Short answer: For upper body isolation work, a 2kg pair and a 5kg pair cover nearly everything. For lower body work, 5kg and 10kg is the honest starting range, and the 10kg pair ends up doing most of the work. Those two combinations are $78 and $128 respectively, and both clear the $75 free delivery threshold.
The short answer on weights
All prices here are per pair, so the $29 listing is two 2kg dumbbells. The pairs are fixed rubber hex dumbbells, which means a chrome knurled handle sized for a normal grip and hex heads that stay put on the floor rather than rolling under the couch.
Going too light on legs is the usual mistake
Most sets sold as women's sets top out at 3kg or 4kg per hand. That range is fine for shoulders and arms and close to useless for glutes and quads, because your legs already move your entire bodyweight every time you stand up. Adding 3kg to a squat changes the load by a few per cent. Adding 10kg at your chest changes it enough to build something.
- Goblet squat: 10kg is where it starts to feel like training, and 15kg follows within a few months.
- Romanian deadlift: holding two 10kg dumbbells puts 20kg in your hands, which is still lighter than an empty barbell in most gyms.
- Glute bridge and hip thrust: 10kg across the hips as a starting load, moving to 15kg.
- Step ups and split squats: 5kg per hand while you learn the balance, then 10kg once you are steady.
Buying the heavier pair up front also saves an order. A 3kg pair at $35 that gets outgrown in six weeks is $35 that could have gone into the 10kg pair at $79, which will still be in use in two years.
Option A: 2kg and 5kg for $78
This pairing suits shoulder and arm work, Pilates style flows, light rehab style movements and the first four to eight weeks of training after a long break. Two pairs at $29 plus $49 is $78, which sits above the $75 threshold, so delivery is free.
What it does well
- Lateral raises, front raises and rear delt work, where 2kg is genuinely hard for 12 to 15 reps
- Bicep curls, triceps extensions and shoulder rotations at higher reps
- Mat based Pilates and core work where you hold a weight through a long set
- Overhead pressing, where 5kg per hand is a realistic starting load for most women
Where it stops
Anything involving your legs or your back. A 5kg goblet squat and a 5kg Romanian deadlift are warm ups, so this set leaves your strongest muscles untrained. Treat $78 as the arms and shoulders half of a set, not the whole thing.
Option B: 5kg and 10kg for $128
This is the better first purchase for most people, because it covers both halves of the body. The 5kg pair at $49 handles shoulders, arms and warm ups, and the 10kg pair at $79 handles squats, hinges, rows, carries and single leg work. The total is $128 with free delivery.
What it does well
- Goblet squats, split squats, lunges and step ups with 10kg held at the chest
- Romanian deadlifts and glute bridges with 20kg total in your hands
- Single arm rows and floor presses, which are the two upper body lifts that outgrow 5kg first
- Full body sessions without swapping equipment, using 10kg for legs and 5kg for shoulders
Where it stops
Very light isolation work. If a 5kg lateral raise makes your form break down, add the 2kg pair for $29 later, or start with the 3kg pair at $35 if you prefer a smaller step. Adding 2kg to this set brings the three pair total to $157.
Weight to use, exercise by exercise
The table below is a starting point, not a limit. If you finish 15 reps with form to spare, the next pair up is the right one.
| Exercise | Common starting weight | Where it usually ends up |
|---|---|---|
| Lateral raise | 2kg | 5kg |
| Bicep curl | 2kg or 5kg | 5kg |
| Overhead press | 5kg | 10kg |
| Bent over row | 5kg | 10kg |
| Floor press | 5kg | 10kg |
| Goblet squat | 10kg | 15kg |
| Romanian deadlift | 10kg | 15kg |
| Glute bridge | 10kg | 15kg |
| Split squat | 5kg | 10kg |
| Walking lunge | 5kg | 10kg |
The 5kg to 10kg step is the awkward one
Doubling the weight in one jump works for squats and hinges, where your legs have plenty in reserve. It rarely works for pressing and raising. That is what the 3kg pair at $35 and the 4kg pair at $42 are for: a smaller step that your shoulders will accept, for less than the cost of the next big pair.
Going from 5kg to 10kg is a 100 per cent jump. For presses and raises, the 3kg pair at $35 or 4kg pair at $42 bridges it.
Growing the set without buying twice
Almost everyone ends up with three pairs within a year. Buying them in the right order means each pair earns its money before the next one arrives.
- Start with 5kg and 10kg, $128. Both ends of a full body program are covered from day one.
- Add 2kg for $29 if raises need it, or the 4kg pair at $42 if 5kg presses are the sticking point. Either one is under $75 on its own, so pair it with something or accept the $9.95 flat rate.
