Where to Buy a Rowing Machine
A rowing machine is one of the more straightforward pieces of home cardio to shop for, since the same few retailers carry most of what is worth buying. This guide covers where to buy, how to judge a used rower, when prices tend to drop, and the five rowers we rate most highly right now.
Disclosure: The Best Rowing Machine earns a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never costs you anything extra, and it does not change how we score.
The short version
For most buyers, Amazon is the practical place to shop this category, with the widest selection and the deepest pile of owner reviews to read before you commit. Our top pick overall is the YOSUDA Magnetic 350. Want a harder workout, the Merach Air Resistance is the one. On a budget, the Merach Magnetic lands under 200 dollars.
Fast answers
Our picks at a glance
YOSUDA Magnetic Rowing Machine 350 LB
The rower most buyers should start with
Quiet magnetic resistance on a 350 pound frame that stays put on the floor, backed by the longest owner track record on this page at over 2,500 reviews. It is the pick to buy when you do not want to spend a week comparing spec sheets.
What we liked
- Quiet enough for shared walls
- Heavy, stable 350 pound frame
- More than 2,500 owner reviews
- Holds a tablet for following a class
Worth knowing
- Steady magnetic pull rather than the dynamic feel of water or air
- Basic LCD monitor, not a touchscreen
Price and availability update on Amazon
Merach Air Resistance Rowing Machine
For interval training and a workout that pushes back
Air resistance climbs the harder and faster you pull, which is why it shows up in gyms and structured rowing programs. Merach puts that feel on a sturdy home frame with solid owner ratings. Choose it if you want intervals and real intensity rather than a steady cruise.
What we liked
- Resistance scales with your effort
- Built for intervals and hard training
- Sturdy, gym style build
- Strong owner ratings
Worth knowing
- Louder than magnetic, as every air rower is
- Costs more than the magnetic picks here
Price and availability update on Amazon
Merach Magnetic Rowing Machine (16 Levels)
The most rower for the money on this list
For under 200 dollars you get quiet magnetic resistance, 16 levels, an app that logs your sessions, and a review count above 2,000. For a first rower it is the smart buy, and it sets the value bar the pricier picks have to beat.
What we liked
- Lowest price from a proven brand
- 16 magnetic levels plus app tracking
- More than 2,000 owner reviews
- Quiet and apartment friendly
Worth knowing
- Lighter frame than the step up picks
- Seat rail is on the basic side
Price and availability update on Amazon
YOSUDA Wooden Water Rower (Foldable)
The one you will be happy to leave on show
Water rowers give the smoothest, most natural pull, with a soft whoosh on every stroke, and this one sits inside a wooden frame that looks at home in a living room. It folds upright, holds up to 400 pounds, and carries the highest owner rating on this page. The review count is still small, so treat that rating as early rather than settled.
What we liked
- Smooth, natural water stroke
- Wooden frame that looks like furniture
- Folds upright and holds up to 400 pounds
- Highest owner rating on this page
Worth knowing
- Newer listing with only a small pool of reviews
- Water tank needs the occasional top up
Price and availability update on Amazon
Merach Foldable Magnetic Rowing Machine
The pick when floor space is the problem
This is the rower for tight rooms. It folds flat to lean against a wall, runs quiet on magnetic resistance, and costs less than every other pick on this list. If the only thing stopping you owning a rower is space, this removes it.
What we liked
- Folds flat for small spaces
- Quiet magnetic resistance
- Lowest price of these five picks
- Light and easy to move
Worth knowing
- Best suited to light and moderate use
- Compact rail favors shorter rowers
Price and availability update on Amazon
Side by side
How they compare
| Rower | Score | Resistance | Capacity | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
YOSUDA Magnetic 350 Best Overall | 95 | Magnetic | 350 lb | 4.4 (2,504) | $329 | Amazon › |
Merach Air Resistance Best for Hard Training | 93 | Air | Standard | 4.6 (312) | $476 | Amazon › |
Merach Magnetic (16 levels) Best Value | 92 | Magnetic | 350 lb | 4.4 (2,131) | $189 | Amazon › |
YOSUDA Wooden Water Best Water Rower | 91 | Water | 400 lb | 4.8 (42) | $499 | Amazon › |
Merach Foldable Magnetic Best Compact | 89 | Magnetic | 350 lb | 4.3 (474) | $159 | Amazon › |
No guesswork
How we score a rowing machine
Every rower runs through the same scorecard, so the numbers mean the same thing across brands and across our guides. We weight the things owners feel day to day, then roll them into one score out of 100. Resistance feel and build carry the most weight, because a rower that feels cheap or wobbles is one you stop using.
Before you buy
The best places to buy a rowing machine
Where you buy matters less than what you buy, but a few things are worth knowing before you check out. Here is how the main options compare.
Amazon: the practical default
For this category Amazon is the easiest place to shop. The selection is the widest, delivery is quick, and you can read hundreds or thousands of owner reviews on a model before you buy, which matters more with rowers than with almost any other home machine. Price comparison is simple too, since most of the brands worth considering sit on the same storefront. It is also where the picks on this page link to.
Buying in a store
If you would rather sit on a rower before paying, several national retailers stock them in person, including Dick's Sporting Goods, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Best Buy, and warehouse clubs such as Costco, alongside Walmart. In store selection is usually thinner than online, so call ahead to check that a specific model is on the floor. The upside is that you can test the seat and the pull, which is the part that is hard to judge from photos.
Buying used
A secondhand rower can be a genuine bargain, but check it in person first. Look at the rail for wear or rust where the seat runs, roll the seat end to end to feel for rough spots, and make sure the monitor powers on, since a dead console is common and often not worth replacing. On water and air rowers, check the tank or fan housing for damage. Most private sales are final with no returns, so test everything before money changes hands.
When rowers go on sale
Rowing machines follow the usual retail calendar. The steepest discounts tend to cluster around the big annual sales events, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime Day, when fitness gear across brands gets marked down. If you are not in a hurry, waiting for one of those windows can save real money. If you are, prices the rest of the year are steady rather than inflated, so there is no penalty for buying when you actually need it.
Quick questions
FAQ
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