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12 Best Kettlebell Weights for When You’re Tired of Bodyweight Exercises
Swing, squat, and sweat with these sturdy kettlebells.

Small home gyms can start to feel boring pretty quickly, especially if your space limitations mean you can’t add new equipment. If you don't have space for a larger piece of gym equipment like an exercise bike or treadmill, chances are your home workout routine is getting a little stale. I mean, there are only so many bodyweight workouts you can do ... right?
But a lack of space doesn’t mean you can’t spice up your routine. Kettlebells are versatile pieces of equipment that can be used for strength training, balance, and even cardio. We chatted with exercise specialist Kymberly Nolden to learn all about working out with them. “Kettlebells can be a fun addition to any weight lifting program,” she says. “You can do anything from kettlebell-specific moves like swings, cleans, and complexes to simply using them in place of a traditional dumbbell.”
For cardio, Nolden recommends the kettlebell swing. “It’s a whole new challenge for your body to adjust to, rather than simply doing strength exercises, and then hopping on a treadmill to do cardio separately,” she says. And even if you don’t have the space for a lineup of kettlebells in various sizes, you can find great sets of adjustable kettlebells that take up minimal space and offer maximum versatility. We have the best kettlebells for every home gym and every set of goals.
The Best Kettlebell Weights
What to Consider
Overall, Nolden says that kettlebells are a safe and effective way to switch up your at-home workout since they target many different fitness goals. Here are a few things you need to keep in mind before you make your purchase:
- Fitness Level and Weightlifting Experience: Beginners with little to no weightlifting experience should start with lighter kettlebells (anywhere from 5 to 18 pounds for women and around 30 pounds for men). This is essential to avoid injury and learn about lifting. Then, you can slowly build up as you get stronger and more comfortable with the motions. Your ideal start weight is the weight at which you can do five reps comfortably. Once you can easily do 20 reps, you can move up to more advanced, i.e. heavier, weights. According to Kettlebell Kings, a good range of kettlebell weight levels for men is around 18 to 53 pounds. For women, it's typically within 13 to 35 pounds.
- Exercise Type: Kettlebell workouts typically fall under two categories — ballistic (or explosive) and grind. Ballistic exercises involve lots of jumps and throws (like the Nolden-recommended kettlebell swings). For these types of movements, a lighter weight can offer you more control and stability. Grind exercises are more stationary strength-building exercises like deadlifts and presses. These workouts fare better with heavier, aka more stable, kettlebells. Of course, you should always start lower and move up to avoid injury.
- Handles: The majority of kettlebells fall under two categories of handle design — competition and cast iron. Competition kettlebells are more advanced and have square handles that fit only one hand. This means your grip doesn't slide around during use, but it can also limit the kind of exercises you do, as many kettlebell workouts use two hands. Cast-iron kettlebells have a wider handle that can fit two hands and are ideal for most people's needs.
- Design Extras: The main design details to look out for are handle thickness or width. If you can’t wrap your fingers around the handle, you’ll put extra strain on your forearms later on during a workout — and the bell’s base. For most people, grip strength can exhaust quickly so if you’re struggling to hold the kettlebell from the start, you may end up ending your workout earlier than you expected simply because you can no longer get a firm grip on the weight. The best kettlebell has a natural flat-base bottom to keep it from sliding around the floor, but it also doesn’t come with feet or stoppers that dig uncomfortably into your arms. A nonslip finish on the handles is also practical if you have a sweaty grip. Everything else — like overall grip feel and smoothness of the coating — is a matter of preference.
Need some inspo? Worry not: There are accessories like workout guides and even kettlebell exercise cards to help get you started on the right track. Or, you can consult the expert opinion of a personal trainer in person or online. Get your swing on now and shop the best kettlebells — from soft picks to adjustable options to traditional bells.
If you need more great ways to boost your fitness routine, check out our roundups on workout mirrors, weightlifting gloves, and balance boards.
How We Selected
To find the best kettlebells for this list, we consulted consumer ratings and reviews and conducted product testing. We assessed the weight’s design, how comfortable it is in your hand, any additional features, materials, and durability. As a result, we’ve found the best kettlebells for every kind of athlete.
Lizzy is a trained chef, food writer, and recipe developer for print and digital outlets including Insider, Real Simple, and the Chicago Tribune. She has a culinary degree from Cambridge School of Culinary Arts and a BA from Amherst College. She lives in New York City, where she runs, eats, and explores as much as possible.


Erica is the Senior Director of SEO and Content and has been with the team since 2017; Prior to joining BP, she worked at New York Magazine and Levo League, where she received several bylines on various topics like finding your dream job, being spontaneous, and how women think about perfection. Outside of work, Erica can be found running around Central Park, browsing the cheese selection at Murray’s, or playing soccer at Brooklyn Bridge Park.
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