Bowflex vs PowerBlock, short answer: buy the BowFlex SelectTech 552 Results Series if 52.5 lb per hand will cover your training, because two dials pick any of 15 weights in seconds and it keeps the familiar dumbbell shape. Buy the PowerBlock Elite USA if you expect to outgrow 50 lb: it starts at 5 to 50 lb, expands to 70 and 90 lb per hand with add-on kits, uses USA-made steel plates and carries a 5-year warranty against BowFlex’s 2 years on parts.
BowFlex SelectTech 552 Results Series: 5 to 52.5 lb, 15 settings, fast dial change, the redesigned version that is not part of the 2025 recall.
Lifting past 50 lb soon? PowerBlock Elite USA, expandable to 90 lb. Want the cheapest pair that still works? See our full adjustable dumbbell ranking.
We compared the two best-known adjustable dumbbell brands on what decides which pair suits you: weight range, how many settings you get, how you change weight, size, grip, build and warranty. For BowFlex we compared the SelectTech 552 Results Series, the redesigned 552 sold now. For PowerBlock we compared the Elite USA, which starts at 50 lb and expands to 90 lb. Every spec comes from the makers’ own product pages, checked October 25, 2026, with source links under the table. Updated October 2026.
Best for most people
BowFlex SelectTech 552 Results Series
Best overall: 5 to 52.5 lb, 15 settings, dial change, classic dumbbell shape.
Bowflex vs PowerBlock: specs side by side
| Spec | BowFlex SelectTech 552 Results Series | PowerBlock Elite USA (50 to 90 lb) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight range | 5 to 52.5 lb per dumbbell | 5 to 50 lb, expandable to 70 and 90 lb with expansion kits |
| Settings | 15 | 27 at the full 90 lb stage |
| Steps | 2.5 lb up to 25 lb, then mostly 5 lb | 2.5 and 5 lb |
| How you change weight | Twist dials on each end | Magnetic selector pin |
| Size per dumbbell | 16.9 x 8.3 x 9 in (L x W x H) | 16.25 x 6 x 6 in (L x W x H) |
| Replaces | 15 sets of weights | Up to 28 pairs of dumbbells |
| Grip | Ergonomic non-slip handle | Knurled stainless steel, 32 mm, 4.75 in long |
| Plates | Tapered plates, metal parts attach them to the handle | Welded steel plates made in the USA |
| Warranty | 2 years, parts | 5-year limited, residential use |
| Buy | Check price at Amazon | Check price at Amazon |
Spec sources: BowFlex Results Series 552 SelectTech product page and PowerBlock Elite USA 90 product page, both checked October 25, 2026. Maker list prices that day, approximate and subject to change: about $479 a pair for the BowFlex, and about $469 for the 50 lb PowerBlock stage, $668 at 70 lb and $867 at 90 lb.
Weight range: the question that decides it
Ask yourself one thing first: will you need more than about 50 lb in each hand in the next year or two? If not, the BowFlex 552 covers you, and its 2.5 lb steps up to 25 lb make it easy to add weight on curls, raises and presses. If you already row, press or lunge near 50 lb, or you are training for strength, the PowerBlock is the safer buy because you can add 20 lb expansion kits instead of buying a second set. BowFlex makes a heavier model too, the SelectTech 1090 (10 to 90 lb), which we cover in our heavy adjustable dumbbells guide.
Changing weight: dials vs a pin
BowFlex uses two dials, one at each end, and you lift the dumbbell straight out of its tray. PowerBlock uses a magnetic pin that you slide into the stack, plus a lock lever for the lower tubes on the expandable stages. Both are fast once you know them. The dial is a little friendlier for beginners and circuit workouts; the pin feels more mechanical and has fewer moving parts to jam. Either way, set the dumbbell fully in its cradle before you change the weight.
Size, grip and build
The two are similar in length by the makers’ numbers (16.9 inches for the BowFlex and 16.25 inches for the PowerBlock), but the PowerBlock is a 6 by 6 inch block where the BowFlex is 8.3 by 9 inches, so the PowerBlock takes less room on a rack and feels more compact in the hand. The BowFlex has the classic dumbbell shape, which many people prefer for presses and flyes. The PowerBlock has a knurled stainless steel grip and steel plates, louder than plastic but harder to damage, and PowerBlock backs it with 5 years against BowFlex’s 2 years on parts.
About the recall: in June 2025 the original BowFlex 552 and 1090 were recalled because plates could come loose. The Results Series sold now is the redesigned version and is not part of that recall; our adjustable dumbbell guide has the details.
Who should buy which
Buy the BowFlex SelectTech 552 if: you are starting out, you will stay under about 50 lb per hand, you want the fastest change between exercises, and you like a traditional dumbbell shape.
Check the BowFlex 552 at Amazon
Buy the PowerBlock Elite USA if: you expect to lift heavier than 50 lb, you want steel plates and a longer warranty, and you are happy to pay for expansion kits as you get stronger.
Check the PowerBlock Elite USA at Amazon
Prefer the lower-cost PowerBlock? The Elite EXP (5 to 50 lb, expandable) is the pair we rank in our main dumbbell guide.
Check the PowerBlock Elite EXP at Amazon
More dumbbell guides
Still deciding between adjustable and fixed weights? Read adjustable dumbbells vs rubber hex sets and our dumbbell price per pound comparison. Need somewhere to put them? See the best dumbbell racks. And to build a full setup around a pair, see home gym under $500.
Frequently asked questions
Is PowerBlock better than Bowflex?
PowerBlock is better if you want to go heavier than 50 lb, prefer steel plates and want a longer warranty (5 years versus 2 years on parts). BowFlex is better if you want the quickest dial change, a classic dumbbell shape and you will stay under 52.5 lb.
How heavy do Bowflex and PowerBlock dumbbells go?
The BowFlex SelectTech 552 Results Series goes from 5 to 52.5 lb per dumbbell. The PowerBlock Elite USA starts at 5 to 50 lb and expands to 70 and 90 lb per dumbbell with expansion kits.
Which is more compact, Bowflex or PowerBlock?
By the makers’ numbers the PowerBlock Elite USA is 16.25 x 6 x 6 inches and the BowFlex 552 Results Series is 16.9 x 8.3 x 9 inches, so the PowerBlock is narrower and shorter.
Are the Bowflex 552 dumbbells still recalled?
The June 2025 recall covers the original BowFlex 552 and 1090. The Results Series 552 sold now is the redesigned version and is not part of the recall.
What warranty do Bowflex and PowerBlock give?
BowFlex lists 2 years on parts for the 552 Results Series. PowerBlock lists a 5-year limited warranty for residential use on the Elite USA.
Do Bowflex or PowerBlock need a stand?
Neither needs one, but both brands sell stands that put the dumbbells at waist height, which saves your back on every weight change. See our dumbbell rack guide for options.
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