There is a huge difference between the machine you would buy for at home and the one that you would buy to have at a gym. Commercial elliptical machines need to be tougher and stronger than anything made for home users. Think about it: these machines when placed at a public place are going to be used by probably upwards of a hundred people each and every day of the week! You are looking at 700 plus people weekly at a minimum! Wow.
A home machine would wear out in a month or less with that kind of wear and tear. That is why commercial models tend to be much more expensive than ones made for home use. This does not mean that you can get a commercial one for your home. If you have the money and the desire to do so then go for it but you probably don't need to bother.
It is a common misconception that commercial elliptical equipment is actually better than home models. They are not better per say, they will not burn more calories or get your heart in better shape, they are just built a little tougher so that they can withstand such constant use all day.
All you need for your home gym is a good, smooth machines that will allow you to burn fat and keep your joints in painless working order. Running and even walking can be painful for some people, especially as they age. By making use of the newest technology elliptical trainers have been able to completely eliminate the need for impact when exercising. Now your joints can get a break, the break that they have needed for year. And the best part is that while they are taking this break you can still bee burning away those love handles and other flabby parts of your body. Pretty cool huh?
If you have a large family and you all spend a lot of time working out then perhaps a commercial elliptical trainer is the right choice for you. It is all about the amount of use you are looking at. And your budget of course. You don't want to go broke if you don't have to! The vast majority of the commercial models out there have many more bells and whistles than your average home grade model. If you love to tinker and you are a sucker for gadgetry then look at the commercial models and see what all is available for you to purchase.
Here are some of the top name brands when it comes to commercial elliptical machines:
Stairmaster
Precor
Star Trac
Fitnex
Take a look at all of your options, at least that way you will be able to make a good and solid educated decision when it comes time to actually make your elliptical purchase.