8 Best Under Desk Bikes and Ellipticals of 2023

Jan 01, 2024

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Get your legs pumping while working from home or at the office.

We updated this article in January 2023 to add more information about the latest models vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute. We also added more information about the effectiveness of under desk bikes and ellipticals, what to look for when shopping for an under desk bike and how we chose our top picks.

If you’re tired of spending long hours in your desk chair or are looking for convenient ways to move more in the New Year, consider adding an under desk bike or elliptical to your home office setup. Sedentary behavior has been associated with health risks such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, a decreased lifespan and more, and an under desk exercise machine can boost your energy and help get your heart pumping.

"A good rule of thumb is to try to move every hour on the hour for a few minutes," says Stefani Sassos, NASM-CPT and Good Housekeeping's Nutrition Lab Deputy Director. If it's your first time using an under desk bike or elliptical, Sassos recommends starting at a low speed for about 30 to 60 minutes. "You can assess how sore your legs are the next day and then gradually increase the time if you feel good."

At the Good Housekeeping Institute, our health experts, analysts and engineers test fitness essentials ranging from foldable treadmills to must-have workout apps. Though we haven't formally tested all the under desk bikes featured below, we relied heavily on our testing experience in the fitness category as well as consumer reviews to select the best under desk bikes and ellipticals. Our pros vetted each pick for ease of use, performance and design. According to our experts, these are the best under desk bikes and ellipticals in 2023 to help you stay active during your 9-to-5.

Our top picks:

After our top picks, read further to learn what to look for when shopping, the difference between under bikes and ellipticals and how we chose the best models.

This model from DeskCycle is a favorite among consumers on Amazon. When we tested it, we liked how this bike features eight resistance settings so you can readily increase or decrease your difficulty level. You can also adjust the pedal height to work with various office spaces, and we found the DeskCycle 2 to be fairly quiet, so your colleagues won't be disturbed.

In addition to allowing you to cycle both forward and backward, this bike comes with an LCD display that shows you metrics such as calories burned, speed, time and distance. To ensure your foot remains secured against the pedal, all you have to do is adjust the velcro strap and start pedaling. We do caution, however, that this bike doesn't come with a handle, which makes it less portable than other picks.

While this indoor pedal machine may feature fewer bells and whistles than other models, its price tag is hard to compete with. Our pros like that it comes with a little electronic display to show basic stats (time, revolution count, etc.), but best of all you can fold it up into a compact size once you’re done for the day. It also features straps for your feet and an adjustable tension knob so you can choose the right level of activity for you.

This under desk bike is a great choice thanks to its 2-in-1 design, allowing you to pedal with either your feet or your hands. A surface grip helps the bike stay in place on your desk so you can work your upper body as well as your lower body, and the carry handle makes it easy to move it around if you don't want to keep it at the office. Like many other under desk bikes, there are eight levels of magnetic resistance and a display that tracks activity. Although it may not be the prettiest, it's a versatile and affordable pick (that also happens to be on sale right now).

We like this elliptical for its fun pink design that can spice up your office (though you can go with gray if pink isn't your thing). Our experts also appreciate that it's fairly affordable in comparison to other models, and it comes with a handle so you can move it around easily. There's a digital monitor to keep track of metrics like time, speed, calories and distance while you work out, and you can pick among eight resistance levels by turning the tension knob.

This under desk elliptical has a sleek, modern design. Our Media & Tech Lab loves that it can sync up to Apple Health or a Fitbit via Bluetooth so you can keep track of your activity in one place. Other features include eight resistance levels that can be adjusted with a dial and a noise level that the brand claims is "whisper quiet." We're excited to test this one out in our Lab in the coming weeks!

This under desk bike comes in at 18 pounds, making it several pounds lighter than many others on this list and easily portable thanks to its handle. You can choose from three different colors. We like that it comes with resistance bands so you can work your upper body when you’re ready to take a break from your keyboard. You’re also able to pedal with your hands to build up your arm strength.

This Amazon bestseller hasn't been tested in our Lab, but several consumers on Amazon claim that it's a great tool for at-home physical therapy. It's a perfect fit if you’re tight on space and want a bike that can be easily stored when you’re not using it. It's foldable and weighs only 5 pounds. This sturdy yet extremely lightweight bike also includes a display to track performance and has a tension knob so you can pick the right intensity for workouts on both your arms and legs.

Multitask with this under desk elliptical, which offers eight resistance levels and comes with a display monitor to track your stats. It's on the expensive end of the spectrum and is one of the heaviest choices on this list, but it has larger foot pedals so you can adjust your motion so it feels the most comfortable for you. It's also compatible with your Apple Watch or Fitbit so you can track your stats.

The experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have years of experience testing home office and fitness products such as standing desks, workout mirrors and more. To select the best under desk bikes and ellipticals, we vetted each pick for ease of use, performance and design and consulted customer reviews.

We considered the weight and dimensions of each machine as well as any extra features like a display or wheels for portability. While we weren't able to test each model on our list, our picks are based on similar models or brands that have performed well in previous categorical tests, road tests we conducted in our homes and customer reviews.

✔️ Size and weight: Double-check the dimensions of your under desk bike or elliptical to ensure it will fit under your desk. Keep in mind it will raise the level of your knees as you use it, so make sure there's enough clearance for your full range of motion. You should also verify the weight of your machine if you plan on moving it from your desk to the couch or elsewhere since some machines are lighter and more portable than others.

✔️ Design: Do you prefer an under desk bike or an elliptical? While these fitness tools are similar, the motion of biking versus using an elliptical is not identical. Also, when evaluating design, double-check for features like secure and durable straps for your feet as well as wheels or handles so your equipment is easy to move around. Ask yourself whether the adjustable tension knob looks easily accessible and whether the display is easy to read. Does the machine feature a non-slip bottom so the machine stays firmly in place?

✔️ Noise level: Some under desk bikes or ellipticals will be noisier than others. If a quiet machine is important to you so you’re not distracted as you work or watch TV, check customer reviews for mention of noise levels.

Olivia Lipski is a fitness and outdoors enthusiast, and you’ll frequently find her swimming, running, hiking, ice skating, skiing, cycling or taking a yoga class. She's the first to jump into trying a new fitness class or app, and she regularly collaborates with GH's Wellness Lab to test and review the best fitness gear, including rowers, treadmills, fitness trackers, dumbbells, massage guns, meditation devices and more.

Olivia (she/her) is a media and tech product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, covering tech, home, auto, health and more. She has more than five years of experience writing about tech trends and innovation and, prior to joining GH in 2021, was a writer for Android Central, Lifewire and other media outlets. Olivia is a graduate of George Washington University, with a bachelor's degree in journalism, political science and French, and she holds a master's degree in communications from Sciences Po Paris.

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