The 10 Best Under Desk Ellipticals to Get Fit While Working
Many people find themselves looking to make much more healthy decisions in their lives. One of those decisions will likely involve how to get more exercise. Unfortunately, for many, that decision may be a little more difficult due to limitations. Whether they lack the time to do any kind of exercise or they have some type of physical limitation that can make doing some kinds of exercise extremely difficult.
One answer might be a unique piece of exercise equipment that can actually be used while you are sitting behind a desk at work or your home office desk. These machines are known by a number of different names, a sit-down elliptical and under desk elliptical trainer. These small, but very effective exercise machines are small variants of the highly popular elliptical machines. They are designed to deliver a similar cardiovascular workout that can be used either in a sitting position or standing.
We put together a comprehensive buyer’s guide for under desk elliptical machines in order to help you, the reader, to be able to make an informed decision about which one is truly the best under desk elliptical in 2023. After doing an extensive amount of online research in order to prepare for the guide. We came up with 10 best under desk elliptical machines that we could find, try, and review.
To help provide you with as much useful information we included under desk elliptical reviews of each of the 10 seated elliptical machines. We hope that by the time you get to the end of this under-desk elliptical review, you will have enough information in order to help you make an informed decision.
Best Mini Ellipticals for Under Desk Compared
| Name | Position | Handle | Weight | Monitor | Resistance | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cubii Pro - Bluetooth Seated Under-Desk Elliptical | Sitting | With transportation handle | 29.9 lb | Bluetooth, steps, distance, and calories | 8-Level Magnetic Resistance | 23.15 x 17.56 x 10" |
| Cubii Junior - Seated Under-Desk Elliptical | Sitting | With transportation handle | 29.9 lb | Steps, distance, and calories | 8-Level Magnetic Resistance | 23.15 x 17.56 x 10" |
| Exerpeutic 900E EXERWORK Under Desk Elliptical | Sitting | With transportation handle | 32.36 lb | Bluetooth, time, distance, speed, calories, RPM | 14-Level Magnetic Resistance | 31 x 18.50 x 14" |
| DeskCycle Ellipse Under Desk Elliptical Machine | Sitting | With transportation handle | 29.3 lb | RPM, time, calories | 8-Level Magnetic Resistance | 23 x 18 x 10" |
| Bionic Body Magnetic Under-Desk Seated Elliptical | Sitting and Standing | With transportation handle | 37 lb | RPM, time, calories | 8-Level Magnetic Resistance | 25 x 21 x 12" |
| FitDesk Under Desk Elliptical Bike Pedal Machine | Sitting | With transportation handle | 31 lb | Speed, distance, time, calories | 8-Level Magnetic Resistance | 30 x 10 x 20" |
| ANCHEER Under Desk Mini Elliptical Exerciser | Sitting | With transportation handle | 15 lb | Time, distance, scan, speed, calories | 5-Level Electoromagnetic Resistance | 18 ×14 ×10" |
| Obrotrek Motorized Under Desk Elliptical Peddler | Sitting | No transportation handle | 16.5 lb | Steps, time, calories | 5-Level Electoromagnetic Resistance | 20 x 15 x 10.50" |
| Stamina In-Motion Compact Strider for Under-Desk | Sitting and Standing | With transportation handle | 24 lb | Distance, strides, time, calories | Adjustable Magnetic | 24 x 18 x 12" |
| Stamina In-Motion Desk Mini Elliptical Stepper | Sitting and Standing | No transportation handle | 24 lb | Time, calories, strides | Adjustable Magnetic | 24 x 17 x 11" |
Editor’s Best Desk Elliptical Machine Choice!
We have already picked and reviewed the 10 best portable elliptical machines for under desk but for some of you it might be difficult to narrow down your option to one.
Therefore, I created the editor’s choice. It’s where I pick the best value portable elliptical for under desk every month to make sure you don’t miss out on new under-desk workout equipment.
