Stay active during the workday with these innovative machines.
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Logging long hours in your desk chair can not only drain your energy but may also have some serious health consequences. Sedentary behavior has been associated with health risks such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, a decreased lifespan and more. Not to mention that sitting in the same place and position all day can lead to a tight back, hip flexors and other issues. But an under desk exercise machine can boost your energy, help get your heart pumping and bring some activity to an otherwise sedentary job. Our fitness and health experts rounded up the best options for all different types of home office setups.
"A good rule of thumb is to try to move every hour on the hour for a few minutes," says NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Women's Fitness Specialist Stefani Sassos, who serves as Good Housekeeping's on-staff exercise expert and Nutrition Director. She adds that an under desk bike or elliptical can be a great tool for periods of activity to break up sitting throughout the work day. But if it's your first time using something like this, Sassos recommends starting at a low speed for about 30 to 60 minutes. "You can assess how sore your legs are the next day and then gradually increase the time if you feel good."
Sassos, along with our health and fitness experts, analysts and engineers in the Good Housekeeping Institute Wellness Lab, evaluated a variety of under desk bikes and ellipticals to find the best ones on the market. Our top picks are a combination of units that performed well in our tests, models from brands that have performed well for us in the past and options that are highly rated with favorable reviews. Our pros vetted each pick for ease of use, performance and design, keeping in mind the many different home office set-ups and potential limitations.
After our top picks, read on to learn more about what to look for when shopping for an under desk exercise machine, the difference between under desk bikes and ellipticals, and our thoughts on how they stack up to under desk treadmills. For more information on cycling, check out our guide to the benefits of cycling for your body and mind.
Not only is this model from DeskCycle a favorite amongst Amazon reviewers, but it performed well in our tests too. We liked how this bike features eight resistance settings so you can readily increase or decrease your difficulty level. You can also adjust the pedal height to work with various office spaces, and we found the DeskCycle 2 to be fairly quiet, so your colleagues won't be disturbed.
In addition to allowing you to cycle both forward and backward, this bike comes with an LCD display that shows you metrics such as calories burned, speed, time and distance. To ensure your foot remains secured against the pedal, all you have to do is adjust the velcro strap and start pedaling. We do caution, however, that this bike doesn't come with a handle, which makes it less portable than other picks.
While this indoor pedal machine may feature fewer bells and whistles than other models, its price tag is hard to compete with. Our pros like that it comes with a little electronic display to show basic stats (time, revolution count, etc.), but best of all you can fold it up into a compact size once you’re done for the day. It also features straps for your feet and an adjustable tension knob so you can choose the right level of activity for you. Reviewers say it is relatively quiet but note that it's less sturdy than other higher-end models, likely due to it being very lightweight at roughly six pounds.
Multitask with this under desk elliptical, which offers eight resistance levels and comes with a display monitor to track your stats. It’s on the expensive end of the spectrum and is one of the heaviest choices on this list, but it has larger foot pedals so you can adjust your motion so it feels the most comfortable for you.
The sturdy model is well-made and quiet. It's also compatible with your Apple Watch or Fitbit so you can track your stats. "Thoughtful design, well engineered, solid construction, a pleasure to use. Large pedals, smooth, quiet. A little pricey but you get what you pay for," one Amazon reviewer said.
A great choice thanks to its 2-in-1 design, this under desk bike allows you to pedal with either your feet or your hands. A surface grip helps the bike stay in place on your desk so you can work your upper body as well as your lower body, and the carry handle makes it easy to move it around if you don't want to keep it at the office.
Like many other under desk bikes, there are eight levels of magnetic resistance and a display that tracks activity. Although it may not be the prettiest, our experts appreciate that it’s fairly affordable in comparison to other models but still well made.
Tech-savvy colleagues will appreciate this connected under desk elliptical from Cubii. With eight levels of resistance, this device most importantly connects to the Cubii app for wireless fitness tracking via Bluetooth. It's compact and comes with a slip-resistant mat to protect your floors while in use.
Our experts like that this model is quiet, weighs less than 20 pounds and comes with a built-in handle and wheels to easily move it around if needed. It's only available in one color, but we appreciate that the Cubii products are well-made and designed. "I use it under my desk at work all day long and no one can tell," one Amazon reviewer said.
We like this elliptical for its fun pink design that can spice up your office (though you can go with gray or white if pink isn’t your thing). There’s a small digital monitor to keep track of metrics like time, speed, calories and distance while you work out, and you can pick among eight resistance levels by turning the tension knob.
The foot pedals are textured to help prevent slippage while in use, and our experts like that this model comes with a handle so you can move it around easily (though take note that it's around the heavier end at 25 pounds. Plus, it has over 7,600 five-star ratings on Amazon, with many reviewers noting that the model is stable and quiet.
