Best rowing machine

The best rowing machine to buy depends on your budget, available space, and whether you want serious workout performance or a convenient machine for home fitness. For most people, I'd prioritize a smooth rowing stroke, reliable construction, easy storage, and a performance monitor that makes workouts enjoyable.

There are three main types worth considering:

• Air resistance: Feels like rowing harder makes the resistance increase; excellent for conditioning and interval training.
• Magnetic resistance: Usually quieter, making it a good choice for apartments and shared spaces.
• Water resistance: Provides a smooth stroke and the sound and feel of rowing on water.

My top rowing machine picks

(Best overall)

1. Concept2 RowErg

$990

Air resistance · No required subscription

The one I'd recommend to most people. Excellent durability, precise workout tracking, adjustable effort, and a strong record in home gyms and competitive rowing. The main drawback is the fan noise. Men's Health Good Housekeeping

Best for long-term value, fitness, and serious training.

View Concept2 RowErg

2. Hydrow Wave

$1,995

Magnetic resistance · Guided classes

My pick if you want a premium, quiet rowing experience with scenic workouts and instructor-led classes. It's compact compared with many full-size rowers, but the membership adds ongoing cost. rowingrelated.com Men's Health

Best for beginners who need motivation and people in shared living spaces.

View Hydrow Wave

3. Sunny Health & Fitness Smart Magnetic Rower

$445

Magnetic resistance · Budget-friendly

A practical option if you want a quieter cardio machine without spending close to $1,000. It has a dual-rail design and an extended rail, although its workout tracking and training ecosystem aren't as established as Concept2's.

Best for general home fitness on a tighter budget.

View at Target

4. WaterRower Natural

Around $1,200

Water resistance · Natural wood finish

A beautiful alternative if you want a smooth stroke and the soothing sound of moving water. It looks more like furniture than gym equipment, but it's heavier and its performance monitor is less sophisticated than the Concept2's. Row HQ Iron Home Fitness

Best for aesthetics and a water-like rowing experience.

View WaterRower

Prices are approximate US prices from current listings and may change. Check shipping, warranty, and any required membership before purchasing.

Which one should you buy?

My default recommendation is the Concept2 RowErg. It offers the best balance of training capability, durability, and ongoing cost for most people. If you specifically want quiet operation and coached workouts, I'd choose Hydrow instead.

To narrow it down to the best machine for you, I have one question:

1. What's your budget?

Under $300

$300–$500

$500–$1,000

$1,000+

2. What's your main goal?

General fitness and weight loss

Building endurance and serious training

Low-impact exercise and staying active

Guided classes and motivation

3. How important is noise?

Very important — quiet machine

Noise is fine

4. How much space do you have?

Small space; needs compact storage

Enough room for a full-size rower

[Find my best rowing machine]

The top rowing machines for home gyms cover a range of budgets, resistance types, and smart features based on testing by Wirecutter and Garage Gym Reviews: Garage Gym Reviews The New York Times

Best Overall & Budget Pick: Concept2 RowErg

Price: Around $990

Resistance Type: Air flywheel

Why it’s great: Widely trusted by Olympic athletes and commercial gyms, the Concept2 offers unbeatable durability, accurate performance tracking via the PM5 monitor, and a design that separates into two pieces for easy storage. It is loud due to the air fan, but it is the gold standard for pure training value. The New York Times YouTube

Best Interactive / Smart Rower: Hydrow Wave

Price: Around $1,699 (plus subscription)

• Resistance Type: Electromagnetic (very quiet)
• Why it’s great: The Hydrow Wave is smaller and more apartment-friendly than the full-sized Hydrow Pro, featuring a sleek HD touchscreen and scenic, athlete-led live and on-demand workouts. YouTube

Best Alternative Air Rower: Rogue Echo Rower

Price: Around $900

Resistance Type: Air

Why it’s great: Built with a heavy-duty frame similar to the Concept2, the Rogue Fitness Echo is slightly cheaper and comes with large turf wheels that make it simple to roll around or store vertically. YouTube

Best Luxury Water Rower: Ergatta Luxe

Price: Varies (frequently discounted)

Resistance Type: Water

Why it’s great: Combining a classic water-rowing feel with a gaming-style interface, the Ergatta Luxe uses interactive race-style visuals and personalized workouts instead of traditional instructor-led videos. Garage Gym Reviews BarBend

Best Quiet / Aesthetic Pick: WaterRower (Oak with S4 Monitor)

Price: Around $1,324

Resistance Type: Water

Why it’s great: Known for its quiet, soothing water swoosh and stylish handcrafted wood finish, it fits seamlessly into living spaces while delivering a smooth, low-impact stroke. Reddit

Watch this video breakdown comparing top rowing machines like the Concept2, Hydrow Wave, and others to help you decide:

To help you narrow down the best option, tell me:

What is your budget ?

