Choosing a women's dumbbell set in Australia

The short answer on weights

All prices here are per pair, so the $23 listing is two 2kg dumbbells. The pairs are fixed rubber hex dumbbells with chrome handles, and the hex heads stay put on the floor rather than rolling under the couch. Delivery is charged per item at checkout from your postcode, and the cart shows the exact figure before you pay.

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 does little 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 strength.

• 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 money over time. A 3kg pair at $35 that gets outgrown in six weeks is $35 that could have gone towards the 10kg pair at $114, which will still be in use in two years.

Option A: 2kg and 5kg for $71

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. The 2kg pair at $23 and the 5kg pair at $48 come to $71. Delivery adds about $15 to a metro Sydney postcode or about $24 to metro Melbourne or Brisbane.

What it does well

• Lateral raises, front raises and rear delt work, where 2kg is 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 undertrained. Treat it as the arms and shoulders half of a set.

Option B: 5kg and 10kg for $162

This is the better first purchase for most people, because it covers both halves of the body. The 5kg pair at $48 handles shoulders, arms and warm ups, and the 10kg pair at $114 handles squats, hinges, rows, carries and single leg work. Delivery adds about $19 to metro Sydney or about $38 to metro Melbourne or Brisbane.

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 $23 later, or the 3kg pair at $35 if you prefer a smaller step. Adding the 2kg pair to this set brings the three pair total to $185 before delivery.

Weight to use, exercise by exercise

The table below is a starting point. 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 $46 are for: a smaller step that your shoulders will accept.

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.

1. Start with 5kg and 10kg, $162. Both ends of a full body program are covered from day one.
2. Add 2kg for $23 if raises need it, or the 4kg pair at $46 if 5kg presses are the sticking point.
3. Add 15kg for $170 when 10kg goblet squats reach 15 reps. That usually happens four to six months in.

The 5kg, 10kg and 15kg pairs come to $332 whether you buy them together or over three orders. Delivery is charged per pair, so staging the purchase costs about the same in delivery as buying the lot at once. 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.

• Fabric Loop Bands (3-Pack), $30. 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.
• 6mm Non-Slip TPE Yoga Mat, $60. For glute bridges, core work, stretching and floor work with light pairs. Delivery is included to most of Australia. It is too thin to protect a hard floor from heavy dumbbells, so set the 10kg pair down beside it or on a thicker rubber mat.

The essentials list covers the rest of a first setup.

Delivery across Australia

Every item ships direct from an Australian supplier warehouse, within Australia only. Dispatch usually takes 1 to 3 business days, and metro delivery usually takes 2 to 7 business days after that. Regional and remote areas take longer.

Set	Goods	Sydney, about	Melbourne, about	Perth, about
2kg and 5kg	$71	$15	$24	$46
5kg and 10kg	$162	$19	$38	$75
2kg, 5kg and 10kg	$185	$25	$48	$93

Those are example delivery charges to metro postcodes, and the cart shows the exact figure for yours before you pay. Full detail sits on the shipping page, and questions about a particular address can go to [email protected].

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Frequently 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 $162 before delivery.

How much does a women's dumbbell set cost in Australia?

A 2kg and 5kg set is $71 and a 5kg and 10kg set is $162, with all prices per pair. Adding a third pair takes 2kg, 5kg and 10kg to $185. Delivery is charged per item by postcode at checkout, for example about $19 to metro Sydney for the 5kg and 10kg pairs.

Is 5kg enough for squats?

For most people, no. 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 $48 gives you two 5kg dumbbells, and the 10kg listing at $114 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 $23 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?

Dispatch usually takes 1 to 3 business days, then metro delivery, including metro Perth, usually takes 2 to 7 business days. Regional and remote areas take longer. Delivery to Perth costs more than to the east coast, for example about $75 for the 5kg and 10kg pairs.

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 for
• Home Gym Essentials: The mat, bands and recovery gear that go with the set