A pilates reformer at home sounds like something for people with a spare attic room. Yet more and more people in small apartments simply train on a reformer in the living room. It works, as long as the machine fits your square footage, your downstairs neighbors and your day.
Honest upfront: we sell a reformer ourselves, the SportsHero Woodn Pilates Reformer. So this is a guide from a brand. We wrote it to help you choose, even if that turns out to be a different kind of machine than ours.
Which pilates reformer fits best in an apartment?
Short answer
For an apartment, a foldable pilates reformer fits best. Choose a model that fits folded under your bed or in a closet, makes little noise and is light enough to move yourself. A reformer with resistance bands is more compact and quieter. A model with springs feels more like the studio, but needs more space.
Below you can read why, and how to check in ten minutes whether a pilates reformer fits your home.
Four types of pilates reformers for home
Online, almost everything is called a reformer, from a little board costing a few dozen euros to an oak studio machine. That makes comparing difficult. If you're looking for a pilates reformer for home, it's best to divide the options into four types.
Pilates board with resistance bands
A short, flat board with a small sliding surface and elastic bands. It fits anywhere and is the cheapest way in.
The sliding surface is short, so many exercises with straight legs aren't possible. Cheap boards can also wobble, and without guidance technique mistakes creep in more easily. A board is fine for trying things out, but it isn't really a reformer.
Foldable reformer with resistance bands
A longer frame with a sliding platform and pulleys. The resistance comes from elastic bands that you swap or combine. You train lying down, kneeling and standing, and afterwards you fold it up. The Woodn Pilates Reformer falls into this group.
Foldable reformer with springs
These models work with steel springs, like in the studio, and fold in or stand upright against the wall. They feel the most like a class. They are long and heavy, though: standing one upright takes strength, and carrying one up a flight of stairs is a job for two people.
Studio reformer
Made for daily use by lots of people. Very stable and great to train on, but it stays where you put it. Count on well over two meters of length plus a walkway around it. For most apartments this isn't a realistic choice.
| Feature | Pilates board | Foldable, bands | Foldable, springs | Studio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resistance | Elastic bands | Elastic bands | Steel springs | Steel springs |
| Length unfolded | Short | Around 1.9 m (Woodn: 190 cm) | Long, close to studio size | Well over 2 m |
| Storage | Closet or under the bed | Under the bed, in a closet or behind the couch | Upright against the wall | Stays in place |
| Moving it yourself | Easy | Usually manageable | Heavy | Not intended |
| Exercises | Limited | Lying, kneeling and standing | Wide range, studio exercises | Widest range |
| Best for | Trying it out first | Training regularly at home with little space | Lots of space, experienced exerciser | Studio or your own training room |
How much space do you need for a pilates reformer at home?
Look beyond the size of the machine. What matters is the space you need while you train. Your arms go out to the sides, your legs stretch out. Keep about half a meter free all around, so you don't bump into a cabinet or radiator.
The Woodn Pilates Reformer is 190 × 94 × 20 cm unfolded. With half a meter of clearance all around, that comes to roughly 2.9 by 1.9 meters of floor.
That sounds like a lot, but you only need that space during your workout. Push the coffee table aside and most living rooms have enough.
The tape test: mark out your training area
How to check it in ten minutes
- Measure out the unfolded size of the reformer on the floor and mark the corners with painter's tape.
- Lie down in the area and stretch your arms out to the sides. Do you touch anything? Then move a piece of furniture or choose a different spot.
- Check that no door, radiator or walking route runs through your area.
- Then measure the spot where it will be stored folded: under the bed, in the closet or behind the couch.
Storage: under the bed, in a closet or behind the couch
Storage determines whether you really use a pilates reformer at home. A machine you first have to fetch from the storage room gets used less often. The shorter the route from storage spot to training spot, the easier it is to get started.
Folded, the Woodn consists of two parts. The frame measures 70 × 30.5 × 16 cm and the platform 75.5 × 44 × 8 cm. The platform therefore fits under many beds and couches with legs. Do measure the clearance height at your place.
In our article on storing a treadmill in a small home you'll find more storage spots that also work for a reformer.
A reformer in an apartment: noise, floor and neighbors
Impact noise for the neighbors below
Pilates is a quiet workout, so loud sounds are rarely the problem. What downstairs neighbors do hear is impact noise: vibrations traveling through the floor. Think of a platform snapping back or a frame that slides.
Resistance bands make no metallic noise themselves, and the Woodn has pulleys designed for a smooth, quiet movement. A few habits help as well:
- Put a sturdy exercise mat or a piece of carpet under the machine.
