If you don’t have time to read the entire review and just want to find out what the Best Elliptical Machines Under $1,000 is, then we recommend the Body Power 2-in-1 Elliptical Stepper Trainer with Curve-Crank Technology as the best choice.
Elliptical machines are more than just the latest workout trend. They are a great way to train and tone the whole body while reducing strain and impact on the joints.
They are perfect for beginners looking to get fit, athletes recovering from stress or injury, or people who just want to maintain their cardiovascular health without spending a lot of time at the gym.
Many people want the convenience of an elliptical machine at home, but high end elliptical machines can be very expensive. Today we are looking at the best elliptical machines under $1,000.
In this post, we’ve reviewed the Best Elliptical Machines Under $1,000. These are:
- Best Overall Elliptical Machine Under $1,000: Body Power 2-in-1 Elliptical Stepper Trainer with Curve-Crank Technology
- Best High-End Elliptical Machine Under $1,000: Bowflex M3 Max Trainer
- Best Beginner Elliptical Under $1,000: Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E905 Elliptical Machine Cross Trainer
- Best Elliptical for Small Living Spaces: Doufit Elliptical Machine for Home Use
- Best Reversible Elliptical Machine Under $1,000: MaxKare Magnetic Elliptical Machine Trainer
Elliptical Machine Buying Guide
Here are some of the key features to look for and expect in an elliptical machine under $1000.
Essential Features
Tracking and Connectivity
When you are buying an elliptical machine on a budget, you sacrifice a lot of the advanced digital features of more expensive exercise equipment.
Elliptical machines in this price range typically don’t have connected apps with customized tracking, enhanced workouts, personal training, and other integrations between your exercise equipment and your digital devices.
For less than $1,000, you can expect basic tracking on your elliptical, with a display that shows time, speed, distance, and calorie burn.
Heart Rate Tracking
Tracking your heart rate is one of the best ways to determine whether you are exercising at the correct amount of intensity.
A heart rate that is too low is not optimally burning calories, and a heart rate that is too high can potentially strain your cardiovascular system.
Your heart rate is the best indicator of your fitness level, and it’s individual to every body, so it’s a better way to monitor your workouts than simply speed and distance.
Our favorite affordable elliptical machines offer some way to monitor your heart rate during your workout.
Stability
Elliptical machines are a fantastic way to get a HIIT workout at home, but if you are working out hard at high intensity levels, it’s incredibly important to have an elliptical machine that is sturdy and stable.
You need to be able to concentrate on your workout, without being distracted by a machine that rocks, wobbles, or grinds. You may also consider adding an exercise mat beneath your elliptical to help reduce noise and protect your flooring from wear.
[There are actually some benefits using an elliptical machine that you may not have thought about. See our guide to benefits of elliptical training.]
Convenience Features
House-Friendly Size and Noise Level
If you will be using your new elliptical machine at home, and don’t have a home gym, you may want to look for a machine that has a compact size, so it doesn’t take up too much space.
Transport wheels make it easy to move out of the way when it isn’t in use, and quiet operation helps you get a good workout without disturbing other members of your household.
Easy Assembly
As you will see below, many elliptical machines are advertised as being quiet and stable, but some people feel that they don’t live up to those claims. However, the noise and stability level of most ellipticals is heavily influenced by how they were assembled.
Look for elliptical machines that have clear instructions and video demonstrations, where possible. Take your time and be thorough with assembly, and always use the right tools.
If you find yourself repeatedly tightening bolts and screws, consider using a product like Loctite to get them more securely in place.
If you are concerned about this process, it may be best to hire a professional to assemble the elliptical machine for you.
Remember that you can’t get the health and fitness benefits of an elliptical machine unless you are using it properly.
No matter how good the machine is, take your time to review the instructions, and check out our guide for how to use an elliptical trainer correctly.
5 Best Elliptical Machines Under $1,000 for 2023 Reviews
1. Best Overall Elliptical Machine Under $1,000: Body Power 2-in-1 Elliptical Stepper Trainer with Curve-Crank Technology
The Body Power 2-in-1 Elliptical Stepper Trainer with Curve-Crank Technology has an innovative 2-in-1 technology that combines the smooth cardio of an elliptical, with the lower body power of a stepper, giving you multiple cross-training workouts with a single machine.
The advanced curved crank design applies constant tension, for a motion that is smooth and free of dead-zones, at any resistance.
It’s a compact elliptical perfect for HIIT training at home, making your workouts more efficient and improving your results. It’s a fantastic elliptical for getting a great workout in no time, for less than $1,000.
The Body Power 2-in-1 Elliptical Stepper Trainer combines the zero impact curved motion of an elliptical machine with the vertical motion of a stepper, for a workout that gives you great results in less time.
The unique curve crank design maintains even force in two directions at once, for constant tension throughout the smooth rotational curve, so you never experience dead zones and the workouts are easy on your joints.
Perfectly proportioned handlebars give you an effective total-body workout.
The onboard computer is straightforward and easy to use, and tracks your time, speed, calories burned, and distance covered, with eight levels of resistance control. It also has a media shelf to hold your entertainment devices.
This elliptical machine is also incredibly compact, at just 42 x 24 x 62 inches, and has front rollers that make it easy to move when not in use.
It is designed and tested for users up to 250 pounds. While it is not difficult to put together, this video is much more helpful than the included instructions.
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2. Best High-End Elliptical Machine Under $1,000: Bowflex M3 Max Trainer
Bowflex is known for high-quality exercise equipment that meets the demands of athletes and professionals around the world. The M3 Max Trainer won the 2015 reddot design award for its innovative design and high performance.
It’s not just a fantastic workout machine, but it is also compact and elegant, so it’s an elliptical trainer that will look fantastic in your home. It’s an elegant and effective elliptical at an affordable price.
