How Much Does a Treadmill Weigh?

Whether you’re wondering, “how much does a treadmill weigh?” because you’re adding a treadmill to your home gym or supplying your commercial gym with new exercise equipment, you’ve come to the right place.

Treadmills vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer, let alone the inherent differences in their sizes, capabilities, functions, and design. 

Many people make the mistake of checking if they have enough floor space for the machine only and overlook the treadmill’s weight. Then, struggle later with other considerations like portability, sturdiness, and weight limit. Or find out they can’t put the treadmill on their 2nd or 3rd floor and cramp their living room with such a bulky machine.

To avoid all these unfortunate events, we’re going to provide you with all the information you need to know about the average weights of treadmills, what affects them, and how much the top treadmills on the market weigh. So get ready to make the right purchasing decision!

What’s the Average Weight of a Treadmill?

Treadmills can weigh anything from 60 lbs to 300 lbs and more. The average treadmill weight is affected by many factors, the most important of which is whether the treadmill is motorized or manual. 

The rule of thumb is that the more durable the treadmill is and the more features it has, the heavier it is.

Because motor treadmills have a wider variety of features and stronger constructions, their average weight is 210 lbs. On the other hand, manual treadmills are lighter, so they usually come around 65 lbs. As for treadmills intended for commercial use, they require the heaviest and most powerful motors, so they max out at more than 300 lbs.

Purchasing Tip: Almost all fitness equipment brands disclose the weights of their treadmills. However, you might get confused by the different terms they use. To help you know the actual treadmill weight, here are all the terms you can come across and what they mean:
Net Weight: This is the number you should be looking for as it’s the real weight of your potential treadmill without the packaging and the container. 
Unladen Weight: Also known as the “tare weight,” it’s the weight of the packaging, including the wrappings, boxes, and containers, without the treadmill. 
Shipping Weight: This is the total weight of the treadmill and packaging. Many people confuse it with the actual weight of a treadmill, especially when shopping online, so be sure to subtract the tare weight from it. 

Treadmill Weight vs. Weight Capacity

Some people confuse how much a treadmill weighs with its weight limit when the two measures actually mean different things. 

The weight capacity refers to the body weight the treadmill can handle, which is completely different from how much the treadmill weighs. For example, the Bowflex T22 weighs around 330 lbs but has a maximum weight limit of 400 lbs. 

Most treadmills’ weight limits range from 250 to 400 lbs. In general, heavier treadmills tend to have a larger weight capacity. Some of the heaviest treadmills boast even higher load limits of up to 500 lbs. 

Why Treadmill Weights Matter

Apart from the user weight limit, the treadmill’s weight can give you an idea about its build quality, longevity, and types of activity it can handle. 

The treadmill’s motor, running board, rollers, and bearings are all bound to suffer from wear and tear with use. Naturally, the heavier these parts, the stronger they are and the less time they take to wear. That’s why premium quality treadmills carry larger numbers on their weight tags. 

Also, as much as it limits the user’s weight, the treadmill’s weight can restrict the types of workouts you do. 

If you’re looking for a home treadmill for some lead-back walking, the weight won’t matter. But for those who do intense runs at a brisk pace or perform vigorous HIIT exercises, heavy treadmills will be more suitable for them as they can handle this activity overload and provide a higher speed limit. 

Factors Affecting Treadmill Weight

A treadmill designed for a casual workout won’t weigh the same as another one built for military training or heavy-duty sprint preparation. Apart from their intended use, there are many factors that affect how treadmills weigh, so let’s take a look at them. 

Treadmill Components

Frame

The treadmill frame is the skeleton of the machine and what contributes the most to its weight. It makes all the difference between a treadmill that will serve you lifelong and another that will send you fetching for spare parts after a couple of years. 

A sturdy treadmill will have a high-quality frame constructed of industrial-grade steel. Although it’ll be heavier and more expensive, it won’t bend under heavy use and will show minimal-to-no wobbles. It’ll also sport higher-end features like a higher maximum speed and more incline angles.

Lighter treadmills, on the other hand, are mostly made of aluminum, which isn’t necessarily flimsier but isn’t as heavy-duty as steel. 

Motor

The treadmill motor is the second heaviest component in the machine after the frame. Powerful motors, which provide more horsepower and high-speed capabilities, make the treadmill heavy. They can add around 60 lbs to the overall weight of the treadmill. That’s why motorized treadmills have a higher average weight than manual ones.

Belt

The belt – the part that runs on the treadmill deck – can have a significant effect on the machine’s overall weight. Of course, it needs to be strong and stable as it’s the part that comes in direct contact with your feet while running. 

Generally, it’s either made of rubber or PVC or both. PVC is used in lighter treadmills as it doesn’t weigh much but requires more frequent maintenance. On the contrary, Heavy-duty treadmills usually feature rubber belts or a blend of both materials. 

Incline Feature

To have the ultimate workout on your treadmill, you’ll need the incline feature, which requires a separate motor other than the one that powers the entire machine.  

