Rowing Machine NerdThe Best Air Rowing Machines
Air rowers are the choice of serious trainers, and for good reason: the resistance scales infinitely with how hard you pull, so you can never outgrow them, and they produce the most accurate, comparable performance data of any resistance type. The damper lever changes how the air feels rather than the difficulty - your effort sets the intensity.
The one real downside is noise: the spinning fan makes a clear whoosh that gets louder the harder you go, which can be an issue in shared spaces. If you can live with that, this is the category that delivers the best workout and the best data. Here are the air rowers worth buying.
Our top picks at a glance
- Best Air Rower Overall: Concept2 Model D (~$990)
- Best for Taller & Less Mobile Rowers: Concept2 Model E (~$1,200)
- Best Value Air Rower: Xebex Air Rower (~$749)
- Best for CrossFit & Commercial Use: Assault AirRower Elite (~$1,499)
- Best Budget Air Rower: Xterra ERG500 Air Turbine Rower (~$499-$699)
Concept2 Model D
Air rower · ~$990
Best for: Serious and data-driven rowers, and anyone who wants to buy one machine for life.
The Concept2 Model D isn't just the best air rower - it's the best rower, period, and it's an air machine. Gold-standard PM5 data, air resistance that scales forever, a build that runs for a decade-plus, an open and free app ecosystem, and resale value that holds 75-85% of new. At around $990 it's the safest purchase in home cardio.
If you're shopping air rowers at all, this is the default. The only reasons to pick another machine on this list are a need for a higher seat (the Model E), a tighter budget (the Xebex or XTERRA), or specific commercial features.
Read our full Concept2 Model D review
Concept2 Model E
Air rower · ~$1,200
Best for: Taller, heavier, or less mobile rowers who want Concept2's proven performance with an easier-to-mount elevated seat.
The Model E is the same air rower as the Model D with a higher 20-inch seat, making it noticeably easier to get on and off. For taller rowers, heavier rowers, or anyone with knee, hip, or mobility concerns, that elevated seat is worth the roughly $200-300 premium.
Just buy it for the seat height, not for a quality upgrade - the monitor, flywheel, data, and durability are identical to the cheaper Model D.
Read our full Concept2 Model E review
Xebex Air Rower
Air rower · ~$749
Best for: Home and garage-gym users who want a sturdy, high-weight-capacity air rower and are willing to step up from entry-level machines without paying Concept2 prices.
The Xebex Air Rower is the best way to get real air resistance for a few hundred dollars less than a Concept2. A heavy steel frame rated to 500 lb, smooth air resistance with a 10-position damper, and a fold-in-half design make it a great garage-gym choice around $749.
The proprietary console data won't compare to the global Concept2 standard, and the base model lacks Bluetooth (the Smart Connect version adds it). But on value, it's the closest honest rival to the benchmark.
Read our full Xebex Air Rower review
Assault AirRower Elite
Air rower · ~$1,499
Best for: Buyers wanting a rugged, commercial-grade air rower for hard interval training who care more about durability and comfort than connected apps or coaching content.
The Assault AirRower Elite is built for the box and the garage gym that trains hard - a rugged, commercial-minded air rower designed to take heavy, repeated use. If your training is interval- and conditioning-heavy and you want a tank of a machine, it's a serious option.
It's pricier than the Xebex and still doesn't unseat the Concept2 on data portability and resale, but for buyers who specifically want Assault's commercial pedigree, it delivers.
Read our full Assault AirRower Elite review
Xterra ERG500 Air Turbine Rower
Air rower · ~$499-$699
Best for: Beginner to intermediate home exercisers who want an affordable air rower for general fitness without caring about app connectivity.
The XTERRA ERG500 is the budget entry into air resistance, around $599. You get the effort-scaling feel that defines the category at a price well below the Concept2 and Xebex, which makes it a sensible pick for a cost-conscious buyer who specifically wants air.
Expect a more basic build and monitor than the machines above it, but the fundamental air-rowing experience is there for less.
Read our full Xterra ERG500 Air Turbine Rower reviewThe bottom line
In air rowers, the decision tree is unusually simple: buy the Concept2 Model D unless you need a higher seat (Model E) or a lower price (Xebex, then XTERRA ERG500), or you specifically want Assault's commercial build. The Concept2 is the benchmark for a reason.
Whatever you choose, the trade-off is the same across the category - the best workout and data in rowing, at the cost of fan noise. If that noise is a dealbreaker in your home, look at our magnetic and water guides instead.
References
- What Damper Setting and Drag Factor to Use on the Concept2 RowErg - Concept2
- Understanding Splits - Concept2
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best air rowing machine?
- The Concept2 Model D (RowErg) - it's the best air rower and the best rower overall, thanks to its gold-standard PM5 data, effort-scaling air resistance, decade-plus durability, and strong resale value, all for around $990.
- Why are air rowers so loud?
- The resistance comes from a spinning fan (flywheel) that pushes air, and that fan produces a whoosh that gets louder the harder you pull. It's inherent to the design. If quiet matters most, a magnetic or water rower is a better fit.
- What damper setting should I use on an air rower?
- Lower than most beginners think - usually 3 to 5. The damper controls airflow and feel, not difficulty; your effort sets the intensity. Cranking it to 10 just makes the stroke feel heavy and can strain your form.
Jordan Lockwood (BSc, CPT)
Certified personal trainer (CPT), sports-science graduate, and lifelong rower. Jordan writes and reviews every guide on Rowing Machine Nerd.