How many dumbbells do I need for a starter set?

How many dumbbells you need

In our range that is usually the 5kg pair ($49), the 10kg pair ($79) and the 15kg pair ($109). Buy two if the budget is tight and add the third when the heaviest pair stops being hard. Any two of them clears $75, so delivery is free.

What each pair lets you train

Dumbbell work falls into three loading groups: joint and small muscle work, pushing and pressing, and legs, back and carries. Each group wants a different weight, which is why a starter set is counted in pairs rather than in kilos.

Light pair, 2kg to 5kg

• Lateral and front raises: most people start at 2kg to 4kg per hand and stay there for months.
• Rotator cuff and rear delt work: 1kg to 2kg per hand is normal, and going heavier makes the exercise worse.
• Pilates and rehab sets: 1kg to 3kg per hand for high rep work.
• Overhead press for a new lifter: 5kg per hand is a genuine starting load.

Working pair, 5kg to 10kg

• Bicep and hammer curls: 5kg to 10kg per hand covers beginner through to intermediate.
• Floor press and chest work without a bench: 10kg per hand for most people after a few weeks.
• Single arm rows: 10kg per hand is a sensible first working weight.
• Lunges and split squats: 5kg per hand adds load without wrecking your balance.

Heavy pair, 15kg to 25kg

• Goblet and front squats: one 15kg or 20kg dumbbell held at the chest.
• Romanian deadlifts: 15kg per hand and up, because your hips are stronger than your arms.
• Farmer carries and step-ups: 20kg per hand is a real challenge for most people.
• Heavy rows and shrugs: 15kg to 25kg per hand.

Exercise coverage, pair by pair

Typical starting loads per hand for someone in their first few months of training. Read the last column: two pairs cover most of the list and three pairs cover all of it.

Exercise	Typical starting load per hand	Covered by
Lateral raise	2kg to 4kg	Light pair
External rotation	1kg to 2kg	Light pair
Overhead press	5kg	Light or working pair
Bicep curl	5kg to 10kg	Working pair
Floor press	10kg	Working pair
Lunge and split squat	5kg to 10kg	Working pair
Single arm row	10kg to 15kg	Working or heavy pair
Goblet squat	10kg to 20kg	Working or heavy pair
Romanian deadlift	10kg to 20kg	Heavy pair
Farmer carry	15kg to 25kg	Heavy pair

The gaps matter more than the count. A 4kg pair and a 5kg pair sit in the same row of that table, so owning both adds a line on your receipt and nothing to your training.

Two pairs or three pairs

Two pairs: 5kg and 10kg, $128

This covers raises, presses, curls, rows, lunges and goblet squats, which is enough for a full body programme three days a week. What it will not cover is heavy hinging and carries, where 10kg per hand gets easy quickly. The order clears $75, so it arrives free.

Three pairs: 5kg, 10kg and 15kg, $237

The third pair is what keeps the set useful once you get stronger. Squats, Romanian deadlifts, heavy rows and carries move to the 15kg pair while presses and raises stay on the lighter two. Plenty of people buy two pairs first and add the third a few months later, and a 15kg pair on its own is $109, so that top-up order still ships free.

When to add a fourth pair

Add a fourth pair when a specific lift has run out of load, not when you feel like shopping. The test: you hit the top of your rep range on every set of that lift, with clean form, in two sessions in a row.

• Legs and hinges run out first: the 20kg pair ($139) is the usual fourth buy, because squats, Romanian deadlifts and carries outgrow 15kg long before presses do.
• Add light instead if you are doing rehab or Pilates: a 2kg pair ($29) or 3kg pair ($35) fills the gap under your working pair.
• Two people sharing the set: a second person training at a different level is a real reason for a fourth pair, usually a 3kg or 5kg.
• Do not add a fourth to skip a gap you are still working through: if 15kg is still hard for rows, a 20kg pair is storage rather than training.

A fourth pair is also the point where the floor matters, because you are putting 15kg and 20kg dumbbells down several times a session.

What to skip in a starter set

• The 0.5kg and 1kg pairs as main weights: $19 and $22 respectively, and their job is rehab and shoulder work rather than strength training.
• Every kilo step: a 3kg, 4kg and 5kg pair together is $126 for three almost identical loads. One of them plus a 10kg pair is $128 for two loads you will use.
• Waiting for adjustable dumbbells: we sell fixed rubber hex pairs only, 0.5kg to 25kg, solid one-piece with rubber-coated heads and chrome knurled handles. See adjustable versus fixed dumbbells for that trade-off.
• Buying heavy before you can use it: a 25kg pair at $169 in your first month is money parked in a corner.
• Skipping the mat: hex heads do not roll, which solves one problem and does nothing for the floor underneath them.

