6 Best Low Ceiling Treadmills: Low Step-Up Height Treadmills

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Maybe you’re not too mobile and want a treadmill that’s easy to get on or maybe you have low ceilings and you need the lowest treadmill you can find. Here are the best home treadmills with a low step-up height.

A normal treadmill has a step up height of about 7” to 9”. The lowest step up height for any treadmill is about 3″ but there aren’t many treadmills with that height. 5″-6″ is a low enough step up height for most people and there is also a lot of different choices for different treadmills.

All the treadmills you can find below have a step up height of 6” or less. That can mean the difference between being able to step on it easily and not. It could also mean you can use it under a low ceiling or not.

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Xterra

Xterra is a great bet if you’re looking for a treadmill with low step-up height. All their models have a deck height of less than 6”. In fact they range from only 3.8” to 5.8”.  They have a big range of treadmills from small and cheap to big and, well not too expensive actually. Xterra is a great brand for affordable treadmills.

Since all their treadmills have a step up height of less than 6” and their lineup is pretty large, I won’t go into the details of all the different models here.

Not sure how to choose the right treadmill for you? Deck height can be important but it’s not the only thing to look for. Click here to find a complete guide on how to select the right treadmill for you.

All Xterra treadmills with less than 6” step up height. Here are all the models in the current lineup;

Let’s look at a few of those models in more depth.

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1.     TR150

The TR150 is an entry level treadmill with a very low step up height of only 3.3”. That’s the lowest step up height you’re going to find.

TR150 Specs;

• Outside dimensions; 28.75” (w) x 63.4” (l) x 51.4” (h)
• Belt dimensions: 16” x 50”
• 3.3” step up height
• 3 levels of manually adjustable incline
• 250 lbs. user weight limit
• 2.25 HP motor
• Folding deck for smaller storage

The TR150 is a relatively cheap and very compact treadmill. Combined with the low deck height, this is a treadmill that many people could easily fit at home.

It’s mostly useful for walking and light jogging though. If you want to run, it’s likely too small. The belt size doesn’t really allow for comfortable running if you’re of average height. If you’re 5’5 or less, you can make this work.

Suggested post: How big should my treadmill belt be?

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2.     TR6.6

This is the treadmill with the lowest deck height (5.2”) and a 20” by 60” belt. The competition with a similar step up height had slightly smaller belts which could be a problem for tall people. Combined with the other specs, this is a good treadmill for many people who are looking for an affordable home treadmill.

TR6.6 specs;

• Outside dimensions; 35” (w) x 78.9” (l) x 57.1” (h)
• Belt dimensions: 20” x 60”
• 5.2” step up height
• Automatic incline 0-15%
• 2.25 HP motor
• Folding deck for smaller storage

This is a great affordable treadmill if you’re looking for a large belt and a low step up height. There’s plenty of incline that’s adjustable with a button. The motor is good enough although certainly not overpowered.

Suggested: The Best Gym Equipment For Low Ceilings

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3.     TRX4500

The TRX3500, TRX4500 and TRX5500 have the biggest belts of the low deck height treadmills. The belts on all of those are 20” by 60” which is pretty much the standard for a commercial treadmill. This size belt is good even for tall people over 6’ to run on. They also all have decks that fold up for smaller storage. Combined with the other features we’ll dive into below, that means it’s a great range of treadmills for a consistent home runner.

TRX4500 Specs;

• Outside dimensions; 35.5” (w) x 77.2” (l) x 56.1” (h)
• Belt dimensions: 20” x 60”
• 5.8” step up height
• Automatic incline 0-15%
• 3.25 HP motor
• Folding deck for smaller storage

There are some differences between the three models but the belt size and step up height are all the same.

The TRX4500 is going to be in a sweet spot for many people. It has the same motor and frame as the more expensive TRX5500. The motor and frame are a bit better than the TRX3500 but it doesn’t cost too much more. The TRX5500 is quite a bit more expensive but you get a lot more features.

The TRX4500 gets a 7.5” LCD display on the console. The TRX5500 gets a 10.1” touchscreen and can connect to most popular fitness apps through Bluetooth.

So, if you need a big screen and connectivity, the TRX5500 is a good choice. If you just want to run, you can do that just as well on the TRX4500.

The TRX4500 is also great for High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) with it’s strong motor. HIIT is a great way to burn more calories in a short period of time and also improve your cardiovascular health. A good interval timer is going to make HIIT workouts much more enjoyable. Check out the GymNext Flex timer. It’s super easy to set up and control contrary to most other interval timers making the set up for any workout a breeze.

Want to know the best spots to put your treadmill. Click here for the best places.

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4.    Landice L7

Landice only focuses on high end treadmills. They are expensive but also very good. The Landice l7 is very quiet, has great customer support and will last for a long time. They might look relatively simple but there’s a lot going on under the hood.

