Under desk and desk exercise bikes explained

Under-desk pedal exercisers

These are small units with two pedals, a flywheel and usually magnetic resistance, that sit on the floor in front of your chair. You pedal while sitting in your normal office chair. Some are electric and move your legs for you; most are manual.

They are compact and easy to put away, but they have limits. Your chair may roll backwards as you pedal, so a mat or strap helps. Your knees can hit the underside of the desk, so check desk height. Some units are also used on the floor in front of a sofa.

• Pros: small, light, easy to store, use your own chair.
• Cons: chair can roll, knees can hit the desk, little adjustment.

Desk bikes

A desk bike combines a bike frame with its own work surface, sized for a laptop. The seat and desk adjust separately, and resistance is magnetic. Some fold, and some have a console built into the desk.

Because the desk and seat are designed together, a desk bike gives the most consistent set-up. The trade-off is size: you are buying a dedicated piece of furniture. Check the desk surface size, how high it adjusts and the seat range.

A bike under a standing desk

If you already have a sit-stand desk, you can place a compact upright or recumbent bike under it and set the desk to the right height. This lets you use your normal desk and monitor. The bike must be short enough at the handlebars to slide under the desk, or you can work without the handlebars in front of you.

Recumbents suit this well because the seat sits back and the pedals are in front, under the desk. Upright bikes can work if the handlebars sit below the desk or are removed, as the maker allows. See types of exercise bike.

Comparing the three set-ups

Fit, desk height and posture

The key measurement is the height of the desk surface compared with your elbows when you sit on the bike or chair. Your forearms should rest roughly level on the desk, with your shoulders relaxed. Your knees must clear the underside of the desk at the top of the pedal stroke.

Measure this before you buy. On a desk bike, check the desk's height range against the seat's height range. Our guide to exercise bikes for tall and short riders explains inseam and seat range.

Noise and resistance

For calls, quiet matters most. Magnetic resistance with a belt drive is close to silent. Avoid fan-based or friction units for desk use. Keep resistance light: the aim is gentle, steady pedalling that does not distract you from work.

A mat under the bike or pedaller reduces vibration and stops the unit creeping across the floor; see mats under bikes.

What to check before buying

If you want a bike for both desk use and proper rides, a compact upright or recumbent is more versatile than a pedal unit. Our best exercise bikes and best recumbent exercise bikes guides list compact options, and are folding exercise bikes any good covers bikes that fold away.

• Desk surface size and height range, for a desk bike.
• Clearance for your knees under your current desk, for a pedal unit.
• Seat adjustment and max user weight.
• Resistance type: magnetic and belt drive for quiet.
• Whether it folds or rolls away when not in use.

See recumbent bikes →

Frequently asked questions

Can you type while pedalling a desk bike? Most people can type comfortably at a gentle pace with light resistance.

Will an under-desk pedaller fit under my desk? Check the clearance between your knees and the desk underside at the top of the pedal stroke.

Are desk bikes quiet enough for calls? Magnetic models with belt drives are close to silent at light resistance.

Can I use a recumbent bike at a desk? Yes, if the desk can be set to the right height and the pedals fit underneath.