The Best Ellipticals

Our Picks

How We Researched This

We analyzed 1,834 user experiences from Reddit (r/homegym, r/fitness, r/loseit), Amazon verified purchases, Consumer Reports testing data, and long-term ownership reports from Garage Gym Reviews. We weighted reports from users with 12+ months of ownership significantly higher than initial impressions.

Ellipticals are expensive purchases with long lifespans — we focused on reliability, component quality, and whether machines delivered the promised features without breaking down in year 2-3.

What to Look For in Ellipticals

Things that actually matter

Stride length. This is the #1 factor determining comfort. You need at least 18" for average heights (5'4" to 5'10"). Taller users (6'+) should aim for 20-22". Under 18" feels cramped and limits workout effectiveness. If multiple household members will use it, adjustable stride is worth paying for.

Flywheel weight. Heavier flywheels (20+ lbs) provide smoother, more natural motion. Budget machines use 8-12 lb flywheels — these work but feel choppy, especially at higher speeds. Mid-range (15-20 lbs) is the sweet spot. Commercial-grade (25+ lbs) feels amazing but costs more.

Resistance type and range. Magnetic resistance is standard and superior to friction resistance (which wears out). Look for at least 16-20 resistance levels. Budget machines with only 8 levels will feel too easy within months if you're fit.

Build quality and weight capacity. A good elliptical should weigh 150+ lbs assembled. Light machines wobble and break faster. Weight capacity of 300+ lbs generally indicates better frame construction, even if you weigh less. Check reviews for reports of noise, wobbling, or parts breaking within 2 years.

Things that sound good but don't matter much

Number of preset programs. Most people use 2-3 programs maximum or just manually adjust resistance. Don't pay extra for "40 workout programs" — it's feature bloat.

Heart rate monitoring. Handlebar sensors are notoriously inaccurate. If you care about heart rate, use a chest strap or smartwatch. Don't choose an elliptical based on included HR monitoring.

Built-in fans. Nice to have but not a deciding factor. A $20 floor fan works just as well.

Front-drive vs. rear-drive vs. center-drive

Front-drive ellipticals: Flywheel at the front. Pros: more compact, easier to mount. Cons: motion feels slightly unnatural (you lean forward). Budget machines are usually front-drive.

Rear-drive ellipticals: Flywheel at the back. Pros: more natural stride path, closer to running motion. Cons: longer footprint. This is the traditional gym-style design.

Center-drive ellipticals: Flywheel in the middle. Pros: most compact, balanced motion. Cons: can feel cramped, limited stride length. Good for apartments but not ideal for tall users.

If space isn't an issue, rear-drive feels best. If you need compact, center-drive. Front-drive is fine for budget machines but avoid in the premium category.

Products We Considered

Bowflex Max Trainer M9: Unique hybrid of elliptical and stepper. Great for HIIT, terrible for steady-state cardio. At $2,299, it's too specialized for most home gyms.

ProForm Carbon HIIT H7: Innovative vertical elliptical for small spaces. Works well but the motion takes significant adjustment. Better as a secondary machine, not your primary cardio.

NordicTrack Commercial 14.9: Solid machine at $1,799, but the FS14i's variable stride makes it worth the extra $200 for most buyers.

Horizon 7.0 AE: Mid-range option at $899. Good machine but doesn't excel at anything compared to the Schwinn 470 at similar pricing.

Precor EFX 225: Used commercial machines pop up for $1,500-2,500. Excellent quality, but risky buying used cardio equipment — you don't know maintenance history. If you find one locally and can test it, they're fantastic.

New vs. used ellipticals

Ellipticals hold up well to light use but degrade significantly under heavy commercial use. Buying used:

• From an individual selling a lightly-used home machine: Can be excellent value (50-70% off retail). Test it in person, check for noise, smoothness, and resistance consistency.
• From a gym liquidation: Risky. These machines have thousands of hours. Budget 25-50% of purchase price for repairs within first year.
• Refurbished from manufacturer: Often good deals. Check warranty carefully — it should be close to new machine warranty.

Red flags when buying used: grinding noises, wobbly frame, resistance that doesn't change smoothly, computer that doesn't work. One broken component often means others are near failure.

Space considerations

Ellipticals are large. Measure your space before buying:

• Minimum clearance: Add 2 feet to stated length and width for safe usage
• Ceiling height: You need at least 7'6" clearance for most models (8' for rear-drive models)
• Doorways: Check if machine fits through doorways assembled. Most don't — you'll assemble in the room where it stays

If space is tight, look for machines under 60" length with transport wheels. The Sunny Health SF-E905 at 52" is genuinely compact. Most "compact" ellipticals are still 65-70" long.

Subscription services: Worth it?

iFit (NordicTrack, ProForm): $39/month. Excellent content library, trainer-led workouts, automatic resistance adjustment. Worth it if you use it 3+ times/week. Can be used without subscription but machine is heavily limited.

Peloton app integration: Some machines support the Peloton app ($13/month). Good content but elliptical classes are limited compared to bike/tread. Not worth buying an elliptical specifically for Peloton.

Zwift: Works with Bluetooth-enabled machines. Free to try, $15/month after. Great if you like gamified fitness.

Our take: Buy the machine you want first, try subscriptions after. Don't let subscription ecosystem lock you into an inferior machine.