9 Best Rowing Machines Under 500
If you've determined to get yourself into shape this year, then you must've already begun your workout rituals.
A good aerobic exercise can, in a lot of ways, help you improve your health and allow you to continue exercising for a very long time while still making you more fit.
While many rowing machines are often a luxury for many people, there are many quality rowers you can get without paying an arm and a leg.
The best rowing machines under 500 are also incredibly effective for building upper body strength, rapidly raising your heart rate, and incorporating a complex range of motion into your workout routine.
In this post, I reviewed some of the best in the market you can get for a pretty reasonable price.
If you have a small apartment, you might want to go for a compact rowing machine instead.
That said, here are the best rowing machines under 500 hands down!
Let's go!
Model | Dimensions (W× L×H) | Item Weight | Material | Max Weight | Resistance Mechanism | Resistance Level | Warranty | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stamina ATS Air Rower | 8” W x 77” L x 28” H | 54 lb | Steel, Frame, Plastic | 250 lb | Air | - | Frame: 3 years Parts: 90 Days | ||
Stamina 35-1402 ATS Air Rower | 18.25” W x 73.5” L x 22” H | 59 lb | Aluminum, Steel, Chrome | 250 lb | Air | - | Frame: 3 years Parts: 90 Days | ||
Stamina X Air Rower | 78.5'' L x 18''W x 29''H | 63 lb | Steel | 250 lb | Air | - | Frame: 3 years Parts: 90 Days | ||
Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 Rowing Machine Best Budget | 58.25''L x 42.5''W x 18.13''H | 39 lb | Steel | 250 lb | Water | 12 | Frame: 1 years Parts: 90 Days | ||
Fitness Reality 1000 Plus Magnetic Rowing Machine Best Overall | 88.5''L x 21.5''Wx 21.5''H | 28.83 lb | Steel | 250 lb | Magnetic | 14 | Frame: 1 years Parts: 90 Days | ||
Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine Rower | 78''L x 19.1''W x 23.2''H | 60.9 lb | Alloy Steel | 250 lb | Magnetic | 8 | Frame: 3 years Parts: 180 Days | ||
Sunny Health & Fitness Rowing Machine Best Budget | 77''L x 23''W x 22.5''H | 50 lb | Steel |
| Magnetic | 16 | Frame: 3 years Parts: 90 Days | ||
ECHANFIT Magnetic Rower Rowing Machine | 75.2''L x 19.29''W x 33.46''H | 61 lb | Alloy Steel | 265 | Magnetic | 16 | 1 year | ||
MaxKare Magnetic Rowing Machine Folding Exercise Rower | 76''L x 19''W x 37''H | 61 lb | Alloy | 264 | Magnetic | 16 | 1 year |
Looking for a rower for specific purposes? Here they are.
Best Rowing Machine Under 500 Best Picks
Best overall
Fitness Reality 1000 Plus Magnetic Rowing Machine
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
This machine uses a 14-level dual transmission resistance to give you challenging workout. Its gives you access to MyCloudFitness app on android or iOS that enables you see track your workout data. Its front stabilizer foot pad enables you to practice curls, upright rows, and other exercises.
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Best BUDGET
Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine
Overall Rating: 4.7/5
The Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine comes with 16 levels of resistance for an intense workout. Its SPM monitor indicates workout data. For comfort, the foot pedal has an ergonomic design and a bottle and device holder to make workout an enjoyable experience.
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FOR BEGINNERS
Stamina BodyTrac Glider Rowing Machine
Overall Rating: 4.6/5
The Stamina BodyTrac Glider Rower is ideal for use at home or if you have small workout space. It comes with a multifunction monitor and a hydraulic resistance for an all-round workout. The sturdy steel frame construction makes it long-lasting. It is easy to use and comfortable for beginners.
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Best Rowing Machine Under 500 Full Review
One of the best rowing machines under 500 is the Stamina Air Rower.
This machine has a sturdy steel frame, a supportive reinforced seat, and a multi-function monitor. It is also one-third the price of high-end air rowers used in gyms.
While some of the best rowing machines under 500 uses magnetic or hydraulic resistance, the Stamina Air Rower uses air resistance, which is easy to adjust.
For more or less resistance, you only need to increase or decrease the pace of your rowing strokes.
When the rower's handle is pulled, a flywheel with fan blades spins, creating wind.
The Stamina Air Rower has a multi-function monitor with a single press. The sensor records simple fitness information such as speed (MPH), distance (Miles), time, and calories.
Stamina is renowned for producing quality frames, and the Stamina ATS Air Rower is no exception.
The frame is made of solid steel and has a robust feel to it. The nylon strap that is pulled to spin the fan blades is sturdy and will withstand the violence you will cause when you gain strength.
The Stamina ATS Air Rower is a rower built for ease, and there have been few concerns about it.
The padded, upholstered seat glides effortlessly up and down the seat rail, and the majority of users reports that it is very relaxing.
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Takeaway
The high-quality construction of the Stamina ATS Air rower is one of the upsides of owning this machine. The design of the seat makes rowing very comfortable for users. Overall, this unit is a perfect choice if you are on a tight budget and can't afford high-end unit.
