Fitness Tips

Best Place to Buy Dumbbells & Weight Sets

So, you’ve decided to bite the bullet and set up a home gym but now you are stuck trying to find the best place to buy dumbbells and weight sets.

A place that will give you the best deal for the best price and one that will give you a warranty so you can return them if there is a problem…. like (if you don’t like them).

A home gym is not only going to save you a bunch of money but there’s also no better place than home to pump them guns.

You save time otherwise spent commuting in bottleneck traffic, wasting gas.

You are less likely to be distracted by the grunters, screamers, and Instagram fanatics in the gym.

Oh, you yourself are less likely to lollygag in front of the mirror with the phone in hand. It’s a win-win.

But, even for a basic home gym setup, you need dumbbells and weight sets (free weights) rather than fancy machines.

Don’t get me wrong here, some of the full-body workout machines on the market are worth every single penny. I have tried some like the Tytax home gym, the Marcy Pro 988 and the 990, as well as leg press machines and shoulder press machines, too.

There’s no replacing the perks that you can get with these machines, but if you’re looking for a simple setup, say for a low-ceiling basement gym, you might not have the need or budget for the high-end machines.

Therein lies one of the biggest challenges faced by fitness buffs.

what is the best place to buy dumbbells

Where do you buy your dumbbells and weight sets from? Where is the best place?

Do you buy them online?

Do you walk into a brick-and-mortar fitness store to get better quality even though you know that in-store dumbbells are most definitely going to cost you more?

Can you buy a used weight set or do they come coated with layers of grime, sweat, and bacteria? Eww!

Don’t sweat!

Today we will decode the mysteries that surround dumbbell shopping.

By the time you finish reading this, you’ll be armed with enough information to grab the best dumbbells and weight sets for your home at the best prices.

We’ve been doing this long enough that we know the best places with the best prices.

What are the Best Places to Buy Dumbbells & Weight Sets?

Online retail outlets, especially big reputed brands are going to be the best places to buy your dumbbells online.

Places Like:

The prices are typically lower as compared to brick-and-mortar stores.

With return policies and buyer protection, there is almost zero chance of the weights not being accurate.

best places to buy dumbbells

In fact, most manufacturers these days offer a guarantee that the weights are accurate to 2% of the stamped weight on the dumbbell.

Don’t let fearmongering sway you into passing a great deal by.

The Best Online Places to Buy Dumbbells and Weight Sets From

Below are the best online places to buy your weights from. Online is the way to go if you want to get the best weights at the best prices.

Amazon – Best Prices

You can check out amazon’s dumbbells collection by clicking here

Apart from having an ensemble collection of dumbbells and weights to choose from, you also get free or heavily discounted shipping on Amazon.

If you have a Prime membership, you get 2-day shipping which is phenomenal. Amazon-fulfilled shipments are packed to perfection and delivered at your doorstep.

Can’t ask for more.

By the way, if you are looking to get a better deal than the price that’s being offered, sign up for price drop alerts.

Every now and then, Amazon runs a lightning deal during which the price of a product drops by up to 25%. The bottom line, shopping on a tight budget for your weights. Amazon is the place to be at.

Fitness Factory – Another place for unique weights & dumbbells

Fitness Factory isn’t too far behind either when it comes to cheap dumbbells and weight sets. They have a good assortment of weights that are reasonably priced and of decent quality too.

So, if you don’t find what you are looking for at Amazon, then check out Fitness factory.

Rogue Fitness – Best Quality, Higher price tags, but surprisingly still affordable

If you aren’t too hung up over the price tag and are looking for the best quality dumbbells, weight sets, and beginner-friendly home gyms, then head to Rogue Fitness.

There’s a reason these guys are amongst the top manufacturers of fitness gear in the United States. The quality of their products is unparalleled and you will find weights in all sizes, shapes, and configurations to suit your needs.

The pricing may be a tad higher. But the quality of the gear alone makes it completely worth the extra buck.

Best in-person Place for Dumbbells and Weights

Ever since the online marketplace exploded with options, people have started to rule out offline stores.

The fact is that there are some pretty good options out there if you want to walk into a store and get a hands-on feel of the weights before you buy them.

