Exercising at home doesn’t have to mean you need expensive, space-consuming treadmills, rowing machines, or exercise bikes. You can get a great workout using a mini elliptical, and you don’t need any extra space.
An elliptical in general provides an excellent low-impact cardio workout. The advantage of a mini elliptical is that you can use it anywhere. Take it to work or use it while you watch your favorite TV program. The possibilities are endless.
This guide will take a look at the best mini ellipticals on the market. Ready?
In a Hurry? Here is our top pick:
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Best Mini Elliptical
- Cubii JR1 Seated Under Desk Elliptical – Best Overall
- Hurtle Fitness Exercise Elliptical – Best For Beginners
- Stamina Inmotion Elliptical – Best For Gamers
- Goplus 2 in 1 Under Desk Elliptical Stepper – Best 2-In-1 Mini Elliptical
- Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3908 Portable Elliptical – Best Budget
- MaxKare Under Desk Elliptical – Best For Seniors
- Exerpeutic 900E EXERWORK – Best For Work
- DeskCycle Ellipse Under Desk Elliptical – Best For Rehab
- Bionic Body NS-1009 Under-Desk Elliptical – Best All-In-One Mini Elliptical
Reviews – The Best Mini Ellipticals
Cubii JR1 Seated Under Desk Elliptical – Best Overall
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The Cubii JR1 Seated Under Desk Elliptical was designed for quiet operation. Use it while watching TV, reading, or at work with no noisy distraction. There are 8 levels of resistance, and the display tracks your time, distance, as well as calories burned.
Cubii JR1 connects to mobile fitness apps such as Fitbit and tracks your exercise stats. You can share your information with the Cubii online community. You can also tune in to a Cubii live exercise class that’s coached by a certified personal trainer. All of these features make the Cubii JR1 the best overall mini elliptical.
PROS
- Features Quiet, Non-Distracting Operation
- There Are 8 Levels Of Resistance
- Connects To Fitness Apps & Live Exercise Classes
CONS
- Some Users Feel The Pedals Are Fragile
Hurtle Fitness Exercise Elliptical – Best For Beginners
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The Hurtle Fitness Exercise Elliptical is designed for individuals with any level of exercise experience, making it the best choice for beginners. It’s suggested for users ages 14 or older and can hold up to 200lbs user weight.
It features steel construction for durability. It’s easy to use and you can work out at home or the office. It’s used standing up and comes with resistance bands so you can work your upper body.
The compact design allows it to be stored under your desk at work or your couch at home. There’s a digital display built into the base so you can track calories, time, stride count, and total stride count.
PROS
- Includes Resistance Bands For Upper Body Work
- Use It At Home Or Work
- Used Standing Up – Small Enough To Store Under Your Chair Or Desk
CONS
- Some Users Feel It’s Too Noisy
Stamina Inmotion Elliptical – Best For Gamers
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The Stamina Inmotion Elliptical is designed to be used standing or sitting. It has a textured pedal design and can be set for either forward or backward stride motion. The resistance is adjustable, and there’s a multi-function display that tracks strides per minute, total strides, calories, and time.
This is a lightweight machine but it can hold up to 250lbs user weight. The Inmotion can be used at home, at work, or even while playing video games. It was specifically designed with gamers in mind, allowing improved circulation and leg exercise while gaming.
PROS
- Can Be Used While Playing Video Games, At Work, And At Home – Watch TV & Exercise!
- Use It Seated Or Standing
- Adjustable Resistance
CONS
- Some Users Find It CLicks & Squeaks A Lot During Use
Goplus 2 in 1 Under Desk Elliptical Stepper – Best 2-In-1 Mini Elliptical
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The Goplus 2 In 1 Under Desk Elliptical can be used with a forward or backward stride motion. It has a user weight capacity of 245lbs and can be used seated or standing.
The Goplus provides a low impact, knee-friendly workout, and has non-slip pedals for good foot stability. The adjustable resistance can be set to imitate climbing or jogging. There’s also a digital display that keeps track of calories burned, speed, time, and motion distance.
This lightweight mini elliptical and can be easily taken to the office, or used at home. When you’re done, it can be slid under the couch or desk with the front transport wheels. The Goplus is the best seated and standing (or 2-in-1) mini elliptical.
PROS
- Can Be Used Seated Or Standing
- Use A Forward Or Reverse Stride Motion
- Features Adjustable Resistance
CONS
- Some Users Find It’s Too Tall To Be Used Under Their Desk
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3908 Portable Elliptical – Best Budget
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The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3908 Portable Elliptical comes fully assembled, so you can take it out of the box and use it right away. You can exercise standing or seated. There’s a carrying handle so you can take it with you or carry it to your chosen storage spot when not in use.
