Best treadmill: top running machines for home workouts
Six brilliant treadmills selected and tested by our team of experts
The best treadmills can be used for walking and running and offer a great cardiovascular (heart-healthy) workout. Whether you're looking to get fitter, build endurance, lose weight, or just get in your daily steps, this versatile piece of home gym equipment can help you achieve your goals.
What makes one of the best treadmills? Ideally, it's easy to use, quiet, and foldable. You might also want to consider the maximum user weight, belt size, horsepower (motor size), shock absorption, whether it has an incline/decline, and any extra features like a display screen, and an accompanying app with online classes.
If you're looking for a treadmill packed with features, with on-demand and live classes, and an impressive incline/decline range, our top pick is the NordicTrack X22i.
But that's not your only option if you're after the best treadmill for your home. We tested premium alternatives and lower-cost options like the Urevo Foldi 1, a compact treadmill with a foldable design that won't break the bank. Read on to learn more about six of the best treadmills we're giving the Fit&Well seal of approval.
The best treadmill for your home
Best treadmill overall
If you've got the space and the budget, we think NordicTrack X22i is one of the most sophisticated treadmills on the market, and you are spoilt for choice with features and workouts.
This treadmill is very well made, with a vast incline and decline range (-5 to +40%), and it's impressively quiet thanks to its 4.0 CHP motor. The NordicTrack X22i is a fantastic investment for newbies or pros. When we tried the 40% incline, it made a walk or run feel like climbing a flight of stairs, so that you can use it a bit like an elliptical trainer.
On top of that, what we really loved about the NordicTrack x22i was the excellent iFit app's virtual content (available with a monthly paid subscription), which turns the treadmill into your own personal fitness studio.
You don't need to worry about running out of workouts either, as there are 40 preset programs and 16,000+ on-demand classes, and daily live classes, all easily viewed on the crisp 22-inch touchscreen.
You get a 30-day free iFit membership with your purchase, or you can use the treadmill without a subscription, but you'll miss the tracking tools and scenic runs (the guided hiking one in Ecuador is beautiful!).
The only real downside is that it is a big machine, so it needs a lot of space. It's also extremely heavy, so moving it after installation would be a challenge.
Read our full NordicTrack X22i review.
Best budget treadmill
If you're looking for a basic budget treadmill that does that job, then the Urevo Foldi 1 is for you. The beauty of this slimline machine is you can fold it away when you're not using it, making it convenient for people short on space or living in an apartment or shared space.
We also love that it can reach up to 7.5mph/12kph, despite having a relatively small 2.5 HP motor. You can get a decent run on it, but bear in mind anyone relatively tall (six-foot or over) might struggle with the belt size, as it's just 16.5 x 45 inches.
While using the treadmill, we found that if we lost concentration, we could feel the backs of our soles creeping off the tread (even for someone 5ft 7"). It doesn't have an incline, decline, or touchscreen, but that's standard for this price bracket.
The basic LCD gives enough core metrics—time, distance, speed, calories burned—and you can always use a third-party app for online classes or find a free YouTube workout to try. Watch out for the device holder, though, as it tends to shake a lot during a run, and we wouldn't trust it to hold a tablet without the risk of it bouncing out and potentially smashing.
Overall, the Urevo Foldi 1 is great value at a wallet-friendly price, and we think it's a good starter treadmill for people new to indoor running. And the foldable design is relatively rare for a treadmill that can reach these speeds.
Read our full Urevo Foldi 1 review.
Best treadmill for live classes
The Peloton Tread is definitely not cheap, but it's incredibly well-made and easy on the eye with its slick, minimalist design, making it simple to use and enjoy. It's also very compact and slimline, so it is a great choice for people short on space.
What we love most about this treadmill—apart from the large and intuitive touchscreen—is the (quite simply overwhelming) range of live and on-demand classes. Peloton has built a reputation for its high-energy, world-class instructors, and, as we found, they are really motivating.
Unlike most treadmills, the Tread doesn't have a front base, so you can run the whole belt and get into your natural stride. We appreciated the red centerline on the belt, which helps you run in a straight line.