The Stamina 1402 ATS Air Rower is another dependable, low-cost rower that can withstand everyday use.
While it won't win any design or engineering awards, it is made of quality steel frame construction.
It is a simple, no-frills model that does what you want it to do - that is, give your muscles an excellent workout.
The Stamina 1402 ATS Rower is designed to offer maximum comfort to users. It comes with upholstered padded seat.
It has large foot plates that's suitable for users of all sizes. Nylon straps ensures feet do not slip out during workout.
Through its Air Transfer System, the Stamina1402 offers resistance (ATS). It doesn't have a lever to change the resistance levels, but the quicker your lines, the more resistance you get.
As a result, by varying the stroke rate, you can easily change your workout practices. Furthermore, the angled rail (beam) can have a little extra resistance and provide a demanding exercise for most.
However, as with most air resistance rowers, this one is loud. This may not be an issue for most people, but if you want to listen to music, you'll need to use earphones because if you live in an apartment or have a small space, noise may be an issue.
Under these conditions, we'd suggest a magnetic rower.
The three-screen LCD monitors time, speed, distance, calories, and total strokes. Once again, it is simplistic and won't set the sky on fire with its elegance.
However, it is pretty reliable and offers enough information to schedule your exercise and monitor your success.
However, if you are under 5'4" tall, you may find it difficult to read the lower screen when rowing.
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Takeaway
If you're looking for an easy, no-frills rowing machine to get in shape and your wallet isn't too deep, the Stamina 1402 is a good investment. It is strong and can withstand daily use.
The ATS is a decent low-cost model with steel frame construction and very good features.
The large LCD monitor shows strokes per minute, stroke count, distance, speed (mph), calories, and overall time.
You can reset some of your workout metrics by holding down the 'MODE' button for five seconds.
The readouts are not 100 percent correct, as with all machines in this price range, but they are close enough for comparing workouts - but keep in mind that there is no feature to save your session.
It uses an air resistance system, which is easy to adjust according to the intensity of your workout. The harder you pull the chain, the higher the level of resistance.
Comfort is also assured when using the Stamina X Air Rower as it features a large molded seat.
If you have little space, this rower's frame is foldable. It also comes with wheels to make moving from place to place easy.
With a lick of red paint on the trim, this best rowing machine under 500 has an attractive look.
A big plus is that it has two expert-guided workout videos that show you ways to tone muscles, burn calories and improve overall health faster.
What might be challenging for prospective users is the assembly. Getting it all together can take an hour to complete, depending on your DIY skills.
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Takeaway
The Stamina X is a robust rower that seems like it can withstand any abuse for a machine under 500. Most low-cost rowers are prone to breaking down with heavy use, but the sturdy material used here means it can withstand whatever you throw at it. Bar the ninety-day warranty, this rower is a fantastic investment.
The Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 is an affordable hydraulic rowing machine. It's an effective workout that utilizes most of the body's muscles to lose fat and develop cardio.
It features a unique full-motion arms that makes you feel like you're rowing in water, giving you a practical, low-impact workout that helps you to strengthen your back, arms, legs, glutes, and abs with only one unit.
One of the best rowing machines under 500 on the market, it's also reasonably priced and easy to store. This makes it ideal for use at home or if you have small workout space.
The Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 is a decent option if you're looking for a lightweight and inexpensive rowing machine to help you achieve drastic weight loss in a shorter period.
It has 12 resistance ranges that range from 2 to 50 pounds of power. You simple adjust the hydraulic cylinder to increase or decrease the intensity of your stokes.
Furthermore, this model comes with a full warranty, including 90 days for parts and a year for the frame.
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Takeaway
This is an excellent entry-level rower that you can comfortably fit into an apartment, den, or even your living room to row when watching television. If you're beginning and want a rower that's simple to put together and use, this is a perfect option.
Rowers and home fitness devices are increasingly being equipped with access to online applications and programs that enable you to monitor your progress.
This best rowing machines under 500 uses Bluetooth technology and is one of the latest to do so.
It features a MyCloudFitness you can download for your android or iOS device to track your workouts.
The rowing posture is comfortable, with a spacious seat, a comprehensive and well-padded handle, and a slightly slanted beam that is not too low for going on and off.
The length of the beam on this model makes it ideal for users up to 6' 6" tall, with a rail inseam of 39" - about your inside leg length. Fitness Reality makes a massive deal about how you should use this rower for several other workouts.
Thanks to the design of the machine, users can stand in front of the machine and use the handle for some exercises, including bicep curls and triceps extensions.
It comes with an LCD that indicates the distance rowed, exercise time, the total number of strokes, calories burned, and strokes per minute.
The Fitness Reality is easy to assemble. You should be able to put the parts together in about 30 - 40 minutes.
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Takeaway
The Fitness Reality 1000 rowing machine is a decent buy. It's pretty well-made, with a long beam that's ideal for tall rowers. Yes, it has a primary monitor, but the Bluetooth application compensates for this and puts it ahead of most of the competition. Definitely one of the best rowing machines under 500.
