The 11 Finest Rowing Machines of 2025, Examined -

If you wish to change up your weekly exercise routine, rowing machines could be a sturdy addition to your house fitness center setup. Supreme for health lovers of all ranges, rowing is a low-impact type of cardio that targets each main muscle group and challenges each your cardiovascular and muscular endurance. We love rowing machines as a result of they work your higher and decrease physique concurrently, delivering a extremely efficient (and enjoyable) exercise.

To search out one of the best rowing machines, we first consulted rowing specialists to raised perceive which key options to search for. We then examined 20 expert-approved rowing machines from prime manufacturers (like Peloton and Hydrow) at house for a complete of 6,624 hours of testing. We used every machine recurrently in our house gyms for a number of weeks, a minimum of thrice per week. Our prime picks earned excessive scores for stability, efficiency, adjustability, consolation, show, and worth.

What to Know Earlier than You Store

Not all rowing machines are created equal, so maintain these elements in thoughts when buying:

Health Stage: It’s straightforward to manage the resistance on rowing machines in order that they are often appropriate for newbie to superior rowers. However when you plan to do intense exercises, search for one which’s very secure and has a excessive weight capability.
Accessible House: Most rowing machines have a big footprint, so take into account the place in your house you’ll use it and when you’ll have to retailer it between exercises. Some rowers may be folded for compact storage, whereas others occupy a extra everlasting house in your house fitness center.
Worth. Rowing machines can range fairly a bit in value, ranging wherever from $200 to properly over $3,000. Efficiency, sturdiness, and high-tech options can impression how a lot your rower will price. Finances-friendly choices are nice for rookies or low-intensity rowers.
Peak/Weight Constraints: Whereas most rowers we examined can accommodate customers of all sizes, some is probably not massive or sturdy sufficient for all physique varieties. Remember to test that the rower can accommodate your top and weight.

Completely Vetted & Reviewed

Credit score: Amazon

Professionals

Real looking, immersive expertise
Very secure and durable
Excessive-quality video and audio system

Key Specs

Who It’s For

Finest for the rowing purist who needs to really feel like they’re really rowing on water and likes enjoyable, immersive exercises.

Why We Love It

Hydrow’s Professional Rower makes use of an electromagnetic drag system to offer a easy, immersive rowing expertise. Throughout testing, the rower felt extraordinarily secure and by no means wobbled, even once we had been sprinting. We had been additionally impressed with how realistically it simulates on-the-water rowing, particularly once we adopted one of many scenic exercises on the show.

The rower’s varied courses are enjoyable and fascinating, maintaining us motivated to proceed utilizing the machine—even throughout exhausting exercises. We cherished the high-quality video and audio, and the flexibility to customise the music for every class. The deal with was very comfy to grip, and our arms by no means felt sore or tough after a exercise. Plus, the easy-on-and-off foot straps work for various shoe sizes, making this a superb possibility for households with a number of customers.

Potential Flaws

The ability swap is inconveniently positioned close to the bottom on the entrance of the machine, so it may be exhausting to succeed in, particularly for these with mobility points.

Meet Our Tester

Regardless of beforehand exercising so much, our tester calls themself a newbie to rowing exercises, as they have not been rowing a lot lately. They used to row twice per week about 10 years in the past. Our tester likes this machine as a result of it provides extra exercise selection than different choices, they usually additionally respect its sturdiness and constant resistance.

Credit score: Sunny Well being and Health

Key Specs

Who It is For

Finest for newbie to intermediate exercisers who desire a budget-friendly, light-weight, and cozy rowing machine that is straightforward to fold up and retailer.

Why We Love It

Sunny Well being & Health’ Magnetic Rowing Machine is a good budget-friendly possibility that impressed us with its extremely comfy and roomy seat, glossy design, and easy rowing movement. We love how easy it was to assemble, taking solely about 40 minutes. We actually like that its seat is adjustable and may be moved again relying on the person’s top. Plus, its grippy foam handlebars are straightforward to carry and stop our arms from slipping, even throughout extra intense exercises.

