The best under-desk treadmills, also known as walking pads, are a great way to add more activity into your day. Walking while you work reduces the amount of time you spend sedentary and can help you hit your fitness goals and boost your mood — we find a walk is the perfect way to break out of the afternoon slump, and being able to do that walk without leaving your desk is very convenient.
Under-desk treadmills are designed for walking, rather than running, and have space-saving designs that allow you to store them flat so they’re much easier to hide away after use than a full treadmill. They also differ from full-size treadmills in that they usually don’t have a large display or a console with handles, and their top speed is much lower as well.
It's hard to know which treadmill performs best until its in your home. That's why we’ve tested a variety of the best under-desk treadmills to help you find the perfect model for you, using them alongside a standing desk to walk while working.
Our top under-desk treadmill pick overall is the Bluefin Fitness Task 2.0 which we found very easy to set up and use, but it’s not your only option, with more budget-friendly and space-saving picks also on our list for you to consider.
Quick list
The Bluefin Fitness Task 2.0 is affordable, easy to install, and comes with a handlebar for stability. It has a high top speed of 5mph, a built-in LCD screen for workout metrics, and a companion smartphone app for recording your sessions.
The WalkingPad P1 doesn’t have a screen to show you your pace, distance, and time on the treadmill itself, but still delivers a great experience at a lower price than most rivals.
The WalkingPad A1 Pro can be folded in half and easily stowed away. It comes with an in-built display for metrics, and also works in manual and automatic modes and companion app.
The GoPlus 1HP Walking Treadmill offers impressive specs for its low price, and it has 12 built-in workout programs that automatically change the speed of the treadmill as you walk, pushing you to pick up the pace as you work.
The WalkingPad C2 blends the integrated display from the A1 Pro with the compact, foldable design found on the P1. It doesn't feel as premium as the A1 Pro, with a more plastic feeling body, but a reasonable 3.7mph top speed.
Best under-desk treadmill overall
The Bluefin Fitness Task 2.0 under-desk treadmill is affordable, easy to install, and has a small handlebar for when you pick up the speed. It has a top speed of 5mph, making it one of the fastest under-desk treadmills we've tested, so it's ideal if you're into brisk indoor walks.
We found it was pretty easy to use — there’s an LCD screen at the top of the treadmill that shows you your pace, calories, distance walked, and time, plus you can connect the treadmill to the Kinomapp app on your phone via Bluetooth.
The treadmill can be controlled by its remote, which comes on a wristband that you can wear as you walk, or by the phone app. There are also six pre-set programs you can choose to follow, but we found these a little confusing, and all very similar.
The downside with this treadmill is the smaller belt, which might not be suitable for taller users. Our tester was 5'2" and found that when she wasn’t concentrating on walking, she tripped on the side panels once or twice, so taller users might need to look elsewhere.
- Read our full Bluefin Fitness Task 2.0 Treadmill review
Best value under-desk treadmill
WalkingPad makes several great under-desk treadmills, but the P1 is the most budget-friendly option in its range. It doesn't have a display for your workout metrics, and the motor is a little less powerful than others in the lineup, but it's a great option for the price.
It can be folded in half for easy storage, but since it has a fairly short power cord (six feet), you'll need to position it somewhere near an electrical outlet. And, despite the lack of a built-in display, you can adjust the settings with the remote, which has a small screen.
In theory, the motor is a little louder than on other WalkingPad models, but we couldn't notice the difference, and it's not noisy enough to disturb others. The companion smartphone app was a little buggy, although an update appeared to resolve most of our issues during testing.
- Read our full WalkingPad P1 review
Best folding under-desk treadmill
The WalkingPad A1 Pro has a foldable design, so you can easily store it away between uses, making it a great option if you're tight on space or need it out of sight when not in use. But that's not all it has going for it, as the higher maximum weight limit (300 lbs) means its also the best under-desk treadmill for heavy users.
The machine is fast to set up, has a remote control, and a screen on the front for workout metrics like distance walked, time, and speed. There are two modes; manual and automatic. In manual mode, you change the speed using the remote or KS Fit app on your smartphone.
In automatic mode, the belt speeds up or slows down depending on where you position yourself. Walk closer to the front, it speeds up; walk closer to the back, it slows down. Whichever mode you use, the treadmill is fairly quiet too.
