It's no wonder that ellipticals have become one of the most popular cardio machines for both home gyms and commercial fitness facilities.
Spending 30 minutes on an elliptical is a great way to improve heart health, lose weight, and increase endurance.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ve selected and reviewed the best affordable elliptical machines on the market.
These are some of the most reliable, yet value for money pieces of cardio equipment you can purchase.
So if you're ready to add a budget elliptical to your home gym, let's do it!
- Budget Elliptical Machines Compared
- How We Found The Best & Cheapest Ellipticals
- 7 Best Affordable Elliptical Machines Reviewed
- Expectations When Buying Budget Ellipticals
- What to Look for Before Purchasing a Cheap Elliptical
- Benefits Of Elliptical Machines: Why Buy One?
- Common Budget Elliptical Questions
- Conclusion - Is A Cheap Elliptical Worth Buying?
Budget Elliptical Machines Compared
Preview | Product Name | Dimensions (L x W x H) | Resistance | Maximum Weight Limit | Check Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
63 x 21 x 66 inches | 16 Levels | 265 Lbs | |||
50 x 20.5 x 62 inches | 8 Levels | 250 Lbs | |||
39 x 23.5 x 63 Inches | 8 Levels | 220 lbs | |||
60 x 28 x 64 inches | 16 Levels | 250 Lbs | |||
53.8 x 24 x 62.5 Inches | 16 Levels | 300 lbs | |||
57.5 x 24 x 66 Inches | 24 Levels | 270 lbs | |||
50 x 23.5 x 62 inches | 8 Levels | 220 Lbs |
How We Found The Best & Cheapest Ellipticals

