The 7 Best Under-Desk Treadmills, Tested and Reviewed by Fitness Editors

ProsLong belt for all strides App doubles as a remoteHas an inclineConsThe speed doesn't go past 4 mphAfter testing and reviewing a handful of under-desk treadmills, the Merach Walking Pad gets top honors in our guide for a few reasons: It’s affordable, is light at 68.3 pounds for easy handling, has a long 41.3-inch belt, and goes up to 4 miles per hour. It also has a handy remote control that allows you to adjust the speed, while the display tracks distance, time, and calories burned.Multiple Women’s Health editors and contributors, including myself and fitness writer Nicolette Accardi, NASM-CPT can attest that it doesn’t skimp on quality. It feels sturdy and secure, even while walking on it for close to an hour at a time. That said, if there is an issue, it’s good to know that it comes with a one-year warranty.I’ve been testing this treadmill for months and find it reliable, easy to move around, and not a total eyesore in my apartment. (Although I store it under my couch when not using it.) Since I don’t have a standing desk, I primarily use it while taking calls, listening to podcasts, brainstorming, and sometimes just looking out the window. Accardi uses hers to rack up steps at the office and says it’s nearly silent at a low-speed setting.You can also download the Merach app, although it’s worth noting that it’s not highly rated in the App Store (2.8 stars), and for that reason, I decided not to try it myself. But Accardi uses it and says she likes that it doubles as a remote. Keep in mind that you can only choose from three built-in speed settings.Read More: Merach Walking Pad ReviewFeatures at a GlanceWalking Surface16.5 x 41.3 in.Weight68.3 lbsMaximum Speed4 mphIncline?YesProsFive percent inclineShorter belt makes it more compact Whisper quietConsShort belt may not be great for all walking stridesLow speed settingsWhat makes the Egofit Walker Pro shine compared to our best overall pick is its 5 percent incline, which WH contributor Isabel McMahon says stood out to her. “Even when I’m walking at a slower speed like 1.5 mph, I can still feel like I’m getting a solid workout,” she says.After testing it for three months, she says she can’t imagine her workday without it and that it boosts her productivity. “I definitely felt more productive using the walking pad because it kept me feeling alert,” McMahon says. “When the afternoon slump hit around 2 p.m., turning on the treadmill gave me an energy boost and the mental reset I needed to power through the rest of the day’s tasks.”Another standout feature of this model, per McMahon, is that it’s quiet. “My coworker, who sits right across from me, didn’t even realize I was using it until I mentioned it,” she says. (FWIW, I found the Merach to be a little noisy—my fiancé could hear me using it from the next room.)McMahon also notes that it's compact and easy to use thanks to the remote control. “The wheels on the front make moving it around a breeze—even in my small workspace,” she says. It connects to an app that McMahon says is straightforward and functional if you prefer managing speed settings through your phone.It has a short belt at just over 34 inches and has the lowest speed settings compared to other options on this list.Read More: Best Standing Desks For Walking PadsWalking Surface16.54 x 34.25 in.Weight48.5 lbsMaximum Speed3.1 mphIncline?YesAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowCredit: Nicolette AccardiProsHas foldable handle to help maintain balance Six levels of inclineFast enough to jogConsBulky and heavier than other options For beginners who need something to hold onto while jogging or fast walking, the Sunny Health & Fitness Treadpad is your best bet. The foldable handle provides stability and also doubles as a device holder to support your phone or tablet.The belt is 58 inches to accommodate long strides, while there are six levels of incline to simulate a small hike while grinding. It goes up to six miles per hour, which is about a 10-minute mile if you choose to jog during your work breaks.WH associate health and fitness editor Addison Aloian, NASM-CPT says it’s a low-effort way to get moving at the office. “This walking pad is really easy to walk on when I work because it goes pretty slowly at its lowest setting,” she says. “It also has a pretty great incline for extra hamstring work.” Her only complaint is that it's a bit bulky and hard to move around (it weighs 79 pounds), although it does have wheels at the front.Walking Surface58.2 x 26.4 in.Weight79 lbsMaximum Speed6 mphIncline?YesPros12% incline—rare for an under-desk treadmillFolds up easily with front wheels for simple storage in small spacesSturdy feel with a quiet motorConsCompanion app can be clunky when adjusting speed or inclineReviews Director Christian Gollayan recommends this option for under-desk treadmill users who want a model that provides enough incline to work up a sweat session, but can still fit in a tiny space. It goes up to a 12 percent incline, which is hard to find in this category, and goes up to 4 miles per hour. “It doesn’t replace a StairMaster at the gym, but it really gets me sweating while I’m watching TV,” Gollayan