5 Best Treadmill Desks of 2024 - The Good Gear

I’ve been working remotely for the better part of the last two decades. As a freelance writer with three kids born in the span of two years, I was moving more than I was sitting those first few years as a working mom. Most of what I wrote during that time was typed on my laptop at the kitchen counter while I was standing up rocking a baby, drafted on my phone while I was pushing them on swings at the park, or hastily completed in a few hour’s time after they went to bed with the efficiency only a busy working mother can really understand.

Once my kids started school, I found myself moving less and sitting more. Somehow when my kids were gone for longer hours of the day, I was actually less productive and less healthy feeling at work. I needed to move while I was working.

“In our increasingly remote and sedentary work culture, staying active is more important than ever.”

In our increasingly remote and sedentary work culture, staying active is more important than ever. While the common adage, “sitting is the new smoking,” may be a bit of an exaggeration, prolonged sitting has been linked to various health issues, from obesity to heart disease.

Fortunately, there’s a simple solution that can significantly improve your health: standing and walking desks. Research conducted by the Mayo Clinic and the British Journal of Sports Medicine has demonstrated that using a standing desk or incorporating walking breaks throughout the day can counteract the negative effects of prolonged sitting. According to the journal Preventive Medicine, treadmill desks have the potential to reduce sedentariness at work while reducing workplace stress and improving your mood.

Under-desk treadmills (also sometimes called walking pads) are usually designed for walking, but some can also accommodate slow jogging, only not at the high speeds as standard treadmills. Before choosing an under-desk treadmill, consider how much room you have available, whether you need to be concerned with how much noise your treadmill makes, as well as stability and max weight capacity. And find the best angle for you — some viral TikTok walking workouts suggest that you should walk at an incline, but most foldable desk treadmills don’t offer that feature.

Read on for the best treadmill desks. For standing desk options we’ve got you covered with these nontoxic and sustainable wood desks, as well as ADHD chairs if you find yourself fidgeting often.

1. WalkingPad

If your TikTok algorithm is anything at all like mine, then you’ve probably seen dozens of videos of the WalkingPad from KingSmith. The WalkingPad is ideal for anyone who already has a standing desk they like and just needs a treadmill. This BYOD (Bring Your Own Desk) treadmill has a sleek and compact design that’s ideal for smaller home offices since it’s foldable and weighs just over 60 pounds. If you don’t already have a desk, KingSmith also offers an adjustable desk that you can use with the WalkingPad. The treadmill comes in various colors, including red and yellow. For more details, check out our review of the WalkingPad.

Customer Review | “So happy with my walking pad! The weather has been terrible and I haven’t been able to walk outside. I don’t have enough room in my house for a treadmill. When I saw how these walking pads fold up, I was so excited. When not in use, I tuck it into a corner. When I’m ready to use it, it slides out easily, I unfold it, plug it in, and it’s ready to go. I set up the app but don’t use it, I just use the remote. The walking pad feels sturdy. The only negative I could say is that the speed options are in .5 increments. I’d prefer .1 increments but it’s not a big deal. Overall, I rate it 5 stars.” – Lindsay B. (Read all reviews.)

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2. Goplus

The Goplus under-desk treadmill promises a robust steel frame for stability, adjustable height, and a spacious workspace. The quiet motor ensures minimal noise and two speeds allow you to use the treadmill to walk or to run, and the treadmill weighs just under 70 lbs for easier storage. The running area on the belt is a little larger than some other treadmills (40″x16″), so users with longer strides are less likely to fall off. The Goplus also offers an LED that displays time, speed, distance, and calories, plus Bluetooth speakers that let you play music or other audio from your phone. Plus, the unit comes in seven different colors (including champagne)!

Customer Review | “Great for use with a standing desk! It helps me get in steps at home when its freezing cold out or I want to get some work done at the same time.” – Maggie Lakebrink (Read all reviews.)

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3. Sunny Health & Fitness

The Sunny Health & Fitness Treadpad is an affordable option that doesn’t sacrifice quality. It’s foldable and compact so you can easily fit it under a couch when not in use. The unit also features a 14”x5” LCD monitor to track your progress. With a speed range of 0.5 – 3.75 mph, Sunny’s treadmill is designed for walking and light jogging, and you can adjust the speed with the included remote control. It’s the lightest treadmill on this list at just over 55 lbs, and also features rollers to help you move it out of the way if you choose to sit at your desk. Easy peasy!

Customer Review | “We wanted a walking tread for our home gym and it does the job. Very happy with the product. works as advertised and does elevate as well” – Michael B. (Read all reviews.)

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4. InMovement

Best For | Cubicles
Features | Small space design, free shipping, auto shut-off, lifetime warranty for frame, three-year warranty for motor, two-year warranty for parts
Max Speed | 3.72 mph
Max Weight Capacity | 400 lbs
Prices Starting At | $3,938

The InMovement Unsit treadmill fits under standing desks that have at least 40″ of space between the legs, and can be purchased with or without the compatible desk. While the Unsit doesn’t fold up, it’s shorter and wider and boasts more usable walking space, making it more comfortable for longer walking/working times, and is great for people with large desks that have more than one monitor. The Unsit is specifically engineered for max efficiency at 2 mph or less, which is what makes it more durable and also quieter than other treadmills that operate at higher speeds. (It measured at 42.9dB at ear level on hard floors, which is just under the noise of a refrigerator.) The InMovement also supports more weight than many of the other popular under-desk treadmills, although it weighs 162 lbs — if you want a treadmill that you can move easily, you might prefer others on this list.

Customer Review | “I’ve been using the desk treadmill and wobble stool for a few weeks and LOVE both. The extra width on the walking platform is helpful as my balance is a little off while I recover from foot surgeries. Walking very slowly is helping me strengthen my feet and become more active after months of non weight bearing after the foot surgeries, and the simple controller is way to use. I’m looking forward to using the Unsit for many years – it was worth the investment for me. I also bought the wobble stool & love being able to move my body even when I’m sitting.” – Annie Campanile (Read all reviews.)

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5. LifeSpan GlowUp

LifeSpan is a trusted brand known for its durable treadmill desks and under-desk bikes, if that’s more your style. The LifeSpan GlowUP is the brand’s under-desk treadmill that comes fully assembled, and features six impact-absorbing shocks for durability and noise reduction. LifeSpan offers a choice between what it calls a Retro Console that shows distance traveled, calories burned, walking time, and step count, or an Omni Console that shows time, date, speed, distance, exercise time, calories, steps, and a workout summary. This treadmill weighs 117 lbs, but has wheels for easy moving if you want to swap it out for a chair.

Customer Review | “I am so happy with my treadmill/ desk combo. I am the opposite of impulsive. I basically have been researching treadmill/ walking pad and standing desks for almost a year. It is like I have a new lease on life. I love my job but now I can’t wait to start working & walking. I have increased my daily step count by 10k steps a day when I am working. I love it. It is quiet and not even one client has been able to hear the motor. If sitting is the new smoking- I just quit. Also in my anal retentive ways I was stuck between two desks lifespan offers I emailed back and forth with customer service the spoke to a lovely lady on the phone. I would highly recommend the company.” – Alison F. (Read all reviews.)

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