Rowing Machine vs Treadmill
A rower is long and narrow, a treadmill is wide and usually taller when folded, and their makers' pages give different space, cost and noise facts. Harvard Health calls a treadmill weight-bearing, while Cleveland Clinic calls rowing low impact. The maker figures below were read on 2026-11-02. Ask a clinician first if you have pain or an injury.
This page compares the two machine types on space, noise, impact, cost and the workout each gives. Every figure is attributed to a maker's page or a named outlet, and the site did not test any machine. If you are leaning toward a rower, the guide to best rowing machines for home lists the options, and MudderElla explains how its pages are made and dated.
Space
Rowers and treadmills take space in different shapes, and several of each fold, store upright or separate.
| Machine (maker's page, read 2026-11-02) | Assembled footprint | Storage, as the page states it |
|---|---|---|
| Concept2 RowErg | 96 in long, 24 in wide, 57 lb with standard legs | Separates into two parts without tools, 25 x 33 x 54 in; Concept2 lists 8 ft x 2 ft assembled and 9 ft x 4 ft with clearance |
| Hydrow Wave | 80 x 19 in, 102 lb | Hydrow lists optional upright storage |
| Ergatta Luxe | length and width not on the pages read; 106.5 lb with water | Ergatta says it folds and stores with no additional equipment |
| Sole F80 treadmill | 77 x 36 x 59 in, unit weight 223 lbs | Folded 48 x 36 x 66 in |
| Sole F63 treadmill | 75 x 34 x 52 in | Folded 42 x 34 x 71 in |
| NordicTrack Commercial 1750 | footprint 77.3 x 37 x 59.5 in | Page says it folds and rolls out of the way; no folded size on the page read |
| WalkingPad Z1 | 56.1 x 22 x 4.1 in, net weight 51 lb | Folded 31.8 x 22 x 5.4 in |
Reading the table: a full-size treadmill and a full-length rower have similar floor lengths, since Concept2's 96 in and the Sole F80's 77 in differ by under two feet. The rower is narrower (24 in against 36 in). When stored, the treadmills in the table fold to a shorter length but are taller, while the Concept2 separates into two parts. A walking-focused pad such as the WalkingPad Z1 is a different category, with a much smaller footprint and a top speed of 4 mph on its page. For small homes, the rowing machine for small spaces guide covers rowers that store compactly.
Noise
No decibel figure for a treadmill appears on any maker page read for this site. The makers use adjectives. Sole's F80 page says its brushless motor runs quieter and calls it quiet, without saying quieter than what, and its F63 page says "engineered for quieter operation." The WalkingPad Z1 page says its motor runs with minimal noise. The NordicTrack page for the Commercial 1750 has no noise statement.
For rowers, Hydrow's Wave page describes its drag mechanism as "whisper-quiet" in Hydrow's own words. Ergatta's and Concept2's pages read for this site gave no noise statement. Two outlets describe the Concept2 as loud: BoxRox (2025-09-17) says it is louder than magnetic machines, and Expert Reviews (2022-12-14) calls it noisy. This page gives no decibel figure.
Impact on the body
Harvard Health's page on choosing a home exercise machine (dated 2021-03-01) says a treadmill is weight-bearing and describes the weight-bearing action of an elliptical as more moderate. It states no impact level for rowing machines. Cleveland Clinic's page on rowing machine benefits (dated 2024-06-27) describes rowing as low impact and running as high impact. It does not compare a treadmill directly with a rower.
Harvard says rowing machines are not advisable for people prone to back pain, and Cleveland Clinic says poor form can cause back spasms. Ask a clinician which machine suits you.
Cost
Prices are what each maker's page showed on 2026-11-02 and may change.
- Rowers. Concept2 lists the RowErg at $990 with standard legs, with no membership named on the page. 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. Ergatta shows the Luxe at $2,199, and the page also shows $2,499. Ergatta says a membership is not required to use the rower.
- Treadmills. 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. It lists iFIT at $39 a month after the first month, or $396 a year. The WalkingPad Z1 page shows $299.
The workout each gives
Harvard says rowing machines work the arms, legs and core and may be a strong option for a total-body workout, and Cleveland Clinic lists the legs, upper back, core, glutes, hamstrings, arms and shoulders. The rowing machine benefits page sets out those statements and their limits. The sources read for this site do not describe which muscles a treadmill uses, so this page makes no muscle comparison.
On calories, Harvard Health's 2021 table (page dated 2021-03-08) gives 30 minutes of moderate stationary rowing as 210, 252 and 294 calories at 125, 155 and 185 lb, and running at 5 mph as 240, 288 and 336. Harvard's figures define only body weight and 30 minutes, and do not define moderate. Cleveland Clinic ranks rowing below running for calories without numbers. The rowing machine for weight loss page covers what the CDC says about calories and weight.
The CDC's guidance (150 minutes of moderate or 75 of vigorous activity a week, plus 2 days of muscle strengthening) does not name either machine, so it does not favour one.
Which one fits which home
- A treadmill suits someone who wants to walk or run at home and has floor space for a deck of about 20 by 60 inches on the full-size pages read, or a compact pad for walking. See the guide to best treadmill for home picks for the set read.
- A rower suits someone who wants a seated, non-running machine and has a narrow strip of floor, or storage room for an upright or separable machine.
- Neither is a fit for everyone. People with back, knee, hip or heart concerns should ask a clinician. See the rowing machine vs exercise bike page for a third option, and the cardio machines for home page for all four types. The cardio machines for weight loss page starts from the weight goal.
FAQ
Is a rowing machine or treadmill better for small spaces?
It depends on the machine. Concept2 lists the RowErg at 96 x 24 in assembled and separable into two parts. Sole lists the F63 treadmill folded at 42 x 34 x 71 in. A compact walking pad is smaller still.
Which is quieter, a rower or a treadmill?
The sources do not say. No treadmill page read gives a decibel figure, and makers use adjectives. Hydrow calls its Wave whisper-quiet, and two outlets call the Concept2 loud.
Which is lower impact?
Harvard Health says a treadmill is weight-bearing. Cleveland Clinic calls rowing low impact. Harvard gives no impact level for rowers. Ask a clinician if you have a joint or back problem.
Which costs less?
On the pages read, the Concept2 RowErg is $990 and the Sole F63 treadmill is $1,199.99. Membership terms differ by maker, so check each page.
Which burns more calories?
Harvard's table lists moderate rowing below running at 5 mph for equal time and weight. Cleveland Clinic ranks rowing below running. Neither is a measure for you.