For this month I picked the Cubii Pro for those who only want an under-desk elliptical while seated. Although it is a great portable elliptical for under desks, it is not built to be used standing. If that’s something you want, you should probably take a look at the Stamina seated and standing under desk elliptical machine.
Note: Based on personal experience, the Cubii small desk elliptical is not comfortable with office chairs with rolling casters. The chair rolls back and using the Cubii “wheel stoppers” is more of a headache than a solution.
That said, if you have a large working station where you can turn the chair to sit and stand up without having to move the actual chair back and forth, you would absolutely love the Cubii magnetic under desk elliptical peddler exerciser.
Quick Overview of Best Desk Elliptical Machines:
- Cubii Pro – Bluetooth Seated Under-Desk Elliptical
- Cubii Junior – Seated Under-Desk Elliptical
- Exerpeutic 900E EXERWORK Under Desk Elliptical
- DeskCycle Ellipse Under Desk Elliptical Machine
- Bionic Body Magnetic Under-Desk Seated Elliptical
- FitDesk Under Desk Elliptical Bike Pedal Machine
- ANCHEER Under Desk Mini Elliptical Exerciser
- Orbitrek Motorized Under Desk Elliptical Peddler
- Stamina In-Motion Compact Strider for Under-Desk
- Stamina In-Motion Desk Mini Elliptical Stepper
Top 10 Best Under Desk Exercise Elliptical:
1. Cubii Pro Under Desk Mini Elliptical
Cubii Pro compact elliptical is designed to fit under your desk and can be used pretty much anywhere with an office or sofa chair. It’s a sturdy and quiet elliptical stepper that can be used in the office or in the TV room while watching your favorite show.
The dimensions and quality of this exercise elliptical stepper are key to its success in the market. The pedal motion on Cubii mini elliptical is circular in the front with a back and forth sliding motion on the rear part of the footplates. It’s pretty unique because the motion is not fully elliptical or circular, it’s in between and the impact is truly zero.
8 levels of magnetic resistance ensure a quiet and smooth stride, plus it does not wear out easily and doesn’t need maintenance often. The resistance is manually adjustable with a knob that is located above this compact elliptical stepper and it’s easy to reach while still sitting on the stepper. It’s very quiet and made to be used in the office, the motion is exceptionally smooth and it’s not jerky thanks to the good engineering and combination of the belt with the magnetic resistance.
To add variety and work different muscles you can pedal both forward and reverse on the Cubii mini stepper under desk. If you feel tired or bored pedaling on the same direction, you can pedal backward. It might feel awkward in the beginning but you will get used to it.
It’s the first mini elliptical steppers in this price range with Bluetooth that enables you to connect to your smartphone and Cubii mobile App, Fitbit, And apple Healthkit to compete with other athletes, colleagues, and employees online and track the data of your workout wherever you are.
That’s not it, the data such as time elapsed, calories burnt, resistance level, miles walked and total strides made will be shown on your phone on the desk in front of you, so you don’t need to look around for a digital display. Cubii elliptical stepper uses very little electricity and that battery is only for Bluetooth connectivity. It should last about 60 active hours of use.
Cubii Smart Under-Desk Elliptical supports up to 50 Lbs, total of 100 lbs on the pedals. This Sit down mini stepper elliptical is not an aerobic gym machine, so you don’t burn as many calories. However, it burns 110% more calories than just sitting on your chair. It’s not bad at all, especially when you multiply that by 5 hours a day. You can expect to see weight loss soon if followed by a good diet. This mini stepper elliptical improves blood circulation and heart condition. Overall, it’s the number 1 under desk elliptical for weight loss and staying active.
Additional Information!
- Size: 23.15 x 17.56 x 10.00 inches
- Weight: 29.9 lb
- Warranty: 1-year warranty
Pros:
- It is so quiet your coworkers will have no idea that you are working out at work;
- It is very portable and does not need to be plugged into an outlet;
- The Bluetooth technology makes it really easy to keep an eye on your progress;
Cons:
- The Cubii Pro is not comfortable to use with office chairs that have casters;
- There is no screen built on the older version of the Cubii Pro model;
2. Cubii Jr. – Seated Under-Desk Elliptical
The Cubii Jr. – Seated Under-Desk Elliptical is a high-quality seated elliptical exerciser. It is designed to be used while a person is sitting behind a desk and is able to get a relaxing workout at the same time. It is made out of all heavy-duty material that helps to provide very stable operation.
