The 9 Best Elliptical Machines of 2024

Elliptical Machines arranged on a blue background — Health / Alli Waataja

Elliptical machines can give you a heart-pumping workout while keeping your knees, ankles, and hips feeling loose and limber. The best elliptical machines keep you active, challenged, and comfortable while fitting into your space and your budget.

Ellipticals are great for people of all fitness levels who want a low-impact, full-body workout, says certified personal trainer De Bolton. She recommends elliptical workouts to her clients who are recovering from joint issues or who have arthritis. Ellipticals can also help you burn calories for weight loss and improve cardiovascular health, endurance, and strength while being easy on the joints, says personal trainer Aaron Hines. Some of his clients who’ve had double hip and knee replacements have improved their physical fitness with the help of an elliptical.

To help you find the best elliptical for your space, budget, and needs, we asked physical therapists and personal trainers for their top picks and researched two dozen highly-rated products to find the best machines on the market. Then, a physical therapist from our Medical Expert Board reviewed this article for accuracy about the benefits of using an elliptical and how they can improve your fitness.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

NordicTrack Commercial 14.9 Elliptical at Amazon ($2,755)

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Best Budget:

Sunny Premium Cardio Climber at Amazon ($450)

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Best Investment:

Octane Fitness Q37xi Elliptical Cross Trainer at Octanefitness.com (See Price)

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Best Programmed Workouts:

Bowflex Max Trainer M6 at Bowflex.com (See Price)

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Best for Small Spaces:

Schwinn 411 Compact Elliptical Machine at Amazon ($699)

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Most Comfortable:

Sole E35 Elliptical at Amazon ($1,100)

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Best for Joint Pain:

Sole E95 Elliptical at Soletreadmills.com (See Price)

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Best Under Desk:

Cubii JR1+ at Walmart ($200)

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Best for Manual Powered:

Sunny Health & Fitness Air Walk Trainer at Amazon ($100)

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Best Overall

NordicTrack Commercial 14.9 Elliptical

Amazon

View On Amazon $2,755

Why We Like It

The NordicTrack Commercial 14.9 Elliptical is Bolton’s top pick due to its easy stride, incline, and decline capabilities. It also provides a plethora of preprogrammed workouts and iFIT courses. With a 350-pound weight limit, increased pedal size, and stride length that can adjust from 17.5 inches to 18.7 inches, this machine is also more size-inclusive than other ellipticals.

Customize your workouts with the 26 resistance options and incline ranging from 0% to 20%, or choose a trainer-led class on iFIT, displayed on the 14-inch attached touchscreen. The screen tracks your cadence, calories burned, distance, and time throughout your workout. You’ll also appreciate the Bluetooth connectivity options, speakers, fan, and cup holder, which provide comfort and convenience.

It’s Worth Noting

Athough the wheels are convenient, the machine is bulky and weighs over 200 pounds, which may make it tricky for some users to move on their own.

Product Details

Dimensions: 67 x 29 x 69 inches
Max Weight Capacity: 350 pounds
Resistance: Adjustable, 0-26
Maximum Stride: 18.6 inches
Stats Displayed: Calories burned, distance, time elapsed, resistance, cadence
Monitor: Yes, 14-inch HD touchscreen

Best Budget

Sunny Premium Cardio Climber

Amazon

View On Amazon $450 View On Walmart $450 View On Sunnyhealthfitness.com

Why We Like It

Hines loves that the Sunny Premium Cardio Climber is an easy-to-use machine that provides a full-body workout for half the price of many others. With the turn of a knob, you can switch between eight levels of resistance. A horizontal climb of 5 inches and a vertical climb of 9 inches can help you get a full-body, low-impact workout.

You won’t get a lot of the bells and whistles found with other machines, but that’s to be expected with the price of $500. We also love how lightweight this machine is, and the compact design makes it ideal for smaller spaces.

It’s Worth Noting

The 10-inch stride length may be too short for some people. Hines prefers an adjustable stride length for most machines, as it can help to reduce the risk of overextension and discomfort, but this feature isn’t often available on budget models like this one.