It’s quiet, lightweight, and can handle up to 200lbs user weight. There are 8 levels of magnetic resistance and a digital monitor that tracks calories, time, distance, and speed. You can also set the stride for both forwards or reverse motion. All of these features combined with an excellent price point make the SF-E3908 the best budget mini elliptical.
PROS
- Comes Fully Assembled
- Use It Standing Or Seated
- Features 8 Levels Of Magnetic Resistance
CONS
- Some Users Find It Does Not Work Well Under A Desk – The Unit Is Too High
MaxKare Under Desk Elliptical – Best For Seniors
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Here’s a mini elliptical that can be set to a running, jogging, or walking pace. You can use the MaxKare Under Desk Elliptical seated or standing, and there are 8 levels of quiet magnetic resistance. The stride motion can be set to go forwards or backward and the pedals feature a textured design for stability.
MaxKare has a display that tracks time, calories, distance, and speed. You can use this elliptical while watching TV, reading a magazine, or anything else you like to do.
This Under Desk Elliptical handles up to 220lbs user weight and has a handle for easy carrying. The MaxKare provides a low-impact effective workout, making it the best choice for seniors.
PROS
- 8 Levels Of Quiet, Smooth Magnetic Resistance
- Holds 220lbs User Weight
- Good Low Impact Workout For Seniors
CONS
Exerpeutic 900E EXERWORK – Best For Work
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The Exerpeutic 900E Exerwork Mini Elliptical is the best mini elliptical for use at work. It has a patent-pending chair hook design that’s extendable. Your desk chair attaches to the hook easily and can be locked in place. The locking feature allows more resistance levels – there are 14 in all, and the 900E is held in place securely.
The Exerwork features quiet operation and a low pedal height so it can fit easily under your desk. There’s also a convenient handle for carrying. This elliptical has Bluetooth connectivity so you can track your exercise stats using the free My Cloud Fitness App.
PROS
- Exclusive Patent Pending Extendable Chair Hook
- 14 Levels Of Quiet Magnetic Resistance
- Free My Cloud Fitness App
CONS
- No User Weight Listed
DeskCycle Ellipse Under Desk Elliptical – Best For Rehab
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The DeskCycle Ellipse can be used at home or the office. It features long pedals and adjustable pedal height. The stride motion is bi-directional and 8 levels of smooth magnetic resistance. These levels include specific settings for rehab. This unit is designed to provide a low impact, joint-friendly rehab session or workout. It has a large, easy to read display that tracks stats such as calories burned, time, speed, and distance.
PROS
- Large Pedals – Adjustable Pedal Height
- Bi-Directional Stride Motion
- 8 Levels Of Resistance Including Specific Levels For Rehab
CONS
- Like Many Mini Ellipticals, Some Users Feel It’s Too Noisy
Bionic Body NS-1009 Under-Desk Elliptical – Best All-In-One Mini Elliptical
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Here’s a mini elliptical that can be used seated, standing, or as an all-in-one workout station. The Bionic Body NS-1009 includes two resistance bands that attach to the base of the unit. The bands have foam D-handles and can be used to work your upper body while you pedal. You can also remove these bands and use them separately if you want.
This elliptical provides 8 levels of adjustable resistance featuring an easy to use lever design. The fitness display tracks your exercise stats, including strides per minute, total strides, time, and calories burned. This unit was designed by a celebrity trainer, features steel construction, and slip-resistant pedals. The combination of features and resistance bands make this the best all-in-one mini elliptical.
PROS
- Designed By A Celebrity Personal Trainer
- Includes Resistance Bands For An All-in-One Workout
- There Are 8 Resistance Levels
CONS
- This Is A Heavy Mini-Elliptical – It May Weight Too Much For Some Users
Buying Guide – How To Choose The Best Mini Elliptical?
Types Of Mini Ellipticals
Mini ellipticals all look pretty much the same. However, there are a few different types, including:
- Seated – Some mini ellipticals are designed for seated use only.
- Standing – A few mini ellipticals are meant to be used standing only.
- Seated & Standing – Most mini ellipticals are designed to be used either standing or seated.
- All-In-One – Some mini ellipticals include resistance bands for a complete upper and lower body workout.
Factors To Consider When Choosing A Mini Elliptical
Size
The size of the unit includes the weight and pedal height. Some units, such as the Bionic Body NS-1009 Under-Desk Elliptical, are relatively big and weigh more than most others. For example, the Bionic Body unit weighs 37lbs, and it also has a pedal height that may be too high for some office chair/desk combinations.
