The 7 Best Mini Elliptical Machines for Your Home Office

Admit it. You are skeptical about buying a mini elliptical, just like we were. 

No one wants to buy a piece of junk that does nothing but but make a lot of noise and distract you from work. 

Thankfully, mini ellipticals, also known as under desk elliptical work and this is scientifically proven.

Although these machines do not require you to pump your arms or burn your core, they help burn calories, promote blood circulation, and improve cardiovascular health.

Many fortune 500 companies including Google and Microsoft have purchased them to build active workstations for their employees. 

The 7 Best Mini Ellipticals For Your Home Office

Name	Type	Resistance	Our rating	Price
Cubii Jr: Desk Elliptical	Seated elliptical	8 levels	4.8	Check Price
Cubii Pro Seated Under Desk Elliptical	Seated elliptical	8 levels	4.7	Check Price
Sunny Health & Fitness Fully Assembled Magnetic Under Desk Elliptical	Seated elliptical	8 levels	4.6	Check Price
Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper with Resistance Bands	Standing stepper	Not mentioned	4.6	Check Price
ATIVAFIT Under Desk Elliptical Bike	Seated and standing elliptical	8 levels	4.7	Check Price
Stamina InMotion E1000 Compact Strider	Seated and standing elliptical	8 levels	4.6	Check Price
DeskCycle Ellipse: Under Desk Elliptical Machine	Seated elliptical	8 levels	4.8	Check Price

Cubii Jr: Desk Elliptical

This an expensive piece of equipment for your home office but it is totally worth its price, provided you use it regularly. Unlike the generic ones, it doesn’t squeak. Because it has angled pedals, you can use it comfortably while maintaining a good posture. 

Features: 

• It is a low-impact elliptical machine for home office.
• It offers 8 different resistance levels that can be easily adjusted by turning a dial at the top of the machine. 
• The built-in display helps keep a track of strides, calories burnt, RPM, etc. 
• As mentioned above, it offers whisper-quiet operation.
• Unlike the cheaper mini ellipticals, the Cubii Jr. Desk Elliptical provides smooth operation. 
• It comes with a 1-year warranty. 

What we like about it:

• It requires a very basic assembly, which is pretty easy. 
• It does offer whisper-quiet operation as claimed by the manufacturer. This helps minimize distractions. 
• Two free locks for chairs with rollers are included with this. You need not worry about your chair sliding off your desk. 
• Many buyers have stated that Cubii has an amazing customer service team. They are very responsive and they do adhere to their warranty commitments. Here is a buyer’s experience:

“I did not use this very much but I began a month ago and it has developed a crunching/grinding sound in the last few days that no doubt foretells a dismal fate. My order records say it is beyond warranty as I bought it in October, but Cubii was very helpful and shipped the replacement before I sent them the one that failed. Amazing service.” 

Things that can be improved:

• It weighs 25lbs. So it is definitely ‘not so portable’. 
• It does slip a bit when used continuously, so you will have to keep adjusting it as and when required. This is not a major issue. Plus, you can buy an additional non-slip mat or place it on a carpet. 

Our Rating: 4.8/5

Our Review: 

We highly recommend Cubii floor elliptical to everyone who is committed to their health as well as their work. It is designed to help you engage your legs, glutes, and the abdomen while your hands and mind are occupied doing your office work. Being sturdy, quiet, and smooth, it justifies its high price. 

Cubii Pro Seated Under Desk Elliptical

This mini elliptical is an advanced version of Cubii Jr. It is basically the Jr. version plus compatibility with bluetooth and various fitness apps. This home office workout equipment lets you track your workouts, set goals, and compete with other users. A healthy competition with yourself and others will motivate you to use it more often. 

Features: 

• Just like Cubii Jr., the Cubii Pro seated elliptical also features a magnetic drive system that mimics the motion of a full-sized elliptical. 
• It has 8 resistance levels. 
• The manufacturer claims that it offers smooth, whisper-quiet operations. 
• It has bluetooth connectivity and you can pair it with Fitbit and Apple health kits.  
• The two complementary wheel stoppers will prevent your chair from rolling.

What we like about it:

• Assembly is easy and takes about 10-15 minutes.
• The free Cubii app is helpful for people who don’t own fitbit or other devices. It has challenges and groups. You can be a part of them to stay motivated. 
• Quiet operation makes it suitable for general use as well as for conference calls. Many buyers have stated that this seated elliptical doesn't really distract them. Here is one such feedback from a buyer:

“Easy to install out of the box and it is indeed quiet enough to use in the office, even on conference calls. All you hear is the whisper of the wheels as they move on the bottom, and sometimes the movement of my shoes on the pedals. I'm currently using it with wedges but I've also used it with flats and barefoot.”

Things that can be improved: 

• Just like the Jr. seated elliptical, this one is heavy too. So, you won’t be able to move it from the office to the living room easily. But, the heaviness helps keep it in place, so it is not really a con. 
• The free Cubii app needs some minor improvements. For example; when you change resistance on the elliptical, you will have to manually change the resistance setting on your phone or else it won’t calculate the calories correctly. 

