From a simple mat to a reformer with a tower: Pilates machines compared on what really matters at home, floor space, springs, weight limit and budget.
See our top 3 reformersFrom the simplest to the most complete, with what each one really gives you.
| Option | Resistance | Floor space | Best for | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mat and small kit | Body weight, ring, bands | One mat, stored in a cupboard | Starting out, small budget | – |
| Pilates board ("mini reformer") | Bands, no sliding carriage | A board about 1 m long | Adding variety to mat work | – |
| Foldable reformer | Springs and a sliding carriage | About 2 m open, stores upright | Regular practice in a flat | Read |
| Fixed reformer | Springs and a sliding carriage | 2 to 2.4 m, permanently | Committed practice, spare room | Read |
| Reformer with tower or trapeze | Springs, bars, trapeze | Like a fixed reformer, plus height | Advanced practice | Read |
A reformer is worth it if you train at least twice a week: it gives you the adjustable spring resistance of studio classes, which a mat and bands cannot fully replace. If you practise occasionally, a good mat, a ring and a small ball cover most mat Pilates exercises for a fraction of the price.
The first thing to check is space. A home reformer is about 2 to 2.4 m long, and you need roughly 50 cm of free space around it. A foldable model stands upright after the session; a wall-mounted unit leaves the floor completely free.
Springs or cords? Steel springs, as on studio machines, give a progressive and precise resistance. Elastic cords, used on AeroPilates models, are lighter and cheaper but offer fewer resistance levels. Boards sold as "mini reformers" have neither a sliding carriage nor springs: they complement mat work but do not replace a reformer.
New to the machine? Start with our explainer: what a Pilates reformer is and what it does.
From an entry-level foldable reformer to a reformer with a tower: a selection of machines available on Amazon.co.uk. Check the current price on Amazon.
VEVOR S1002 foldable reformer
Steel frame, 197 cm long, about 29.5 kg, 5 springs, 181 kg weight limit. The most affordable real carriage reformer with meaningful reviews.
Wunder Pilates F1 foldable reformer
Maple wood, 5 springs (2 heavy, 2 medium, 1 light), box and jumpboard included, folds away after your session.
AeroPilates Reformer 287
Steel frame, 217 x 44.5 cm, about 25 kg. Resistance from 3 elastic cords rather than springs, adjustable headrest, workout videos included.
VEVOR wall-mounted reformer
Spring board fixed to the wall, 8 resistance levels, about 25 kg: nothing left on the floor after your session.
VEVOR aluminium reformer with half tower
A reformer topped with a tower: 6 steel springs, jumpboard, box and footrest included, 181 kg weight limit.
VEVOR maple reformer with trapeze frame
Solid maple and a full trapeze frame, Cadillac style: 6 springs, box and jumpboard. About 153 kg, to be installed once and for all.
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Carriage, springs, straps: what a reformer really is, how it differs from mat Pilates, how long it takes to see results, and for whom medical advice is necessary.
True reformer or just a board? Unfolded length, folded footprint, weight, springs: the figures to check before buying, and our selection of foldable reformers.
A thick mat of 8 to 10 mm is enough to start. Add a Pilates ring and a small 25 cm ball and you can follow almost any mat class. A reformer comes later, if you want the spring resistance of studio sessions.
The reformer is the reference machine. If space is tight, choose a foldable model that stands upright or a wall-mounted unit. With a spare room, a fixed reformer, with a tower or trapeze frame, comes closest to studio machines.
Count about 2 to 2.4 m in length and 60 to 90 cm in width, plus around 50 cm of clearance on each side. A foldable reformer takes roughly a third of that once stored upright.
Yes. The original method is a mat practice using body weight. A thick mat is still strongly recommended to protect your spine during rolling exercises. Equipment mainly helps adjust resistance and add variety.
No. A board, often sold as a "mini reformer", is a short plank with elastic bands and no sliding carriage. It is useful for core work, but it does not reproduce the spring and carriage system of a real reformer.
