MayoClinic.com recommends elliptical machines as alternatives to higher-impact exercise machines such as the treadmill. Exercising on the elliptical puts less strain on your joints than higher-impact exercises, but still provides fitness benefits. Elliptical workouts can burn hundreds of calories in under an hour. Certain variables will impact the number of calories you can burn on the elliptical.
Duration
The longer you exercise on the elliptical machine, the more calories you will burn. The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend that you get at least 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 1.5 hours of vigorous aerobic exercise weekly. Aim for workouts at least 20-minutes long.
Weight
Depending on how much you weigh, you will burn calories more or less quickly on the elliptical. The more you weigh, the more energy you must use to move your body on the elliptical. As you lose weight, you will burn fewer calories per hour on the machine. You can calculate the number of calories you will burn at your weight during an elliptical workout of a particular duration at Healthstatus.com. According to the websites' calculator, a vigorous half-hour elliptical workout can burn about 309 calories for a 120-pound person, about 386 calories for a 150-pound person, about 464 calories for a 180-pound person and about 541 calories for a 210-pound person.
Intensity
The level of effort you put into your workout also contributes to the number of calories you will burn. The above examples of calories burned at certain weights indicate a wide range. If you complete a low-intensity workout, you will burn a number of calories closer to the lowest end of the range. A vigorous workout will burn a number of calories closer to the highest end of the range.
Compared to Other Activities
According to Shapefit.com, elliptical exercise burns more calories than walking and about the same number of calories as running, rowing or bicycling. Exercises that outperform elliptical workouts in terms of calories burned include playing racquetball, swimming or exercising on a stepping machine.
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