Guide
Treadmill speed chart: km/h, mph and pace
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In short
To convert treadmill speed, divide km/h by 1.609 to get mph, and divide 60 by the speed to get pace in minutes per km or per mile. For example, 6 km/h is 3.7 mph, a pace of 10:00 per km or about 16:06 per mile. The chart below covers 1 to 20 km/h, and most walking pads top out at 6 km/h.
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Compare all 7 productsKALWOL 4-in-1: 10% incline, 40 dB or less, 160 kg
Check price on AmazonAffiliate linkUrevo SpaceWalk Lite: flat 100 x 40 cm walking pad
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UK treadmills and walking pads are sold with speeds in km/h, mph or both, while running apps and race results often use pace per km or per mile. Switching between them in your head is awkward, especially mid-session. This guide gives a reference chart from 1 to 20 km/h, explains the simple maths behind it and covers why your console might show one unit or the other. If you want an instant conversion for any figure, use our pace and speed converter.
Treadmill speed chart
Speeds are rounded to one decimal place and paces to the nearest second. Most walking pads cover 1 to 6 km/h; 2-in-1 pads often reach 10 to 12 km/h; running treadmills go higher.
| km/h | mph | Min per km | Min per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.6 | 60:00 | 96:34 |
| 2 | 1.2 | 30:00 | 48:17 |
| 3 | 1.9 | 20:00 | 32:11 |
| 4 | 2.5 | 15:00 | 24:08 |
| 5 | 3.1 | 12:00 | 19:19 |
| 6 | 3.7 | 10:00 | 16:06 |
| 7 | 4.3 | 8:34 | 13:48 |
| 8 | 5.0 | 7:30 | 12:04 |
| 9 | 5.6 | 6:40 | 10:44 |
| 10 | 6.2 | 6:00 | 9:39 |
| 11 | 6.8 | 5:27 | 8:47 |
| 12 | 7.5 | 5:00 | 8:03 |
| 13 | 8.1 | 4:37 | 7:26 |
| 14 | 8.7 | 4:17 | 6:54 |
| 15 | 9.3 | 4:00 | 6:26 |
| 16 | 9.9 | 3:45 | 6:02 |
| 18 | 11.2 | 3:20 | 5:22 |
| 20 | 12.4 | 3:00 | 4:50 |
How to convert speed and pace yourself
One mile is 1.609344 km. Everything else follows from that and from there being 60 minutes in an hour.
Pace and speed are inverses. A higher speed means a lower pace number, which is why pace charts read backwards compared with speed charts.
A worked example: a 5 km parkrun-style distance at 10 km/h takes 30 minutes, because 5 divided by 10 is 0.5 hours. At 6 km/h, the same 5 km takes 50 minutes. For 1 mile at 6 km/h, the chart gives about 16 minutes 6 seconds.
- mph = km/h divided by 1.609.
- km/h = mph multiplied by 1.609.
- Minutes per km = 60 divided by km/h.
- Minutes per mile = 60 divided by mph.
- Turn decimal minutes into seconds by multiplying the decimal part by 60.
Walking pad speeds in context
Most walking pads run from about 0.5 or 1 km/h up to 6 km/h, which is 0.3 to 3.7 mph. Desk walking typically sits at the low end, often around 1 to 3 km/h, while a brisk walk is towards the top. Listings that quote 6.2 mph or 7.5 mph are giving the top speed of 2-in-1 or running-capable models: 6.2 mph is 10 km/h and 7.5 mph is 12 km/h.
If you want to jog on a compact machine, check that it is designed for it; see can you run on a walking pad. Our walking pads guide and walking and running pads guide list each model's speed range.
Why UK treadmills switch between km/h and mph
The UK uses miles for road distances and speed limits, but many people think about running in kilometres, especially for parkrun-style 5 km events. Treadmill makers sell the same machines across Europe and North America, so many consoles let you choose units. On some it is a setting in the menu; on others it is a hidden option or a switch set at the factory.
Check the manual to see if and how your console changes units. Some apps also let you choose units independently of the console.
- 1
Look for a units option in the console settings menu.
- 2
If there is none, check the manual for a button combination at start-up.
- 3
In connected apps, check the profile or display settings.
- 4
If you cannot switch, use the chart above or the converter tool.
Speed, incline and choosing a machine
Top speed is set by the control board, and it is one of the clearest differences between walking pads and treadmills. If you need speeds above 12 km/h, look at folding or running treadmills; our incline treadmills guide covers longer decks and higher speeds. For incline figures, see treadmill incline explained and the incline converter.
Frequently asked questions
What is 6 km/h in mph? About 3.7 mph, which is the top speed of most walking pads. That is a pace of 10:00 per km.
What is 10 km/h in mph? About 6.2 mph, or a pace of 6:00 per km and about 9:39 per mile.
How do I change my treadmill from mph to km/h? Check the console menu or manual. Some consoles have a units setting; others need a start-up button combination, and some cannot switch.
What speed is a fast walk on a treadmill? For many adults, a brisk walk is around 5 to 6 km/h (3.1 to 3.7 mph), but comfortable speeds vary a lot between people.
What you need
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KALWOL 4-in-1: 10% incline, 40 dB or less, 160 kg
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FOUSAE 5-in-1: 1 to 12 km/h, fold-down handle, 160 kg
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UMAY treadmill: 15% auto incline, 12 km/h, 180 kg