The main drawback of the Peloton is the expensive app membership you need to take out for access for streaming the workouts. Yes, you can use the treadmill without it and just use free YouTube classes, but Peloton's classes are the big draw for the machine. It doesn't have a decline or a fan either, which we found disappointing for something in this price bracket.
Read our full Peloton Tread review.
Best incline treadmill
This retro-looking mid-range treadmill is a sturdy and well-built machine with a vast library of live and on-demand iFit workouts to help you build endurance and cardiovascular fitness. If you're someone who likes a group exercise setting, these energetic Peloton-style classes (paid subscription required) will be right up your street.
However, if you decide not to take out an iFit subscription, you can use the machine without the app and find a free workout online or exercise at your own pace. The ProForm Pro 9000 has all the design features you'd expect at this price range—a responsive 22-inch color touchscreen, ample space for drinks and devices, and a two-speed fan.
We appreciated the usability of the quick speed and incline controls, making it easy to change the intensity of your walk or run. The two-inch speakers and MP3/iPod compatible port will please people who love working out without their favorite tunes, and when you're finished, you can fold the treadmill away with a bit of help from the shock-assisted lift mechanism.
However, we found it odd that it lacks a USB charging point since you have to stream your music via Bluetooth, and the handrails are a bit short. But the handles have inbuilt EKG touch sensors for heart rate monitoring that work with Bluetooth wireless chest straps (not included)—useful for checking you're in the proper heart rate range for effective training.
Read our full ProForm Pro 9000 review.
Best folding treadmill
If a small footprint is a priority when choosing a treadmill, the Echelon Stride is the ultimate space-savvy machine. It folds away small enough to store under a bed or behind a sofa, with wheels on the front of the machine making it easy to move around. It also delivers with an impressive overall performance, despite having diminutive dimensions.
With the ability to take the incline up to 10%, it's a decent option for hill/interval running. It does have a limited speed range though, which maxes out at 12mph (around an 8-minute mile pace). Seasoned sprinters might find this a bit limiting for high-intensity interval bursts.
The Stride has an LED console on the handlebars that offers several interval sessions of varying difficulty and there's also the option to connect the treadmill to the Echelon Fit App on a tablet or phone via Bluetooth. The app requires a monthly subscription and unlocks a massive library of live and on-demand classes. We found some of the "advanced" sessions felt a little too accessible for seasoned athletes, but the sheer variety of studio workouts kept the connected experience from getting stale.
During testing, we discovered that even those sessions labeled advanced proved to be on the easier side, but there is a huge selection of on-demand studio classes, live workouts and more to explore.
While its 1.75-horsepower motor might not sound like a powerhouse on paper, in testing, the belt ran impressively smooth without the "judder" some small machines suffer from. During our time testing the Echelon, the base felt remarkably secure. You might notice a tiny bit of wobble at top speeds or steep inclines, but for the most part, the belt felt sturdy underfoot.
Its performance and space-saving abilities make the Echelon a fantastic treadmill for beginners or occasional runners who want reliable workouts without turning their living room into a permanent gym.
Read the full Echelon Stride Auto-fold Treadmill review from our colleagues on Live Science.
Best treadmill for small spaces
The ProForm City L6 treadmill might not be the most powerful on the block with just a 1.6 HP motor, but that does make it pretty quiet. And, rather than just folding down, it collapses into the deck, so it folds totally flat. This makes it a savvy choice for college students or anyone in a small apartment.
There's no incline, and its small 45 x 17.5-inch deck best suits walking or light jogging. It's not sturdy enough for larger users (it has a 250lbs weight capacity) and has a max speed of 8mph/14kph.
You can get more out of this entry-level treadmill by subscribing to the iFit app to access its awesome virtual classes. Sadly, there's no screen, so you'll need a smartphone or tablet. It's also lacking a fan or a drinks holder.
However, this simple design makes the ProForm City L6 an ideal affordable starter treadmill for anyone new to home workouts. ProForm's signature ProShox cushioning system gives it a nice springy that feels like more premium treadmills.
How we test the best treadmills
Setup and assembly
When we start testing a treadmill, we assess how long it takes to set up, whether it needs two people to assemble and how easy it is to put together. How the machine is packaged is also important. We also consider the time required to connect the machine to any devices and set up the companion apps.
