This article is a comprehensive guide to the best affordable rowing machines, currently available on the market.
Having a rowing machine in your own home gym allows you to have amazing low impact cardio workouts, warm ups, or even cool downs. Not only will it build your cardiovascular endurance, but it also sculpts and strengthens your quads, hamstrings, glutes, back, shoulders and arms.
It’s an essential piece of equipment to have for anyone at any age.
The problem is that rowing machines often come at a high price, and those that don’t, well, They often lack in quality.
I have however gone over dozens of different low priced rowing machines, to figure out which ones will bring the most quality to you, and your workouts, without them burning a hole in your wallet.
What to expect from this guide ?
This best rowing machine under 300 buyer’s guide will go over the most valuable products you can currently get for your money, how you can use them effectively for you workouts, and with which exercises. Note that the order they are reviewed in does not mean one is considered better than the other; for each and every product, I will cite it’s pros and cons so that you can effectively decide for yourself which one is the best for you.
Product reviews
In this article I will go over some of the best affordable rowing machine products currently available in terms of:
- durability/solidity
- efficiency
- features
- customer reviews
- price
Recommended
If you are looking for a quality rower on a budget; the Stamina ATS Air Rower 1399
 is highly recommended. It offers plenty of resistance, a comfortable range of motion, a smooth handling, and more importantly, won’t break the bank.
It has a fantastic price to quality ratio, offering you with a quality product that could easily compete with other rowers higher up in the price ranges. It’s display monitor will provide you with speed, distance, time and calories burned. Distance not usually being something that is tracked on monitors for rowers in this price range, it’s quite appreciable to see it on this product.
It can be folded and packed away, just as easy as it is to set up for your very first workout.
Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine
If you live in a flat, or an area where loud rowing machine “whoosh” sounds tend to irritate the people around you, this product is very quiet. The sound is minimal and at most you will simply hear the padded chair going back and forth.
Although the resistances provided on the lower end rowers usually don’t compare to ones made available to you on a concept 2, this one will make you sweat.
It’s well built, takes up minimal space when you need to store it away, and takes around 30 minutes to put together.
Here are some specs:
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- Magnetic tension system
- 8 Levels of adjustable resistance
- LCD console displays Time, Count, Calories, Total Count, Scan
- Fully padded seat for comfort
- Non-slip grip handlebars
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- Large anti-slip foot pedals
- Built-in transportation wheels
- Full body exercise targets all major muscle groups
- Provides low impact aerobic and cardiovascular exercise
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 82 x 19 x 23 inches
- Maximum user weight: 250 Lbs
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| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Durable | Tracks time, strokes, and calories, but not distance |
| Quiet | |
| Easy to put together | |
| Takes up little space when stored away | |
| A 4.5 star review with over 800 reviews on Amazon |
Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 Rowing Machine
Â
 
This machine works to replicate the real patterns of a rowing movement quite well, and provides it’s user with a pleasant experience.
With it’s hydraulic resistance system, sound during use is minimal, and the whole thing can be put together in a breeze. It’s worth noting that storing it away is even easier as the arms can be folded upon the rower, and the product can be stored upright.
Here are some specs:
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- Multi-function electronic monitor
- Comfortable molded seat
- Adjustable, hydraulic cylinder resistanceÂ
- Foldable arms
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- Textured footplates with strapsÂ
- Foam padded hand grips
- Steel frame construction.
- Max weight limit: 250 lbs.
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 58.25 x 42.5 x 18.125 inches
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| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Durable | Back rim on foot straps is rather small; your feet may slip out from time to time |
| Silent | |
| Easy assembly | |
| Mimics real rowing strokes | |
| A 4 star rating with over 2300 customer reviews |
Stamina ATS Air Rower 1399Â
The Stamina Air rower certainly stands out among all the other rowers in it’s price category; the quality has a premium feel to it, and the price to quality ratio is more than acceptable.
A feature that is often appreciated with this rower is that it counts distance, as well as the usual calories and time. Although the fact that it’s an air rower means that it will be noisier than other rowers featured in this article, it offers more resistance than most other knob adjustment products out there in this price range.
It folds up in two with little wheels that you can use to easily store it away, and is assembled in little time; an overall quality product at a relatively low price.
Here are some specs:
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- Wind resistance
- Monitor displays speed, distance, time and calories burned
- Upholstered, padded, sliding seat
- Large footplates
- Adjustable nylon foot straps
- Oversized seat rail supports smooth-sliding seat
- Angled seat rail for easy seat return
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- Sturdy steel construction
- Textured grips
- Foldable frame
- Nylon rowing strap
- Floor protectors to safeguard your workout area and prevent skidding
- Assembled size—77†long x 18″ wide x 22″ tall
- Folded size—48†long x 18″ wide x 28″ tall
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| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Very durable | A bit loud |
| Premium feel | |
| Multi-function monitor displays speed, distance, time and calories burned | |
| Easy assembly and comfortable | |
| A 4 star rating with over 900 customer reviews on Amazon |
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5639 Full Motion Rowing Machine
This rower offers it’s users a bit more durability with a maximum weight capacity of 350 lbs in contrast to the usual 250 lbs in this price range.
