Pilates Reformer Under £1,000: What You Should Get for Your Money

Studio reformers often cost £2,000 or more, so it's natural to look for something cheaper. You can get a proper reformer for under £1,000, but this price bracket is also full of products that only look like one. Here's how to tell the difference, and what to expect for your money.

Reformer or Pilates board?

Search for a cheap reformer and many of the results are Pilates boards: compact platforms with resistance bands or cords, often a few hundred pounds or less. They can be a good workout, but most don't have the sliding, sprung carriage on rails that makes a reformer a reformer. That carriage is what lets you do footwork, long stretches, jumping and the rest of the repertoire you'd find in a studio class.

If you've taken reformer classes and want the same thing at home, check the listing for:

• A carriage on rails that slides the full length of the frame
• Springs, not only bands, in several resistance levels
• An adjustable footbar, plus straps and shoulder rests
• A full-length frame that suits your height when it's set up

What to check before you buy

Frame and build

The frame takes all the load. Solid wood or sturdy metal should feel stable, with no wobble as the carriage moves. Very light frames are easier to move but often feel less solid on heavier springs.

Springs and resistance

Look for several springs in different tensions, so you can change the resistance for each exercise and build up as you get stronger.

Upholstery

You'll be on it several times a week, so it needs to be comfortable, hard-wearing and easy to wipe clean.

Size and storage

Measure your space two ways: the full length you'll train on, and where the reformer will live when you're not using it. Our guide to fold-out and fold-up reformers explains how folding designs save space.

What's included

A jump board and sitting box add a lot of exercises, and buying them separately later adds to the cost. Check whether classes are included too: a reformer is far more useful when you know what to do on it.

Warranty and delivery

A reformer is a long-term purchase, so read the frame warranty and the delivery terms, including whether import duties or taxes will be charged at the door.

What £989 gets you with POLSE

The POLSE Fold-Up Reformer is £989, with all of this included:

• Solid oak frame with Korean microfibre leather upholstery
• 5 springs (3 red, 1 blue, 1 yellow)
• Jump board and Pilates box
• A free year of the POLSE app, with reformer, mat, barre and strength classes
• 5-year warranty on the frame and mechanical parts, and 1 year on accessory parts
• Unfolded size 255 × 66 × 63 cm; folded size 120 × 65.5 × 37 cm
• Free delivery to your door worldwide, with import duties and taxes covered

Comparable folding reformers typically retail at around £1,900–£2,000.

One thing to plan for: the estimated delivery time is 2–3 months from order, so order ahead if you want it by a particular date.

Fold-up or studio?

If you have a dedicated room, a commercial-grade studio reformer can stay set up permanently. If your reformer needs to share space with your living room, a fold-up model gives you a full-length reformer that packs away. You can compare both in our reformers collection, or read our full guide to choosing a home reformer.

Frequently asked questions

Is a reformer under £1,000 good enough?

It can be, as long as it's a true reformer: a sprung carriage on rails, an adjustable footbar and a stable frame. The price alone won't tell you; the spec list will.

Can beginners use a home reformer?

Yes. Start on lighter springs and follow guided classes, like those in the POLSE app, until the movements feel familiar.

Will I have to pay import duties?

Not with POLSE. Delivery is free worldwide and we cover import duties and taxes, so the price you see is the price you pay.