The 7 Best Ellipticals For Apartments in 2023

You don’t have to join a gym to be able to get fit, lose weight, and increase your fitness level. As long as you choose the right pieces of equipment, you can see huge success without even leaving your own apartment. 

But not all pieces of fitness equipment are suitable for apartments! Your place may have imitations, like low ceilings, noise restrictions, or grumpy landlords. It’s important to find the right machine for your requirements. 

Based on this, we’ve put together a list of our choices for the best ellipticals for apartments. There’s something for every apartment-dweller on this list—find the one that matches your own needs!

In A Hurry? Here’s Our Best Picks

Why Trust BoxLife? 

Our team has a ton of experience amongst us. Between us, we’ve been on almost all the available cardio machines out there, which means we have a lot of knowledge and personal experience to put together. 

But we’ve also got very clear standards for our fitness equipment, based on our experience in the fitness world. We know what makes an excellent elliptical, and what makes a poor choice… So we can confidently pick out those that we believe would make a great apartment elliptical trainer. 

Who Should Read This Guide? 

If you live in an apartment and you’re looking for a way to get a great full-body workout without stepping out your front door, then this guide is for you. 

While a treadmill might be the first thought when looking for cardio equipment, the elliptical is actually an excellent alternative, especially for an apartment setting.

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How We Chose the Best Elliptical for Apartments 

The first thing we did was to gather all our collective knowledge about ellipticals that would be a good choice for apartments. Once we had a list, we went online to see if there were any great options we’d missed. 

From there, we checked out big retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and many more. We read through thousands of reviews by real people, those who’d bought these treadmills and had real-life experiences with them. 

Once we had all the information we needed, we narrowed it down to the ellipticals you find on this list. They ticked most of the boxes we were looking for! 

How We Tested Them 

Ellipticals for apartments need to fulfill certain requirements to be considered a great choice. Typically, apartments are a little shorter on space—both vertically and horizontally—and it can be a little tricky to get an elliptical into an apartment in the first place, depending on which floor you’re on. Here are the features we analyzed in order to find the ellipticals for this list. 

• Footprint 
• Foldability 
• Step-Up Height 
• Resistance Levels 
• Incline Feature 
• Built-In Programs 
• Weight of Machine 

Best Elliptical for Apartments – Our Top Picks

Nautilus E618 Elliptical – Best Overall

Although the Nautilus E618 isn’t a folding elliptical, it’s a compact package that should fit comfortably into most apartments, at 27” wide, 73” long, and 67” high. 

One of the nicest things about it is the 22-inch stride length. It’s long enough for users over 6-feet in height to stride comfortably, although users under 5’4” might find that it’s too long for comfort. 

The step-up height is somewhere between 12” and 15”. Add the tallest user’s height to 15”, and make sure that’ll fit comfortably below your ceiling to avoid head injuries! 

The frame is robust, able to handle a max user weight capacity of 350 pounds. Take note, though, that the sturdy build makes this a heavy machine. The elliptical itself weighs over 200 pounds, so it might be tricky to get into your apartment if you live upstairs. 

Suspension Adjust technology in the pedals allows you to adjust them to an angle between 0 and 10 degrees, for custom comfort. They’re textured as well, so your feet will stay put once the pedals are moving. 

Packed into its compact frame is 25 levels of resistance to suit every ability, 10 incline levels to add extra challenge, and 29 built-in workout programs so you can just push-and-go. 

Plus, it comes with nice extras like a media shelf, a 3-speed fan, a USB-charging port, and links up to the Explore the World app for an immersive and fun experience. 

It’s the company’s most advanced elliptical, but it’s still within budget for most people. The warranty gets a big thumbs-up from us—15 years on the frame, 5 years on electronics and parts, and 2 years on labor.

Key Specs 

Footprint	27″ W x 73″ L x 67″ H
Foldability	Not foldable
Step-Up Height	12 to 15 inches (unclear)
Resistance Levels & Incline	25 resistance levels, 10 incline levels
Stride Length	22 inches
Built-In Programs	29 built-in programs
Weight of Machine	210 lbs

Best Choice and Surprisingly Affordable 

The features on this elliptical make it suitable for almost anyone to get a great workout. Whatever your fitness goals, this machine will help you get there! Plus, it has a fantastic warranty and is surprisingly affordable for its quality.