Coming in at 18 pounds, this under desk bike is at a sweet spot where it's not too heavy but substantial enough to feel sturdy. The handle makes it easily portable, and it's available in three different colors too. We like that it comes with resistance bands so you can work your upper body when you’re ready to take a break from your keyboard. You’re also able to pedal with your hands to build up your arm strength. Although the straps are adjustable, they may not be the most intuitive to use.
Exercise bike meets desk with this two-in-one solution to maximize your productivity during the workday. Available in white and black, this standing desk exercise bike has eight resistance levels with an adjustable lever to accommodate different heights ranging from 5'1" to 6'2". The design is sturdy and stable, according to Amazon reviewers, and an LCD display tracks metrics like mileage, calories burned and time spent cycling. The bike accommodates up to 300 pounds too.
But take note that the model itself weighs 51 pounds, which can make it difficult to move around and it isn't exactly discreet like a standard under desk bike that can be hidden under your desk. Flexispot has historically performed well for us in tests, with products that are thoughtfully designed for any home office space. "It arrived quickly and was easy to assemble," one Amazon reviewer said. "I really like the size of the desktop on it. Not too big and not too small."
The experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have years of experience testing home office and fitness products such as standing desks, workout mirrors, rowing machines and more. To select the best under desk bikes and ellipticals, we vetted each pick for ease of use, performance and design and consulted customer reviews.
We considered the weight and dimensions of each machine as well as any extra features like a display or wheels for portability. While we weren't able to test each model on our list, our picks are based on similar models or brands that have performed well in previous categorical tests, road tests we conducted in our homes and customer reviews.
Our list includes a variety of options to suit different needs and home office setups. We also sought to include a range of products, including those at affordable prices that still perform well.
While these models may all seem similar, there are a few features you'll want to consider before making your purchase:
✔️ Type: Do you prefer an under desk bike or an elliptical? While these fitness tools are similar, the motion of biking versus using an elliptical is not identical. We'll touch more on the differences between the two types of models in a moment.
✔️ Size and weight: Double-check the dimensions of your under desk bike or elliptical to ensure it will fit under your desk. Keep in mind it will raise the level of your knees as you use it, so make sure there's enough clearance for your full range of motion. You should also check the weight of your machine if you plan on moving it from your desk to the couch or elsewhere since some machines are lighter and more portable than others.
✔️ Features: Assess for features like secure and durable straps for your feet as well as wheels or handles so your equipment is easy to move around. Ask yourself whether the adjustable tension knob looks easily accessible and whether the display is easy to read. Does the machine feature a non-slip bottom so the model stays firmly in place? These are all factors to consider.
✔️ Noise level: Some under desk bikes or ellipticals will be noisier than others. If a quiet machine is important to you so you’re not distracted as you work or watch TV, check customer reviews for mention of noise levels.
"This ultimately comes down to personal preference," Sassos says. "You may find the back and forth motion of an under desk elliptical easier to manage than the circular motion of a bike." She adds that the elliptical does work slightly more muscles, may burn a bit more calories and usually requires less desk clearance than a bike model. Lastly, an under desk bike has a strap whereas an elliptical may not and can oftentimes accommodate for larger foot sizes.
Sassos says that the biggest difference here is that you are sitting down on an under desk bike or elliptical, whereas an under desk treadmill requires you to stand up. "You'll likely burn more calories on an under desk treadmill, but they tend to be a bit more intensive to use and also are considerably larger and heavier and not as easy to maneuver around." Since you're walking on an under desk treadmill, they can also potentially generate more noise than their under desk bike or elliptical counterparts. "In general, cycling is also lower impact than walking or jogging, so keep this in mind as well if you don't want to put undue stress on your joints," Sassos adds.
Olivia Lipski is a fitness and outdoors enthusiast, and you’ll frequently find her swimming, running, hiking, ice skating, skiing, cycling or taking a yoga class. She's the first to jump into trying a new fitness class or app, and she regularly collaborates with GH’s Wellness Lab to test and review the best fitness gear, including rowers, treadmills, fitness trackers, dumbbells, massage guns, meditation devices and more.
Stefani Sassos has been working in the fitness industry for the past 10 years, specializing in indoor cycling and strength training. As a NASM-Certified Personal Trainer, Stefani uses her expertise and exercise science knowledge to create informed fitness content for the Good Housekeeping Institute. She began her indoor cycling career in college where she was a Penn State Fitness Instructor, and continued on to teach indoor cycling at major gyms and studios including Equinox Fitness Clubs.
Olivia (she/her) is a media and tech product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, covering tech, home, auto, health and more. She has more than five years of experience writing about tech trends and innovation and, prior to joining GH in 2021, was a writer for Android Central, Lifewire and other media outlets. Olivia is a graduate of George Washington University, with a bachelor's degree in journalism, political science and French, and she holds a master’s degree in communications from Sciences Po Paris.
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