Starter set costs and delivery

Dumbbells are sold as pairs, so the count and the cost move together. Every set here is over the $75 free delivery threshold.

Starter set	Pairs	Total (AUD)	What it misses
One pair	10kg	$79	Raises and rotator work are too heavy, hinges too light
Two pairs	5kg + 10kg	$128	Heavy hinges and carries
Three pairs, lighter	2kg + 5kg + 10kg	$157	Heavy leg and back work
Three pairs	5kg + 10kg + 15kg	$237	Little for the first year of training
Four pairs	5kg + 10kg + 15kg + 20kg	$376	Nothing, this is a complete home set

Orders over $75 AUD ship free to Australia and New Zealand, and orders under $75 are a $9.95 AUD flat rate. Orders are processed within 1-2 business days, then transit estimates are 3-5 business days to metro Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane), 5-10 business days to regional Australia, 7-14 business days to remote Australia and 7-14 business days to New Zealand, North and South Islands.

A tracking number is emailed once the order ships. Those transit figures are estimates and can move in peak periods or with carrier delays. The full policy is on the shipping page, and anything else goes to [email protected].

How to decide in two minutes

1. Pick your working pair first: the weight you can row 10 times per hand with clean form. For most people starting out that is the 10kg pair ($79).
2. Add a light pair one or two steps down for presses, raises and rotator cuff work. Usually the 5kg ($49), or the 2kg ($29) if you are coming back from an injury.
3. If the budget reaches $237, add the 15kg pair now rather than later, since your legs and back will need it first.
4. Order the mat in the same delivery if you are on tiles, floorboards or an upstairs floor. The PeterMat Zero ($79) is 1m x 1m of recycled rubber at 14kg.
5. Check the total clears $75 before you check out so delivery is free.

If you can only answer step one today, buy that pair on its own. A single 10kg or 15kg pair is over $75, so nothing is lost by starting with one and adding the rest later.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many dumbbells do I need to start working out at home?

Two pairs covers most home training and three pairs is the sweet spot. You want a light pair for raises and presses, a working pair you can row and curl with, and a heavier pair for squats, hinges and carries. In our range that is commonly the 5kg pair at $49, the 10kg pair at $79 and the 15kg pair at $109.

Is one pair of dumbbells enough?

One pair works for your first month if you choose the 10kg pair at $79, which covers rows, floor presses, lunges and goblet squats. It will be too heavy for lateral raises and rotator cuff work and too light for Romanian deadlifts. Most people add a lighter pair within a few weeks.

What weight dumbbells should a beginner buy first?

Use the row test: pick the weight you can row 10 times per hand with clean form and no swinging. For most beginners that is 10kg per hand, so the 10kg pair at $79 is the first buy. If you have never lifted weights, start with the 5kg pair at $49 and add the 10kg pair once 5kg feels easy for rows.

When should I buy a fourth pair of dumbbells?

When one lift has clearly run out of load: you hit the top of your rep range on every set, with clean form, in two sessions in a row. That is usually squats or Romanian deadlifts, so the 20kg pair at $139 is the common fourth buy. If you are doing rehab or Pilates work, a 2kg pair at $29 is a better fourth than anything heavier.

Do I need dumbbells in 1kg increments?

No. A 3kg, 4kg and 5kg pair together cost $126 and give you three loads a beginner cannot tell apart under fatigue. Wider gaps of 5kg between pairs give you distinct training loads, and you bridge the gap with extra reps or slower tempo rather than extra dumbbells.

Can two people share a three pair dumbbell set?

Usually yes, because each person can train at a different weight within the same 5kg, 10kg and 15kg set. It stops working when both people want the same pair at the same time, or when one person needs loads the set does not have. Adding a 3kg pair at $35 or a 20kg pair at $139 is the normal fix.

Does a starter dumbbell set qualify for free delivery?

Yes. Orders over $75 AUD ship free to Australia and New Zealand, and every two pair set in our range is over $75. A single light pair can land under $75, and those orders are a $9.95 AUD flat rate. Orders are processed within 1-2 business days and a tracking number is emailed when your order ships.

Related Guides

• What Size Dumbbells To Buy: Picking the weight for each lift, not just the count
• Set Versus A Single Pair: Whether to start with one pair or commit to a set
• Beginner Weight Guide: Starting loads for the common dumbbell exercises
• How To Choose A Set: Matching a set to your space, budget and programme
• Full Body Dumbbell Workout: A programme you can run on two or three pairs
• Adjustable Versus Fixed: Why our range is fixed rubber hex pairs only