Best Rowing Machine for Home: 2026 Picks

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Quick picks

Best overallConcept2 RowErg Rowing MachineDurable, data-rich, no-subscription rower that works for steady-state work, intervals, and long-term ownership. AmazoneBayDetails ↓

Best for quiet guided workoutsHydrow Wave RowerSleek connected rower if you want coached sessions and a quieter ride. AmazoneBayDetails ↓

Best big-screen coachingNordicTrack RW900 RowerMagnetic resistance plus a large pivoting touchscreen makes it the most entertainment-forward pick. AmazoneBayDetails ↓

Comparison table

Our picks in detail

1

Concept2 RowErg Rowing Machine

Best for: Most home gym owners who want the best all-around rower without a subscription

The Concept2 RowErg is the most dependable all-around pick for a home gym because it focuses on training quality first. The air-resistance feel scales naturally with effort, the PM5 monitor gives clear workout data, and the machine is simple enough that you can jump on and row without learning a platform.

Concept2 lists a 96-inch by 24-inch footprint, a 500-pound max user weight, and standard or tall leg options. It can also separate into two pieces for storage, which helps if you need to move it between workouts.

The trade-off is familiar: air-rower fan noise and a more basic, performance-first experience than a screen-heavy connected rower.

Resistance

Air

Monitor

PM5

Footprint

96 in x 24 in

Max user weight

500 lb

Storage

Separates into two pieces

Leg height

Standard or tall

Pros

• Best mix of rowing feel and training data
• No required subscription for basic use
• High user-weight capacity
• Can separate into two pieces for storage
• Well suited to intervals and steady-state cardio

Cons

• Louder than magnetic rowers
• Basic seat and no built-in streaming content
• Long footprint requires real planning

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2

Hydrow Wave Rower

Best for: People who want a quiet, polished guided-workout rower

The Hydrow Wave is the pick for buyers who want a quiet, polished, guided rowing setup rather than a bare training machine. Its patented electromagnetic drag and 16-inch touchscreen are built around coached sessions and app-first use.

Hydrow lists an 80-inch by 19-inch footprint, 102-pound product weight, and 375-pound max user weight. That makes it compact for a connected rower, but the membership model only makes sense if you will use the content often.

Hydrow also says the Wave should not be stored upright unless you use the Vertical Anchor, so it rewards buyers who plan storage carefully.

Resistance

Patented electromagnetic drag

Screen

16-inch touchscreen

Footprint

80 in x 19 in

Product weight

102 lb

Max user weight

375 lb

Storage note

Upright storage requires Vertical Anchor

Pros

• Quiet ride compared with fan-driven rowers
• Sleek, space-conscious design
• Built around guided workouts and classes
• Good fit for buyers who want a connected experience

Cons

• Requires a paid membership to get the most from it
• Screen placement may not suit everyone
• Some customers report awkward foot straps

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3

NordicTrack RW900 Rower

Best for: Buyers who want a big screen, magnetic resistance, and guided workouts

The RW900 is the screen-first choice. With SMR Silent Magnetic Resistance, 26 resistance levels, and a 24-inch pivoting HD touchscreen, it is designed for people who want a guided, app-driven session every time they row.

NordicTrack lists an 82-inch by 22-inch footprint, a 300-pound max user weight, and a 10-year frame warranty. It is quieter than a fan-driven rower, but the experience is most valuable if you actually like the subscription ecosystem.

This is the connected rower for shoppers who want a big display and a room-friendly sound profile, not the simplest no-frills machine.

Resistance

SMR Silent Magnetic Resistance

Resistance levels

26

Screen

24-inch pivoting HD touchscreen

Footprint

82 in x 22 in

Max user weight

300 lb

Frame warranty

10-year frame warranty

Pros

• Quieter than air rowers
• Large touchscreen for classes and metrics
• Many resistance levels
• Good choice if you like guided programming

Cons

• Subscription-centric experience
• More complex than a basic rower
• Needs room behind the rail for a full stroke

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Why the Concept2 RowErg is the safest default

For most buyers, the Concept2 RowErg is the simplest yes. It gives you a real rowing workout, consistent data from the PM5, and a machine that is easy to live with long term. The air resistance also scales naturally with effort, so hard intervals feel hard and easy rows stay easy.

This is the rower to buy when you care more about training quality than screen entertainment. If you want a machine that you can row on for years without worrying about a subscription just to get basic function, this is the benchmark.

• Best if you want the most useful data without a subscription
• Good for intervals, steady-state work, and repeatable conditioning
• A strong pick if you care more about training than streaming
• The drive should start with the legs, not the arms

When a connected rower is worth the extra complexity

Connected rowers make sense when the workouts themselves are the product. If classes, coaching, and a more polished interface are what keep you coming back, Hydrow and NordicTrack deserve attention.

Hydrow Wave: best if you want quiet classes

Hydrow Wave is the cleaner, calmer option. The electromagnetic drag and 16-inch touchscreen make it feel more like a polished fitness platform than a bare machine, and the footprint is compact for a connected rower.

The catch is the ongoing membership model. It only makes sense if you will actually use the workouts often enough to justify the ecosystem.

