Are you sick and tired of working a desk-based job and spending most of your day sitting down, without the ability to move around, burn calories, or do anything that positively impacts your health and fitness?
With early starts, working lunches, and late office hours it’s easy to see just why so many office workers struggle to keep on top of their fitness and as a result, find it hard to exercise, lose weight and improve their health.
The truth is, by spending your day sat down and leading an increasingly sedentary lifestyle you’re putting your long-term health at risk. Your muscles will waste away, your aerobic capacity will suffer and your joints and bones will begin to weaken, but the good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way.
You might have tried a standing desk (and experienced the back pain that comes with it) but by using an under desk treadmill, you can start to improve your fitness, burn more calories and increase your step count, without ever leaving the office.
If you already have a standing desk then you’re one step ahead, because, in this article, we will take a look at some of the best under desk treadmills on the market and outline the best one for you to take control of your health.
The 6 Best Under-Desk Treadmill Reviews of 2020
Under the desk treadmills are becoming more popular by the day as workers everywhere begin to realize just how powerful these machines can be for their health and fitness. We’ve reviewed the best under desk treadmills on the market and compiled a list of the best 7 to help you decide which model is right for you.
We’ve taken account of all the key principles such as walking speed, weight, and size so whatever your preference, we have you covered. Read on to see our list of the 7 best under desk treadmills.
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Best Under Desk Treadmill Reviews
Name | Features | Rating | Price | |
Our Top Pick |
| 9.6/10 | ||
Runner Up |
| 9.4/10 | ||
Best Budget Option |
| 9.2/10 | ||
Best for Saving Space |
| 9.2/10 | ||
Best 2-in-1 Treadmill |
| 9.3/10 | ||
Best High-End Under Desk Treadmill |
| 9.5/10 |
Top pick for an under desk treadmill: GoPlus Under Desk Electric Treadmill
Designed to help you improve your health and fitness, as you work, the GoPlus Electric Treadmill has a speed scale of 0.5-4 mph max, which, while sounding slow is perfectly in line with a moderate walking pace of 2.5-3.5 mph.
It means you can comfortably walk at a normal pace for long periods, or you can push yourself to the upper limit and go for a brisk walk by reaching the max speed of 4 miles per hour.
Your pace can be controlled by the handy remote which comes with the GoPlus or you can use the touch screen multi-function display if you don’t have the remote nearby.
The high-quality LCD display is a great feature on this treadmill as it shows your real-time performance stats as you walk, making it easy to view your time, pace, distance, and more, on the clear touch-controlled screen.
There are 12 selectable programs for you to choose from including a range of different settings such as fat burn and cardio workouts and with a preset 5% incline on the GoPlus, it is one of the best under desk treadmills with an incline.
The design of the GoPlus is smart and they’ve clearly done their research when designing this machine. It has heavy-duty construction which can handle 220lbs and the wide walking area (41” x 17”) gives you more than enough space to enjoy the GoPlus.
It has a shock-proof design with footpads and rubber struts in place to reduce noise (quiet motor), vibrations, and impact on the ground and it even comes with an emergency brake to bring your session to an abrupt stop, although a word of warning here, just like on some commercial treadmills, when you press the stop button, it will stop immediately, so ensure you’re ready for that.
When you’ve finished using the GoPlus, storing it away is just as simple as using the treadmill. Weighing only 55.5lbs and including transport wheels, you can easily roll the treadmill away and store it out of sight, and sitting at a compact 6”, you could even store the GoPlus under your bed or sofa until the next time you use it.
Specifications
Item dimensions: 51.5 x 23.5 x 6 inches (L x W x H)
Walking platform: 41 x 17 inches
Item weight: 55.5lbs
Max user weight: 220lbs
Speed: 0.5-4 miles per hour
Pros: What we like
- Speed range – Speeds of up to 4mph max allow you to walk at a more challenging pace and can help you to improve your fitness, faster.
- Compact design – The GoPlus can easily be stored under a bed or sofa yet it’s still big enough for you to walk on.
- Remote access – Being able to control the treadmill with a remote control is a great feature
- Comes assembled out of the box!
Cons: What we didn’t like
- Limited incline – Having a preset 5% incline is great but we would love the option to be able to adjust this further and add more challenging inclines to the GoPlus experience.