Cubii Jr. is one of the best rated portable desk elliptical machines on the market. It is perfectly suited to deliver a relaxing workout during your most stressful part of the day. Since it sits right under your desk you don’t even have to leave your desk to get a great workout. It is portable enough that you can sit in a chair in your living room while watching television at work. Since it does not plug in you can even sit poolside and stride away as you are relaxing out in the sun.
The pedals are oversized in order to accommodate a wide range of feet sizes. The pedal area features a solid surface underneath so that the rollers have a sturdy enough platform to roll over. It has an ultra-smooth pedal movement that is also whisper-quiet, which means your co-workers will likely have no idea that you are even working out while you are doing your work at your desk.
It has an easy to use resistance adjuster knob that you can select one of the eight different resistance settings. It also has a monochrome LCD display screen that shows your workout progress including; distance, calories burned, and a number of other details. Unfortunately, the Cubii Jr. does not come with Bluetooth and does not connect to your mobile device or fitness apps.
Seen as one of the best rated under desk ellipticals, it is easy enough to carry around using the built-in carrying handle so that you can move it from room to room. It is not really too heavy for most people to be able to carry it with one hand and it is sturdy enough to stay in place regardless of the type of flooring you have.
Additional Information!
- Size: 23.15 x 17.56 x 10.00 inches
- Weight: 29.9 lb
- Warranty: 1-year warranty
Pros:
- It is so quiet your coworkers will have no idea that you are working out at work;
- It is very portable and does not need to be plugged into an outlet;
- The LED display is really easy to read to keep an eye on your progress;
Cons:
- The Cubii Jr. version does have Bluetooth connectivity;
- Cubii Junior desk elliptical is not comfortable with office chairs that have casters;
3. Exerpeutic 900E EXERWORK Under Desk Elliptical
Reading the reviews of under desk elliptical, you probably came across this model. The Exerpeutic 900E under desk elliptical delivers a virtually non-impact workout. It is made from all heavy-duty material and the unique construction makes it extremely stable thanks in part to the front stabilizer bar and the roller wheel plates help to add additional support in the back.
The pedals are oversized in order for them to be able to accommodate larger feet. The maximum pedal travel is 10.5” at the top end in order to make it fit under the desk. There is also an adjustable wheel holder that hooks the caster from your desk chair in order to add extra support during pedaling. The wheel hook is adjustable in and out to accommodate taller people.
The 900E EXERWORK is not the smallest under desk elliptical but it is highly portable and can easily be carried using the built-in carrying handle. There are also two small wheels mounted in front of the unit to help make it easy to roll it in and out from under the desk. It does not need to be plugged into an AC outlet in order to work.
No worries about accidentally disturbing your coworkers or anyone else in the room since it is virtually silent while you are riding it. There are 14 built-in tension settings that can be adjusted using a knob on the top of the unit. It connects to all of your mobile devices via its built-in Bluetooth connectivity.
Additional Information!
- Size: 31.00 x 18.50 x 14.00 inches
- Weight: 32.36 lb
- Warranty: 1-year
Pros:
- Connects via Bluetooth to your cellphone or tablet and is compatible with a number of fitness apps;
- The unique chair caster hook system helps to hold it in place;
- There is a built-in carrying handle to help make it easy to carry around;
Cons:
- A bit on the expensive side for a portable desk elliptical;
4. DeskCycle Ellipse Under Desk Elliptical Machine
The DeskCycle Ellipse: Under Desk Elliptical Machine is a high-quality under desk exercise machine that can be used at work and home. It is designed to deliver a smooth, comfortable ride that can be used to relieve stress during the workday or help you to relax on the couch after a long busy day at work.
