Best Rowing Machines of 2023

We've tested models from Hydrow, LifeSpan, Peloton, Stamina, Sunny Health & Fitness, and WaterRower, priced from $200 to more than $3,100

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If you’re looking for a full-body cardio workout, it’s hard to beat rowing. Rowing machines—known as rowing ergometers or erg machines—have long been used by crew teams practicing during winter months and are frequently found inside CrossFit gyms and some group fitness studios. But these machines are also a great way to get a high-intensity but low-impact workout on your own at home.

No matter your fitness level or experience with rowing, you can get a great workout on a rowing machine. You can use a rowing machine for regular cardio or high-intensity interval training. Using one regularly can help you build strength, too. Plus, using a rower is quieter than running on a treadmill, which is a perk for anyone who has kids in the house or downstairs neighbors—or who likes to work out while others are asleep.

Read on to learn more about how we test rowing machines or skip ahead to see the best rowing machines from our tests.

CR’s rowing machine ratings include six models made by Hydrow, LifeSpan, Peloton, Stamina, Sunny Health & Fitness, and WaterRower, priced between $200 and $3,195.

All the rowers we’ve tested are at least reasonably well-built and safe for users, and you’ll be able to get a good workout on any of these machines, says Bernie Deitrick, who oversees CR’s tests of rowing machines.

Many of the differences come down to build quality, ease of use and features, and ergonomics.

Two of the machines in our tests have built-in systems to connect to on-demand or live exercise classes. Some others have preset workouts you can follow. Some of the machines we tested display all the metrics that competitive rowers use to measure performance (including stroke rate, split time, and time per 500 meters), but some do not. If you’re looking for something specific, you can check the ratings page for any model to see which features it has.

CR’s latest tests did not include the Concept 2 RowErg, which is popular in gyms and among many rowers and coaches. In previous years, when CR tested an older version of that machine from Concept 2 (the Model D), we found that it performed almost as well as the more expensive Hydrow and Peloton machines.

CR’s testers assess rowing machines to see how well they are built, how well they can accommodate a variety of body sizes and shapes, how easy they are to use, and whether they pose any safety risks to users.

To evaluate a machine’s ergonomics, we had five men and five women row on each machine, to see how it fit various users and to see whether anyone had problems reaching controls, grabbing the handle, or adjusting their feet and strapping in on the foot pad. We also looked at how easy it was to get into a proper position to push off, and how the machine worked for different rowers as the seat and handle traveled back.

For ease of use, we looked at how easy it was to push buttons on the display and to make adjustments to workouts or to resistance levels. We also looked at how readable displays were and what you need to do to activate various workout programs (where applicable). The presence or absence of certain features, including your stroke rate and split time, factor into ease of use.

To assess machine construction, we looked for any clear manufacturing defects, how smooth the machine was when driving back and pulling the handle, how smoothly the seat moved, and how the machine sounds while operating.

Finally, all the machines that we’ve tested did well on tests for user safety, which assesses overall stability and looks for pinch points or ways you could get fingers stuck while operating the machine.

A rowing machine is a great way to get a high-intensity or steady cardio workout, all with low impact—beneficial for anyone with joint issues or pain that’s aggravated by running. Here are the top performers from our tests.

Kevin Loria

Kevin Loria is a senior reporter covering health and science at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2018, covering environmental health, food safety, infectious disease, fitness, and more. Previously, Kevin was a correspondent covering health, science, and the environment at Business Insider. Kevin lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife and children. Follow him on Twitter @kevloria.