And while at it, be sure to factor in the weight of the bar, if you are to try the weights when loaded on a bar, do note that the bar’s weight counts too.

Thankfully, that doesn’t has to send you plucking the hair off your head, I have previously shared different bar weights including; the EZ bar weight, the trap bar weight, the deadlift bar weight, the bench press bar weight, as well as the smith machine bar weight.

Walmart

Walmart is not a name that one associate with fitness gear.

But walk into their fitness equipment section and you’re in for a surprise.

Not only do they have a wide range of weights and dumbbells, they also offer some amazing deals from time to time. Almost on par with Amazon, if not close to it. Hate driving down to the store?

Check out Walmart Online for some great deals. We just casually browsed through it and found at least 10 items priced under $50.

Dicks Sporting Goods

Dicks is one of the oldest fitness gear retailers that offer a large number of options in weights and dumbbells.

The best part though is that they offer the best price guarantee.

This means that if you find one of the dumbbells available on their site for a lower price elsewhere, like say, on Amazon, they will match the price.

If you have a Dicks Sporting Goods store in the neighborhood, we highly recommend that you check them out.

Their website has daily sales, markdowns, and flash sales too by the way. We just found a 50% off flash sale on selected items as we write this.

Target

Target is more popular for its wide range of fitness apparel than for its equipment. But they have a pretty large assortment of weights on offer.

Subscribe for their RedCard and you can get 5% back on any purchase that you make. Their Neoprene hand weights are cheaper than what you’ll find on any other website.

By the way, all three of these outlets also have online shopping portals.

So you can select a weight set or a dumbbell on one of their outlets and then buy it online to have it delivered at your doorstep.

Why are these the Best Places to Buy Dumbbells & Weight Sets?                   

There are many reasons why these stores are your best bet while looking for dumbbells and weights online.

Trustworthy

Be it Amazon or Walmart or Dicks, these guys have been around for years and millions of people use these sites everyday with absolutely no problems at all. It’s always better to buy from a place you trust with deliveries and customer service.

Reviews

You can read hundreds of customer reviews before deciding on which product to buy.

Discounts

Be it flash sales or loyalty discounts for returning customers, you can find some great deals on these sites if you time your purchase right.

Shipping

With an Amazon Prime membership, you can get doorstep delivery in just two days. Most of the other sites mentioned here also have fast delivery times.

Large Assortments of Weights

When you shop on these sites, you have a much larger assortment of weights and dumbbells to choose from. You are not limited by the brands you can buy or even by your budget. You can surely find one that fits your requirements.

What are the Best Dumbbells to Buy from Amazon?

All said and done, here are the best options that we found on Amazon.

AmazonBasics Rubber Dumbbell Weight – Best Dumbbells

where to buy dumbbells

With a solid, cast iron core encased in durable rubber, this dumbbell set from Amazon Basics is a commercial-grade product that’s perfect for home use.

It will not bend, warp or break even with everyday use. Also, an accidental slip or two wont damage your floor as much as an iron surface would. (Don’t try this at home)

The Hexagon shape of the dumbbell prevents accidental rollovers. If you like to use dumbbells for pushups or weighted burpees, these are just what you need.

You get a great grip at all times thanks to the contoured and textured handle. Sweaty palms? This has you covered.

It is available in weights ranging from a lightweight 10 lbs. to a reasonable 50 lbs.

Perfect for both warmups as well as heavier sets.

This is a set of 2 dumbbells by the way.

Overall, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better dumbbell set at this price point. Go for it.

CAP Barbell Dumbbell set with rack – Best Weight Set

best online dumbbell source

If you are looking for an entire set of weights as opposed to a pair of dumbbells, there’s no better pick than this one from CAP.

It includes pairs of dumbbells ranging from 5 to 25 pounds in 5 pound increments. The entire set ships with an A-Frame stand that makes it easy to store it. It also makes it so easy to grab the right one, midway through the exercise.

The dumbbells are hexagonal ones made from ASTM A48 Class 20 grey iron with a rubber coating.

The handle is contoured and textured, crafted from 1018 cold-rolled solid steel. The quality is on-par with much higher-priced, commercial-grade dumbbells used in fitness studios.

