Home Gym
The Best Pilates Reformers for Home: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)
We compared four home Pilates reformers on frame material, spring or cord resistance, length, carriage height, stated user limits, storage and warranty, using each maker's own spec sheet.
The short version
The Balanced Body Allegro 2 is the best overall home reformer: an aluminum studio frame with five springs, a footbar that slides the full length of the frame, a 10-year frame warranty and an upgrade path to a tower. The Merrithew At Home SPX Reformer Package is the value pick among studio-grade machines, because the package already includes a box, a platform extender and a roll-up pole, and the maker states a 250 lb capacity and a 60 to 74 in. user height range. The Elina Pilates Domo suits small homes: it folds telescopically and can be stored under a bed or upright, but it sits low to the floor and carries a 3-year frame warranty. Skip the AeroPilates Reformer Plus 379, which swaps springs for resistance cords on a shorter steel frame with 90-day parts coverage. Best for: a long-term home studio (Allegro 2), a complete studio-grade kit for less (At Home SPX), and small apartments (Domo).
Our picks at a glance
- Balanced Body Allegro 2 Reformer - Buy. A studio-grade aluminum reformer with a full-length sliding footbar and a 10-year frame warranty, and the best long-term home machine here.
- Merrithew At Home SPX Reformer Package - Buy. A spring-loaded aluminum-rail reformer from the STOTT PILATES maker that arrives with the box, platform extender and pole, making it the value studio-grade pick.
- Elina Pilates Domo Reformer - It depends. A lightweight aluminum reformer with real springs that folds telescopically to slide under a bed or stand against a wall, at the cost of height and warranty.
- AeroPilates Reformer Plus 379 - Skip. A familiar budget reformer, but it runs on resistance cords on a shorter steel frame, so it does not feel or progress like a spring reformer.
The verdict in 30 seconds
What mattered most
- Frame
- Resistance
- Overall length
- Height off floor
- Stated user limits
- Storage
A home reformer is a big purchase that takes up the floor space of a single bed, so the frame, the resistance system and how it stores matter more than the accessory list. We compared four current machines from Balanced Body, Merrithew, Elina Pilates and AeroPilates against the makers' own pages. Two are studio-grade frames worth the money, one is a folding machine that suits small homes with a few trade-offs, and one is a popular budget reformer we would pass on. If you are kitting out a whole Pilates corner, see our guides to yoga mats, foam rollers and grip socks too.
A studio-grade aluminum reformer with a full-length sliding footbar and a 10-year frame warranty, and the best long-term home machine here.
Best for: Anyone setting up a permanent home studio who wants a frame they can expand for years.
- The Infinity Footbar adjusts to 4 vertical positions and slides the full length of the frame to 9 positions, which widens the exercise range.
- It ships with 5 springs (3 red, 1 blue, 1 yellow), a lever-adjusted rope system, a 3-position headrest and a built-in maple standing platform.
- The frame carries a 10-year limited warranty, and legs, a jumpboard or a full tower can be added later without changing the footprint.
- At 148 lb without legs it is heavy, and the wheel kit and wall strap needed for upright storage are optional extras.
- The box, jumpboard and leg kit are sold separately, so the base machine is less complete than a package.
- Balanced Body does not publish a maximum user weight on the page and points taller or larger users to the longer Allegro Stretch.
- Without the optional legs it sits about 9 in. off the floor, which is low if getting down and up is hard for you.
A spring-loaded aluminum-rail reformer from the STOTT PILATES maker that arrives with the box, platform extender and pole, making it the value studio-grade pick.
Best for: Home users who want a studio-style spring reformer with the common accessories already in the box.
- The package includes the reformer, a Reformer Box with footstrap, a padded platform extender, a metal roll-up pole and 5 springs (four full and one half resistance).
- Merrithew states a 250 lb weight capacity and says it is ideally suited to users 60 to 74 in. tall, which most makers leave out.
- The aluminum rails, frame and footbar mechanisms carry a limited lifetime warranty for home use.
- It cannot be stacked or upgraded to add a vertical frame or tower.
- The shoulder rests are fixed and cannot be removed.
- Upholstery is covered for only 90 days and ropes and straps for 1 year, and the warranty is void in commercial use.
