Offering a low-impact exercise, rowing machine for home is something you should consider this year.
It’s a low impact machine that performs low impact exercises. Meaning you don’t have to exert so much effort to get your desired results. And also this cardio machine doesn’t require a lot from you to perform.
However, rowers have an enviable track record. It is one of the most effective cardio workout equipment.
In A Hurry?
The Test Winner After 120 Hours Of Intensive Budget-based Research:
The Concept2 model d indoor rowing machine stood out as the best Rowing Machine for Home Use by far, in terms of value for money, efficiency and its overall quality – which set it apart from the rest.
Indoor rowing machines are a must-have for anyone who wants to remain healthy and fit right in the comfort of your home. Indoor rowers are one of the best cardio machines available in the market.
Regular use of indoor rowers three to four times a week can do the magic of keeping you fit even without going to a gym.
Choosing the best rowing machine for home can be a daunting task and needs thorough research.
There is a large variety of them available in the market, from low-cost rowing machines to the expensive ones. Based on a general requirement for indoor use, the inexpensive rowing machines are ideal.
Further, most of these machines come with wireless connectivity to other applications for heartbeat monitoring and other fitness monitoring.
Here’s a rundown of what we’ll provide in this Best Rowing Machine for Home review:
First, we’ll share and compare the 8 top indoor Rowing Machines you’ll find useful. Second, we’ll take a look at some special features(pros), drawbacks(cons) you might need to know about. Third, we’ll provide a sampling of the actual customer and Independent reviews to give you better insight into the product. And finally, we’ll provide you with a detailed buyer’s guide to make a more informed decision
Sound good?
Let’s get started!
So what is the best rowing machine for home use?
We’ll find out in a moment. Just stay with me.
Best Low-Cost Rowing Machine for Home: Top 7 Reviewed
A number of indoor rowers were analyzed for our review, and we shortlisted the following eight best low-cost rowing machines:-
- Concept2 model d indoor rowing machine
- Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050
- WaterRower Classic
- Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 Magnetic
- Stamina ATS Air Rower
- Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1205
- Concept2 Model E Indoor Rowing Machine PM5
- Fitness Reality 1000 Plus Bluetooth Magnetic Rower
Best Rowing Machine for Apartment Comparison
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Concept2 Model D indoor rowing machine
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If you are a health freak and wants to remain fit on all fronts, you should consider going for the Concept2 Model D indoor rowing machine.
Proudly made in Vermont, America, the Concept2 has an Air-resistance flywheel which controls the airflow with an easy change of the damper.
One of the main advantages of this model is the efficient engagement of all the important muscle groups in the body, including legs, arms and the core, ensuring high calorie-burning.
The Concept2 Model D incorporates the “Performance Monitoring 5”, also known as PM5, a reliable real-time monitoring system for your exercise regimes.
Widely used by elite athletes for competitive training. This is a versatile rower that is fit for purpose. You can find it various fitness facilities and home gyms as it does in boathouses around the world.
The Concept2 Model D rower measures your progress with reliable, comparable data on every stroke you take. With workout options including time, distance and intervals with Games included.
It comes with an easy on your eyes backlit LCD display, a Wireless Bluetooth and ANT+ compatibility for heart rate or app monitoring. Mainly equipping you with the tools to join an Online Challenge on the go.
The 14-inch seat is an ergonomically designed seat that allows adjustability and ensures comfort and safety while exercising. We also found this amazing seat cushion on Amazon which can relieve any unforeseen pain and stress to your backside.
The Concept2 Model D rower can be easily stored in a small space due to its two separable pieces. This rower is built using commercial grade aluminum and comes with a 5–year warranty.
I recommend you get an exercise mat for this exercise equipment – it’s well worth it. It doesn’t cost that much to protect your floor. You can check this one I got for myself on Amazon for a few bucks.
Pros
Affordable
Fairly quiet
Easy to fold up
Easy to Assemble
Sturdy and solid
Easy to Move and Store
Join an Online Challenge
Connects with popular fitness apps
Limited 2-year and 5-year warranty
Cons
- Pricey
- Based on old-School technology
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Stamina BodyTracGlider 1050
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Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 is one of the best rowing machines available. This rower ensures full-body exercise by engaging all the important muscle groups in the body.
The Stamina Body Trac mimics a real rowing motion in the water. The model comes with an electronic display that helps you calculate your calories burnt, workout time, strokes completed, and the total accumulated strokes.
The ergonomically molded seat helps in providing a comfortable exercise routine. The hydraulic cylinder resistance offers comfortable and adjusting rowing stroke during exercise.
The model has a high-quality built while ensuring an aesthetic look.
Pros
- Textured footplates with straps to keep your feet secure
- Foam padded hand grips for comfort
- Adjustable Hydraulic Resistance
- Sturdy, steel frame construction.
- Full-Range Rowing Arms
- Heart Rate Chest Strap
Cons
- Non-Programmable
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WaterRower Classic
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The WaterRower Classic is a unique hand-crafted indoor rower and can be categorized as one of the Best Rowing Machines for home use.
The WaterRower comes with a water flywheel that very closely replicates the actual rowing in the water.
