Physical Therapists Recommend These Under-Desk Bikes To Stay Active At Home

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Maybe you’re rehabbing an injury, or feeling sluggish from too many “WFH in your pajamas” days. Whatever the reason, it’s sometimes harder than we’d like to admit to keep active. Thankfully, we’re living in a golden age of clever fitness gear and gadgets: Treadmill desks and compact, under-desk treadmills are two options, but we especially love the simplicity, price, and user-friendliness of under-desk exercise bikes.

Like their larger, traditional counterparts, under-desk exercise bikes allow you to pedal away while working, gaming, chatting on Zoom, or any other time where you’d otherwise be inactive at your desk. Physical therapist Jessica Malpelli, DPT, a professional at Florida Orthopaedic Institute, agrees. "Under-desk exercise bikes are excellent options to combat the negative effects of a sedentary job," she says.

Best under-desk bikes

“Mini exercise bikes can serve as a great supplemental option to add to your lifestyle,” says personal trainer Eric Sung, CSCS. Prolonged periods of sitting or being sedentary have been linked to a long list of health concerns. Bottom line: The more you move, the better.

What to consider

Under-desk bikes aren’t especially complicated, but there are a few things to consider when shopping for the right model for you. “I’d recommend looking for one that fits in your space, has an adjustable height and/or resistance with the pedals,” says physical therapist Leada Malek, PT. Also, keep an eye on bikes with adjustable stride speed, removable resistance bands (for working more of your body than just your legs), and low noise levels if you’re working in a shared space.

Size and weight

Portability is key, especially if you plan to take your under-desk workout to various locations. Check the weight of the bike to ensure it's easy to move. It's also a good idea to measure the dimensions and compare them with your desk's height to ensure a proper fit. Keep in mind the clearance for your knees during use.

Adjustable resistance levels

Look for models with adjustable resistance to scale up the intensity of your workouts. This feature is crucial for building strength while pedaling or striding. Ensure your under-desk exerciser allows you to customize your workouts to make them more challenging.

How we selected

Still not sure where to start? Our team of fitness enthusiasts is here to help! Over the last six months, we vetted dozens of under-desk exercise bike models. We researched and compared every feature and spec, including adjustment options, durability, price, ease of use, and bonus features. We also chatted with several certified experts for their pro tips on what to look for. Ultimately, we decided on these nine models as our top picks for the best under-desk bikes worth buying this year.

Under-Desk Bike Pedal Exerciser

When it comes to home fitness equipment, our favorite models are those that don’t overcomplicate things. DeskCycle’s Under-Desk Bike Pedal Exerciser is about as straightforward as it gets. It’s designed to work comfortably from any desk/chair setup. Just sit down, strap your feet into the flat pedals, and cycle away. With up to 40 pounds of resistance, there’s plenty of wiggle room to up your seated exercise routine every day. Malek agrees, citing this as a "great option" for mini-pedalers/bikes.

The design is heavier than most on this list, but that extra heft, coupled with non-slip rubber caps on the ends of each leg, keeps the machine in place. Bonus: This is one of the quietest machines in our roundup—a great feature if you’re working from home with roommates or a significant other who likes you to keep the noise to a minimum. (An adjustable height model is available for $20 more)

Magnetic Under-Desk Mini Bike Pedal Exerciser

The magnetic resistance construction of this under-desk bike makes for whisper-quiet operation, especially compared to most of the other (noticeably louder) models we tested this year. Women's Health writer and tester Mike Richard noted, "My girlfriend and I both work from home, sharing a space pretty much all day. She’s worked out with this Sunny Health & Fitness bike for the last three months, and I’ve barely noticed it at all. Thanks to the magnetic resistance, it’s whisper-quiet, even when she’s going hard!"

Eight levels of resistance provide enough of a range to keep things interesting as you progress through your seated routines. The built-in screen tracks all your workout essentials, including time elapsed, calories burned, speed, and distance.

The larger size of this bike is a pro and a con. It helps keep the bike in place even on slippery floors, especially given its almost 20-pound weight. But that makes it slightly harder to move to your desktop for arm workouts, which this model is capable of. Because it sits so low to the ground, the resistance knob can be a pain to reach, especially for anyone with a limited range of motion or who’s rehabbing an injury.

At around $100, it’s in the midrange of the under-desk bikes we tested this year. It’s not the cheapest nor the most expensive, making it a solid option for anyone looking to upgrade from the most budget-friendly models but who isn’t looking to drop $200-plus on one of the very best under-desk bikes.

