Most walking pads are flat, and most people walk on them slowly, around 1.5 to 2.5 mph, because faster walking makes it hard to type or talk on calls. An incline is the easiest way to make those slow walks count. Tilting the deck up works your legs and glutes harder and roughly doubles the calories you burn at the same easy pace, without making you breathless at your desk.
There are two kinds. Motorized (auto) incline pads raise the deck at the press of a button, even while you walk. Manual incline pads have fold-out legs or a switch at the front that you set before you start, which is cheaper and lighter but fixed for the whole walk.
Our top pick is the Merach NovaWalk W50, about $300 to $330. It has a motorized 12% incline, a quiet brushless motor, a long 41.3-inch belt, and a 400-pound rating, a combination you usually pay $400 or more for. If you want the steepest climb, UREVO’s CyberPad pads reach 14%. For a motorized incline on a budget, the DeerRun Z10 costs about $200, and the UREVO SpaceWalk E1L Pro adds a fold-out 12% incline for about $180.
Our Picks at a Glance
| Walking pad | Best for | Incline | Weight rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merach NovaWalk W50 | Most people | 12%, motorized | 400 lb | About $300–$330 |
| UREVO CyberPad for Home | The steepest climb, longest belt | 14%, motorized | 350 lb | About $400 |
| UREVO CyberPad for Office | Slim profile under a desk | 14%, motorized | 400 lb | About $450–$480 |
| DeerRun Z10 | Motorized incline on a budget | 12%, motorized | 300 lb | About $200 |
| UREVO SpaceWalk E1L Pro | Light, cheap, manual incline | 12%, fold-out | 242–350 lb (see below) | About $180 |
Best Overall: Merach NovaWalk W50
Best overall
Merach NovaWalk W50
A brushless walking pad with a 12% motorized incline, 400 lb rating, and 41.3-inch belt.
The Merach NovaWalk W50 gets the incline basics right for less money than its rivals. Its 12% motorized incline adjusts from the remote while you walk, so you can climb for 10 minutes and level off for a call. A 41.3-inch belt gives you room for a natural stride at walking speeds, and the 400-pound weight rating is among the highest for a walking pad.
It uses a brushless motor, which Merach rates at 1.25 HP continuous and 3.5 HP peak. Brushless motors run quieter and need less maintenance than the brushed motors in cheaper pads, which matters on a machine you’ll run for hours a day. The belt is self-lubricating.
It costs about $330 on Amazon, or about $300 from Merach’s own site. Similar UREVO pads with this incline and weight rating cost closer to $400. Our Merach walking pad review covers the W50 Lite and UltraWalk W60, too.
Buy it if you want a motorized incline, a high weight rating, and a quiet motor at a fair price.
Steepest Incline: UREVO CyberPad for Home
Steepest incline
UREVO CyberPad for Home
A brushless walking pad with a 14% motorized incline, 43.3-inch running area, 350 lb rating, app, and remote.
At 14%, the UREVO CyberPad for Home has one of the steepest inclines you can get on a walking pad, steep enough to feel like a real hill. Its 43.3-inch running area is the longest of any walking pad we cover, so taller walkers won’t feel cramped, and it’s rated for 350 pounds. A brushless motor, UREVO’s app, and a remote round it out, for about $400.
The trade-off is size. It’s taller and heavier than most walking pads, so it’s harder to slide under a couch, and you’ll need a standing desk that rises a bit higher to make up for the deck. Our UREVO CyberPad review compares it with the other CyberPads.
Buy it if you want the steepest climb and the most room to walk.
Best Slim Incline Pad: UREVO CyberPad for Office
Best slim incline pad
UREVO CyberPad for Office
A 6.3-inch-tall walking pad with a 14% auto incline, dual brushless motors, and an app.
Incline pads tend to be bulky, which is a problem under a desk. The UREVO CyberPad for Office fits the same 14% incline into a frame just 6.3 inches tall, about two inches lower than the CyberPad for Home, with dual brushless motors and a 400-pound rating. The front is open, with no console to bump with your toes as you walk close to the desk.
It costs about $480. UREVO’s CyberPad for Home Pro has the same height, incline, and weight rating and has been on sale for about $30 less, so compare the two before you buy. See our CyberPad for Office review for the details.
Buy it if you walk at a standing desk and want a steep incline in a low-profile pad.
Best Budget Motorized: DeerRun Z10
Best budget motorized
DeerRun Z10
A slim walking pad with a 12% motorized incline, 300 lb rating, and remote, for about $200.
