The 10 Best At-Home Pilates Reformers of 2024, According to a Pilates Instructors

Oct 16, 2024

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If you’re ready to take your Pilates workout to the next level, these are the best at-home reformers to invest in.

In This Article

Shape / Jaclyn Mastropasqua

Exercise class aficionados know reformer Pilates takes a lot of practice, but getting into the groove can be life-changing. "You feel overall more connected to your mind and body," says Gabby Andriello, NYC-based personal trainer and Pilates instructor at New York Pilates. "You also gain strength really fast and become more aware of how to engage deep muscles in your body. The strength you gain during Pilates is also functional, as building core strength helps you improve your posture and spinal alignment."

If you're ultra-committed to this practice, but don't want to continue to buy expensive classes or struggle to find time to make it to an in-person class, it's worth considering an at-home Pilates reformer — and, no, you don't need a fancy home gym to have one. Shape reached out to several Pilates experts to discuss the pros and garner their expert recommendations, and even used some insight from our Pilates-obsessed editors to determine the best at-home Pilates reformers.

Whether you live in a tiny apartment or consider yourself a beginner, Shape found an option for you.

Customizable

Studio-grade

Smooth and quiet

Doesn't include a jumpboard

Dimensions: 93” L x 26.5” W x 14” H | Springs: 5

The Balanced Body Studio Reformer is close to what you’ll likely find in a classic Pilates reformer class. The brand uses a proprietary precision carriage system — a fancy way of saying it’s a smooth and quiet ride. The machine is equipped with the brand's signature Balanced Springs, which are made from nickel-plated carbon steel. You can also change the aesthetic by opting for one of nine upholstery colors. The footbar, wheels, and springbars are also adjustable, with three different frame heights available.

Affordable

Great for beginners

Foldable

Lower-quality than some pricier options

Dimensions: 82.25” L x 17.5” W x 9” H | Springs: 3

Andriello is a fan of AeroPilates' reformers. While they have fewer springs, she notes that they're "good for beginners and help to save space if you’re lacking in it." Shape editors agree, noting anyone beginning their Pilates practice who doesn't want to drop four figures on a piece of exercise equipment should consider this one. This at-home Pilates reformer comes with three elastic bungee cords, an adjustable headrest, foam grips, and three guided reformer DVD workouts (if you still have something that’ll play those). It’s also foldable, making it a fitting choice for anyone living in a smaller space.

Customizable

Durable

Adjustability allows for range of exercises

Heavy

Dimensions: 94"L x 25"W x 15"H with legs | Springs: 5

Wondering which at-home Pilates reformer has a real-life instructor's stamp of approval? Andriello recommends Balanced Body’s Allegro 2 reformer, calling it "an incredibly durable machine." She touts its various spring options and comfortable carriage and loves how "very advanced exercises can be done on this reformer with ease because it’s so adjustable." Her only qualm with the Allegro 2 is that it's a tad heavy. Shape editors also love how customizable this reformer is, offering multiple color options, a steel or carbon fiber footbed, and a choice to add legs for additional height.

Includes a screen for subscription workouts

Buttons for adjusting

Subscription fee not included

Dimensions: 94” L x 25.5” W x 36” H | Springs: 6

This is the most modernized version of the reformer on this list. That’s largely because it has a 24-inch swivel touchscreen to stream guided workouts and play your music. It also lets you push a button to adjust your springs rather than manually adding and removing them. Plus, it’s gorgeous.

“I had the chance to try the Frame Pilates Reformer under their team’s expert guidance, and I was wowed by the quality of the machine and the classes,” says Kristen Geil, Shape's former senior commerce editor. “I was able to change out the resistance quickly, thanks to the clever buttons that let you adjust quickly. I never struggled to keep up with the instructor like I often am in real-life classes!”

Compact and portable

Subscription service available

Accessories sold separately

Dimensions: 71.1” L x 18.5” W x 5.5” H | Springs: 4

If you prefer Lagree's burns-so-good classes to Pilates, you can avail yourself of the company's Micro Reformer. This is a smaller, lighter alternative to the Megaformer used in Lagree studios that incorporates springs. Sign up for a Lagree At Home subscription, and you'll have everything you need to get in on the Rihanna-approved workout method at home.