Sole Fitness E25 Elliptical – Runner-Up

The Sole Fitness E25 is another superb choice. It’s a touch cheaper than our first choice, but it’s quite comparable in terms of performance and features. The one area in which it stands above our first choice is in the warranty—a lifetime on the frame, plus 3 years parts and electronics. 

It’s also not foldable, but is quite similar in size to the Nautilus, at 77” tall, 70” long, and 24” wide. This machine weighs roughly the same as the previous one, so the same problem may arise if you live upstairs. 

That said, it can hold a max user weight of 350lbs. In terms of height, you’ll need to do your own measuring to make sure users can fit on the pedals at their max height without hitting their head on the ceiling. 

With a 20-inch stride length, users of 5’4” to 6’ should be quite comfortable on it. It has textured, oversized pedals with a good amount of cushioning for added comfort. 

Performance features include 20 magnetic resistance levels and a very decent 20 levels of incline to play with. You can choose from 10 preset workouts, including 2 heart rate programs, 6 standard ones, and 2 customizable settings.

Key Specs 

Footprint	71″ H x 70″ L x 24″ W
Foldability	Not foldable
Step-Up Height	14 inches
Resistance Levels & Incline	20 resistance levels, 20 incline levels
Stride Length	20 inches
Built-In Programs	10 built-in programs
Weight of Machine	212 lbs

A Worthy Runner-Up 

Excellent features, compact enough to fit into most apartment spaces, and with a superb warranty to boot. Great choice!

NordicTrack Commercial 14.9 Smart Elliptical – Best iFit Elliptical

The NordicTrack Commercial 14.9 elliptical is even more compact than the other two, at 67″ long, 29″ wide, and 69″ in height. If you’ve used and loved iFit—or heard about it and want to to get into it—then this is the elliptical for you. 

There are no built-in programs. All your workouts are done either in manual mode, or through the iFit app. Take note that you do have to pay a monthly fee for iFit. 

A 14-inch color screen and decent speakers are perfect for immersive workouts. You can use the screen just to view your stats though, and it’s pretty easy to see given its size and back lighting. 

If you don’t want to use iFit, you can still use this machine. 26 resistance levels give you more than enough to work against, and 20 incline levels allow you to target your muscles a bit differently. 

A 12-inch step-up height means the max pedal height is likely to be pretty low as well, preventing head-bashing on lower ceilings. Check this beforehand, though, and remember it can change with incline. 

This is one of the few ellipticals with an adjustable stride length—between 17.5 inches and 18.7 inches. That isn’t a huge difference, but it does mean you can get it just right for your natural stride. Users taller than 5’8” and shorter than 5”3 might still find it a little uncomfortable. 

Pedal Adjust allows you to tilt them a tiny bit to reduce toe numbness. They’re of good size and cushioned, plus textured for safety. 

A 10-year frame warranty, 2-year parts warranty, and 1-year labor warranty finishes this off nicely. A highly recommended fitness machine for those who enjoy immersion!

Key Specs 

Footprint	67″ L x 29″ W x 69″ H
Foldability	Not foldable
Step-Up Height	12 inches
Resistance Levels & Incline	26 resistance levels, 0 to 20% incline
Stride Length	Adjustable 17.5 inches to 18.7 inches
Built-In Programs	None, connects to iFit
Weight of Machine	210 lbs

iFit Users Will Love It 

For fans of iFit, this elliptical will provide hours of fun and immersive training. It has a beautiful screen to follow along on, great speakers, and more than enough features to do a non-iFit workout if you do want to.

Sole E95 Elliptical – Best Stride Length

The E95 is Sole’s top elliptical. It’s a fantastic machine for those who want to be able to have a gym-standard workout at home, without the hefty price tag that comes with a commercial piece of equipment. 

One of the best things about this particular fitness machine is that it has an adjustable stride length. You can set it between 20 and 22 inches, which is great news for taller users as it can comfortably accommodate people of up to 6’6”. Shorter users—below 5’4”—might find that the stretch is a bit much for comfortable workouts. 

There’s 20 resistance levels, and a flywheel weight of an impressively heavy 27 pounds. Plus—and we particularly love this feature—there’s 20 levels of incline so you can really mix and match for an excellent workout. 

You can choose from 10 different preset programs, and there are also custom profiles you can fill with your own personal workouts. Another feature we like is the angled pedals, which have a 2-degree inward slope that takes strain off your knees and toes. 

It is a little bit bigger than some others on this list and doesn’t fold. But for the quality of the workout you’ll be getting, you won’t be hard-pressed to find a spot for it! It does have built-in transport wheels so you can move it around the apartment if necessary. 

