The 11 Best Rowing Machines of 2021

Best Overall: XtremepowerUS Water Rowing Machine

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The XtremepowerUS Water Rowing Machine is a classic rowing machine that looks great in any home gym. Since the machine gets its resistance from actual water, the workout feels surprisingly authentic. And the resistance automatically increases as your rowing speed does, keeping you challenged as you build strength. That said, you can always reduce the resistance by decreasing the amount of water in the tank. 

The cushioned seat keeps you comfortable as you glide forward and back, and adjustable safety straps keep your feet firmly in place as you row. A large, built-in console helps you keep track of metrics like your distance rowed and your strokes per minute. And when you’re finished using the machine, you can take advantage of its built-in transport wheels to tilt it and roll it away.  

Best Budget: Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5639 Full Motion Rowing Machine

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The Sunny Health & Fitness Full Motion Rowing Machine is a budget-friendly trainer that will give you a great workout without taking up too much space. While many rowing machines are built around a pulley, this one relies on two large handlebars. This design puts the emphasis on your upper body—instead of using your legs primarily to glide forward and back, you use your arms, chest, and back. 

The machine relies on hydraulic cylinder resistance, which makes it incredibly small space-friendly and puts you in control of your workouts. Simply turn the built-in dial to kick the resistance up a notch, and scale it back whenever you need to recover. 

Best Splurge: Hydrow Rower

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If you want your rowing workouts to feel like the real thing, the Hydrow Starter Package is worth the splurge. The rower uses electromagnetic and computer-controlled resistance to mimic the feel of real water, giving you workouts that are both dynamic and challenging. And if you really want to feel transported, you can take advantage of the rower’s large touchscreen and built-in speakers—both of which promise a truly immersive experience.

The rowing machine was designed with performance in mind, and it doesn’t skimp on comfort. Its ergonomic seat offers all the cushion you need to make it through long workouts, and its industrial-grade glider keeps your strokes smooth and quiet.

The Hydrow Starter Package ships with a rowing machine, a mat, a heart rate monitor, and a pair of wireless headphones, so you’ll have everything you need to start rowing. And since it tilts upright, it will be easy to store between uses.

Best High-Tech: NordicTrack RW900 Rower

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The NordicTrack RW900 Rower is a feature-packed rowing machine that delivers a solid workout every time. The rower boasts 26 different resistance levels, which you can use to scale the intensity of your workout, and since the machine relies on magnetic resistance, your strokes will be smooth and quiet. The rowing machine also comes with an ergonomic padded seat and large comfortable pedals. And it folds in half, making it incredibly easy to store between uses.

When paired with an iFit membership, the NordicTrack RW900 Rower reaches its full potential. The membership gives you access to hundreds of on-demand rowing workouts, which you can use to get started with your new machine. You can also activate iFit’s Automatic Trainer Control feature to let a trainer virtually control your resistance level while you row, making it easy to build strength without taking your eyes off your workout.

Best Quiet: Velocity Exercise Magnetic Rower

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Want a rower that won’t make too much noise? The Velocity Exercise Magnetic Rower gets its tension from a magnetic resistance system, which keeps your workouts challenging and surprisingly quiet. Meanwhile, its durable aluminum frame keeps your workouts sturdy and stable.

Its padded seat keeps you cushioned during your longest, most grueling rowing sessions. And the non-slip pedals keep your feet firmly in place as you row. What’s more, the machine folds up for convenient storage between uses, shrinking to half its size when you're done with your workout.

Best for Total-Body Workouts: Stamina 35-1215 Orbital Rowing Machine

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Many rowing machines offer a total-body workout, but the Stamina Orbital Rowing Machine offers a particularly dynamic one. Because the rower boasts two large handlebars instead of a single handle on a pulley, it gives your arms a fuller range of motion as you row. This design helps you challenge more muscles in your upper body while strengthening your core and lower body the way any rowing machine would. The result: A killer workout from head to toe.

Since the machine gets its tension from hydraulic cylinder resistance, it mimics the feeling of rowing outdoors. An adjustable tension dial helps you keep your workouts challenging while a thick, padded seat keeps you comfortable while you row. The machine is also surprisingly compact, making it a pretty easy addition to small spaces. 

Best Recumbent: Stamina Conversion II Recumbent Exercise Bike and Rower

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If comfort is your priority, you may want to invest in a recumbent rowing machine like the Stamina Conversion II Recumbent Rower. While many rowing machines boast comfortable padded seats, very few of those seats come with backrests. This one offers a full seat for you to rest in while you work out, making it more comfortable and supportive than most. 

Even better, the design doubles as a recumbent bike. If you’re in the mood for a cycling workout, slide your seat toward the front of the machine, slip your feet into the front-most set of pedals, grip the sides of your seat, and start pedaling. To use the machine as a rower, slide your feet into the footholds that are closer to you, grip the built-in handle, and start rowing. You can use the same resistance dial to up the intensity for both workouts.

Best for Small Spaces: Sunny Health & Fitness Upright Rowing Machine

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If you’re really low on space, you may not have room for a traditional rowing machine. But with the Sunny Health & Fitness Upright Rowing Machine, you can get a dynamic workout within a much smaller footprint. The machine boasts a unique upright design. Instead of sitting down and rowing back, you sit upright and row up. This format makes your rowing workouts more focused on the lower body, but you still get opportunities to challenge your upper body and core as well.

In lieu of a more traditional resistance mechanism, this rower comes with three adjustable resistance bands. Attach these to your machine to increase the intensity of your workouts, reaching a maximum resistance level of 22 pounds.

The rower’s textured pedals offer plenty of traction, and its non-slip handlebars are easy to grip. Adjust the height of the seat and the handlebars until the machine fits you just right, and take advantage of the fact that the machine folds in half for easy storage between uses.

Best Foldable: ECHANFIT Foldable Rowing Machine w/ LCD Monitor

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It’s rare to find a foldable workout machine that's also sturdy and durable, but the ECHANFIT Foldable Rowing Machine is just that. Climb on the rower for an intense workout, and fold it away when you're done to make room for other activities. The frame remains stable as you row, and the 16 magnetic resistance levels keep you challenged. Adjust the built-in handlebars, pedals, and console until you feel comfortable, and settle in for a solid workout.

When you’re finished using the rowing machine, you can fold it in half. This design makes it easy to store against a wall, but you can also tilt it onto its transport wheels and roll it into another room.

Best Wind Resistance: Stamina ATS Air Rower

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The Stamina ATS Air Rower is a solid rowing machine that will keep you balanced as you build strength. While many rowers get their tension from magnetic, hydraulic, or water-based resistance, this one draws on dynamic wind resistance. A wheel on the front of the bike spins every time you row, adding resistance as you gain speed. This design allows for your workouts to become more intense as you grow stronger. The faster you row, the harder your workouts get.

The dynamic wind resistance design isn’t the only thing that makes this machine worth buying. Its cushioned seat, padded handlebars, and adjustable pedals keep your workouts comfortable, and the seat smoothly glides forward and back as you row. Since the machine’s frame folds up, it’s particularly easy to store between uses as well. Simply fold the rower, tilt it onto its built-in transport wheels, and roll it away.