Others, like the Cubii JR1, are a little smaller and weigh as much as 10lbs less. A unit like this can be used under most office desks without concern about your knees hitting anything. All mini ellipticals are portable and can be carried. Also, all of them are small enough to be stored under your desk at work or couch at home.
Budget
Budget is always a primary consideration. As is the case with any reasonably big purchase, you have to make the best choice for your price range. You can easily find a good mini elliptical that meets your basic exercise needs in any price range.
Design
As noted above, the basic design of mini ellipticals is similar. One example of a different base design is the Hurtle Fitness Exercise Elliptical. This unit has a wing-style frame design that the pedals attach to. This design is meant to enhance workout results.
You should also look for a mini elliptical that has textured pedals for foot stability. Some feature a larger pedal, while others may be too small for your foot size.
If you’re using it at work, you’ll want to make sure your knees won’t hit your desk, so you should measure desk height. There’s one mini elliptical, the Exerpeutic 900E EXERWORK, that has an exclusive hook that secures the mini elliptical to your chair. The advantage here is that this added security allows the 900E to feature 14 levels of resistance. In comparison, most mini ellipticals only have 8 resistance levels.
Display Module
All mini ellipticals have a digital display that tracks strides per minute, total stride count, time, and calories burned. Your most important consideration here is that the display is big enough for you to see.
You have to consider that no matter how you’re using the machine, the display will be farther away than it would be on a treadmill or exercise bike. Some, such as the Cubii JR1, have Bluetooth connectivity and can be displayed through your smart device. This feature allows you to see the results more clearly.
Resistance
All of the mini ellipticals in this guide feature magnetic resistance. This is a quiet, smooth type of resistance. Additionally, all but the Exerpeutic 900E EXERWORK have 8 levels of resistance. It’s easily adjustable, and in some cases, such as Desk Cycle Ellipse, feature-specific settings for rehab, light cardio, or even muscle tone.
Features
A mini elliptical provides a low impact workout. Beyond the basics of exercise, as noted above, some units have such features as resistance bands for your upper body. Also as noted, others have Bluetooth connectivity so you can use fitness apps and even engage in live exercise sessions. Other useful features include a carrying handle.
Benefits
While perhaps not as intense as a regular elliptical, a mini elliptical provides several benefits, such as:
Burns Calories – Using one of these while working or watching TV allows you to be more active and help offset a sedentary lifestyle. One of the keys to staying in shape is to stay active. This is especially true if you are trying to lose body fat, or maintain fat loss. This type of exercise machine can be used by anyone, from seniors, teachers, and office workers. For any fitness-minded user, it can be one more way to burn some calories and get some leg work in.
Low Impact – A mini elliptical provides a workout that targets your legs yet avoids stress on your knees. Again, if you spend most of your time seated at a desk or on the couch, you can still work your legs. This in turn helps develop leg muscles and burns more calories in the process.
Good Form Of Exercise – A mini elliptical works well for seniors or anyone that may have difficulty doing more strenuous forms of exercise. This is also a good choice for those that may be working on a rehab program as they recover from a recent injury or surgery.
Space Saving – If space is a concern, a mini elliptical is a great solution. They take up very little space while in use, unlike other types of cardio equipment that may require a large in-use area. While many types of cardio equipment can fold for storage, it doesn’t get any smaller than a mini elliptical. You can store it anywhere, such as under your office chair, recliner, or couch.
Conclusion
A mini elliptical is a great choice for people that want to exercise but have limited space or lead a sedentary lifestyle. It’s also a good choice if you’re recovering from an injury. Our best overall is the Cubii JR1 Seated Under Desk Elliptical. This unit can be used while watching TV or when you’re at work with no noisy distraction. There are 8 levels of resistance, and the Cubii JR1 connects to mobile fitness apps such as Fitbit. This allows users to engage in live workout classes and share their info online with the Cubii community.
If you’re a gamer and worry you may not be getting enough exercise, the Stamina Inmotion Elliptical is your best choice. Specifically designed for gamers, you can play your most intense games while exercising your legs, improving circulation, and burning calories.
If you want to work your upper body at the same time you work your legs, the celebrity-trainer designed Bionic Body NS-1009 Under-Desk Elliptical is the best choice. It has two resistance bands attached to the base of the unit so you can work your upper body. The tubes are removable and have foam D-style handles, so you can use them separately.
The best mini ellipticals available are in this guide.
Choose the one that’s right for you and get training!
