Best treadmills for small spaces: Compact models for apartments and condos
Live in a tiny studio apartment? Sharing a basement with six of your closest buddies? Trying to use that as an excuse to avoid working out at home? No dice! There are still ways to stay healthy and active without splurging on a gym membership in 2024 -- you just have to think outside the box.
If you live in a small space, there are two options for buying a treadmill that fits: You can invest in one that folds and stores away, or you can go for one that's simply smaller than your typical models. These compact treadmills may not be your best bet for top-speed sprinting, but they get the job done in a pinch.
"Extremely compact treadmills, like the models that fold in half and can be stored under a couch or bed, are best for individuals who plan on doing mostly walking or some light jogging," says personal trainer and studio owner Lauren George.
When it comes to compact treadmills, some of the best models are built for portability and ease of use. Whether you're interested in folding treadmills that can be easily stored in places like a closet or under your bed or simply want something small to sit under your home, we have something for you below.
We scoured reviews and trusted retailers to put together a list of the absolute best treadmills for small spaces in 2024. Shop both small and folding treadmills ahead to find the perfect piece of workout equipment for your home.
The best treadmills for small spaces in 2024
Ready to transform your home workouts without giving up all your free space? Here's a quick look at the best treadmills for small spaces on the market today.
- Walk and jog at your desk: Redliro Under Desk Treadmill
- Easiest to store: WalkingPad C2 Mini Foldable Walking Treadmill
- Space-saving: Goplus 2-in-1 Superfit Folding Treadmill
- Easy to assemble: Runow Folding Treadmill
- Above-average weight capacity: Sunny Health & Fitness T7643 Walking Treadmill
- Best foldable treadmill: XTERRA Fitness TR Folding Treadmill
Shop some of the best and most popular compact models for apartments and condos from Amazon and WalkingPad below.
Walk and jog at your desk: Redliro Under Desk Treadmill
Consider this under-desk treadmill if you work from home and want to get more movement into your daily routine.
This motorized walking and jogging treadmill offers 12 preset exercise modes, as well as the option to manually adjust the setting for your perfect workout.
This treadmill is currently $310 after a coupon, reduced from $470.
Easiest to store: WalkingPad C2 Mini Foldable Walking Treadmill
Do you work from home, but don't have a ton of space? This mini walking treadmill is the perfect size to slide under a standing desk. When it's not in use, this fitness machine can be folded to almost half its size for easy storage, so it's the best treadmill for a small space. And unlike many models, this one comes in five colors.
"If your goal is to up your daily step count without compromising your house decor, the compact WalkingPad is an excellent option!" George says. "You can fit it under a standing desk to accrue more steps while answering emails or hop on for a stroll while watching TV.
"The belt is also designed for maximum cushion and comfort."
This treadmill is currently $430, reduced from $599.
Space-saving: Goplus 2-in-1 Superfit Folding Treadmill
The name of the model isn't misleading! The 2-in-1 Superfit treadmill can be used as a traditional treadmill capable of reaching speeds of up to 7.5 mph, or folded down and used as a walking treadmill that will max out at 2.5 mph. The sturdy frame and shock-absorbing, multi-layer design will keep your workout quiet and comfortable.
This piece of home gym equipment would make a great addition to any home office for remote worker trying to get in their steps between (or even during) meetings. Just add a standing desk into the mix, and you're good to go.
It's available in an impressive seven colors, including a fun champagne. Prices vary by color. The price listed below is for the blue model. It's currently $270 after a coupon, reduced from $290.
Easy to assemble: Runow Folding Treadmill
This folding treadmill has three incline options and an LED monitor that tracks your speed, distance, calories burned, time and pulse while working out. This piece of gym equipment has a serious shock-absorbing system that protects your knees and ankles and takes only 15 minutes to assemble.
This treadmill is currently $520, reduced from $700.
Above-average weight capacity: Sunny Health & Fitness T7643 Walking Treadmill
The T7643 walking treadmill by Sunny Health & Fitness would make an excellent addition to your home gym. The treadmill boasts a 19.5-inch-wide surface for walking or running and an above-average weight capacity of 350 pounds. It's equipped with two bottle holders, and a space for your tablet or phone.
A good fit for speed walkers and light joggers, the T7643 walking treadmill can reach speeds up to 6 mph. The built-in digital monitor displays your burned calories, speed and distance covered while working out. This piece of home gym equipment's deck can be folded into the frame. Plus, it's on sale right now on Amazon.
Best foldable treadmill: XTERRA Fitness TR Folding Treadmill
This treadmill has a 16-inch by 50-inch running surface and a 250-pound weight limit. This treadmill offers an LCD display that tells you your speed, incline, time, distance, calories and pulse. It also offers 12 preset programs and three manual incline settings. If you're wondering whether or not this treadmill folds for easy storage while not in use -- the answer is "sure does!"
"This model features a max of 10 mph, which gives you plenty of room to play with your speed and gradually increase your intensity should you decide you're ready for it," certified personal trainer and director of the fitness company Your Future Fitness Andrew Blakey told CBS Essentials.
This treadmill is currently $315, reduced from $394.
Things to consider when shopping for a small-space treadmill
What exactly do you want to use your treadmill for? If you want to run on your treadmill, consider buying a folding model. George says that many folding treadmills "still have longer, more cushioned belts that are more ideal for running." Folding treadmills are also more ideal for those who don't have the best balance, as they have handles.
Under-desk treadmills, on the other hand, take up less space to begin with, so you may feel more inclined to leave them out all the time. They don't have handles, though.
And if you want the middle ground between both, pick up the ProGear 190 manual treadmill above. It's small enough to leave out and even has handles, but at the expense of being electric.
A final consideration is -- of course -- budget. As a function of their size, many of these small-space treadmills are pretty affordable to begin with. As is evidenced by our picks above, some of the best compact treadmills can be purchased for less than $500.
How we chose these treadmills
When picking the best treadmills for small spaces, we considered a number of important factors. The biggest ones on our radar were:
- Authentic reviews: We combed through verified customer reviews to ensure that real people like you have had a consistently good experience with these products.
- Expert recommendations: In order to set you up with the best treadmills available today, we spoke with experts George and Blakey for detailed insights on treadmills for small spaces.
- Star rating: If you care about high ratings from other shoppers like we do, you're in luck: all of these products have a four-star rating or higher.
- Your needs: We picked treadmills for a variety of needs. We found manual treadmills, electric treadmills, running treadmills, walking treadmills, and more.
