Under-desk bikes and under-desk ellipticals both let you keep your legs moving while you sit and work. A bike has pedals that turn in a circle, so your knees rise and fall with each stroke. An elliptical has two flat foot platforms that glide in a long, flattened loop, so your feet move forward and back more than up and down.
The short answer: buy an under-desk elliptical if your desk is low, you want the smoothest, gentlest motion, or you’ll mostly move lightly while you work. Buy an under-desk bike if you have plenty of knee room and want a harder leg workout with a familiar pedaling feel. The top models in each category cost about the same, around $160 to $200.
Under-desk bike vs. under-desk elliptical
| Spec | Under-desk bike | Under-desk elliptical |
|---|---|---|
| Motion | Circular pedaling | Flattened, gliding loop |
| Knee rise | More, so it needs more desk clearance | Less, so it fits under lower desks |
| Feet | Strapped to small pedals | Resting on wide flat platforms |
| Workout feel | More like riding a bike | Smoother, gliding feel |
| Our pick | DeskCycle 2, about $160 | Cubii JR1, about $170 |
| Also consider | Sunny Smart Mini Cycle, about $70 | DeskCycle Ellipse, about $200 |
Best under-desk bike
DeskCycle 2 Under-Desk Bike
An under-desk bike with 8 magnetic resistance levels up to 39 lb and an adjustable 9 to 10-inch height.
Best under-desk elliptical
Cubii JR1 Under-Desk Elliptical
A compact seated elliptical with 8 resistance levels and an LCD tracker, with more than 17,000 Amazon ratings.
Motion and Desk Clearance
This is the biggest practical difference. On an under-desk bike, your knees rise at the top of every pedal stroke, so a low desk can leave them bumping the underside. That’s why the DeskCycle 2 lets you lower it to 9 inches, which DeskCycle says fits desks as low as 27 inches.
An under-desk elliptical moves your feet in a longer, flatter path, so your knees don’t rise as high. The DeskCycle Ellipse even lets you change the shape of the motion by where you put your feet: toward the top of its long pedals for more up-and-down movement, or toward the bottom for a more horizontal stride.
If you’re not sure you have room, measure from the floor to the underside of your desk and raise one knee as if pedaling. If there’s little clearance, choose an elliptical. If your desk is adjustable, our desk height calculator can help you find a typing height first.
Resistance and Workout Intensity
Under-desk bikes generally offer the harder workout. The DeskCycle 2 has 8 magnetic resistance levels up to 39 pounds and a heavy flywheel, so at its top settings it feels like a real leg workout. The pedals also have straps, so you can pull up as well as push down.
Ellipticals tend to feel smoother. The Cubii JR1 has 8 resistance levels, and the DeskCycle Ellipse has 8 magnetic levels. Both suit steady movement during work, and their higher settings still add real effort.
What the Research Says
No study has compared an under-desk bike with an under-desk elliptical directly, but each has been studied on its own.
Calories: in a 2019 study in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 16 office workers pedaling a pedal desk at their own pace while typing burned about 1.2 to 1.3 more calories per minute than sitting and typing. In a 2017 study in the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 20 older adults using a portable seated elliptical while reading, watching TV, or using a computer burned about 1.4 more calories per minute at their own pace with no added resistance, and about 2.2 more at a set pace with resistance. The researchers estimated that an hour of easy pedaling matched the energy of walking about 1.6 miles. The two studies used different groups and setups, so treat the numbers as similar rather than comparable.
Work performance: a 2023 experiment in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that 96 inactive adults typed, read, and solved problems just as well while pedaling lightly as while sitting still. Our DeskCycle 2 review covers that study and others on under-desk pedaling in more detail.
Circulation: a 2024 study in the same journal had 18 young adults sit for three hours. Short bouts on a seated elliptical prevented a sitting-related rise in arterial wave reflection, a measure of blood vessel function that worsens with prolonged sitting, while periodic standing breaks did not.
Comfort and Joints
A 2019 study in Applied Ergonomics compared two hours of under-desk cycling with two hours of just sitting. The cycling group reported more knee and ankle discomfort, and slightly slower reaction times on a sustained-attention task, with no clear benefit on the other measures.
That doesn’t mean an elliptical is easier on the knees, since it wasn’t tested the same way. But the elliptical’s flatter motion is a reasonable choice if pedaling bothers your knees. With either type, start with short sessions and lower resistance, move your chair so your knees aren’t fully bent at the top of the stroke, and take breaks.
Motorized Under-Desk Ellipticals
Some cheaper under-desk ellipticals, like Merach’s at about $90, have a motor that moves your legs for you, with speed settings and automatic programs. They’re aimed at older adults and people recovering from injury who want gentle, assisted movement. Because the motor does the work, they’re not a substitute for pedaling under your own power if exercise is the goal.
Our Picks
The DeskCycle 2 is the under-desk bike to get. Its magnetic resistance is quiet, its flywheel keeps the stroke smooth, and its adjustable height helps with clearance. Read our full DeskCycle 2 review.
The Cubii JR1 is the most popular under-desk elliptical, with more than 17,000 Amazon ratings and a 4.6-star average. It’s compact, at about 23 by 18 inches and 10 inches tall.
The DeskCycle Ellipse costs about $200 and adds magnetic resistance, a detachable display you can set on your desk, and long pedals that let you change the motion.
Best magnetic elliptical
DeskCycle Ellipse
An under-desk elliptical with 8 magnetic resistance levels, long adjustable-stride pedals, and a detachable display.
On a budget, the Sunny Smart Mini Cycle costs about $70 and works for your arms on a table as well as your legs under a desk, though it’s lighter and simpler than the DeskCycle.
Which Should You Buy?
- Buy an under-desk elliptical like the Cubii JR1 if your desk is low, you want a smooth and gentle motion, or you’ll use it mainly for light movement while you work.
- Buy an under-desk bike like the DeskCycle 2 if you have room for your knees and want a harder leg workout.
- Buy a motorized elliptical only if you need assisted movement for mobility or rehab.
If you’d rather stand, see our guide to the best walking pads and under-desk treadmills, or our Sunny mini stepper review for another compact option.