Runner Up: Under Desk Treadmill: LifeSpan TR1200-DT3 Under Desk Treadmill
Designed for the office and with a contemporary build, this treadmill is perfect for any room. It’s durable enough to be used by the entire office and with a max user weight capacity of 350 lbs, you know it’s got a strong and sturdy build.
It has a powerful yet quiet 2.25 hp motor that will ensure you don’t disturb your co-workers, even as you reach the max speed of 4mph, but can go much lower, with a minimum speed of 0.4mph when you’re taking things a little easier. The motor is so quiet that it even comes with a marked belt so that your co-workers can tell when it’s moving.
Fully assembled out of the box, the Lifespan TR1200 DT3 Treadmill snugly fits under your desk and with a low height of 4.6”; it will also help you to get the optimal ergonomic position for your body.
Once you use the TR1200 treadmill, you’ll be amazed by just how innovative it is. There’s a range of tech built-in to this treadmill and you’ll love some of the features, such as the Intelli-step technology that detects each step and keeps track of your total for the day.
The digital console, which displays your vital stats such as speed, calories burned and distance traveled also has USB charging ports and Bluetooth connectivity for your favourite devices, however perhaps more satisfying is how you can move the console, up onto your desk, to make it easier to read the display and keep track of your performance.
A great addition to any office, the Lifespan TR1200 DT3 Treadmill is one you should take seriously.
Checkout or full in-depth review of the Lifespan TR1200 DT3 Treadmill here.
Specifications
Item dimensions: 63 x 28.5 x 7.256 inches (L x W x H)
Walking platform: 50 x 20 inches (L x W)
Item weight: 114lbs Treadmill / 3lbs Console
Max user weight: 350 lbs
Speed: 0.4-4 miles per hour
Pros: What we like
- Innovative design – The TR1200 uses a range of innovative features to help you track your progress, and stay safe when using this treadmill.
- Moveable console – Having the ability to move the console up, to your desk, is a great feature and something many people will appreciate.
- Step counting capabilities – Being able to track your step count all day, in a very easy fashion, is simply a great feature.
Cons: What we didn’t like
- No incline – It would be good to have this as an option.
- A little bulky – We appreciate the extra space but it wouldn’t be the best fit for a smaller sized office.
Best Budget Under Desk Treadmill: Sunny Health & Fitness Walkstation
Designed to help you stay on top of your fitness, even when at work, this under desk treadmill is a great option when looking for a treadmill that doesn’t cost a fortune.
Although it may cost less than some other models it still offers a fantastic walking experience and you will enjoy every second of it.
Built with shock absorption technology, you can comfortably walk for hours and with a speed range of 0.3-3.75mph, you will be able to enjoy some calorie-burning brisk walks while you work at your desk.
The Sunny Health & Fitness Walkstation treadmill for desks comes with performance measuring features and with vital exercise stats, such as your time, speed, distance covered, or calories burned all being recorded you will be thankful for the large 14 x 5 digital display as you monitor your stats.
You can easily control the intensity of your exercise session with the handy remote control and you’ll also be pleased to know that the Walkstation treadmill comes with some safety features, such as active-user detection, or power save mode, which will turn the treadmill off after a specific amount of time.
The walkstation has a slim design, allowing you to fit the treadmill into your office with ease, but it also means you can move and store the treadmill comfortably at the end of the day.
It smoothly fits under a sofa, or under your bed and it isn’t too difficult to move as you lift the treadmill onto its wheels and roll it safely away.
When you hear the word budget you might start to worry, but one thing that’s for certain, the only thing that has been cut with this treadmill, is the price.
Specifications
Item dimensions: 50 x 21.5 x 6.5 inches (L x W x H)
Walking platform: 39 x 14 inches
Item weight: 54lbs
Max user weight: 220lbs
Speed: 0.5-3.75 miles per hour
Pros: What we like
- Slimfit design – Allows you to comfortably store the treadmill in multiple places in your home.
- User detection – The safety features allow you to feel more confident about using this treadmill at home.
Cons: What we didn’t like
- Limited pace – We would like to see a slightly higher speed limit, up to 4mph, just for a little extra kick.
