Cheapest Dumbbells for Your Home Gym

Cheapest Dumbbells for Your Home Gym — real-world options, costs, and trade-offs

Tommy walks through everything he actually used in his garage gym over six months: adjustable handles (good and bad), used fixed dumbbells, and what he’s eyeing next. If you’re trying to keep costs down and footprint small, here’s the distilled playbook.

Key takeaways

  • New fixed dumbbells are pricey and eat space. If you want a rack of hex dumbbells, buy used locally.

  • Adjustable handles can be cheap and compact, but most are annoying to change mid-workout and some get comically long.

  • Best budget win Tommy tried: inexpensive plastic handles that lock plates solidly (with optional adapters to use your 2" Olympic plates).

  • If you want a one-and-done adjustable set that feels like real dumbbells and stores small, you’re looking at ~$1,000.

What Tommy tried (pros, cons, and who they’re for)

Gungnir 1" adjustable handles (SlideLock style)

  • Pros: Ridiculously cool mechanism; quick plate swaps; compact handle.

  • Cons: Requires 1" standard plates; cheap 1" plates vary in thickness and bore, causing slop, scraping, and a sketchy feel; mismatch with groove spacing.

  • Verdict: Fun gadget, but the plate variability killed confidence.

Kenuni plastic 1" handles (threaded bolt collars)

  • Price Tommy paid: about $40–45 shipped (pair).

  • Pros: Rock-solid clamp; zero rattle; uses 1" plates; optional adapters let you load 2" Olympic plates; feels like a mini pro-style setup.

  • Cons: You can’t drop them; still slow to change weights; long overall length when lightly loaded can be awkward overhead.

  • Verdict: Best ultra-budget pick if you can be gentle and don’t mind manual changes.

Strength Co MB12 mini dumbbell (2" Olympic)

  • Pros: Great for one heavy dumbbell (goblet squats, rows) while leaving another pair set up; stout with real collars; looks clean.

  • Cons: Not a full replacement for a set; with two handles you now need four collars; still stops/starts to swap plates.

  • Verdict: Nice complement piece, not a holistic solution.

Used hex dumbbells (10–50 lb sets)

  • Pros: Always on Marketplace; often $300–$500 with a rack; no fiddling mid-workout; classic feel.

  • Cons: Big footprint; patience required to find a decent lot; don’t buy new unless you have to.

  • Verdict: If you’ve got space and can wait for a deal, this beats living in plate-swap purgatory.

Higher-end adjustable sets Tommy’s considering

  • REP Pepin: Starts around $900, add a stand and you’re near $1,000. Solves the length, speed, and feel issues better than budget handles.

  • Other options: PowerBlocks and Bowflex adjustables are proven; REP QuickDraw goes to ~60 lb at a lower price, but limited top-end weight and still not a full “dumbbell feel” for some lifters.

Buyer cheat sheet

  • Under $100 (tight budget, tiny space)

    • Kenuni-style plastic 1" handles + cheap 1" plates. Add 2" adapters if you already own Olympic plates.

    • Best for curls, lateral raises, light accessories. Don’t drop them.

  • $300–$600 (value hunter, some space)

    • Stalk Marketplace for a used 10–50 lb hex set with a rack. Expect $300–$500 depending on your area.

    • Great for supersets and quick changes without reloading.

  • ~$1,000 (premium adjustable, minimal footprint)

    • REP Pepin or similar high-end adjustable system. Faster changes, better ergonomics, and less “sword-length” handles.

    • Good if you want to “solve dumbbells forever” without dedicating a wall.

Practical tips Tommy learned

  • Avoid buying new cheap hex dumbbells; used deals are everywhere.

  • If you must go 1" standard, expect plate variance. That’s what caused the Gungnir headache.

  • Adjustable handles multiply the number of collars you own. Plan on four if you buy two handles.

  • Long handles feel the worst on overhead moves. Favor compact designs if presses are a priority.

Quick comparisons

OptionUpfront costSpaceChange speedDrop-tolerantFeels like fixed DBGungnir 1" handle$$SmallFastNoYes (when plates fit)Kenuni plastic 1"$SmallSlowNoYesMB12 mini (2")$$SmallMediumYes (with collars)YesUsed hex set$$–$$$LargeInstantYesYesREP Pepin$$$SmallFastLimitedYes

Who should do what

  • Apartment and budget lifters: Kenuni + 1" plates or adapters.

  • Set-and-forget convenience: Used hex set if you’ve got the space.

  • Minimalist, long-term solution: Save for a Pepin-style premium adjustable.

Tommy DeFeaComment