Under-Desk Bike Pedal Exerciser

About the size of a 12-inch cube, Himaly’s Under Desk Bike Pedal Exerciser is a great option for compact offices and other tight spaces. It’s small enough to fit under almost any desk, even most writing desks. Plus, its size makes it desktop-friendly, so you can work out not only your legs but your arms too. The fact that it weighs less than eight pounds makes moving it from under-desk to desktop and back again all the easier.

With eight levels of resistance, it offers a solid range to allow you to progress nicely with your daily workout. We also love the built-in LCD screen that keeps track of your total workout time, pedal count, calories burned, and distance traveled. Bonus: It’s available in several colorways, so you can coordinate it with the look of your office space.

Read more: Best Under-Desk Treadmills

Under-Desk Bike Pedal Exerciser

This under-desk exercise bike is another "great option," according to Malek. Not only can you pedal all day long, but the bike includes resistance bands, which are great for upper body mobility and strength. It's a solid, compact device for a full-body workout without stepping away from your desk. With 16 adjustable levels, it offers a wider range of resistance, making it perfect for upping your workout game over time. Another perk? It comes with a floor mat to keep it (and you) from slipping, and the companion training app is great for maximizing your time and workout.

On the downside, it's quite a bit larger than most options in our roundup, so you'll want to double-check that it will physically fit under your desk. It's also pricier than most of our recommendations. Still, it's more full-featured than almost any other under-desk exercise bike at this price point, making this model a great buy!

Under Desk Bike Pedal Exerciser

Quiet? Check. Easy to use? Check. Comfortable? Check. It's even a bit sleek in this black-and-teal colorway. This under-desk bike makes getting your heart rate up while you sit a breeze. The magnetic resistance makes for one of the smoothest strides of any model we tested this year, and it's whisper-quiet, too (important if you're working in a shared office environment). It also features eight resistance levels, allowing for plenty of adjustability in your workouts. Non-slip pedals ensure your feet stay put, even when you're going hard.

It also comes with a built-in LCD monitor to track your exercise time, stride count, and calories burned. It's a bit larger and heavier than others in our roundup, though still plenty portable. Plus, that extra heft helps keep it in place on more slippery surfaces. Bonus points that it arrives mostly assembled!

Stationary Mini Exercise Bike

Using under-desk exercise bikes—even the best under-desk bikes—on non-carpeted floors like wood, vinyl, or linoleum can be tricky. Thankfully, this model comes with a non-slip mesh mat to help keep it in place. In our experience, even with its ultra-lightweight (just 8.5 pounds) construction, the mat does a solid job of keeping it from slipping around.

We also like the included stability strap that affixes to the base of your office chair for added security. The tiny LCD screen is a nice touch, especially at this price range, and keeps tabs on all the metrics that matter: Calories burned, pedal count, distance, and time elapsed. Our only real gripe is that, while the resistance is adjustable, it lacks numeric levels to precisely dial in the level you want. Still, at this price point, we can’t really complain.

Read more: Best Exercise Bikes

Move Under-Desk Elliptical Bike Pedal Exerciser

Who says under-desk bikes have to be bland? Cubii’s Move is the slickest bike in this year’s roundup. It connects with live, on-demand workout classes while at your desk. Each 10-, 20-, or 30-minute class is led by expert trainers, which is great for adding movement to your daily work schedule.

It’s larger and heavier than most other bikes we tested. But all that heft does make it more stable and secure when you’re going hard. Oddly, it lacks foot straps, which seems like a strange oversight on a $200 under-desk bike. However, our test panel found the large pedals to be stable enough to keep it in place.

“My girlfriend suffers from chronic pain and fatigue, and this bike was enough to get her exercising comfortably and safely,” said one tester. “She loves the pro classes, and the fact that it’s quiet, low-impact, and ultra-smooth so it doesn’t put the same stress on her body and joints that, say, a traditional exercise bike would.”

Under-Desk Bike Pedal Exerciser

The great thing about under-desk bikes is that the most basic, entry-level models are extremely affordable. This pedal exerciser from Vaunn Medical is one of the most budget-friendly we tested. The roughly 9,000 five-star ratings also make it one of the best-reviewed under-desk bikes on Amazon. Bonus points for arriving fully assembled!

It’s larger than most in our roundup. Still, the featherweight 5.4-pound frame makes it easy to move from under-desk to desktop to work your upper-body too. It’s a great way to improve blood circulation and strengthen your arms and shoulders. Our only real gripe is the lack of numeric resistance levels, which can make it hard to get the exact intensity you want.