Do you prefer a quiet magnetic/water rower or a loud air rower ?

Do you want a screen with live classes or a simple performance monitor ?

The "best" rowing machine depends heavily on what you are looking for—whether that is commercial-grade durability, immersive tech classes, game-like workouts, or a budget-friendly price tag.

The top-rated rowing machines are categorized below by what they do best:

1. Best Overall & Best Value: Concept2 RowErg (with PM5 Monitor)

• Price: ~$1,000 Garage Gym Reviews
• Resistance Type: Air Aviron
• Why buy it: The Concept2 is the undisputed industry standard. Aviron It is what you will find in almost every CrossFit box, professional training facility, and rowing club. It's virtually indestructible, incredibly accurate with data tracking, holds up to heavy use (up to a 500-lb user capacity), and separates into two pieces for easy storage. Fittux
• The Catch: It is a "no-frills" machine. Garage Gym Reviews It features a basic performance monitor (the PM5) rather than a built-in HD touchscreen. If you want classes, you have to prop up your own tablet and use third-party apps (like EXR or Kinomap). Aviron

2. Best Interactive / Smart Rower (On-Water Aviron Classes): Hydrow Wave (or Hydrow Origin)

• Price: ~$1,600 – $1,800 (plus monthly membership)
• Resistance Type: Electromagnetic BarBend
• Why buy it: If you want the Peloton experience for rowing, Hydrow is the gold standard. It features stunning, cinematic on-water classes led by professional athletes, filmed on real rivers and oceans rather than inside a studio. Aviron The electromagnetic drag makes the stroke incredibly smooth and quiet. The Hydrow Wave is a smaller, more budget-friendly version of the original.
• The Catch: It relies heavily on a pricey monthly subscription to unlock its content, and the machine has limited standalone functionality without it.

3. Best Gamified & Family Rower: Aviron Strong Series

• Price: ~$2,500 (plus optional membership) Garage Gym Reviews
• Resistance Type: Dual Air & Magnetic BarBend Aviron
• Why buy it: If you struggle with traditional steady-state cardio and need entertainment to stay engaged, Aviron is unmatched. It features a 22-inch HD touchscreen packed with video games, competitive races, streaming apps (like Netflix), and instructor-led workouts. Garage Gym Reviews It also handles multi-user households brilliantly and uses a robust dual resistance system. Aviron
• The Catch: It is quite expensive and represents a major financial investment. Garage Gym Reviews

4. Best Water Rower (Aesthetic & Feel): Ergatta (Luxe or Lite) / WaterRower

• Price: ~$1,700 to $2,400
• Resistance Type: Water
• Why buy it: Water rowers provide the closest physical simulation to actual on-water rowing, accompanied by the soothing sound of sloshing water. Fittux Ergatta stands out by pairing a gorgeous, handcrafted wooden frame (which looks like high-end furniture) with game-based, visual workouts (pushing goals, pacing games, and distance races) rather than shouting instructors. Aviron
• The Catch: Water rowers require minor upkeep (changing water purification tablets occasionally), and you cannot dynamically change the baseline resistance mid-row via a button—resistance is entirely dependent on how hard you pull. Aviron

5. Best Budget Magnetic Rower: Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515

• Price: ~$300 to $400
• Resistance Type: Magnetic
• Why buy it: If you just want to test out rowing without dropping a grand, this Sunny Health model is a perennial bestseller. It uses quiet magnetic resistance, is compact, features a basic digital monitor, and gets the job done for casual cardio. Fittux
• The Catch: It has a lower weight capacity, a less robust build quality, and a shorter stride/track length compared to commercial machines.