We respect that its massive footrests have a easy Velcro attachment to assist maintain our toes firmly in place whereas rowing. As a result of it is so light-weight and low-profile, it is simple to maneuver it from room to room, fold it, and retailer it when wanted, making it an awesome space-saving possibility. And in contrast to different rowing machines with overly exhausting seats, we by no means expertise any aches or discomfort when exercising on this machine.

Potential Flaws

Whereas secure, we observed that the machine rocked a bit once we rowed at a really quick tempo. Due to this, we predict this machine is finest suited to newbie to intermediate exercisers who do not plan on often rowing at a quick tempo.
We respect that the show tracks metrics like energy, strokes, and time; nevertheless, it is fairly primary and appears decrease high quality than different choices we have used.

Meet Our Tester

Our tester is a complicated exerciser who was once on the rowing group and recurrently works out. They suppose it is a high-quality, budget-friendly rower and particularly respect its comfy seat, grippy handlebars, and adjustability choices.

Credit score: ProForm

Professionals

Entrance wheels make it straightforward to maneuver and retailer
Quiet and secure, even at excessive resistance
Comfy and simply adjustable

Key Specs

Who It’s For

Finest for these with restricted house who desire a rower that’s compact and foldable, however nonetheless very sturdy and sturdy.

Why We Love It

We love ProForm’s Professional R10 Rower for anybody with house constraints. It’s straightforward to fold and really compact. And because of the entrance transport wheels, storing it’s a cinch after your exercise. We had been stunned at how sturdy and secure the rower felt throughout testing—it by no means wobbled, even once we used it with excessive resistance.

The rower features a free 30-day trial of iFit, which supplies you entry to a variety of trainer-led courses for all health ranges. We love that the rower syncs up with the exercises and auto-adjusts your resistance for a easy, constant rowing expertise. The adjustable deal with and footrests are straightforward to customise for various heights and foot sizes, making this an awesome machine for the entire family.

Potential Flaws

The rower doesn’t characteristic a pill or cup holder, which we count on in machines on this value vary.
Whereas we like following the iFit exercises, we want the rower might hook up with different apps for streaming content material.

Meet Our Tester

Our tester is an intermediate exerciser with little rowing expertise, however they’ve used a rower just a few instances earlier than testing one for Verywell Match. They like that the iFit app provides newbie, intermediate, and superior class choices, so there’s room to develop as you develop into stronger.

Sunny Health & Fitness Smart Magnetic Rowing Machine

Credit score: Sunny Well being & Health

Professionals

Very quiet and simple to make use of
Finances-friendly
Light-weight, compact design

Key Specs

Who It’s For

Finest for newbie or intermediate exercisers who need an inexpensive, no-frills rowing machine that’s easy to make use of and simple to maneuver round their house.

Why We Love It

Sunny Well being & Health’ Good Magnetic Rowing Machine is a user-friendly, budget-friendly possibility that’s good for getting began with rowing. Throughout testing, we discovered it to be very quiet and secure. With a comfortably large seat and durable body, the rower didn’t wobble or tip, even once we used it for intense exercises.

Regardless of its strong help, this rower was lighter and fewer cumbersome than another rowers we examined, so it was straightforward to stow away (particularly thanks to move wheels.) We additionally appreciated the hook-and-loop foot straps that permit us to regulate for simply the correct quantity of rigidity. Plus, the ergonomic handles felt comfy to carry, and the show adjusts so as to get the proper viewing angle.

Potential Flaws

Throughout testing, the machine’s stroke movement didn’t really feel as easy as another rowers.

Meet Our Tester

Our tester is an skilled exerciser who has used a number of rowers. They like this selection for its nice worth and easy design that will get the job executed with out loads of further bells and whistles, favoring performance over premium options.

Credit score: Amazon

Key Specs

Who It’s For

Finest for a family with a number of customers of various sizes who want a extremely adjustable, very sturdy rower.

