Best Pilates Rings (2026): 7 Magic Circles for Home and Studio

The best Pilates ring for most people is a medium-resistance, 14- to 15-inch ring with padded handles, and the Balanced Body Ultra-Fit Circle is the ring all three instructors NBC Select consulted recommended.

A Pilates ring, often called a magic circle, is a flexible circle with padded grips. You squeeze it inward or press it outward, between your legs or hands or against the floor, as TODAY explains. It's one of the cheapest ways to add resistance to mat work.

Most rings look alike, but three things separate them: size for your height, how hard it is to squeeze, and handle comfort. A ring that's too stiff or too big makes the exercises awkward rather than harder.

Quick comparison

The best Pilates rings

Best Overall

1. Balanced Body Ultra-Fit Circle (15")

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NBC Select named the Ultra-Fit Circle its best overall pick, and all three experts it consulted recommended it. Instructor Kristen Lilley told NBC it's "very sturdy [and] durable, and the handles are comfortable."

According to Balanced Body:

• Size: 15 in (38 cm)
• Build: flexible plastic with a soft rubberized shell
• Handles: padded on both the inside and outside
• Resistance: "approximately equivalent to a 3-Band Spring Circle," which puts it in the medium range

Balanced Body doesn't list the ring's weight. If you're shorter or want lighter resistance, look at the 12-inch Mini version (below).

Pros

• ✓ Recommended by every expert NBC Select consulted
• ✓ Padded handles inside and out
• ✓ Medium resistance suits most mat work

Cons

• ✗ Weight not published
• ✗ 15 in may feel large for petite users

Best Value

2. ProBody Pilates Circle (14")

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Women's Health instructor Alysia Pope Ehret uses the ProBody ring herself for at-home workouts, according to Women's Health. NBC Select also includes it as a staff favorite: NBC editor Rebecca Rodriguez called it "lightweight yet sturdy so I'm never worried about it breaking," and said it came with a pamphlet of workouts.

• Size: 14 in, which the Amazon listing rates at 30 lb of resistance
• Handles: dual foam grips that Women's Health describes as sweat-resistant
• Extras: a carrying case and an exercise sheet, according to Women's Health. Women's Health says it comes in six frame colors.

Women's Health puts it in the light-to-medium resistance range. It describes "lightweight foam construction" but doesn't name the frame material under the foam, and other listings disagree, so we couldn't confirm it.

Pros

• ✓ Light-to-medium resistance suits beginners
• ✓ Carry case and exercise sheet included
• ✓ Several colors

Cons

• ✗ Frame material unconfirmed
• ✗ Each color is a separate listing

Best Budget

3. Gaiam Pilates Ring Fitness Circle

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Gaiam's ring is NBC Select's best budget pick, and Women's Health calls it an Amazon bestseller that suits beginner and intermediate users. Both describe foam handles. Women's Health also notes a downloadable exercise guide and describes "flexible resistance when compressed," rating the ring light to medium.

Check the size before you buy. NBC lists it as 15 in, Women's Health says it's the same size as the 14-inch ProBody, and at least one Amazon variant is titled 12 in. Gaiam also sells a separate 14.75-inch "Essential" ring, according to a Walmart listing. The maximum user weight isn't confirmed by Gaiam.

Pros

• ✓ Lowest price tier here
• ✓ Foam handles
• ✓ Light-to-medium resistance for beginner to intermediate users

Cons

• ✗ Diameter varies by listing
• ✗ Fewer published specs than studio brands

Best Studio-Grade

4. Merrithew STOTT PILATES Fitness Circle Pro (14")

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The Merrithew (STOTT Pilates) Fitness Circle Pro is made for studios and group classes. Instructors Lilley and Amy Nelms both recommended it to NBC Select, and Lilley said the brand's rings come in "a good variety of sizes and levels of resistance."

According to Merrithew:

• Size: 14 in (35.5 cm), "recommended for those 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) and taller" (the product description on the same page says 5 ft 5 in)
• Build: spring steel, 1.7 lb, with inner and outer foam grips
• Resistance: firm, "made to withstand continuous, high-intensity studio use"
• Warranty: 2 years (excludes scratches to the band or handles); 30-day returns if unused

Merrithew also makes a 12-inch Pro (1.5 lb) for people up to 5'4".

Pros

• ✓ Sized by height (12 or 14 in)
• ✓ Durable steel built for studio use
• ✓ 2-year warranty

Cons

• ✗ Firm resistance is a lot for beginners
• ✗ Highest price tier

Best Classic Magic Circle

5. Balanced Body Flex Ring Toner with Handle Pads

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This is the ring Women's Health picked as its top Balanced Body option. It says the ring closely mirrors Joseph Pilates' original design and has a steel build with high resistance, so it's better for advanced users than beginners. Joseph Pilates is credited with the original Magic Circle, and Balanced Body calls this ring "a modern take on Joseph Pilates' Magic Circle." Balanced Body also still sells hand-made reproductions of the original as its Spring Circles.