The machine is a weighty 236 lbs, so it might be tricky to get into upstairs apartments. However, it has a maximum user weight of 400 lbs, and has three sturdy floor stabilizers on the frame to stop it from rocking when you go hard. 

Additional features we like include a 10.1-inch backlit screen, a cooling fan, a water bottle, built-in speakers, a tablet holder, Bluetooth, and a handy USB port.

Key Specs 

Footprint	82” L x 71” H x 31” W
Foldability	Not foldable
Step-Up Height	14 inches
Resistance Levels & Incline	20 resistance levels, 20 incline levels
Stride Length	Adjustable from 20 to 22 inches
Built-In Programs	10 built-in workouts
Weight of Machine	236 lbs

Gym-Quality Home Elliptical Machine 

For its price, you won’t find a better elliptical than the Sole E95. There’s more than enough features for almost any kind of athlete to get an effective workout on this machine. It might be slightly larger, but it’s well worth the space it takes up.

Exerpeutic 6000 QF Elliptical – Smallest Footprint

If you’re looking for something compact to fit into a smaller apartment, the Exerpeutic 6000 QF should fit the bill. It has a smaller profile than others on this list, at 46” wide, 55” in length, and 64” high. 

While it doesn’t fold, it weighs just 84 pounds and is easy to move by just a single person if necessary. Despite its small size, it can handle users of up to 270 lbs and has adjustable stabilizers that stop it from wobbling while you’re using it. 

With a stride length of 18 inches, it can accommodate most users of average height, which is impressive at its price point. Also impressive is the 24 levels of quiet magnetic resistance and dual flywheels for a smoother motion. 

You can choose from 24 different built-in workout programs, so there’s truly something for everyone. There’s no incline, but the features it does have are ideal for getting a good workout. 

Your purchase should include the MyCloudFitness app, which will help you to keep track of your stats and data. You don’t have to use it, but it’s a nice-to-have. The only thing we’re not a fan of is the limited 1-year warranty.

Key Specs 

Footprint	46” W x 55” L x 64” H
Foldability	Not foldable
Step-Up Height	Unclear
Resistance Levels & Incline	24 resistance levels, no incline
Stride Length	18 inches
Built-In Programs	24 built-in programs
Weight of Machine	84 lbs

Fits In Almost Any Apartment 

The compact footprint of this elliptical makes it a great choice for smaller spaces. Not only does it fit most places, but it has a low noise level and it weighs just 84 pounds, so it’s easy to move around even if it’s just you.

NordicTrack Spacesaver SE9i Elliptical – Best Foldable Elliptical

It’s difficult to find decent foldable ellipticals, especially ones that are well-priced. But the NordicTrack SpaceSaver SE9i is a great choice if foldability is your main priority. 

It’s a fairly sizable machine, but has a Vertical SpaceSaver Design that allows you to slide it behind a sofa or into a cupboard with ease. Note, though, that it’s surprisingly heavy—325 pounds—so you may need help to move it around. 

Aside from being foldable, the SE9i offers a ton of great features. We like the 18-inch stride length, which is enough for most, although taller users might struggle to feel comfortable as they may not be able to get a full stride in. 

There’s an impressive 30 built-in workouts, but you don’t even have to stick to that—the machine is iFit-enabled, so you can do iFit workouts if you want to. A 7-inch color touchscreen makes the user experience pleasant, although it’s a bit small. 

Change between 24 levels of smooth, quiet, magnetic resistance. The rear-located flywheel adds an inherent stability to the motion, which is handy because this elliptical also has an adjustable incline of up to 10%. 

It also comes with a bunch of extra features for convenience, including a multi-power fan, a tablet holder, and heart rate pulse sensors. We also love the 10-year warranty on the frame.

Key Specs 

Footprint	‎31.9″ D x 78.7″ W x 66.4″ H
Foldability	Vertical SpaceSaver Design
Step-Up Height	Unclear
Resistance Levels & Incline	24 resistance levels, 10% incline
Stride Length	18 inches
Built-In Programs	30 built-in workouts, plus iFit
Weight of Machine	325 lbs

Folds Easily to Save Space 

Those looking for an elliptical they can fold and move out the way will appreciate this one. As well as being space-saving, it’s got a ton of great features that will help you reach your fitness goals.