Why We Love It

Concept2’s RowErg is a high-performance rower well-liked in gyms and with rowing groups. It’s dependable, versatile, and accommodates customers of all sizes—even our 6-foot, 8-inch tester might modify the machine for a really ergonomic, constant rowing expertise. The large, padded seat additionally felt extraordinarily comfy, even throughout prolonged rowing classes.

Throughout testing, we had been impressed with the rower’s easy, silent movement, which successfully mimics open-water rowing. Whether or not we did steady-state rows or vigorous exercises, it was very sturdy and didn’t transfer. With its constant efficiency and stability, this rower is a standout alternative for anybody who needs a dependable machine that may stand up to intensive use.

Potential Flaws

The fundamental show is small and doesn’t have streaming capabilities, however you may connect your smartphone to the rower and use it to stream exercises or exhibits.

Meet Our Tester

Our tester is a complicated exerciser with intensive rowing expertise and a former D1 rower at Syracuse College. They discovered this selection to be an awesome worth and a really dependable rower, noting that’s why it’s the gold commonplace for rowing groups worldwide.

Credit score: NordicTrack

Professionals

Crisp, rotating 24-inch touchscreen
Computerized depth degree adjustment
Entry to number of on- and off-rower exercises

Key Specs

Who It’s For

Finest for customers who worth a wide range of interactive, partaking exercises and have the funds and house for a flexible, high-performance rower.

Why We Love It

That includes a 24-inch swiveling touchscreen and an in depth library of exercises on the iFit app, NordicTrack’s RW900 Rower is a wonderful possibility for cardio, energy, yoga, HIIT, and extra. Throughout testing, we loved the guided exercises, particularly the scenic courses that simulate outside rowing. We additionally respect the rower’s auto-adjust characteristic, which routinely adjustments your resistance degree to match your guided exercise and private health degree.

With the rower’s handbook mode, we might additionally make the most of the 26 resistance ranges and built-in streaming apps like Spotify and Netflix. This machine feels extraordinarily secure and has a easy, quiet rowing movement. We additionally love its well-cushioned seat and grippy deal with, which saved us comfy all through our exercises.

Potential Flaws

Whereas the seat was comfortably padded, we would favor if it had been somewhat wider to accommodate extra sizes.
This rower is a bit bulkier and does not fold up like some others on our record. Nevertheless, we predict it is an awesome possibility you probably have the house for a flexible, high-performance machine.

Meet Our Tester

Our tester is a newbie rower and used this machine for brief however intense cardio exercises. They’ve some expertise with different rowing machines, however usually do not have interaction in a lot cardio exercise.

Credit score: One Peloton

Professionals

Full of options, together with massive touchscreen show
Very easy, constant operation
Presents type enchancment suggestions

Key Specs

Who It’s For

Finest if you wish to put money into a complete at-home rowing expertise with entry to dwell and on-demand courses.

Why We Love It

If you need a studio-like expertise proper within the consolation and comfort of your property, Peloton’s Rower is a standout alternative. When testing it, we cherished the entry to a large selection of dwell and on-demand courses for each degree, which saved us engaged and motivated throughout exercises. We additionally like that the rower offers real-time type suggestions and recommendation, as when you had been figuring out in individual with a coach.

With a massive, rotating touchscreen show and tremendous clear video and audio, the rower delivers an immersive rowing expertise. We discovered it to be extraordinarily easy and quiet, mimicking the sensation of rowing on water greater than different choices we examined. Plus, the rower incorporates a cellphone and cup holder, in addition to transport wheels that make it straightforward to maneuver round when not in use.

Potential Flaws

As soon as our toes had been locked into place on the rower, we discovered it tough to succeed in the handlebars, which is likely to be a difficulty for shorter individuals.
A Peloton All-Entry Membership is required to entry all options and courses, which will increase the general price.

Meet Our Tester

Our tester is an intermediate rower who was on their highschool’s rowing group for a 12 months. With the handfuls of rowing courses supplied in Peloton’s app, they really feel this selection is an effective alternative for each rookies and superior rowers. They’re 6 toes, 5 inches tall, and located the Peloton Rower secure sufficient to help them.

