Treadmills generally take up a lot of space, making placement a challenge for home users. Treadmill size also explains why rooms on the upper floor usually end up as a workout area. But the question is, can you put a treadmill upstairs?

Any building or home built according to your country’s current building code or standards should be strong enough to support the average treadmill weight.

But then, there are other factors to consider if you plan to move your exercise machine upstairs.

For instance, your actual body weight, the intensity of treadmill exercise, floor type and age of the building are also deciding factors.

Let’s analyse them more so you can make an informed decision on where to put your treadmill best.

I also listed a few safety tips when moving your treadmill into a second-floor room.

Lastly, scroll down further to understand the issues of having treadmills upstairs and the solutions you can apply.

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Is It Safe to Put a Treadmill Upstairs?

As mentioned, there are other factors you need to consider to answer the question, can you put a treadmill upstairs or not? Here’s a more in-depth explanation.

Weight Capacity of the Floor

Before transferring your treadmill upstairs, you need to know how much weight your second floor can take first.

Generally, a modern structure can support about 244.12kg/m2 (or 50lbs/ft2).

That means a small upstairs bedroom floor of 9m2 can withstand over 2000kg before putting it at structural damage risk.

It’s also rare for builders to build structures based on bare minimum weight capacity. The bottom line is your floor can support thousands of kilos.

However, keep in mind that this conclusion might not be the same for an old house or apartment building.

If this is your case, it’s best to consult an expert or your residence building management.

You can call a local engineering company and ask its team about the building code in your area. Or have a building inspector personally assess your home.

There might be an inspection fee, though. But it will directly answer the concern can you put a treadmill upstairs and avoid putting yourself in danger.

Can You Put a Treadmill Upstairs Safely

Weights of the Treadmill and its User

The average weight of a treadmill is approximately 113kg to 136kg. In Australia, an average 179cm-tall male weighs 88.3kg. On the other hand, an average 165cm-tall female weighs 72.6kg.

So, that means a treadmill with you walking on it will weigh approximately 205kg on average.

In this case, a well-built upstairs floor with a 2000kg weight limit could very well support both you and your exercise machine.

Weight Variation during Exercise

But can you put a treadmill upstairs if you prefer jogging or running exercises? The answer is it depends.

Because our body weight increases by 1.5 to 3 times more when we run. This increase in weight covers the impact of the exercise we are doing.

So, if a person’s average weight is around 80.4kg, this figure becomes 121kg to 241kg once he starts running.

While a floor with a 2000kg limit can still support this weight shift, it’s also something that large-built users should consider.

More so if they plan to exercise within an older structure.

How Can You Put a Treadmill Upstairs Safely?

Once you’re sure that your upper floor can support your treadmill, the next concern is finding the ideal spot for it. Here are some tips you can apply.

  • Position it on top of a floor joist. If you are familiar with your home’s floor plan, locate the floor joists or supporting walls. These strong points of the floor are capable of supporting extra weight.
  • Place it next to a wall. This spot is an ideal alternative if there are no joists in the room. Floors closer to the wall are generally capable of supporting heavy loads.
  • Transfer it to a carpeted flooring. The extra cushion can help soften the impact of exercise on the floor underneath and spread out the weight. Better yet, add a treadmill mat in between the treadmill base and your carpet for better protection.
  • Choose a well-built but lighter treadmill. A lightweight treadmill is not always the best choice for upstairs-floor placement. It’s because this type can generate more noise from vibration. So, if possible, look for a light treadmill with shock-absorbing and noise-dampening features.
How Can You Put a Treadmill Upstairs

Things to Consider When Putting a Treadmill Upstairs

There are several things you need to consider when you want to put a treadmill upstairs.

Noise

The treadmill belt and motor can produce a humming noise but not loud enough to disrupt others.

However, once you start running, the constant pounding sound of your feet can be amplified by wall voids.

It can also transmit to the floors and disturb the people or neighbours below you.

Solution: Placing the treadmill on a carpeted floor, using a mat and applying other noise reducers can help.

Also, if you are in an upstairs apartment, consider moving to the first floor. Another solution is to talk to your neighbours.

Let them know about your treadmill workout and potential noise problem. Then ask your neighbours when will be the best time for you to exercise.

Perhaps you can schedule it when they are not home.

Type of Flooring

If you have hardwood or laminate flooring upstairs, either type can create the most vibration noise. And it can be louder without anything in between the machine base and the floor.

Solution: You can lay a carpet on the hard surface to drown out the noise.

However, carpet fibres and dust can get into the belt, affecting the treadmill motor and its performance.

To avoid this problem, consider a combination of carpet and treadmill mat.

The extra layer will minimise the noise further and prevent particles from getting into your machine.

Treadmill Weight

Treadmills are usually bulky and heavy. You would have to disassemble it into smaller parts to make it easier to carry and fit the door.

Solution: You might need extra hands to help you move this bulky piece of equipment.

If you are buying a new treadmill, you might need to hire an upstairs delivery service for an added cost.

Either way, you have to think about the machine’s weight before buying or moving it upstairs.

Health Constitution_Is It Safe to Put a Treadmill Upstairs

Conclusion

Can you put a treadmill upstairs? Yes. Most of the time, treadmill users will not have any issues moving this cardio machine to the upper floor.

Also, you can apply various measures to ensure safety and floor protection.

However, you also have to consider how to get the treadmill upstairs and minimise the noise it will create.

Make sure to apply my suggested solutions to avoid disturbing others. Check out my top treadmill picks and see which works best on your upper-floor gym space!

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