Of course yes!
In fact it is a more economical way to build muscle mass without having to pay money every month for a gym membership.
A lot of guys (include me) workout in the home where it is comfortable and they don’t have to queue just to have access to weights machine. As long as you are not trying to look like Jay Cutler, then yes you can build considerable muscle mass with only dumbbells.
However, you would need to ensure that you get the proper kind of dumbbells with removable weights (of different size) so that you can keep increasing the weights to continue challenging your muscles.
Do not buy the dumbbells that have a fixed weight set on them. Look for the type that allows you to adjust the weights. This way you can start with light weights and gradually add heavier weights as your strength increases.
Doing this is cheaper than having to buy multiple dumbbells with different fixed weights. If have the extra money to spend, you can build your own set of dumbbells gradually. Just bear in mind that they take some space, so if you are limited with space, just go for a single pair of dumbbells with multiple plates of different weights.
The moment you get a high quality pair of dumbbells, the next step is to get the workouts that you would be doing with them. There are so many videos online (Youtube and Bodybuilding.com) that would show you workouts for different muscle groups.
It is up to you to choose what you want: strength, endurance or muscle mass. You would be using your dumbbells to perform all the exercises that you choose.
So let’s assume that you want to build muscle mass, you would have to choose the sets of exercises to include in your routine.
For example you can include: triceps extensions, concentration curls and lateral raises for your upper body. As for your lower body routine, you can add the following workouts: lunges, squats and calf raises (you do all of them while holding the dumbbells).
Since dumbbells are free weights, there is no mechanism to stabilise the weights (and makes sure you are using proper form) while you lift. This is why you need to be consistently focused in ensuring that you are lifting the weights properly.
Engaging in proper form means that you are making controlled and smooth movements while lifting. It also means that you are completing the full range of the workout movement and you are fully extending your joint.
If you are having difficulties controlling the weight while you lift, it means it is too heavy for you at the moment. You would have to reduce the weight to one that you can work out with proper form.
As you work out regularly, you would be able to increase how much weight you are lifting gradually. After a while you would have to buy heavier weights so that your muscle mass and strength keeps increasing.
If you want to train a particular muscle group and you are not sure how to do it, you can watch videos on Youtube or Bodybuilding.com. A better (and more expensive) option would be to meet with a bodybuilding trainer that would help you design your dumbbell workouts.
As long as you have the right weight plates and you know how the exercises to do, you can build considerable muscle mass using dumbbells at home and avoid paying expensive fees for a gym membership.