For most home gyms, a StairMaster is the better choice if you want hard, low-impact cardio in a small footprint, and a treadmill is the better choice if you want to walk, run or train for running events. A StepMill climbed at a steady pace costs about the same energy as running at 6mph, but your feet never leave the steps, so there is no landing impact.
The short answer: the 2024 Adult Compendium of Physical Activities rates a stair treadmill ergometer at 9.3 METs, identical to running at 6–6.3mph and more than double treadmill walking at 3.0–3.4mph (3.8 METs). Choose a StairMaster for intensity without impact and a treadmill for versatility and running-specific training. Check ceiling height before choosing a StepMill: the 4G Gauntlet needs 2.44m.
Key takeaways
It depends on the job you want the machine to do. A StairMaster gives you vigorous cardio at a walking cadence with no impact, while a treadmill lets you walk, run and sprint on the same belt.
If your goal is general fitness, fat loss or conditioning in the least time, the StairMaster usually wins: even a moderate level feels hard because you lift your whole body weight on every step. If your goal is running a 10K, a half marathon or simply walking more, a treadmill is the right tool, because training transfers best when it matches the activity.
| Factor | StairMaster StepMill | Treadmill |
|---|---|---|
| Movement | Climbing a revolving staircase | Walking or running on a moving belt |
| Energy cost (Compendium) | 9.3 METs, stair treadmill ergometer | 3.8 METs walking at 3.0–3.4mph; 9.3 METs running at 6–6.3mph |
| Impact | No flight phase; one foot is always on a step | Landing impact on every stride when running |
| Best for | Conditioning, glutes and legs, time-efficient cardio | Running performance, walking, versatility |
| Ceiling height | 2.44m (4G); 3.05m (8Gx, 10G) | Check against the user's height plus deck height |
| Learning curve | Minimal; step on and climb | Minimal for walking; pace control for running |
| Price at PGE | From £3,495 (4G Gauntlet) | From £4,320 (curved); commercial models price on request |
Than treadmill walking, yes, by a wide margin. Against running, it is roughly level. The 2024 Adult Compendium of Physical Activities gives a stair treadmill ergometer 9.3 METs, the same value it gives running at 6–6.3mph (a 10-minute mile).
One MET is roughly one kilocalorie per kilogram of body weight per hour. So an 80kg adult climbing for 30 minutes at that intensity uses around 370kcal, the same as a 30-minute run at 6mph, and well over double a 30-minute treadmill walk at 3mph (around 150kcal).
The practical difference is how hard each feels to sustain. Many people can climb at a steady pace for 30 minutes who could not run at 6mph for that long, which is why a StepMill often delivers more total work per session for non-runners. Calorie figures on any console are estimates, so use them to compare sessions, not as exact numbers.
In one important way, yes: there is no landing. Running has a flight phase, so every stride ends with your body weight landing on one leg. On a StepMill, one foot is always on a step, so you push up rather than land.
That makes the StairMaster a common choice for people who want vigorous cardio without the pounding of running. It still asks a lot of the knees, hips and ankles through a deep range of motion, especially on the 8Gx and 10G, whose steps are 20cm high.
If you have an existing knee, hip or back problem, ask your GP or physiotherapist which suits you before buying either machine. Walking on a treadmill is the gentlest option of all, but it is also the least intense.
A StairMaster works the glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings and calves through a climbing pattern, with the glutes and quads doing most of the lifting. Every step raises your body weight, so the legs work against a real load throughout.
A treadmill works the same muscle groups, but in a walking or running pattern where the calves and hip flexors do more and the glutes less, unless you add incline. Neither machine trains the upper body in a meaningful way.
For buyers who want lower-body conditioning from their cardio, the StairMaster is the more targeted tool. Our guide to StepMills, stair climbers and the FreeClimber explains how the revolving-staircase StepMill differs from independent-pedal machines.
StairMaster 4G Gauntlet StepmillFrom £3,495View product →
Attack Fitness Run Attack Curved Treadmill£4,320View product →
Height is where the StairMaster asks more. Core Health & Fitness lists the StairMaster 4G at 137 × 74cm, with a 15cm step height and a minimum ceiling of 2.44m. The 8Gx and 10G Gauntlets need 3.05m, which rules them out of most UK homes.
A treadmill sits lower, but a runner still rises off the deck on every stride, so check the ceiling against the tallest user's height plus the deck height. Ask us for the exact footprint of the treadmill you are considering before you measure up.
Both machines need clear space to get on and off safely and a solid, level floor. Our StairMaster ceiling height guide and room setup guide cover the measurements in detail.