The Bowflex M3 Max Trainer has an elegant design that fits anywhere, with a fraction of the footprint of most ellipticals and trainers. Measuring just 25 x 46 inches, you can get a great workout in any room of your home.
It comes with two built in workout programs, including a max interval workout for incredible results in just 14 minutes.
It has an included chest strap so you can monitor your heart rate and work out in your personal optimized zone.
The onboard computer can track the workout history of two different users, so you can share the machine and still track your progress, and the unique Bowflex display shows your burn rate with every step.
Easily adjust up to eight resistance levels with the dial on the handle, so you don’t get distracted by pushing buttons. The console has space for a water bottle and a media shelf for your tablet or phone.
When not in use, built in wheels make it easy to roll away for storage. It’s rated for users up to 300 pounds, and backed by a 1-year warranty.
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3. Best Beginner Elliptical Under $1,000: Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E905 Elliptical Machine Cross Trainer
For people who want a basic, affordable elliptical trainer with a stable construction, heart rate monitoring, and easy controls, the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E905 Elliptical Machine Cross Trainer is a great choice.
It is made by a US-based company, built for cost efficiency, tested for quality, and has all the features you need to get a great cross training workout from an affordable elliptical machine.
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E905 Elliptical Machine Cross Trainer has a compact footprint of just 28 x 17 inches, so it can easily fit in any room of the house.
Transport wheels make it easy to move from room to room, and, at just 68 pounds, it’s simple to move and to assemble. It has large anti-slip pedals and onboard stabilizers to prevent excess movement.
It has pulse sensors in the handlebars, so you can track your workout intensity, and the digital display tracks your time, speed, distance, pulse, and calories burned.
The magnetic system lets you quickly adjust your intensity with eight different levels of resistance. It has a weight capacity of 220 pounds.
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4. Best Elliptical for Small Living Spaces: Doufit Elliptical Machine for Home Use
The Doufit Elliptical Machine for Home Use has a sleek, compact style and a high quality flywheel that makes your workouts smooth and whisper-quiet. The steel frame is durable and stable, making it safer and quieter, with less noise and vibration.
It has transport wheels, so it can easily be tucked away when not in use, and it gives a fast and effective full-body workout in the comfort of your own home, without taking up a lot of space or making noise that may disturb others.
The Doufit Elliptical Machine for Home Use has large and textured pedals for safety and security when exercising.
The steel frame is strong and durable, operating without a lot of excess vibration that creates noise. It’s a slim 20.5 inches wide and 50 inches long, with a streamlined shape that looks great in the home.
Pulse monitoring in the handlebars help to ensure you are exercising at optimal intensity, and the LCD monitor displays time, speed, distance, odometer, pulse, and calorie burn. Easily adjust your intensity with eight different resistance levels.
It has a built in bottle holder to keep your water close at hand, and transport wheels to allow you to quickly move it when needed.
It has a 12 -inch stride length, and a 250 pounds weight capacity. It is recommended for users from 5′ to 5’9” in height.
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5. Best Reversible Elliptical Machine Under $1,000: MaxKare Magnetic Elliptical Machine Trainer
For the best lower body workout, it’s ideal to use your elliptical machine in reverse intervals. Not all elliptical machines will allow reverse motion or will continue tracking your workouts in reverse.
For the best toning of both the front and the back of the legs, thighs, and hips, a reversible machine is best, and the MaxKare Magnetic Elliptical Machine Trainer is a great choice in reversible ellipticals under $1,000.
The MaxKare Magnetic Elliptical Machine Trainer has two way operation, so you can pedal forwards or backwards to work different muscle groups in the lower body.
It has smooth and quiet operation, with a built in adjustable stabilizer to reduce shaking, rocking, or noise from the machine.
It has a pulse sensor in the hand grip, so you can monitor your heart rate, as well as time, speed, distance, and calories burned on the LCD display. It also has eight levels of adjustable resistance, so you can easily control your workout intensity in either direction.
The stride length and pedal spacing are designed for people of all heights, from 4’11” to 6’3”, up to a weight of 264 pounds. It has a water bottle holder, and a holder for tablets and entertainment devices.
When not in use, transport wheels make it easy to move out of the way, and the display uses a battery, so this elliptical machine does not need to be plugged in.
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[If you want a home elliptical machine, but don’t have room in your apartment or home, you may want to check out these compact elliptical machines for small spaces.]
Final Thoughts on Best Elliptical Machines Under $1,000
Our favorite elliptical machine under $1,000 is the Bowflex M3 Max Trainer. It has incredible style, durable construction for high intensity and powerful workouts, and delivers great results in a short period of time.
We love that this machine is able to store two different user profiles and track workouts for two people, making it a great choice for home use when two users want to get fit and maximize use of a single piece of equipment.
It has high intensity modes with a heart rate strap to ensure you are exercising in the optimal zone, and a good warranty backed by the Bowflex name.
For beginners who want an elliptical that is more affordable and more apartment-friendly, the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E905 Elliptical Machine Cross Trainer is an excellent alternative.
It’s a smaller, lighter machine, so you won’t be able to work out at the high intensity of the Bowflex, but it has heart rate monitoring and adjustable resistance so you can still easily get into your target zone and get a satisfying workout.
It’s also compact, lightweight, and affordable, making it a great choice for people who aren’t sure if elliptical training is right for them.
Elliptical machines are a fantastic way to boost your cardiovascular health without repetitive strain on your feet, knees, and joints, and offers a better full-body workout than a treadmill.
Today’s elliptical machines are also surprisingly affordable, allowing you to keep one at home and have a great cardio workout whenever you want one, without the effort of going to the gym.
There are some fantastic options for elliptical machines under $1,000, and now you know the best.
