What muscles does the stair stepper work?

Most stair climbing workouts focus on your lower body. So you can expect to feel your calves, quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes being challenged. Some stair climbers also include moving handlebars, which you can use to challenge your upper body—more specifically your arms and your back—too.

Is the stair stepper cardio?

Yes, the stair climber is primarily a cardio machine. But you can just as easily increase your resistance level to use it for strength-training, too.

The 8 Best Stair Climbers of 2023

The 8 Best Stair Climbers of 2022 — Verywell / Chloe Jeong

Looking for a way to build strength while working up a sweat? A stair climber is a fitness machine that simulates the experience of walking (or running) up a flight of stairs to provide a challenging, low impact workout.

Most stair climbers provide a range of resistance levels so they are good for beginners to advanced exercisers and are a smart addition to an at-home fitness routine. They generally have a smaller footprint compared to other cardio machines so a stair climber is good for small spaces. We reviewed all the picks in the roundup for features like size and sturdiness, resistance levels, range of motion, and weight capacity to find the best stair climbers worth considering for your home gym or exercise space.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Sunny Health & Fitness Cardio Climber at Amazon

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Best Budget:

Deco Home Exercise Step Machine at Walmart

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Best Splurge:

Bowflex M8 at Amazon

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Best High-Tech:

NordicTrack FS10i Freestyle Trainer at Nordictrack.com

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Best 2-in-1:

Body Power 2-in-1 Elliptical Stepper at Amazon

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Best for Small Spaces:

Maxi Climber Vertical Climber at Amazon

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Best Foldable:

Stamina SpaceMate at Amazon

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Best Portable:

Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
FAQ
Why Trust Verywell Fit?

4.7

Amazon

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Pros

Dynamic
Works your arms and legs simultaneously
Built-in digital monitor

Cons

Bulky
Not foldable

The Sunny Health & Fitness Cardio Climber is a sturdy machine that is a great addition to any home gym equipment and the reason we chose it as our best overall pick. The climber boasts a unique stride that combines vertical climbing with some horizontal extension. This leaves the machine feeling like a classic stair climber with a hint of an elliptical’s stride, giving you a dynamic workout. It makes for a nice complement to other fitness equipment, like a treadmill desk.

The machine comes equipped with eight magnetic resistance levels, which make it easy to customize the intensity of your workouts. And the climber’s full-motion handlebars will keep your upper body engaged every time you work out.

Price at time of publication: $289 for model SF-E3911

^{Key Specs:
Size: 42 x 23 x 60.5 inches | Weight Capacity: 220 pounds | Resistance Levels: Eight}

Walmart

View On Walmart

Pros

Built-in LCD monitor

Cons

No added resistance

The Deco Home Exercise Step Machine is a small but sturdy climber designed to deliver a classic stair-stepping workout. Though the machine is relatively low-profile, its stability handlebars and non-slip pedals will help you stay balanced as you exercise, allowing you to focus on your workout. Like under the desk bikes, it boasts a small footprint so it’s a particularly great pick for small spaces and quick exercise breaks.

The only downside? Unlike many other climbers, the Deco Home Exercise Step Machine offers no resistance levels to toggle through. So if you want to up the intensity of your workouts, you’ll have to focus on your speed—not your tension level.

^{Key Specs:
Size: 18 x 18 x 41.5 to 45.5 inches | Weight Capacity: 220 pounds | Resistance Levels: None}

Amazon

View On Amazon

Pros

High-tech

Cons

A little bulky
Not foldable
Very expensive

The Bowflex M8 Max Trainer is a high-tech machine that combines the classic climb of a stair stepper with the smooth stride of an elliptical—giving you one incredibly dynamic workout. The sturdy machine is loaded with splurge-worthy features, like 20 different resistance levels and heart rate-tracking grips. And if you pair it with a JRNY membership ($19.99 a month), the machine will automatically adjust your workout settings for you, so you can stay challenged as you build strength over time.

Also nice? Though the machine is pretty robust, it doesn’t demand a ton of space. Its emphasis on vertical climbing makes it tall, rather than wide or long. So it’s a solid choice for smaller spaces.

Price at time of publication: $1,899 for model M8 Max Trainer

^{Key Specs:
Size: 49 x 30.5 x 65.5 inches | Weight Capacity: 300 pounds | Resistance Levels: 20}

Courtesy of NordicTrack

View On Nordictrack.com

Pros

High-tech
Three machines in one
Built-in touchscreen

Cons

Bulky
Not foldable
Very expensive
Better with iFit, a monthly membership program ($39/month)

The NordicTrack FS10i Freestyle Trainer is a splurge-worthy stair stepper that doubles as an elliptical—and triples as a treadmill. Where other machines combine a stair stepper’s climb with an elliptical’s stride to offer a dynamic workout, the NordicTrack FS10i Freestyle Trainer allows you to switch between three discrete workout modes. Simply change your stride, and the machine will automatically adjust—acting as a stair stepper, an elliptical, or a treadmill in any given moment.

