How to move a treadmill: Safe and hassle-free moving

A treadmill is a valuable piece of equipment that can help you with your personal fitness goals or can be an indispensable part of your business. The only drawback to them is that moving can be troublesome. Whether it’s a manual, motorized, folding, or commercial type, moving treadmills for whatever reason is a workout in itself! 

Moving a treadmill comes with the risk of damaging walls or furniture or, worse, getting injured. In this guide, you’ll learn how to move a treadmill and make this task more manageable. 

The tools you’ll need

Before you start moving your treadmill, it helps to have a few items to make it easier and safer: 

• Safety gloves
• Comfortable, non-slip shoes or steel-toed safety boots - A pair of safety boots with steel toes is optional but is essential if you need to move the treadmill up or down a flight of stairs.
• Comfortable work clothes (not loose-fitting to avoid snags)
• Furniture dolly or hand truck
• Furniture moving blanket
• Spool of non-slip fabric - If your treadmill has wheels, some non-slip fabric can protect floors and stairs from scuffing or marking as you learn how to transport a treadmill.
• Adhesive tape
• Zip ties
• Screwdrivers for door disassembly - A set of screwdrivers may be necessary to take apart the treadmill before transport or if you need to temporarily unhinge any doors. 
• Ratchet straps

How to move a treadmill to another room

Step 1. Disassemble the treadmill

Some models require that you partially disassemble the treadmill for moving. Refer to its instruction manual and follow any instructions on how to take apart your treadmill. 

This can be essential for how to move a heavy treadmill downstairs or upstairs or part of moving a heavy treadmill to another house. 

Do the steps in the exact order and manner as the manual recommends. Partial disassembly may mean separating the console from the frame. So, handle these parts carefully and place any screws, nuts, and bolts in a zip-lock bag for safekeeping.
 

Step 2. Map out your route

Plan out where you need to push the treadmill through – this is especially important if you have to transport the treadmill a long way. Determine which doorways and paths you must pass to get the treadmill to its new spot, and make the appropriate preparations.
 

Step 3. Remove obstructing doors and fixtures

Check for doorways that are too narrow and take note of any obstructing fixtures along the route. You can hire a professional door installer to remove doors temporarily and then put them back in after moving the treadmill. Remember to move any furniture out of the way, too; you can hire someone to help you move the furniture.
 

Step 4. Prep the treadmill for transport

Unplug the treadmill if it’s motorized, spool up the cord, and then secure it with a zip tie or tape to avoid dangling. Remove the safety key and store it in a plastic bag, then tape the bag to the treadmill for safekeeping. If it’s a folding treadmill, fold it up and ensure it’s locked in the folded position. 

Some treadmills may have their own wheels for transport, but if they don’t, lay the treadmill on its side, then place it on a furniture dolly or hand truck with the treadmill centered. 

If the treadmill was partially disassembled, start with the frame, then retrieve the console and transport it afterward. To know how to lift your treadmill, always lift with your knees; never stoop to avoid injury!

Step 5. Prepare the route

If your treadmill will pass through carpeted or wood floors, lay down a length of thick non-slip fabric to keep the treadmill from damaging the floors. Check the route again to make sure there are no obstructions.

Pro tip: Alternatively, you can use several thick towels to protect your floors from scuffing or marking from the treadmill or dolly wheels.
 

Step 6. Wheel the treadmill to its spot

Next, have another person assist you by holding onto the treadmill as you wheel it through. 

Move the treadmill slowly, as rushing may bring the treadmill crashing to the floor. Note that you can hire a treadmill repair specialist if this happens, but it’s best to avoid damage in the first place. Do the appropriate reassembly or unfolding, and voila, you’ve safely moved your treadmill to its new spot.

How to move a treadmill upstairs or downstairs 

Moving a treadmill up or down a staircase is the same as wheeling it to another room, only now you have to account for gravity and the treadmill’s weight. Remember to lay down non-slip fabric to protect the staircase.
 

Moving a folding treadmill

Lock the treadmill in the folded position. Folding treadmills usually have wheels; use a dolly or hand truck if they don’t. Moving a folding treadmill can be done by one person – as long as they’re careful wheeling it up or down steps.

Moving a non-folding treadmill

Refer to the user’s manual to partially disassemble the treadmill and transport the parts one after the other. Place the treadmill parts on the dolly sideways. 

You’ll need another person to assist, as someone else has to stay in front of the treadmill, holding it securely and moving with it as you push the dolly. 

If this task proves too difficult, it’s time to hire fitness equipment movers. 

How to transport a treadmill to another house 

When moving a treadmill to another house, do the same steps but wrap the treadmill in a moving blanket, then ensure it’s secure inside the moving van or truck with ratchet straps – you can also hire professional movers for this job.

How to get rid of a treadmill

If you have a treadmill that still works but is no longer used, you have a few options to get rid of it: 

• Sell it online
• Donate it to a charity or a local gym
• Give it to a friend or relative
• Hire a bulky waste collection service

Move your treadmill yourself, or better yet, hire an expert!

Once you know how to move a treadmill yourself, you can do it with the right tools, patience, and a little elbow grease. But remember that you can also hire a professional treadmill mover. They already have the equipment, years of skill, and the physical strength to move treadmills and know how to move through steep and winding stairs. 

You don’t have to worry about buying or renting supplies you’ll likely use only once, nor risk damaging your furniture or getting injured. Check treadmill moving costs today. And remember, you can also hire a Tasker to move your other household items!