says.It's surprisingly apartment-friendly at 23 inches wide. The CyberPad folds up easily for storage and has two front wheels that are easy to roll out. Gollayan notes that while it's on the heavier side at 63 pounds, that heft works in its favor. "It feels sturdy, not like it's going to fall apart if I pick up the pace," he says. The motor runs relatively quietly (a must for most NYC apartments), and the long power cord makes it easy to position in a small living space. Aesthetic details like the LED lights flanking the belt give it a sleek look.The CyberPad also comes with a remote and pairs with the Urevo app, though Gollayan prefers using the former. “The app can be a little clunky when adjusting speed or incline, so I usually just use the remote,” he says. Still, compared to many other under-desk treadmills we’ve tested, this one feels noticeably more premium.Features at a GlanceWalking Surface‎43 x 23 x 6 in.Weight63 lbsMaximum Speed4 mphIncline?YesAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowProsEasy assemblyWireless remoteEasy-to-read displaySince using an under-desk treadmill requires a standing desk, it makes sense to consider a bundle where the two integrate seamlessly, such as the Uplift Treadmill Desk. “What I like most about the Uplift setup, which includes a walking pad and a standing desk, is how easily it transforms a home office into a fitness zone,” says copyeditor Deanna Martin.Fitting movement into the time we’d normally spend sitting at a desk is one of the biggest benefits of a walking pad/standing desk set-up, and this setup makes it easy to accumulate steps throughout the workday. “The walking pad lets me fit in a power walk up to 4 mph whenever I have a few free minutes, helping me stay on top of my daily step goal,” Martin says. The walking pad also offers enough of an incline that Martin feels she can push herself when she wants to. “When I want more of a challenge, I can raise the incline up to 7 percent for an uphill workout.”The Uplift V3 standing desk in this bundle features plenty of tech and convenience in its own right, too. Martin loves how much she can dial in her ergonomics throughout the day, even as her positions changed. “The standing desk offers plenty of height adjustment at the touch of a keypad, so it’s easy to switch positions throughout the day.” Martin also found the desk’s app (yes, the desk has its own app!) that tracks your daily standing progress and calorie burn helpful in motivating her to reduce sedentary time.The Uplift desk also features additional add-ons, like an under-desk hammock, which can take the aforementioned home office fitness zone to a recovery zone.Walking Surface48 X 22.5 in.Weight47.4 lbsMaximum Speed4 mphIncline?YesProsFoldable for easy storage Accommodates long strides Speed sensor adjusts to your stride ConsNo incline option Low speed thresholdThe WalkingPad is the most compact under-desk treadmill we’ve seen—it folds 180 degrees to 32 inches to stash away under a couch or bed. When full-length, it’s 56 inches—ironically, the longest on this list. So, keep that in mind if you’re in a tight space.As if we couldn’t get more impressed, it has a built-in speed sensor that automatically adjusts to your stride for up to 3.75 miles per hour. If you’re not down for that, the featured remote or smartphone app has a manual mode you can control. Just note there’s no incline option.Walking Surface21.5 x 56.5 in.Weight62 lbsMaximum Speed‎3.75 mphIncline?NoAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowPros12 preset speed settingsAccommodates long strides Quiet motorCan’t be bothered to manually adjust the speed? The GoYouth 2-In-1 Under-Desk Treadmill features 12 preset speed settings that can be controlled with a remote. It goes up to six miles per hour, slightly less than the GoPlus. Executive editor Abby Cuffey loves it for brisk walks after dark. "It's sturdy, and I love that it stands up on its own when I'm not using it, so I can easily stash it," she says.The belt is on the longer side for the under-desk treadmill at 49 inches, so be conscious of the space you may need.Walking Surface49 x 21.6 in.Weight50 lbsMaximum Speed6 mphIncline?NoCaitlin is a health and fitness journalist based in New York City. In addition to Women's Health, she writes for publications including The Wall Street Journal and Runner’s World. She's completed 12 marathons, including the six World Marathon Majors, is semi-fluent in French, and volunteers as a greeter on The High Line. Follow her on Instagram or LinkedIn. Natascha is an editor and writer covering health, fitness, and the ways people move through the world. She’s been a NASM-certified personal trainer for more than a decade, with a background in functional strength training, corrective exercise, nutrition, and behavior change. She has additional CES, CNC, BCS, and SFC certifications. She is also a level-2 certified Spinning instructor. Her work has appeared in Bicycling, Runner’s World, and other outlets, and her experience spans both editorial and hands-on work across the fitness industry. Whether she’s writing about training, health, or performance, she’s most interested in making complicated topics useful, approachable, and helpful.