According to Balanced Body:

• Size: 15 in (38 cm)
• Build: fully encased in a "soft, non-slip rubberized coating," "rust-proof, corrosion-proof and no sharp angles"
• Handles: "slenderized" handles with neoprene pads that attach with Velcro

Balanced Body Europe lists a steel core and a 1-year limited warranty.

Pros

• ✓ High resistance for experienced users
• ✓ Rubberized, rust-proof coating
• ✓ Classic Magic Circle design

Cons

• ✗ Too firm for beginners, per Women's Health
• ✗ Handle pads attach separately

Best Light Resistance

6. Merrithew Fitness Circle Lite (14")

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Merrithew's Lite is the bottom rung of its ring lineup: a 14-inch circle with light resistance and foam handles, which Merrithew pitches at beginners, home use and travel.

Merrithew's site lists the Lite as fiberglass, but we saw conflicting descriptions on retail listings and couldn't confirm which is right. If you want a light ring that's easy to pack, this is the one to look at.

Pros

• ✓ Light resistance for beginners
• ✓ Made for home and travel
• ✓ Foam handles

Cons

• ✗ Material listed inconsistently
• ✗ You may outgrow it as you get stronger

Best for Petite Users

7. Balanced Body Ultra-Fit Circle Mini (12")

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According to Balanced Body, the Mini is about 3 in smaller than its Ultra-Fit Circle (roughly 12 in) with lighter resistance. NBC Select presents the 12-inch Mini as the smaller option of its top pick.

NBC Select recommends 12-inch rings for petite users and anyone with limited range of motion. "Smaller rings are great for petite individuals and those with limited range of motion," Lilley told NBC.

Pros

• ✓ Easier to hold for smaller frames
• ✓ Smaller version of our top pick
• ✓ Lighter resistance

Cons

• ✗ Lighter resistance may feel easy for stronger users

Also considered: Bala Power Ring

The Bala Power Ring is a weighted ring, not a squeeze ring. Bala says it's 12 in across, made of steel wrapped in silicone, and comes in 5, 8 or 10 lb. It's sold as final sale. NBC Select lists other weights and diameters, so check Bala's product page.

NBC Select called it its best splurge, and Lilley told NBC that weighted rings can increase the intensity of a workout. It has no handles, though, so she says you need to pay closer attention to your form. Women's Health suggests newcomers start with a lighter, standard ring. Amazon availability is spotty, so we haven't ranked it.

How to choose a Pilates ring

Size: 12 in vs. 14–15 in

Most rings are 14–15 in across, according to Women's Health. NBC Select calls 14 in standard. Merrithew sizes its Pro ring by height: 14 in if you're 5'4" or taller, 12 in if you're shorter. Lilley told NBC that smaller rings also suit people with limited range of motion.

Tap the diagram to enlarge

Don't go much smaller than 12 in. Instructor Erica Walters told Women's Health that rings well below standard size aren't really traditional Pilates rings and are "better suited for yoga or stretching exercises."

Resistance and material

Both Women's Health and NBC Select group rings roughly by material:

Tap the diagram to enlarge

Merrithew's lineup follows the same pattern: the Lite is light and aimed at beginners, the plastic Flex is medium, and the steel Pro is firm and made for studios. Balanced Body's Spring Circles come in three resistance levels based on the number of bands.

You don't need the firmest ring to make progress. "You'll build strength over time," Lilley told NBC Select. Women's Health's buying guide adds that light resistance suits people working back from an injury.

Handles

NBC Select recommends neoprene or foam padding for grip and comfort. Handles on both the inside and outside of the ring (like on the Ultra-Fit and Merrithew Pro) let you press outward as well as squeeze inward.

Weighted rings are a different tool

A weighted ring like the Bala Power Ring adds load, not squeeze resistance, so it won't replace a classic magic circle.

A note on pelvic floor claims

You'll often read that a Pilates ring "strengthens the pelvic floor." The evidence is thin. One small randomized trial (Joshi & Rathi, 52 women with stress urinary incontinence) reported greater pelvic floor and core strength gains in the ring-exercise group than in a control group. The World Physiotherapy Congress abstract also reported moderately significant improvements in incontinence severity and quality of life. A 2022 journal write-up of the same trial reportedly found those two changes weren't statistically significant, but it's paywalled and we couldn't check it.