Credit score: Echelon

Key Specs

Who It’s For

Finest for rookies who desire a comfy, easy-to-use machine with entry to newbie exercises.

Why We Love It

That includes moderate-intensity exercises and a user-friendly design, Echelon’s Row-S Related Rowing Machine is a wonderful possibility for many who are new to rowing. Throughout testing, we had been impressed by the rower’s consistency and stability, even throughout intense classes. It options an ergonomic design with a seat and deal with that feels comfy all through our exercises.

The 22-inch touchscreen rotates for streaming off-rower exercises and shows stats equivalent to energy, output, and length—to maintain you motivated as you row. We additionally appreciated the enjoyable, scenic waterway exercises, which simulated water rowing and saved us engaged. Plus, the rower is straightforward to fold and transfer out of the best way if you’re executed together with your exercise.

Potential Flaws

Whereas resistance buttons on the handlebar may be handy, we by accident pushed them just a few instances whereas rowing.
We loved the scenic on-water exercises, however the high quality of the instructor-led, on-demand exercises may very well be higher.

Meet Our Tester

Our tester is a beginner to constant rowing who discovered the scenic exercises helped maintain her engaged. Additionally they appreciated how comfy the rower felt and stated it is a good worth possibility for rookies.

Credit score: Aviron

Key Specs

Who It’s For

Finest for exercisers who need an extremely secure and sturdy rowing machine for intense exercises.

Why We Love It

With a 507-pound weight capability, Aviron’s Sturdy Go is likely one of the most sturdy rowers we examined. It incorporates a sturdy aluminum development and a large seat that saved us secure irrespective of how exhausting we pushed ourselves. Throughout testing, the machine by no means wobbled as soon as and our strokes stayed easy and silent.

We had been additionally impressed with the rower’s ease of use and total consolation. Establishing and getting began was a breeze, and we love that the app provides a number of exercises for all talent ranges. With a glossy, fashionable design, the rower has a really comfy deal with and a padded seat that we discovered offers simply the correct quantity of firmness.

Potential Flaws

The rower doesn’t have a show, but it surely incorporates a system holder, so you may stream exercises out of your pill or smartphone.

Meet Our Tester

Our tester is an intermediate exerciser who is comparatively new to rowing. They felt this rower was well-suited to any talent degree, with varied exercise applications to maintain individuals engaged. Additionally they love that this machine is extraordinarily secure and simple to arrange with a contemporary design that’s very space-efficient.

Credit score: Ergatta

Professionals

Scenic, partaking exercises
Aesthetically-pleasing design
Very easy resistance

Key Specs

Who It’s For

Finest for individuals who like partaking, interactive exercises to spice up their motivation and train depth.

Why We Love It

With options like an AI coach for type enchancment and scenic, guided rowing exercises, Ergatta’s Lite Rower is a novel, high-performance rower. Throughout testing, we had been motivated by its game-based exercises, which provide the flexibility to race different Ergatta customers or set objectives and compete in opposition to your self. The rower makes use of water resistance, so our strokes felt easy. Plus, the water whooshing within the reservoir created a nice sound that mimics rowing on water.

We additionally love the high-quality audio system and clear, crisp show that rotates for off-rower exercises. Plus, the machine by no means wobbles or feels unstable throughout exercises. Its compact, light-weight design options lovely oak wooden, so it undoubtedly gained’t be an eyesore in your front room or bed room.

Potential Flaws

Shorter individuals could discover the handlebars to be too far-off from the seat.
We discovered that altering the monitor’s place is somewhat tough and takes time to get used to.

Meet Our Tester

Our tester is a newbie to train who has little expertise with rowing. They appreciated this selection as a result of it provides easy resistance and scenic routes that encourage an immersive really feel.

Credit score: Walmart

Key Specs

Who It’s For

Finest for athletes trying to save cash with out sacrificing high quality and efficiency.