Product Details

Dimensions: 44 x 25 x 64 inches
Max Weight Capacity: 260 pounds
Resistance: Adjustable, 0-8
Maximum Stride: 10 inches
Stats Displayed: Time, RPM, distance, calories, speed, pulse, calendar, clock, thermometer
Monitor: Yes

Best Investment

Octane Fitness Q37xi Elliptical Cross Trainer

Octane

View On Octanefitness.com View On Johnsonfitness.com View On Thefitnessoutlet.com

Why We Like It

If you’re looking for a machine that will last your lifetime and has all the features you’ll want for every step of your fitness journey, Hines recommends the Octane Fitness Q37xi Elliptical. It has a steeper price point than most, but it’s a heavy-duty machine that comes with a lifetime frame warranty, a five-year parts warranty, and a one-year labor warranty to keep it in optimal condition for your workouts.

Choose from 10 preprogrammed workouts with three workout boosters for added cross-training programs, and add variety to your upper body work with the three different hand grip options. You can adjust the stride from 18 to 26 inches, making it challenging but comfortable no matter how tall you are. We also love that you can monitor your heart rate with the built-in pulse sensors and Polar wireless heart rate band to track your workout zones.

It’s Worth Noting

The total weight is 220 pounds, which may be difficult for some users to set up or put in place.

Product Details

Dimensions: 33.5 x 76 inches
Max Weight Capacity: 300 pounds
Resistance: Adjustable, 0-20
Maximum Stride: 26 inches
Stats Displayed: Time, calories, distance, speed, heart rate, heart rate percent, level
Monitor: Yes

Best Programmed Workouts

Bowflex Max Trainer M6

Dick's Sporting Goods

View On Bowflex.com View On Dick's $1,500 View On Fitnessexchange.com

Why We Like It

Bolton says the Bowflex Max Trainer M6 is the elliptical she recommends for anyone looking for an effective, time-efficient, and low-impact workout at home. She likes that this machine combines the benefits of an elliptical with a stair stepper, since the movements are more vertical than other ellipticals. You can create your own workout by adjusting the resistance from 0 to 16, or follow the in-app programs.

When you buy your Bowflex elliptical machine, you get a one-year subscription to the JRNY app, which is packed with programs to follow on the elliptical. Just sit your device on the included stand (with USB charging) to follow along with the workouts.

It’s Worth Noting

The JRNY app features tons of workout programs and is included free for one year, but is $149 each year afterwards.
Also, the stride length is 15 inches and not adjustable, which may not be ideal if you’re closer to 6 feet tall.

Product Details

Dimensions: 46 x 26 x 64.2 inches
Max Weight Capacity: 300 pounds
Resistance: Adjustable, 0-16
Maximum Stride: 15 inches
Stats Displayed: Time, calories burned, heart rate, resistance, distance.
Monitor: Yes, 10-inch console

Best for Small Spaces

Schwinn 411 Compact Elliptical Machine

Amazon

View On Amazon $699 View On Target $700 View On Schwinnfitness.com

Why We Like It

Bolton recommends the Schwinn 411 Compact Elliptical for anyone with limited space, since the pedal spacing is narrow and the lower profile works well with low ceilings. Choose from two handlebar options, fixed or moving, and select your resistance from 16 settings for a full-body workout. The price point on this elliptical is also appealing if you’re looking for a product that costs less than $1,000.

It’s Worth Noting

You’ll feel some resistance even at the lowest setting, so if you’re looking for movement without resistance, this elliptical may not be the best option.
While the 18-inch stride will work well for most people, it may be too short if you’re over 6 feet tall.

Product Details

Dimensions: 58.3 x 24 x 62.5 inches
Max Weight Capacity: 300 pounds
Resistance: Adjustable, 0-16
Maximum Stride: 18 inches
Stats Displayed: Time, distance, calories, speed, heart rate
Monitor: Yes

Most Comfortable

Sole E35 Elliptical

Sole

View On Amazon $1,100 View On Dick's $3,000 View On Soletreadmills.com

Why We Like It

With extra tailoring to make the foot pedals as comfortable and ergonomic as possible, the 2023 edition of the Sole E35 Elliptical is one of the most comfortable machines on the market. The pedals have a natural 2-degree inward slope, which reduces side-to-side movement of the pedals.