- Hard to see – The digital monitor is a little difficult to see, and we would love to see a bigger LCD screen being used here.
Best Under Desk Treadmill For Saving Space For Home Use: WALKINGPAD A1 Pro Smart Walk Folding Treadmill
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Winner of multiple awards such as the ‘Red Dot Design Award’ and the ‘iF DESIGN Award’ the WalkingPad A1 folding treadmill is revolutionary as the tread belt can fold 180 degrees on top of itself as a true, folding under desk treadmill.
It comes fully assembled out of the box meaning three’s no time wasted when the WalkingPad arrives and you can be using this excellent under desk treadmill in a matter of minutes.
Pre-set to a speed of 1.75mph you can unlock the true potential of the WalkingPad Treadmill by using the remote control and once complete you will be able to reach a top speed of 3.75mph.
You can control the speed with the remote control, but there is also another innovative feature on this treadmill that you may want to use instead, the intelligent auto-speed control function.
There are three different zones on the tread belt that will auto adjust the speed when you step in them. You can speed up, maintain your speed or decelerate all by walking in the designated zone, making it far simpler than you would have imagined to change speed and maintain full control while you are using this treadmill.
The WalkingPad is designed with a tabletop surface area where you will conveniently find the display screen positioned, here you can monitor your performance stats such as your speed, steps, and distance covered and it is all in an easy to see place.
As you approach the end of the day and you’re finally ready to take a break from the treadmill, you will find that it is here that the WalkingPad A1 folding treadmill comes into its own, and the clue is in the name. The WalkingPad Folding Treadmill has 180-degree folding capabilities, meaning you can simply fold the treadmill up when you’re finished with it and store it neatly out of the way. It has transport wheels, allowing you to roll the treadmill into position and it makes storing the treadmill simple, as it easily slots under a bed, sofa, or inside a wardrobe.
Specifications
Item dimensions: 56.38 x 21.54 x 5.08 inches (L x W x H)
Item weight: 61.8lbs
Max user weight: 220lbs
Speed: 0.31-3.75 miles per hour
Pros: What we like
- Innovative design – The WalkingPad folding treadmill uses a very creative speed sensor, allowing you to increase or decrease your speed depending on where you walk on the treadmill.
- Space-saving features – The unique space-saving design makes this treadmill a great option for any small-sized home office.
- Easy to use – The WalkingPad is ready to go, right out of the box, which cuts down on pesky setup time.
Cons: What we didn’t like
- Speed- We would love to see a higher top speed, 3.75mph is ok but a little bit extra could increase the intensity of the sessions.
- Every time you stop moving the distance and performance stats will reset, which isn’t ideal if you’re trying to monitor your progress and keep on track of your step count.
Best 2 in 1 Under Desk Treadmill For Home or Office Use: Goplus 2 in 1 folding Treadmill with Dual Display
The GoPlus 2 in 1 folding treadmill is an under desk treadmill with a difference and can be used in two unique ways, either as a traditional under the desk treadmill, allowing you to walk as you work, or as a traditional treadmill with an armrest and front panel should you want to jog or run and push yourself further.
If you lay the treadmill flat and use it as a traditional under the desk treadmill you will have a variable speed limit of 1-4kmh whereas if you raise the handrail and decide to use it as a traditional treadmill, you will get an extra speed boost, with a variable limit of 1-12kmh.
The GoPlus 2 in 1 comes with a quiet 2.25 HP motor making it suitable for use in an office area and the 7-layer non-slip and shock-absorbing running belt ensures you have more than enough room whether you’re walking or running on this machine.
When you raise the handrail and attach the armrest you have the freedom to adjust the speed as you wish and you’ll also enjoy the LED display which lights up and gives you feedback on your performance by telling you how far you’ve traveled, how many calories you’ve burned and what your current pace is.
The GoPlus 2 in 1 contains a built-in, high-performance Bluetooth speaker, which you can connect your media device to and a phone holder to keep your phone in place while you run. This gives you the option to listen to music, watch videos on your phone, or video chat with others without ever having to leave the treadmill. It also comes with a remote control to allow you to make adjustments with the flick of a button if you don’t want to use the handrails.