It has a resistance which originates from the Flywheel, which is fixed in the water tank that provides smooth strokes.
The model incorporates Performance Monitor 4, also known as PM4, to monitor the stroke counts, heart rate and work out intensity.
The WaterRower Classic is made of high-quality Walnut with Danish-Oil finishing, which helps increase its sound absorption and reduction of vibrations.
The model ensures a workout of 84% of muscle mass, thus keeping you fit.
The WaterRower Classic, however, is one of the most expensive rowing machines for home and would cost you over $1500 a piece.
Pros
- Full Body exercise experience
- Perfect aerobic pursuit
- Real rowing experience
- Unique wooden built
Cons
- High-priced
- Weak Built Quality
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Sunny Health &Fitness SF-RW5515 Magnetic
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Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 Magnetic Rowing Machine comes with magnetic resistance for enhanced aerobic exercise.
The cherry on the cake is the resistance knob for the 8-levels adjustability of the said magnetic resistance.
The digital monitor of this model is a larger than usual LCD panel that helps in counting strokes, calories and time. The model boasts its slide rail, which is longer than usual and stands at 48-inch, which allows people of any size to exercise on this model.
Unlike the rest of the indoor rowing machines, the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 comes with inbuilt wheels, which allow you to move it smoothly from place to place.
The pedals of the rower are made textured to give the much-needed grip, while the straps help you saddle your feet while you exercise.
The handlebars come with non-slippery gripping foams for efficient exercising sessions.
Pros 
- Resistance Knob
- Cushioned seat
- Gripping foams
- Saddled pedals
Cons
- Built Quality
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Stamina ATS Air Rower
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If you are seeking an effective cardiovascular exercising regime, the Stamina ATS Air Rower is the perfect solution for you.
This calorie–burning monster helps utilize all of the body’s strength to improve your fitness. The model efficiently uses 86% of the total body muscles.
This indoor rower ensures resistance using the dynamic air resistance system. The system is known for matching its pace with the exercise intensity, thus increasing the efficiency of the exercise.
Like most of the high-quality rowing machines, the LCD panel helps in tracking all of your rowing strokes and workout sessions by monitoring speed, time, distance and calories burnt.
The rower is known for its ergonomic built, especially the seat, footplate and handles. The model comes with an extended warranty.
Pros 
- Dynamic air resistance
- LCD workout monitor
- Easy assembly and free extended warranty
Cons
- Complicated setup
- Handle Design
- No Adjustability for drag
- Weak Built
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Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1205
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Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1205 is known for its 12 levels of hydraulic resistance, which provides an extremely efficient rowing experience.
The hydraulic system is known for its quietness during exercising. If you have a smaller house, or you have kids, it’s the best rowing machine that you should choose.
This model, like any good indoor rower, comes with a digital monitor to track your exercising sessions.
The rower has an adjustable pedal strap, which allows you to tailor your workout experience as per your wishes. It is designed ergonomically while taking care of all kinds of body contours, from seat to pedal and handlebar to the entire structure.
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1205 comes in a compact design that is ideal for smaller houses and allows it to be stored in any compact place.
And also the best feature of this model is its super low price, which makes it affordable for almost anyone.
Pros 
- Provides a low impact aerobic exercise
- Target Multiple Muscles
- 12 levels of resistance
- Digital monitor
- Adjustability
- Ergonomic
- Super Cheap
Cons
- No Additional Resistance
- Heat Resistance issue
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Concept2 Model E Indoor Rowing Machine PM5
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Concept2 Model E indoor rowing machine, like its earlier models, is a low impact workout machine that helps in providing an all-body exercise experience.
The Concept2 Model E comes with a Performance Monitor 5 known as PM5 to monitor your exercise routine and compare the data for every rowing session.
The PM5 also has a monitor arm with adjustability. The model E rower comes with a seat at the height of 20-inch, which makes it particularly comfortable during exercising.
The Nickel-plated chain, along with the contoured handle and adjustable footrest makes the model E, one of the best rowers available. It also incorporates wheels for easy movement from place to place.
Pros
- Includes the performance monitor 5
- 20-Inch seat height
- Nickel-plated chain
- Adjustable footrests and ergonomic handle
- Easily separates into two pieces for storage
- Aesthetic
Cons
- frequent oiling
- 2 year limited warranty
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Fitness Reality 1000 Plus Bluetooth Magnetic Rower
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Fitness Reality 1000 Plus Bluetooth Magnetic Rower is designed for a full-body workout.
This rowing machine comes with a unique Smart Cloud Fitness system that incorporates Bluetooth technology and uses the My Cloud Fitness application for tracking workout sessions.
The app allows you to store up to three fitness goals. The model comes with an extra-wide grip for better handling and reduction of stress on the body during the exercises.
One of the unique features of this model is the magnetic tension system with a dual transmission system, which comes with 14 levels adjustment.
The Fitness Reality rower comes with a large 3.5 inches display that shows time, distance, count of strokes and calorie count.
The rower also comes with a large seat for sitting comfortably while exercising.
One of the best features of this Fitness Reality rower is the operational silence. It doesn’t make any annoying noise during exercise, thus making it ideal for smaller houses.