Quick Buying Checklist:

• Choose Concept2 if you want maximum longevity, zero subscriptions, and pure performance tracking.
• Choose Hydrow if you want gorgeous, instructor-led scenic video workouts. Aviron
• Choose Aviron if you want video games, streaming media, and heavy-duty family features. Aviron
• Choose Ergatta / WaterRower if you want a machine that looks like real furniture and offers visual, target-based gaming workouts. Aviron

The Concept2 RowErg is the best choice for most people: it’s a dependable, well-rounded rower and tops several 2026 reviews. If a quieter workout matters more, consider the WaterRower Oak.nytimes.comlivescience.com

The best rowing machine overall is the Concept2 RowErg (or its Performance Monitor PM5 model). www.menshealth.com

It earns consistent top honors across expert testing and reviews from sources like Men's Health (best overall in 2026), Wirecutter (NYT, best overall after hands-on testing of multiple models), Top Consumer Reviews (best option, rated 5.0), and CNET (recommended as a reliable pro-level pick). www.menshealth.com

Why Concept2 RowErg stands out

• Unmatched durability and build quality: Aircraft-grade aluminum frame and steel chain hold up to 500 lbs with legendary longevity (users report 10+ years of heavy use, including commercial gyms). Parts are widely available, and it includes a 5-year frame warranty + 2-year parts warranty. www.topconsumerreviews.com
• Realistic resistance and feel: Air flywheel resistance naturally varies with effort (harder = more resistance), mimicking on-water rowing better than constant magnetic or water-based systems. It's accurate for training and metrics.
• Practical for home use: Separates into two pieces for easy storage, adjustable seat/footrests, and a reliable PM5 monitor (or basic monitor) that tracks distance, pace, calories, watts, etc., via the free ErgData app (no subscription needed).
• Value: Typically ~$990 (varies by retailer). No hidden fees, no monthly subscriptions, and it’s the industry standard used by competitive rowers, CrossFit, and Olympic teams.

Many reviews call it the “hell machine” for building serious cardio and strength (full-body: legs, back, arms, core) without high-impact stress on joints. It’s low-maintenance—just oil the chain occasionally.

Other strong options depending on your needs

Here are the best alternatives based on 2026 reviews:

• For a quieter, more realistic “on-water” feel: WaterRower Oak (or similar wooden models with S4 monitor). It uses water resistance for smooth, silent operation and looks like premium furniture. Great for beginners or living rooms, but requires occasional water maintenance (fill with purified water + tablets) and isn’t as durable or accurate for competitive training. www.nytimes.com

• For immersive classes, streaming, and gamified workouts: Hydrow Wave, Aviron Strong Series, or NordicTrack RW900. These have large touchscreens, video classes, games, or streaming apps (Netflix, etc.), and automatic resistance adjustment. They feel more like a Peloton-style experience but often require subscriptions ($20–$40/month) and cost more ($1,500–$2,800+). Ideal if you want motivation or variety.

• Budget-friendly (~$500–$800 range): Cheaper air or magnetic models from brands like Yosuda or generic options, but they’re less durable and may lack accuracy or longevity.

Key buying factors to consider

• Resistance type: Air flywheels (like Concept2) give the most authentic feel and variable challenge. Magnetic/electromagnetic are quieter but more consistent. Water is fluid but maintenance-heavy.
• Noise: Air models are louder (flywheel spin); water/magnetic are silent and better for shared spaces.
• Space and storage: Most fold upright or separate; check ceiling height (some need ~8 ft) and room size.
• User level and features:
  • Beginners: Wider seat/footrests, adjustable resistance, or elevated seats (e.g., Aviron for easier entry).
  • Tech lovers: Built-in apps, heart-rate sensors, or streaming.
  • Serious training: Concept2’s accuracy and trackability.
• Other: Weight capacity (most 300–500+ lbs), warranty, and app integration (Bluetooth to Strava/Garmin is common).

Rowing is one of the best low-impact cardio/strength workouts—it engages 85%+ of your muscles, burns calories efficiently, and supports heart health and core stability. It’s joint-friendly compared to running.

Quick start tip

Measure your space, decide on noise tolerance and tech preferences, then buy direct from the manufacturer (Concept2 or WaterRower) for best support/returns. Check current pricing and specs on their sites or major retailers, as they fluctuate. If you have specific needs (e.g., budget under $1,000, apartment size, or heavy streaming), let me know for a more tailored recommendation! Always consult a doctor before starting intense exercise.