Precor EFX 833 Commercial Series Elliptical – Best Bargain Buy

If you’ve got the budget for it, the Precor EFX 833 is absolutely worth a buy. The manufacturer sells it for close to $10k, but you can find bargains elsewhere for a few thousand. 

It’s got a decent footprint so it’ll fit into smaller spaces quite well. However, it doesn’t fold and it weighs a whopping 350 pounds, so you’ll definitely need help moving it around with the built-in wheels. 

But the reason it’s such a pricey elliptical lies in the many features. For one, the step-up height of 8 inches is one of the lowest we’ve seen, so even taller users should be fine to use this in a low-ceiling space. 

Speaking of taller users, the stride length on this fitness machine is adjustable between 21 and 25 inches. This is fantastic for tall individuals, who can get a full stride quite comfortably. Shorter users, however, will probably find it uncomfortable. 

You can choose from 20 resistance levels, but the more impressive feature is the incline, which can be set from 10 to 35 degrees. You’ll feel that in your glutes and hamstrings! 

Plus, 10 preset programs allow you to select what you want to do based on your goal: weight loss, muscle building, interval training, or heart rate control. 

A decent warranty with 7 years on the frame, a year on parts, and 2 years on electronics finishes it up nicely.

Key Specs 

Footprint	‎80” L x 30” D x 67” H
Foldability	Not foldable
Step-Up Height	8 inches
Resistance Levels & Incline	20 resistance levels, 10 to 35-degree incline levels
Stride Length	Adjustable 21 to 25 inches
Built-In Programs	10 preset programs
Weight of Machine	350 lbs

A Worthy Splurge 

The Precor may be more expensive than the others, but it’s a worthwhile buy if you’ve got the budget and you’re serious about your fitness. Check the internet for better deals than the manufacturer’s website and you’ll have yourself a bargain! 

Buyer’s Guide: What To Look For In An Elliptical for Apartments 

Looking for the best elliptical for apartment use? Here’s what you should be looking for in order to make sure you get the best machine for your needs. 

Footprint 

The footprint of the elliptical is the amount of space it takes up. A compact elliptical footprint means you can leave it set up permanently and just hop onto it whenever you want to get some exercise. 

Foldability 

You can lower a compact machine’s footprint even more by choosing one that folds smaller when it’s not in use. Not all of them do offer folding capabilities, and often those that do are usually a little more pricey than budget machines that don’t fold. 

Step-Up Height 

The step-up height is the minimum height of the elliptical off the floor. A low step-up height is great for shorter people and older people who want to get on and off the elliptical easily. 

But there’s another factor that comes into play here—the ceiling height. The higher the step-up height and the max height of the pedal during movement, the closer your head will come to the ceiling… Which may be dangerous if you’re tall. 

You may need to do some mathematical calculations to make sure you aren’t at risk of hurting yourself on the elliptical you choose. Take the maximum pedal height and add your height to it. 

If it’s a good bit lower than the ceiling height, then you should be good to go. If it’s getting a little close… Well, you might want to consider a machine with a lower pedal height.

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Resistance Levels 

Performance is also important. It doesn’t matter if the elliptical you choose fits into your apartment if it doesn’t fulfill your training requirements. Different ellipticals have different resistance options, so make sure you get one that has enough levels for you. 

They come in a range of resistance levels. Some start around 8 levels of adjustable resistance, and can go all the way up to 30 levels. If you’re new to fitness, you definitely don’t need that many levels. On the other hand, if you’re already fit but just want to try the elliptical, you may want to choose something with a few more resistance levels. 

Incline Feature 

Not all ellipticals have an incline feature. It’s generally seen on more pricey machines with advanced features. But if it’s something you want, then it’s likely you’ll end up paying a little more than you would for a machine that doesn’t have it. 

Again, it’s up to you whether or not you choose an elliptical with incline or not. But it does add an extra element to your exercise if you choose to use it, and it can be an excellent tool for building leg and glute muscle. 

Built-In Programs 

Depending on how serious you are about training and how familiar you are with the elliptical and how to work it, you’ll have your own preferences here. Some ellipticals come with no built-in programs at all, while others can have as many as 30. 

The choice is yours, once again, as to what you choose. Those ellipticals without built-in programs can still be amazing machines, but you’ll need to change the resistance and incline on the go if you have one of these—it won’t change automatically based on a program. 

Weight of Machine 

The weight of the elliptical you choose will matter when bringing it home. If you’re on the 10th floor and don’t have a big elevator, consider how easy it might be getting the box up to your apartment.

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