Pros
- Large console
- Easy assembly
- Easily foldable
- Contoured Seat
- Large foot pedals
- Full body workout
- Large contoured seat
- Smart CLOUD Fitness
- 14 level Dual transmission magnetic tension resistance
Cons
- Pivot pedals
Best Rowing Machine for Home Gym: Things to consider – Buyer’s Guide
Choosing a good and affordable rowing machine for a home gym is a difficult task due to a large number of parameters involved. Here are some of the factors that will help you in making an intelligent and well-informed buying decision:-
Price
Price is the foremost factor that will define the features that you can have in your indoor rowing machine. Indoor rowers are available in a very wide range of prices ranging from low-cost rowing machines at about $60 to high-end uniquely designed machines that may cost over $2000.
The cost can make a lot of difference in the features available for this piece of fitness equipment.
Apparently, while it makes the purchase difficult due to the wide variety to choose from, it nonetheless, allows everyone to get a rowing machine for home use.
Assembly
Assembling can be a headache and storing them can be another headache. Hence, it is advisable to look for an indoor rower that is easy to handle and can be assembled and de-assembled easily.
It is observed that very low-cost rowing machines may come in one piece which may be hard to store and can be problematic while moving from one place to another.
Noise Level
I remember waking up most mornings during my childhood in an ugly way to the noise of the indoor rowing machine used by my dad.
It can be a really annoying experience, which is why I would personally vouch for noise-free rowing machines. The noises can be a pain in the arse, hence you should be keeping an eye for one that comes with low noise.
However, the quietness in the rower will come at a cost, but let me tell you it will be totally worth it.
Storage
Some rowing machines come in less number of parts, which takes a lot of space for storage. While looking for indoor rowers, you should look for one that can be stored in smaller spaces.
As explained earlier, cheap indoor rowers can come in one piece and hence there can be an issue in storage.
However, it should be kept in mind that machines that come with too many parts are also not recommended because losing one tiny part can put cause an even bigger problem.
Comfortability
Rowing uses over 80% of the muscles of the human body, thus it’s ergonomic built should be your foremost priority. Right contours can help ease the useless stress on the body, thus increasing your exercising efficiency.
The seat of indoor rowing machines plays a major role in its level of comfort and relaxation. An ergonomic seat allows you to sit and move comfortably during the exercise.
We also found this amazing seat cushion on Amazon which can relieve any unforeseen pain and stress to your backside.
Build and Construction
Indoor rowers put your entire body to use and thus it’s advised to focus on the built and quality of the construction material of this fitness equipment.
You do not want your machine to stop working in the mid of the exercise, it can even become damaging for your body hence, a focus on built is important while buying an indoor rower.
Like any other new exercise equipment, low-quality built should be avoided. Stainless steel construction should be opted for, to avoid any inconveniences related to rusting.
Type of Resistance
Resistance is what makes a rowing machine close to the experience of real rowing.
There are a number of resistance systems in these machines, including Hydraulic, Water, Air, and Magnetic.
Each of the resistance comes with its own pros and cons and hence needs to be chosen based on one’s personal liking and fitness requirement.
Warranty
If you are looking for a long-term solution for your fitness, you must look for a rower that comes with a full warranty. There are a number of rowers that come at a cheaper price but with lesser warranty.
Benefits of Rowing Machines for Home
Wondering what benefits does an indoor rower has? Here are some benefits which will hopefully convince you to choose the best rowing machines over other exercising machines:-
1. Rowing Machines and Weight Loss
It can be a solution to one of the world’s biggest problems, weight loss. If you are also one of the victims of weight gain, you must consider getting an indoor rowing machine.
2. Rowing Machines and Muscle Toning
It can prove to be a real fitness solution for fitness freaks. Due to the use of over 80% of the body muscles, this piece of equipment can help significantly in muscle toning.
They are also an ideal solution for an upper-body and full-body workout.
3. Rowing Machines for Cardio Training
Rowers are an ideal solution for Cardio Training and can help in avoiding a lot of cardio diseases. Even if you are a busy and working person, half an hour of rowing can do the magic for you.
They can burn more calories than running in the same time frame; hence it is often prioritized by the avid fitness freaks.
4. Rowing Machines for HIIT
Consistently fulfilling its promise of a full-body workout. And that is what HIIT is all about.
Quick, full-body, and planned interval training.
Concept 2 simply delivers on its HIIT – full body workout potential by using all the major muscle groups during the stroke. It’s effective. It never disappoints.
Bottom line:
Indoor rowing machines can be a solution to all the exercising problems that you may have. If you are looking to incorporate a healthy exercise regime in your life, you should go straight for a rowing machine for your home gym.
It utilizes over 80% of muscles in the body, thus it covers the entire body, even in a shorter exercise session.
The devices are although available in a large variety, we would suggest you go for Concept2 Model rower and Concept2 Model E rower PM5 based on its reputation and balance features.
Related:
Concept2 Rowing Machine: Everything you Need to Row [Plus Videos]
Best Cardio Equipment for Home: That Actually Get Results! [Plus Videos]
HIIT Machine: HIIT workout Equipment for Cardio