5 Expert-Approved Under Desk Ellipticals for Active Workdays

The fitness and product experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Nutrition & Fitness Lab research and evaluate sports equipment year-round, from rowing machines to exercise bikes and more.

For this story, we reviewed expert input, staffer experiences, and product specifications to assess ease of setup, sturdiness, and usability. We also noted features like built-in handles for portability, display monitors, adjustable resistance levels, and app connectivity.

To understand how these machines hold up over time, we analyzed verified online reviews for insights into long-term performance and user satisfaction. We also spoke with physical therapist Wendy Winn, PT, OCS, to provide professional perspective on ergonomics and effectiveness.

Tbere are a handful of features you'll want to consider before making your purchase:

✔️ Size and weight: It's important to measure the area under your desk so you know what dimensions you have to work with. Remember: As you push the pedals, it will raise the height of your knees, so you'll want to make sure there's enough clearance for you to use your full range of motion without knocking into the table or desk. If you plan to move the machine around, whether to put it on top of the desk sometimes for an upper body workout or if you want to store it in a closet when not in use, it's also important to know how much the machine weighs. Some options are lighter and more portable, while others are heavier and more stable in one place.

✔️ Features: Are you looking for a basic elliptical machine or do you want one with all the bells and whistles? Do you need an LCD screen to view your stats as you pedal? Are you planning on using it for upper-body workouts, too? Does the machine have a handle for easy portability? What about a non-slip base? Consider all these features based on your needs.

✔️ Resistance: Ask yourself if you want your machine to have multi-resistance options so that you can adjust the amount of effort and power you're putting into your session. If it does have multiple resistance levels, how do you adjust them? Is there a knob, or is it done digitally? Know your preference and what works best for you.

✔️ Noise level: Some machines can create a lot more noise than others. Are you going to be using your under desk elliptical in an office around co-workers or are you using it at home alone? Do you also plan to use it while you watch TV on the couch? Noise levels can make a big difference and are often overlooked.

Many under desk bikes have pedals with manually adjustable resistance knobs. Some ellipticals are a bit more advanced with their resistance technology. However, the choice is ultimately up to user preference. "Biomechanically, there will be a slight difference between how your foot sits on the flat elliptical pedals versus the smaller bike pedals with foot straps," points out Winn. "However, I wouldn't say one is better than the other, but rather just a preference on foot placement and features."

The biggest and most obvious difference between the two is that you're sitting when using an under desk elliptical versus standing on a treadmill. "Both burn calories and increase blood flow while working," says Winn. "Also, both are comparable to a traditional elliptical and treadmill in that the difficulty is user-dependent based on what you set the resistance, speed, and incline to."

However, an elliptical is lower impact and more joint-friendly than walking, jogging, or running on a treadmill.

Amy Schlinger is an NASM Certified Personal Trainer and journalist who has been in the health and fitness industry for over a decade. She's extremely passionate about leading an active lifestyle and inspiring others to do the same. Amy can often be found getting in daily cardio, strength training in the gym, and testing and writing about gear and equipment like under desk treadmills, running shoes, leggings, and rowers.

Wendy Winn, PT, OCS, is a physical therapist board-certified in orthopedics and the owner and director of Custom Performance physical therapy in New York, NY. Winn has been a practicing therapist for over 13 years and has served as an expert contributor and educator for many fitness and running institutions.