Quiet ellipticals for apartments
An elliptical has no impacts, so it is the quietest cardio for a flat — if the resistance is magnetic and the frame does not rock.
3 great fits and 0 good ones, out of 5 models.
If noise is your problem, the elliptical is the neighbour-friendliest cardio: your feet never leave the pedals, so there are no impacts. What you hear is something else.
Resistance. Magnetic resistance brakes with magnets, without contact: silence. Air (a fan) whooshes more the harder you push; friction rubs. The flywheel: a heavy one turns smoothly at low cadence; a light one jerks, and you feel it in the frame. Weight: a light elliptical rocks and knocks on the floor when you push.
Put a mat under the whole base: it damps the feet's vibration and protects the floor.
The ones we recommend for this
Derived from the data- + Floor mat:BalanceFrom mat 76 × 152 cmcovers it fully
- + Floor mat:Gorilla Mats 183 × 122 cmcovers it fully
- + Floor mat:Gorilla Mats 183 × 122 cmcovers it fully
The verdict for each model
Derived from the data| Model | Verdict | In uselength × width × height | Floor area | Foldedlength × width × height | Max user weight | Cushioning | Stride | Ceiling needed | Resistance | Machine weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schwinn 411 | Great fit | 136.6 × 61 × 158.8 cm | 0.83 m² | Does not fold | 136 kg | Not needed: no impact, feet stay on the pedals | 45.7 cm | Not published | Magnetic · 16 levels | 45.4 kg | — |
| Sole E25 | Great fit | 177.8 × 61 × 177.8 cm | 1.08 m² | Does not fold | 159 kg | Not needed: no impact, feet stay on the pedals | 50.8 cm | Pedal 35.6 cm off the floor | Magnetic · 20 levels | Not published | — |
| Cecotec Elliptical 9000 EIR Pro | Great fit | 165 × 62 × ? cm | 1.02 m² | Does not fold | 130 kg | Not needed: no impact, feet stay on the pedals | 38 cm | Not published | Motorised magnetic | 50.8 kg | — |
| BowFlex Max Trainer M6 | Limited | 117 × 66 × 163 cm | 0.77 m² | Does not fold | 136 kg | Not needed: no impact, feet stay on the pedals | Vertical (no stride) | Your height + 52 cm | Air and magnetic · 16 levels | 61.7 kg | $999 |
| Sportstech CX608 | Limited | 122 × 62 × 164 cm | 0.76 m² | Does not fold | 120 kg | Not needed: no impact, feet stay on the pedals | 35 cm | Not published | Magnetic · 8 levels | 39 kg | — |
- Schwinn 411Great fit
- Magnetic resistance: no friction noise
- 45.4 kg: stays put, does not rock
- Sole E25Great fit
- Magnetic resistance: no friction noise
- 9 kg flywheel: smooth at low cadence
- Cecotec Elliptical 9000 EIR ProGreat fit
- Magnetic resistance: no friction noise
- 50.8 kg: stays put, does not rock
- BowFlex Max Trainer M6Limited
- Air resistance: the fan whooshes, louder the harder you push
- 61.7 kg: stays put, does not rock
- Sportstech CX608Limited
- Magnetic resistance: no friction noise
- 39 kg: light, can rock
Frequently asked questions
Is an elliptical noisy in a flat?
Far less than a treadmill: there are no impacts. With magnetic resistance and a mat, it is barely heard below.
Magnetic or air?
Magnetic if noise matters. Air resistance makes fan noise.