6 Small Walking Treadmills That Are Perfect for Seniors

Home treadmills come in all sorts, ranging greatly in terms of size, power, and features.

And there’s no doubt that a powerful motor and a jumbo HD touchscreen can be great, but all these bells and whistles may not be necessary for seniors simply looking for a small walking treadmill to get their steps in from the comfort of home.

Walking treadmills are actually a great way for seniors to maintain mobility, improve cardiovascular health, and stay active without putting too much unwanted stress on joints.

And when done correctly, it can also be one of the safest forms of exercise for seniors.

That said, with so many options on the market these days, finding the right treadmill can be overwhelming.

Fortunately, I’m here to help.

In this guide, we’ll go over the best small walking treadmills for seniors, but we’ll also provide tips on what to look for when comparing options.

After reading, seniors and caregivers alike will be ready to find the right treadmill to meet their needs.

	Footprint	Running Surface	Motor	Warranty
1. NordicTrack T Series 5	69″ x 31″	18″ x 55″	2.6 CHP	10 year frame 1 year parts 1 year labor
2. Horizon T101	71″ x 34″	20″ x 55″	2.5 CHP	Lifetime frame 1 year parts 1 year labor
3. XTERRA TRX1400	65″ x 31″	18″ x 50″	2.25 HP	Lifetime frame 90 day parts 90 day labor
4. XTERRA WS200	62″ x 31″	16″ x 50:	2.5 HP	Lifetime frame 90 day parts 90 day labor
5. SHF SF-T722021	56″ x 28″	17″ x 47″	2.0 HP	3 year frame 6 month parts
6. REDLIRO Walking Treadmill	51″ x 25″	16″ x 42″	2.25 HP	1 year

A Quick Word on Small Walking Treadmills

Before we get too far into this, I want to make sure we’re all talking about the same thing here.

After all, “small” is a very subjective term, which can mean a lot of different things.

So, let’s set some ground rules for the treadmills we’ll be discussing here.

For starters, consider that the average home treadmill takes up a footprint of roughly 6-7 ft by 3 ft.

In the world of home fitness equipment, this isn’t huge, but it’s still a fair chunk of floor space – especially for smaller homes.

So, in my mind, a “small” treadmill would be any machine with a footprint less than 6′ x 3′.

This still leaves a lot of wiggle room, as there are a lot of treadmills in various sizes that fit within this criteria.

That said, we’re here to talk about treadmills specifically for seniors, so there will be other criteria necessary to make this list, including the presence of an upright console and safety rails.

This eliminates a lot of the folding walking pads and under-desk treadmills that have become so popular.

Not that these little treadmills can’t be great, but I don’t think they’re the best options for seniors in general, who tend to require a little more support when walking.

To summarize, the treadmills mentioned in this guide will:

• Have a footprint of less than 6′ x 3′
• Include a console and safety rails
• Have impressive performance specs (as mentioned below)

The 6 Best Small Walking Treadmills for Seniors

#1 NordicTrack’s T Series 5

NordicTrack’s a popular brand that we’re all likely familiar with and they’ve got a lot of great cardio machines to choose from.

The treadmill listed here in the top spot is part of NordicTrack’s older T Series though, so you won’t find it being offered through NordicTrack directly anymore.

But they’ve become so popular, so you can still get them on Amazon.

Anyway, the T Series 5 comes with an assembled footprint of 69″ x 31″, so it’s certainly compact for a treadmill.

Now this isn’t a folding treadmill, so you have to make sure you have enough floor space to keep it out at all times.

But with an 18″ x 55″ running surface and a 2.6 CHP motor, the T Series 5 comes with great space and power for a walking treadmill.

And with a top speed of 10 mph, users could do some jogging as well if the need arose.

This treadmill comes with a very simple console, but it can incline up to a 10% slope and it’s also iFit compatible using your own tablet or smart phone (membership required).

NordicTrack’s warranty isn’t bad either, considering the $600 price: 10 year frame, 1 year parts, 1 year labor.