Why We Love It

With a budget-friendly value and lots of the similar fascinating options as high-end machines, ProForm’s Professional 750R Rower is a wonderful worth. Throughout testing, our strokes had been easy and quiet. We additionally like that the deal with and seat are each padded, which enhanced our total consolation and helped us preserve good rowing type. The show is obvious and simply adjusted to our most well-liked top, making for a extra customizable expertise.

The rower comes with a 30-day free trial of the iFit app, which options greater than 10,000 trainer-led rowing exercises. We love that it syncs with the app’s exercises and auto-adjusts your resistance. Plus, the foldable design makes it straightforward to retailer the rower, so it’s an awesome possibility for these with smaller areas.

Potential Flaws

Should you don’t decide to pay for an iFit membership after your 30-day free trial, you’ll lose among the options we cherished, just like the auto-adjust resistance.
Throughout testing, we discovered the footrests had been a bit tough to regulate.

Meet Our Tester

Our tester used to work out on a rower so much, however after having a second youngster, they fell off their train recreation for a bit. So, they really feel like rookies once more when utilizing a rower. They discovered this selection the smoothest of any rowers they’d used earlier than.

Kinds of Rowing Machines

There are a number of kinds of rowing machines, every with a unique really feel and advantages. These are the 4 kinds you’ll come throughout as you store.

Magnetic: A well-liked alternative for house use, these rowing machines use magnets to create resistance, which permits for easy operation. They’re a superb possibility for a extra managed, quiet exercise.
Hydraulic: Hydraulic rowers create resistance utilizing pistons crammed with hydraulic fluid. They’re sometimes extra budget-friendly and compact, however they don’t all the time really feel as easy as different choices.
Water: These rowers have a water tank with pedals inside, so that they simulate the texture of rowing on the water. Though they’re identified for his or her pure really feel and easy movement, they could even be heavy and ponderous.
Air: The flywheel on air-powered rowers accommodates a fan, which turns and pulls in air as you row. The more durable you pull, the extra resistance the fan offers. Air resistance rowers are nice for high-intensity exercises, however they are typically louder than different varieties.

What to Search for When Purchasing for a Rowing Machine

Deal with Design: Think about rowing machines with textured handles so your sweaty arms gained’t slip off as simply. Simply ensure the deal with remains to be comfy to carry (and isn’t so tough that it offers you blisters.)
Sturdiness: Licensed rowing teacher Sarah Fuhrmann recommends searching for sturdy machines with a weight capability of a minimum of 300 kilos. Most rowing machines are important investments, so ensure yours is designed with supplies that can final.
Storage and Portability: Rowing machines are typically pretty massive, so test the scale and decide the place you’ll be utilizing them. If house is a matter, select one that’s foldable and has transport wheels for simple storage.
Programming: Many machines supply subscription-based programming, equivalent to dwell courses, on-demand exercises, or scenic rowing choices, to assist maintain customers engaged. Train physiologist Kaleigh Ray says it’s vital to resolve beforehand if you would like that kind of content material, as a rower might need restricted options with out the paid membership.
Particular Options: Many rowers have high-tech options to boost your exercises and efficiency. Some may even monitor your coronary heart fee or routinely modify resistance, whereas others present real-time type suggestions as you row. Constructed-in followers and cup or cellphone holders are additionally helpful options.

The ProForm Professional 750R Rower has entrance wheels that make it straightforward to maneuver, fold, and retailer.

Verywell Match

How We Examined the Rowing Machines

To search out one of the best rowing machines for at-home exercises, we examined 20 rowing machines for a complete of 6,624 hours. Every machine was examined a minimal of thrice per week in our properties. When testing rowing machines, we consider every choose primarily based on the next key standards.