- Upright storage needs the separate package that comes with a vertical stand.
A lightweight aluminum reformer with real springs that folds telescopically to slide under a bed or stand against a wall, at the cost of height and warranty.
Best for: Apartment dwellers who need a spring reformer that disappears between sessions.
- Telescopic folding takes it from 99 in. long to about 64 in., and it can be stored flat or upright.
- It uses 5 springs (2 red strong, 2 green medium, 1 yellow light) on a two-height spring bar, so the resistance feels like a studio machine rather than cords.
- Built-in front wheels and a stated weight around 88 to 97 lb make it the easiest machine here to move.
- The bed sits 6.3 in. off the floor and the frame is 5.1 in. high, which makes getting on and off harder than on a raised machine.
- The frame warranty is 3 years for home use, far shorter than the two buy picks.
- Elina does not publish a maximum user weight or height range on the product page.
- Ropes adjust with a cleat system rather than a quick lever, and there is no tower option.
A familiar budget reformer, but it runs on resistance cords on a shorter steel frame, so it does not feel or progress like a spring reformer.
Best for: Only someone who wants to try reformer-style movement on a tight budget and accepts that it is not a spring machine.
- It is a fraction of the cost of a studio frame and folds onto built-in transport wheels.
- Stamina lists a 300 lb weight limit, the highest stated figure in this group.
- The kit includes a Cardio Rebounder, a head and neck pillow, padded straps and four workout DVDs.
- Resistance comes from 4 cords (1 red, 1 yellow, 2 black) rather than springs, which changes how the carriage loads and returns.
- At 86 in. long it is the shortest machine here, 8 to 13 in. shorter than the other three, and Stamina publishes no user height range.
- Warranty is 3 years on the frame and only 90 days on parts, so cords, straps and pads are on you quickly.
- Raising it to a more comfortable height needs the separately sold AeroPilates Medium Stand.
| Criteria | Balanced Body Allegro 2 Reformer Top pick | Merrithew At Home SPX Reformer Package | Elina Pilates Domo Reformer | AeroPilates Reformer Plus 379 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Buy it | Buy it | It depends | Skip it |
| Best for | Anyone setting up a permanent home studio who wants a frame they can expand for years. | Home users who want a studio-style spring reformer with the common accessories already in the box. | Apartment dwellers who need a spring reformer that disappears between sessions. | Only someone who wants to try reformer-style movement on a tight budget and accepts that it is not a spring machine. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range | $ · budget |
| Frame | Powder-coated aluminum | Aluminum C-channel rails | Aluminum | Steel |
| Resistance | 5 springs (3 red, 1 blue, 1 yellow) | 5 springs (4 full, 1 half) | 5 springs (2 red, 2 green, 1 yellow) | 4 cords, 11 combinations |
| Overall length | 94 in. | 96.5 in. (footbar down) | 99 in. | 86 in. |
| Height off floor | 9 in. frame, 15 in. with optional legs | 10 in. carriage | 6.3 in. bed | Not published |
| Stated user limits | Not published | 250 lb, 60 to 74 in. tall | Not published | 300 lb |
| Storage | Upright with optional wheel kit and wall strap | Wheels; upright with vertical stand package | Folds to about 64 in., flat or upright | Folds, built-in wheels |
| Included extras | Springs, double loops, standing platform | Box, platform extender, roll-up pole | Padded handles, double loops, foot strap | Cardio Rebounder, pillow, 4 DVDs |
| Frame warranty | 10 years limited | Limited lifetime (home use) | 3 years (home use) | 3 years, 90 days parts |
Which one is right for you?
- Anyone setting up a permanent home studio who wants a frame they can expand for years. Buy it Balanced Body Allegro 2 Reformer
- Home users who want a studio-style spring reformer with the common accessories already in the box. Buy it Merrithew At Home SPX Reformer Package
- Apartment dwellers who need a spring reformer that disappears between sessions. It depends Elina Pilates Domo Reformer
- Only someone who wants to try reformer-style movement on a tight budget and accepts that it is not a spring machine. Skip it AeroPilates Reformer Plus 379
How we judged the field
Five things decide whether a home reformer is worth the floor space. First is the resistance system: steel springs give the progressive load that studio classes and videos assume, while elastic cords feel different and are hard to match to instructions. Second is the frame and carriage, because a rigid rail and a smooth carriage are what you feel in every rep. Third is fit: overall length, carriage height and any stated user weight or height limit. Fourth is storage, since few homes can leave a 94 in. machine out permanently. Fifth is warranty, which tells you how long the maker expects the frame and the wear parts to last.
