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Best under-desk treadmills: Quick Menu

The best under-desk treadmills can change the way you work, and walk. Finding the time to walk, while you need to interact with your computer, can be difficult and impacts your health. Combining the two is fast becoming a popular solution, and as a result there are more under-desk treadmill options then ever before. These take the stand up desk revolution to the next logical step – yes, step.

Of course these treadmills don't have to be all about work, you may simply want to watch Netflix, only now a binge can mean putting in some serious miles rather than building up that sit-still-guilt.

If you're here you probably already know this is a healthy choice. But to confirm that the American Journal of Public Health suggests that sitting down an excessive amount – meaning more than eight hours a day – can increase the risk of premature death or the development of some chronic diseases by 10% to 20%. 

So while the best office chairs and the best gaming chairs help support your back and posture, it's these treadmills that actively improve blood flow, strengthen what's weak and help to loosen what's tight for an all round better feeling of health.

Combine one of the treadmills on this list with one of the best standing desks and you could genuinely change your health, without investing any time in walking for the sake of it.

Matt Evans

Our Fitness Editor Matt Evans has been writing about fitness and health tech online for years, which means he knows what to expect from a treadmill. From the width and cushioning of the belt to how its settings hold up against its contemporaries, Matt co-ordinates the entries in this buying guide. 

The quick list

Want to get straight to the best under-desk treadmill for your needs? Use our quick round-up below to immediately find a treadmill that suits you – and you can read more about it by jumping to our full write-ups and explanations using the links. 

1. Lifespan TR1200-DT3

The best under-desk treadmill for most people

The Lifespan TR1200 is heftily priced, but easy to control, can be wheeled away for storage, and is robust enough for heavier individuals. This all-rounder tops our list of the best under-desk treadmills. 

Read more below

2. Bluefin Fitness Task 2.0

The best cheap under-desk treadmill 

At a much more wallet-friendly, affordable price for home users, the Fitness Task 2.0 from Bluefin is a much more attractive option if you just want something slim to walk on and store behind the sofa when not in use. 

Read more below

3. JTX Movelight Treadmill

The best under-desk treadmill for beginners

The JTX Movelight is cheap, coming in at a touch more expensive than the Bluefin, and it's simple to use and easy to stash away. You could do far worse, although those over 100kg/220lbs are out of luck.

Read more below

4. Kingsmith Walkingpad C2

The best under-desk treadmill for tight spaces

The Kingsmith Walkingpad C2 isn't the best in terms of build quality or cushioning, but it folds up like a giant flip phone, making it by far the easiest to store. 

Read more below

5. Merach T05 Smart Walking Treadmill

The best under-desk treadmill for runners

Switch between running and walking with the Merach, which has a fold-down 'walk mode' and, unlike a lot of the other purpose-built devices on this list, can fold up if you want to up the intensity with a run. 

Read more below

The best under-desk treadmill: Best overall

The best under-desk treadmill overall

Specifications

Product dimensions: 63 x 28 x 7 in.

Maximum user weight: 400 lbs

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

The Lifespan TR1200-DT3 Under Desk Treadmill is one of the most popular products from the Lifespan home working range, designed to support single users or small teams for sessions up to six hours. The TR1200-DT3 has six impact-absorbing shocks to help dampen noise while walking and has an automatic stop when you step off the device, providing both safety and a swiftly quiet environment for taking calls.

This walking treadmill is fully assembled out of the box and can fit under most standing desks. The control console is a little on the large side but enables the user to control the Lifespan TR1200-DT3 with a few button touches and will display all the ongoing fitness stats such as calories, steps and distance. Bluetooth connectivity is also available to upload results into the LifeSpan Active Track fitness app, and a port is located at the rear of the control console for charging devices such as phones.

The Lifespan TR1200-DT3 Under Desk Treadmill will support up to 350lbs in user weight. It also has two wheels located on the front of the device, which will allow the treadmill to be moved like a wheelbarrow.

Read our full Lifespan TR1200-DT3 review

Best budget treadmill

The best under-desk treadmill for those on a tight budget

Specifications

Product dimensions: 64 x 27 x 6 in.

Maximum user weight: 264 lbs

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

The Bluefin Fitness Task 2.0 is cheap, light and high quality, a great solution to getting your steps in at home.  It's quick to assemble and easy to store, with a slender profile able to fit under beds and behind sofas. You can also fold the riser up to function as a bar, if you need to hold on while you walk. However, for most people, you'll be able to use it while in walk-pad mode. 

In our full review, we mentioned how much we liked the belt: it’s long and wide enough to walk and perform gentle jogging. However, with a top speed of eight kilometers an hour, it’s not very practical for regular runners. You're more likely going to get some use out of it if you want a way to get more steps in at home, or walking with a stand-up desk while working.

IIf you're just keen on getting extra movement into your day, this is the cheap treadmill for you. It's getting hard to find right now, but Bluefin has released the Fitness Kick Lite, which is very similar specs-wise, and we'll be reviewing that in due course. 

