Elliptical Machine Dimensions: Footprint, Stride Length and Ceiling Height
For anyone fitting an elliptical trainer into a spare room, basement or apartment. Overall sizes by drive type, the stride length that matches your height, and the ceiling height an elliptical needs once you stand on the pedals.
A full-size home elliptical is typically 70 to 84 in long (178 to 213 cm), 24 to 32 in wide (61 to 81 cm) and 60 to 73 in tall (152 to 185 cm). Center-drive and compact models are shorter, about 46 to 65 in (117 to 165 cm). Most adults are best served by a 20 in (51 cm) stride.
- Full-size length
- 70-84 in (178-213 cm)
- Width
- 24-32 in (61-81 cm)
- Typical stride
- 18-22 in (46-56 cm)
- Max pedal height
- 13-24 in (33-61 cm)
On this page
Elliptical dimensions by drive type
Where the flywheel sits decides the shape of the machine. A front flywheel or rear flywheel needs long rails for the pedals to travel along; a center drive puts the flywheel under your feet, which makes the machine much shorter.
| Type | Length | Width | Height | Stride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front-drive (most home models) | 70-84 in (178-213 cm) | 24-30 in (61-76 cm) | 60-72 in (152-183 cm) | 18-20 in |
| Rear-drive | 72-84 in (183-213 cm) | 24-32 in (61-81 cm) | 62-73 in (157-185 cm) | 20-22 in |
| Center-drive | 50-65 in (127-165 cm) | 24-30 in (61-76 cm) | 60-66 in (152-168 cm) | 18-20 in |
| Vertical stepper-elliptical (Max Trainer type) | 46-49 in (117-124 cm) | 26-31 in (66-79 cm) | 64-66 in (163-168 cm) | Short, steep path |
| Commercial gym | 78-90 in (198-229 cm) | 28-34 in (71-86 cm) | 63-75 in (160-191 cm) | 20-22 in |
As a published reference point, the Bowflex Max Trainer M6 is listed at 46 × 26 × 64.2 in (117 × 66 × 163 cm). Its low pedal sits 8.5 in off the floor and the pedals move up to 13 in apart vertically. Sole lists its E35 with a 20 in stride. Retailer listings for the same model often disagree by several inches on overall length, so take the dimensions from the manufacturer's manual when a fit is tight.
Stride length: which size fits your height
Stride length is the distance a pedal travels from front to back. Too short and the motion feels choppy and puts you up on your toes; too long and shorter users overreach. There is no formal standard for it, but retailers and manufacturers broadly agree on these bands:
| User height | Stride length |
|---|---|
| Under 5 ft 3 in (160 cm) | 16-18 in (41-46 cm) |
| 5 ft 3 in to 6 ft 2 in (160-188 cm) | 18-20 in (46-51 cm) |
| Over 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | 20-22 in (51-56 cm) |
If several people of different heights share one machine, buy for the tallest; a short user adapts to a 20 in stride far more easily than a tall user adapts to an 18 in one. Some machines offer an adjustable stride (typically about 18 to 22 in, or a range set by incline). Pedal spacing matters as well: wide-set pedals make the hips work sideways, so check the gap between the footplates if you have narrow hips or knee issues.
Ceiling height for an elliptical
An elliptical lifts you higher than a treadmill. At the top of each stroke your foot is on a pedal that may be 13 to 24 in (33 to 61 cm) above the floor, depending on the model's maximum pedal height (sometimes listed as step-up height).
- Find the maximum pedal height. It is in most manuals and spec sheets. Retailers list the Sole E35 at about 23 to 25 in, depending on version. On the Bowflex M6 it is about 21.5 in (8.5 in low pedal plus the 13 in maximum differential).
- Add your height. Use your height with shoes.
