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Cross Trainer vs Elliptical: What's the Difference?

By the Cross Trainer Home editorial desk · Updated 10 July 2026

In the UK, a cross trainer and an elliptical are the same piece of gym equipment: a standing cardio machine with two foot pedals that move in an oval path and handlebars that swing back and forth. UK shops mostly say cross trainer. US shops mostly say elliptical. Both terms describe one machine, not two.

Cross trainer and elliptical parts diagram: what UK buyers should check Labelled side-view diagram of a cross trainer, also sold as an elliptical, showing the flywheel, console, moving handlebars, footplates, stride length and footprint that determine whether a machine fits a UK home, regardless of which name the listing uses. One machine, two names: the parts that actually matter Check these five things before buying, whichever word the listing uses Stride length Footprint (length) Flywheel Console / display Moving handlebars Footplates Handlebar position A Handlebar position B (swing)
A cross trainer and an elliptical are the same machine: check the flywheel, moving handlebars, stride length and footprint, not the name on the listing.

Are a cross trainer and an elliptical the same machine?

Yes. A cross trainer and an elliptical are the same category of machine sold under two different names. UK retailers including Argos and John Lewis list "cross trainer" and "elliptical" side by side for identical products.

Argos's own cross-trainer category page is titled "Cross Trainers | Ellipticals for Home Workouts". John Lewis runs its cross-trainer range under the same pairing: "Cross Trainers | Ellipticals". Two names, one shelf.

A listing titled "elliptical" and a listing titled "cross trainer" can be the exact same model. UK sellers routinely use both words in one product title to catch both searches. The machine underneath doesn't change.

Don't filter your search by name. Filter by stride length, resistance type and footprint instead. The word in the title tells you nothing about the machine.

Why does the same machine have two names?

The name split traces to one 1995 product launch. It is not two separate inventions.

US engineer Larry Miller filed the founding patent in September 1992: US5242343A, "Stationary exercise device". It was granted in September 1993. The patent describes feet travelling in an oval path while the user's arms move on oscillating swing arms: the oval foot motion and the moving handlebars in one design from day one.

Fitness manufacturer Precor acquired the rights and launched the machine in 1995 as the Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer. This was shortened to EFX. Precor says it has since installed more than 300,000 EFX units worldwide. The trademarked product name already contained both words: elliptical and crosstrainer.

US retailers kept the first half of that name: elliptical. UK and European retailers kept the second half: cross trainer. Neither market invented a new machine. Each kept a different half of one trademarked name.

History of the cross trainer vs elliptical name split, 1992 to 1995 Timeline showing how the cross trainer and the elliptical trace to the same source: Larry Miller's 1992 patent for an oval foot path with oscillating swing arms, and Precor's 1995 launch of the Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer, after which UK and European retailers kept the name cross trainer and US retailers kept the name elliptical. One patent, one launch, two regional names Cross trainer and elliptical both trace back to the same 1995 machine 1992 to 1993 Larry Miller patents the oval foot path + swing arms (US patent 5,242,343) 1995 Precor launches the Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer (EFX) UK and Europe Kept the name "cross trainer" United States Kept the name "elliptical"
Cross trainer and elliptical are regional names for the same 1995 Precor Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer, not two different machines.

Is there ever a real difference between the two?

Rarely. Never in a way you can trust from the name alone.

A handful of US buying guides claim a "true" cross trainer has handlebars that swing diagonally: left hand moves forward as the right foot pushes. The same guides claim a "true" elliptical has handlebars that stay fixed or move in a straight line. Wikipedia doesn't draw this line: its entry defines "elliptical trainer" and "cross-trainer" as the same machine.

The history undercuts the claim further. Miller's original 1992 patent already paired the oval foot path with oscillating swing arms. Moving handlebars were part of the design from the start. They were not a later feature that split off into a differently named machine.

UK retailers don't apply the handlebar rule either. Argos and John Lewis both sell fixed-handlebar and moving-handlebar models under the single label "cross trainer". Neither runs a separate "elliptical" section that follows the claimed distinction.

Treat the handlebar claim as an unverified theory from a handful of blogs. It is not a UK buying rule. Check the product photos and spec sheet for "fixed" or "moving" handlebars instead of trusting whichever name is in the title.

What actually matters when you're comparing machines

Four things decide whether a machine suits your home: stride length, resistance type, footprint and noise. The name on the listing decides none of them.

What to compare instead of the product name
What to check Why it matters What to look for
Stride length A stride that's too short feels cramped for taller users; too long feels awkward for shorter ones. Around 40cm suits most users under 5'6". 51cm or more suits taller users. Match it to your height and ignore the price tag.
Resistance type Determines noise level: the main flat-and-terrace concern. Magnetic resistance is quieter and lower-maintenance. Air resistance is louder. UK forum consensus calls it "not ideal if you live in an apartment".
Footprint Decides whether it fits a spare room, landing or hallway without becoming an obstacle. Check both the folded and unfolded dimensions where a folding option exists. Use manufacturer figures only and cross-check them against the retailer listing.
Noise (dB) Decides whether it disturbs a household or the neighbours below in a flat. This is always the manufacturer's stated decibel rating and is clearly labelled as such.

Noise is usually the deciding factor for a flat or terrace. See the quietest cross trainers for flats for models ranked by manufacturer-stated decibel rating.

Cross trainer vs elliptical vs other machines

The next real comparison is against a different type of cardio machine altogether. It is not another elliptical. Make that comparison once stride length and resistance type are already sorted.

Related (wave 2/3, not yet built): cross trainer vs exercise bike, cross trainer vs treadmill, cross trainer vs rowing machine.

Frequently asked questions

Is a cross trainer the same as an elliptical?
Yes. A cross trainer and an elliptical describe the same type of cardio machine: two foot pedals moving in an oval path plus handlebars that swing back and forth. UK retailers use "cross trainer" as the everyday term. US sites use "elliptical". The words differ by country. They do not differ by machine.
Why do UK shops call it a cross trainer and US sites call it an elliptical?
Both names come from one product: Precor’s 1995 Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer (EFX). Engineer Larry Miller patented its mechanism in 1992. The trademarked name contained both words. UK and US retailers each kept a different half of it over the following decades.
Do cross trainers and ellipticals have different handlebars?
Not reliably. A handful of US buying guides claim a "true" cross trainer has diagonally swinging handlebars and a "true" elliptical has fixed ones. Wikipedia treats the two terms as synonyms. No UK retailer checked applies this rule either. Check the product photos for fixed or moving handlebars rather than trusting the name.
Does it matter which name a listing uses when I'm buying one?
No. A UK listing titled "elliptical" and one titled "cross trainer" can be the identical model. Compare stride length, resistance type, footprint and how quietly it runs instead of the product name.
What should I actually compare instead of the name?
Stride length, resistance type (magnetic is quieter than air), footprint (folded and unfolded) and how quietly it runs. Almost no UK maker publishes a real decibel figure, so resistance type is the best quietness guide. These figures decide whether a machine suits a flat, a terrace or a house. The name on the box decides none of them.

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