- Let the platform come back in a controlled way. That's good for your technique and for your neighbors.
- Don't schedule intense sessions late in the evening if your floor carries sound.
Protecting your floor
Wood, laminate and PVC scratch easily from a frame that shifts a few millimeters. A mat under your pilates reformer at home prevents that and keeps the machine stable too.
If you live in a building with house rules or an owners' association, check whether it has any rules about noise.
Stairs, elevator and weight
If you live on a high floor without an elevator, look at the weight and the packaging size beforehand.
Reformers with springs and studio models easily weigh tens of kilos. You assemble the Woodn yourself following the included guide. From box to first workout takes about ten minutes.
Springs or resistance bands: what's the difference?
Steel springs give an even resistance and are the standard in the studio. If you've been training for years and want to keep going heavier, you'll benefit from them.
Elastic bands get heavier the further you stretch them. That feels different, but your muscles work against them just as well. For anyone training two or three times a week at home, that's more than enough.
The Woodn works with three interchangeable bands totaling 10 kg. You start with the lightest and combine them as you get stronger.
Two times a week is exactly what the WHO recommends for adults for muscle-strengthening activities.
A pilates reformer at home, ready in the living room, makes those two moments much easier.
Reformer at home or studio classes: do the math
A studio class has a clear advantage: an instructor who corrects your posture. If you're just starting out, a few classes at the beginning are a good idea.
But for the long term, work it out with your own numbers: the price of a class near you, times the number of classes per month. Add the travel time, and sometimes the babysitter.
You don't have to choose, either: an occasional class for technique, and the reformer at home for consistency. Ten minutes in the morning before the house wakes up counts too.
Checklist: what to look for in a pilates reformer for home?
Before you order
- Folded size: does it fit where you want to store it?
- Unfolded size: have you done the tape test, including room to move?
- Stability: does the frame stay put when the platform moves?
- Maximum load and CE marking: are they clearly stated?
- Guidance: do you get an exercise guide or videos to start with?
- Trial period: can you try it at home and send it back free of charge?
Our pick for small homes: the SportsHero Woodn Pilates Reformer
The Woodn is made for exactly the situation in this article: a pilates reformer at home, in a living room that has to stay a living room.
Why it fits in an apartment
SportsHero Woodn Pilates Reformer
- Folded in two parts: frame 70 × 30.5 × 16 cm, platform 75.5 × 44 × 8 cm
- Three interchangeable resistance bands totaling 10 kg, from gentle to firm
- Wooden frame with soft upholstery, which looks more like a piece of furniture than fitness equipment
- Ergonomic pulleys for a smooth, quiet movement
- Guide with more than 15 exercises, from beginner to full-body
- 30-day trial, so you can feel at home whether it suits you
Who it's not the best choice for
Have you been training in the studio for years and do you want to do the same classic exercises with springs, box and jumpboard at home? Then a reformer with springs suits you better, if you have the space.
Recovering from an injury? Then start under the guidance of a physiotherapist or a studio.
For everyone in between, who wants to train calmly and regularly at home in a small space, the Woodn is a great place to start. View the dimensions and exercises of the Woodn Pilates Reformer. Want more variety for standing exercises? You'll find separate resistance bands in our accessories.
Frequently asked questions about a pilates reformer at home
Can you do reformer pilates at home without studio classes?
Yes. Start with a light resistance and follow an exercise guide or videos. Move calmly and with control. If you're unsure about your technique or have symptoms, take a few classes first or ask a physiotherapist to take a look.
Is a pilates board the same as a reformer?
No. A pilates board is shorter and works with elastic bands on a small sliding surface. A reformer has a longer frame with a sliding platform and pulleys, which lets you do more exercises lying down and with straight legs.
How much space do you need for a pilates reformer?
The machine itself plus about half a meter all around. For the Woodn Pilates Reformer, 190 by 94 cm unfolded, that's about 2.9 by 1.9 meters while you train. Afterwards you fold it up and you get the space back.
Can you store a foldable reformer under your bed?
Often, yes. Folded, the Woodn's platform is 8 cm high and the frame 16 cm. Measure the clearance under your bed or couch before you order.
Is a reformer with resistance bands suitable for beginners?
Yes. You start with the lightest band and build up by combining bands. That way you train at your own level without needing a lot of strength right away.
How often per week do you train on a pilates reformer at home?
Two to three times a week is a good rhythm. That matches the WHO advice to do muscle-strengthening activities on at least two days a week.