The field splits into studio-grade aluminum frames at the premium end, folding home machines with real springs, and budget cord machines sold through big retailers. We picked the Balanced Body Allegro 2 as the long-term studio frame, the Merrithew At Home SPX package as the more complete studio-grade buy, the Elina Pilates Domo as the folding spring machine, and the AeroPilates Reformer Plus 379 as a familiar budget model, to show what you give up at the bottom of the market.
The Balanced Body Allegro 2 is the reformer to buy if you want one machine for a decade. Its powder-coated aluminum frame is 94 in. long, and the Infinity Footbar is the standout: it sets at 4 heights and slides along the whole frame to 9 positions, so exercises that need the bar closer or further away are a quick change. It ships with 5 springs (3 red medium, 1 blue light, 1 yellow very light), a lever rope adjustment, a 3-position headrest and a maple standing platform, and Balanced Body covers the frame for 10 years. The trade-off is that the base machine is not a complete kit. The jumpboard, sitting box and 15 in. leg kit cost extra, and upright storage needs the optional wheel kit and wall strap. It weighs 148 lb without legs, and Balanced Body publishes no user weight limit, suggesting the Allegro Stretch for taller or larger users. Buy it for a permanent home studio you plan to expand.
The Merrithew At Home SPX Reformer Package is the better buy if you want a studio-style spring reformer with the common accessories already in the box. Merrithew, the maker behind STOTT PILATES, includes the reformer, a Reformer Box with footstrap, a padded platform extender, a metal roll-up pole, double loop straps and 5 springs (four full and one half resistance) with neoprene covers to cut noise. The carriage runs on aluminum C-channel rails, with 6 stopper positions, 4 footbar positions and 3 gearbar settings. Unusually, the page states a 250 lb weight capacity and a user height range of 60 to 74 in., plus a 99 in. ceiling height for overhead standing work. The limits are real: shoulder rests are fixed, it cannot take a tower, upholstery is warrantied for 90 days, and commercial use voids the warranty. The frame and rails get a limited lifetime warranty. It suits home users of average height who want to start complete.
The Elina Pilates Domo is the pick for a small apartment, as long as you accept its compromises. The aluminum frame folds telescopically from 99 in. to about 64 in., and Elina says it can live under a bed, in a closet or upright against a wall, with built-in front wheels for moving it. Crucially, it keeps real springs: 2 red strong, 2 green medium and 1 yellow light on a two-height spring bar, plus a padded footbar with 4 positions and removable shoulder pads. The trade-offs show up in daily use. The bed sits only 6.3 in. off the floor, which is a long way down if your knees or back complain, ropes adjust with a cleat rather than a lever, and there is no tower option. Elina does not publish a user weight or height limit, and the frame warranty is 3 years for home use. Buy it if storage is the deciding factor and you are comfortable working close to the floor.
The AeroPilates Reformer Plus 379 is a familiar budget name, and it is the one we would skip. Its core problem is the resistance: 4 elastic cords (1 red, 1 yellow, 2 black) giving 11 combinations, instead of springs. That feels different from a studio reformer and makes spring settings in classes or videos hard to translate. The steel frame is 86 in. long, 8 to 13 in. shorter than the other three, and Stamina publishes no user height range, which matters if you are tall. Raising it off the floor needs the separately sold Medium Stand. Coverage is 3 years on the frame and only 90 days on parts, so cords and straps are on you almost immediately. In its favor, it has a 300 lb weight limit, folds onto wheels and comes with a Cardio Rebounder and four workout DVDs. It is only for someone testing reformer-style moves on a strict budget.
Balanced Body Allegro 2 Reformer vs Merrithew At Home SPX Reformer Package: which should you buy?