An early 6-person EMG study (Bø & Stien, 1994) found pelvic floor co-contraction during inner-thigh squeezes. A 2018 International Continence Society abstract (15 women) found that thigh and glute contractions did set off some pelvic floor activity, but usually less than a deliberate pelvic floor squeeze. Neither study tested a Pilates ring. If you have incontinence or other pelvic floor symptoms, see a pelvic floor physical therapist rather than relying on a ring.

How to use a Pilates ring

TODAY trainer Raven Ross says you can use the ring "between your hands, legs, ankles and more." If you're new to Pilates, she recommends mastering the form of an exercise first: "Then add the circle when you're ready to level up!" Moves she describes to TODAY include:

• Squeeze in: place the ring between your legs during clamshells and press inward.
• Press out: put the ring around both legs above the ankles during leg lifts and push outward.
• Calf raise: stand with the ring between your legs just above the ankles, press gently with your inner thighs and rise onto your toes.
• Lateral lunge: hold the ring in both hands in front of your chest, squeeze gently, and slide one foot out to the side on a glider (TODAY suggests a paper plate or washcloth as a stand-in) as you sink back into the standing leg.
• Add it to familiar moves: Ross lists squats, glute bridges (her favorite), crunches, the Pilates hundred and planks as exercises a ring can level up.

The verdict

The Balanced Body Ultra-Fit Circle is the safe choice for most people, backed by every expert NBC Select consulted. Pick based on where you're starting:

• Most people: Balanced Body Ultra-Fit Circle (medium, padded handles on both sides).

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• Lowest cost: Gaiam Pilates Ring (check the size on the listing). Best value with extras: ProBody (carry case, exercise sheet).

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• Experienced, want firm: Merrithew (STOTT Pilates) Fitness Circle Pro or Balanced Body Flex Ring Toner.

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• Under about 5'4": Ultra-Fit Mini or the 12-inch Merrithew Pro.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size Pilates ring should I get?

Most rings are 14–15 in, according to Women's Health. Merrithew recommends its 14-inch ring for people 5'4" and taller and its 12-inch ring for shorter users. An instructor quoted by NBC Select says smaller rings also suit petite people and those with limited range of motion.

Are steel Pilates rings better than plastic?

Not better, just firmer. Women's Health and NBC Select both describe steel rings as high resistance for experienced users, and foam or plastic rings as lighter options for beginners and intermediates. Merrithew markets its steel Pro ring for studio use.

What does a Pilates ring work?

Depending on where you place it, squeezing or pressing the ring works the inner thighs, arms and core, according to TODAY and Women's Health. Merrithew adds the outer thighs and chest for its Pro ring. Instructor Alysia Pope Ehret told Women's Health the ring adds resistance and instability that help engage the core.

Is a Pilates ring worth it?

For mat work, it's one of the lowest-cost ways to add resistance. TODAY calls it affordable, lightweight and portable, and says it can stand in for dumbbells in some strength moves. Instructor Amy Nelms told NBC Select it's "an all-around strengthener." Budget rings like the Gaiam, NBC Select's budget pick, sit in the under-$20 tier.

Does a Pilates ring help your pelvic floor?

Evidence is limited. One small trial in women with stress incontinence found greater pelvic floor strength gains when ring exercises were added. Its congress abstract reported improvements in incontinence severity and quality of life, but a 2022 journal write-up reportedly found those changes weren't statistically significant. Small EMG studies suggest thigh and glute squeezes trigger some pelvic floor activity, usually less than a deliberate pelvic floor contraction. See a pelvic floor physical therapist if you have symptoms.

Is a Pilates ring good for beginners?

Yes, if you choose light-to-medium resistance. Women's Health recommends foam rings like Gaiam and ProBody for beginners and says its steel Balanced Body pick is better for advanced users. TODAY trainer Raven Ross advises mastering the form of an exercise before adding the ring.

Sources

• NBC Select: The best Pilates rings
• Women's Health (via Yahoo): Pilates instructor exercise ring picks
• TODAY: Pilates ring exercises
• Balanced Body: Ultra-Fit Circle
• Balanced Body: Rings and circles
• Balanced Body: Flex Ring Toner
• Balanced Body Europe: Flex Ring Toner
• Merrithew: Fitness Circle Pro 14-inch
• Merrithew: Fitness Circle Pro 12-inch
• Merrithew: Fitness circles
• ProBody Pilates Circle on Amazon
• Gaiam Pilates Ring at Walmart
• Bala: The Power Ring
• Joshi & Rathi, World Physiotherapy Congress abstract
• Indian Journal of Physical Therapy and Research, 2022 (paywalled)
• Bø & Stien, 1994 (PubMed)
• International Continence Society 2018 abstract 318