How Fast Can a Treadmill Go? Speed Ranges Explained

Treadmill range can be grouped into budget, mid-range, and high-end.

Budget treadmills are great for improving your cardiovascular fitness and burning calories, but they have smaller 1.5-2.0 CHP motors compared to more expensive models. With this, you can expect top speeds of around 5-6 mph which would cater to walking and light jogging speeds.

However, some brands offer higher-end budget treadmills that have max speeds of 8-10 mph which is equivalent to a running speed.

High-end treadmills are a big investment but offer a much higher motor quality and power of over 3.5 CHP. High-end treadmills offer the biggest speed range with max speeds of 12-15+mph. 

To put this into perspective, 15 mph would be equal to a 4-minute mile which is only 17 seconds over the current world record.

Max speed range can also change depending on the treadmill type. Let’s take a look at some of the different ones below:

As manual treadmills are powered by your body, they can essentially go as fast as you can manage. This means that technically, they don't have a max speed. 

Some manual treadmills offer compact constructions that are primarily designed for walking whilst other high-end manual treadmills allow you to reach speeds of 20+ mph.

Compared to home treadmills, commercial treadmills tend to be much bigger and more expensive meaning they offer a higher max speed range. 

Most home treadmills typically offer max speeds from 10-12 mph with some can go up to 15 mph. Commercial treadmills typically go up to 15+ mph, with some elite-level models reaching speeds of 25 mph but costing.

Now that you know the different speed ranges, understanding how the treadmill speeds work and what they mean is an important consideration. 

At the front of each treadmill, the monitor should display a speed number that starts at 0.0, with some starting at 0.5-0.8. Most treadmill models allow you to increase the treadmill belt speed in 1/10 increments by using the normal or quick-press speed buttons.

Some treadmills may display the belt speed in different formats. If your machine uses the metric system, it will be in kilometers per hour (kph). If it uses the imperial system, it will be set in miles per hour (mph). If you get confused, remember 1 kilometer = 0.62 miles.

Understanding your treadmill speed can be difficult. Generally speaking, different speeds can be classified as followed:

• Walking Speeds (2-4 mph)
• Jogging Speeds (4-8 mph)
• Running Speeds (8+ mph)

To get your per-mile pace, divide your belt speed by 60. The equation would look as followed for a 5 mph belt speed: 60 ÷ 5 = 12 (1 mile pace = 12 minutes)
You can also use online treadmill pace calculators that do the hard work for you.

As with most things, a progressive and well-organized approach is always the best way to build your fitness. Exercising at a speed that's too easy for your fitness level may limit potential improvements whilst using a speed that's above your current level can be unsafe and lead to injury. 

Decide what pace you want to run at according to your health and fitness goals and look to apply the general speed ranges below. 

As a beginner, it's recommended to start slowly and increase the running intensity as you feel more comfortable. For many beginners, a brisk walk or jog can feel like strenuous exercise if they are just starting out.

A treadmill speed of 0-5 mph is recommended for most beginners. A speed of 5 mph would be equal to a 12-minute mile pace which is around what you could expect for a beginner. 

As an intermediate runner, your main goal is to keep building on your running pace. You’ve established the correct running technique and shown steady improvement. Treadmill speeds of up to 5 mph have now become too easy meaning it's time to progress the speed range. 

A treadmill speed of 5-8 mph would be considered a good intermediate speed range, with a belt speed of 8 mph equal to a 7.5-minute mile pace. This is probably more toward the upper-intermediate speed range that you can expect to use as an intermediate runner.

The ProForm City L6 Treadmill is an under-desk treadmill that uses a unique folding mechanism that folds down to the floor. The 47" L x 18" running deck supports up to 250 pounds and features ProForm’s patented ProShox Cushioning. Powered by a 1.6 CHP motor, the running deck goes from 0-8 mph.

So, how fast can treadmills go? The speed range on a treadmill is primarily determined by what treadmill category it falls into. Entry-level treadmills usually go up to 8-10 mph, mid-range models can go up to 12 mph, and high-end treadmills can go to 15+ mph.

Commercial treadmills tend to offer the fastest treadmill speed whilst manual treadmills can go as fast as your body can run. What treadmill speed range do you tend to use? What model do you have at home? Let me know in the comments below.

Also read:

• What Incline Should You Walk on a Treadmill
• How Much Is a Mile on a Treadmill
• Treadmill vs Incline Trainer
• Benefits of Using the Treadmill
• Walking on the Treadmill Every Day
• How Long Does a Treadmill Last
• Best Curved Treadmill
• How to Clean Treadmill Belt

References:

• Mile run world record progression // Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mile_run_world_record_progression
• WHAT IS A GOOD TREADMILL SPEED? (WALKING, JOGGING & RUNNING) // Treadmill: https://www.treadmill.run/what-is-a-good-treadmill-speed/
• Treadmill Pace Calculator // Runhive: https://runhive.com/tools/treadmill-pace-calculator
• Running Faster vs. Running Longer, Fitness and Cardio Benefits // Shape: https://www.shape.com/fitness/cardio/which-better-running-faster-or-longer
• Running Faster vs. Running Longer, Fitness and Cardio Benefits // Medium: https://medium.com/runners-life/beginner-intermediate-or-advanced-what-is-your-running-level-2ebdae6d296e