Of course, the technology doesn’t stop there. The machine also comes equipped with a built-in fan, Bluetooth-compatible speakers, and an interactive touchscreen. And if you pair it with an iFit membership ($39 a month), you can enable interactive personal training and invite the machine to automatically adjust your settings every time you work out.

Price at time of publication: $1,999

^{Key Specs:
Size: 58.5 x 29.5 x 74 inches | Weight Capacity: 375 pounds | Resistance Levels: 24}

Amazon

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Pros

Relatively small space-friendly
Two machines in one
Built-in device holder

Cons

A little bulky
Not foldable

The Body Power 2-in-1 Elliptical Stepper is a classic 2-in-1 machine. The stair climber doubles as an elliptical, allowing you to switch between two discrete workout modes any time you want to. The machine comes equipped with two sets of handlebars you can use to stay balanced as you switch from climbing to striding.

The stepper boasts eight resistance levels you can toggle through to up the intensity of your workouts, no matter which style of exercise you’re doing. Because the Body Power 2-in-1 Elliptical Stepper acts as two machines in one, it’s a great way to save space. And its compact footprint makes it an even small space-friendlier option.

Price at time of publication: $450

^{Key Specs:
Size: 42 x 24 x 62 inches | Weight Capacity: 250 pounds | Resistance Levels: Eight}

4.6

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Maxiclimber.com

Pros

Works your arms and legs simultaneously
Easy to set up

Cons

No added resistance

The Maxi Climber Vertical Climber is an all-level stepping machine that won’t demand a ton of space in your home. Whereas other climbers focus more on stepping, this one emphasizes climbing. Its sliding pedals and handles mimic the feeling of climbing on a rock wall, making it a great companion piece to other fitness equipment like elliptical machines.

This unique design makes it easy to work your upper body and lower body in equal measure. It also makes the machine a particularly great pick for small spaces, as most of its size comes from its height.

Price at time of publication: $149

^{Key Specs:
Size: 36 x 27 x 79 inches | Weight Capacity: 240 pounds | Resistance Levels: None}

Amazon

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Pros

Small space-friendly
Foldable
Built-in monitor

Cons

No added resistance

The Stamina SpaceMate Folding Stepper is a low-profile stepper that’s sturdy, but small space-friendly. Though the stepper is small, its non-slip pedals will help you maintain your balance as you work out. The machine also comes equipped with foam-covered stability handlebars, which will make it even easier to stay stable and in control of your workouts.

The stepper’s compact footprint makes it a solid choice for small spaces. And even better: It folds up to a fraction of its size, making it incredibly easy to store between workouts.

Price at time of publication: $130

^{Key Specs:
Size: 30.25 x 16.25 x 54.5 inches | Weight Capacity: 250 pounds | Resistance Levels: None}

Amazon

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Pros

Works your upper and lower body simultaneously
Built-in monitor

Cons

No added resistance
Not a classic stair climber

The Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper is an under-desk stair climber that’s small enough to bring anywhere. It's ideal for getting in some steps while your working at a standing desk. The machine boasts a simple design: You’ll find two non-slip pedals you can use to simulate your favorite stair climber workouts, as well as two removable resistance bands you can use to challenge your upper body.

A built-in monitor makes the machine feel a little more robust, making it easy to track your step count, workout time, and more. Really, the compact machine gives you everything you need to log a stair-climbing workout while working—or while watching TV.

Price at time of publication: $80 for original model

^{Key Specs:
Size: 16 x 12.5 x 13.5 inches | Weight Capacity: 220 pounds | Resistance Levels: None}

What to Look for in a Stair Climber

Size

When shopping for a fitness machine, size is one of the first things you should look at—especially if you’re navigating a small space. So be sure to check the dimensions of a stair climber before buying.

Weight Capacity

Some fitness machines are stronger than others. So be sure to double-check the weight capacity (or the “maximum training load”) of a machine before buying it. And remember to factor in any weights you plan to wear or use while on the machine!

Resistance Levels

If you plan to use your stair climber for strength-training, make sure it boasts a range of resistance levels. (You can expect to find anywhere between 0 to 24 resistance levels, depending on the machine you’re eyeing.) Though you might start your stair climbing journey with zero resistance, you’ll likely want the option to increase your resistance level over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What muscles does the stair stepper work?

Most stair climbing workouts focus on your lower body. So you can expect to feel your calves, quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes being challenged. Some stair climbers also include moving handlebars, which you can use to challenge your upper body—more specifically your arms and your back—too.
Is the stair stepper cardio?

Yes, the stair climber is primarily a cardio machine. But you can just as easily increase your resistance level to use it for strength-training, too.

Why Trust Verywell Fit?

As a seasoned health and fitness writer, Lindsey Lanquist understands how vital quality product recommendations can be. She is careful to recommend products that are reliable, comfortable, and genuinely well-reviewed by those who’ve tried them.