Find out how the StairMaster and treadmill compare so you can choose the machine that aligns most with your situation.
It is generally just a bit easier to get a challenging workout by running on the treadmill.
This will involve slightly more calorie burning, cardio improvements, and the other health benefits of cardiovascular workouts.
Treadmills tend to be more budget-friendly and at-home friendly too.
On the other hand, StairMasters tend to be a better choice for people with sensitive knees who still want an intense workout.
Keep in mind that walking on the treadmill is an option too.
This will offer fewer positive effects than StairMasters but could still be worth it.
Table of Contents
StairMaster vs treadmill summary
| Detail | Stairmaster | Treadmill |
|---|---|---|
| Calories Burned* | 220+ calories | 128-165+ calories (Walking) 293-421+ calories (Running) |
| Muscles Engaged | Legs | Legs a Tiny Amount (Walking) Mostly Legs (Running) |
| Injury Risk | Low | Low (Walking) Medium/High (Running) |
| Busy Schedule Friendly | Alright/Great | Great (Walking) Alright (Running) |
| Budget Required | Medium/High | Medium |
| Complexity To Do | Easy | Easy |
Is the StairMaster or treadmill better for weight loss?
While the difference can be small if you increase the intensity of the StairMaster enough, running on the treadmill tends to be better for weight loss.
You do want to know that it is hard to estimate how many calories both gym machines work and that your intensity will influence your results a lot.
Similarly, your other lifestyle habits are still important for weight loss results no matter what workouts you do.
In any case, it is fair to say that walking on the treadmill will typically burn a lot fewer calories per minute than running or the StairMaster.
You can find more detailed estimations for the StairMaster and treadmill below (1).
Calories burned with the StairMaster
Due to the lack of good estimations for different intensities, you can find how many calories the StairMaster burns for different time frames.
| Time Weight Person | 1 Minute | 15 Minutes | 30 Minutes | 45 Minutes | 60 Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 125 Pounds (56 kg) | 6 calories | 89 calories | 177 calories | 266 calories | 354 calories |
| 155 Pounds (70 kg) | 7 calories | 110 calories | 220 calories | 330 calories | 439 calories |
| 185 Pounds (83 kg) | 9 calories | 131 calories | 262 calories | 393 calories | 524 calories |
| 215 Pounds (97 kg) | 10 calories | 152 calories | 305 calories | 457 calories | 610 calories |
Calories burned with walking
If you like the estimations below, you can look at the article on the calories burned while walking for even more details.
| Speed Weight Person | Walking (3 mph/4.8 kmh) | Walking (3.5 mph/5.6 kmh) | Walking (4 mph/6.4 kmh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 125 Pounds (56 kg) | 103 calories | 118 calories | 133 calories |
| 155 Pounds (70 kg) | 128 calories | 146 calories | 165 calories |
| 185 Pounds (83 kg) | 153 calories | 175 calories | 197 calories |
| 215 Pounds (97 kg) | 178 calories | 203 calories | 229 calories |
Calories burned with running
Similar to walking, the article on how many calories running burns can be an interesting extra read.
Again, keep in mind that these treadmill statistics are rough estimations. Your actual results can vary.
| Speed Weight Person | Running (5 mph/8.1 kmh) | Running (6 mph/9.7 kmh) | Running (7 mph/11.3 kmh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 125 Pounds (56 kg) | 236 calories | 295 calories | 340 calories |
| 155 Pounds (70 kg) | 293 calories | 366 calories | 421 calories |
| 185 Pounds (83 kg) | 350 calories | 437 calories | 503 calories |
| 215 Pounds (97 kg) | 406 calories | 508 calories | 584 calories |
Is the StairMaster or treadmill better for losing belly fat?
Burning calories is not always enough to do so but it also makes it so running on the treadmill is generally better than the StairMaster for losing belly fat.
You do want to keep in mind that losing belly fat is relatively challenging.
To achieve this goal, many people need to make positive changes in their other lifestyle habits too.
Even then, it can take a while to see the results you desire.
This applies whether you use treadmill or StairMaster alternatives or the machines themselves.
StairMaster vs treadmill for building muscle
It is a common misbelief that cardio machines like the StairMaster and treadmill are actually suited for bodybuilding.
Both of these machines will typically not really build any muscle.
At the same time, it is fair to say that improving leg muscle endurance is just a bit more present in the health benefits of StairMasters.
This is thanks to the larger range of motion for your muscles.
In theory, you could even skip a step and add extra weights but then you might as well do step-ups instead.
On the other hand, running on the treadmill does a decent job at this too.
Walking on the treadmill will not be the best for this purpose.
Some of the muscles StairMasters work include your glutes (butt), hamstrings (back thighs), quadriceps (front thighs), and calves.
Treadmill running works similar muscles but with a bit less focus on the quads.
Comparison of injury risk
Running on the treadmill sounds better than the StairMaster in many ways but you don’t want to forget it involves a higher injury risk too.
Especially for people who have a few pounds to lose running can be really tough on the ankles, knees, and lower back.
The StairMaster is not perfect either but if you keep your steps normal it should not be too much of a problem.
This difference is important since the health benefits of the treadmill and StairMaster go to zero if you can’t use them due to injuries.
In that sense, it can be worth giving up on the small extra short term benefits of the treadmill for the lower injury risk of the StairMaster.
Ease of implementation in your routine
Another part of actually doing workouts is how easy they are to fit into a daily routine.
When it comes to the StairMaster and running on the treadmill, these machines are very similar when it comes to ease of implementation.
For both, you need a machine at home or a 20-minute drive to the local gym.
The length of a good workout on each cardio machine is very similar too.
Lastly, it is fair to say that walking on the treadmill will be slightly harder to implement in a routine.
This is due to the extra time it takes to get in a good workout.
The budget required for each workout
For most people, the StairMaster vs treadmill comparison is relevant for the gym workout choice.
However, if you want to invest in one of these machines at home, a good treadmill is typically cheaper than a StairMaster.
Complexity to use the StairMaster vs treadmill
When it comes to ease of use, the StairMaster and treadmill are very similar.
Both machines involve movements that most people do in their daily lives.
One thing you can say is that StairMasters tend to be just a bit more challenging in terms of balance.
In that sense, some people may find the treadmill more user-friendly.
Is it better to do StairMaster or treadmill workouts?
People who are not as experienced with working out likely want to do StairMaster workouts instead of treadmill workouts in the local gym.
The main reason for this is starting with something that is easier on your body but still offers a lot of benefits.
If this goes well, you can consider running on the treadmill to get slightly more benefits.
For more experienced individuals who like the StairMaster more, the question is whether they want optimal results or more enjoyment.
Actually liking the workouts you do can help a lot with consistency.
In that sense, it is worth looking at the other treadmill alternatives too.
FAQ
Is the StairMaster more effective than walking?
Yes, the StairMaster is typically more effective than walking although your speed will influence the difference a lot.
Is the StairMaster or treadmill better for the glutes?
The StairMaster is typically better than the treadmill for your glutes due to the bigger range of motion.
At the same time, how intensely you use each machine and the incline settings will influence the muscle endurance improvements a nice amount.
