You deserve the best cardio equipment that your home gym can offer, whether you are a runner or rower, elliptical fan, or if you work from home. Indoor cardio equipment is great for reaching your fitness goals, even if the weather is bad, you are unable to get to the gym, or have only a few minutes.

You can find models in a wide range of price points. Treadmills and ellipticals are expensive, but there are still many that will fit into your budget. Fitness experts were asked to give their opinion on the best cardio equipment. You can be sure that we have found the most worthwhile pieces of equipment.

You’ll find all the best cardio machines for your home workouts here, including beginner-friendly treadmills, low-impact ellipticals, and heart-pumping cycling bikes. These are available from major retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods and others. Find your favorite piece of fitness equipment and complete your home gym by reading on.

Best Rowing Machines
A rowing machine offers a great full-body workout, which includes both cardio and resistance training. You can choose between a rowing machine that has a variety of resistance levels to suit your needs. If you’re looking for a rower that offers immersive features, and access to a variety of classes on demand (for $38 a month), then the Hydrow is the machine for you. Or, Echelon has a touchscreen-equipped Smart Rower. The Concept2 rowing machine is considered to be the industry standard for rowing machines because of its ability to engage your entire body and simple interface. It’s also built to last. And Sunny Health & Fitness has an exceedingly reliable–and budget-friendly–option with magnetic resistance to consider too.

Best Treadmills
You can choose your pace, from sprinting to walking, on these treadmills. Some of them won a SELF Home Fitness Award 2022. Beginners and seasoned runners will love the T101 treadmill from Horizon Fitness. Those looking for a high-intensity workout can choose the Assault Runner Pro powered by the user’s speed and effort. Do you prioritize smart features and an iFit subscription? The ProForm T7 and NordicTrack will both tick all the boxes.

Best Smart Treadmills

If you want to outfit a smart home fitness center, there are many treadmills that offer extra features. Running experts and our own tester both recommend the Peloton Tread. This luxurious machine has a lot of metric tracking options, and you can access Peloton streaming classes for just $39 a month. Coaches like the ProForm Pro 2000, a workhorse treadmill that can withstand daily use and has Bluetooth audio integration.

ProForm Pro 2000 Treadmill
According to running experts, the 9 best smart treadmills are as follows:

Best Ellipticals
The elliptical machine is a great option for a low impact workout that works both your upper and lower body. The elliptical is a great option for those who want to work out their lower and upper body at the same time. It doesn’t stress your knees as much as running does, and offers a lot of versatility. You can pedal only with your feet or focus on cardiovascular benefits. You can also increase the resistance to get a total-body workout with a greater intensity by pushing through the handlebars while pedaling. Schwinn’s 411 and Niceday Elliptical both offer great options at a moderate price that don’t require too much room. If you want to combine an elliptical with a stepper (and are willing to spend a little more), Bowflex has a range of machines. The Max Total M16 comes with a heart rate monitor armband.

Best Exercise Bikes
Indoor exercise bikes are popular with experts because you can adjust the handlebars, seat, and resistance levels to meet your needs. You can pedal fast or slowly to target lower body muscles like glutes and hamstrings. Many models have ergonomic handles (like on the Echelon bike shown below) or are built to allow for interval training. Consider the Assault AirBike for a total-body workout that is closer to HIIT. It incorporates arm movements into the ride.

Best Under-Desk Exercisers
Under-desk exercisers are a great option for those who don’t have time to fit in a full workout. You can also find handle-free walking machines that fit under standing desks. There are pedalers, ellipticals and pedometers you can use from your seat. Despite being low-profile, they still provide a good cardio workout. The SELF Home Fitness Award winning DeskCycle features eight resistance levels. Some even have small LCD displays which track key metrics such as speed and time.