- Add about 6 in (15 cm) of headroom. Your head rises and falls slightly, and you need room to stand up straight.
| User height | 16 in pedal height | 20 in pedal height | 24 in pedal height |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 4 in (64 in) | 86 in (7 ft 2 in) | 90 in (7 ft 6 in) | 94 in (7 ft 10 in) |
| 5 ft 10 in (70 in) | 92 in (7 ft 8 in) | 96 in (8 ft) | 100 in (8 ft 4 in) |
| 6 ft 2 in (74 in) | 96 in (8 ft) | 100 in (8 ft 4 in) | 104 in (8 ft 8 in) |
This is the most common reason an elliptical does not work in a basement. A 7 ft (84 in) ceiling is too low for nearly any adult on a full-size machine. In that case, a center-drive model with a low step-up height, a recumbent elliptical or an exercise bike is the better fit.
Floor space around an elliptical
An elliptical has no belt to throw you off, so it does not need the long rear safety zone that a treadmill does. You still need room to mount, dismount and swing the moving arms.
- All sides: ISO 20957-1, the international safety standard for stationary training equipment, defines a free area extending 0.6 m (about 2 ft) beyond the machine's training area. Many home manuals ask for 1.5 to 2 ft (46 to 61 cm) at the sides and rear.
- Example: an 80 × 28 in rear-drive elliptical with 2 ft all round needs 128 × 76 in, or about 10.7 × 6.3 ft (3.3 × 1.9 m).
- Moving arms: the handles sweep 10 in or more forward and back. Keep walls and shelves outside that arc, plus room for your elbows.
- Mounting side: leave the widest gap on the side you step on from.
Compact and under-desk ellipticals
If the room cannot take a 6 to 7 ft machine, there are three smaller options:
Good for
- Center-drive ellipticals (50 to 65 in long): about 20 in shorter than front-drive models with a similar stride.
- Stepper-style trainers (about 46 × 26 in): the smallest standing option, for short, hard intervals.
- Seated mini ellipticals (roughly 20 to 25 in long and 10 to 13 in tall): fit under a desk for low-intensity leg movement.
Watch out for
- Compact machines often have strides of 14 to 16 in, which feels short for anyone over about 5 ft 6 in.
- Stepper-style trainers have high pedal heights, so they do not solve a low-ceiling problem.
- Seated units do not replace a standing elliptical for cardio fitness; check that your desk clears your knees with the pedals at the top.
Weight, delivery and doorways
Home ellipticals weigh about 120 to 250 lb (54 to 113 kg) assembled, and commercial models 300 to 450 lb. They are usually delivered in one large box, often 50 to 75 in long, and assembled in the room. If you must move an assembled machine, measure its width at the widest point, usually across the handlebars or the side rails. A 28 to 32 in machine passes a 36 in doorway, but a narrower 30 to 32 in door may need the arms removed. Interior and exterior door sizes are in the door size guide.
For a room with several cardio and strength machines, the home gym size guide shows how to lay them out. If you are deciding between cardio machines on space alone, a rowing machine needs a long but narrow strip and can be stored upright, while an elliptical needs a wider, shorter area and the most ceiling height.
Frequently asked questions
What size is an elliptical trainer?
Full-size front-drive and rear-drive ellipticals are about 70 to 84 in long, 24 to 32 in wide and 60 to 73 in tall. Center-drive models are 50 to 65 in long, and stepper-style trainers such as the Bowflex Max Trainer M6 are 46 × 26 × 64.2 in (117 × 66 × 163 cm).
How much does an elliptical weigh?
Home ellipticals weigh about 120 to 250 lb (54 to 113 kg); the Bowflex M6 is about 148 lb. Commercial gym ellipticals often weigh 300 to 450 lb (136 to 204 kg). Most have front transport wheels, so one person can tilt and roll them on a hard floor.
Is a 20 inch stride long enough?
For most users up to about 6 ft 2 in, yes. A 20 in (51 cm) stride is the standard on mid-range and many commercial machines. Users taller than that often prefer 21 to 22 in. An 18 in stride suits people under about 5 ft 3 in, and 14 to 16 in strides feel short for nearly everyone.
Can an elliptical fit under an 8 foot ceiling?
Usually, but check. Add your height, the elliptical's maximum pedal height and about 6 in. A 5 ft 10 in user on a machine with 16 in pedals needs 92 in, which fits under 96 in. A 6 ft 2 in user on a 22 in pedal height needs 102 in and does not.