Our Rating: 4.7/5

Our Verdict: 

The only major concern we could find is the price. Otherwise, it is a fantastic piece of equipment that can help you stay more active at your desk. The smart tracking feature helps you stay motivated and make daily progress.  

Sunny Health & Fitness Fully Assembled Magnetic Under Desk Elliptical

If Cubbi mini ellipticals don’t fall within your budget, don’t get disappointed. Thankfully, we have managed to find some reasonably-priced products that are almost as good as them. This Sunny Health & Fitness magnetic under desk elliptical is one of them. It costs about $100 less than Cubii and it delivers what it promises. 

Features: 

• This seated elliptical features a belt drive mechanism, which makes it quiet and comfortable.
• There are 8 resistance levels that can be adjusted by turning the resistance knob. 
• The digital monitor at the top can help track your workout results. 
• Since it has non-slip foot pedals, you can comfortably use it with all types of footwear including heels and wedges. 

What we like about it: 

• The price is unbelievably reasonable as compared to the Cubii ones. 
• It comes fully assembled. You can just take it out of its box and start exercising. 
• We love the handle. Although it is heavy, you can use the handle to move it around or position it comfortably.  
• Many buyers have praised Sunny Health and Fitness for its amazingly helpful customer support. Here is what one such happy buyer has to say:

“Sunny Health easily and cheerfully replaced my digital monitor with no hassle once I was able to get their number from Amazon support. They reached out to me several times and made sure I received the part. I LOVE my machine.”

Things that can be improved: 

• The manufacturer claims that it offers a noise-free workout, which is true. But, after a few weeks, it could start squeaking. The easiest way to do this is to grease the wheels regularly. If you are not fond of this, it could be an issue. 
• It slides a little on tiles. You need to place it on a carpet or a mat. 

Our Rating: 4.6/5

Our Review: 

The only issue we think needs attention is the greasing thing. It is not mentioned in the manual, which is why a lot of buyers assume it is a junk piece. If you grease it regularly, it won’t squeak. So, if you are on a budget and don’t mind sparing a minute to grease the wheels, Sunny Health and Fitness Magnetic under desk elliptical is worth being a part of your home office. 

Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper with Resistance Bands

Please note: THIS IS NOT AN ELLIPTICAL. THIS IS A MINI STEPPER. 

This means: 

• It goes up and down and does not glide back and forth like ellipticals. 
• You need to stand on it to use it. You cannot use it while seated on your desk. 
• You need to balance yourself while standing on it. So, if you are undergoing therapy, it is not suitable for you. 

Wondering why we are recommending it for your home office? 

Because we believe you can use it! Use it whenever you think you need a break. Get up from your desk and do your brainstorming part while working on it. Use it to defog your brain or while attending phone calls. 

Well, you may not use it for hours like you can do with seated ellipticals but you will still manage to spend an hour on it and the results will be the same. 

Features: 

• Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper comes with removable resistance bands. You can use them to work your upper body simultaneously. 
• You can use it to perform low-impact aerobic exercise that can help you target 20 different core muscles. 
• The hydraulic drive system makes it smooth and comfortable. 
•  The foot pedals are large and non-slippery. 
• You can adjust the stride height to make your workout as challenging as you want.
• The LCD console can help you track your workout status. 

What we like about it: 

• It is made of industrial-grade steel, so you can expect it to last for years. 
• It has a weight-bearing capacity of 220lbs. 
• This mini stepper is much cheaper than any seated elliptical. So, if you are on a tight budget, this is a great alternative. 
• Just like the home office ellipticals mentioned above, this stepper too offers a quiet operation. So, you can even use it while attending calls. 
• It weighs just above 14lbs, so you can move it around your home or office. 

Here is what a buyer has to say about its effectiveness: 

“This handy stair stepper is exactly what I wanted — something small that easily fits in my office space, that is rigorous enough to get my heart pumping, but not so extreme that I need to take a shower afterwards or swap out my work attire for gym clothes.” 

Things that can be improved: 

• It can squeak after some time. All you need to do is to grease it regularly. 
• When you adjust the height, the resistance changes accordingly. There is no way you can just adjust the height and not the resistance. 

Our Rating: 4.6/5

Our Verdict: 

It is a great way to burn your calories and get your heart pumping in between your work and meetings. It has a small footprint, so when you are not using it, you can simply slide it under your desk. If you have balance issues, you would have to remain fully attentive while using it, which could be a problem when you are at work. 

ATIVAFIT Under Desk Elliptical Bike

This compact elliptical by Ativafit lets you use it while seated as well as while standing! What more can you expect from such a reasonably-priced home office workout equipment!

Features:

• As mentioned above, this under desk elliptical can be used in both sitting and standing positions. 
• The brake resistance mechanism gives a smooth and quiet operation. 
• It offers 8 levels of resistance that can be adjusted using a knob.
• Like most mini ellipticals, it too has a multi-function display that can help you track your workout result. 
• The sturdy steel construction can bear 220lbs weight. 

