Best adjustable dumbbells UK buyers can compare on published specification: the PowerBlock Sport 24 (3 to 24 lb per dumbbell, around £205) suits small spaces and lighter loads, and the Bowflex Results Series 552 (2.3 to 23.9 kg, around £608) suits finer steps and a higher top weight. Prices checked Oct 2026.
For a head-to-head of the two Bowflex sets, see the Bowflex 552 vs 1090i comparison.
The ranking is based on published specification, price and fit for a stated use, not on testing, because the site does not test products.
How do the adjustable sets compare?
On the makers' figures, the Sport 24 is the smaller and cheaper set, and the 552 has more settings and a higher top weight. The Bowflex 1090 is included as a higher-range reference, using bowflex.com figures.
| PowerBlock Sport 24 | Bowflex Results Series 552 | Bowflex Results Series 1090 (bowflex.com) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Range per dumbbell | 3 to 24 lb (about 1.4 to 10.9 kg) | 2.3 to 23.9 kg (5 to 52.5 lb) | 4.5 to 40.8 kg (10 to 90 lb) |
| Settings | 8, in 3 lb steps | 15 | 17, in 5 lb steps |
| How weight is selected | Magnetic selector pin | Quick-adjustment dials | Quick-adjustment dials |
| Size per dumbbell | 10 x 5.5 x 5.5 in (about 25 x 14 x 14 cm) | 43 x 21.2 x 22.8 cm | 44.4 x 24.2 x 25.3 cm |
| Handle | Contoured TPR, 32 mm diameter | Non-slip grip | Knurled grips |
| Stand | Not included | Storage trays listed; stand sold separately | Storage trays listed; stand sold separately |
| Warranty | 5 years limited, residential use only | 2 years, parts only | 3 years, parts only (bowflex.com) |
| Indicative price | around £205 (checked Oct 2026) | around £608 (checked Oct 2026) | around £289 per single dumbbell (checked Oct 2026) |
The 552 column is from the bowflex.com Results Series 552 page. Bowflex's UK site may list a different 552 model, so confirm the model name and range on the retailer page you buy from. Our own pages cover each set in detail: PowerBlock Sport 24 review and Bowflex SelectTech 552 review.
Are adjustable dumbbells worth it for a home gym?
They are worth considering when floor space is limited, because one pair covers several loads. PowerBlock says its Sport 24 replaces 8 pairs of traditional dumbbells and Bowflex says its 552 replaces 15 sets of weights. The saving is space, not money: the sets cost more than a single fixed pair. See adjustable vs fixed-weight dumbbells for the trade-off.
PowerBlock Sport 24: compact and lower priced
PowerBlock lists the Sport 24 at 3 to 24 lb per dumbbell. The block is 10 inches long, the smallest footprint in this comparison. Its top setting is the constraint: the maker states the set does not expand beyond 24 lb per hand and that Sport EXP kits are not compatible. It suits a buyer who wants the lower price of the two and whose loads sit below about 10.9 kg per hand. The maker lists no knurled handle option and no included stand.
PowerBlock says the Sport 24 ships as a pair with two selector pins and two 1.5 lb handles, and describes its welded steel plates as smooth and quiet. Those are maker statements, not findings from use.
Bowflex 552: wider range of settings, higher price
Bowflex lists 15 settings from 2.3 to 23.9 kg per dumbbell and says the pair replaces 15 sets of weights. It reaches a higher top weight than the Sport 24 and offers finer steps at the light end, with 2.5 lb jumps up to 25 lb. Each dumbbell is 43 cm long, a larger object than the PowerBlock block. At around £608 it costs about three times the PowerBlock, so the decision is whether the extra top weight and finer steps justify the difference.
Bowflex notes that individual settings may vary from the stated values because of manufacturing tolerances. It also promotes the optional JRNY app, a separate membership that the dumbbells do not require according to the page.
What if you need a higher weight ceiling?
Neither of the two sets above goes past roughly 24 kg per hand, so a higher-range set is the route. Bowflex's 1090 line is listed at 10 to 90 lb (4.5 to 40.8 kg) per dumbbell on bowflex.com. Its UK 1090i page carries conflicting figures, which the 1090i review sets out. The indicative price for the 1090i in our data, around £289, is for a single dumbbell, so a pair costs more.
What is the difference between dial and pin-selector adjustable dumbbells?
The Bowflex 552 uses quick-adjustment dials, while the PowerBlock Sport 24 uses a magnetic selector pin. The maker pages do not compare speed or ease, so any difference there is a matter for your own judgement. The pin design is a block with rails colour-banded to match the handle's weight chart, per PowerBlock. The dial design has a curved dumbbell shape with tapered plates, per Bowflex.
Bowflex's UK 1090i page describes the weight-change routine for the dial design: seat the dumbbell fully in its base, select the weight, and lift only once the selection is complete. Follow the manual for whichever set you buy.
How much do adjustable dumbbells cost in the UK?
The indicative prices in our data are around £205 for the PowerBlock Sport 24 and around £608 for the Bowflex 552, both checked in October 2026. Prices move, so check the retailer's current price and confirm it covers a pair. For a lower-cost route, see budget dumbbells.
What is the heaviest setting on these sets?
The PowerBlock Sport 24 tops out at 24 lb per dumbbell, about 10.9 kg, and cannot be expanded. The Bowflex 552 tops out at 23.9 kg per dumbbell. The unit differs between the two makers, so convert before comparing.
Do adjustable dumbbells come with a stand?
The PowerBlock Sport 24 does not include one. Bowflex lists storage trays with the 552 and sells its SelectTech dumbbell stand separately, with no price on the page we opened. PowerBlock's page mentions a compact stand without a price or link, so confirm compatibility with the maker before ordering any stand.
Fixed dumbbells as the alternative
The data for this guide also lists a PROIRON rubber hex pair (indicative price around £90, checked Oct 2026) and an Exersci rubber-encased hex pair. No maker page could be opened for either, so no weights, sizes or warranties are stated for them. Reasoning from the design: a fixed pair has no mechanism and no upper setting, but each load needs another pair and more storage.
What to check before buying
- Top setting against your loads. Both sets stop near 24 lb or 24 kg per dumbbell in the figures above, and the unit differs between them.
- Which model the listing is. Maker pages show model families and variants, so match the name and range.
- Warranty terms. PowerBlock's covers residential use only. Bowflex offers paid Protection+ plans on top of the 2 year parts warranty.
- Delivery and returns. The maker pages describe US shipping offers, so UK terms come from the UK seller. GOV.UK business guidance says online customers can cancel up to 14 days after delivery without giving a reason.
- Floor and bench. See home gym flooring and weight benches.
- Safety. Follow each maker's instructions for changing weights and ask a qualified professional about technique and loading.
Who should skip adjustable sets?
Buyers with ample space and a plan for a few set loads may find fixed pairs simpler. Buyers expecting to lift well beyond 24 kg per hand will outgrow both the Sport 24 and the 552. The NHS adult guidelines recommend strengthening activity on at least 2 days a week, which either type of dumbbell can support.
The choice follows three specification points: budget (the PowerBlock is lower by a wide margin), load range (23.9 kg against about 10.9 kg for the Bowflex), and space (25 cm against 43 cm per dumbbell). None of this reflects how either set feels in use, which the site cannot assess.