Landice L7 specs;

• Outside dimensions; 35” (w) x 76” (l) x 59” (h)
• Belt dimensions: 20” x 58”
• 5.5” step up height
• Automatic incline 0-15%
• 4  HP motor
• Very quiet
• Made in USA
• Different control panels available

On the surface it seems like you’re paying a lot for not that many features. However, the quality of construction, the care that goes into them and the fact that they’ve been building treadmills for 40 years means that you are getting a very premium treadmill.

All the parts used are commercial quality so you’re getting the same experience as in your local health club. They use four ply belts which are low friction and last a long time.

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If you’re looking for a very good treadmill with low step up height, that lasts a long time, can handle everything you throw at it and comes with excellent customer service, this is the one to get. Yes it’s expensive but if you can afford it and will use your treadmill often, it’s a great option.

The user weight limit is enough for most people with 400 lbs. The deck is on the short side but if you’re less than 6’2 tall it won’t be a problem.

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5.    3g 80i

This option is good if you need a low step up height (although slightly higher than the average of this post but still lower than a normal treadmill. This is a great choice if you need a low step up height combined with great storage options.

3g 80i specs;

• Outside dimensions; 33” (w) x 74” (l) x 49” (h)
• Belt dimensions: 18.5” x 58”
• 6” step up height
• Automatic incline 0-15%
• 3  HP motor
• 325 lbs. user weight limit
• 11 mph top speed
• Folds completely flat

The party trick of this treadmill is how much it folds. The usual folding treadmill just pivots the deck so it frees up some floor space. The 80i folds much more than that. The whole front area with console, hand rails, etc, can all fold so you have an almost flat package that’s 9.75” high when you’re done. That means you can store it under a bed if there is enough clearance.

The belt is not the largest but people under 6’2 will be able to run on it comfortably although if you’re bigger than average, it can be a bit tight. The belt is a bit narrower than I’d like to see but, the handrails don’t extend very far so you don’t have to worry about fitting between them.

 The other specifications are decent. Nothing spectacular but will do the job perfectly fine for the majority of people.

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6.    True Fitness Z5.0/Z5.4

True fitness is another premium gym equipment brand. The Z5.0 is a treadmill that’s perfect for walking, light jogging and recovery.

True Fitness Z5.0 specs;

• Outside dimensions; 28” (w) x 68” (l) x 55” (h)
• Belt dimensions: 20” x 54”
• 5.5” step up height
• Automatic incline 0-15%
• 3  HP motor
• 400 lbs. user weight limit
• 12 mph top speed

It has a small footprint but also quite a short belt. So for taller people to run on, it’s not the best choice. This model really focuses on low joint impact through damping in the deck. These treadmills are really for bigger people who want to walk or maybe lightly jog to lose weight or recover from injuries.

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It looks  pretty sleek for a treadmill and is built very well so if this combination of factors is something that’s suits you, it’s a good option with low step up height although I think you can do better for the money, especially if you are taller and want to run.

The Z5.4 is very similar except it has a 2” wider belt so it’s even better suited for bigger people. The other specs are the same.

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How low should your treadmill be?

Do you even need a treadmill with low step up height? That depends on your situation.

There are two common reasons why you would want a low deck height;

• Your ceilings are low
• You have trouble getting on a high treadmill

Low ceilings

Low ceilings can be a problem in basements especially but there are a few other places where you can find them.

A treadmill of normal deck height (7”-9”), requires a ceiling height of: Your height +21”. If you’re 6’ tall, that means you need a minimum ceiling height of 7’9 to be able to run on your treadmill.

It’s a simple formula, just add your height +21. You can change your height so the only thing you can change is the things that go into the 21”;

• Deck height: The step up height of the treadmill.
• Headroom: When running you need some space between the ceiling and your head so you don’t bump it on every step.
• Extra headroom for incline: The incline raises the average deck height so you need about 5” extra to be able to incline the average treadmill to the highest setting without hitting your head.

The headroom can’t really be changed. You could reduce the incline you use but you want to be able to use the full capabilities of your treadmill so that’s not a great option either.

That means the only thing you can really do to reduce the ceiling height requirement is to get a treadmill with a lower step up height. Sure the difference between 9” and 3.3” is only 5.7”. But in some situations, that can be the difference between hitting your head or not.

Also keep in mind, if you add a mat or gym flooring under your treadmill, you’ll have to ad about 1/2″ to the ceiling clearance requirement.

Suggested post: Do you need a mat under your treadmill?

Mobility

The step up height is also important for people with mobility issues. If you can’t take large steps but want to be able to get on the treadmill to stay in shape, a low step up height will help dramatically. While a few inches probably won’t make a difference for ceiling clearance, it can make a big impact on the height of the step you have to take.

Not sure what kind of deck height you can handle? The average height of a stair step in the US is 7.5”. So that’s close to the average step up height of a treadmill. Can you go up the stairs without problems? A treadmill shouldn’t be an issue either.  Remember, a treadmill is only one step, a flight of stairs is 24 steps so if a flight of stairs is OK you’ll be fine with a normal height treadmill.

If stairs are difficult, definitely look into treadmills with a lower deck height.