Elliptical vs Treadmill
Compared on what the makers and named health sources state, an elliptical is a pedal-and-handle machine with no running deck, while a treadmill is a belt you walk or run on. Harvard Health says a treadmill is weight-bearing and an elliptical's action is "more moderate." Ask a clinician first if you have pain or an injury.
This page compares the two on impact, space, noise, cost and the workout each gives. Maker facts were read on 2026-11-07 for ellipticals and 2026-11-02 for treadmills, and prices may change. The site did not test any machine. For the full set of ellipticals read, see the guide to best elliptical for home, and for treadmills see the guide to best treadmill for home. MudderElla explains how its pages are made.
Impact on the body
Harvard Health's page on choosing a home exercise machine (dated 2021-03-01, read 2026-11-02 as a fetch-tool summary) says a treadmill is weight-bearing and describes the weight-bearing action of an elliptical as more moderate. That is the only medical-source comparison read for this site. No named medical page states that an elliptical is low impact or good for joints; where "low impact" appears, it is the maker's wording. Schwinn's 411 page says "a low impact cardio workout at a fraction of the size," and Sole's E20 page says "smooth, quiet, low-impact cardio." The elliptical benefits page sets out the limits of this evidence. If you have pain, an injury, a heart condition or arthritis, ask a clinician which machine suits you.
Space
Sizes are as each maker's page prints them, and the floor length is the figure to check against your room.
| Machine | Assembled size (L x W x H) | Folded, per the page |
|---|---|---|
| Sole E25 elliptical | 70 x 24 x 70 in | none stated |
| Schwinn 411 elliptical | 53.8 x 24 x 62.5 in | none stated |
| Sunny SF-E905SMART elliptical | 40.7 x 26.4 x 59.8 in | none stated |
| Sole F80 treadmill | 77 x 36 x 59 in | 48 x 36 x 66 in |
| Sole F63 treadmill | 75 x 34 x 52 in | 42 x 34 x 71 in |
| NordicTrack Commercial 1750 | 77.3 x 37 x 59.5 in | page says it folds; no folded size read |
On these pages the ellipticals are narrower than the full-size treadmills, and none of the elliptical pages read states a folded size. Horizon's EX-59 page lists the frame as "Non-Folding." The treadmills fold shorter but taller, so a ceiling or wall check still applies. Schwinn's 411 page gives a minimum ceiling height of user height plus 17 in. See the compact elliptical guide for small footprints and the folding treadmill guide page for treadmills that fold.
Noise
No decibel figure appears on any elliptical or treadmill page read. Makers use adjectives. Sole's E25 page says "quiet, joint-friendly miles," Sunny's E905 page says "ultra-quiet magnetic belt drive system" and Schwinn's 411 page has no noise statement. On the treadmill side, Sole's F80 page says its motor "runs quieter" without saying quieter than what, and the NordicTrack page has no noise statement. These are maker claims, and this page cannot rank the two by sound.
Cost
Prices are what each page showed on the read dates and may change.
- Ellipticals (2026-11-07). Sunny lists the SF-E905SMART at $299.99. Schwinn shows the 411 at $699.00. Sole shows the E20 at $999.99, the E25 at $1,299.99 and the E35 at $1,799.99.
- Treadmills (2026-11-02). Sole shows the F63 at $1,199.99 and the F80 at $1,599.99, both with a free app and no monthly subscription per the pages. NordicTrack shows the Commercial 1750 at $1,999.99, and its page says a paid iFIT Pro subscription and WiFi are required to access full content and features, at $39 a month after the first month or $396 a year.
So on the pages read, ellipticals start lower, and the Sole models carry no subscription on either type. Delivery on Sole's E20 page is listed at $49.99 for standard curbside, so check delivery before comparing totals.
The workout each gives
Harvard Health Publishing's 2021 table (page dated March 8, 2021, read 2026-11-07) gives calories for 30 minutes at 125, 155 and 185 lb. Its elliptical row, labelled "general," reads 270, 324 and 378. Its walking at 3.5 mph row reads 107, 133 and 159, and running at 5 mph reads 240, 288 and 336. The page defines only body weight and 30 minutes, gives no resistance or speed for the elliptical, and does not say the walking and running rows were measured on a treadmill. So the table is not a fair head-to-head, and this site does not claim any of these numbers as its own.
The CDC page (dated Dec. 20, 2023) sets adult guidance at 150 minutes of moderate or 75 of vigorous activity a week plus 2 days of muscle strengthening, and names brisk walking and jogging or running, not an elliptical. It does not favour a machine. The CDC says most weight loss occurs from decreasing calories. The pages read do not list which muscles either machine works.
Which fits which home
- A treadmill suits someone who wants to walk or run and has room for a deck of about 20 by 60 inches on the Sole pages read.
- An elliptical suits someone who wants a pedalling motion and a narrower footprint, with the maker's low-impact wording understood as the maker's.
- Another option is Bowflex's Max Trainer: its page describes a "two-in-one motion" of an elliptical and a stepper, covered in the Bowflex Max Trainer review.
- Neither is a fit for everyone. See the elliptical vs exercise bike page, the cardio machines for home page and the cardio machine for weight loss page. The exercise bike guide and the rowing machine vs elliptical page cover the others.
FAQ
Is an elliptical easier on the joints than a treadmill?
Harvard Health, as read, says a treadmill is weight-bearing and an elliptical's weight-bearing action is more moderate. It does not say either is safe for a joint condition. Ask a clinician.
Which takes less space?
On the pages read, the ellipticals measure 24 to 26.4 in wide against 34 to 37 in for the treadmills. Treadmill pages list folded sizes for the Sole models; the elliptical pages state none.
Which costs less?
The ellipticals read run from $299.99 to $1,799.99 and the treadmills from $1,199.99 to $1,999.99. Prices were read on different days and may change.
Does either machine need a subscription?
Sole's elliptical and treadmill pages say no monthly subscription. NordicTrack's page says a paid iFIT Pro subscription is required to access full content.