The pedals are oversized to allow for a wider range of shoe sizes and the pedal surface has a unique tread design so that your feet do not slip off the pedals. The machine has a small platform under each pedal to provide a surface for the roller attached to the bottom of the pedal and has something to roll against.
The tension or resistance is provided through a manually adjusted magnetic system that uses a knob with eight individual adjustment settings. There is a built-in LCD display that shows all of the data (for speed, time, distance, and calories burned) that is being collected in realtime so that you can keep track of your progress. The LCD display is powered by 2 “AA” batteries that are included.
The DeskCycle Ellipse is a highly portable desk exercise elliptical machine that while it does not come with a handle to make it easier to move it around, it is still light enough to be able to move it from room to room. It does not require a power cord to plug it in, so you can move it just about anywhere you want.
Additional Information!
- Size: 23.00 x 18.00 x 10.00 inches
- Weight: 29.3 lb
- Warranty: 1-year
Pros:
- It does not require any external power, the power for the LCD display comes from 2 “AA” batteries (included);
- It is so quiet that you don’t have to worry about disturbing your coworkers or other people in the room;
- You change the tension or resistance level to what makes it most comfortable for you;
Cons:
- It is a little on the heavy side without the aid of a handle;
5. Bionic Body Magnetic Under-Desk Seated Elliptical
The Bionic is one of the best mini ellipticals for under desk that we found. The machine features a design that can be used standing or sitting. While it is the heaviest of all the machines on our list, the built-in carrying handle does make it much easier to move it around your room or office.
Since it can be used both as a sitting under desk elliptical and a standing desk elliptical with exercise bands attached to the front support bar, you can get full body workout. Basically, using the exercise bands you can get an upper-body workout at the same time that you are getting a lower body and cardio workout. The design of the machine is set up to be extremely stable and it is partly accomplished by attaching platforms under the pedals so that there is a sturdy surface for the rollers attached to the underside of the pedals to roll back and forth on.
The magnetic resistance system is designed to add or remove tension on the pedals. This additional or reduced tension helps to add or remove the resistance. The tension is changed using the knob of the unit to switch one of the eight total tension settings. The whole pedaling mechanism is whisper quiet which ensures that you will not likely disturb your coworkers or family while you are riding.
The Bionic Body Mini elliptical features an easy to read LCD display that shows all of the detailed information that has been collected by the onboard computer. The number of strides per minute, the total number of strides, exercise time, and calories burned. All of this data can be easily manually added to your favorite fitness app like Fitbit. This sit or stand elliptical does not need to be plugged in, but the LCD display uses one “AAA” (which is not included).
Additional Information!
- Size: 25.00 x 21.00 x 12.00 inches
- Weight: 37 lb
- Warranty: 2-year
Pros:
- Combines lower and upper body workout in one compact machine
- It can be used sitting down or standing up;
- The resistance control system looks like a gear shifter you would find in a car;
Cons:
- Definitely a bit on the heavy side;
6. FitDesk Under Desk Elliptical Bike Pedal Machine
The FitDesk Under Desk Elliptical Bike Pedal Machine is a great little machine for someone who is looking for a mini elliptical desk workout at home or at the office. It features a whisper-quiet pedaling motion and delivers a very relaxing workout to help you unwind after a busy day or relieve some built-up stress during a hectic workday.
This portable elliptical machine for under desk is designed to be easily moved around the room and it does not require it to have an AC outlet to operate, the monitor runs on battery power. While it is not the lightest stationary bike desk, but it can be carried from room to room when you want to use it and it does not require a dedicated workout area.
The well-balanced machine will fit easily under just about any standard office desk or in front of your couch at home while you are watching television. The oversized pedals are large enough to accommodate a wide range of foot sizes and there is a raised edge and non-slip texture on the top of each pedal to help ensure that your feet don’t slip off the pedals.
Rated as one of the best under-desk ellipticals for weight loss, this one features 8 magnetic resistance settings that allow you to adjust the tension up or down with your foot or hand. The pedaling is silky smooth to provide a relaxing ride during the workday or at home. There are platforms located underneath the pedal areas for the rollers to move on and so that they don’t actually touch the floor.