The touchscreen display connects to Garmin devices and the Sole+ app, so you can track your workouts and access plenty of extra programs. To challenge yourself with each workout, you can easily adjust your resistance and incline from 0 to 20. We also love that the weight limit of 350 pounds is inclusive for people with larger bodies.

It’s Worth Noting

While this is one of the most comfortable elliptical machines to ride, all of the extra features add up to a price tag of $3,000.

Product Details

Dimensions: 70 x 31 x 70 inches
Max Weight Capacity: 350 pounds
Resistance: Adjustable, 0-20
Maximum Stride: 20 inches
Stats Displayed: Distance, calories, RPM, time
Monitor: Yes, touchscreen

Best for Joint Pain

Sole E95 Elliptical

Sole

View On Soletreadmills.com

Why We Like It

The Sole E95 Elliptical has all the features your knees and ankles need to feel their best as you exercise. If your feet often go numb after working out on an elliptical, the ability to adjust the angle of the pedals will reduce this both effect and any pressure on your ankles. The foot pedals are cushioned and have a 2-degree inward slope to limit stress on your joints.

This machine also has the highest weight capacity of any elliptical on our list with a maximum weight of 400 pounds. Customize your workout with adjustable incline and resistance or follow along with any of the preprogrammed workouts.

It’s Worth Noting

You’ll need a large space for this machine, as the length is over 6 feet and the step-up height is 14 inches.

Product Details

Dimensions: 70 x 34 x 83 inches
Max Weight Capacity: 400 pounds
Resistance: Adjustable, 0-20
Maximum Stride: 20 inches
Stats Displayed: Distance, calories, RPM, time
Monitor: Yes, touchscreen

Best Under Desk

Cubii JR1+

Cubii

View On Walmart $200 View On Cubii.com View On Samsclub.com

Why We Like It

Hines recommends the Cubii JR1+ under-the-desk elliptical machine for home or work areas with minimal space. This small elliptical weighs just 25 pounds, making it easy to transport from home to the office if needed, and fits seamlessly underneath most desks.

While you can’t expect the same benefits as a traditional elliptical machine, the Cubii Jr1+ can help you increase movement throughout the day, especially if you find yourself stuck behind a desk or in a chair most of the day. This machine allows you to switch between eight different resistance levels to increase calorie burn and build strength while sitting in a chair—and it’s also quiet enough not to disturb your co-workers.

It’s Worth Noting

The stride length is short, so you won’t be working the same muscle groups as you do with a traditional elliptical machine.

Product Details

Dimensions: 23 x 17.5 x 10 inches
Max Weight Capacity: 264 pounds
Resistance: Adjustable, 8 levels
Maximum Stride: 6 inches
Stats Displayed: Calories burned, time, distance, RPM
Monitor: Yes

Best for Manual Powered

Sunny Health & Fitness Air Walk Trainer

Amazon

View On Amazon $100 View On Target $110 View On Walmart $100

Why We Like It

For increasing low-impact movement and getting your heart rate up, the Sunny Health and Fitness SF-E902 Air Walk Trainer does the trick. Bolton loves that the Air Walk Trainer operates using just your body’s motion, which makes it easy to exercise anywhere, even without a power source.

If you’re short on space, this machine folds up to half its size for easy storage, and it can be used anywhere, even if an outlet’s not nearby. The stride length of 30 inches means anyone of any height can reap maximum benefits, although people with shorter strides should take care not to stretch too far.

It’s Worth Noting

Some of the features you may miss on this manually powered elliptical are resistance, incline, and programmed workouts.
The weight limit is only 220 pounds.

Product Details

Dimensions: 25 x 19 x 57 inches
Max Weight Capacity: 220 pounds
Resistance: None
Maximum Stride: 30 inches
Stats Displayed: Time, count, total count, calories
Monitor: Yes

How We Selected

To choose the best elliptical machines, we interviewed two personal trainers, who provided their top picks for elliptical machines. They also told us what to look for regarding design, stride length, resistance, handlebars, space, and other special features. We included their recommendations on our list and their advice about how you can best use an elliptical to meet your health goals.

