Matt Kollat
If you’re looking for a killer cardio workout to do at home, you can't beat the rowing machine. Not only is it far more compact than a best treadmill or best elliptical, but did you know this low-impact exercise fires up 86% of the muscles in your body? Giving you a lung-busting full-body workout.
Having used various rowing machines as part of my aerobic training over the years, the one I enjoy using the most is the Concept2 RowErg. Not only is this rowing machine favoured by Olympians and professional CrossFitters, but it’s easy to use and manoeuvre, very functional and a reasonable price. It’s an air rowing machine, though, so it can get slightly noisy.
Although many of the rowing machines we’ve included have compact designs, if you’re really tight on space, then you may want to consider an exercise bike. These are also excellent for boosting your aerobic fitness, take up less space, and you may even find it a slightly easier workout, as they work solely your lower body muscles, rather than your upper and lower.
The rower, however, is ideal if you want a full-body focus; make sure you know how to use a rowing machine first! Here’s our pick of the best rowing machines.
Black Friday rowing machine deals in 2025: what to expect
If a rower is on your winter wish list, know that there's usually a pattern to how the deals go. Most years, it's simple: air rowers like the Concept2 RowErg rarely get huge price drops, but you might see small markdowns, free shipping or bundle extras.
Magnetic smart rowers tend to move more on price, so watch for cuts on Echelon and JTX, plus iFit bundle deals on NordicTrack. Hydrow and Ergatta often lean into membership promos, free accessories or discounted uprights rather than slashing the hardware. Water rowers sometimes drop on certain wood finishes, perhaps less popular, darker options.
Be sure to factor in delivery times and returns, and budget a floor mat and (if you want training stats) a chest strap. The best prices usually land in the week of Black Friday, but early-bird offers pop up ahead of time. Oh, and don't forget to keep an eye on our T3 Black Friday hub, as we'll have all deals in one easy-to-reach place.
The top three
The Concept2 RowErg is a favourite amongst regular gym-goers to seasoned athletes. Although simple in design and usability, this air rower delivers a lung-busting, smooth row. The flywheel is pretty noisy though.
The Technogym Skillrow has a beautiful design and uses 'multidrive technology' (a mixture of air and magnetic resistance), so that you can ramp up your aerobic workout to a power one.
The Echelon Smart Row will set you back less than £700. It's whisper quiet, has a compact foldable design, but it doesn't have a built-in screen, so you will have to use a tablet or smart TV for this.
Bryony is the Active Writer for T3, covering fitness, wearable and outdoor content. She has been hitting the gym for over four years now, and using a rowing machine makes up an important part of her aerobic training. She's always ready to offer the latest news, recommendations and advice on the best pieces of home gym equipment.
Best rowing machines to buy right now
Best overall
The Concept2 RowErg is a rowing machine that’s popular with seasoned athletes through to the weekend warrior. It’s an iconic rowing machine that can deliver a lung-busting, full-body-burning workout.
T3’s Active Writer, Bryony, uses the RowErg weekly during her conditioning and HYROX workouts and appreciates its simplicity. The display screen (although slightly dated) has all the health metrics you could want, and there are pre-set workouts for an extra challenge.
It uses a resistance variable flywheel and there are 10 damper settings to choose from that will either make your row feel lighter or heavier, depending on the type of training/workout you’re doing. As an air rower, it feels slightly similar to rowing on water and the flywheel isn’t horrifically noisy, but its certainly not the quietest.
Also, if you’re concerned about space, then the Concept2 is ideal. Not only is it a small rower, that’s light and easy to move around, thanks to its bottom wheels, but it also folds up and can be stored upright, which will save you a lot of space.
Best premium
Like much of the products in Technogym's latest range, the Skillrow is ridiculously high-tech, offering the user way more than just a platform to idly row in front of 4Music for an hour. The system uses Multidrive Technology, which basically adds further resistance to the usual air resistance unit, allowing users to switch between training for cardiovascular fitness and back-bulging strength at the twist of a dial.
On top of this, it has some excellent connectivity, including its own clever app that offers a virtual cox to get you through those really punishing sessions. Get several Skillrows in a room, and wheel in a large screen, and an entire class can start competing against one another or rowing in total synchronicity for a more entertaining workout.
Read our full Technogym Skillrow review.
Best affordable
Echelon's Smart Rower is an exciting concept. It's an affordable piece of home gym equipment that helps you save money by getting you to use an external display – tablet, smart TV, etc. – as your performance monitor. It's not perfect, and we would've appreciated it if Echelon included at least a small LED display for basic stats. However, we'd still recommend the Echelon Smart Rower for people with a tablet or TV they can use with the rower and want a quiet indoor rowing machine to work out with. At least you won't have to spend loads of money upfront.
