Best Rowing Machine UK (2026): Concept2 RowErg or TRUE RŌ for Home and Commercial Gyms?
The best rowing machine for most UK home gyms is the Concept 2 RowERG: an air rower with the PM5 monitor that every indoor rowing score is measured on, from £1,095. For a studio, hotel or mixed-ability gym that wants a magnetic resistance setting a coach can set and repeat, the TRUE RŌ Rower at £2,394 is worth considering.
The short answer: buy the RowErg if you train to numbers, want the lowest cost per machine or need it to store away in two pieces. Choose tall legs (£1,285) if getting down to a 36cm seat is awkward. Buy the TRUE RŌ if several people of different abilities share one machine and you want ten magnetic resistance levels working alongside the fan.
Key takeaways
- The Concept 2 RowERG is the default home choice. It costs £1,095 with standard legs or £1,285 with tall legs, runs on batteries and splits into two halves for storage.
- The TRUE RŌ Rower suits mixed-ability studios and shared floors. At £2,394 it adds a magnetic brake to the fan, giving ten resistance levels on top of the fan's effort-driven resistance, and tilts upright to store.
- Length is the constraint on every rower. Concept2 recommends a clear area of 274 × 122cm for the RowErg; TRUE lists the RŌ at 239cm long in use.
- Most of the work comes from the legs. British Rowing's indoor rowing advice puts the split at 60% legs, 30% body and 10% arms.
- Neither machine needs a mains socket. The RowErg's PM5 runs on two D-cell batteries and the flywheel; the RŌ's console is self-generating.
Which rowing machine should you buy in the UK?
Decide on who will use it and how they train. Our rowing range is deliberately short: the Concept 2 RowERG in two leg heights, and the TRUE RŌ Rower.
| If you are… | Buy | Price |
|---|---|---|
| A home rower training to splits, times or online rankings | Concept 2 RowERG, standard legs | £1,095 |
| A home user who finds a low seat hard on knees or hips | Concept 2 RowERG, tall legs | £1,285 |
| A CrossFit box, performance gym or rowing club | Concept 2 RowERG | From £1,095 |
| A studio, hotel or gym with mixed-ability members | TRUE RŌ Rower | £2,394 |
| A home gym that wants rowing, skiing and biking | The Concept 2 Triple | From £3,293 |
The split is about data and control. RowErg scores are comparable with any other RowErg, anywhere. The RŌ trades that for a magnetic level a coach can set and a member can return to.
How do the Concept2 RowErg and TRUE RŌ compare?
They differ most in resistance, storage and price. Specifications below are from Concept2's and TRUE Fitness's current published specifications; prices are from our product pages.
| Concept 2 RowERG (standard legs) | Concept 2 RowERG (tall legs) | TRUE RŌ Rower | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,095 | £1,285 | £2,394 |
| Resistance | Air flywheel, damper lever 1–10 | Air flywheel, damper lever 1–10 | Fan plus magnetic brake, 10 levels |
| Monitor | PM5 | PM5 | 7" backlit LCD |
| Power | Two D-cell batteries, plus flywheel | Two D-cell batteries, plus flywheel | Self-generating |
| Length × width in use | 244 × 61cm | 244 × 61cm | 239 × 61cm |
| Recommended clear area | 274 × 122cm | 274 × 122cm | Not published; measure length plus room to step on and off |
| Seat height | 36cm | 51cm | 43cm |
| Machine weight | 26kg | 31kg | 58kg |
| Maximum user weight | 227kg (Concept2 testing); 135kg under EN 20957-7 | 227kg (Concept2 testing); 135kg under EN 20957-7 | 160kg |
| Storage | Separates into two pieces, no tools | Separates into two pieces, no tools | Tilts upright, 236cm tall |
Read the user-weight row carefully. Concept2 publishes two figures for the RowErg: 227kg from its own testing and 135kg as tested to the European standard EN 20957-7. Concept2 doesn't specify which to use for a risk assessment; if yours works to the European standard, 135kg is the figure tested against it.
What is the difference between an air rower and a fan-and-magnetic rower?
An air rower's resistance comes from how hard you pull against a spinning fan. A fan-and-magnetic rower adds a brake you set to a numbered level, so the load does not depend on effort alone.
On the RowErg, the damper lever runs from 1 to 10 and changes how much air reaches the flywheel. Concept2's damper setting guidance recommends starting between 3 and 5, and says a higher setting "is not necessarily better, harder, or faster". It also notes that "resistance comes from the users themselves".
The TRUE RŌ adds a second source of resistance. Its ten levels set a magnetic brake that works alongside the fan, so a beginner and an athlete can each start from the right baseline. The fan still responds to effort, so pulling harder still makes the stroke harder at any level. That is useful in a class, where a coach wants everyone on a level they can repeat next week.
Our Concept2 damper setting guide explains which number to use and why drag factor matters more.
What is the best rowing machine for a home gym?
The Concept 2 RowERG, for most homes. It is the lowest-cost rower we sell, needs no socket and splits into two halves to store in a corner.
The PM5 monitor is the other reason. It records the same metrics on every RowErg, so a 2,000m time at home is directly comparable with one in a club or on Concept2's online rankings. Our PM5 monitor guide covers what it shows.
The only real choice is leg height. Standard legs put the seat at 36cm, the position used for testing and competition. Tall legs raise it to 51cm, which makes getting on and off easier; the stroke and data are identical. Our RowErg standard vs tall legs guide covers who benefits.
If rowing is one part of a wider cardio plan, our best cardio machine for a home gym guide compares it with air bikes, treadmills and stair climbers.
What is the best rowing machine for a commercial gym or studio?