During testing, we found the sound of the plastic end of our shoelaces smacking the belt during a walk was louder than the belt and motor in operation. While we’d still recommend headphones if you plan to walk while you’re on a call, the walking pad won’t disturb people in other rooms of the house.
Overall, this is a great option, although during testing we did find that the KS Fit app was a little glitchy, which was irritating. If you’re not all that bothered about recording your work walks, however, don’t let this put you off.
- Read our full WalkingPad A1 Pro review
Best budget under-desk treadmill
The GoPlus 1HP Walking Treadmill is the most affordable under-desk treadmill we've tested, but you wouldn't guess that from its performance, which matches far more expensive machines.
It's great for anyone looking to push themselves a little harder when walking, as there are 12 built-in programs. These programs automatically change the speed of the treadmill as you walk over 30 minutes, pushing you to pick up the pace as you work.
The treadmill also comes ready assembled, and located at the front of the treadmill is an easy-to-read LED touchscreen that displays time, speed, distance, and calories burned when using the tread. This LED touchscreen also allows you to operate the treadmill if you don't have the remote control to hand.
The downside here is that both the treadmill and the belt are pretty noisy. We found during testing that the belt was one of the loudest, and that the treadmill emitted a loud beep every time it turned on, or changed speed (we couldn’t find a way to turn this beep down).
If you’re working alone, this might not bother you too much, but if you’re planning on walking in an apartment block, or while other people are sleeping, you might want to look at some of the other options on this list.
- Read our full GoPlus 1HP Walking Treadmill review
Best compact under-desk treadmill
The main selling point when it comes to WalkingPad’s range of under-desk treadmills is the ability to, quite literally, fold the treadmill away when you’re not using it. Yet compared to the WalkingPad A1 Pro, it’s slightly smaller and slightly lighter. Unlike the WalkingPad P1, it has got a screen to show you all of your metrics on the move.
The WalkingPad C2 is pretty compact. Yet don’t let the size of the box fool you — the treadmill is heavy, and you’ll probably need a hand when it comes to wiggling it out of its packaging and moving it to your home office. Once it’s in situ, all you need to do is unfold it and plug it into the wall, and you’re ready to walk.
Compared to the WalkingPad A1 Pro, the WalkingPad C2 feels a little flimsier — hence the cheaper price. It’s got a thinner plastic border between the edge of the belt and the edge of the treadmill, although the belt didn’t feel too narrow when walking.
During testing, like the other WalkingPad treadmills, we found the app to be a little glitchy, and the automatic mode to be extremely difficult to grasp. It's a decent option for anyone short on space, but there are cheaper models on the market if you’re not bothered about it folding.
- Read our full WalkingPad C2 review
How we test the best under-desk treadmills
Each of our testers used the treadmills in their homes, walking on them during work. Our testers used the treadmills with a standing desk, to see how easy it was to walk when typing, as well as during phone calls and meetings, to see how disruptive it was for colleagues.
As walking treadmills are designed to be used in the home, we asked our testers for comments on how easy the treadmills were to assemble. We also asked for feedback on how easy they were to store or fold away, when they weren’t in use, and how safe they felt to walk on in the home.
How to choose the best under-desk treadmill
The best under-desk treadmill will be the one that fits your lifestyle and actually use regularly. To pick the right model for your goals, home, and needs, there are few factors to keep in mind before you buy.
Storage is an important consideration, as if you're juggling a work from home space alongside living areas, then you want a machine that'll tidy away between sessions. Generally, under-desk treadmills are easier to store than standard ones, but some models may also fold away or have a slimmer design if you're tight on space.
And if you want to use the treadmill while you're on a work call or when others are in the house, you'll need a machine that isn't too noisy. As under-desk treadmills don't reach very high speeds, they're not that loud, though we did think that the GoPlus 1HP was generated too much noise for shared spaces.
And, of course, you'll want to factor in the machine's top speed. None of the treadmills in our roundup go faster than 6mph, which is slightly faster than the average walking speed, but they're not really set up for jogging or running.
If you're still not sure if the experience of using an under-desk treadmill is for you, you might be interested in this article on 5 things I wish I’d known before adding a walking treadmill to my office setup.
FAQs
Are under-desk treadmills effective?
Like any piece of fitness equipment, an under-desk treadmill is only effective if you use it, but research has shown that they work in helping people to burn more calories as well as producing other positive mental and physical health outcomes.