Read our full Echelon Smart Rower review.
Best water rower
The Ergatta Rower brings an ergonomic angle of friendly competition to an already dynamic exercise. The price of entry may give you pause, but the more you use the machine, the more value that monthly membership accrues. And with all the digital swagger those leaderboards afford, you’ll feel like the captain of your own ship in no time.
Speaking as a novice rower but seasoned expert in analyzing futuristic fitness tech that arrives at my doorstep, we’d argue the Ergatta Rower packs a lot of value into a surprisingly stowable package, and this is one of the best rowing machines we’ve tested to date. Whether you want to gamify your next cardio routine or simply escape to wayward waterways of the world in a virtual canoe, the cherry-flavoured Ergatta Rower makes an excellent addition to any home gym.
Read our full Ergatta Rower review.
Best for beginners
The NordicTrack RW900 rower is great beginner-friendly rower for those with a larger budget to spend. The large touchscreen makes this rower extremely user-friendly, not to mention the automatic resistance system and foldable, space-saver design that's ideal for smaller living spaces.
Thanks to the iFit workout library and live workouts, both amateurs and pros are likely to find at least a few dozens of exercises to follow along. The family membership also allows more than one person to set up a profile and track progress using the single rower alone. If you are happy to spend this much money on a rower, we can wholeheartedly recommend the NordicTrack RW900. It will provide a fun full-body workout and improve fitness and endurance at home.
Read our full NordicTrack RW900 Smart Rower review.
Best compact
With a plethora of classes in its library and coupled with enthusiastic instructors, rowing on the Hydrow Wave seems far more accessible to beginners than 'normal' rowers. Bad habits can often slip in, and it’s reassuring to have the instructors take time to break down the correct form, so rowers know how to use their legs, arms, back and core for a safer rhythmic workout.
There's very little we don't like about the Hydrow Wave; it’s compact, sturdy and offers more value for money than many of its competitors. If we were to be picky, we would say that from the noise point of view, the wave is not 100 per cent smooth. On odd occasions, it can be noisy, especially when sliding towards the screen. Other than that, we can safely say that the Hydrow Wave is a good investment for those looking to improve their strength training and fitness overall.
Granted, no rowing machine will give you the thrill or the mindfulness of being on the river. But designed to address two of the biggest barriers that prevent people from bringing a rowing machine into their homes - space and cost - the Hydrow Wave has addressed this perfectly.
Read our full Hydrow Wave review.
Best Peloton alternative
Hydrow takes a leaf out of the Peloton book of indoor fitness and offers live or on-demand fitness sessions led by rowing professionals and elite-level athletes. But rather than being stuck in a softly lit studio, these workouts take place in authentic and stunning locations, meaning your mind is transported somewhere nice while you are sweating all over your living room floor.
Powered by a patented electromagnetic resistance system, Hydrow aims to offer a realistic rowing stroke that offers a great level of adjustability to suit different fitness levels. Although not as natural and fluid as a WaterRower, every stroke is designed to mimic rowing on water, although we found Technogym's Skillrow (see below) to offer one of the best pure overall rowing experiences in the game.
High-definition workouts come courtesy of a crisp 22-inch display, which links up with Bluetooth heart rate monitors and wireless headphones. At the same time, built-in speakers are powerful enough to drown out the little noise of an electromagnetic rowing stroke.
Read our full Hydrow Rower review.
Best performance
With its aluminium construction and nickel-plated steel chain, the JTX Freedom Rowing Machine feels like a sturdy piece of kit. In fact, it has got one of the highest user maximum weight ratings on this list (135 kg, if you're interested), along with primo features, such as a wide padded seat and adjustable footplates.
A built-in computer offers a plethora of rowing read-outs, while the 16 levels of resistance and multiple training programmes ensure there's a workout for all abilities. That said, the overall construction and tough air resistance offered here makes it more suitable for those with a bit of rowing experience rather than someone new to the business, seeing as it tickles the more premium end of the budget spectrum.
Best foldable
This rower sits very much at the cheaper end of the scale, but unlike lots of rivals in this price bracket, it uses clever magnetic resistance technology to deliver not only a more realistic rowing experience but also offers seven different resistance levels. There's a basic LCD monitor that counts calories, reps and time exercising, but that's really where the gizmos end. Instead, this is a well-built and affordable rower with smooth action and the ability to fold and store away when not in use. So long as you're not expecting to train for the next Olympic Games on this thing, it will more than suffice as a fat-burning tool.