As well as being sturdier, it’s super quick to assemble and will have you burning calories in no time. One thing that would be worth mentioning though is that while this machine is ideal for most people from a variety of ages, it’s not the best resistance wise for the stronger athletes out there and might feel a bit light.
Otherwise, it’s a quality product; it takes up little space and is dead quiet.
Here are some specs:
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- Extended weight capacity of 350 lbs
- 12 Levels of adjustable resistance
- Full motion arms allows for larger range of motions for the shoulders
- Fully padded seat and non-slip grip handlebars
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- Large anti-slip foot pedals with adjustable foot straps
- LCD digital displays: Scan, Time, Count, Calorie, Total Count
- Tension System: Hydraulic Cylinder
- Slide Rail Length / Inseam: 38.2″
- Product Dimensions: 51.5L x 24W x 14H
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| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Durable | Not for the stronger athletes, resistance wise |
| Quiet | |
| Easy assembly | |
| A 4 star rating with over 100 customer reviews on Amazon |
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1205 12 Adjustable Resistance Rowing Machine
A very simple, piston design that makes for what is an overall light and efficient rower. It takes up little space in storage, and you won’t have any trouble putting it together rapidly.
Once concern here is that depending on your size and level of strength, you are either going to love, or hate this machine.
As you are rowing, the hydraulic piece gets warmer and warmer, and the warmer it gets the less resistance you’ll have. So after 5 minutes it gets pretty easy, and after 10 minutes you are basically just doing the motions without much resistance.
Here are some specs:
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- Sleek solid steel frame
- Features hydraulic cylinder resistance with 12 adjustable levels
- LCD monitor displays: time, count, total count, calories burned, scan
- Cushioned non-slip grip handlebars
- Fully padded ergonomically designed seat
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- Large anti-slip foot plates
- Adjustable foot straps
- User weight limit: 220LB
- Product Dimensions: 53L x 20W x 22H inches
- Item weight: 20 lbs
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| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Fairly durable | Some complaints about the hydraulic piece leaking |
| Quiet | Not enough resistance |
| Comfortable | |
| A 4 star rating with over 700 customer reviews on Amazon |
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5623 Air Rowing Machine
This rowing machine comes very tightly packed and takes no more than 30 minutes to assemble by following the steps on the instructions.
The frame feels strong and the motion is smooth, although the wheel housing needs to be a foot away from the foot rest. Other reviewers mentioned it too. This reduces the portion exercising the leg muscles. The stop is very uncomfortable as the handle bar always ends up bumping the wheel housing.
Otherwise, this rower makes very little noise, and features a fan blowing air back at you, that can be directed away.
Here are some specs:
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- Belt tension system with 8 levels of adjustable resistance
- Air Rower provides additional resistance from the integrated fan creating a dynamic response with every pull
- Fully padded seat and non-slip grip handlebars provide optimal comfort and support
- Large anti-slip foot pedals with adjustable foot straps for secure footing
- Digital Computer displays: time, count, calories, total count, and scan
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- Built-in transportation wheels
- Max User Weight: 300 lbs
- Slide Rail Length: 46 in
- Slide Rail Material: Aluminum
- Product Dimensions: 79L x 30.3W x 26H
- Product Weight: 59.5 lbs
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PROS CONS
Fairly durable Uncomfortable range of motion; too short
Silent
Easy assembly
Plenty of resistance
A 4 star rating with over 80 customer reviews on Amazon
EFITMENT Total Motion Rowing Machine
A seemingly heavy duty rower with all the usual features you expect to find on a rower in this price range; a solid steel frame, 12 levels of resistance, a digital monitor and the anti-slip foot pedals with adjustable Velcro straps.
It’s designed for a full body rowing experience and is lighting fast to assemble (around 15 minutes).
Here are some specs:
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- Max user weight: 350 lbs
- Hydraulic Adjustable Resistance
- Large anti-slip foot plates
- Slide rail length:Â 38″
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- Extendable arms providing 12 levels of resistance
- Product weight: 28 lbs
- Digital Computer
- Dimensions: 63L x 24W x 20H
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| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Durable | None to note |
| Silent | |
| Lightning fast assembly | |
| A 5 star rating on amazon |
Goplus Magnetic Folding Rowing MachineÂ
Cheap and effective, this rower proves to be efficient in it’s simplicity.
It’s lightweight, functions smoothly and should allow for some great low impact, high quality workouts. After use, it folds up neatly and can be stored away without any hassle.
The sliding seat makes some noise (very little, though), but other than that, you won’t notice a thing and can conveniently listen to music or watch TV during your workout.
Here are some specs:
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- Material: Steel and plastic
- Opening size: 70″L x 21″W x 19″H
- Folded Height: 49″
- Seat size: 10″ x 14″
- Pedal size: 5.3″ x 12″
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- Sliding distance: 100″
- Flywheel weight: 6.6 lbs
- Product weight: 49 lbs
- Weight capacity: 220 lbs
- Package include: 1 x magnetic folding rowing machine, 1 x Instruction
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| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Durable | None to note |
| Fairly silent | |
| Easy assembly | |
| A 4.5 star rating on Amazon with over 20 customer reviews |
best affordable rowing machine – Conclusion
You don’t have to pay an insane amount to benefit from the low impact workouts rowers offer. Be sure to nail down the form before getting into long rowing sessions, and your body will thank you.
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