The convenient monitoring system features a detachable monitor with a large LCD display. The long cord allows it to be placed on your desk so that you can follow your progress. The monitor has a built-in stand and it simply mounts on the front of the unit when not needed. The monitor displays valuable data such as; RPM, distance traveled, calories burned and steps walked.
Additional Information!
- Size: 30.00 x 10.00 x 20.00 inches
- Weight: 31 lb
- Warranty: 1-year warranty
Pros:
- The Digital monitor with LCD display has a built-in desk stand and it is detachable to place it on your desk;
- Has a hands-free tension shifter lever by using your foot to raise and lower tension;
- It is compact enough to fit under most desks and you can even sit on your couch and use the machine;
Cons:
- It is a bit heavier than expected;
7. ANCHEER Under Desk Mini Elliptical Exerciser
The ANCHEER under desk elliptical is designed especially for those individuals who are seeking a way to be able to add desk exercises to their daily routine. This portable desk elliptical can be used just about anywhere since it does not need to be plugged into an AC outlet to operate. It is made with high-quality material and it is sturdy enough to stand up to frequent uses.
The smooth fluid elliptical motion is whisper-quiet so that you don’t have to worry about whether or not you might disturb your coworkers or other people in the room at home. The pedals are large enough to accommodate many different foot sizes and the rotation height makes it a perfect fit underneath most standard desks.
As one of the best desk elliptical machines, the Ancheer features a unique powered operator panel with a red LED display. It also has three built-in auto modes (P1, P2, and P3) it is also able to change the direction of the pedaling based on the preset programming. There are also 5-levels of speed to choose from in manual mode. The built-monitor keeps track of your workout progress and displays it so that you can see it. It comes with an easy to use wireless remote control.
The unit is highly portable and the lightest machine on our list coming in at a mere 15 pounds. It can be carried anywhere using the built-in handle. It does not have to be plugged into an outlet if you are using manual mode, but if you want to use any of the auto modes (P1-P3) you must plug it into an AC power outlet.
Additional Information!
- Size: 18 ×14 ×10 inch
- Weight: 15 lb.
- Warranty: 1-year
Pros:
- Comes with an easy to use wireless remote control;
- Fits easy under most desks or couch at home;
- Extremely smooth and quiet motion;
Cons:
- Does need to be plugged in to use the auto modes;
8. Orbitrek Motorized Under Desk Elliptical
Orbitrek is one of the least-known manufacturers in the fitness industry but they make a range of fitness equipment for home use. All of their equipment is good-quality and designed to handle many years of use. This is definitely true of this motorized under desk elliptical.
Often referred to as best seated under desk elliptical with motorised machine, it features both automatic motorized mode and several manual modes that can be accessed through the operator panel. When in auto/motorized mode it must be plugged in in order for it to operate. However, in manual mode you can use it anywhere you want to; in the office or at home.
It is ultra-compact and lighter elliptical for under your desk especially compared to Cubii. But unfortunately it doesn’t have a built-in carrying handle which makes it more difficult to move the machine from one room to another.
The large, non-slip pedals can accommodate a wide range of feet and the non-slip mat (included) helps to keep it in place on a wide range of flooring. Despite it being relatively lightweight, it is still stable enough to handle heavy usage. The under pedal rollers have a separate built-in platform to roll on so that it is not contacting the floor at any point.
The operator panel features an easy to read LED display that shows the selected mode and counts your steps as you are using it. You select manual, auto, forward and reverse pedaling by selecting one of the buttons on the operator panel.
When in auto mode there are five different speeds and you can select from three different workout settings. This particular model is a motorized seated elliptical which means you can’t use it standing. If that’s not an issue, I am sure you would find lots of value in this motorized elliptical for under desk,
Additional Information!