How we test the best rowing machines
Some rowing machines are easier to store than others, which means we aren’t always able to test them at home (although, that doesn’t mean we won’t try!). On the occasions when we’re unable to do this, we’ll test them in-store, where we aim to spend the entire day putting the machine through its paces – testing everything from resistance levels to comfort, noise, and ease of use. T3’s team of Active Writers also spends plenty of their free time in the gym where they have a lot of hands-on experience with various rowing machine models, so that they can give honest, real-world feedback on performance, durability, and whether a machine is truly worth your money.
How to choose the best rowing machine
Before you click purchase and buy your rowing machine, make sure you’ve considered the factors below first:
Space: While a rower may be one of the smaller pieces of cardio equipment, it still requires a decent amount of space, so make sure you have an adequate amount and have taken a look at the dimensions before purchasing. If you’re really tight on space then a foldable rower may be the better option.
Noise: Some rowers are noisier than others. For example, air rowers are pretty loud, whereas water and magnetic rowing machines are far quieter. If you’re living with someone or are in a flat, then it’s definitely one worth thinking about.
Type of rowing machine: There are three main types of rowing machines; air, magnetic and water. The former is the most common type of rower and it provides resistance by blowing air through a flywheel, which you can adjust manually. Magnetic rowers are very similar to air rowers, but use a magnet on the flywheel instead, making them very quiet. The latter, water rowers, have a drum filled with water with fan blades inside, and when you pull the rower handle it moves the blades around, creating resistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best rower for a full-body workout?
The Concept2 RowErg is our top choice for a complete full-body workout. Used by professional athletes, it engages over 80% of muscles with each stroke and delivers smooth, consistent resistance. It’s built to last, easy to maintain, and offers serious power and endurance training.
What’s the best rower for small spaces?
The NordicTrack RW900 is ideal for small homes thanks to its foldable frame and compact footprint. Despite its size, it features a large HD touchscreen, smooth magnetic resistance, and access to immersive iFit workouts that keep training engaging without taking over your living space.
What are the best quiet rowing machines for apartments?
The Echelon Smart Rower is an excellent pick for apartment living. It uses magnetic resistance for near-silent operation, folds for easy storage, and connects seamlessly to the Echelon app for trainer-led classes. It’s smooth, sturdy, and won’t disturb your neighbours.
Which rowers have Bluetooth with app integration?
The JTX Freedom Air Rower is a strong Bluetooth-enabled option that syncs with fitness apps for performance tracking. It offers air and magnetic resistance for versatile training and real-time metrics, making it ideal for data-driven users who want a smart, connected workout.
What are the rowing machines with the best classes or coaching?
The Hydrow Wave leads for interactive training. Its large display streams live and on-demand classes filmed on real water, offering an immersive rowing experience. Instructors guide each session with professional technique tips, helping users stay motivated and improve form efficiently.
What are the different types of rowing machines?
Rowing machines come in three main types: air, magnetic, and water. Air rowers use a fan for resistance that increases with effort and are popular in gyms for their smooth, realistic feel, though they’re noisy for home use.
Magnetic rowers use magnets and a flywheel for adjustable, near-silent resistance, making them ideal for compact home gyms, but they feel less like real rowing.
Water rowers use a paddle in a tank to mimic rowing on water, offering the most natural motion and pleasing sound. They’re quieter than air models but heavier, pricier, and require periodic water maintenance.
Can the rowing machine build muscle?
Rowing works about 86% of your muscles, including the legs, arms, back, glutes, and core, making it great for building overall strength and endurance. However, it primarily develops muscle endurance rather than size. Research shows rowing mainly activates type 1 (slow-twitch) muscle fibres, which sustain effort over time. While rowing enhances strength and stamina, pairing it with weight training delivers the best results for developing both endurance and muscle definition.
Can you lose belly fat on a rowing machine?
Indoor rowing is an excellent way of losing belly fat. Rowing is a moderate-intensity exercise that is perfect for losing weight. It also provides a full-body workout, unlike cycling, meaning that it works the upper and the lower body. You'll need to use those glutes and quads plus the arms (mainly the biceps) and the back too.
If your goal is to lose weight, we recommend going easy and sticking to low to moderate-intensity rowing workouts, especially if you're new to rowing. It can take a while to get used to the movement, and it's really easy to overdo it initially, tiring yourself out early on the workout. Slow and steady wins the race, be patient with both the rowing and the weight loss process.