Stability: A high-quality rower needs to be sturdy and secure to maintain you protected whereas utilizing it. Throughout testing, we be aware whether or not the machine wobbles or shakes throughout straightforward and intense exercises. We additionally take note of how the seat feels—is it large sufficient, or will we wrestle to really feel supported and safe?
Efficiency: Does the rowing really feel easy, or does it jerk us round? How loud is it? Is it comfy and simple to make use of? If the rower features a subscription with courses, we attempt some dwell classes and pre-recorded exercises to find out their high quality and effectiveness. And if it provides a suitable app, we consider its performance.
Adjustability: Most rowers are adjustable, so we make be aware of this throughout testing. We ask issues like: Are the footrests adjustable to accommodate all foot sizes? Can the monitor be tilted? How straightforward is it to regulate the resistance, each earlier than and through a exercise? The perfect rowing machines may be shortly and simply adjusted.
Consolation: A rower’s seat, handles, and footrests all contribute to its consolation. Throughout testing, we be aware how grippy the handlebars are and whether or not we type blisters or different irritation on our arms. We additionally take into account how the seat’s width and padding add to the general consolation.
Show: If a rower has a digital show or monitor, we ensure it clearly exhibits a variety of helpful knowledge. How does the audio sound? Is it a touchscreen? Can we rotate and tilt the display? That is particularly vital for machines with a subscription that offers you entry to off-rower exercises. Basically, we take into account whether or not the show enhances our rowing expertise.
Worth: To precisely fee every rower’s worth, we wait to test the worth till the tip of the testing interval, after we’ve evaluated it in all different classes. Based mostly on the rower’s efficiency and options, we take into account how a lot we’d pay for it. Rowing machines with high-value scores usually price lower than what we’d take into account paying for them.

The ProForm Professional 750R Rower has a big show, a cushty seat, and a easy and durable really feel.

Verywell Match

Our Consultants

We consulted specialists at every stage of our analysis, testing, and reporting course of. Some specialists helped us higher perceive what key options to search for when searching for rowing machines, whereas others helped us higher perceive the advantages of utilizing one. We select merchandise independently, however skilled enter helps inform our choices to make sure our suggestions are grounded in skilled experience.

Methods to Use a Rowing Machine

The rowing movement includes a sequence of 4 distinct phases, every vital to getting an efficient exercise and stopping accidents. Right here’s a primary information:

Catch: Sit tall in your rowing machine, together with your arms straightened, knees bent, and ankles flexed. Chill out your shoulders and have interaction your core as you lean barely ahead.
Drive: Push off together with your legs, straightening them and maintaining your core engaged. As your legs prolong, lean again out of your hips at a 45-degree angle. Then, pull the deal with towards your chest together with your arms, stopping just a few inches wanting your stomach button. This sequence of legs, core, and arms needs to be executed in a single easy, fluid movement.
End: Proceed leaning again with the deal with pulled towards your physique. Your elbows needs to be tucked into your sides and pointed behind you. Maintain your again straight, not rounded, and proceed partaking your core.
Restoration: Straighten your arms, hinge your hips ahead to bend your torso over your legs, after which bend your knees to return to the catch place. Maintain the movement fluid and managed.

Steadily Requested Questions

What kind of rowing machine is finest for house use?

Magnetic and water rowers are each nice choices for house use, but it surely is determined by your private choice. Some individuals select magnetic rowers for his or her quiet, easy operation, whereas others like that water rowers simulate practical on-water rowing, Ray says.

How usually ought to I row to see outcomes?

Fuhrmann recommends that rookies begin by rowing for 5 to 10 minutes just a few instances every week after which improve over time. They need to usually begin to see outcomes as soon as they will row for 20 minutes or extra just a few instances per week.

What are the advantages of rowing?

Utilizing a rowing machine could enable you to burn extra energy, enhance cardiovascular health, strengthen your higher physique, core, and decrease physique muscle mass, and even enhance posture. It’s additionally extra low-impact than different types of cardio, like working, making it accessible to all health ranges.

Why Belief Verywell Match

A licensed private coach, working coach, fitness center buff, and author for Verywell Match, Christine Luff, ACE-CPT, spends numerous hours researching and testing the most recent train gear and tools. Her many years of coaching athletes have helped her perceive the worth of utilizing one of the best merchandise for optimum efficiency and luxury. As a distance runner, she dietary supplements her weekly mileage with cardio exercises on a rowing machine. She additionally reviewed testing outcomes from our lab to assist compile this record.