Best Folding Rowing Machine in the UK (2026)

My pick: the Xterra ERG780. It is an air rower at around £449 from Fitness Superstore or £499 from Sweatband (checked 30 Oct 2026). It folds for vertical storage, weighs 26 kg and takes 150 kg, so it is the closest I can find to a proper erg that also packs away.

For a cheaper folder, look at the Viavito Sumi, at around £169 from Sweatband.

This guide is based on manufacturer specs, retailer listings and rowing knowledge, not hands-on testing. See the about page.

What “folding” means

It is worth being clear, because the term covers three different things:

• Folds upright. The machine stands on its end. This saves floor area, but it is tall. Decathlon’s 500-series rower folds to 145 cm high.
• Folds in half. The rail hinges so the machine is shorter, but you still have a large block. The ProForm Pro R10 folds to 104 x 56 x 119.5 cm.
• Collapses flat or small. Rare, and usually the cheapest machines, such as the Domyos Folding Rowing Machine 100.

Check which one suits your space. A machine that is 110 cm long folded is not much use in a cupboard that is 90 cm deep.

The shortlist

Best overall: Xterra ERG780

On the spec sheet:

• Air resistance, 244 x 51 cm set-up size
• Folds for vertical storage
• 26 kg
• 150 kg maximum user weight
• 4-inch LCD, Bluetooth, XF Connect and Kinomap

Xterra’s spec sheet does not give the folded size or warranty, so get both from the seller.

At 26 kg it is the same weight as a Concept2 RowErg, which tells you it is a lighter build than most of the other folders on this list. That helps when you tilt it up. It is not a sign of poor quality; it is a lighter frame.

The air resistance means it is louder than a magnetic folder. I have no decibel figures, so treat that as a rule of thumb from how fans work, not a measurement. The 4-inch screen is small and the monitor will not give scores you can compare with Concept2 rankings.

Do not buy it if you need quiet, or if the folded size does not fit under your stairs or in your cupboard.

For more air rowers see the under £500 guide.

Best compact budget: Viavito Sumi

Around £169 at Sweatband (checked 30 Oct 2026). A folding magnetic rower with no subscription. I have no confirmed folded size, weight limit or warranty for it, so get all three from the seller before you buy.

The likely weak points on a machine like this are a lower weight limit and a short rail. That matters if you are tall. A rower’s legs need rail to extend along, so check the rail length first.

Do not buy it if you are tall or heavy, or if you plan to row hard five days a week.

Best quiet folder: Echelon Row

From around £599 direct from Echelon UK (checked 30 Oct 2026). Magnetic and folding. I have no confirmed size or weight limit for it, so check both before you buy.

The classes need the Premier membership, which is optional. Multiply the monthly fee by 36 for a three-year cost, and skip it if you can row without classes. Without it you have a quiet, folding magnetic rower for the machine price alone.

Do not buy it if you want the classes without monthly fees.

Best with classes: ProForm 750R

Around £699 at Fitness Superstore (checked 30 Oct 2026). It folds, measures 216 x 55 cm and weighs about 45 kg. John Lewis does not list the folded size or weight limit, so check both.

iFIT costs extra. The Pro R10 at around £999 folds to 104 x 56 x 119.5 cm and has a 10-inch touchscreen, and its iFIT content needs a subscription on top of the machine.

Do not buy it if you are not going to pay for iFIT.

Also worth a look: Domyos Training Rower 900

Around £600 at Decathlon (checked 30 Oct 2026). A magnetic rower. I have no confirmed weight limit or folded height for it, so check both on the listing. If it stores upright, measure your ceiling first.

Best air and magnet hybrid: JTX Freedom Air

£399 direct from JTX (checked 30 Oct 2026). I’d avoid it if you cannot confirm the folded size, and expect it to be louder than a magnetic-only folder. For the checks that apply to any cheaper air rower, see our guide to the JTX Ignite Air.

Smallest of all: Domyos Folding Rowing Machine 100

Around £100 at Decathlon (checked 30 Oct 2026), down from around £200 at the time of checking, and labelled “Last chance”. Decathlon’s support page gives a 110 kg maximum user weight, with 5 years on the structure and 2 years on other parts.

This is for light activity, not training. It can be a sensible stop-gap if you have nowhere else to put a rower.

Do not buy it if you want to train properly.

One more to consider: Domyos Woodrower

The Domyos Woodrower 3-in-1 is £899.99 at Decathlon (checked 30 Oct 2026). It is a self-powered rower with motorised magnetic resistance and a 130 kg limit, according to Decathlon’s support page. It is an option if you want a wooden look without a water tank, but I have no confirmed folded size, so measure before you order.

An alternative to folding: the Concept2

The Concept2 RowErg does not fold, but it splits in two without tools to 63.5 x 83.8 x 137.2 cm. At around £990 that is a real alternative for people who can spend more. Read the RowErg review to see if it suits you.

Things folding does not fix

Length in use. A folding rower still needs its full length when you row. The ERG780 is 244 cm long in use. Folding changes where it lives, not where you row.

Weight. Folding machines need lifting, tilting or wheeling. The heavier the machine, the harder the stairs, so the 26 kg ERG780 is simpler than most.

Stability and wear. A hinge is an extra joint that can loosen. I have no failure data, so this is a general point about moving parts, and the reason to check warranty lengths. The Domyos Woodrower has 5 years on the structure.

Fit for tall rowers. Short, compact frames tend to mean short rails. If you are tall, a 244 cm machine like the ERG780 or Concept2 is more likely to suit you than a compact one.

Noise and neighbours. Folding does not make a machine quieter. See air vs water vs magnetic for how resistance type affects that.

How to choose

Measure the space you will use for folded storage, not just the room. Also check how you will carry the machine up stairs. Our small spaces guide covers upright-storing water rowers, the beginners guide covers first purchases, and the main best rowing machine guide puts these in context. Once it is set up, learn the drag factor so your resistance settings make sense, and browse the rowing machines hub for more.