For the record, the Lagree Fitness Method focuses on a mix of high-intensity bodybuilding techniques and low-impact movements, as well as Pilates moves for rehabilitation.

Multiple exercise options

Easy to use

Accessories sold separately

Dimensions: 15" H x 94" L x 25.5” W | Springs: 13

A Pilates tower is a frame that allows for additional configurations. You can use it to do almost all of the exercises typically done on a full Cadillac (a larger table with a metal frame that can be outfitted with attachments such as straps, handles, and bars). If that sounds good, you can buy a tower as an attachment or go with a reformer with one included, such as the Balanced Body Allegro Tower of Power.

Includes reformer box, roll-up pole, and workout DVDs

Can be customized

Longer than other options

Shoulder rests are not removable

Does not include vertical frame

Dimensions: 10” H x 26” W x 96.5” L | Springs: 5

With this at-home Pilates reformer, you can choose a just-the-basics option and buy the accessories (such as a jump board or additional springs) to customize your resistance à la carte. Or, you can go with a bundle such as this Pilates reformer that's already equipped with springs and comes with a box, pole, and two workout DVDs. At 96.5 inches, it's longer than many available options, which you might appreciate if you're tall.

Sturdy and beautiful

Made from sustainably grown and harvested wood

Includes some accessories

You may have to wait a while for delivery

Dimensions: 80”, 86” & 89” L options available x 26” W x 13.74” H | Springs: 4

Plenty of studios are equipped with Gratz reformers, which the brand claims to be the original manufacturer of Pilates apparatuses — if you're a fan, you can have one for yourself. Each model is made from solid Rock Maple wood that is sustainably grown and harvested, which is probably why it’s so sturdy and beautiful. It even comes with a few accessories, like an upholstered long/short box and a weighted pole.

Great for storage and portability

Frame is on wheels

Weighs just 70 lbs

Best for those under 5'9"

The bands may break down faster than a reformer with springs

Dimensions: 77.5” L x 19.7” W x 28” H | Springs: 5

If your biggest priority is an at-home Pilates reformer you can move around on a whim, this ARKANTOS Foldable Pilates Reformer may be your winner. The aluminum frame is on wheels and weighs only 70 pounds, so moving around the house is relatively easy (compared to other options out there). Once you’re done practicing your Pilates, you can fold it up and wheel it away to store it as you wish.

The reformer is only 77.5” long — although you get up to 81.5” with the included footbar extended — and is best suited for those under 5’9” so keep this in mind if you're on the taller side. Also, this at-home reformer uses resistance band tubes, which may break down faster than a reformer with springs.

Accommodates users up to 6'6" and 350 lbs

Has AI tracking

Does not include accessories

Dimensions: 90" L x 30" W x 14" H | Springs: 5

Shape loves an accessible fitness tool, and the Flexia Smart Reformer impressed us with its height and weight capacities. Not only is the at-home Pilates reformer long and strong enough to accommodate many people, but the reformer itself is “smart,” meaning it’s equipped with sensors to track speed, control, and consistency so you can assess your own form. Heads up, you’ll need to plug it in if you want to take advantage of this AI tracking. There’s no screen included (the Flexia team maintains that makes it easier for you to move on the reformer), but you can cast the analytics on a laptop or television easily enough. We’re not too upset about this, because it means the Flexia is nearly half the price of other options we researched from Balanced Body and Frame.

Note that the Flexia doesn’t come with any extra Pilates equipment, although you can buy it in a bundle at time of purchase or add it later. After your first month, you’ll also have to pay extra for the All Access Membership to the Online Studio for on-demand classes and access to the form tracking.

Yes, there is a difference between reformer Pilates and Mat Pilates. Mat Pilates, as the name suggests, requires only a mat, though incorporating some accessories can elevate your workout experience.