- Size: 20.00 x 15.00 x 10.50 inches
- Weight: 16.5 lb
- Warranty: 1 year manufacturer Warranty
Pros:
- Ultra-lightweight motorized desk elliptical machine;
- Has both automatic motorized speed and 3 workouts settings;
Cons:
- Needs to be plugged into an outlet for any of the auto modes;
- No built-in flip-up carrying handle to make it easier to carry;
9. Stamina InMotion Compact Strider for Under-Desk
4 used from $104.06
The Stamina InMotion Compact Strider is a high-quality mini elliptical machine that is capable of being used either seated or standing. It is extremely stable regardless of how you use it and it will not slide around the floor as you are riding it. It delivers a nice low-impact cardio workout at work or at home.
One of the benefits of using an elliptical machine is that you can get a great cardiovascular workout and burn calories at the same time. Mini elliptical machines like the InMotion in standing mode also help to provide a more complete lower body workout. Now, this benefit can be brought to the office or living room. You don’t need to have a large amount of space for massive traditional elliptical machines, you just need to have enough room under your desk or in front of your couch.
It features a compact, low profile design that allows it to fit underneath most standard desks. The oversized pedals have a non-slip tread and lip that goes all the way around the pedal to help to keep your feet in place. The extra wide front stabilizer bar and rear roller platforms help to provide the needs support, even during standing mode. The InMotion Compact Strider is one of the few under desk elliptical machines that can be used in standing or seated mode.
It features an easy to adjust tension/resistance setting knob and a built in carrying handle that makes it easy to carry around the home or office. The built-in fitness monitor displays all of the tracking data so that you can keep track of the number of steps, calories burned, and distance that you have traveled.
Additional Information!
- Size: 24.00 x 18.00 x 12.00 inches
- Weight: 24.00 pounds
- Warranty: 1-year warranty
Pros:
- It can be used while sitting or standing mode;
- The built-in carrying handle makes it really convenient and easy to carry around;
- The multifunction fitness monitor displays your progress during your workout;
Cons:
- It can only handle riders up to 250 lb;
10. Stamina In-Motion Mini Elliptical Stepper
12 used from $97.28
My first suggestion, avoid using this standing. As I said before, they are not durable for standing exercise. The reason I recommend this mini elliptical is that it’s inexpensive and I know it will last a long time if you only stick to using it under the desk while seated. However, if you use this compact elliptical standing, the wheels will start squeaking and moving to the sides of the plates. Eventually, the pedals will break and finally, the whole stepper will fall apart, especially if you are above 100 lbs.
So, if you want something to use under your desk and you can’t afford the Cubii mini elliptical stepper, Stamina In-motion elliptical machine will make a good long lasting under desk exerciser for you. You can pump up the blood in your heart, burn calories, lose weight, and tone your lower body.
The stride motion of Stamina mini stepper elliptical is flat and up and down, more like mini pedal exercisers. Therefore, we don’t recommend Stamina mini elliptical stepper for individuals with knee problems. It’s not an angled/inclined motion. It has an up and down motion which might also bring your knees in contact with the desk.
As far as the resistance goes, the Stamina sit down mini stepper has a quiet magnetic system. It’a manually adjustable through a knob located below the electronic display. The operation on this mini elliptical stepper is quiet and smooth which makes it convenient for office use.
The Stamina under desk mini stepper elliptical is bi-directional. It means you can pedal in forward and reverse motion giving a bit of variety to your exercise. While there is an LCD on the Stamina In-Motion Elliptical stepper, it doesn’t have a Bluetooth connection.
Therefore, you can’t save your daily mini elliptical progress like you would with Cubii Pr. However, during the workout, you can track the basic statistics of your workout such as calories burned, session duration, strides per minute and the total number of strides.
The display requires an LR44 battery which is included with the bike. Again, the manufacturer says, you can stand on this under desk elliptical or use it while seated on the chair. They wanted it to support both positions. In my opinion, they just failed to add the durability an elliptical for a standing desk requires.
Additional Information!
- Size: 24 x 17 x 11 inches
- Weight: 24 lb
- Warranty: 90-day parts
Pros:
- It is very quiet and smooth;
- It is portable and does not need to be plugged into an outlet;
- The price is affordable;
Cons:
- Doesn’t have Bluetooth connectivity;
- No comfortable to use with office chairs that have casters;
- Short part warranty;
What To Consider When Looking for Under Desk Ellipticals
Performance
Be sure that you do plenty of research to be sure that the sitting elliptical for under desk that you select has large comfortable pedals, adjustable tension control knobs to be able to increase or decrease the amount of resistance. If you plan to use it also as a standup elliptical, be sure that the models you are considering actually offer it. Some desk exercise ellipticals also include a workout intensity shifter to make it easier to go from a less intense workout to a more intense workout.
Should be portable
When selecting a good desk elliptical trainer you want to be sure that is is easily movable. Along with it being able to be carried easily, you should also be sure that your desk elliptical trainer can be used on a wide range of surfaces and that includes carpeting. Since the majority of offices have some type of carpeted flooring, it is important that you choose a sit down elliptical that will work well with a variety of different types of flooring.
Stability
In order to work effectively at the office while exercising, you need to be able to trust that the mini elliptical machine will not move around as you are using it. It is equally important for it not to slip around the floor if you are using it in standup mode. Be sure that there is a non-slip mat or pad the will help to prevent it from slipping around on the floor. Also, you need to be sure that your under-desk exercise machine is stable enough to support your weight if it has a standup mode.
Noise
For most people who spend hours and hours of their day sitting behind a desk at work or in a home office. It is the perfect opportunity to get a little physical workout at the same time. Unfortunately, many of these people end up working in a shared workspace and that means any amount of noise can be distracting to a coworker. That means it is extremely important that you select a model of under desk elliptical. The absolute quietest would be preferred, but the quieter compact elliptical for under desk is definitely better.
Connected technology
With today’s connected world, it is very important to be able to keep track of your workouts. There are a number of different fitness tracking apps that you can download to your phone, tablet, and Bluetooth-enabled computer. So, having the ability to directly track in real-time your workout progress from your under desk workout equipment. Having an under desk stepper elliptical that uploads the data directly to your mobile device or Bluetooth-connected desktop computer would be a huge plus.
FAQs About High-Quality Under Desk Ellipticals
The best and most effective way to use an under desk elliptical is seated. You can use an under desk elliptical while you are on the sofa watching TV or when you are behind desk working or studying. If you have the quietest under desk elliptical, you can also use it when reading without being disturbed. You need to keep you knees at 90 degree aligned with your hips.
Yes you can get a good workout from an under desk mini elliptical trainer. Since you would seated while using an under desk mini portable elliptical you won’t be using your arms. So, you won’t burn as much calories as you normally would with standard elliptical machine. You can burn about 150 calories per hour. It’s a decent cardio workout, which is good for your heart.
Yes, while it is designed for a more natural sitting position, you can actually use some under desk elliptical trainers while standing up. But unlike a traditional standing elliptical there are no handgrips to use in order to keep your balance. That means when using an under desk stand up elliptical, you have to be careful to stay focused on good form to stay upright.
Yes, seated elliptical under desk and any type of occasional distraction during work, whether you are in a business office setting or home office setting can be a huge help with occasional stress. Using an under desk exercise equipment has proven to have a positive effect on a person’s mood. It is believed that the physical excursion causes certain hormones to be released in the part of the brain that controls mood.
The jury is still out on whether or not an under desk workout using a mini elliptical machine. While you can burn a small number of calories per hour of work, it is more likely to benefit you to figure out how to add it to an existing exercise routine. That said, using an under chair elliptical with a health diet that put you in calorie deficit can diffidently help you lose weight.
Yes, an under desk elliptical exercise machine can help you improve your posture, if used properly. In fact, one of the best parts of using an under desk elliptical machine is that it forces you to sit in a certain position while pedalling. Bad posture should also be addressed before using an under desk mini elliptical since it can have a negative impact on the computer.
