Rowing machine vs cross trainer

How each machine moves

On a rowing machine you sit on a sliding seat with your feet strapped to footplates. Each stroke starts with a push from the legs, then the body swings back and the arms pull the handle to the lower ribs. The recovery reverses the order. The movement is seated and rhythmic, and the machine only resists you during the drive. Our guide on how to use a rowing machine covers the sequence in detail.

On a cross trainer, also called an elliptical, you stand on two pedals that travel in an oval path while you push and pull two moving handles. Your feet never leave the pedals, so there is no landing as there is with running. The machine resists you through the whole circle, and many models let you pedal backwards as well as forwards.

Technique matters more on a rower. A poor sequence feels awkward and makes the stroke less efficient, so it is worth learning the order of legs, body and arms. A cross trainer is more intuitive for most people on the first go, although stride length and handle height still affect comfort.

Floor space and headroom

Rowers are long. A full length air or water rower takes around two metres or more of floor, and you need clear space behind the seat and at the sides for the handle. Compact magnetic rowers are shorter, but still longer than most cross trainers. See rowing machine dimensions for typical sizes.

Cross trainers have a shorter footprint, but they raise you off the floor. The pedals lift your feet several centimetres at the top of the stride, so a tall user in a room with a low ceiling, a loft or a cellar can end up close to the ceiling. Measure your height, add the maximum pedal height from the maker's specification, and allow some clearance above your head.

Noise and neighbours

Magnetic rowers are among the quietest home machines, with only the seat rolling and the strap winding. Air rowers make a whooshing fan noise that rises with effort, and water rowers make a gentle sloshing sound. All rowers create some rhythmic movement, so a mat helps if you live upstairs.

Cross trainers are usually quiet too, because most use magnetic resistance. The main sounds are the pedal arms and any squeaks from joints that need attention. Because you stand and shift your weight, a cross trainer can pass some vibration into a wooden floor. A firm mat under either machine reduces this; see do you need a mat under a rowing machine.

Storage and moving

Many rowing machines are designed to be put away. Some fold the rail up, others tip onto front wheels and stand on end against a wall, which shrinks the footprint to roughly the size of a dining chair. Our guide to the best rowing machines for small spaces lists models built for this, and how to store a rowing machine upright explains how to do it safely.

Cross trainers rarely fold, and those that do are still bulky. Most have transport wheels at the front so you can tilt and roll them, but they usually stay in one spot. If the machine has to live in a lounge or a bedroom, think about how it will look day to day.

See rowers that store upright →

Upkeep and running

A rower needs little more than a wipe of the rail, a check of the seat rollers and, on air rowers with a chain, an occasional light oiling as the manual describes. Water rowers need water treatment tablets from time to time. Our rowing machine maintenance guide has a simple routine.

A cross trainer has more pivot points, so it is more likely to develop squeaks over time. Bolts on the arms and pedal links can loosen and need tightening. Many models also need mains power for the console and powered resistance, so plan for a socket nearby, while many rowers run on batteries or power themselves.

Which should you choose?

Choose a rowing machine if you have a long, narrow space or need to put the machine away after each session, you enjoy a rhythmic seated movement and you are happy to learn the technique. Air rowers suit people who like a responsive feel; magnetic rowers suit flats where quiet matters. Start with our best rowing machines for home and best magnetic rowing machines.

Choose a cross trainer if you prefer to stand while you train, want something that feels natural from the first session and can give it a permanent spot with enough headroom. If you are still unsure, an exercise bike is a third option with a small footprint; see our rowing machine vs exercise bike comparison.

Frequently asked questions

Which is quieter, a rower or a cross trainer? A magnetic rower and a magnetic cross trainer are both quiet. An air rower is the loudest of the common types because of its fan.

Does a rowing machine take more space than a cross trainer? In use, usually yes, because the rail is long. In storage, often no, because many rowers fold or stand upright while cross trainers stay full size.

Is a rowing machine harder to learn? It has a clear sequence to learn: legs, body, arms, then the reverse. Most people pick it up within a few sessions with a guide or video.

Can I use either machine in a flat? Yes. Pick a magnetic model, use a mat, and check the ceiling height for a cross trainer before you buy.