Treadmills are a faaaaantastic way to get a workout in when you can’t go to the gym or get outside. But some of them are, frankly, massive.
If you need a treadmill for the occasional indoor workout and you’re not exactly swimming in extra space (who is?), what you need is a compact treadmill. They’re not the most powerful, but they’re a perfect solution for smaller living spaces or dual-purpose rooms (like your home office/gym).
So get tready, because here are our favorite compact treadmills of 2021.
8 best compact treadmills for 2021
- Best overall compact treadmill: Sunny Health & Fitness ASUNA Space Saving Treadmill
- Top rated compact treadmill: LifeSpan TR1200-DT3 Under Desk Treadmill
- Best portable compact treadmill: Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Compact Motorized Treadmill
- Best lightweight compact treadmill: UREVO Portable Compact Treadmill
- Best compact treadmill for running: MaxKare Folding Treadmill
- Best compact treadmill for under your desk: Goplus Under Desk Electric Treadmill
- Best compact treadmill for larger bodies: Exerpeutic TF1000 Walk to Fitness Electric Treadmill
- Best manual compact treadmill: ProGear 190 Manual Treadmill
How we chose
Here’s how we decided which tiny treadmills made the cut:
- Size. Treadmills can easily be more than 6 feet (ft.) long and weigh 300+ pounds (lbs.), but that’s far from compact. Every treadmill on this list is 65 inches (in.) or shorter and weighs 120 lbs. or less (and most are much smaller).
- Reviews. All the treadmills on this list have at least 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon or the manufacturer’s website (and none of them made our fake-review radar go off, either).
- Extra features. We also looked for treadmills that offered at least some extra features in addition to being compact, like being compatible with a standing desk or offering some incline options.
Note that these teensy treadmills may be OK for walking and jogging, but most of them aren’t large or powerful enough for serious running.
Pricing guide
- $ = under $300
- $$ = $300–$700
- $$$ = over $700
8 best compact treadmills
Best overall: Sunny Health & Fitness ASUNA Space Saving Treadmill
- Price: $$
- Speed options: Up to 8 mph
- Incline options: N/A
- Weight: 95 lbs.
- Length: 59 in.
This aptly named space saving treadmill is lightweight but still great for jogging, since it can reach speeds up to 8 miles per hour (mph). It also folds down flat to a height of just 5.25 in., so you can stow it away under your bed or a couch — or even on its side in a closet. Bonus: It comes with built-in speakers so you can jam out.
Top rated: LifeSpan TR1200-DT3 Under Desk Treadmill
- Price: $$$
- Speed options: Up to 4 mph
- Incline options: N/A
- Weight: 119 lbs.
- Length: 65 in.
This treadmill is designed to be used with a standing desk, but it can also be used to re-create the “conveyor belt at the airport” experience. And who wouldn’t want that?? Reviewers love how surprisingly easy it is to type and work while using this treadmill. You can also stash it away under or behind something (basically anything) when you’re not using it.
Best portable: Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Compact Motorized Treadmill
- Price: $
- Speed options: Up to 7 mph
- Incline options: N/A
- Weight: 75 lbs.
- Length: 49.5 in.
You might not be able to bring this treadmill with you on a road trip, but it’s tiny enough to be stowed away after every use. Like, Tiny with a capital T. At just 75 lbs. and about 50 in. long, it’s easy to move around — and it has wheels too! You need just over 4 ft. of empty space to get your workout on. It also folds up if you need that space back when you’re not working out.
Best lightweight: UREVO Portable Compact Treadmill
- Price: $$
- Speed options: Up to 7.5 mph
- Incline options: N/A
- Weight: 75 lbs.
- Length: 55 in.
Another super-portable and lightweight treadmill, this one from UREVO can reach speeds of up to 7.5 mph and folds down to just a hair over 5 in. for easy storage. It’s also got a weight capacity of 260 lbs., which is pretty impressive for a compact treadmill this light.
Best for running: MaxKare Folding Treadmill
- Price: $$
- Speed options: Up to 8.5 mph
- Incline options: 3 manual incline settings
- Weight: 110 lbs.
- Length: 58.2 in.
With a few incline settings and a top speed of 8.5 mph, this treadmill is a great option if you want a smallish treadmill that you can still do some running on. It also has a tablet holder and a cupholder, and it’s a super-inexpensive option for the features it provides.
Best for under your desk: Goplus Under Desk Electric Treadmill
- Price: $$
- Speed options: Up to 4 mph
- Incline options: N/A
- Weight: 55.5 lbs.
- Length: 51.5 in.
This treadmill from Goplus is an even more compact option than the LifeSpan under-desk treadmill. It, too, comes ready to use right out of the box. It’s super-lightweight and has a short walking deck, so it can fit neatly in that cramped corner of your apartment where you improv’d a home office (thank goodness for fake Zoom backgrounds, amiright??).
Best for larger bodies: Exerpeutic TF1000 Walk to Fitness Electric Treadmill
- Price: $$
- Speed options: Up to 4 mph
- Incline options: N/A
- Weight: 120 lbs.
- Length: 51.2 in.
One of the downsides of compact treadmills is that they usually have a weight capacity of around 220 lbs., so people in larger bodies can’t use them. But this one has a weight capacity of 400 lbs. while still being compact and lightweight. The extra-long handles also have one-touch speed control buttons on them.
Best manual: ProGear 190 Manual Treadmill
- Price: $
- Speed options: N/A (manual)
- Incline options: 2 manual incline settings, 6% and 10%
- Weight: 49 lbs.
- Length: 47 in.
Wanna push it real good? Try a manual treadmill. This one from ProGear is hella lightweight and small — and you don’t even need to plug it in, so you could park this baby right in front of the TV. (Note: The minimum incline on this treadmill is 6 percent, so be prepared to work up a sweat!)
Who should get a compact treadmill?
Compact treadmills are perfect for you if you:
- are a beginner or intermediate walker or jogger
- have limited space for a treadmill (but still want one, obvs)
- want a treadmill that will fit under your standing desk
Buuuuuut these treadmills are not the most powerful on the market. They usually top out at 6 to 8 mph and have very limited incline options. This makes them less than ideal for serious runners (or people tryna get on that TikTok 12-3-30 workout).
They also typically have lower weight limits than standard treadmills, which can be a bummer if you weigh more than 220 lbs.
Pros
- tiny enough for small spaces and dual-purpose rooms
- usually lightweight, foldable, and easy to move
- great workout option for walkers and joggers
- typically less expensive than standard treadmills
Cons
- lower top speeds than larger treadmills (no vroom-vroom running)
- limited (or zero) incline options
- not a great fit for regular runners
- lower weight capacities than standard treadmills
How to choose a compact treadmill
Here’s how to choose the best compact treadmill for you:
- Make sure it fits. That is, it needs to fit you, your budget, and your living space. Check the treadmill’s weight capacity, length (when folded and unfolded), and weight. And make sure it’s a solid financial decision too! Luckily, most compact treadmills are on the low end of the treadmill pricing spectrum.
- Check the reviews. Some bad reviews are totes normal, but it’s definitely a red flag if you see several bad reviews with the same common theme. Proceed with caution.
- Understand their limits. These treadmills aren’t made for sprinting or marathon training. They’re made for walking, jogging, and — typically — light to moderate use. If you need something more powerful, you may need to clear out a little more space (in your home and your budget).
The bottom line
Compact treadmills are ideal for cramped spaces, but they may not have the features you need if you’re a dedicated runner. If you’re looking for a walking or jogging treadmill you can lug up the stairs or stow under your bed, these compact treadmills have got you (but not your floor space) covered.
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