It depends on what kind of office chair and desk you use. Mini under desk elliptical machines keep you active and allow you to stay focused during the work. You can find seated and standing under desk elliptical depending on your work Station. Aside from quiet under desk ellipticals, there is also another useful under desk exercise equipment called pedal exerciser. I don’t like the up and down motion of desk pedal exercisers while seated behind a desk but some do. Also, stationary bike desks offer very comfortable seated desk workouts.
Under desk electric elliptical (aka motorised) is better if you have mobility issues or recovering from an injury while manual mini under desk elliptical is better if you want to use an under desk elliptical pedal exerciser without having plug-in the machine. With motorised compact elliptical under desk, you don’t need to get of the chair or lean down to change resistance. You can do it with the push of the button which is really handy if you have mobility issues.
Stamina is the best sit and stand elliptical for desk workouts. You can use this under desk elliptical for standing and while seated behind the desk or on the sofa. That said, standing under desk ellipticals are not as effective as seated because you can’t focus without balance.
Under desk ellipticals are better than bikes for seated exercise because most of them like Cubii desk ellipticals have an 40-degree angled/inclined motions that works better under desk than mini bikes. That said, some mini bikes have an advantage and that is the fact that you can use them for arm and shoulder workouts as well as leg exercises.
I highly recommend under desk ellipticals for seniors. They are the lowest impact exercise equipment for seniors that can be used seated. For those on recovery and senior users with mobility problems it’s better to use motorized compact under desk elliptical because they bring zero pressure on the joints. I have tested and reviewed the Orbitrek motorized desk elliptical. It’s probably the best under desk elliptical for seniors.
An under desk elliptical trainer can work; tibialis anterior, vastus medialist, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and patellar alignment. Generally speaking a good portable elliptical under desk can work all the leg muscles. That said, even the best mini elliptical for standing or sitting can’t work on upper body muscles. That’s something you can except from a traditional elliptical machine with moving handlebars.
An under desk elliptical machine for home workout is the compact version of an elliptical machine without handlebars. While elliptical machines are great to do standing full body workouts, unfortunately they can’t be used behind the desk while seated. That’s why the idea of making a seated elliptical for under desk came to reality and became really popular.
Final Verdict!
There you have it. Our list of the best under desk ellipticals. As always, do some of your own research so that you can really get what mini elliptical for under desk best fits your situation. Also, keep in mind that except for the Exerpeutic 900E under desk elliptical machine that works well with “office chairs with casters”, the rest of these desk exercise equipments isn’t really great for chairs that have casters.
They are comfortable to use with traditional chairs, sofas, stacking chairs, reception area chairs, and benches. But when it comes to chairs with casters, it would be great if you have a large working station so you don’t have to move the chair forward or backward to sit.
Hi there, I'm Sayed Hamed Hosseiny, the founder and one of the authors at yourexercisebike.com (YEB). I am a former indoor cycling instructor and personal trainer with nearly 20 years of experience. With a passion for indoor cycling, I have spent years designing cycling parts, repairing, and importing exercise bikes. All the articles, tips, guides, reviews, and comparisons on YourExerciseBike.com (YEB) reflect my personal opinion and expertise in the field. I'm excited to share my knowledge with fellow exercise bike enthusiasts and help people find reliable indoor cycling information and the best exercise bike for their needs.
Did you find any that don’t have a manual tension kmob? If I have to stop to adjust tension, I probably wouldn’t start back peddling again lol
Hello Amy, thanks for stopping by
I believe all the current models come with manual resistance system but I (or one of my colleagues) will update this article if we find a mini desk elliptical with motorized resistance so you can adjust the tension via an application on your device or other types of controls without having stop the exercise.
Been using Cubii Pro Under Desk Mini Elliptical for a few months (more than 4) and I’m feeling great. I use it mostly when I am working on my desk and have gotten in to the habit of using it even when I am working on important projects for work.
Thanks for sharing your experience with it. I want to buy one and I was thinking of using it at work so this helped. I need to get some calories burned and to increase my stamina so this should help.