There are certain pieces of fitness equipment you’re bound to find in every gym, like an elliptical machine—for good reason. The best ellipticals provide a low-impact workout that you can adjust to your perfect level of resistance and difficulty. That makes them a great addition to your home gym, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned exerciser.
But, as is the case with treadmills, exercise bikes, and other major cardio machines, this is a big purchase that you don’t want to rush into. So we consulted personal trainers and fitness experts to get the low down on how to find the best one. We even put several to the test ourselves as part of SELF’s Home Fitness Awards—dive into our winners below.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: NordicTrack FS10i Interactive Elliptical Trainer, $1,999
- Best Splurge: Bowflex Max Total 16, $2,499
- Best Budget Pick: Niceday Elliptical Machine, $600
- Best for Small Spaces: Schwinn 411 Elliptical Machine, $799
- Best Under-Desk Elliptical: Cubii JR1 Under Desk Elliptical, $280
In this article
Shop the best ellipticals
Ahead, you’ll find SELF Home Fitness Award winners and expert-recommended machines that’ll get your heart rate up.
Best Overall: NordicTrack FS10i Interactive Elliptical Trainer
The Home Fitness Award–winning NordicTrack FS10i can incline up to 10% and has a solid amount of resistance settings that’ll turn your low-impact workout into more of a challenge. On its touchscreen, you can sign into your iFit account (a membership costs $39 per month) and choose from hundreds of workouts that span the globe. “One day I might hike in the Alps, the next day I can ski in Norway, and then the following day I can run on a beach in Hawaii,” our tester said.
In classes, the machine’s incline and resistance settings will automatically adjust, to help you stay focused (no fiddling with buttons required). Bonus: You can connect your headphones directly to the elliptical via Bluetooth to tune into the instructor or your go-to playlist sans wires.
Dimensions: 58.5″L x 29.5″W x 74″H | Weight capacity: 375 lb. | Metrics tracked: Heart rate, calories burned, distance traveled, time, speed, resistance
Best Splurge: Bowflex Max Total 16
If you’re willing to spend a little more, you’ll definitely get a premium experience with Bowflex’s Max Total 16. It has a 16-inch touchscreen that’ll display your stats, along with a library of free JRNY workouts. (You can also pay $20 per month for a JRNY membership, which gives you access to even more classes, plus the ability to watch Netflix or Amazon Prime Video on the screen.)
To make your workout as comfy as possible, the machine has six grippy handlebars and textured pedals with some good grip. Between the handlebars, there’s a dial you can use to toggle between 20 different resistance levels and space for a water bottle, to keep you hydrated.
But for Carla Baccio, a personal trainer, the machine’s high-tech accessories are the real star of the show. “My favorite feature is that Bowflex includes a heart rate armband with Bluetooth,” she says, adding that it provides real-time heart rate stats.
Dimensions: 49.3″L x 30.8″W x 65.7″H | Weight capacity: 300 lb. | Metrics tracked: Total time, total intervals, total calories, average sprint burn rate, average heart rate, average RPM, average resistance
Best Budget Pick: Niceday Elliptical Machine
For a more budget-friendly (and slightly lower tech) option, Baccio recommends this elliptical from Niceday. “If you’re more self-motivated to work out and don’t need any extra features, all you need is [a] Niceday Elliptical, a good podcast or video, and you can get a great workout while saving some extra money,” she says.
It has 16 resistance levels, so there’s plenty of room to challenge yourself, even without the option to increase the machine’s incline. Niceday recommends the first five resistance levels for a light workout, levels six through 10 for breaking a sweat, and 11 to 16 for targeting muscles like your glutes.
Dimensions: 48″D x 25″W x 62″H | Weight capacity: 400 lb. | Metrics tracked: Heart rate, time, speed, distance, calories, total distance
Best for Small Spaces: Schwinn 411 Elliptical Machine
No spare room or garage to store your gym equipment in? You’ll appreciate this compact elliptical from Schwinn. It has a streamlined display, sensors on the handlebars that can detect your heart rate, and comes with an all-important water bottle holder. We also like that it comes with an interval training program, so switching the resistance is easy and painless.
Using the app Explore the World, you can stride along 27 routes in 19 scenic locations, track your pace and distance, and even race against your friends.
Dimensions: 53.8″L x 24″W x 62.5″H | Weight capacity: 300 lb. | Metrics tracked: Time, speed, distance, calories, heart rate
Best Under-Desk Elliptical: Cubii JR1 Under Desk Elliptical
We’re all for getting your workout in during your 9-to-5 (walking pad, anyone?). With this Home Fitness Award–winning under-desk elliptical, you can squeeze in an easy sweat session while you sit in Zoom meetings or answer e-mails. It’s whisper-quiet and allows you to monitor your progress through its built-in LCD tracker. You can also use the corresponding Cubii app to set goals and track your progress, or even connect your Fitbit or Apple Health app to the machine.
Dimensions: 23.2″D x 17.56″W x 10″H | Weight capacity: N/A | Metrics tracked: Calories burned, strides pedaled, distance traveled
How we chose the best ellipticals
All of the ellipticals on our list were tested by SELF editors or recommended by fitness editors. We know these pieces of equipment are pricey and take up a decent amount of space, so we want you to feel great about whichever one you choose. We don’t think you can go wrong with any of our top picks (and the pros we spoke with agree!).
Frequently asked questions
What are the benefits of using an elliptical?
As SELF has previously reported, elliptical workouts are a great alternative to running and other high-impact activities. They get your heart rate up without aggravating any injuries or putting stress on your knees. Plus, they don’t just target your legs—you can also work muscle groups in your upper body at the same time, when you use the handlebars.
Some elliptical models emulate the feel of a stair-stepper, if you really want to give your glutes a workout. And most come with an interval training setting, for those who love a quick HIIT session.
What should you look for in an elliptical?
First, we recommend starting with our elliptical buying guide. But here’s the gist: Prioritize your budget and space, Baccio and Chad Waetzig, the executive vice president of marketing and branding at Crunch Fitness, tell SELF. Waetzig says to make sure there’s extra room around your machine of choice, in case its moving parts swing out past its footprint. Also, consider whether your elliptical comes with any pre-programmed workouts. Waetzig says a good machine should at least have hills, intervals, and manual programs. Baccio notes that it’s handy to be able to track your steps and heart rate too.
Another nice-to-have: an elliptical that’s compatible with your fitness tracker, Waetzig says. “Finding equipment that can connect to your Apple Watch or Fitbit is a great motivator. Seeing the numbers displayed without breaking your stride really can be an encouraging thing,” he explains. You may also want to take features like the machine’s incline, resistance, and stride length range into consideration—some models are more adjustable than others. And if you have housemates or live in an apartment, you might need an elliptical that’s on the quieter side (you can usually find this intel in customer reviews).
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