Best Rowing Machines for Home Gyms

We reviewed rowing machines across resistance mechanism, noise level, monitor quality, build sturdiness, and storage footprint. The picks include air resistance, magnetic resistance, and water resistance options spanning beginner-friendly budget machines through the Concept2 RowErg used at the professional and Olympic level.

Resistance type shapes the entire feel of your rowing workout. Air resistance machines like the Concept2 increase resistance automatically as you pull harder, matching the feel of on-water rowing. Magnetic resistance machines use adjustable levels set by a dial, offering consistent resistance and near-silent operation suitable for apartments. Water resistance machines fill a tank that produces a smooth, dynamic resistance curve and a realistic swooshing sound that closely mimics open water.

Monitor quality is underweighted by most buyers but critical for tracking progress. The Concept2 PM5 is the gold standard: it measures strokes per minute, split times, calories, and watts with accuracy that allows you to compare workouts across machines worldwide. Budget machine monitors typically show time and calories, which is sufficient for general fitness but inadequate for interval training or performance tracking.

Quick picks

Use this table for the fastest answer, or jump into the full review cards below.

Pick	Best for	Verdict	Review
Best PickConcept2 RowErg	Buyers serious about rowing as a structured training discipline who need accurate performance metrics, CrossFit athletes and competitive rowers who train at home between facility sessions	Buy	Read review
Most Natural FeelWaterRower Natural	Buyers who want the most authentic rowing feel and are willing to pay the premium for water resistance, Home gym or living room installations where gym equipment aesthetic is a problem	Buy	Read review
Best ValueMERACH Sculls	Apartment dwellers who need silent resistance for floor-above neighbors, Beginners who want app-guided coaching to learn proper rowing form	Consider	Read review
Best Hybridpooboo Dual Resistance	Buyers who want dynamic resistance feel without paying Concept2 prices, Home gyms with space constraints that require a foldable machine	Consider	Read review
Budget Water PickYOSUDA Water Rower	Buyers who want water resistance feel without paying for a WaterRower, Home gym users who prioritize resistance type over frame material and aesthetics	Consider	Read review

Best Overall

Best Pick

Concept2 RowErg Indoor Rowing Machine

The Concept2 RowErg is a buy for buyers who are serious about rowing as a training tool and want the machine that competitive rowers, CrossFit athletes, and Olympic teams use. The PM5 monitor provides accurate performance data for interval training and progress tracking. Air resistance automatically scales to effort, making it equally suitable for beginners and elite athletes.

Buy

TL;DR

PM5 monitor tracks split times, watts, strokes per minute, and calories with competition-grade accuracy

Pros

PM5 monitor is the most accurate and feature-complete rowing monitor available
Air resistance feel is the closest to on-water rowing of any gym machine
Durable commercial-grade build that lasts decades with minimal maintenance

Cons

Air resistance creates noise from the fan; inappropriate for quiet apartment environments
Premium price relative to magnetic resistance machines with equivalent health benefits for casual use

Verdict: Buy Full Review Check current price on Amazon

Best Water Resistance

Most Natural Feel

WaterRower Natural Rowing Machine with S4 Monitor

The WaterRower Natural is a buy for buyers who want water resistance, a premium aesthetic, and a rowing experience that sounds and feels like on-water rowing. The ash wood construction and vertical storage capability make it a machine that does not look like gym equipment. The S4 monitor covers essential metrics without the advanced performance tracking of the Concept2 PM5.

Buy

TL;DR

Water tank resistance produces a smooth, natural catch and drive feel that matches open-water rowing

Pros

Water resistance provides the most authentic catch-and-drive feel of any home machine
Ash wood construction and vertical storage make it acceptable as living room furniture
Quieter ambient sound compared to the fan noise of air resistance machines

Cons

S4 monitor does not measure watts, limiting structured power-based training
Premium price over magnetic resistance machines with equivalent health benefits

Verdict: Buy Full Review Check current price on Amazon

Best Mid-Range Magnetic

Best Value

MERACH Sculls Magnetic Rowing Machine

The MERACH Sculls is a consider for buyers who want a mid-range magnetic resistance rowing machine with app connectivity and apartment-appropriate quiet operation. 16 resistance levels cover beginner through intermediate intensity. The MERACH app provides coached workouts that add structure for buyers who are new to rowing. It does not match the Concept2 for performance tracking accuracy.

Consider

TL;DR

16-level magnetic resistance is near-silent for apartment or multi-floor home use

Pros

Near-silent magnetic resistance appropriate for apartment use at any hour
MERACH app coaching provides structure for beginners who are learning to row
16 resistance levels cover the full range from warm-up to high-intensity intervals

Cons

Magnetic resistance does not scale dynamically like air or water; you must manually adjust levels
App requires subscription for full program access after the included trial period

Verdict: Consider Full Review Check current price on Amazon

Best Hybrid Resistance

Best Hybrid

pooboo Dual Wind and Magnetic Rowing Machine

The pooboo Dual Resistance is a consider for buyers who want air resistance dynamics without full Concept2 fan noise, and who are willing to accept a lower build quality ceiling for a significantly lower price. The combined resistance mechanism provides more nuanced intensity control than either type alone. It is a reasonable mid-tier option for general fitness rowing.

Consider

TL;DR

Dual wind and magnetic resistance combines dynamic air feel with adjustable base resistance

Pros

Dual resistance provides a more dynamic feel than pure magnetic at a lower price than Concept2
400 lb capacity is among the highest in the mid-range category
Foldable frame collapses for storage in tighter spaces

Cons

Wind component creates more noise than pure magnetic; not apartment-appropriate
Build quality and monitor accuracy do not match Concept2 at this price tier

Verdict: Consider Full Review Check current price on Amazon

Best Budget Water Rower

Budget Water Pick

YOSUDA Water Rowing Machine for Home Use

The YOSUDA Water Rower is a consider for buyers who want water resistance feel and cannot justify the WaterRower price. It delivers the characteristic smooth water resistance at a significantly lower cost. The trade-off is build quality: metal frame construction replaces the WaterRower's handcrafted ash wood, and the monitor is basic compared to premium options.

Consider

TL;DR

Water tank resistance delivers the smooth, natural stroke feel of water resistance at a budget price

Pros

Water resistance feel at a fraction of WaterRower pricing
App connectivity allows basic workout logging without paper records
400 lb capacity is higher than many competitors at this price

Cons

Metal frame construction does not match WaterRower's handcrafted wood aesthetic
Monitor covers basic metrics without the watt tracking of premium machines

Verdict: Consider Full Review Check current price on Amazon

All Rowing Machines reviews

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Outdoors / Rowing Machines Buy

Best Rowing Machines for Home Gyms

Quick picks

Best Overall

Concept2 RowErg Indoor Rowing Machine

Pros

Cons

Best Water Resistance

WaterRower Natural Rowing Machine with S4 Monitor

Pros

Cons

Best Mid-Range Magnetic

MERACH Sculls Magnetic Rowing Machine

Pros

Cons

Best Hybrid Resistance

pooboo Dual Wind and Magnetic Rowing Machine

Pros

Cons

Best Budget Water Rower

YOSUDA Water Rowing Machine for Home Use

Pros

Cons

All Rowing Machines reviews

Concept2 RowErg Indoor Rowing Machine

WaterRower Natural Rowing Machine with S4 Monitor

MERACH Sculls Magnetic Rowing Machine

pooboo Dual Wind and Magnetic Rowing Machine

YOSUDA Water Rowing Machine for Home Use

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