Ellipticals can be a costly investment into your workout goals. Here is a look at how much each type of elliptical costs and how much to spend on one.
The elliptical machine s an excellent option for people who want a low-impact way to burn fat and lose weight.
That said, the elliptical trainer is not a cheap piece of fitness equipment.
Standard ellipticals start at around $1,000, with quality models like the Sole E95 and Nautilus E618 retailing for around $2,000.
In this article, we will break down how much elliptical machines cost by brand and type.
We will cover standard ellipticals, recumbent ellipticals, and much more, so that by the end, you will have a crystal-clear idea of how much to spend on an elliptical.
Let’s jump right in.
The Cost of Ellipticals by Type
Standard Ellipticals
The standard elliptical is most likely what comes to mind first when you think about ellipticals. They are stand-up ellipticals that have the elliptical moving in a horizontal direction.
These include both rear-drive and front-drive models, using an oval-shaped horizontal gait pattern that is a mix of running and cycling.
Standard ellipticals start at $300 for a no-frills, lightweight elliptical. Sturdier, commercial-grade ellipticals for home gyms cost between $1,000 and $2,500.
For a true commercial elliptical trainer like those found find at your local gym, expect to pay $5,000 or more.
Schwinn 470 Elliptical$1,099
Schwinn 411 Elliptical$599
Schwinn 430 Elliptical$899
Sole E95 Elliptical$1,999
Sole E35 Elliptical$1,499
Sole Fitness E25 Elliptical$1,300
Sole Fitness E55 Elliptical$1,499
Sole e20$1,400
Nautilus E616$799
Nautilus E618$1,110
Sunny Health & Fitness Smart Elliptical$300
Sunny Health & Fitness Classic Elliptical$99
NordicTrack SpaceSaver SE7i$1,799
NordicTrack SpaceSaver SE9i$2,199
NordicTrack C 14.9 Elliptical$2,499
NordicTrack C 9.9 Elliptical$2,149
Life Fitness E5 Elliptical Cross-Trainer$5,269
Life Fitness Platinum Club Series Elliptical$5,044
Life Fitness E1 Elliptical Cross-Trainer$2,729
Life Fitness Club Series + Elliptical$6,199
Life Fitness E3 Elliptical Cross-Trainer$3,719
Diamondback Fitness 1060ef Elliptical$999
Diamondback Fitness 1280ef Elliptical$1,199
Pro-Form Carbon E7 Elliptical$1,499
Pro-Form Carbon EL$1,049
Pro-Form 895 Cse Smart Strider$899
Horizon Fitness 7.0 AE Elliptical$849
Horizon Fitness EX-59 Elliptical$699
Niceday Elliptical Machine$800
Gazelle Edge Glider$300
Body Rider Body Flex Elliptical$137
Cybex R Series Total Body Arc Trainer
Stepper + Elliptical Combos
This form of elliptical is a cross between an elliptical and a stair climber. The path of the elliptical is more vertical than horizontal, making it a more challenging workout.
Just how vertical the elliptical is depends on the brand. The Max Trainers, for example, have an adjustable vertical elliptical that can range anywhere from X to Y, while the Pro-Form ellipticals are almost completely vertical, making them more of a stair climber than elliptical.
Bowflex Max Trainer M6$1,899
Bowflex Max Trainer M9$1,999
Bowflex Max Trainer M16$2,999
Pro-Form HIIT H14$1,999
Pro-Form Carbon HIIT H7$1,599
Recumbent Ellipticals
Recumbent ellipticals are an excellent option for trainees who have injured knees, or are just easing back into exercising, and want a way to get the benefits of an elliptical without bearing additional load on the knees and hips.
While there are not as many options when it comes to choosing a recumbent elliptical, there are some quality choices in the $340-750 range.
Marcy Dual Action Recumbent Elliptical$340
Teeter FreeStep Recumbent Elliptical$700
Pro-Form Hybrid Trainer XT$749
Under-the-Desk Ellipticals
These mini ellipticals can be used when sitting, and are highly portable, making them an excellent option for people who want to shred some extra calories at the office or on the go.
Under desk ellipticals cost between $140 and $260.
DeskCycle Under Desk Elliptical Machine$259
DeskCycle 2 Under Desk Elliptical Trainer$229
Sunny Health & Fitness Under Desk Elliptical$139
LifePro Under Desk Elliptical$229
Cubii GO Under Desk Elliptical$240
Are elliptical machines worth it?
Elliptical machines are an effective way to get in shape, whether you enjoy doing longer bouts of fat-burning aerobic exercise or want to use the elliptical as an HIIT machine for short-and-sweet intervals.
Because elliptical machines are inherently low impact, they can be a far more effective tool for weight loss over the long term compared to running and other high-impact cardiovascular injuries, which are prone to incurring injuries.
If you consider the cost of the average elliptical machine, at around $1,000, it will take you just 20 months to pay off the machine (assuming your gym membership runs you $50 a month).
Plus, when you add an elliptical machine to your home gym, it’s not just the gym membership money you are saving, but the commute time to the gym and waiting for a machine in a busy cardio room at the gym.
How much should you pay for an elliptical?
Elliptical machines come in a range of price, with your basic, entry-level elliptical trainer costing a couple of hundred dollars.
For a commercial-grade elliptical machine, you should expect to pay in the range of $1,000 to $2,000.
And of course, there are actual commercial elliptical machines available for home gym owners, costing anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000.
One of the sneaky costs of elliptical machines are the subscriptions for workout programs, which can run as much as a few hundred dollars a year.
The Bottom Line
There’s no doubt that an elliptical machine can be a pricey investment.
That said, when you balance the trade-offs of being able to bang out tons of low-impact cardio in the comfort of your own home, with no gym line-ups and no commute to the gym, the elliptical trainer can start to pay for itself quickly.
More Elliptical Trainer Articles and Guides
What Muscles Do Elliptical Trainers Work? (and How to Build Muscle on an Elliptical). The elliptical trainer is an excellent machine for building cardio and muscle. Here’s a look at all of the muscles worked on the elliptical, tricks for changing muscle groups, and how to build muscle on the elliptical.
How Many Calories Do You Burn on an Elliptical? (and How to Burn More). Wondering how many calories the elliptical trainer burns? Here’s how much calorie burning you are doing, how the elliptical compares to other machines in the gym, and tips for how to burn even more calories on an elliptical.
3 Elliptical HIIT Workouts (Plus Benefits and How to Do Them Like a Champ). Ready to crank up the fat-burning and cardio on your workouts? Here are three HIIT workouts you can do on an elliptical, for beginners, intermediates, and experienced trainees.