A systematic review of 13 studies undertaken in 2021, published in the journal BMC Public Health, looked at the effectiveness of under-desk treadmills found that they increased energy expenditure and reduced sitting time compared with conventional desks.
Having such easy access to a treadmill removes one of the main barriers to being more active each day. While under-desk treadmills are not the best machine to buy if you’re looking to get really fit — you can burn more calories and increase your fitness more effectively with a traditional treadmill or an exercise bike — they are an effective way to increase your activity levels.
Are under-desk treadmills worth it?
Under-desk treadmills are best-suited to low-impact, low-intensity activities, like gentle walks and uphill strolls. They're a great way to move your body throughout the day, especially if you have a desk-based job.
To get the most benefit, you'd need to pair the under-desk treadmills with one of the best standing desks, as you can adjust your workstation to the correct height so that you don't have to slouch or bend over.
They're not very versatile machines, though. Unlike regular treadmills, they can't pull double-duty for high-intensity runs, although they do store away easier since they don't have large displays or handlebars.
Should I buy an under-desk treadmill or a treadmill?
Whether you opt for a walking pad or a treadmill depends on your use case. Treadmills, like you'd find at the gym, are larger, more expensive, and much more feature-rich.
hey have handles and often built-in screens that show exercise classes you can follow, and treadmills have a much higher top speed (usually 8-12mph) than under-desk treadmills, along with a large incline range to simulate uphill and even downhill running. Treadmills also have bigger motors to power all these features.
If you’re a keen runner looking to do your training at home, a treadmill is the better buy, but you will have to spend more and think about where you’re going to put it — even a folding treadmill is not as compact as an under-desk treadmill that lies completely flat.
Under-desk treadmills are more convenient and cheaper, and if you’re aiming to rack up some steps through brisk walks they are a great option. They also run more quietly than treadmills, so you can use them for walking during meetings — in general under-desk treadmills are better for multitasking during your walk. Then once you’re done an under-desk treadmill is thinner, lighter and much easier to tuck away somewhere than a full home treadmill.
How long should you walk on an under-desk treadmill?
Walking on an under-desk treadmill is a moderate-intensity activity that shouldn’t make you too tired or sweaty, so you can use it for long stretches each day to help hit your overall activity targets. The US Department of Health recommends that adults do 150-300 minutes of moderate activity a week, and you could certainly use an under-desk treadmill to help hit that goal.
If you’re looking to hit 10,000 steps a day, that’s usually about 90 to 120 minutes of walking depending on your speed, and using an under-desk treadmill is a great way to get extra steps done during the day even if you don’t do all 10,000 on the machine.
How long you spend on the treadmill will also depend on your current fitness, and if you are very active already you could spend most of your working day walking, while those who are newer to fitness might be better off limiting their use to 30-minute spells.
Can you lose weight using an under-desk treadmill?
You can use an under-desk treadmill to lose weight. Just like any activity, walking on an under-desk treadmill burns calories and if you adjust your lifestyle so that you consistently end up in a calorie deficit — where you’re burning more than you consume — then you will probably start to lose weight over time.
However, if weight loss is your main aim, bear in mind that walking on an under-desk treadmill is not going to burn as many calories as higher-intensity activities like running, cycling or playing sports. The amount of calories you burn while walking depends on your own physiology and the speed you’re walking — if you wear one of the best smartwatches with a heart-rate monitor you can get more accurate info on the calories you’re burning during an activity.
To lose weight you also need to consider your diet and other lifestyle factors, but walking on an under-desk treadmill is certainly a good way to add extra activity into periods of the day when most people are usually sedentary, and that will support your weight loss efforts.
What is the weight limit on an under-desk treadmill?
You can see in our round-up that under-desk treadmills will usually have a max user weight of at least 220lbs, with some machines having a higher limit of 300lbs. Generally the more you pay the sturdier the machine you get, and a higher weight limit as a result.
If you need a higher max weight then it might be worth looking at one of the best treadmills instead, because they are larger and more robust machines that often have weight limits of 300-400lbs.
Can you put an under-desk treadmill on carpet?
If you have a low-pile carpet and your under-desk treadmill is quite light, then you should be able to use it on carpet without any problems. However, for deeper carpets and heavier machines, or just to be safe in general, having a heavy duty exercise mat underneath the treadmill will protect your floors and carpet.
Using a mat will also protect the treadmill if you do have a deep-pile carpet, because it will stop dust and fibers getting into the treadmill and potentially damaging its internal machinery.
