Rowing Machines

Which rowing machine fits your home?

A rowing machine trains your legs, back, core and arms in one seated, low-impact stroke. Home rowers differ in resistance type, length, storage and seat height, so the right one depends on the noise your home allows and the room you can give it.

Air, magnetic or water: which feels right?

Is a magnetic rower better than air? Neither wins outright. Pick magnetic for shared walls and early mornings, air for hard intervals, and water if you want a smooth, rhythmic pull.

Outside these groups, Sunny's Hydro + Dual Resistance model combines water and magnetic resistance, and its SF-RW5606 uses elastic cords.

Our air, magnetic and water rower comparison covers noise, upkeep and storage side by side.

Room, body and routine: the fit check

Choose the Tall Legs version of the Concept2 RowErg if lowering yourself to a standard seat is hard. Concept2 says both leg heights fit inseams up to 38 in, and our RowErg product page lists each option.

Short on storage? The RowErg separates into two pieces without tools, and the Endurance R300 breaks down into sections for putting away.

A home rower is a good fit if you:

• are adding conditioning to a home strength setup
• cross-train for running, cycling or another sport
• are starting out and want to set your own pace

Skip it, or choose another machine, if you:

• need one rower for daily use by many people
• would rather stand while you train
• want to read or type while you exercise

For that kind of shared use, see our rowers built for facility use.

Concept2 lists 9 ft x 4 ft of floor space for using a RowErg, so measure your room's length before choosing any full-size rower.

How to choose a home rowing machine

Use this checklist to narrow a shortlist down to one machine.

• ✅ Max user weight above your heaviest user
• ✅ Rail long enough for your tallest user
• ✅ Monitor showing pace, distance and stroke rate
• ✅ Bluetooth or app support if you train online
• ✅ Footplates and straps that adjust quickly

Planning more than a rower? Our team can map out the whole room first when you book a gym design.

Not sure rowing is the right motion for you? Compare it with our other home cardio machines.

Brands and models in this category

We carry rowers from Concept2, Spirit Fitness, STEPR, Body-Solid Endurance, Horizon Fitness, Matrix Fitness, Hudson Steel, APE, Renegade, York, OxeFit and Sunny Health & Fitness. See Concept2's full lineup if you also want its SkiErg or BikeErg.

Need a rower where there is no outlet? The Spirit Fitness CRW800 has a built-in generator, so it runs in a garage or barn without a plug.

Sunny's Row-N-Ride models also appear here; they are upright squat-assist trainers, not rail rowers.

Rowing machine FAQ

Are rowing machines hard on knees?

They can be if deep knee bending hurts, since your knees fold close to your chest at the start of each stroke. If it does, ask a physical therapist or compare an elliptical trainer, where the bend is shallower.

Are rowing machines bad for your back?

Not when your legs start each stroke and your back stays straight; trouble usually comes from rounding forward or pulling with the arms first. With current back pain, get your doctor's OK first.

Does rowing count as strength training?

Only partly: each stroke is a light pull repeated many times, which builds endurance more than maximal strength. Keep lifting weights if building muscle is the goal.

What setting should a rowing machine be on?

On a Concept2, start at a damper setting of 3-5, the range Concept2 suggests for most workouts; on a magnetic rower, pick a level you can row smoothly. Higher numbers feel like a higher bike gear, Concept2 notes, and are harder to hold with good form.

Get help picking a rower

Compare models by resistance and room fit, then call or text 423-458-2453 for help matching a rower to your space and the people who will use it.

Hamilton Home Fitness ships rowers to all 50 states from Cleveland, Tennessee.