Cardio is where a home gym earns its keep — it's the equipment you'll use most often, on the most days. But "cardio machine" covers everything from a £1,000 air bike to a £6,000 commercial treadmill, and they train completely different things. Buy the wrong one and it gathers dust. Buy the right one and it becomes the centre of your routine.

This guide compares the five machines worth having in a serious UK home gym — air bikes, curved treadmills, stair climbers, rowers and cross trainers — gives you our top picks, and helps you choose based on your goals and your space. By the end you'll know exactly which one to buy.

A quick note on what we stock: we focus on commercial-grade cardio built to run for years under daily use, not lightweight home machines that wear out in eighteen months. So these are the machines we'd put in a real home gym and stand behind.

The five types worth having

Each machine trains cardio differently. Match the machine to what you actually want from your sessions.

Air bikes — the most efficient conditioning tool

An air bike uses a big fan for resistance, so the harder you push, the harder it pushes back — there's no ceiling. Arms and legs work together, which makes it brutally effective for short, intense intervals and full-body conditioning. It's low-impact, compact, and arguably the best value-per-square-foot in cardio.

Best for: HIIT, conditioning, and anyone who wants maximum results in minimum time and space.

Curved (self-powered) treadmills — running, done properly

A curved treadmill has no motor. You drive the belt with your stride, which means a more natural, athletic run and a noticeably harder workout than a motorised belt — you burn more for the same speed. There's nothing to break down electronically, and it doubles as a sprint and conditioning tool.

Best for: runners and athletes who want the most authentic, highest-effort run at home.

Stair climbers — the toughest steady-state cardio

A true stair climber (a rotating staircase, not a stepper) is one of the hardest, most effective lower-body cardio machines there is. It builds serious leg and glute endurance, burns heavily, and is low-impact on the joints. It's the machine serious gym-goers gravitate to — and a genuine differentiator in a premium home gym.

Best for: lower-body conditioning, fat loss and anyone who wants gym-grade stair training at home.

Rowers — full-body, low-impact

A rower is the most complete low-impact machine: it works legs, back, arms and core in one stroke, builds both strength-endurance and aerobic capacity, and is gentle on the joints. A quality rower folds away and suits almost everyone.

Best for: full-body, joint-friendly cardio and anyone who wants one machine that trains everything.

Cross trainers (ellipticals) — smooth and joint-friendly

A cross trainer gives a fluid, zero-impact full-body workout — ideal for longer steady sessions, joint-sensitive users, and anyone who wants to train hard without pounding their knees. Commercial models feel a world apart from flimsy home ellipticals.

Best for: low-impact steady cardio and longer, sustainable sessions.

Our top picks for a home gym

Best overall value: Attack Air Attack Air Bike

The Attack Air Attack Air Bike (around £1,160) is our top pick for most home gyms. It packs commercial-grade conditioning into a compact footprint at a price that's accessible relative to the rest of premium cardio. It's low-impact, full-body, near-indestructible, and brilliant for short intense sessions when time is tight. If you buy one cardio machine, this does the most for the least space and money. For a premium fan bike with a heavier build, the TRUE ADX Fan Bike (around £2,394) steps it up.

Best for runners: Attack Run Attack Curved Treadmill

If running is your thing, the Attack Run Attack Curved Treadmill (around £4,320) is the one to have. Being self-powered, it delivers a natural, athletic stride and a harder workout than any motorised belt — and with no motor, there's far less to ever go wrong. For a serious runner's home gym, it's a buy-it-once machine. If you prefer a traditional motorised commercial treadmill with cushioning and a console, the Star Trac 8TRx (from around £6,145) and Star Trac 4-Series (from around £3,617) are true commercial machines.

Best stair climber: StairMaster Gauntlet

For the toughest lower-body cardio you can own, a StairMaster Gauntlet stepmill (8Gx, around £4,995) brings the real revolving-staircase experience home — the same machine that's a fixture in serious commercial gyms. If space or budget is tighter, the compact StairMaster 4G Gauntlet (around £3,495) delivers full commercial stair-climbing in a smaller footprint. A stair climber is a genuine statement piece in a premium home gym.

Best full-body, low-impact: TRUE RŌ Rower

The TRUE RŌ Rower (around £2,394) is our pick for complete, joint-friendly cardio. It works your whole body in one smooth stroke, suits every fitness level, and is built to a premium standard that makes cheap rowers feel like toys. For one machine that trains everything without impact, it's hard to beat.