Design and performance
Next, we take into account design; is this treadmill well made? Ergonomic? Intuitive to use? We test how easy it is to navigate any controls, the quality of the screen or display, belt, fan, and the performance of any built-in speakers. Connectivity is important, too, since so many of us use our smartphones and tablets to access online content for our training.
Smart features
While not all treadmills have integrated displays or internet-enabled features, many do, which often adds to the price tag. We test these extra features and determine if they're worth paying for and represent good value. We look at the range of live and on-demand classes, any preset programs, and if the treadmill has an incline and decline option.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know what treadmill to buy?
When it comes time to decide on the best treadmill for your home, there are several factors you need to consider. These are large and often expensive machines, so you want to look at the following areas to find one that'll suit your needs.
Speeds
If you're after the best treadmill for home, there's a lot of variety in the range of speeds and overall maximum speed. It's worth considering what you want to use the treadmill for; lower speeds are generally acceptable for walking, whereas sprinters will be after a high maximum speed.
Lower-cost machines typically have lower speeds and a more limited range, while premium options are ideal for sprinters or those who like varied or high-intensity workouts.
Belt length
The belt length is an essential feature of any treadmill, but it's especially crucial for those with a longer stride. Compact machines designed to fit into tight spaces are ideal for apartments or shared homes, but the reduced belt length means taller runners may find themselves slipping off the back edge.
The trade-off is that machines with longer belts are generally larger, so they take up more space. You can find foldable options or devices with wheels and handles to move it into a storage space, but these features also tend to add to the cost.
Incline and decline settings
If you want to replicate a light jog or walk along flat routes, you won't need to worry about finding a machine with incline and decline settings. As this feature adds mechanical parts to the treadmill, it also increases the price.
However, if you want to make your workouts more challenging with some uphill and downhill stretches, you'll need a treadmill with incline settings. Usually, you'll find that there's a range between 10-15%. Not every machine with an incline has a decline, too, so be sure to check if you're into downhill runs.
This may not sound like much of an adjustment, but a study published in the Journal of Sports Science found that a 1% treadmill incline effectively replicates most outdoor runs, so 15% is more like an extremely steep hill.
Built-in programs and virtual workouts
Traditionally, some of the best treadmills came with built-in programs, which automatically adjust the incline, decline, and speed to help you hit a specific goal. To help you keep track of your progress, there's often a built-in display showing your session metrics.
This is still quite a standard feature, but many mid-to-high-end machines also offer virtual on-demand and live classes streamed over the internet. Some, like the Peloton Tread, have a sizeable built-in display to access the routines, while you'll need your smartphone or tablet for treadmills like the ProForm City L6.
Generally, you need to pay an additional monthly fee to access these classes. This varies by model, so check with the manufacturer if you don't plan to use the app. Still, you can use most machines without the virtual activities or work out with a free YouTube alternative.
How much should I spend on a treadmill?
Finding a balance between features and price is crucial, especially if you're working on a budget. Although there's a widespread perception that treadmills are expensive, and some can be, it's possible to find lower-cost models.
If you're looking for a way to stay active without leaving the house, you can find treadmills for around $200. However, for a well-built, durable model with decent top speeds and some convenience features (like a water bottle and tablet holder), these machines retail for $400 or more.
On the other end of the scale, top-of-the-range equipment that you might find in fitness centers and gyms can set you back $1,500-$2,000 (between £1,250 and £1,700). These treadmills come with a high-quality, durable design, higher top speeds, and smart features like an integrated display and access to virtual workout classes.
So that you don't have to go hunting for the lowest prices, our on-page technology automatically shows the cheapest deals across several retailers, so you can find the best treadmill for your home without breaking the bank.
What is a good treadmill size?
The treadmill size that's best for you will depend on the available space in your home. If space is limited, a folding treadmill is a great option as you can pack the treadmill away after your workout.
To find the right size treadmill, consider how your height and stride length along with how you plan to use the machine, as these factors all dictate the belt dimensions you'll need and the treadmill’s overall footprint.
If you plan to run, aim for a belt width of 22 inches, though 20 inches is usually adequate for walking. For length, runners over 6 feet tall should look for a 60-inch belt, while those under 6 feet will find 55 inches sufficient. However, if you intend to walk exclusively, a 50-inch belt length should be perfectly fine.