What we like about it:

• We love it because it can be used while standing too! So, you will now have more reasons to stand up and take a break.
• The pedals are large and have massaging ridges. If you use it barefooted, these ridges will massage your feet and make you feel relaxed. 
• It is pretty easy to assemble. 
• We absolutely love the front wheels that make it easier to slide it on the floor and move it around. 

Here is what a happy buyer has to say about the effectiveness of ATIVAFIT Under Desk Elliptical Bike. 

“Absolutely love this elliptical machine! For a male in his 30’s and not being able to go to the gym because of Covid -19 and social distancing this elliptical is the perfect answer to keeping in shape and doing my cardio for the time being. I will say this elliptical is more like a combination elliptical/stair stepper, which is great also. You will definitely feel your lower leg muscles and thighs definitely get worked on!” 

Things that could be improved:

• Although you can use it while standing, you will require a lot of balance for that. You will have to remain attentive and maybe you will prefer placing it near something stable that you can hold during an emergency. 
• Like any other mini elliptical, you will have to grease it and tighten the bolts as and when required. This is a standard procedure with all equipment, no matter what their price is. 

Our Rating: 4.7/5 

Our Verdict: 

Don’t get lured by the ‘stand and pedal feature’ unless you are sure you will be able to make a good balance or don’t mind holding something stable. Otherwise, it is a great home office workout equipment for the whole family. You can use it while seated whereas other members can use it while standing. The wheels make it easy to roll over, so moving it around won't be a problem. 

Stamina InMotion E1000 Compact Strider

This compact elliptical from Stamina InMotion too lets you use it while standing. If you have a good balance, you can use it with weights too, as it has a good weight-bearing capacity. 

Features:

• This mini elliptical can be used while seated as well as while standing. 
• You can pedal it forward as well as in reverse direction.
• It has a weight-bearing capacity of 250 lbs, which is more than the other compact ellipticals mentioned above.
• There is a tension adjustment knob and an LCD screen at the top. 
• The large textured, non-slippery pedals make it comfortable and safe for use. 

What we love about it:

• The price of Stamina InMotion E1000 Compact Strider is unbelievably reasonable. 
• It has a quiet operation, so you will be able to use it during virtual conferences and calls. If it squeaks, you just need to grease the wheels. 
• You can use it while standing. This requires a lot of balancing act but that will help you burst your stress and defog your brain. 
• Assembly is easy and doesn’t require much time. 

Things that can be improved:

• Many buyers have stated that the calorie counter doesn’t give you accurate results. But, it isn’t really a serious drawback provided that the machine does its job fairly well. 
• The step counter too gives you inaccurate results. 

Here is what a buyer has to say about this issue: 

“The calorie count is complete nonsense- don't rely on it at all, I've found deskcycle .com has a more accurate calorie count based on other data this machine gives you. Sometimes the little step counter keeps running for several minutes after I have stopped moving. I'm not sure if it takes a few minutes to catch up on all the steps I've done (this seems unlikely), or if mine is just a little messed up, but usually if I get up from my desk when it says, say, 3 miles, when I come back a few minutes later it might say 3.5 miles, so you need to keep an eye on that too if you are trying to track progress. 

None of these are serious drawbacks though, and I would absolutely buy this product again.”

Our Rating: 4.6/5

Our Verdict: 

If you don’t mind the faulty step and calorie trackers, what more can you expect from such an inexpensive mini elliptical for your home office! 250lbs weight capacity is enough for even people with well-built bodies. 

DeskCycle Ellipse: Under Desk Elliptical Machine

This seated elliptical matches the Cubii Jr. elliptical in terms of quality, built, functioning, resistance, and price too! The resistance is strong enough to challenge you even when you have chosen a lower one. 

Features: 

• It can be used only while seated. 
• There are 8 different resistance levels. 
• It has magnetic resistance and precision flywheel, which gives a smooth pedaling movement. 
• The flywheel also ensures a quiet operation. 
• You can pair it up with activity tracking software such as fitbit and Apple. DeskCycle has its own software too that gives an accurate reading. 

What we love about it:

• You can place the monitor on the desk with the help of the extension cable included with it. We love this feature because in other seated ellipticals the screen is way too small. Sometimes you have to bend down to see the stats. 
• The resistance is much more than other mini ellipticals for home use. 
• It has a handle for carrying but please note that it is heavy. 
• Assembly is easy.  

This buyer’s feedback will help you buy it more confidently: 

“I could not be more impressed with the Ellipse. It's very sturdy and feels substantial. By comparison, I passed on a competing product that looked and felt flimsy. I'm confident it will last a long time. The claims that the Ellipse is “whisper quiet” struck me as possible marketing bluster, but I have to admit it's no exaggeration at all. The movement is smooth as can be, also. It was a breeze to assemble, and I love that the monitor can be placed on my desk with the included extension cable.” 

Things that could be improved: 

• Other than the steep price and the standard issues, we couldn’t figure out anything that needs to be improved in this almost perfect mini elliptical by DeskCycle.

Our Rating: 4.8

Our Verdict: 

The resistance is its USP. So, if you are looking for challenging workouts, this under desk elliptical will keep your legs moving while you are at work. But, please note that when you will increase the resistance, you will have to consciously push it harder, which could distract you.