Best Cross Trainer UK: 5 Top Home Ellipticals for 2026

A cross trainer is one of the most practical ways to get a full-body cardio workout at home without hammering your joints. Because your feet stay on the pedals throughout, an elliptical cross trainer is low impact, so it suits sore knees, bad hips and anyone easing back into exercise, while still working the legs, arms and core at the same time. The catch is that cross trainer machines vary a lot in flywheel weight, stride length and build quality, and a cheap one can feel jerky and short-strided. Below are five of the best home cross trainers you can buy in the UK right now, ranked and matched to different budgets and needs.

1. JLL CT300 Elliptical Cross Trainer: Best Overall

The JLL CT300 is our pick for the best cross trainer in the UK for most people, and it is consistently one of the best-reviewed home models on Amazon UK. It uses a two-way flywheel (about 5.5kg) with eight levels of magnetic resistance, so you can pedal forwards or backwards and the motion stays smooth and quiet. You get dual handlebars, an LCD console that tracks speed, distance, time, calories and heart rate via hand sensors, a tablet holder and transport wheels, with assembly that most owners find straightforward. It suits beginners and intermediate users in flats and spare rooms who want a dependable machine under £400.

The honest downside is the maximum user weight of around 100kg and a fixed, fairly compact stride, so very tall or heavier users may find it cramped and should size up to one of the picks below. For everyone else it is hard to beat at the price.

Check price on Amazon

2. Reebok FR30 Magnetic Elliptical Cross Trainer: Best Premium

If you want a more capable, better-connected machine, the Reebok FR30 is the standout big-brand option. It runs a heavier 9kg flywheel for a smoother, more consistent feel, a longer 15 inch stride, 32 levels of electronic resistance, 18 pre-set programmes and three target modes, plus Bluetooth and an LED touchscreen so you can pair fitness apps and a tablet holder for entertainment. It suits regular users who train several times a week and want more challenge and a longer, more natural stride than budget models allow.

The downside is price and footprint: it costs significantly more than the JLL and the powered console and heavier flywheel make it a larger, less easily tucked-away machine. If you have the space and budget, it is the most polished pick here.

Check price on Amazon

3. HOMCOM Elliptical Cross Trainer: Best Budget

For the smallest possible outlay, the HOMCOM Elliptical Cross Trainer is our budget pick. Often priced around £140, it gives you eight levels of magnetic resistance, an LCD monitor showing time, speed, distance, calories and heart rate, hand pulse sensors and two transport wheels, all in a compact frame that fits small homes. It suits students, first-time buyers and anyone who wants to get moving a few times a week without spending much.

Be realistic about what a budget cross trainer delivers: the flywheel and stride are shorter than the pricier picks, so the motion is less fluid and taller users will feel it. For light, occasional cardio though, it is genuinely good value.

Check price on Amazon

4. MERACH Long Stride Cross Trainer: Best for Weight Loss and Tall Users

The MERACH Long Stride is the machine to choose if your main goal is losing weight or you are simply too tall for most home ellipticals. Its big advantage is the 47cm (18.5 inch) stride, which suits users from 1.5m all the way to 2.2m, so taller riders finally get a full, natural stride instead of the cramped shuffle most home machines force on them. The multi-grip handlebars let you shift the emphasis between legs, core and glutes, and the 180kg weight capacity, double-thickness high-strength steel frame and four adjustable stabilisers keep it planted when you push hard.

It pairs a 17.6lb (8kg) flywheel with 16 levels of electromagnetic resistance set by a knob, and it runs below 20dB, so it is quiet enough for a flat. The neatest touch is the self-generating power system: it needs no mains socket, so you can put it in a garage, a garden room or on a balcony. The large LCD tracks time, distance, calories and speed, it arrives 80% pre-assembled and takes under 20 minutes to set up, and transport wheels make it easy to move.

The catch is the price. At around £520 it costs noticeably more than our top pick, and at 148.8cm long by 56.6cm wide it needs dedicated floor space. There is also no incline adjustment, so if varying the gradient matters to you, you will need to look further up the market. For tall users and serious training, though, the extra stride and capacity are worth it.

Check price on Amazon

5. Aeriflo M100 Elliptical Cross Trainer: Best Mid-Range

The Aeriflo M100 sits neatly between the budget and premium picks. It pairs an 8kg balanced flywheel with 16 levels of magnetic resistance set by a tension knob, giving a smoother ride than the cheapest machines while keeping things simple and affordable. The 42cm (16.5 inch) stride is far closer to a natural walking gait than the short, choppy motion of a sub-£150 trainer, and it runs under 20dB, so an early session will not wake the house.

It suits buyers who want a genuine step up in feel without paying for a powered console. The reinforced steel frame and wide base take users up to 150kg (23.6 stone), four adjustable floor levellers keep it steady on uneven floors, and it arrives 80% pre-assembled for a roughly 20 minute setup. Bluetooth connects it to Kinomap for real-world routes, and the LCD console covers time, distance, speed and calories. Aeriflo is a smaller name than Reebok or JLL, but it sells direct in the UK and commits to long-term spare parts availability, which matters more than the badge on a machine you plan to keep for years.

The honest trade-off is that the manual tension knob and simple LCD mean it is not as feature-rich as the FR30, and there is no incline or hand pulse sensor. As a no-fuss, reliable mid-range elliptical cross trainer, it does the job well.

Check price on Amazon

Which cross trainer should you buy?

We compared the most popular and best-reviewed home cross trainers in the UK, and these five cover every budget and need. Here is the quick summary:

• Best overall: the JLL CT300 is the smart default for most homes, with a smooth two-way flywheel and a sensible price under £400.
• Best premium: the Reebok FR30 is the most polished pick, with a heavier flywheel, longer stride, 32 resistance levels and Bluetooth.
• Best budget: the HOMCOM Elliptical covers the basics well for light use at around £140.
• Best for weight loss and tall users: the MERACH Long Stride has a 47cm stride that suits users up to 2.2m, plus a 180kg capacity and 16 electromagnetic resistance levels.
• Best mid-range: the Aeriflo M100 is a simple, reliable step up from the cheapest machines, with an 8kg flywheel and a 42cm stride.

If you are still weighing up your cardio options, it is worth comparing a cross trainer against other home machines. Our guides to exercise bikes, rowing machines and treadmills can help, and you can browse all our cross trainer reviews for more detail. Pairing any of these with sensible nutrition will get you results far faster than the machine alone.

We hope this guide helps you find the right cross trainer. If you have a question about any of the machines above, leave a comment and one of our team will get back to you.

Recommended reads

• JLL CT300 Elliptical Cross Trainer Review
• All Cross Trainer Reviews
• Best Exercise Bike UK