• Best if classes are what keep you consistent
• Quiet enough for shared spaces better than an air rower
• Plan storage carefully and use the approved Vertical Anchor method
• A good fit if you want a sleek, connected setup

NordicTrack RW900: best if you want a big screen

The RW900 is the more screen-heavy choice. The 24-inch pivoting display and 26 resistance levels make it appealing if you want guided workouts with a little more theater.

It is also quieter than an air rower, but you still need to respect the rail's rear clearance. That matters more than most shoppers expect, especially in a spare room or garage gym.

• Best if you want a large display and guided sessions
• Quieter than a fan-driven rower
• Leave room behind the rail for a full stroke
• A better fit if you like magnetic resistance and a coached experience

Space, noise, and storage in a home gym

A rower is more demanding of room layout than a bike because of the rail. Concept2 suggests roughly nine feet by four feet of clearance, and NordicTrack says the RW900 needs room behind the rail for a full stroke. That makes measurement more important than the spec sheet.

If you are placing the machine in a garage, basement, or upstairs room, put it on proper flooring. It helps protect the floor, reduce vibration, and make the machine feel more stable. If you want help planning the room, the home gym setup guide and best home gym flooring guide will help.

• Measure rail length plus leg swing, not just the footprint
• Keep children away from the moving seat and handle
• Confirm whether upright storage is allowed before you rely on it
• Choose the quietest resistance type if the room is shared

When to choose a bike instead

If space, noise, or simplicity are your top priorities, an exercise bike can be a better buy. Bikes are usually easier to place, easier to share in multi-use rooms, and less demanding about rear clearance.

If you are deciding between machines for a full cardio setup, compare this guide with best exercise bike for home. For broader equipment planning, the Home Training Buying Guide can help you decide whether a rower, bike, or another cardio machine makes the most sense.

• Choose a bike if you want the smallest footprint
• Choose a bike if you want the quietest simple cardio option
• Choose a rower if you want more upper-body involvement and a bigger full-body feel

Buying guide

1. Pick the resistance type for the kind of workout you want

Air rowers feel the most like rowing on water because resistance rises with effort. Magnetic rowers are usually quieter and smoother. Electromagnetic systems can pair a quiet ride with more programming features. Water rowers are smooth and sound calmer than air rowers, but they bring more upkeep.

The label on the machine matters less than how that resistance feels in a real room. If you want training that responds instantly to power output, air is a strong fit. If you need lower noise, magnetic or electromagnetic is usually the better path.

• Air: best for training feel and natural effort scaling
• Magnetic: best for quieter shared spaces
• Electromagnetic: good for connected training and quieter operation
• Water: smooth feel, but more maintenance
• Remember that the drive should start with the legs, not the arms

2. Measure footprint and rear clearance before you buy

Do not shop from the marketing photo. Lay out the machine's full length on the floor and account for handle travel, seat travel, and the space behind the rail. Concept2 recommends about 9 feet by 4 feet of clearance for the RowErg, and that is a useful reality check even if you buy a different brand.

If you are working in a garage or spare room, this step matters as much as the rower itself. It is also where how to set up a home gym in a small space can save you from buying too much machine for the room.

• Measure the wall-to-wall path, not just the footprint
• Leave space to step on and off safely
• Confirm upright storage rules before relying on them
• Put the machine where the seat and handle will not hit walls or furniture

3. Decide whether a screen is worth the subscription

A big touchscreen can be motivating, but it only pays off if you actually use it. If you prefer self-directed training, a simple monitor may be better than a flashy platform.

Subscription rowers make sense when coached classes are what keep you consistent. If you only want row intervals, steady-state work, or clean workout data, a no-subscription rower is usually easier to live with.

• Buy connected if coaching and classes improve adherence
• Buy simple if you want fewer recurring costs and fewer login screens
• Pay attention to how the monitor displays pace, intervals, and heart-rate data
• Make sure the interface is easy to use while tired

4. Think about noise, floors, and the people around you

Air rowers are usually the loudest because the flywheel moves air. Magnetic and electromagnetic rowers are better if you work out early, live in an apartment, or share a room with other people.

Use proper flooring to reduce vibration and protect the surface underneath. If the machine is in a family area, keep children away from moving parts and store the rower so it cannot tip or roll unexpectedly. For room layout help, the best home gym flooring guide is worth a look.

• Air is usually the loudest, but it feels the most like rowing
• Magnetic is usually the quietest everyday choice
• Place the rower on stable, level flooring
• Keep the area clear around the seat and rail

5. Check long-term ownership details

The best rower is the one you can keep using. Check the max user weight, frame warranty, how easy the machine is to move, and whether it can be stored in a way that fits your home.

If you are building a larger home gym, remember that racks, safeties, and other strength equipment need their own safety planning. For a rower, the big priorities are clearance, flooring, and keeping the machine out of the way when it is not in use.

• Stay within the manufacturer's weight limit
• Prefer simple service access and readily available parts
• Make sure the machine fits your storage plan
• Keep the manual and setup instructions handy

FAQ

The bottom line

For most people, the Concept2 RowErg is the best rowing machine for home because it balances feel, data, durability, and ownership simplicity better than the connected alternatives.

Pick Hydrow Wave if you want quiet guided workouts and a sleek connected setup, or NordicTrack RW900 if you want a big screen and magnetic resistance. Whatever you buy, measure the room, plan rear clearance, and set the rower on stable flooring before your first session.