Oh, I should also point out that NordicTrack treadmills are known for having some of the most cushiony, low-impact decks in their price range.

Overall, I could see the T Series 5 being a great choice for seniors looking for an affordable walking treadmill that doesn’t take up a ton of space.

#2 Horizon’s T101

Ok, so the T101 just barely makes the cut to be considered a small treadmill (based on the rules mentioned above), but Horizon’s a great brand and this is one of the best treadmills in this price range, so I figured I’d include it.

But if it’s a little too big, I understand.

Specifically, the T101 has a footprint of 71″ x 34″, so it’s just under that 6′ length, but unlike the treadmill mentioned above, this one can fold for storage.

Folded, this treadmill only takes up a footprint of 46″ x 34″, saving a lot of floorspace when not in use.

When it comes to performance, the T101 has a 20″ x 55″ running surface, allowing for ample space while walking.

And with a 2.5 CHP motor, this treadmill has plenty of strength for walking (and even some light jogging).

Additional highlights include a spacious console, a handful of workout programs, a 10% incline, bluetooth speakers, a cooling fan, and convenient easy-dial speed/incline controls.

And with a lifetime frame guarantee (1 year parts and labor), Horizon offers one of the longest warranties you’ll find on a $600 treadmill.

Oh, the T101 also has a step-up height of only 7 1/8″, making easier to step on/off of than a lot of other home treadmills.

Overall, the T101 is a well-built treadmill with loads of great features for the price. If you’ve got the floorspace, it’s definitely worth checking out.

#3 XTERRA’s TRX1400

XTERRA’s another great brand, known for offering affordable fitness equipment that holds up surprisingly well.

They also offer longer warranties than you’d expect for such affordable machines.

XTERRA has a large lineup of treadmills and several of them could’ve been included on this list, but I went with the TRX1400 in the #3 spot because it has a wider belt and a higher weight limit.

More specifically, the TRX1400 comes with a running surface of 18″ x 50″, allowing plenty of room for comfortable walking for seniors of all heights.

This treadmill also comes with a 2.25 HP motor and a top speed of 10 mph, giving seniors a lot of control over their walking speeds.

And with a footprint of 65″ x 31″ (and the ability to fold), this treadmill won’t take up a ton of space.

The TRX1400 comes with 10 levels of power incline and 24 built-in workouts as well – which could be a big perk for folks who like to follow preset routines.

This treadmill does fold for storage and comes with a low step-up height (6.4″) for easy access.

With a weight limit of only 265 lb, the TRX1400 is better suited for smaller seniors.

The warranty for this treadmill could be better as well: lifetime frame, 90 day parts, 90 day labor.

But otherwise, I could see this treadmill being a good choice for seniors who like the idea of having plenty of built-in workout programs.

#4 XTERRA’s WS200

Yeah, I decided to put another XTERRA treadmill on this list because they just have a bunch of quality, compact treadmills.

The WS200 comes with a slightly smaller running surface and a slower top speed (8 mph), but it could still make a great walking treadmill.

And with a footprint of 62″ x 31″, it takes up less space than the TRX1400 mentioned above.

This treadmill also folds down flat to the ground, allowing you to store it under furniture and bring it back out when needed (built-in transport wheels make it easy to move) – a great feature for homes with shared exercise space.

This treadmill comes with a 2.5 HP motor, which is actually a bit stronger than the treadmill just mentioned, but it doesn’t come with any incline settings.

But this might not be a dealbreaker if you don’t plan on walking against inclines anyway.

The running surface on this model is a bit smaller too (16″ x 50″), but seniors will still have enough room for walking.

The console on this treadmill is very basic, but it does come with a USB charging ports and a large tablet holder for easy viewing during workouts.

The WS200 comes with the same 265 lb weight limit and same warranty as the TRX1400.

But with an asking price right around $500, the WS200 is certainly priced to move.