Best low-impact steady cardio: Star Trac 4CT Cross Trainer

For long, smooth, zero-impact sessions, the Star Trac 4CT Cross Trainer (from around £2,681) brings genuine commercial elliptical performance into a home-friendly footprint — ideal for joint-sensitive users and anyone who wants to train long without pounding their joints.

How to choose the right machine for you

Three quick questions settle it:

1. What's your main goal? For fat loss and conditioning in minimum time, an air bike or stair climber. For running fitness, a treadmill. For full-body, joint-friendly training, a rower. For long, comfortable steady-state, a cross trainer. Buy for the training you'll actually do most.

2. How are your joints? If impact is a concern, prioritise low-impact machines — air bike, rower, cross trainer or stair climber — over running. All of these let you train hard without the pounding of a treadmill.

3. How much space do you have? Air bikes and rowers have the smallest footprints (and rowers fold away). Treadmills, stair climbers and cross trainers need more dedicated floor and, for stair climbers, ceiling height. Measure before you buy — we cover room planning in our home gym setup guide.

How many cardio machines do you need?

For most home gyms, one well-chosen machine is plenty — pick the one that matches your main goal and use it consistently. If you've got the space and budget, a sensible pairing is one high-intensity machine (air bike or stair climber) plus one low-impact endurance machine (rower or cross trainer), which covers the full range of cardio training. Don't buy three machines you'll rotate through and neglect — buy one or two you'll genuinely use.

Setting it up right

A premium machine deserves a proper spot.

Give it a permanent home. Cardio gets used when it's set up and ready, not when it has to be dragged out. Dedicate the floor space so there's no friction to starting a session.

Put rubber flooring underneath. It protects your floor, dampens noise and vibration, and keeps heavy machines stable. It's part of the setup, not an extra.

Mind the power and ceiling. Motorised treadmills and stair climbers need a nearby socket; stair climbers and treadmills need clear height. Check both before delivery day.

For the full picture on how cardio fits your wider gym — flooring, layout, strength and recovery — see our complete home gym setup guide.

Mistakes to avoid

1. Buying a cheap home machine for daily use. Lightweight treadmills and ellipticals aren't built for everyday training and wear out fast. For a gym you'll use for years, commercial-grade build pays for itself.
2. Choosing on price, not goal. The best machine is the one you'll use most. Match it to your actual training, not the lowest sticker price.
3. Ignoring impact. If your knees or hips complain, a treadmill may not be the answer — a rower, air bike or cross trainer trains you hard without the pounding.
4. Forgetting the floor. Hard floors transmit noise and vibration and let machines shift. Rubber flooring fixes all three.
5. Buying too many machines. One or two you use beats three you neglect. Start with your main goal and add only if you'll truly use it.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best cardio machine for a home gym in the UK?
It depends on your goal. For conditioning and fat loss in minimum time and space, an air bike like the Attack Air Bike is the best all-rounder. For running, a curved treadmill. For the toughest lower-body cardio, a StairMaster stair climber. For full-body, low-impact training, a rower. Buy for the training you'll do most.

Are air bikes better than treadmills for home?
They train different things. Air bikes are more compact, low-impact and brilliant for short intense conditioning; treadmills are for running fitness and need more space. If you want maximum results in minimum space, an air bike usually wins. If running is your goal, a treadmill.

Is a curved treadmill worth the extra money?
For serious runners, yes. A self-powered curved treadmill gives a more natural stride and a harder workout than a motorised belt, and with no motor there's far less to maintain or break. It's a buy-it-once machine for a runner's home gym.

What cardio machine burns the most calories?
Air bikes and stair climbers are among the most demanding — both let you work at very high intensity. The "most calories" machine is ultimately the one you'll push hardest on and use most consistently.

Do I need more than one cardio machine?
Most home gyms are well served by one well-chosen machine. If you have the space, pairing a high-intensity machine (air bike or stair climber) with a low-impact endurance machine (rower or cross trainer) covers everything.

Ready to choose your cardio machine?

Cardio is the equipment you'll use most, so buy the machine that matches your goal and your space — and buy it built to last. Decide air bike, treadmill, stair climber, rower or cross trainer based on how you actually want to train, invest in commercial-grade build, and give it a permanent home.

Browse the full cardio collection to compare, or read our complete home gym setup guide to see how cardio fits the whole room. Not sure which machine suits your goals or your space? Get in touch — we'll help you choose right first time.

Pro Gym Essentials — premium home and commercial gym equipment, delivered across the UK.