neither NordicTrack nor Bowflex publishes independent, measured drop-failure data, and neither do we. The durability column above is a mechanical read of how each system is built, not a lab result, and we've labeled it that way on purpose.
Want the full breakdown on any one matchup? Read our deeper 2026 NordicTrack Adjustable Dumbbell Review or our PowerBlock vs Bowflex comparison, which goes deeper on warranty terms and what breaks first on each brand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best adjustable dumbbells in 2026?
For most home gyms, the PowerBlock Elite EXP 90 is the best overall pick. It covers 5 to 90 lbs per hand in one compact unit with a 5 year warranty on the core parts, for about the same price as NordicTrack's single 55 lb option.
Are PowerBlock dumbbells worth it compared to NordicTrack or Bowflex?
PowerBlock's Elite EXP line goes heavier per dollar and carries a longer standard warranty on the handle and plates than either NordicTrack or Bowflex publishes. NordicTrack tops out at 55 lbs per hand and Bowflex's SelectTech units are sold as fixed maximum weight, so PowerBlock is the better fit if you expect to lift heavier over time.
What happens if you drop adjustable dumbbells?
Any adjustable dumbbell's selector mechanism is the part most at risk from a hard drop, whether it is PowerBlock's selector pin, NordicTrack's spring-loaded pins, or Bowflex's rotating dial. We recommend rubber flooring under any adjustable dumbbell set and treating a drop as a reason to inspect the mechanism before your next set.
Can you add more weight to PowerBlock dumbbells later?
Not with a confirmed add-on kit. PowerBlock's Pro 100 EXP is sold in four separate capacity tiers instead, so buy the capacity you expect to need and confirm with us if you are unsure which tier fits your goals.
How much do adjustable dumbbells cost per pound?
Across our three PowerBlock picks, cost per pound at max weight runs from about $8.00 on the Elite EXP 50 to about $12.00 on the fully loaded Pro 100 EXP. The middle pick, the Elite EXP 90, lands at about $8.90 per pound and is the best per-pound value for most buyers.
Should I buy adjustable or fixed dumbbells?
Adjustable sets like these save floor space and cost less upfront than a full fixed-weight rack. If you are outfitting a facility with multiple lifters at once, our Adjustable vs Fixed Dumbbells: Cost Per Pound Math guide breaks down the exact weight where a fixed rack becomes the better value.
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