3 Best Ellipticals for Small Apartments in 2026: Cost, Size & Features

Key Takeaways

• Width is what disqualifies most ellipticals from apartment use: standard commercial machines are 30 to 36 inches wide and will not fit along a typical bedroom or living room wall.
• Stride length is the second filter. A shorter stride may feel restrictive for taller users, while an 18- to 20-inch stride gives most adults a more natural elliptical motion.
• The SOLE E25 at $1,299.99 is the best overall pick, fitting a full 20-inch stride into just 24 inches of width, narrower than the SOLE E35 and many commercial competitors.
• The SOLE E35 at $1,699.99 is the better choice if you have 31 inches of width and want a touchscreen; the Sunny SF-E905 at $249.99 only suits users under 5'4".
• SOLE adds quiet magnetic resistance, a 350-pound capacity, the free SOLE+ App, and HSA/FSA eligibility through Truemed.

Which Elliptical Is Best for Small Apartments?

The best elliptical for small apartments is the SOLE E25, which delivers a full 20-inch stride at just 24 inches wide. The 70-inch length matches most ellipticals, but the narrow width saves 6 to 8 inches compared to typical machines, a meaningful difference when positioning equipment along walls or in corners.

The SOLE E35 suits apartment dwellers who want touchscreen streaming and are willing to accommodate an additional 7 inches of width. The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E905 works for shorter users who need the absolute smallest footprint, accepting significant compromises in stride length and durability.

This article covers dimensions, pricing, features, and honest assessments of which apartment dwellers each machine actually serves. 

Smooth, Natural Motion for Every Body. Top-Rated Home Fitness Ellipticals! Choose from 2 Proven Series: E25 or E35 for affordable performance with up to 25 lb flywheels E95, E95S or E98 for premium with touchscreens and adjustable stride Why Choose SOLE Ellipticals: ✓ Whisper-quiet eddy current resistance system ✓ Adjustable pedals prevent foot numbness and discomfort ✓ Heavy-duty steel frame supports up to 400 lbs ✓ Customizable stride lengths fit all user heights ✓ FREE workout classes via SOLE+ app included ✓ FREE curbside shipping nationwide 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: Love it or return it, no questions asked. Shop SOLE Ellipticals Now →

1. SOLE E25: Best Overall Elliptical for Small Apartments

The E25 delivers a full 20-inch stride and 20 power incline levels in one of the narrowest footprints among commercial-grade ellipticals.

Stride, Resistance & Performance

The SOLE E25 delivers a full 20-inch stride that accommodates tall riders without the truncated motion that compact ellipticals produce. Twenty levels of magnetic resistance and 20 levels of power incline adjustment provide a training range from gentle recovery sessions to challenging climbing efforts that fully engage the glutes and hamstrings beyond what flat-stride ellipticals can access. 

The 20-pound flywheel produces a smooth stride motion throughout the range, and the contactless magnetic resistance operates silently at any intensity. The 350-pound weight capacity exceeds that of most residential ellipticals in this size category.

Console & App Connectivity

The LCD console clearly displays speed, time, distance, calories, and heart rate. An integrated tablet holder positions devices to follow the free SOLE+ App-guided workouts. Bluetooth connectivity syncs workout data to the app and pairs with wireless heart rate monitors. 

The free SOLE+ App provides hundreds of guided elliptical and cross-training classes at no ongoing cost, a meaningful advantage over competitors that require subscriptions for equivalent guided content.

Size & Apartment Fit

At 70"L x 24"W x 70"H, the E25 occupies approximately 11.7 square feet at 209 pounds of machine weight. Its 24-inch width is the specification that earns it the small-apartment designation: most commercial-grade ellipticals with a 20-inch stride span 30 to 36 inches, making them impractical in narrow rooms. The front-drive design keeps the overall length manageable relative to rear-drive machines with equivalent stride lengths.

Pricing

The E25 is currently priced at $1,299.99. HSA and FSA purchases are accepted through Truemed, and Citizens Pay financing is available for qualifying buyers.

2. SOLE E35: Best Touchscreen Elliptical for Small Apartments

The E35 adds a 10.1-inch touchscreen with built-in streaming apps and 3-position adjustable pedals, and it requires 7 additional inches of width compared to the E25.

Stride, Resistance & Performance

The SOLE E35 shares the E25's 20-inch stride length and 350-pound weight capacity while upgrading to a 25-pound flywheel that produces noticeably smoother stride momentum across all resistance levels. Twenty resistance levels and 20 power incline levels cover the same training range as the E25. 

The E35's distinctive advantage over the E25 is its 3-position adjustable foot pedals, which allow the foot platform angle to be customized to reduce knee and hip stress that a fixed pedal angle can cause for riders with joint sensitivities.

Console & App Connectivity

The 10.1-inch touchscreen provides direct access to the free SOLE+ App, built-in streaming apps, and screen mirroring from compatible devices. This brings the E35 into the same touchscreen connectivity tier as SOLE's premium bikes, with no subscription fees required to access the full content library of the free SOLE+ App. 

The touchscreen upgrade represents the primary justification for the $400 price difference over the E25 for apartment dwellers who want entertainment integration during longer sessions.