We also loved the design of the A-frame, which utilizes vertical space to store the dumbbells.

It can easily fit into a corner of the room. Also, the rubber inserts on the storage racks are a thoughtful addition as this prevents both, the dumbbells and the stand from getting scratched.

The set is also available in a white frame stand by the way. If you have the room to spare, you might want to check that one out as well.

What are the best dumbbells to buy at Fitness Factory?

After spending more than an hour analyzing almost every listing on Fitness Factory, these are the best options that we could find.

Best Dumbbells – Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells

best dumbbells to buy at fitness factory

Some athletes and lifters prefer the feel of iron over rubber for their weights. It’s called Pumping Iron after all.

This Hexagonal Dumbbell is crafted from the finest ASTM grade 20 cast iron and can easily sustain the abuse that comes in a heavy footfall gym.

It is a single dumbbell though. Not a pair.

It is available in sizes ranging from just 1 lb. to 100 lbs. in 2 lbs. increments until 10 lbs., and 5 lbs. increments afterward. Perfect for all ages and for all types of workouts.

The hexagonal heads on the dumbbells are cast through two high carbon roll pins which are embedded in them. This ensures that they won’t break no matter how many times they are dropped.

These are then connected by a steel rod with deep knurling for a firm and secure grip.

Just like the other dumbbells that we picked, the hex shape prevents rolling even if you use it for push-ups.

Best Dumbbell set – Cast Iron Dumbbell Set

dumbbells from fitness factory

This set of cast Iron Dumbbells is available in a variety of weight configurations. You can pick one that works best for your home gym.

SDS550 – Features pairs from 5 lbs. to 50 lbs. in 5 lbs. increments

SDS650 is for heavy lifters and features pairs from 55 lbs. to 75 lbs.

SDS900 comes with pairs from 80 lbs. to 100 lbs.

SDS1200 comes with pairs from 5 lbs. to 75 lbs.

SDS2100 is the most comprehensive one that features pairs from 5 lbs. to 100 lbs. If you are looking to set up a full-sized home gym, or even a bodybuilder-style home gym then this is your best bet.

Each set features pairs of the same hexagonal cast iron dumbbells that we like so much. Hard to go wrong with it.

Along with the hexagonal-shaped, cast iron heads and the steel alloy rods that connect them, each dumbbell also features silver markings that make it easy to read.

What are the best dumbbells to buy at Rogue Fitness?

We didn’t have to look too much at Rogue. Everywhere we looked we just saw awesomeness.

Jokes apart, these are our picks from Rogue’s catalog of weights.

Rogue Hex Dumbbells

best dumbbells to buy at rogue fitness

These hexagonal dumbbells from Rogue are used by some of the biggest brands in fitness.

Available in sizes ranging from 2.5 lbs. all the way up to 125 lbs., these are ideal for both home and commercial use.

The dumbbells are available in pairs and feature cast-iron heads encased in durable rubber, connected by chrome-plated handles.

We love rubber-casings. Not only do they protect the iron core from wear and tear, they also don’t create a din if you bang them together.

Another Rogue specialty is that they use size-appropriate handles. Dumbbells up to 10 lbs. have a smaller diameter handle since these are mostly used by kids, teens and light weight lifters.

Anything that weighs more than 10 lbs. has a thicker handle better suited for large hands.

If you get bored too soon with your workouts, you might want to check out the Kettle Gryp, an additional attachment that lets you convert any Rogue dumbbell into a fully functional Kettlebell.

Overall, we couldn’t be more impressed with these Hex Dumbbells from Rogue.

Hex Dumbbell Set

place to buy dumbbells

You can also buy these awesome dumbbells in sets. Three of them to be more precise.

The first one contains 5 lbs. to 50 lbs. in 5 lbs. increments.

The second one contains 55 lbs. to 100 lbs. pairs in 5 lbs. increments.

The last one comes with 105 lbs. to 125 lbs. pairs in 5 lbs. increments.

Looking for a home gym that will be used by different types of athletes? You wanna be able to do simple exercises like underhand dumbbell rows and advanced exercises like dumbbell floor press, seated tricep press, or dumbbell pullovers?

