In general, treadmills are one of the most-used fitness machines to stay healthy. Most individuals run at high speeds for a long time.
Beginner trainers generally exercise at 6.6 MPH, while 12 MPH is considered a high speed for most trainers.
So, what is the maximum speed possible on a regular treadmill, and what is the maximum recommended speed individuals can exercise on it?
In the United States, speed is generally measured in miles per hour (MPH), while kilometers per hour are used in most countries, including Canada. Generally, treadmills are designed to reach a maximum speed of 10 MPH. But, if you are practicing for sports-related training, you might require machines that reach a minimum speed of at least 18 MPH or more.
How Fast Can a Regular Treadmill Go?
Individuals exercise at varying speeds, inclination, and levels up to which they could challenge themselves. The design and purpose of any treadmill determine the machine’s maximum speed.
For instance, high-end treadmills can go up to a max speed of 25 MPH (the fastest possible speed on a treadmill), which is used for training by professional athletes.
Any treadmill used for running at the gym can go up to a speed of 12-14 MPH, while basic model machines can hit an upper speed of 8 MPH (13 KPH) or 10 MPH (16 KPH). The conversion goes like this: 1 MPH=1.6 KPH.
Apart from these, the treadmill machines used at home gyms can reach a maximum speed of 10-12 MPH.
Treadmills that can be pushed under the bed reach a max speed of 4-9 MPH.
In general, individuals jog at a 4-6 MPH speed, reaching a mile at 7.5 miles/hour. So, a treadmill that can reach a maximum speed of 10 MPH is good enough to use.
How Fast Can Different Types of Treadmills Go?
Firstly, there are various kinds of treadmills, most of which are motorized. Let’s check out how each of them performs with regards to maximum speed.
Motorized Electric Treadmills
Any treadmill that comes with a motor has a motor to drive the belt. The power of the motor determines the maximum possible speed on the machine.
Motorized treadmills could be classified as commercial, home, and curved treadmills.
Commercial machines are designed stronger, bigger, and better suitable for prolonged use.
Much stable and expensive than most home gym models, these machines can be used regularly by all kinds of individuals with various fitness goals.
Commercial treadmills occupy a larger space, are better stable, and are priced higher than home gym models.
For the pricing, they offer a vast array of benefits, including day-in and day-out use for multiple hours by different kinds of trainers who visit the gym with a plethora of fitness goals in mind.
Home models are simple, cheaper, and easy. But, some home gym models are comparatively bigger, faster, and come with many better functionalities than commercial ones.
Such models are expensive but worth every penny paid.
There are other treadmills, a class apart from what’s mentioned here.
Commercial Treadmills
Most of us have heard of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which has become extremely famous in recent times, and commercial treadmills support this type of training as they have a maximum speed of 14 MPH.
Home Treadmills
Sprint training is not so common in home gym use, and neither are home treadmills designed for such use.
Priced between $600 and $2000, good home machines come fitted with a 3-4CHP motor and reach a maximum speed between 8 and 12 MPH.
Such ranges are more than sufficient for beginner trainers and those desiring to lose weight or stay fit.
Curved Treadmills
A modern version of the manual treadmill, these models primarily depend on the rider rather than the motor to drive the belt.
Priced at around $250, these models are quite different from the earlier manual treadmills that were primarily designed for walking.
Curved treadmills can be quite expensive, around $4000, and can keep up to every need of a runner as they can reach up to a maximum speed of 25 MPH.
On the upside, these treadmills function smoothly using little power and maintenance but are expensive due to their modern design and complex functionalities.
Manual Treadmills
Compared to other treadmill categories, manual treadmills operate much differently. Here, the belt movement is not dependent on the motor but the speed of the individual using the machine.
The faster someone pushes the belt, and the higher is the resistance generated by the machine.
So, what is the maximum speed of a manual treadmill? The maximum speed is as fast as your legs can move, and the resistance is also dependent on how much the legs can build.
How Fast Should You Run on A Treadmill?
We all love to run as fast as Usain Bolt, but each of us comes with certain limitations and body flexibility.
It is good to aim high, but it is always better to start slowly, build up gradually, and then hit the momentum button once adapted to the exercise surrounding and workout routine.
So, how fast can you run on the treadmill and what could be called a decent workout session?
The main point to note here is that any good treadmill session requires to focus on many other things such as the individual’s training level, belt size, and certain other features besides top speed.
Also, the experience level matters—a person exercising for a couple of years would definitely outdo someone exercising after a long time.
NCSF statistics show that an average individual can reach a top speed of 15 MPH for a small period on the treadmill, while a 100M sub-10 sec sprinter can reach a maximum speed of 27 MPH.
For a 4-hour marathon runner, the average speed at which the individual runs is around 6.5 MPH.
All such numbers prove that most treadmill designs are not meant for trained sprinters but for performing steady-state cardio.
For someone who runs for a longer distance, the running pace is lesser than that of a sprint trainer. For short-distance running, the speed doesn’t reach even close to that of a trained sprinter.
Generally, individuals can reach a mile in 10-12 minutes and for most exercisers, achieving a top speed of 12 MPH is desirable and commendable.
So, for individuals who are quite used to running and those who wish to achieve a decent exercise session on the treadmill, it is suggested to set a maximum speed limit of 15 MPH.
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