This motor should have a thrust rating that can accommodate the treadmill’s and the user’s weights combined. To be this powerful, it needs to be heavy. And to give more incline levels, it needs to be even heavier. That’s why a treadmill with an incline can be 30-50 lbs heavier than other machines lacking this feature. 

Treadmill Types

Manual Treadmills

Manual treadmills are the lightest and cheapest of the bunch. They rely on your leg power for movement, which means they don’t have motors to weigh them down, nor do they have advanced features like screens, integrated programs, or speakers.

The only advantage of a manual treadmill – apart from the price, of course – is that it can be hauled anywhere easily as its average weight is around 60 lbs. 

Motorized Treadmills

Unlike manual treadmills, a motorized treadmill allows you to set the pace of your workout automatically and comes equipped with extra features in its consoles, providing more fun and interesting workouts. 

However, due to the addition of extra parts to perform these functions, the weight difference between both types is huge. A motorized treadmill can weigh anything from 200 to 250 lbs and sometimes even more. So make sure you’re not planning to move it around much as it’s designed to stay in place. 

Foldable Treadmills

If you don’t have much space in your home gym, a folding treadmill will do the trick as it’s the most compact and maneuverable type.

Weight-wise, folding treadmills lie as a middle ground between the other two types, falling in the weight range of 150 to 200 lbs. And they can be manual or motorized. 

The fact that they can save space without the need to move them makes folding-deck treadmills the optimal choice for most users. 

Commercial Treadmills 

Commercial treadmills are the ones you see at public and commercial gyms. They’re designed to be larger, heavier, and more durable to handle users of different weights while operating all day long. That’s why their weights can go up to 300 lbs and more. 

They might be a considerable choice for you if you’re planning to share your treadmill with several family members or friends. However, if you want a machine for private use, a commercial treadmill won’t be necessary. 

Treadmill Weight Ratings of the Best Treadmills on the Market

Below are the weight ratings of the top-of-the-line treadmills from famous brands. 

How Heavy Is a Proform Treadmill?

Proform is one of the most popular brands that manufacture feature-rich treadmills with a wide range of varieties to suit all users. The brand has three main lines of products: the Pro Series, the Carbon Series, and the City Series. 

The most high-end lineup is the Pro Series, featuring spacious decks, high-tech screens, and power inclines and speeds. The Pro 2000 weighs 262 lbs, while the Pro 9000 maxes out at 374.5 lbs. The Pro 5000 lies in the middle with a weight of 310 lbs.

As for the Carbon Series, their weights range around 220 lbs, while the City Series is the lightest of the lineups, ranging at 125-150 lbs. 

How Heavy Is a Nordic-Track Treadmill?

Competing with Proform for the first place, Nordic-Track is one of the world-leading treadmill manufacturers on the market. The brand offers everything from entry-level to advanced treadmills in three series: the Commercial Series, the EXP series, and the Commercial Incline Treadmill Series. 

The Commercial 1750, which is the highest-rated treadmill of all Nordic-Track machines, weighs around 310 lbs. Coming next is the Commercial 2450 at a weight of 260 lbs. 

The affordable EXP 7i weighs approximately 220 lbs, while the crowd-favorite Commercial X22i maxes out at 417 lbs. 

How Heavy Is a Sole Treadmill?

Sole Fitness reserves its place in the market with 6 of the most reasonably-priced treadmills out there. The models are:

How Do You Transport a Treadmill?

Under any circumstances, don’t try to lift a treadmill single-handedly, or you’ll risk a severe injury. Even the most lightweight treadmill can’t be carried by one person. 

If you have a foldable treadmill with transfer wheels and just want to move it to another room within your house, you can collapse the machine on itself and use the wheels to push it to where you want it to be. 

Just make sure first that your way is clear of all tripping hazards and that all doors are open. Also, don’t forget to unplug the treadmill and secure its cord before you begin. 

Not all treadmills have wheels, though. And you might want to carry it to a transfer truck. In such a case, consider asking for a helping hand or hiring movers to help you lift the treadmill on a furniture dolly, then push it to the truck. 

That’s supposing that there are no stairs in the way, in which case, you’ll have to disassemble the treadmill first. 

Is It Hard to Take Apart a Treadmill?

No, but it’s a process that requires you to be careful not to lose a part or damage the machine to keep it functioning properly afterward. 

Check the manual for information on the disassembly. If you can’t find it, you can easily fetch it online from the manufacturer’s website. Follow the instructions written and make sure to wrap the parts you dismantle in a blanket or bubble wrap to protect them from damage. This will also prevent you from losing them.

Finally, to make the reassembly process easier, take pictures of every step while taking the machine apart. This way, you’ll be able to put it together again quickly by just reversing the steps. 

Final Words

We hope that we’ve answered all your questions in this post. As you can see, the weight of a treadmill isn’t only about portability and transferability. It affects its durability, longevity, and weight limit as well, all of which are more important considerations than the weight of the treadmill itself.

It’s no secret that treadmills are expensive. And you want to make sure you’re spending the big bucks wisely and won’t regret your decision later. Now, we’re sure you can purchase the right treadmill and make your indoor running sessions a sweaty success!

Leave a Comment