Rowing machine vs exercise bike

How you move on each machine

On a rowing machine, each stroke runs in a sequence: legs push first, then the body swings back, then the arms draw the handle in. The recovery reverses it: arms, body, then legs. The seat slides along a rail the whole time. It takes a little practice to get the order right, and our guide on how to use a rowing machine covers the basics.

On an exercise bike, you sit on a saddle and pedal. Your legs do the moving while your upper body stays mostly still, resting lightly on the handlebars. There is almost nothing to learn beyond setting the seat height, and you can read, watch a screen or follow an app without thinking about technique. If you have a medical condition, ask your GP or a physiotherapist which suits you.

Floor space and storage

Floor space is where the two differ most. A rowing machine needs a long, narrow strip of floor for the rail, plus room behind the seat and at the sides for your hands. Even compact rowers are well over a metre and a half long in use. Many fold or stand upright on wheels, so the stored footprint can be small, but you still need the full length clear every time you row. Our guide to rowing machine dimensions explains how much to allow.

An exercise bike takes a short, squarer patch of floor, roughly the size of a small armchair. Folding X-frame bikes fold up to a slimmer shape, and most bikes can be tipped onto front wheels and rolled into a corner. If the machine has to live in a bedroom or living room, the bike is usually easier to fit around furniture. See exercise bike dimensions for typical sizes.

Note:Folding machines have hinges and locking pins. Keep fingers clear when folding and unfolding, check the pin or catch is fully locked before you use the machine, and get help to lift or move it if you are unsure.

Two folding examples compared

The table compares a folding rower and a folding bike from our guides, using facts from their Amazon listings. Check current listings before you buy.

• YPOO rower: dual slide rail, LCD display, built-in device holder. The listing gives a 63.6 inch rail and a user height range of 4 ft 5 in to 6 ft 2 in.
• Sunny X-Bike: extra-wide padded seat, pulse sensors, pedals with straps, phone and bottle holders and an LCD showing time, speed, distance, RPM and pulse.

See our best rowing machines for small spaces →

Noise, data and everyday use

Magnetic versions of both are quiet. On a rower, the main sounds are the seat running along the rail and the strap rewinding, plus a rhythmic shift of weight that can travel through a floor. On a bike, a belt drive and magnets make little more than a hum. For an upstairs flat, the bike usually passes along less movement to the floor, and a mat helps with either; see our guide to rowing machine and bike mats.

Rowers usually show stroke rate, distance, time and a pace per 500 m figure, and our rowing split times article explains the numbers. Bikes usually show speed, distance, time and RPM, and some show watts. For quick, unplanned sessions, a bike is easier to hop on in everyday clothes. A rower takes a minute to unfold, fit your feet into the straps and settle into the stroke.

Which should you choose?

Choose a rowing machine if you like the idea of a sequenced movement using legs, back and arms, you have a long strip of floor you can clear, and you are happy to spend a little time on technique. Our best rowing machine for small spaces and best rowing machine UK guides list current models.

Choose an exercise bike if floor space is tight, you want a machine you can use while watching or reading, and you would rather not learn a technique. Our best exercise bike UK guide lists current models, including folding designs. Browse the folding and compact section for more space-saving ideas.

Frequently asked questions

Which takes up less space, a rowing machine or an exercise bike? In use, an exercise bike takes far less floor length. Stored, a folding rower standing upright can take a similar or smaller area than a bike, but it still needs the full length clear when you row.

Is a rowing machine noisier than an exercise bike? Magnetic versions of both are quiet. Rowers can send more movement through the floor because of the sliding seat, so a mat is worth having in a flat.

Is a rowing machine harder to learn? A little. The stroke order of legs, body, arms takes some practice. An exercise bike needs only a correctly set seat height.

Can both connect to apps? Many can. Check the listing for Bluetooth and the named apps, such as Kinomap or the maker's own app.