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 the year.
8 best compact treadmills for 2021
- Best overall: Sunny Health & Fitness ASUNA Space Saving Treadmill
- Best for streaming classes: ProForm City L6 Treadmill
- Best portable: Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Compact Motorized Treadmill
- Best lightweight: UREVO Portable Compact Treadmill
- Best for running: Horizon T101 Treadmill
- Best for under your desk: Goplus Under Desk Electric Treadmill
- Best with higher weight capacity: Exerpeutic TF1000 Walk to Fitness Electric Treadmill
- Best manual: ProGear 190 Manual Treadmill
How we chose our petite picks
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 72 inches (in.) or shorter and weighs 180 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).
- Extra features. We looked for treadmills that offered at least some extra features, like incline options or compatibility with a standing desk.
- Vetting. We put all the products we recommend through a thorough vetting process to make sure companies aren’t making any unsupported health claims, engaging in shady business practices, or involved in any lawsuits concerning their products. Only products that passed that vetting made our list.
Note that these teensy treadmills may be OK for walking and running at slower speeds, but most of them aren’t large or powerful enough for running at higher speeds.
Pricing guide
- $ = under $300
- $$ = $300–$700
- $$$ = over $700
The best treadmills for small spaces
Best overall compact treadmill
Sunny Health & Fitness ASUNA Space Saving Treadmill
- Price: $$
- Speed options: up to 8 miles per hour (mph)
- Incline options: N/A
- Weight: 95 lbs.
- Expanded dimensions: 59 x 30.5 x 40 in.
- Folded/stored dimensions: 64 x 30.5 x 5.25 in.
- Folds up or down: down
This aptly named space-saving treadmill is lightweight but still great for jogging, since it can reach speeds up to 8 mph. It also folds down flat to a height of just 5.25 in., so you can stow it away under your bed or a couch — or even on its side in a closet. Bonus: It comes with built-in speakers so you can jam out.
Reviewers love the low profile and say the treadmill is super-easy to assemble, use, and move — though most of them mention that it’s def a basic, no-frills option.
Best compact treadmill for streaming classes
ProForm City L6 Treadmill
- Price: $$
- Speed options: up to 8 mph
- Incline options: N/A
- Weight: 125 lbs.
- Expanded dimensions: 70.25 x 29 x 44.5 in.
- Folded/stored dimensions: 72 x 29 x 10 in.
- Folds up or down: down
ProForm is known for balancing features with price, and the City L6 is a perf example of that balance.
This treadmill is set up to use with iFit, so you have unlimited access to trainer-led classes if you decide to opt in to an iFit membership. Trainers can even adjust your speed for you so you can keep your eye on the prize. The only downside is that you have to BYO tablet in order to take those classes, because the treadmill doesn’t come equipped with a screen.
There aren’t a ton of reviews for this treadmill, but the few that exist say good things about the product and how easy it is to set up.
Best portable compact treadmill
Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Compact Motorized Treadmill
- Price: $
- Speed options: up to 7 mph
- Incline options: N/A
- Weight: 75 lbs.
- Expanded dimensions: 49.5 x 26.5 x 47 in.
- Folded dimensions: 16 x 26.5 x 51 in.
- Folds up or down: up
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 in case you need that space back when you’re not working out.
Reviewers highly recommend this treadmill and say it’s easy to put together. But they also say that, like a lot of other compact options, it’s pretty basic.
Best lightweight compact treadmill
UREVO Portable Compact Treadmill
- Price: $
- Speed options: up to 7.5 mph
- Incline options: N/A
- Weight: 77 lbs.
- Expanded dimensions: 55.2 x 27.8 x 38.2 in.
- Folded dimensions: 55.2 x 27.8 x 5.1 in.
- Folds up or down: down
Another super-portable and lightweight treadmill, this one from UREVO can reach speeds 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.
Reviewers say this is the *it* treadmill for small spaces and love how easily it can be stored away when you’re not using it.
Best compact treadmill for running
Horizon T101 Treadmill
- Price: $$$
- Speed options: up to 10 mph
- Incline options: 0–10%
- Weight: 180 lbs.