Under-Desk Bike Pedal Exerciser

Wakeman Fitness’ Portable Under-Desk Pedal Machine is one of the most budget-friendly models we tested this year. While it lacks the advanced features of the best, most premium bike models, all the essentials are here. That includes an LCD monitor to track your time, revs per minute, total revolutions, and calories burned.

It’s a little larger than some in our roundup, and the overall height isn’t adjustable. But the sub-six-pound design makes it easy to maneuver when you need to. Setup is a breeze since the unit arrives almost completely assembled. Just adjust the resistance knob to your comfort level, position your feet on the non-slip pedals, strap in, and get going.

Read more: Best Ellipticals

Meet the experts

• Leada Malek is a board-certified Sports Physical Therapist

• Jessica Malpelli, PT, DPT, is a physical therapist at Florida Orthopaedic Institute.

• Eric Sung, CSCS, is a personal trainer in New York, New York.

Do mini exercise bikes work? Are they effective?

The experts we spoke with agree that mini-exercise bikes like under-desk models do work to increase your daily activity. “Not much can replace a solid exercise routine, but an under-desk exercise bike can help you move just a bit more as you sit at your desk," says personal trainer Sung. "Anything that can help you move more than you would have without it, to me, sounds like a step in the right direction."

Malek agrees: “Mini exercise bikes and under-desk bikes can help reduce sedentary activity, which is easy to fall victim to at the desk.” She went on to say that they’re not intense enough to replace legit workouts, but they can still help. She also notes that they’ve. “been shown to enhance cognitive function without detracting from the task the person is doing (i.e. working, typing).”

The bottom line, according to Malek, is that, “Anything to encourage more movement is usually a good idea for the global population since most of the world doesn’t move enough period.”

Is an under-desk bike, elliptical, or treadmill better?

Each model has pros and cons. Whether to opt for an under-desk bike, elliptical, or treadmill depends on your office setup and what you hope to achieve. Malek told us that it depends on your fitness goals: “If cardiovascular exercise is the goal, chances are the elliptical is going to demand more from you and allow for a greater challenge. But if you have to be at the computer and this requires sitting, then I’d say give the bike a chance.”

Under-desk bikes are more compact and less expensive, and a great lower-impact option which can be better if you’re nursing an injury or have limited range of motion. They’re also the quietest option of the three, in case that matters with your current setup.

Under-desk treadmills and ellipticals, however, engage most of your entire body for a fuller body workout. The trade-off is that they’re heavier, require more floor space, and you’ll need to stand to use them. They’re also typically more expensive.

How long should you use an under-desk bike for?

As with all exercise equipment, there really is no defined or officially recommended guideline for how long you should use an under desk bike for. “In general for moderate physical activity, the CDC guidelines recommend 150 minutes every week (for example, 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week)”, says Malek. “So if you plan on using it towards your minutes, I’d recommend fitting this into your workout but calibrating accordingly based on intensity.”

Are under-desk bikes safe for your knees?

In general, the short answer is: yes. The longer answer, according to Malek is, “If you have an injury or limitation that limits the ability to bend the knee, it may not be your best option unless modifications are made. Some helpful tips include raising a seat so there is less knee flexion at the top of the revolution.”

What else to consider

Stability

Under desk bikes are lighter than traditional exercise bikes, so stability is a valid concern. Look for a model that's secure and heavy enough to stay put during use, and consider using a non-slip mat underneath for the best experience. "Look to see if the machine comes with a non-slip pad, an anchoring strap, or choose one that weighs more so it stays put," says Malpelli.

Setup

Setting up fitness equipment is never fun. That’s why we suggest looking for an under-desk bike that comes fully (or mostly) assembled. Some under desk bikes come fully assembled, while some require a little more work to get up and running.

Noise level

If you work in a communal office or have a WFH setup that’s shared with a roommate or S.O., noise may be an issue. Opt for a model that isn't too noisy, especially if you'll be taking phone or video calls. A quiet under desk bike ensures you can seamlessly integrate your workout into your work routine without distractions.

Style

When it comes to style, under desk bicycles and under desk ellipticals are often grouped together. Consider the comfort factor—ellipticals are often quieter, while bicycles offer a fuller range of motion. To help you decide, think about whether you prefer the motion of biking or using an elliptical. As Malpelli suggests, "While these fitness tools are similar, the motion of biking versus using an elliptical is not identical."

Read more about our favorite home gym equipment

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