Best BudgetRank #5 in Rowing Machines
Sunny Health & Fitness Smart Magnetic Rower (SF-RW524079)
by Sunny Health & FitnessBuy next
Score
Every other rower ranked here is a four-figure machine, which left the category with nothing to point a first-time buyer at. This is that machine: a dual-rail magnetic rower with sixteen resistance levels, a 45.7-inch slide rail and a 300 lb frame rating, at roughly a fifth of what the top of this page costs. Magnetic resistance does not load harder the faster you pull, so it will never feel like a RowErg and it cannot give you a comparable split — but it is quiet enough for an apartment, it stores on end, and the stroke is smooth. Treat it as the honest entry point, not as a cheaper Concept2.
- A first rower, where the real alternative is not rowing at all
- Apartments and shared walls — magnetic braking is near-silent next to an air rower
- Rowers up to about 6 ft 4 in, thanks to the 45.7-inch rail
- Anyone who wants the movement pattern for conditioning rather than a benchmarkable split
- You want a comparable split, a watt figure or a leaderboard — that needs the air or water machines ranked above
- You intend to row long, hard sessions several times a week; a 41 lb frame is not built for that duty cycle
- You are near the 300 lb capacity, where a heavier frame is the safer buy
- You want a rower that will still be the right machine in five years
About 5.5 x 2 ft of clear floor in use, plus roughly 2 ft behind the seat for the recovery. Stores on end in a footprint of about 19 x 27 inches against a wall.
easy — One person, roughly 30-45 minutes. The rail, monitor mast and stabilisers bolt on with the supplied hardware; the drive is pre-assembled. Level the front and rear stabilisers before the first session or the rail will rock on an uneven floor.
Cardio comes after the strength foundation for most home gyms, and a budget rower is the cheapest way to add a full-body low-impact option.
Strengths
- ↑16 levels of magnetic resistance, adjusted by dial rather than by damper
- ↑45.7-inch rail with a 40.9-inch maximum inseam, which fits taller rowers than most budget rowers do
- ↑Quiet enough for shared walls and upstairs rooms — magnetic braking, no fan noise
- ↑Stores vertically, and the frame is rated to 300 lb
- ↑Free SunnyFit app connection for metrics and guided sessions, with no subscription required to use the machine
- ↑Rating volume runs to five figures, which is unusual anywhere in this category
Weaknesses
- ↓Magnetic resistance is fixed per level — it does not scale with how hard you pull, so the stroke never loads like air or water
- ↓No comparable split or watt figure, so you cannot benchmark against a Concept2 or a class leaderboard
- ↓Frame and rail are lighter than the machines ranked above it; heavier rowers will feel more flex
- ↓Warranty is 3 years on the frame and 180 days on parts, not the multi-year cover the premium rowers carry
Full specs
- Resistance
- Magnetic, 16 levels
- Slide rail
- 45.7 in
- Max inseam
- 40.9 in
- Weight capacity
- 300 lb
- Dimensions
- 64" D x 19.3" W x 27" H
- Machine weight
- 41.4 lb (18.8 kg)
- Monitor
- LCD, SunnyFit app connection
- Storage
- Vertical
- Warranty
- 3-year frame / 180-day parts (manufacturer-stated)
Full buying guide
Best Rowing Machines for Home Use in 2026
Read the full ranking →Other rowing machines we rate
Ranked alternatives from the same category, with our score and the current price.
The default answer for 40+ years. PM5 monitor, air resistance, 20-year service life. The only rower you see in every CrossFit box, college crew, and Olympic training center.
The rower your designer friend will approve of. Real water tank, ash wood frame, genuinely stunning. Stroke feel is smoother than air, tracking is less precise than Concept2.
The premium guided experience. Magnetic resistance, 22" HD touchscreen, filmed-on-water workouts. Worth it if you'll use the classes — the content is the product.
Game-ified rowing with a water-resistance base. Workouts feel like boat races against AI opponents. Fun for people who hate structured classes.
NordicTrack RW900
The class-driven rower for the iFIT ecosystem. 22" rotating touchscreen, magnetic + air resistance, trainer-controlled drag. The Hydrow alternative if you already pay for iFIT.