The Sunny Health & Wellness Magnetic Rowing Machine has everything you need for a great aerobic exercise as well as everything any at-home fitness enthusiast might want.
This magnetic rowing machine has an eight-level resistance knob for quickly adjusting the pace of your workout.
You can change the magnetic resistance with a quick twist, ensuring that your exercise remains stimulating and productive during your routine.
This best rowing machines under 500 has big, textured pedals with safety straps to provide a non-slip surface and protection to the operator.
The efficiency of this rowing machine can never be affected, no matter how intense your performance level is.
The SF Magnetic Rowing Machine also has a cushioned seat that offers an excellent rowing experience.
If the floor of your workout space is uneven, this best rowing machine under 500 has foot stabilizers that prevent it from tipping over.
The unit also has a sleek LCD monitor that shows speed, time, calorie, total count, and other vital exercise data, so you never have to worry if your hard work is paying off.
This rowing machine features transportation wheels that make it easy to move from one place to another.
And with its space-saving design, the Sunny Health & Wellness Magnetic Rowing Machine is perfect for small spaces.
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Takeaway
The SF Magnetic Rowing Machine is a reasonably standard rowing machine at this price point. Everything you'd expect is there. It can handle users that weigh 250 lb and its 8 levels of resistance makes for an intense workout.
The Sunny Health & Fitness Compact Folding Magnetic Rowing Machine is a rowing machine with magnetic resistance. This means that it creates resistance against a rotating metal drum by using a magnet inside the flywheel.
Magnetic rowers vary from the air, water, and hydraulic-piston rowers in that they are practically silent while providing a steady, natural rowing motion.
The Sunny Health & Fitness Compact Folding Magnetic Rowing Machine has a standard large LCD. The basic display indicates count, calories, scan, time, and total count.
The Sunny Health and Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine have a high overall construction efficiency thanks to its heavy-duty steel mainframe.
The Magnetic Rower has a padded seat and non-slip grip handlebars for maximum support.
The Sunny Health & Fitness Rowing Machine folds up for storage and has a small footprint.
The Sunny Fitness Magnetic Rower has a weight range of 250 lb, making it suitable for a wide of users.
This best rowing machine under 500 comes with built-in transport wheel for easy movement to its place of storage.
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Takeaway
After its release, the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 has become one of the best-selling budget rowing machines. Users looking for a low-cost, silent rowing machine would find this to be an excellent option. If you are sure that you want a versatile rowing machine, you won't regret going for this unit.
The Echanfit Magnetic Rowing Machine is a pretty decent unit for the money.
It has the appearance of a more costly unit, and among budget versions, it outperforms many in terms of the first impression.
There are some valuable features in this machine. However, only a few features could be a significant deal-breaker for some.
It uses a smooth magnetic resistance with 16 adjustable levels to suit different users according their level.
Assembly is simple and does not pose a problem for most people. A few simple DIY skills are all that is needed, and most of the rower comes pre-assembled, so assembly should take no more than 30 - 40 minutes.
Budget systems seldom have much in terms of display and control - and the Echanfit falls into this group. The LCD screen is small, although it is visible.
It provides you with the standard information about your exercise. This involves the distance rowed; calories burned, exercise time, and strokes per minute.
This best rowing machine under 500 has transport wheels that make it easy to move from one room to another. It also has a foldable design that's suitable if you have a small workout space.
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Takeaway
The Echanfit Magnetic is a decent value for money for those new to indoor rowing and who want a peaceful way to get in shape. Whether you are overweight or recovering from an accident or sickness, this will help you get back on track to exercise at a low cost.
The MaxKare magnetic rower is one of the best rowing machines under 500 designed for home use.
It is a recent entry with 16 resistance settings and a robust construction. The frame of the MaxKare magnetic rower is made of steel tubing.
It does, however, incorporate ABS components into its design. The flywheel covers and base caps are the most noticeable.
A padded seat is included with the MaxKare magnetic rower. Its top incorporates about 2′′ (5 cm) of foam padding.
It is also gently contoured for improved spacing, and the cover is made of durable, double-stitched vinyl leather.
The MaxKare rower has a standard console or exercise meter. It has an LCD monitor that displays the time, count (strokes per session), strokes per minute (SPM), cumulative strokes, and calories burned.
The machine's front part, which includes all of the drive and resistance components and the exercise meter, is pre-assembled.
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Takeaway
The Maxkare magnetic rowing machine features 16 levels of resistance cushioned seat, LCD monitor, and others, making it a must for many users looking for an efficient rower. If you're looking for very good rowing machine, this is it.
Final Thoughts
Those are the best rowing machines under 500 you can add to your home gym!
While all 9 on this list are worthy buys and great investments, I've picked some rowers suitable for specific purposes.
If you're just starting out, I recommend the Stamina BodyTrac Glider Rowing Machine. It's comfortable and very easy to use.
On a budget?
Then you might want to go for the Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine. It's one of the cheapest in a list of low-budget rowers.
The best overall is the Fitness Reality 1000 Plus Magnetic Rowing Machine. It has all the features you want in a rowing machine.
Have anything to say about the best rowing machines under 500? Let me know in the comments section below.