Size & Apartment Fit

At 74"L x 31"W x 70"H, the E35 occupies approximately 16 square feet at 211 pounds. The 7-inch width increase over the E25 is the key trade-off: the E35 is still considerably narrower than most mid-range ellipticals but requires a meaningfully wider clearance than the E25. 

For apartments where 31 inches of width is feasible, the E35's touchscreen and adjustable pedals justify the additional space. For apartments where width is the binding constraint, the E25 remains the more practical choice.

Pricing

The E35 is priced at $1,699.99, a $400 premium over the E25. Truemed processes HSA and FSA payments at checkout, and Citizens Pay financing is on offer for qualifying purchasers.

3. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E905

The SF-E905 is a compact, budget elliptical at $249.99, suited to shorter users with limited space. (Image courtesy of Sunny Health & Fitness)

Stride, Resistance & Performance

The Sunny SF-E905 operates on an 11-inch stride, which defines its entire user profile. For short users with a natural stride length that matches the machine, the SF-E905 produces a smooth, functional, low-impact motion. 

For taller users, the 11-inch stride forces a mechanical shuffling motion that lacks the full hip extension of a proper elliptical movement, reducing both cardiovascular effectiveness and the joint-protective benefit that makes ellipticals the preferred low-impact tool. Eight levels of manual resistance adjustment cover a modest range appropriate for light cardio maintenance and casual use.

Console & Connectivity

The SF-E905 uses a basic LCD display showing time, speed, distance, and calories. There is no Bluetooth, no app connectivity, and no tablet holder. Entertainment during sessions requires a separate device stand. Users can access workouts using the free SunnyFit app, however, a separate device is needed for that.

For users who simply need a quiet, compact machine for light daily movement, the basic console is sufficient; for users who want structured programming, the SF-E905 requires a separate device setup.

Size & Apartment Fit

The SF-E905's compact frame and 11-inch stride produce a significantly smaller footprint than either SOLE model, making it genuinely appropriate for the most space-restricted apartments where even the E25's 24-inch width is too wide. 

At approximately 61 pounds, it is also substantially lighter and easier to reposition; however, the 220-pound weight limit restricts user eligibility compared to the 350-pound weight limit of both SOLE machines.

Pricing

The SF-E905 is priced at $249.99.  It is available through Sunny Health and Fitness and authorized retailers. HSA and FSA eligibility should be confirmed directly with the retailer, as it does not carry the Truemed partnership that both SOLE ellipticals offer.

Note: SOLE does not manufacture or sell the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E905. This is an independent review of a product for comparison purposes. 

How Do the Three Ellipticals Compare?

Why SOLE Is the Smarter Apartment Buy

Width, stride, and noise are the three filters that decide whether an elliptical belongs in an apartment, and only one machine here clears all three. Our SOLE E25 is the right call for most buyers, pairing a 20-inch stride with a 24-inch width, 350-pound capacity, and 20 power incline levels. If you have 31 inches of clearance, our SOLE E35 steps up to a touchscreen and 3-position adjustable pedals. The Sunny SF-E905 only suits users with a stride length under 11 inches, which may not be convenient for taller people.

At SOLE, we build both ellipticals around the realities of apartment life, with whisper-quiet magnetic resistance and belt drives that limit floor-impact noise so you can train without disturbing neighbors. Our free SOLE+ App is included permanently at no subscription cost. Both machines qualify for HSA/FSA funding through Truemed, and every order ships with free curbside delivery and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Shop the SOLE elliptical collection today!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What stride length do I need in an elliptical? 

Most adults between 5'3" and 6'2" need a stride length of at least 18 to 20 inches for a natural, full-range elliptical motion. Shorter users below 5'3" can work comfortably on shorter strides of 14 to 16 inches. The Sunny SF-E905's 11-inch stride is only appropriate for shorter users and primarily suits light casual use rather than structured cardiovascular training.

Is a 24-inch wide elliptical small enough for an apartment? 

The SOLE E25, at 24 inches wide, fits comfortably in most apartment rooms without requiring the rearrangement of major furniture. The minimum recommended room width to use a 24-inch elliptical comfortably with clearance on both sides is approximately 8 feet. For apartments with narrow bedroom or living room dimensions, measuring the specific space before purchase is always recommended.

Can you use an elliptical in an apartment without disturbing neighbors? 

Both SOLE ellipticals use magnetic resistance and belt drive systems that operate at 40 to 55 decibels, quieter than a normal conversation. The main noise concern in apartment use is impact transmission through floors, not the machine's operational noise. Using a thick rubber equipment mat under the elliptical absorbs vibration and significantly reduces impact noise reaching the floor below.

Do SOLE ellipticals require a subscription? 

No. Both the SOLE E25 and E35 include the free SOLE+ App permanently with no subscription fees. The E35's built-in streaming apps, including Netflix and YouTube, operate on their own subscriptions if applicable, but the SOLE+ App's full guided workout library is included at no ongoing cost with your purchase.

 

*Disclaimer: Products and prices mentioned in this article are accurate as of the date of publication and are subject to change. Please visit the official SOLE website for the most current information.