Best Cardio Machines for Home
Rower, treadmill and exercise bike differ most in space, noise, impact and cost, so pick the type before the brand. This page compares those three on stated maker figures read on 2026-11-02, covers the elliptical later, and ends with a decision list where every answer links to the page that settles it.
Start with the type, not the brand
MudderElla did not test any machine. The comparison below uses figures from maker pages read on 2026-11-02 and views from named health sources, each with its date. Where a page gave no figure, the table says so. Ellipticals are not sourced yet, so this page says nothing about their size, noise or price; they will be covered in a later update.
The four questions that sort cardio machines are: how much floor you have, how much noise your home can take, how much impact your joints and floor will accept, and what you want to spend over a few years. The sections below take them in turn.
Space
A machine's footprint decides whether it stays out or gets put away. These are the sizes the makers state.
| Type | Example read | Stated size (L x W, in) | Storage as stated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rower | Concept2 RowErg | 96 x 24 | Separates into two parts; 9 ft x 4 ft with clearance |
| Rower | Hydrow Wave | 80 x 19 | Optional upright storage |
| Treadmill | Sole F63 | 75 x 34 unfolded | Folded 42 x 34 x 71 |
| Exercise bike | Sunny SF-B1805SMART | 50.8 x 23.4 | No folded size stated |
| Recumbent bike | Schwinn 230 | 64 x 27.7 | No folded size stated |
Concept2's page says the RowErg is 96 x 24 in assembled and separates into two parts without tools, and that it needs 8 ft x 2 ft assembled or 9 ft x 4 ft with clearance. Hydrow's FAQ lists the Wave at 80 x 19 in and sells a Vertical Anchor at $190 for upright storage. The treadmill row is a folding model: Sole's page gives 75 x 34 in unfolded and 42 x 34 x 71 in folded. The bike rows give assembled sizes only. For rower sizes see the small-space rowing guide, for folding treadmills the folding treadmill comparison, and for bikes the folding exercise bike comparison.
Noise
No decibel figure was found on any bike page, and none for the treadmills read. The makers use adjectives. Hydrow's page calls the Wave's electromagnetic drag "whisper-quiet", which is Hydrow's own claim. Sole's page says the F63 is "engineered for quieter operation" with no baseline and no figure. Sunny's page calls the SF-B1805SMART "virtually silent" in its FAQ. Concept2's page, read for this site, did not state a noise figure, and Ergatta's pages did not either. Treat every one of these as a maker claim, not a measurement. If noise decides your purchase, read the individual reviews on each hub page and ask the maker for a figure.
Impact
Named health sources describe impact differently for each type. Harvard Health's article on choosing a home exercise machine, dated 2021-03-01, calls a stationary bike a low-impact choice that avoids the weight bearing that can hurt hip or knee arthritis, describes the treadmill as weight-bearing, and describes the elliptical's weight-bearing action as more moderate. Cleveland Clinic's page on rowing machines, dated 2024-06-27, describes rowing as low impact and running as high impact. Harvard's article states no impact level for rowing machines.
Harvard also says rowing machines are not advisable for people prone to back pain. If you have pain, an injury, a heart condition or are pregnant, ask a clinician before choosing any of these machines.
Cost
The prices below are as the pages showed them on 2026-11-02, before shipping and tax.
| Machine | Price shown | Membership | Three-year cost with membership |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concept2 RowErg | $990 | None stated | $990 |
| Ergatta Luxe | $2,199 (page also shows $2,499) | Not required, per Ergatta | $2,199 without; $3,603 on the monthly plan |
| Hydrow Wave | $1,995 | $50 a month | $3,795 |
| Sole F63 treadmill | $1,199.99 | None; Sole says no subscription required | $1,199.99 |
| Sunny SF-B1805SMART bike | $699.99 | Free app | $699.99 |
| Schwinn 230 recumbent | $599.00 | Separate subscription for connected apps | $599.00 |
Hydrow says membership should not be considered an optional part of purchasing, and the three-year figure counts 36 months at $50. Ergatta's own page says membership is not required, so its no-membership cost is shown beside the monthly-plan cost. The treadmill and bike rows are single machines, not the market; for full comparisons see the treadmill hub and the exercise bike hub.
What each type gives you
A rower works legs, back and arms in one motion; Harvard Health's 2021 article says rowing machines may suit a total-body workout best. A treadmill is for walking and running. A bike is for pedaling, seated upright or reclined. For head-to-head views see rowing machine vs treadmill and rowing machine vs exercise bike.
Pick by your situation
Answer in order. Each answer links the page that settles it.
- Very little floor space? Compare folded sizes: folding treadmills or folding exercise bikes, or rowers that store upright in the small-space rowing guide.
- Want to walk rather than run? Read the walking treadmill guide.
- Joints or balance a concern, or an older rider? See the exercise bike guide for older riders, and check with a clinician first.
- Want to compare all rowing machines? Start at best rowing machines for home, or narrow with how to choose a rowing machine.
- Want strength training as well? Go to the home gym hub, which compares seven machines. Cable machines are in the all-in-one home gym guide, Bowflex machines are in Bowflex Revolution vs Xtreme 2 SE and tight rooms are in the compact home gym guide.
- Choosing for weight loss? Read what the sources say about cardio and weight loss first.
FAQ
Which cardio machine is quietest?
No page read states a decibel figure, so this site cannot rank them. Makers use words such as "whisper-quiet", "quieter" and "virtually silent", which are claims.
Which costs least to run over three years?
On the pages read, a machine without a membership costs only its price. Hydrow says membership should not be considered optional, so its three-year figure includes $50 a month.
What about ellipticals?
Ellipticals are not covered yet. This site has not read a maker page for one, so it prints no size, noise or price for them.
Is rowing low impact?
Cleveland Clinic's 2024-06-27 page describes rowing as low impact. Harvard Health's 2021-03-01 article says rowing machines are not advisable for people prone to back pain, so check with a clinician if you have any.