- Add 15kg for $109 when 10kg goblet squats reach 15 reps. That order ships free by itself and usually happens four to six months in.
Run that sequence and you spend $266 over three orders for 5kg, 10kg and 15kg, with two of the three delivered free. Buying 5kg, 10kg and 15kg together instead is $237 in one order, which is the cheaper path if you are confident about the heavier weights. There is more on timing in the progressive buying plan.
What to buy alongside the dumbbells
Two additions change how much you get out of the set, and both keep an order over $75 on their own terms.
- Fabric Loop Bands (3-Pack), $35. Three tensions for glute and hip work where even 2kg dumbbells sit in the wrong place. They also warm up hips before a squat session.
- Premium Yoga Mat, $59. For floor presses, glute bridges, core work and stretching. Dumbbells on bare floorboards are loud and hard on your back.
- PeterMat Round (1.2m), $89. A 1.2m circle covers the space a standing dumbbell session actually uses, so you are not stepping off the edge mid lunge.
A $128 dumbbell order plus the $59 mat is $187 in one delivery, which keeps it free and saves ordering twice. The essentials list covers the rest of a first setup.
Delivery across Australia and New Zealand
Both set options are over $75, so delivery is free to every Australian state and territory and to the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Orders are processed within 1-2 business days, and a tracking number is emailed once yours ships. A single pair under $75, such as the 2kg pair at $29 on its own, is charged the $9.95 flat rate.
| Destination | Estimated transit after dispatch |
|---|---|
| Metro Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) | 3-5 business days |
| Regional Australia | 5-10 business days |
| Remote Australia | 7-14 business days |
| New Zealand (North and South Islands) | 7-14 business days |
These are estimates and can stretch in peak periods or with carrier delays. Full detail sits on the shipping page, and questions about a particular address can go to [email protected].
Recommended Gear
The pair for lateral raises, rear delt work and higher rep arm sets.
$29 Rubber Hex Dumbbell Pair (5kg)Overhead presses, rows and single leg work while you build the balance.
$49 Rubber Hex Dumbbell Pair (10kg)The pair that makes goblet squats, hinges and glute work count.
$79 Fabric Loop Bands (3-Pack)Three tensions for glute and hip work that dumbbells cannot load well.
$35 Premium Yoga MatFloor presses, glute bridges and core work without the noise on bare boards.
$59Frequently Asked Questions
What size dumbbells should a woman start with?
2kg and 5kg pairs cover shoulder and arm work, while 5kg and 10kg cover legs, hips and back. If you are buying one set, 5kg and 10kg is the more useful pairing because it trains both halves of the body. That combination is $128 with free delivery.
How much does a women's dumbbell set cost in Australia?
A 2kg and 5kg set is $78 and a 5kg and 10kg set is $128, with all prices per pair. Adding a third pair takes 2kg, 5kg and 10kg to $157. Every one of those totals is above $75, so delivery is free across Australia and New Zealand.
Is 5kg enough for squats?
No, for most people. Your legs already move your bodyweight, so 5kg held at the chest changes the load by very little. Start goblet squats at 10kg and expect to want 15kg within four to six months of consistent training.
Are dumbbell prices per pair or per dumbbell?
Per pair. The 5kg listing at $49 gives you two 5kg dumbbells, and the 10kg listing at $79 gives you two 10kg dumbbells. A two pair order is four dumbbells in total.
Do I still need 2kg dumbbells if I have 5kg?
Only for isolation work. If 5kg lateral raises or rear delt raises make your form break down before 10 reps, the 2kg pair at $29 is worth adding. For everything else, 5kg is the more useful starting weight.
Will 10kg dumbbells be too heavy for arm exercises?
Probably at first, and that is fine. The 10kg pair is bought for squats, hinges, rows and carries, not for lateral raises. Most people press and row their way up to 10kg over several months while using 5kg for arms.
How long does delivery take to Perth or regional areas?
Orders are processed within 1-2 business days. Metro Australia including Perth is an estimated 3-5 business days after that, regional Australia 5-10 business days, and remote areas 7-14 business days. These are estimates and can vary in peak periods.
Related Guides
- Dumbbell Exercises: Movements to run with a 5kg and 10kg pair
- Glute Exercises at Home: Where the heavier pair earns its place
- What Size to Buy: Sizing by exercise before you order
- Lower Body Workout: A session built around 10kg and 15kg
- Arm Exercises: What the 2kg and 5kg pairs are actually for
- Home Gym Essentials: The mat, bands and recovery gear that go with the set
Pick a set and check out
The 2kg and 5kg set is $78 and the 5kg and 10kg set is $128, and both clear the $75 free delivery threshold for Australia and New Zealand. Orders are processed within 1-2 business days with tracking emailed on dispatch.
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