Go for all three.

That allows you to cover all bases and you get better pricing too.

What are the best dumbbells to buy at Walmart?

Walmart offers dumbbells from a range of brands and sellers, just like Amazon. This made it a tad difficult for us to narrow down to just one pair.

We really liked the Vinyl Dumbbells from Golds Gym for example. But in the end, functionality ruled over everything else and we picked this one.

CAP Barbell Coated Hex Dumbbell

best dumbbells to buy from walmart

Firstly, CAP is one of the only brands that offer Dumbbells in smaller weight increments which allows lightweight users as well as teens to pick the right weight for them or if you are in need of smaller weighted equipment for your home gym (for instance, a cramped apartment home gym) these can prove to be a solid choice.

This set for example comes with pairs of dumbbells weighing 3 lbs., 5 lbs., 8 lbs., 10 lbs., 12 lbs., 15 lbs., and then in 5 lbs. increments all the way to 40 lbs.

You can however pick other sets that come with heavier weights if that’s what you are looking for. CAP offers dumbbells up to 120 lbs.

The hexagonal dumbbells feature an ASTM A48 Class 20 cast iron core coated with rubber. The edges of the heads are rounded to allow safe use.

It is enough though to prevent rolling during exercises such as weighted planks and burpees.

The medium-knurled solid 1018 cold rolled steel chrome handle allows you a firm grip irrespective of the size of your hands.

If you aren’t looking for pairs, you can also buy these individually.

What are the best dumbbells to buy at dicks?

Dicks Sporting goods is one of the best places to buy dumbbells, irrespective of whether you are buying a pair or a complete set.

Here’s the one we liked the most from Dicks.

Fitness Gear Neoprene Dumbbell

best weight sets to buy from dicks

Rubber-coated dumbbells have a temporary smell to them that dissipates after a while. It’s not offensive at all. Somewhat like a fresh tire. But some people do find this smell very annoying.

Neoprene helps avoid this. These cast iron hexagonal dumbbells from Fitness Gear feature a colorful neoprene coating with a smooth, curvy finish. Neoprene-covered weights are also the best dumbbells for women.

Not only do these look terrific, it also makes it easy to identify the numbering as it’s printed in a contrasting color against the color of the dumbbell.

Everything else is exactly like the other dumbbells that we’ve picked.

Hexagonal heads that prevent rolling, cast iron core that will last forever.

The only difference that we could find is that the handles are also coated with neoprene. They do have slight knurling though and give you a grip as good as any.

If you are looking to add some color to your home gym, these dumbbells are a great pick.

Almost forgot to mention that these are only available in sizes ranging from 1 lbs. to 20 lbs. though.

So if you are looking to go heavy, you’d have to pick the rubberized ones.

What are the best dumbbells to buy at target?

Target is one of the best places if you are looking for great deals and low prices on weights. We did find some good deals on rubber-coated hex dumbbell sets.

But this was too sweet a price to ignore.

Neoprene Hand Weights – C9 Champion®

best place to buy neoprene hand weights

The C9 Champion weights are top-rated dumbbells currently available in Target’s Clearance sale.

These color-coded dumbbells have a cast-iron core within a neoprene outer shell with a non-slip grip to boot. This makes it ideal for a variety of exercises, right from toning, to warmup sets to HIIT workouts.

The dumbbell heads are hexagonally shaped with a rounded finish which reduces noise and prevents rolling. The bright colors and the contrasting white marking will add a splash of color to an otherwise monotonous gym setup.

The only possible downside that we could find to these is that it’s only available in a handful of sizes.

There are 1,2,3,5,6,8,10,12 and 15 lbs. available for purchase.

What is the best place to buy Cheap dumbbells?

By now, it would be evident that we spent a lot of time analyzing the best places to buy dumbbells, both online and offline.

We also reviewed flash sales, loyalty points, clearance sales, and the like.

Finally, we have come to the conclusion that there’s no better place to buy cheap dumbbells than Amazon.

The reason?

The sheer number of options you have. It is the biggest global marketplace after all and there are sellers from all around the world selling their brands.

