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Manual vs automatic incline treadmills

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In short

A manual incline is set by hand, usually by stopping the belt and moving a pin, lever or fold-out leg to a fixed position. An automatic incline uses a small lift motor so you change the grade from the console or remote while walking. Manual is simpler with fewer parts; automatic is easier to adjust mid-session. Not every treadmill has an incline at all.

Details as stated in the Amazon listing or by the manufacturer. See the current price on Amazon.

Our verdict

Choose an automatic incline treadmill such as the UMAY or Cursor Fitness 20% pad if you want to change grade while walking. Choose a manual incline such as the TREAFLOW pad or the Cursor Fitness 40% model if you set one grade and want fewer parts.

Incline turns a flat walk into an uphill one, and it is one of the most searched-for treadmill features. Listings describe it in two ways: manual and automatic, sometimes called auto or motorised incline. The difference affects how often you will actually use it, how many parts can wear, and how the machine is built. This article explains how each type works, how to change the incline on each, and what to look for on a listing. It also covers the simple question of whether every treadmill has an incline, because many walking pads do not.

How manual incline works

On a manual incline treadmill the deck sits on a frame with two or more fixed positions. You stop the belt, step off, then move a pin, flip a lever, turn a knob or swing out a support leg to raise the front. The listing usually gives a fixed set of grades, for example 0, 4 and 8%, or a single raised position.

Some incline walking pads use a large fixed tilt instead. They have a stand or handrail frame that holds the deck at a steep grade such as 16% or 40%, with a flat setting as the alternative. The grade does not change while you walk.

How automatic incline works

An automatic incline uses a separate lift motor, usually under the front of the deck, that pushes the frame up and down. You press incline buttons on the console or remote and the deck moves in steps while you keep walking. Many consoles show incline as levels, and the maker's manual explains how levels map to percent. Programs may change incline automatically during a session.

Because there is a second motor and control board involved, the machine has more parts. Most of the time this simply works, but if the incline stops responding, our treadmill incline not working article explains calibration and the checks to make before calling the maker.

Real listings compared

Figures are from the listings. Always check the current listing and manual for how incline levels are set on a specific model.

grade % = rise ÷ run x 100degrees = atan(% ÷ 100)5 % = 2.9°10 % = 5.7°15 % = 8.5°θrunriseDrawn to scale: a 15 % incline is only 8.5 degrees.
Grade % is rise over run. Degrees come from the arctangent, so 10 % is 5.7 degrees.
ModelIncline typeMax inclineTop speedMax user
TREAFLOW walking padManual8%6 mph (about 9.7 km/h)265 lb (about 120 kg)
Cursor Fitness 40% pad with handrailsManual40% or 16%10 km/h159 kg
UMAY folding treadmillAutomatic15%12 km/h180 kg
Cursor Fitness 20% walking padAutomatic20%12 km/h180 kg
Manual and automatic incline examples from Amazon listings

Pros and cons of each

If you will change the incline several times in a session, automatic is much more convenient. If you set one grade and leave it, manual does the job with less to go wrong.

  • Manual: fewer parts, no lift motor to fail, usually lighter; but you must stop to change it and the grades are fixed.
  • Automatic: change incline while walking, programs can vary it, finer steps; but more parts, more weight and the incline motor can need calibration.
  • Both: the deck at full incline sits higher at the front, so check ceiling and desk clearance.

How to change the incline on a treadmill

  1. 1

    Check the manual to see whether your model has manual or automatic incline, and what the levels mean in percent.

  2. 2

    For manual incline, stop the belt, remove the safety key and step off before moving any pin, lever or leg. Make sure the pin locks fully on both sides.

  3. 3

    For automatic incline, start walking at a slow speed, then press the incline up or down button and let the deck reach the new level before changing again.

  4. 4

    Return the deck to 0% before folding, as most manuals require.

  5. 5

    If the incline does not move, check for anything under the frame, then follow the maker's calibration steps.

Note:Never adjust a manual incline with the belt running or while standing on the deck. Keep hands and feet clear of the lift area when an automatic incline moves.

Does every treadmill have an incline?

No. Many flat walking pads have no incline at all, and some budget treadmills have none either. Where there is one, it ranges from a small fixed tilt to 15% or more on full treadmills, and up to 20% or even 40% on some incline walking pads. Check the listing for the maximum grade and whether it is manual or automatic.

To compare models with incline, see the best incline treadmills for home, the best folding treadmills with incline and the best walking pads with incline.

See folding treadmills with incline →

Frequently asked questions

Is automatic incline worth it? If you plan to change incline during sessions or use programs, it is far more convenient. If you set one level and leave it, manual is fine.

Can a manual incline be changed while walking? Not safely. Stop the belt and step off first, as the manual will tell you.

What does incline level 5 mean in percent? It depends on the console. Check the manual, as levels and percent are not always the same.

Does auto incline make a treadmill louder? The lift motor whirs briefly while it moves. It is quiet once the deck stops.

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