Adjusting between walking and running mode is quick and easy, without taking up too much of your time, and folding the treadmill back down when you’re ready to put it away is just as simple. The compact design means you can easily store the treadmill somewhere convenient and the transport wheels make it easy to lift and move the treadmill into position.
Specifications
Item Dimensions (With handrails): 49 x 27 x 42 inches (L x W x H)
Item Dimensions (Flat): 52 x 27 x 5 inches (L x W x H)
Walking platform: 40 x 16 inches
Item weight: 74 lbs
Max user weight: 265 lbs
Speed: 1-12 KMH (total)
Pros: What we like
- 2 in 1 – The best feature here is the ability to change between a walking, under the desk treadmill, and a tall standing, running treadmill. This gives you the perfect opportunity to work on your fitness before, during, or after work.
- Bluetooth – Being able to connect a media device is a big plus and can add a whole new level of enjoyment to video and voice calls.
Cons: What we didn’t like
- Hill sprints – It would be great to see an incline feature on the treadmill, especially in running mode as it would allow you to add more progressions to your workouts.
- Programs – Workout programs would be a fantastic addition, it doesn’t have to be anything too revolutionary but some simple fat burn or cardio workout programs would make this treadmill that bit better.
Best High-End Under Desk Treadmill: Lifespan TR5000-DT3 Under Desk Treadmill
The TR5000 treadmill has been designed to support even the most demanding of office environments. With a whisper-quiet motor that barely makes a sound, you (or your team) can use this treadmill with confidence all day long.
The commercial-grade 3HP motor will ensure the office isn’t disrupted and the 6 impact-absorbing shock dampeners will limit the noise anyone on the floor below will hear too.
Its superior construction can support users up to 400 lbs and the compact design ensures a perfect fit under your standing desk. It also has a low 4.6” height to ensure that your posture is never comprised.
A premium treadmill with a heavy-duty, top-quality build, this treadmill (and the walking belt) has been built to withstand a lot of mileage, it also has a 1” thick extended-life desk, and wear resistance aluminum side rails to stand up to the rigor of everyday office life.
To keep on top of your performance, the TR5000 uses Intelli-step technology and as a result, you will be able to accurately monitor your step count to see how well you’re doing. In addition to this, you’ll also be able to see other metrics, such as your speed, distance traveled and calories burned, all on the moveable Lifespan console.
The large console is easy to read but having the ability to move the console up to the desk just adds an extra dimension to this machine as it makes life that bit easier.
You can reach a max speed of 4mph when using this treadmill, more than enough to help you burn calories and blast fat. It’s heavy-duty, with a 400 lbs weight capacity so it should fit most people and with 2 front placed transport wheels, you can easily store the treadmill away when you’ve finished for the day.
The build oozes high-end and it does not disappoint. If you’re looking for a high-quality treadmill, that slots under your standing desk and helps you keep fit at work, you should consider the TR5000.
Specifications
Item dimensions: 63 x 28.5 x 7.25 inches (L x W x H)
Walking platform: 50 x 20 inches
Item weight: 134lbs
Max user weight: 400 lbs
Speed: 0.4-4mph
Pros: What we like
- High-quality build – Standing desks are becoming more popular, and with a premium design and feel it wouldn’t look out of place sliding under the standing desk in any corporate office.
- Moveable console – Makes reading, monitoring, and analyzing your stats that much easier.
Cons: What we didn’t like
- 2 in 1 – For a treadmill of this quality it would be great to have dual-use ability, with the option to be able to use the treadmill for running, in addition to walking.
- More tech – We would love to see media capabilities in the form of Bluetooth and USB charging, that slot into the console on the desk.Treadmill walking is much more fun with music.
Other Under Desk Treadmills We Recommend But Didn’t Make Our Top List
Although they didn’t make the list we also wanted to give an honorable mention to two treadmills that we do recommend, but they just missed the cut.
CitySPORTS Treadmills for home
This is a good quality treadmill, one that we’re sure will make a list in the future, but for now, it just didn’t have enough reviews. As a result, we didn’t feel we could recommend this treadmill in good faith until it has been tested more. Our rating 9/10.