If you’re looking for a simple, affordable treadmill that’s easy to use, XTERRA’s WS200 could make a lot of sense.

#5 Sunny Health & Fitness’ SF-T722021

Sunny Health & Fitness (SHF) is another popular budget fitness brand with a ton of fitness products to choose from.

I mean they’ve gotta have hundreds of home fitness machines to choose from, it’s crazy.

And they usually don’t give their models specific names – they use seemingly random model numbers which can make it hard to tell different machines apart.

Regardless, the SF-T722021 (see what I’m talking about?) has a lot to offer seniors looking for a really small, really affordable treadmill.

This treadmill can fold flat to the ground for easy storage, but during use it only takes up a footprint of 56″ x 28″.

That’s less than 5′ long.

With a running surface of 17″ x 47″, this treadmill isn’t quite as spacious as some of the models mentioned above, but it should still provide enough room to walk comfortably.

And with a 2.0 HP motor, this treadmill is definitely designed for walkers as opposed to runners.

The console on this treadmill is minimalistic to say the least, but it does come with 15 workout programs, quick touch speed buttons, and a tablet holder.

The weight limit is a bit lower at 265 lb, but given how small and lightweight this treadmill is, this isn’t too surprising.

The biggest downside here is likely the warranty – SHF only backs this model with a 3 year frame, 6 month parts guarantee.

But again, as $500 treadmills go, you could do a lot worse.

Oh and there’s really no assembly necessary with this treadmill – simply unbox, unfold, and you’re ready to go.

Overall, the SF-T722021 is easy to use and easy to move, making it a good choice for seniors and caregivers looking for a simple, affordable walking machine.

#6 REDLIRO’s Walking Treadmill

The last treadmill I want to mention here is a tiny walking treadmill that’s been getting high ratings from users on Amazon.

REDLIRO is a budget brand that seems to specialize in really affordable treadmills and walking pads, but what really drew me to this one was the extra-long safety rails on each side of the deck.

I could see these coming in especially handy for seniors with more significant balance issues.

And with a footprint of only 51″ x 25″, this treadmill will be able to fit into a lot of tight spaces larger machines wouldn’t be able to.

Now that smaller size means a smaller running surface – 16″ x 41.5″ to be exact.

This is quite small, but again, walking is doable as long as you don’t sway too much from side to side (which the handrails can help with).

The 2.25 HP motor is respectable, as is the 300 lb weigh limit.

And the top speed of only 5 mph is more proof that this treadmill is really only designed for walking.

When it comes to the console, the REDLIRO comes with a basic LCD screen with 12 workout programs and heart rate monitoring.

The biggest downside here is the 1 year warranty, which is quite short, but honestly, this is to be expected for such an affordable treadmill (usually less than $400).

Overall, the REDLIRO is a small, affordable walking treadmill, but again, it’s the extended safety rails that I think seniors would like the most here.

Choosing a Walking Treadmill

Being small allows these treadmills to fit in smaller homes, but there are other considerations to make regarding performance too.

After all, we want a treadmill that is comfortable to walk on and that will hold up with repeated use.

Here are some of the most important specs to look for to ensure you choose a quality treadmill.

1. Running Surface

We’re still talking about walking treadmills here – “running surface” is just the term used to describe the size of the belt.

This spec tells you exactly how wide and long the usable belt space will be and it’s an important spec to consider when comparing options.

Now we’re here specifically looking for smaller models, but keep in mind that having a larger running surface tends to make for a more comfortable workout experience.

Walkers don’t need as much wiggle room as runners do, but you don’t want to feel like you’re going to step off the edge of the belt.

And you don’t want to feel like you’re having to shorten your stride with each step either.

When comparing options, I’d opt for the largest running surface your space requirements (and budget) will allow.

And for the sake of comparison, most quality full size treadmills come with a running surface in the 20″ x 60″ range.

Quality small walking treadmills often come with running surfaces in the 16-18″ x 40 – 50″ range – this allows for comfortable walking, while still taking up a lot less space than a full size model.