A 12% motorized incline for about $200 is hard to find, and that’s the DeerRun Z10’s appeal. You change the incline from the remote while you walk, it’s rated for 300 pounds, and DeerRun lists it at 45 decibels. Front wheels make it easy to roll out of the way.
The compromises show up elsewhere: a shorter belt than the Merach or UREVO pads, a 3.8 mph top speed, and a one-year warranty. Our DeerRun review also covers the steeper 15% Sleek Rise 1.
Buy it if you want a motorized incline for the least money and walk at moderate speeds.
Cheapest Incline: UREVO SpaceWalk E1L Pro
Cheapest incline
UREVO SpaceWalk E1L Pro
A slim, 35.5-pound walking pad with a fold-out 12% incline, app auto-speed, and a remote.
The UREVO SpaceWalk E1L Pro is one of the cheapest ways to walk uphill at your desk. It’s a slim, light walking pad, about 4.5 inches tall and 35.5 pounds, with fold-out front legs that tilt the deck to 12%. You set the incline before you walk rather than changing it on the fly. It also has a cushioned belt and an app mode that varies your speed automatically, for about $180.
UREVO’s weight rating is inconsistent: its product page says 350 pounds, but the user guide says 242 pounds. If you’re near either number, choose one of the motorized pads above. See our E1L Pro review.
Buy it if you want incline on a tight budget and don’t mind setting it before you start.
How Much Harder Is Incline Walking?
A lot harder, without going faster. Using the American College of Sports Medicine’s walking equation, a 150-pound person walking at 2 mph burns about 180 calories an hour on a flat deck. At a 10% incline, the same person at the same speed burns about 375 calories an hour, roughly double. You can run your own numbers with our treadmill calorie calculator.
Incline walking also works your calves, hamstrings, and glutes more than flat walking, and it’s easier on your joints than running. Start low, around 3% to 5%, and build up; steep inclines can strain tight calves and Achilles tendons if you jump straight to 12%.
Motorized or Manual Incline?
| Motorized | Manual | |
|---|---|---|
| Changing incline | From the remote or app while walking | Before you start, by hand |
| Price | About $200 to $500 | About $100 to $200 |
| Weight and size | Heavier, taller | Lighter, slimmer |
| Best for | Interval walks, varying effort | Steady walks at one setting |
If you’ll want to switch between flat walking for calls and climbing between meetings, a motorized incline is worth it. If you like a steady, fixed incline, a manual pad saves money and weight.
What Else to Check
- Your desk height. An inclined deck raises your feet by several inches at the front. Your standing desk needs to go high enough to keep your elbows at about 90 degrees; our desk height calculator helps.
- Weight rating. Choose a rating comfortably above your weight; heavier users put more strain on the motor at incline.
- Belt length. Walking needs less length than running, but taller people do better with 40 inches or more.
- Noise. Brushless motors are quieter, which matters on calls. Motorized incline adds a short whir when it moves.
- Warranty and parts. Motors and incline mechanisms are the parts most likely to fail; longer warranties and brands that sell parts are worth a premium.
For flat walking pads and treadmill desks, see our guide to the best under-desk treadmills, and for a full-size machine, walking pad vs. treadmill.
How We Chose
We compared incline walking pads from the brands we cover most closely on incline range and type, motor type and rating, belt size, weight rating, height and storage, noise, warranty, and price, using manufacturer specifications and our individual reviews. We’ve also used the UPLIFT Inclining Walking Pad hands-on; its 7% incline is gentler than the pads here, but it’s smooth and quiet, and you can read our UPLIFT review.
Walking Pads With Incline FAQ
What is the best walking pad with incline?
The Merach NovaWalk W50 for most people, with a 12% motorized incline, a brushless motor, and a 400-pound rating for about $300 to $330. UREVO’s CyberPads go up to 14%.
Is a walking pad with incline worth it?
Yes, if you walk slowly at a desk. A 10% incline roughly doubles calorie burn at 2 mph and works your legs harder, without making you walk faster.
What incline should I use on a walking pad?
Start at 3% to 5% and work up. Many people settle between 5% and 10% for long desk walks and use steeper settings for short intervals.
Can you use an incline walking pad under a desk?
Yes. Check that your standing desk rises high enough to make up for the raised deck, and consider a slim pad like the UREVO CyberPad for Office.
Do manual incline walking pads work?
Yes. They tilt the deck to a fixed angle with fold-out legs or a switch. You can’t change it mid-walk, but they’re cheaper and lighter.
How steep is a 12% incline?
It rises 12 feet for every 100 feet of distance, about the steepness of a steep residential street. It’s a real workout at walking speed.
