Rowing Machine vs Elliptical
Per Harvard Health's 2021 table, an elliptical (270, 324 and 378 calories in 30 minutes at 125, 155 and 185 lb) is listed above moderate stationary rowing (210, 252 and 294). Sources differ on impact and back care. Cleveland Clinic calls rowing low impact, while Harvard says rowing machines are not advisable for people prone to back pain. Ask a clinician first.
This page compares the two on muscles, impact, space, noise and cost, using named sources and maker pages. Rowing facts were read on 2026-11-02 and elliptical facts on 2026-11-07, and prices may change. The site did not test any machine. For the rowers read, see the guide to best rowing machines for home, and for ellipticals the guide to best elliptical for home. MudderElla explains how its pages are made.
Muscles used
Cleveland Clinic's page on rowing machine benefits (dated 2024-06-27) lists the legs, upper back, core, glutes, hamstrings, arms and shoulders for a rowing machine. Harvard Health says rowing machines work the arms, legs and core. No page read for this site lists the muscles an elliptical works, so this page makes no muscle comparison. The rowing machine benefits and elliptical benefits pages set out what each source says and leaves out.
Impact and back care
Cleveland Clinic describes rowing as low impact and running as high impact. Harvard Health says an elliptical's weight-bearing action is "more moderate" than a treadmill's, and states no impact level for rowing machines. No named medical page read says an elliptical is low impact; where that phrase appears, it is the maker's wording, such as Schwinn's 411 page ("a low impact cardio workout"). Harvard says rowing machines are not advisable for people prone to back pain, and Cleveland Clinic says poor form can cause back spasms. If you have back, knee, hip or heart concerns, or are pregnant, ask a clinician which machine suits you.
Calories, as Harvard's table states them
Harvard Health Publishing's table (page dated March 8, 2021) gives calories for 30 minutes at 125, 155 and 185 lb, and defines only weight and time.
| Activity (Harvard's label) | 125 lb | 155 lb | 185 lb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elliptical Trainer: general | 270 | 324 | 378 |
| Rowing, Stationary: moderate | 210 | 252 | 294 |
| Rowing, Stationary: vigorous | 255 | 369 | 440 |
The elliptical row is labelled "general" with no stated effort, and "moderate" and "vigorous" are not defined, so the rows are not a like-for-like test. The CDC says most weight loss occurs from decreasing calories, and the rowing machine for weight loss page covers that statement. This site does not claim any figure as its own.
Space
| Machine | Size per the maker's page | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Concept2 RowErg | 96 x 24 in | 57 lb (standard legs) |
| Hydrow Wave | 80 x 19 in | 102 lb |
| Ergatta Luxe | length and width not on the page; folds and stores per Ergatta | 106.5 lb with water |
| Sole E25 elliptical | 70 x 24 x 70 in | 209 (unit weight; units not printed) |
| Schwinn 411 elliptical | 53.8 x 24 x 62.5 in | 100 lb |
| Sunny SF-E905SMART elliptical | 40.7 x 26.4 x 59.8 in | 62.8 lb |
Rowers are longer and lower, and ellipticals are shorter but taller. Concept2's page gives the RowErg a length of 96 in, against 70 in for the Sole E25. Schwinn's 411 page lists a minimum ceiling height of user height plus 17 in, so a tall room matters for an elliptical. Hydrow sells an Upright Storage Kit at $80 for the Origin and Arc and a Vertical Anchor at $190 for the Wave. No elliptical page read states a folded size. Compact rowers are covered in the small-space rowing guide, and small ellipticals in the compact elliptical guide.
Noise
No decibel figure appears on the pages read for either type. Hydrow's Wave page calls its drag mechanism "whisper-quiet" in Hydrow's own words. Sunny's E905 page says "ultra-quiet magnetic belt drive system," and Sole's E25 page says "quiet, joint-friendly miles." Two outlets describe Concept2 rowers as loud: BoxRox (2025-09-17) and Expert Reviews (2022-12-14). These are claims, and this page cannot rank the two by sound.
Cost
Disclosure: the Hydrow, Ergatta and Bowflex links on this page are affiliate links. MudderElla may earn a commission if you buy after clicking one, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what a page says. How we link.
- Rowers (2026-11-02). Concept2 lists the RowErg at $990 with standard legs. Hydrow lists the Wave at $1,995 MSRP, and Hydrow says membership is $50 a month for the whole household and should not be considered an optional part of purchasing. The Hydrow Wave is listed at 19 in wide on Hydrow's page. Ergatta shows the Luxe at $2,199, and the page also shows $2,499. Ergatta says a membership is not required.
- Ellipticals (2026-11-07). Sunny lists the SF-E905SMART at $299.99, Schwinn the 411 at $699.00, Sole the E20 at $999.99 and the E25 at $1,299.99.
On the pages read, Concept2's $990 is below the Sole E25 and above the Schwinn 411 and the Sunny, so cost depends on the pick.
Which fits which home
- A rower suits someone who wants a seated, pulling motion and has a long, narrow strip of floor or room to store it upright. See the rowing machine vs treadmill and rowing machine vs exercise bike pages for the other comparisons.
- An elliptical suits someone who wants a standing, pedalling motion and has ceiling height. The elliptical vs treadmill page compares it with a treadmill.
- A different machine is Bowflex's Max Trainer, whose page describes a "two-in-one motion" of an elliptical and a stepper; see the Bowflex Max Trainer review.
- Neither is a fit for everyone. The cardio machines for home page lists all the types.
FAQ
Is a rowing machine or an elliptical better for the back?
Neither source says one is better. Harvard Health says rowing machines are not advisable for people prone to back pain, and Cleveland Clinic says poor rowing form can cause back spasms. Ask a clinician.
Which has more calories in Harvard's table?
The elliptical row (270, 324, 378) is higher than moderate stationary rowing (210, 252, 294), but the rows use different undefined labels.
Which takes less floor space?
The Concept2 RowErg is 96 x 24 in and the Sole E25 is 70 x 24 in, per their pages. Small ellipticals such as the Sunny SF-E905SMART are 40.7 x 26.4 in.
Does either need a subscription?
Hydrow says membership is $50 a month and should not be considered optional. Ergatta says membership is not required. Sole's elliptical pages say no monthly subscription.