Where We Stand

We love the diverse workouts, size inclusivity, and special features the NordicTrack Commercial 14.9 Elliptical has to offer. Our experts also recommend this elliptical for its stride, incline, and decline capabilities, as well as its size inclusivity. We’ll keep an eye on new products as they’re released, so check back to stay up-to-date on our top picks.

The Experts

De Bolton is a Certified Personal Trainer, Corrective Exercise Specialist, Senior Fitness and Weight Loss Specialist, and founder of Faith Fueled Moms
Aaron Hines, MS, has a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology and is the owner of Premier Performance Training, LLC in Brentwood, Tennessee

What to Know About Elliptical Machines

Fitness Goals: Ellipticals provide a great cardiovascular workout and can also improve heart health and stamina, says Bolton. They’re also an effective weight loss tool. Elliptical workouts can be great cross-training tool for athletes, since they help increase endurance and strength.
Size: Ellipticals come in all sizes, ranging from compact, under-the-desk models to extra-large machines that require taller ceilings and ample space. If you’re low on space but want a full-sized elliptical machine, Hines recommends choosing one that is lightweight enough to be easily stored when not in use.
Stride Length: Stride length (which is the distance between the pedals when one is as far forward as possible and the other as far back as it can be) is measured from toe to heel. Hines recommends choosing either a stride length that matches your height or one you can customize to suit your body, since this reduces the risk of overextension and discomfort. According to Sunny Health and Fitness, an elliptical manufacturer, the ideal stride length for your height is as follows:
Under 5’: 11 to 14 inches
5’ to 5’3”: 14 to 16 inches
5’4 to 5’8”: 16 to 20 inches
5’9 to 6’0”: 18 to 20 inches
Over 6’: 20 inches or more
Resistance: An elliptical should grow with you as you increase your strength and endurance, which is why it’s best to choose one with adjustable resistance and incline, says Hines. There are two types of resistance: flywheel resistance and magnetic resistance. Flywheel resistance tends to have a smoother ride with heavier weight, while magnetic resistance is more accurate and smooth in its transition, wearing on the machine less. Both types of resistance will help you build strength and endurance.
Features: Additional features like Bluetooth and app connectivity, touchscreen monitors, pre-programmed workouts, fans, speakers, and tablet, phone, and water bottle holders are available on various elliptical machines.

Your Questions, Answered

Is working out on an elliptical better than walking?

An elliptical will give you a full-body, low-impact workout. While walking predominantly works the lower body, explains Bolton. You may be able to burn more calories and increase your heart rate at a faster pace by adjusting the elliptical’s resistance, but in the end, the best option depends on your unique health goals. Both walking and using an elliptical can help a person achieve wellness goals.

Is an elliptical or a treadmill better for a home workout?

Treadmills and ellipticals are two excellent home workout options, but the best one for you depends on your goals and limitations, says Hines. Both products can help you burn calories and elevate your heart rate for improved cardiovascular health. Ellipticals may be better for anyone with joint issues because they minimize the impact on your ankles, knees, and hips.

How long should I use the elliptical to see results?

An elliptical can be a part of your regular exercise routine. You may notice your stamina and strength increase within the first month of use, depending on the length and frequency of your workouts and the amount of resistance and incline you use. If your goal is weight loss, results will depend on the amount of calories burned while on the elliptical, as well as other lifestyle factors like nutrition, sleep, and stress management.

How much should you spend on an elliptical?

Ellipticals range from $200 to over $10,000, with the average price on our list falling right around $2,000. The price greatly depends on specs like interactive monitors, adjustable resistance and incline, and any other special design features.

Who We Are

Kelsey Kunik is a registered dietitian, freelance writer, and nutrition consultant. Her work focuses on helping women break free from restriction and dieting and focus on true whole-self health and wellness, including fitness goals. Her writing focuses on eating behavior, programs, supplements, foods, and products that help women step into their power and feel their best each and every day.