They overlap in the premium bracket. The StairMaster 4G Gauntlet starts from £3,495 with the 10" LCD console, and the StairMaster FC 8 Series FreeClimber, an independent-pedal stair climber, starts from £3,766.
On treadmills, the Attack Fitness Run Attack Curved Treadmill is £4,320, or £4,470 with resistance. Our Star Trac commercial treadmills are price on request. Our StairMaster price guide and best treadmills guide break each range down.
| Machine | Type | Price at PGE |
|---|---|---|
| StairMaster 4G Gauntlet Stepmill | StepMill (revolving staircase) | From £3,495 |
| StairMaster FC 8 Series FreeClimber | Stair climber (independent pedals) | £3,766 – £9,995 |
| StairMaster 8Gx Gauntlet Stepmill | StepMill, commercial | From £4,995 |
| Attack Fitness Run Attack Curved Treadmill | Curved treadmill | £4,320 |
| Star Trac commercial treadmills | Motorised treadmill | Price on request |
Match the machine to what you want to get better at. Both meet the NHS guideline, which asks adults for "at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity a week" and lists both stair climbing and running as vigorous.
Short bouts count too. In a 2019 study in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, sedentary young adults who vigorously climbed three flights of stairs three times a day, three days a week for six weeks improved their cardiorespiratory fitness compared with a control group.
Online interest leans towards the StairMaster. In the 90 days to 6 October 2026, the StairMaster 4G Gauntlet product page drew 74 landing sessions, more than any other cardio product page on our site.
The 4G is also the StairMaster most recently bought straight through our checkout, with the 10" LCD console. It is the Gauntlet that fits a standard UK room height, which is usually the deciding factor for home buyers. Our best StairMaster for a home gym guide explains why.
Free UK delivery on every StairMaster and treadmill in this guide. Orders are dispatched within 5 working days, with tracking emailed within 24 hours of dispatch, and delivered across UK mainland by our delivery partners.
You can choose courier delivery to self-assemble, pre-assembled delivery, or full installation arranged on site. Installation is quoted separately before you order.
Tell us your goal, your ceiling height and who will use the machine, and we'll recommend the right one. Free UK delivery. Business finance through Vercas Financial on orders from £5,000 for UK limited companies and partnerships of four or more partners.
See the stair climbers → Call 0333 880 3211
StairMaster FC 8 Series FreeClimber£3,766 – £9,995View product →
TreadmillsSee range for pricingView range →
Is 30 minutes on a StairMaster equal to a 30-minute run? In energy terms, roughly. The 2024 Adult Compendium of Physical Activities gives a stair treadmill ergometer 9.3 METs, the same as running at 6–6.3mph. An 80kg adult would use around 370kcal in 30 minutes on either. The StairMaster does it without landing impact, but it will not improve your running pace the way running does.
Can I replace my treadmill with a StairMaster? You can if your goal is general fitness, conditioning or fat loss, because both count as vigorous exercise under NHS guidance. Keep a treadmill, or run outdoors, if you are training for a running event. If several people share the gym, a treadmill suits more of them, and a StairMaster makes an excellent second machine.
Is a StairMaster good for beginners? Yes, provided you start slowly. The 4G and 8Gx Gauntlets start at 24 steps per minute across 20 levels, so a beginner can climb at a gentle pace. Use the handrails lightly for balance rather than leaning on them, and build session length before you raise the level. Our StairMaster workouts guide sets out beginner sessions.
Which is quieter, a StairMaster or a treadmill? There is no landing on a StepMill, so there is none of the footfall noise of running. A motorised treadmill also has motor and belt noise at speed. Any heavy machine benefits from rubber flooring to reduce noise carried into the building, especially upstairs or in an attached garage.
Do I need a power socket for a StairMaster or a treadmill? Every StairMaster Gauntlet needs a 12V/5A supply from a socket near the machine. The FC 8 Series FreeClimber with the Apex LED console is self-generating and needs no socket. Motorised treadmills need mains power. Curved treadmills are driven by the user's own stride, so check the console's power needs on the product page or ask us.
Will a StairMaster fit in a house? The 4G Gauntlet is the model built for standard rooms, needing a 2.44m ceiling and a 137 × 74cm footprint. The 8Gx and 10G need 3.05m. Measure at the exact spot, under any beam or light, and check the delivery route through every doorway before ordering.
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Pro Gym Essentials — premium home and commercial gym equipment, delivered across the UK. Prices taken from our live product pages, 6 October 2026; StairMaster specifications checked against StairMaster's current product sheets, 4 October 2026; MET values from the 2024 Adult Compendium of Physical Activities.