46
Products Considered

125
Hours of Research

108
Reviews Examined

7
Experts Interviewed
Before writing this review, I assumed that adding an elliptical to my home gym would cost at least $1000, even $2000.
I quickly discovered that it's possible to find an elliptical for under $200 from respected fitness brands.
Not only was I shocked to discover this, I was even more surprised to find that these machines are just as capable of delivering a great cardio workout.
When starting my research, I quickly realized that there are so many brands on the market and it would be a challenge to figure out which would make the cut as the top products.
To help narrow down the list, myself and the team at Garage Gym Pro started by creating a list of all the ellipticals we could find on the market.
From cheap and nasty brands to the top of the range, we covered it all and then started to review each and read what others had to say.
That long list was trickled down to 15 and these were models were already in our home gyms or purchased and tested.
We then used and discussed these products with personal trainers we know and from these products we came up with our final list of 7.
We believe these are the best value budget ellipticals you can have in your garage gym.
7 Best Affordable Elliptical Machines Reviewed
Now that we are familiar with the benefits and what to look for before purchasing the machine, let’s dive into our list of the best affordable ellipticals.
Keep reading on or check out our YouTube video below that reviews the top 3 budget models!
1. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3862
Our Ratings
Workout Versatility
9.5
Value For Money
10.0
Ease Of Use
9.5
Ease Of Assembly
9.0
Materials & Durability
9.5
Overall Rating
9.5
Product Specifications
Dimensions | 63”L x 21”W x 66”H |
Flywheel Type | Front-Drive |
Preset Workouts | 24 |
Resistance Levels | 16 |
Max User Weight | 265 lbs |
Machine Weight | 125.7 lbs |
Up To 10% Off Your Order - Use Coupon Code = SAVE10
*Only at Brands Website
I don’t think that the Sunny Health & Fitness brand needs a special introduction.
They have been on the market for over a decade now, and they're well-known for their treadmills, bikes, and most importantly, elliptical trainers.
The elliptical SF-E3862 is one of the best that you can find in terms of quality to price ratio. It's not the cheapest model I'll cover here, but it’s definitely a good value for your money option.
The first reason I say that is while many other ellipticals at this price point have only 8 tension levels, this one uses electro-magnetic resistance with 16 tension levels.
I personally love the elliptical's console. It holds a large backlit display that tracks your progress, and it even tells you your target heart rate based on the workout intensity.
It also includes 7 different workout modes, 24 exercise presets, and a BMI calculator.
In terms of other features, this elliptical comes with transportation wheels, a device (tablet, cellphone) holder, and bottle holder.
It can support up to 265 pounds, which is slightly above average for budget ellipticals.
Because the machine is 63" x 21" x 66", it's definitely not the most compact, so I suggest confirming that you have enough space before you buy.
Pros
Cons
2. Doufit EM-01
Our Ratings
Workout Versatility
8.5
Value For Money
9.5
Ease Of Use
9.0
Ease Of Assembly
9.0
Materials & Durability
9.0
Overall Rating
9.0
Product Specifications
Dimensions | 50”L x 20.5”W x 62”H |
Flywheel Type | Rear-Drive |
Preset Workouts | None |
Resistance Levels | 8 |
Max User Weight | 250 lbs |
Machine Weight | 94.4 lbs |
The elliptical machine manufactured by Doufit deserves a spot on this list mainly because of the combination of functionality and affordability.
The machine comes in an attractive modern design with white and black coloring, and the frame is made of heavy-duty steel, thus making it stable and sturdy.
The pedals (pads) are large enough to accommodate any feet (so that they don't go numb!), and I really like that they are textured with anti-slip material.
The elliptical arms are a bit odd if you ask me; they point straight up into the air and don't have the usual curved design of other elliptical arms.
However, this doesn't affect the machine's arm movement, so it's not necessarily a bad thing.
As with most ellipticals on this list, the Doufit uses magnetic resistance with 8 different tension levels. It comes with a simple LCD monitor and is equipped with transportation wheels for convenient portability.
There are pulse sensors located on the stationary handles for tracking heart rate, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that it's very accurate (this isn't always the norm for cheaper machines).
The dimensions are 50 x 20.5 x 62 inches and the maximum supported weight is 250 pounds.
If you struggle with stability, you've got the option to get the same elliptical with a seat attachment - an excellent choice for seniors on a budget.
My main complaint is that the monitor tracks distance in kilometers, not miles, and there's no way to change it.
Also, if you're a tall individual, let's say over 6'3", the stride might be too short for you. I personally didn't find it short at all, but I'm average when it comes to height.
Pros
Cons
3. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3607
Our Ratings
Workout Versatility
9.0
Value For Money
9.0
Ease Of Use
8.5
Ease Of Assembly
9.5
Materials & Durability
9.0
Overall Rating
9.0
Product Specifications
Dimensions | 39”L x 23.5”W x 63”H |
Flywheel Type | Rear-Drive |
Preset Workouts | None |
Resistance Levels | 8 |
Max User Weight | 220 lbs |
Machine Weight | 71.5 lbs |
Up To 10% Off Your Order - Use Coupon Code = SAVE10
*Only at Brands Website
Third on the list of best affordable ellipticals (and second from the Sunny Health & Fitness brand) is the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3607.
This model has a lot of similarities to the SF-3862 previously reviewed, but it’s the cheaper option, and therefore a better choice for anyone on a budget.
Even with its affordable price tag, the SF-E3607 elliptical has a lot to offer, like smooth magnetic resistance and a rear-driven flywheel system that’s easy on the knees and ankles.
The best feature, though, is the fact that this model costs less than $300, so there’s no need to break the bank.
In addition to magnetic resistance, this Sunny Health elliptical is designed with 8 adjustable tension levels to cater to different fitness levels.
The LCD is basic, but it displays all you need to know for each workout, including time, distance, calories, odometer, and pulse - that’s right, the E3607 allows for heart rate monitoring.
I have just two complaints about this elliptical. The first is the short stride length of just 12 inches; this isn’t ideal for tall individuals or anyone with a naturally long stride, so keep that in mind before purchasing.
On the flip side, the short stride allows for a compact footprint, and at only 39 inches long, this is one of the smallest ellipticals on this list.
Secondly, the weight limit is rather low at just 220 pounds, so in addition to not being ideal for tall people, it’s also not ideal for large users.
If you’re short and lightweight, though, the E3607 is a great choice for sticking to a budget.
Pros
Cons
4. Body Champ 3-in-1 Trio
Our Ratings
Workout Versatility
10.0
Value For Money
9.5
Ease Of Use
8.5
Ease Of Assembly
8.0
Materials & Durability
9.0