Getting into a fitness routine isn’t necessarily about getting to the gym at the crack of dawn every day. Increasing your fitness levels is more about consistency and continuing to challenge yourself as you get more conditioned.
Sometimes, rolling out of bed and hopping onto the elliptical is the best way to get one foot in front of the other and begin your workout. That is one huge benefit of having a home elliptical: You make it easier on yourself by removing the commute to the gym. If you work from home and have short 15 to 20-minute breaks between calls, having an elliptical at home is also beneficial.
If you’ve been thinking about getting an elliptical for your home, you’re in the right place, as we’ve compiled a list of the best home ellipticals, as recommended by experts.
When speaking with experts, they pointed to size, resistance levels, connectivity and price. “When buying an at-home elliptical, it is important to evaluate the features of the machine to determine whether the quality matches the value,” says John Gallucci Jr., MS, ATC, PT, DPT, the CEO of JAG Physical Therapy and expert in injury prevention, rehabilitation, sports medicine and athletic conditioning.
“Make sure the elliptical fits in your space,” says Gallucci. “A good rule of thumb is 20 inches of free space on at least one side and from the front or the back for safety.” It’s important to measure the space available in your home before you start doing research on the machine. “From there, you can build out a budget to narrow your search and then see what features are important to you,” he adds.
If you’re concerned about space, then you might want to purchase a foldable model, says Nick Kumar, chief exercise officer at Desi Grit. “If you have room, some of the nicer models take up seven feet,” he adds.
Another factor to consider is your height. “Are you on the taller side?” asks Kumar. “If so, then you’ll definitely want an elliptical with a longer stride length.”
“All ellipticals have variable resistance,” says Gallucci. “Make sure that the lowest resistance setting is easy to pedal and that it becomes challenging to pedal at about 75% of the highest setting so that you’ll have room to increase resistance over time.”
Kumar says that while resistance levels might not be a concern for beginners, you will want to increase the intensity of your workout by adjusting these settings as you become more advanced.
To track your elliptical workouts on a mobile app or to link to a health device to record your progress, make sure the elliptical you choose has built-in wireless connectivity or Bluetooth.
“If you’re a beginner and are starting a workout plan or are someone who likes variety in their workouts, look for a machine with built-in exercise programs. Some models have basic plans while others can have custom programs to create your own profile,” says Gallucci.
You will have to decide whether you want a simple elliptical machine or one with advanced connectivity. “Do you want all the bells and whistles, such as virtual workout programs, Apple Watch connectivity for tracking and reliable heart rate monitoring? If so, then you’ll have to go for a premium model,” says Kumar.
Consider your budget. “Home elliptical machines vary quite a bit in price, from $300 to $1,600. Commercial elliptical machines usually range between $3,000 and $6,000,” says Kumar.
Best budget
When choosing an elliptical machine, keep your budget in mind and remember, you don’t necessarily have to sacrifice quality for price. The Sunny Health & Fitness Air Walk Trainer Classic is less than $100 and offers a built-in monitor that displays your calories burned, count, time and total time working out. “This machine is on the low end of elliptical pricing. It’s lightweight and includes an LCD digital monitor,” says Gallucci.
For less than $100, this elliptical does the job and is easy to store. However, if you’re looking for resistance levels, you’re better off with another machine, as this one does not have them.
Get it here: Sunny Health & Fitness Air Walk Trainer Classic
Pair a stepper with an elliptical and you’ve got the BowFlex Max Total Trainer Series. It has two workout programs that you can follow on the LCD display. The machine comes with a heart rate monitor chest strap and features eight resistance levels.
If you love stepping machines and ellipticals, then this might be your new go-to machine, as the BowFlex Max Total Trainer Series combines both of these into one. Note, however, that it doesn’t have an incline and comes with only two workout program options.
Get it here: BowFlex M3 Max Total Trainer Series
“The ProForm Pro HIIT H14 is a great choice for those who are just starting out,” says Gallucci. This elliptical is compatible with iFit, which offers a range of virtual on-demand classes and programming. It also has 26 resistance levels, which allows users to add resistance easily. The monitor is a smart HD touchscreen and can be connected to Bluetooth devices.
You have to pay for an iFIT subscription to access all features. However, one of the main benefits of the ProForm Pro HIIT H14 is its ever-growing library of iFIT workouts, which can motivate and guide beginners.
Get it here: ProForm Pro HIIT H14
Best high-end
This elliptical has a 350-pound weight capacity. It offers Bluetooth connectivity options, speakers, a fan and a cup holder. “There are 26 resistance options, and the machine is more inclusive than other ellipticals,” says Gallucci. It’s on the pricier end, at close to $3,000, but “the machines from NordicTrack are worth the price point for the features and capabilities,” says Gallucci. As you go up mountains and valleys on your iFIT workouts, the elliptical increases resistance to mimic terrain or workout classes. The built-in monitor is a 10-inch HD smart touchscreen.
The NordicTrack Commercial 14.9 Elliptical’s key highlights are its access to iFIT workouts (with a monthly membership for all workouts), smart-incline matching technology that mimics terrain and adjusts during workout classes and magnetic resistance for quiet workouts. The downside is its price.
Get it here: NordicTrack Commercial 14.9 Elliptical
Best basic
For a basic home elliptical, you will want a glider that allows you to move with little impact on your joints. “The best, cheap machine for at-home (workouts) is the Gazelle Freestyle,” says Gallucci. “It’s moderately priced and not too large,” he continues, adding that the machine can easily fit in apartments. The monitor is small, roughly about the size of a business card. If you don’t mind the noise and lack of resistance levels, then this may be a good option for you.