Read our full Bluefin Fitness Task 2.0 review

Best for beginners

The best portable treadmill for beginners

Specifications

Product dimensions: 53 x 21 x 5 in.

Maximum user weight: 220 lbs

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

If you're new to at-home treadmills, or walking on a treadmill more generally, then the JTX MoveLight is a great option for beginners because it's incredibly easy to set up. Simply plug it in with a single cord, and you’re ready to go once you press the remote.

We recommend the JTX MoveLight is you're looking for an under-desk treadmill because it's relatively compact and easy to slide out of the way – like underneath a sofa. However, it's worth mentioning that it might be a little too long for alcove desk spaces. What's more, its compact design does mean there's a weight limit of 100kg. 

Although it has a weight limit, the build quality on offer is good and the JTX MoveLight is robust – even if it's a bit boring to look at. In our JTX MoveLight review we wrote that we returned to the treadmill regularly, even when the weather was good outside. A testament to the fun and smooth experience you get with this solid treadmill.

Read our full JTX MoveLight review

Best for storage

A budget folding treadmill for tight spaces

Specifications

Product dimensions: 56.88 x 20.39 x 4.92in

Maximum weight: 220lbs

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

The Walkingpad C2 from Kingsmith, a division of Chinese electronics maker Xiaomi, is all about making the most out of limited space. Trapped in a small apartment? This folding treadmill is an ideal way to get your steps in and easily tucked away when not in use. The folding functions shorten the length of the machine, allowing you to stow it where other machines might be too long. Even flatter ones such as the Bluefin don't have this kind of space-saving capability. 

The belt is made up of four layers of anti-skid, shock-cushioning and high-fiber material. The motor is fine for walking, although it's far from the most powerful treadmill we've ever used, being outshined by other treadmills higher up on this list. 

It's far from a perfect machine, as it doesn't feel overly robust and the app isn't particularly user-friendly, but considering the price, it's a good little treadmill that might be an ideal way for you to increase your step count in meetings and in front of Netflix. 

Read our full Walkingpad C2 review

Best for runners

5. Merach smart walking treadmill

The one to get for both walking and running options

Specifications

Product dimensions: 57.5 x 28.9 x 4.4 in.

Maximum weight: 265 lbs

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

The Merach T05 is cheap compared to some of the entries on this list like the Lifespan model above, and it's perfect for those who want to get more bang for their buck by grabbing a device with a running mode attached. 

With the safety rail folded down, the device is in 'walking mode' in which you're able to walk up to a set speed of 3.7mph and use it with a standing desk to exercise while you work, chat in meetings, or just watching TV at home. 

On the other hand, when folded up, you're able to jog up to 7.5mph, controlling your speed and settings with either the remote control or the attached console. It won't interface with apps like Peloton on its own, but it does have an iPad holder if you want to follow along with classes. 

Best under-desk treadmills: At a glance

How to choose the best under-desk treadmill for you

What to consider when choosing the best under-desk treadmill for you

One of the first considerations you need to consider when buying an under-desk treadmill is the space you have. If you have the capacity for a standing desk, especially in a large office space, you might consider a heavy-duty under-desk treadmill such as the iMovR Thermotread or one of the LifeSpan models.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a slim treadmill to store behind the sofa when not in use, you might be better off looking at the Sunny Walkstation Slim or another model like the Xiaomi WalkingPad (not listed in this guide). 

Your second consideration should be price, which is closely tied to space, how much you intend to use the machine, and even your weight. Generally speaking, the more expensive the machine, the more punishment it will take. 

Looking to jump on it for an hour or so a day to increase your steps in the evening? Get a cheaper model. Will you be using it consistently, every day? It could be worth spending more and opting for a heavier-duty model such as the Lifespan entries, which are more durable and have higher weight capacities. 

Does price matter when buying an under-desk treadmill?

Yes – and no. Because the best under-desk treadmills only need to go a few miles an hour, they're not necessarily 'high performance' machines in the same way other treadmills are. So, if you're just buying a walking pad for home use and you're an individual of light-to-average weight, the Bluefin model would most likely fit the bill. 

However, its best to check the weight restrictions on cheap machines. More expensive ones tend to be heavier-duty, and some of the very cheap entries like the Kingsmill tend to have a slender weight limit of 220lbs, or 100kgs. Heavier individuals looking to increase their step count and lose weight would benefit from a sturdier machine, which will also handle more intense workouts and come with better features as a couple of added bonuses.

How we test the best under-desk treadmills

 We’re walking (and running) on each treadmill for an extended period of time, testing it up to its top speed. We use both running shoes and flat-soled shoes to check comfort levels, as walking treadmills should have adequate cushioning for extended use with pretty much any footwear.

We’re checking the response of the safety key, ensuring the treadmill halts in a timely manner in case of an emergency. We look at how responsive the remote is, and rate how easy the treadmill is to control from your desk. 

We also check out any other features it might purport to have, such as Bluetooth capabilities, functions of the console, and dedicated interval workouts. Read more about how we test here.

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