It depends on the members. A performance gym, CrossFit box or rowing club usually wants RowErgs, because coaches programme in splits and members compare scores. A studio, hotel or mixed-ability class may suit the TRUE RŌ, where a coach wants to set each member's level. Both are built for commercial use, so the choice comes down to how your members train.
The RŌ's set levels make it easier for a mixed group, and its quick-release foot straps help when someone needs to get out quickly. It tilts upright, so a studio can clear the floor between classes.
For any commercial purchase, check the use class. ISO 20957-7:2024 sets the additional safety requirements and test methods for rowing equipment, covering safety classes H, S and I. Ask which class a machine has been tested to, rather than whether it is "commercial".
Demand for this kind of training is rising. Sport England's Active Lives Adult Survey for November 2024–25 recorded 15.3 million adults in England taking part in fitness activities, up 921,000 on the previous year.
Our guide to planning a commercial cardio floor covers how many rowers a floor needs, and our TRUE Fitness ADX and RŌ review covers the RŌ in more depth.
How much space does a rowing machine need?
Plan on about 2.75m of length and 1.2m of width. Concept2 recommends a clear area of 274 × 122cm to use a RowErg, and its own home gym advice gives the same "approximately nine feet by four feet".
- Concept 2 RowERG: 244 × 61cm assembled, 274 × 122cm clear area. Separated for storage, standard legs take 63.5 × 83.8cm of floor and tall legs 68.6 × 119.4cm, both 137.2cm high.
- TRUE RŌ Rower: 239 × 61cm in use. It tilts upright to 236cm, so check the ceiling before planning to stand it in a corner.
Width matters more than people expect, because your hands and elbows need room either side of the frame. Concept2's home gym guide also advises leaving space around the flywheel so airflow is not blocked.
Our RowErg dimensions and storage guide works through rooms, doors and stairs, and our small-space home gym guide covers tight rooms.
Is a rowing machine a good full-body workout?
Yes. Each stroke drives through the legs, then the body, then the arms, and reverses on the way back.
British Rowing's indoor rowing tips from GB athletes put it simply: "The sequence is key: Legs, body, arms, arms, body, legs." The same piece says 60% of the power comes from the legs, 30% from the body and 10% from the arms.
That makes technique the first thing to learn. GB rower Graham Benton's advice in the same article is to "get the fundamentals right first before you learn too many bad habits".
For volume, the NHS physical activity guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity a week. A rower is one practical way to build that at home.
How are our rowing machines delivered?
Free UK delivery on the Concept 2 RowERG and the TRUE RŌ Rower. Orders are dispatched within 5 working days, with tracking emailed within 24 hours of dispatch, and delivered across UK mainland by our delivery partners. We do not deliver to Northern Ireland.
The Concept 2 RowERG is delivered by our nominated delivery company, who will contact you to book a date; installation is carried out by the same company and arranged directly with them once your order is placed. The TRUE RŌ Rower arrives by courier for self-assembly, or we can arrange delivery with on-site assembly — ask us when you order. Tell us about stairs, lifts or tight hallways when you get in touch.
Equipping a studio or home gym with rowers?
Tell us the room size, how many people will use it and how they train, and we'll recommend the RowErg, the RŌ or a mix. Free UK mainland delivery on orders of £250 or more. Business finance through Vercas Financial on orders of £5,000 or more, for UK limited companies and partnerships of four or more partners.
Shop rowing machines → Call 0333 880 3211on orders of £250 or more Commercial-grade kit
Concept2, TRUE, StairMaster, Jordan Finance available
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Concept2 RowErg worth the money? For most people training at home, yes. At £1,095 it is the lowest-cost rower we sell, it needs no mains socket and it separates into two pieces for storage. Its PM5 monitor measures every session the same way as every other RowErg, so your times can be compared with clubs and Concept2's online rankings.
Why is the TRUE RŌ Rower more expensive than a RowErg? The RŌ adds a magnetic brake to the fan, giving ten magnetic resistance levels on top of the fan's effort-driven resistance. It also tilts upright to store and has quick-release foot straps. Those features matter most on a shared commercial floor; a single home user who trains to numbers usually gets more from the RowErg.
Can a rowing machine go upstairs or in a flat? Usually. Concept2 lists the RowErg at 26kg with standard legs and 31kg with tall legs, spread along a 244cm frame, and it carries in two halves. The TRUE RŌ is heavier at 58kg. For a loft conversion or a floor you are unsure about, have it checked, as you would for heavy furniture.
Do I need standard or tall legs on a RowErg? Standard legs put the seat at 36cm and are the version used for testing and competition. Tall legs raise the seat to 51cm, about the height of a dining chair, which makes getting on and off easier for tall users or anyone with stiff knees or hips. The stroke, flywheel and monitor are the same.
Are rowing machines noisy? Both are fan-based, so you will hear air moving, and a harder stroke is louder. Neither has a motor. A rubber mat underneath reduces vibration through the floor, which matters more in a flat or an upstairs room; our gym flooring guide covers what to put down.
Can I buy rowing machines on business finance? Yes, on equipment orders of £5,000 or more through Vercas Financial, for UK limited companies and partnerships of four or more partners. A single rower does not reach that threshold, but a studio order of several machines, or rowers alongside other equipment, can.
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Pro Gym Essentials — premium home and commercial gym equipment, delivered across UK mainland. Prices taken from our live product pages, 18 October 2026; RowErg specifications checked against Concept2's current RowErg specifications and RŌ specifications against TRUE Fitness's current RŌ specification sheet, 18 October 2026; technique guidance from British Rowing; activity guidelines from the NHS.