If you’re looking for a basic glider without resistance levels, the Gazelle Freestyle may be for you. It can be folded for easy storage. The monitor is small, about the size of a business card.
Get it here: Gazelle Freestyle
Best for knee pain
This machine differs from most in that the user trains in a reposed position. It’s just like a recumbent bike, according to Kumar. “The Teeter FreeStep greatly reduces stress on your joints and your lower back,” he adds. Gallucci agrees, saying, “I recommend this one as it has a reclined and seated position which is key to eliminating joint stress and lowering back pain.” The user weight capacity is 300 pounds and it offers 13 resistance levels.
This elliptical is unique in that it has a recumbent seat, making it ideal for users with painful joints. The seat is adjustable for depth, height and recline.
Get it here: Teeter FreeStep LT3 Recumbent Cross Trainer
The Schwinn 411 elliptical is ideal for narrow spaces, such as a corner next to your bed or desk. It is only 24 inches wide, so it’s very compact. “If you want more features and something that fits in a fairly small space then check out the Schwinn 411 Compact,” says Kumar. It has a digital built-in monitor, offers 16 levels of resistance and tracks time, speed, distance, calories and heart rate.
This elliptical, with a width of 24 inches, can fit in small and narrow spaces. It offers 16 levels of resistance and a digital monitor that displays time, speed, distance, calories and heart rate. Its user weight capacity is 300 pounds.
Get it here: Schwinn 411 Compact
No matter who might be sleeping — the kids, your spouse or even your pet — sometimes, the most important element about an early morning or late night workout is not disturbing others. “The best quiet elliptical is the Sole E25,” says Gallucci. “This machine has a specially designed quiet drive system, which is meant to make the E25 as silent as possible.” It offers 20 incline levels and tracks your calories, heart rate and more.
The SOLE E25 elliptical was designed specifically for low-impact workouts and with a quiet drive system for nearly silent workouts. It is more size-inclusive than most, with a user weight capacity of 350 pounds.
Get it here: Sole E25
Best easy-assembly
This elliptical trainer is designed to be pre-assembled, with an easy installation of just 30 minutes. You can fold and store your elliptical after use, making it ideal for small spaces or to keep the house tidy. The machine weighs only 15 pounds. The YOUNGFIT YF-90 has a magnetic resistance system, leading to quiet workouts. It also has a large LCD monitor that displays your time, speed, distance, calories burned and pulse rate. It also has 22 resistance levels.
The YoungFit YF-90 elliptical machine offers a quick setup and promises assembly in under 30 minutes. It has 22 resistance levels and tracks your time, speed, distance, calories burned and pulse rate.
Get it here: YoungFit YF-90 Elliptical Machine
Best under-desk
You can use this elliptical from your desk chair, while standing or even from your couch. The Stamina InMotion E1000 Compact Strider is very small and allows you to move while working. “I recommend this one as it’s versatile and compact, delivering a great workout for a small piece of equipment,” says Gallucci. It’s just 17 inches wide and has a user weight capacity of 250 pounds, but it doesn’t have a built-in monitor and does not offer incline levels.
If you’re looking to move your legs while working from your desk, the Stamina InMotion E1000 Compact Strider may be a solution for you. If you’re looking for an intense workout, this will not be your best option.
Get it here: Stamina InMotion E1000 Compact Strider
Our selections were made by listening to the advice of our knowledgeable experts, as well as conducting thorough research and ensuring that every one of our picks has positive customer reviews, particularly in terms of ease of use, longevity and preference.
If you found this guide useful, be sure to also check out our guides to the best rowing machines and the best treadmills.
Yes, buying an elliptical is worth it for a specific type of workout. “If you are someone looking to get a cardio workout without going to the gym, an elliptical is definitely worth it,” says Gallucci. “Ellipticals provide a full-body, low-impact workout, making it suitable for those returning to exercising after an injury or for beginners. It’s also ideal for those who aren’t fans of running, cycling or rowing machines,” he adds.
“There is no wrong way to get your body moving and get cardio in,” says Gallucci. “The elliptical is a good choice, but it depends on your workout goals. A disadvantage to using ellipticals is that these machines are no-weight bearing machines. That means they are low-impact, reducing the (good) stress on your body. Although they provide great cardio for people who have stronger muscles and joints, selecting a treadmill might be a better choice.”
The elliptical uses the whole body. “The elliptical has a unique design that engages the body comprehensively. With both the upper and lower body engaged while using the handlebars, the elliptical works out the leg muscles in addition to arms, glutes and core,” says Gallucci.
Both machines provide an excellent cardiovascular workout, notes Gallucci. “It depends on what you’re looking to achieve with your workout and what your fitness level is. One main difference is that, in general, an elliptical provides a total-body workout, whereas an exercise bike is mostly just a lower-body workout,” he says. Gallucci urges users to vary their workouts and include other types of movement: “Both machines can be utilized in different ways and may not be the only component of your workout that day.”
Ellipticals can help you lose overall body fat, as can any regular cardio exercise, although as with any type of exercise, you can’t target specific areas of the body to lose fat from. If you want to target the core muscles, however, Gallucci recommends the following: “While exercising on the elliptical, you are engaging your core muscles. For best results, you must make sure that your posture is erect, your gait is symmetrical and your core muscles are actively pulled tight.”
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