Out of Space, in Shape: The 8 Best Compact Treadmills of 2022

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 can a great 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.

• Best folding:ProForm City L6 Treadmill
• Best for runners: Horizon T101 Treadmill
• Best for apartments: Sunny Health & Fitness ASUNA Space Saving Treadmill
• Best with incline: ProGear 190 Manual Treadmill
• Best cheap treadmill: UREVO Portable Compact Treadmill
• Best lightweight: Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Compact Motorized Treadmill
• Bestfor under your desk:Goplus Under Desk Electric Treadmill
• Best with higher weight capacity: Exerpeutic TF1000 Walk to Fitness Electric Treadmill

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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.

Best compact folding treadmill

ProForm City L6 Treadmill

ProForm is known for balancing features with price, and the City L6 is a perf example of that balance.

This foldable treadmill is set up to use with iFit, so you have unlimited access to trainer-led classes if you decide to opt into an iFit membership. Trainers can even adjust your speed for you so that 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 compact treadmill for runners

Horizon T101 Treadmill

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.

Heads up: This one folds *up,* not down. So, while you’ll get some extra room when you’re not using it, you won’t be able to hide it under your bed or couch.

Best compact treadmill for apartments

Sunny Health & Fitness ASUNA Space Saving Treadmill

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. That’s why it’s our pick for peeps livin’ in apartments — you’re not wasting any space when you’re not using this lovely little tread.

There aren’t any fun connected fitness options, but it does have a tablet holder and built-in speakers so that 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 with incline

ProGear 190 Manual Treadmill

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!)

We love this option for squeezing in those TikTok-inspired hot girl walks because you can put it pretty much anywhere and still get the benefits of walking on an incline. It’s also cheap AF, so it’s a good intro treadmill for peeps that aren’t 100 percent sure a treadmill is for them.

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. Others are annoyed that there’s nowhere to put a tablet, but luckily you can just stick it in front of your TV if you’re in the mood to Netflix and chisel. 😉

Best cheap compact treadmill

UREVO Portable Compact Treadmill

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. It’s also the cheapest motorized treadmill on this list.

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 lightweight compact treadmill

Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Compact Motorized Treadmill

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.

The only thing to consider is that it folds up, so you can’t hide it under your bed or couch when you’re not using it.

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 compact treadmill for under your desk

Goplus Under Desk Electric Treadmill

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

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.

Compact treadmills may be great 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 not a great choice 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.

Here’s how to choose the right 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).

What’s the most compact treadmill?

The most compact treadmill on our list is the ProGear 190 Manual Treadmill. A huge reason it’s so tiny is that it’s a manual treadmill, which means it doesn’t require a power source to use (kind of like a hamster wheel).

If you’re not into manual treadmills, your next best option is the Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Compact Motorized Treadmill, which has a teeny tiny footprint of 49.5 x 26.5 x 47 in. Just keep in mind that this folds up, so you can’t store it under your bed or couch when you’re not using it.

Are small treadmills as good as large treadmills?

It depends on what you’re planning on using your treadmill for.

If you’re a serious runner looking to use a treadmill regularly, a compact treadmill might not have a strong enough motor or reach high enough speeds for your needs. Most compact treadmills can only reach 7.5 to 8 mph.

But if you’re mostly interested in walking or running at lower speeds, a compact treadmill is a great option. They’re also cheaper than larger treadmills, making them a great option for beginners.

Which treadmill is best for apartments?

We recommend the Sunny Health & Fitness ASUNA Space Saving Treadmill for apartments.

This little guy reaches speeds up to 8 mph and only weighs 90 lbs. We also love that its folded dimensions are so compact — its profile when folded down is just a hair over 5 inches, so you can store it under your couch or bed when you’re not using it.

What is the best folding treadmill for walking?

We recommend the ProGear 190 Manual Treadmill for walking. It’s super inexpensive, lightweight, and has two incline options to take your walking workouts to the next level.

We also love the Goplus Under Desk Electric Treadmill for walking. You can just stick it under your standing desk to get your 10K steps while you’re WFH.

Is a folding treadmill worth it?

Yes! Folding treadmills give you back some space when you’re not using your treadmill. That means more room for cross-training, your desk, or a guest bed.

We recommend taking a closer look at whether the treadmill folds up or down, though. Both are convenient, but treadmills that fold up can take up more space because you can’t stick them under your couch or bed when not in use.

Compact treadmills can be great 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.