Grneric Goyouth 2 in 1
This treadmill also came close but similarly, we wanted to see a few more reviews before we gave it our blessing. It certainly looks good and we’re hopeful it will live up to expectation and when it does, we’ll be on hand to let you know what we think. Our rating 9.1/10.
What features to look for in an under desk treadmill
Buying an under desk treadmill is one of the best things you can do for your health. We spend so much of our time at work, sat down at a desk, or not moving at a standing desk, that we don’t realize the negative impact it has on our health and fitness. An under the desk treadmill can solve that problem, but what do you need to know before you buy, and is it as simple as finding the one you like and ordering straight away? Let’s take a closer look at some of the questions you should be considering before you make your first purchase.
- Space – You must check your workspace, and the size of the treadmill before you buy to ensure you can actually fit the treadmill into your work area and use it effectively with a range of standing desks.
- Noise – Always check the motor to ensure the treadmill will run smooth and quiet, the last thing you need is a treadmill that makes more noise than you do.
- Max user weight – Treadmills do not have an unlimited capacity so you should always check this before you buy to ensure it can easily take your weight.
- Performance features – Some treadmills have LCD displays, some have built-in programs and others track your steps, calories, and distance covered. Make sure the treadmill you have your eye on does exactly what you want it to, otherwise you’ll just end up disappointed.
- Speed – While you may not want to run on an under the desk treadmill you will want it to provide enough level of challenge to give you some positive benefits. Checking the speed, especially if you’re a fast walker, should be one of the first things you do to ensure it fits your needs.
Benefits of an under desk treadmill
Although they may look funny to the untrained eye, the truth is that an under desk treadmill could drastically improve your health and fitness as you replace standing desks, or sitting at a desk, in a stationary, sedentary position 5 days a week, with regular forms of exercise that can do wonders for your long-term fitness.
The benefits of an under desk treadmill are plentiful and these are just a few of the positives you can hope to see:
- Lose weight – More activity will help you to burn more calories, which in turn will help you to lose weight. By walking at work, instead of sitting, or using standing desks, you will be actively contributing to burning more calories and impacting your waistline in the process.
- Increased metabolism – A by-product of continued exercise and burning more calories is a higher metabolism, another thing that can help you to lose weight.
- Stronger body – Regular physical activity leads to increased strength, muscle mass, and improved bone density, all things that traditional desk workers begin to lose. These factors are important for long-term health, especially as you age, and by positively impacting your health now, you can put yourself in a better position for the future.
- Reduce the risk of heart disease – There is a wide range of illness that can be prevented by being more active. Heart disease, hypertension, back pain, diabetes to name but a few, all carry a far less likelihood of happening to people that are fitter, healthier, and exercise regularly.
- Improved posture, coordination, and balance – regular physical activity and being on your feet more Is a proven way to improve your balance, posture, coordination, and more, all things that start to go as we age, but which can be prevented if we act early enough.
FAQ’s
Are under desk treadmills worth it?
Yes. Having an under-desk treadmill, a tried and tested way to keep active during the workday is something you should invest in. Why would you not want something that positively benefits your health? Treadmill desks work well too but if you already have a desk for a treadmill (or a treadmill for a desk), then you should use it. Obviously, it would have to be a standing desk.
Can you lose weight with a treadmill desk?
Yes, and much faster than you think. You could very easily go from completing less than 10000 steps a day to completing well over 30000 steps a day, just by using an under desk treadmill as low as 2 mph, that’s more than a half marathon a day! That increased activity will lead to burning more calories which will quickly lead to losing weight. Even without a treadmill desk, a standing desk would still help more than just sitting!
Is it possible to work while walking?
Honestly, when you first start desk walking with an under desk treadmill it might feel weird, but they’re easy to use and you’ll adapt pretty quickly. The motor will be quiet so it wont disturb others whether you’re walking at 2 mph or 4 mph.
Do I need a faster treadmill to get better results?
No, and here’s why, when you consider you might be using the treadmill for hours on end you’ll soon start to understand that you’re not trying to move quickly, instead you’re trying to keep moving. Although it may be fun to go a little faster now and then, if you were to move at a higher speed you wouldn’t last long before you got tired, fell into your standing desk and had to stop. Most desk treadmills have a limit of 4 mph max and a whisper quiet motor.
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