The Allegro 2 and the At Home SPX are both spring-loaded aluminum machines built for years of home use, so the choice comes down to what you want now versus later. The Allegro 2 has the more adjustable footbar, a quick lever rope system and a standing platform built in, and it can grow into a tower setup with legs, jumpboard and accessories. On warranty the SPX actually goes further on the frame, with limited lifetime cover against the Allegro 2’s 10 years, but its upholstery cover is only 90 days and it is home use only.
The At Home SPX wins on completeness and clarity. It arrives with the box, platform extender and roll-up pole that you would add to an Allegro 2, and it is the only machine here with both a stated weight capacity and a stated user height range. If you are between 60 and 74 in. tall and want everything in one box, buy the SPX. If you are outside that range, want a tower later or care about the sliding footbar, buy the Allegro 2.
What to look for
- Springs, not cords: steel springs give the progressive resistance studio classes are built around, and they can be swapped individually when they wear.
- Stated user limits: look for a published weight capacity and height range, and ask the maker in writing if the page gives none.
- Overall length and carriage height: longer frames suit taller users, and a raised carriage is easier to get on and off.
- Footbar and rope adjustment: more footbar positions and a quick rope adjustment make changing between exercises faster.
- Storage method: check whether upright storage is built in or needs wheels, a stand or a wall strap sold separately.
- Warranty by part: read the frame term and the parts term separately, because upholstery, ropes and springs often have far shorter cover.
Our final take
For most people setting up a real home practice, the Balanced Body Allegro 2 is the reformer to buy: a 94 in. aluminum frame, a footbar that slides the full length, 5 springs and a 10-year frame warranty, with room to add legs or a tower later. If you want a complete studio-grade kit from day one and fall within its 60 to 74 in. height range, the Merrithew At Home SPX package is the better value. The Elina Pilates Domo is the answer for small spaces, as long as a low bed and a 3-year frame warranty are acceptable. Skip the AeroPilates Reformer Plus 379, because cords on a short frame do not teach you a spring reformer.
Questions, answered
Is a home reformer worth it compared with studio classes?
It can be if you already know you will use it several times a week, because a good frame lasts many years and the springs are replaceable. The catch is that a reformer needs a dedicated floor area roughly the size of a single bed plus room to move around it. Without some instruction, it is also easy to set the springs too heavy and lose the point of the exercise. Many owners take a few studio classes first and then use video programs at home. If you are unsure, a folding machine like the Domo is a lower-commitment way in.
Springs or resistance cords: does it matter?
It matters more than any accessory. Studio reformers use steel springs that resist harder the further they stretch, and you swap or combine them to change the load. Cord machines like the AeroPilates 379 use elastic cords, which feel different through the range and are what most budget folding reformers use. If you plan to follow studio classes or videos that call out spring settings, a spring machine will match the instructions far better.
How much space does a home reformer need?
The machines here run from 86 in. to 99 in. long and 21 to 31 in. wide, before you add room to step around them. Merrithew also lists a minimum ceiling height of 99 in. for standing exercises with arms overhead on the At Home SPX, based on a 5 ft 8 in. person. If floor space is the problem, look at how each one stores: the Domo folds to about 64 in. and stands upright, while the Allegro 2 stores on end only with its optional wheel kit and wall strap.
I am tall or heavier. Which reformer should I look at?
Check the stated limits before anything else, because many makers do not publish them. Merrithew states 250 lb and a 60 to 74 in. user height range for the At Home SPX, and Stamina lists 300 lb for the AeroPilates 379. Balanced Body does not give a figure for the Allegro 2 but recommends its longer, wider Allegro Stretch for taller and larger exercisers. If a page gives no limit, ask the maker in writing before buying.
Can I put a reformer upright against the wall?
Some can, but it is usually an added step. The Domo is designed to fold and stand upright. The Allegro 2 can be stored on end, but Balanced Body says it needs two people, the optional transport wheels and ideally its wall security strap. Merrithew sells the At Home SPX in a separate package that includes a vertical stand. Always secure an upright reformer so it cannot tip.
Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: Balanced Body Allegro 2 Reformer vs Merrithew At Home SPX Reformer Package.
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