2. Motor

The motor powers every workout you’ll ever do on your treadmill, so it’s an important feature to check out before purchasing.

Generally speaking, having a stronger motor is beneficial when it comes to workout quality and longevity, but walkers don’t need quite as much horsepower as runners.

Higher-quality walking treadmills will come with motors in the 2 – 3 HP (horsepower) range.

That’s not to say you can’t walk on a treadmill with a weaker motor, just know that weaker motors will have to work harder to keep up (which can cause them not to last as long).

FYI, most home treadmills come with motors in the 2 – 4.25 HP range and 3 HP or higher is recommended for running.

3. Weight Capacity

The weight capacity tells you how much weight the treadmill can safely hold and it’s another key spec to look for.

First and foremost, you have to make sure the treadmill can safely hold any user.

But seeing higher weight limits often indicates better overall build quality as well.

Preferably, you should look for a treadmill that has a weight limit that’s at least 50 lb higher than the heaviest user when possible.

Seeing at least a 300 lb weight capacity is also a good sign.

4. Warranty

It’s always a good idea to examine the warranty program before making a purchase because this is your machine’s insurance plan.

Length of warranty often coincides with treadmill cost – more expensive treadmills come with longer warranties and cheaper models come with shorter warranties.

Higher-quality treadmills often come with warranties that are divided into a few parts:

• Frame – this part is the least likely to breakdown and thus comes with the longest guarantee. Quality treadmills come with lifetime frame warranties.
• Parts- this section covers most components not considered part of the frame and these warranties will vary greatly. Most home treadmills come with 1-5 years on parts coverage.
• Labor – this section covers the cost of having your treadmill repaired in case of an issue. This is always the shortest part with most brands only offering 1 year for labor.

Really small, really affordable treadmills may only offer a 1 year, all-inclusive warranty.

When in doubt, go for the treadmill with the better warranty coverage.

5. Features

Smaller treadmills don’t usually come with as many bells and whistles as the larger models, but you’ll still be able to make some decisions regarding console features.

If you want a simple machine with limited features, this will be easy to find.

At the same time, if you want speakers and built-in workouts, this can be found as well.

Common treadmill features include:

• Workout programs
• Built-in speakers
• Bluetooth heart rate monitoring
• Incline settings
• Cooling fans

When comparing treadmills, think about the features you may like to have during workouts.

Contraindications for Using a Treadmill

Treadmills are generally quite safe for seniors, assuming the proper safety precautions are put into place (holding on for stability, using a spotter, having assistance to get on/off as needed, etc).

But that doesn’t mean all seniors will be able to use a treadmill.

Some seniors might find treadmill use challenging or unsuitable due to specific health conditions including:

• Severe Arthritis or Joint Pain: Walking on a treadmill can be a low-impact form or exercise, but it can still aggravate pain if joint conditions are severe. Consider consulting a healthcare professional if you’re not sure your joints will be able to handle it.
• Heart Conditions: Individuals with cardiovascular issues should seek medical advice before starting a treadmill routine to avoid overexertion.
• Balance or Vertigo Issues: Seniors with significant balance problems may find treadmill use risky, especially without adequate support like handrails.
• Post-Surgery: If recovering from recent surgery (hip, knee, etc.), consult a doctor before beginning treadmill exercise.

Final Thoughts

Well, that about does it.

These days, there are tons and tons of these small walking treadmills to choose from, but I strongly encourage seniors to choose wisely.

This means comparing the performance specs and looking at things like the warranty, weight limits, and running surface sizes.

And of course budget is always a concern, but fortunately, all of the treadmills listed here are quire affordable.

Remember to consider safety and personal fitness needs as well when choosing the best treadmill for your home.

And again, don’t hesitate to consult your physician or local physical therapist for personalized advice regarding exercise equipment.

Feel free to leave any questions or comments below as well and I’ll get back to you shortly.