Some Chinese brands of dumbbells were so cheap that you’d find it unbelievable at first.

Don’t get hung up over the country that it is made in. Most US brands outsource their manufacturing to China anyway.

Want to know the next best place to buy dumbbells for cheap?

It’s eBay

The biggest difference in between these two places is that eBay connects you with individuals, rather than large corporations.

This allows them to cut out the middlemen and give you much better pricing.

Oh, and you can also buy used dumbbells on eBay if you are open to that.

Should I buy Used Dumbbells? Which Place is Best to Buy Used?

Most people are surprised to know that there’s a huge market for used commercial fitness equipment.

Goes to show that there are a large number of fitness centers going kaput every year.

Ebay – Top Place for Used Dumbbells

best place to buy used dumbbells

A lot of these equipment pop up on eBay which is one of the biggest marketplaces for used dumbbells and weights.

In addition to used commercial gym equipment, there are individuals who also sell their old dumbbells on eBay.

Should you consider one of these because of the low prices?

Here are some pros and cons.

Pros

  • Much, much cheaper as compared to new weights. The average price for one pound of rubber-coated iron weights is $1.10. The price is slightly higher for neoprene. You can buy used dumbbells at 50% of this price. Sometimes even cheaper.

Cons

  • The hygiene can be circumspect. The weights may have been used by hundreds of people if it’s coming from a commercial setting. Even otherwise it’s definitely been used by people before you. Not every seller is diligent about cleaning or sanitizing the weights before putting it up for sale. You can’t really be sure whether it’s coming with a coat of bacteria or fungus. Sweat and dander ain’t pretty.
  • It can be worn out. While sellers do try their best to describe the condition of the used dumbbells, there are instances galore where the description didn’t do justice to the actual condition. Don’t be surprised if you find that the edges are torn or that the knurling is non-existent.

Having said that, there’s a possibility that you may find a dumbbell that’s been sparingly used and is as good as new.

If you are okay with buying weights that someone else has used, then this is definitely a market that you can lean towards.

Where else can I buy used dumbbells?

Ebay really is your only choice.

If you are looking to explore the used fitness equipment marketplace, there’s no better option than eBay.

There’s buyer protection, there are customer reviews, and seller ratings which will help you narrow down on a good and reputed seller.

At $0.50 for a pound, the weights are priced at half of what you expect to pay for new ones.

Sites like Craigslist are best avoided for the above-mentioned reasons.

The place I recommend to buy your dumbbells

You can find dumbbells and weights at almost every major online and offline retailer these days.

But the above-mentioned stores and websites will give you the most bang for your buck.

Don’t forget that if you are alright with buying used weights, eBay is a great option to consider. You can very well land a steal deal on a sparingly used dumbbell set.

You can also get started with one pair or a couple of dumbbell pairs and then scale up as and when you progress with your workouts.

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Ben Mayz

Hi there! I'm Ben, main author and chief editor at Fitlifefanatics.com. I have been obsessed with Strength Training and Fitness for 18 years now.
My passion for living a happy fit lifestyle is what made me realize that fitness is what I wanted for my future.
I went on to earn my Masters in Sports Training & Biomechanics.
My passion for Strength training & fitness and my love of helping others is what made me start Fitlifefanatics.
Here, myself, and a team of specialist aim to provide the most accurate, and actionable information possible in hopes to help foster the fitness community forward.
You can learn more about Fitlifefanatics on our About Page

Ben Mayz

Hi there! I'm Ben, main author and chief editor at Fitlifefanatics.com. I have been obsessed with Strength Training and Fitness for 18 years now. My passion for living a happy fit lifestyle is what made me realize that fitness is what I wanted for my future. I went on to earn my Masters in Sports Training & Biomechanics. My passion for Strength training & fitness and my love of helping others is what made me start Fitlifefanatics. Here, myself, and a team of specialist aim to provide the most accurate, and actionable information possible in hopes to help foster the fitness community forward. You can learn more about Fitlifefanatics on our About Page

One Comment

  1. I am very happy to read this. This is the type of manual and guide that needs to be given out rather than the random misinformation that is most other blogs publish. Appreciate your sharing of this accurate and useful information doc.

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