- Expanded dimensions: 70 x 34 x 55 in.
- Folded dimensions: 46 x 34 x 61 in.
- Folds up or down: up
With a solid range of incline settings and a top speed of 10 mph, the Horizon T101 is a great option if you want a smallish treadmill that you can still do some serious running on. It also has a tablet holder and Bluetooth speakers, and it’s a super-inexpensive option for the features it provides.
Reviewers say it’s quiet AF and a great value for the price. They also say it’s pretty heavy, so you won’t be able to move it around like you can with other treadmills on this list. Also keep in mind that 10 mph might not be fast enough for advanced runners — though it’s the highest speed of any of our treadmills picks.
Best compact treadmill for under your desk
Goplus Under Desk Electric Treadmill
- Price: $$
- Speed options: up to 4 mph
- Incline options: N/A
- Weight: 55.5 lbs.
- Expanded dimensions: 51.5 x 23.5 x 6 in.
- Folded dimensions: N/A
- Folds up or down: N/A
This treadmill from Goplus is designed to be used with a standing desk, so you can work and work out at the same time. It comes ready to use right out of the box, is 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??).
Reviewers say it’s especially easy to move around and set up, but they also say it’s not particularly quiet and recommend wearing noise-canceling headphones when using it while WFH.
Best compact treadmill with higher weight capacity
Exerpeutic TF1000 Walk to Fitness Electric Treadmill
- Price: $$
- Speed options: up to 4 mph
- Incline options: N/A
- Weight: 120 lbs.
- Expanded dimensions: 51.2 x 32 x 63 in.
- Folded dimensions: 41.3 x 32 x 54 in.
- Folds up or down: up
One of the downsides of compact treadmills is that they usually have a weight capacity of around 220 lbs., so people with higher body weights 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.
Reviewers say it’s perfectly sturdy and appreciate the higher weight capacity. But some complain that assembly wasn’t as easy as the brand promises.
Best manual compact treadmill
ProGear 190 Manual Treadmill
- Price: $
- Speed options: N/A (manual)
- Incline options: 2 manual incline settings, 6% and 10%
- Weight: 49 lbs.
- Expanded dimensions: 47 x 23 x 51 in.
- Folded dimensions: 21 x 23 x 51 in.
- Folds up or down: up
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 can 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!)
Reviewers love how easy this thing is to maneuver and looove not having to plug it in to use it. But some reviewers say it’s hard to run on the treadmill without holding onto the handles since you can’t control the incline.
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
- offer a 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 frequent 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 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).
Side-by-side comparison
| Treadmill | Price | Speed range | Incline range | Expanded dimensions | Item weight | Foldable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunny Health & Fitness ASUNA Space Saving Treadmill | $$ | 0–8 mph | N/A | 59 x 30.5 x 40 in. | 95 lbs. | yes |
| ProForm City L6 Treadmill | $$ | 0–8 mph | N/A | 70.25 x 29 x 44.5 in. | 125 lbs. | yes |
| Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Compact Motorized Treadmill | $ | 0–7 mph | N/A | 49.5 x 26.5 x 47 in. | 75 lbs. | yes |
| UREVO Portable Compact Treadmill | $ | 0–7.5 mph | N/A | 55.2 x 27.8 x 38.2 in. | 77 lbs. | yes |
| Horizon T101 Treadmill | $$$ | 0–10 mph | 0–10% | 70 x 34 x 55 in. | 180 lbs. | yes |
| Goplus Under Desk Electric Treadmill | $$ | 0–4 mph | N/A | 51.5 x 23.5 x 6 in. | 55.5 lbs. | N/A |
| Exerpeutic TF1000 Walk to Fitness Electric Treadmill | $$ | 0–4 mph | N/A | 51.2 x 32 x 63 in. | 120 lbs. | yes |
| ProGear 190 Manual Treadmill | $ | manual | 6% or 10% | 47 x 23 x 51 in. | 49 lbs. | yes |
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-friendly 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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