"Mat work is the basis of the entire Pilates exercise system," says Triana Brown, head of talent and product development at Solidcore. It provides the foundational skills — neutral spine, engaged core, breathwork — that can then be applied to a reformer Pilates class.

A reformer class involves a machine with a sliding platform, handlebars, straps, and resistance springs. "It's a more modern form of Pilates," Brown notes. "It still uses slow and controlled movements, but it also uses strategic programming more aligned with strength training."

You can! A foam roller provides the gliding effect but is a more limited version of the reformer workout. That’s because, unlike a reformer machine, a foam roller doesn’t have resistance springs. You’ll have to rely exclusively on your body weight as a form of resistance.

That being said, it is a more affordable and accessible alternative to the reformer if you’re okay with sacrificing some of the moves you can accomplish with resistance.

It’s probably why many TikTok users are using foam rollers to do Pilates at home without a reformer.

Grippy socks. Those are stretchy socks with non-slip rubber paneling on the sole. You’d opt for grip socks during a Pilates workout for several reasons: Preventing slippage, absorbing sweat, and providing a protective barrier between your feet and equipment if you’re taking a class in a shared studio.

At-home Pilates reformers are much larger than typical workout gear, so Andriello suggests taking note of the space in your home when choosing a reformer. "If you don’t have gym space or a lot of space in general, there are reformers out there that are foldable and really close to the ground," so opt for an at-home reformer that suits your space, first and foremost.

Absolutely! "However, I do believe that you should follow a training program or have a trainer with you, or virtually, especially if you are not certified," notes NYC-based Pilates instructor Alexa Hirschberg. "This ensures that you use the machine correctly and avoid injury," she says. Andriello suggests utilizing free reformer workout videos on YouTube or apps with memberships to buy and stream classes, such as Forma Pilates.

Hirschberg puts it perfectly: "Every single body is different! If it excites and motivates you, then absolutely, reformer Pilates can be enough." She notes that each reformer class varies in intensity, some offering more challenging movement while others focus on stretching or classical techniques. "Ultimately, it is all about personal preference and what your body needs!"

"I personally think that pairing some sort of cardio with reformer pilates is the most effective form of cross-training," says Andriello. Consider adding cardio if you want to amp up your weekly workout routine.

First and foremost, opt for a Pilates reformer that is durable and high quality so it lasts you a long time, says Andriello. She notes other key factors to look for in an at-home Pilates reformer, including adjustability for your height (with the footbar), a variety of spring tensions to help you become stronger and overall more advanced in Pilates, and correct dimensions for your space (or a portable or foldable option if you have limited space).

If you're still worried about getting the perfect option for your home Hirschberg suggests talking to a certified pilates instructor with knowledge of using home equipment.

"Results can vary since every body is different, says Hirschberg. For her, "doing pilates 3-4 times a week has made [her] feel stronger, more balanced, and has helped lengthen my muscles. It boosts my happiness and energy levels. The movements feel gentle enough for daily practice without straining my body. Additionally, it has helped me develop healthy habits and a positive relationship with myself."

It depends on what you feel your body needs and can handle. Hirschberg recommends finding a routine that works for you and trying to build up classes. "Try twice a week to start and up it as you feel comfortable," she suggests. "In the beginning, it’s important to stay consistent so you don’t get stagnant in your growth," says Andriello.

Andriello says that if you're consistent with your training, you can notice a change within three to four weeks. "The first changes you’ll feel include increased body awareness," she says, then after around six weeks, "you’ll start to notice more toned and defined muscles."

Shape contributor Melanie Ehrenkranz has over a decade of journalism experience covering consumer technology and health and wellness for websites like Gizmodo, Inverse, Mic, Medium, and Vice. She created and wrote the weekly wellness newsletter Nessie Sightings for just over two years for 75k+ readers, sharing recommendations for products and services that make your life easier, healthier, or more meaningful in some way. She started taking reformer Pilates classes over a decade ago (before it was cool!) to support recovery while dancing. She now enjoys a few classes a week at her local studio. Shape commerce writer Maddie Barber updated this article in 2024, adding expert-approved recommendations and insight.

The Shape team used the following experts for this story: