The best treadmills are synonymous with a sweaty workout session, allowing you to raise your heart rate without worrying about the weather or tripping over uneven terrain. Modern models go above and beyond the comparatively modest capabilities of their forebears too, with vibrant touchscreens displaying live workouts and virtual routes to keep your training fresh and fun.
What’s more, thanks to the best treadmills for home use, you can now burn calories (opens in new tab) and enjoy a great running workout from your living room; with foldable features, cushioned running belts and linked apps, these space-conscious machines will ensure you’re never short on home workout ideas (opens in new tab).
The running machine market is now overflowing with options, with many brands claiming to top popular categories like the best under desk treadmills, the best treadmill for beginners or the best treadmill for under $1000.
To separate run of the mill machines from the revolutionary treadmills of tomorrow, we tasked our in-house testers with finding and reviewing some of the best treadmills on the market. They put each one through its paces before delivering their verdict on which products would make worthy additions to your home workout regime.
To help you decide which treadmill is right for you, we’ve compiled a list of our testers’ top recommendations, as well as an in-depth look of the pros and cons of each, and a final score out of five stars.
Best treadmills in our tests
The NordicTrack X22i treadmill doesn’t do anything by halves, and that’s why we love it. Why have a few preset programs when you can have thousands of engaging on-demand workouts, who wants a 7in display when you can have a cinematic 22in HD touchscreen, and why stop at a 15% incline when you can hike up a daunting 40% slope? Out of all the treadmills we tested, this was by far our favorite.
It doesn’t just stand out because of its go hard or go home approach to innovative features either, it’s also a brilliant running machine in its own right. We appreciated the Reflex Cushioning built into the belt, which ensured our joints didn’t bear the brunt of lengthy runs, and the powerful 4chp (continuous horsepower) motor works impressively quietly to deliver a top speed of 12mph.
Now, at some point we do have to address the elephant in the room; at over 70in long and almost 40in wide, this is a big machine. However, if you’ve got a dedicated home workout space to house it, these considerable dimensions can be seen as a plus. The running belt feels roomy – even for our taller (6ft 2in) tester – and the treadmill stays stable and wobble-free no matter what incline or speed setting we selected.
We were also left seriously impressed by the wealth of health content available via the iFit app. This requires a monthly subscription fee after a 30-day free trial, but you definitely get your money’s worth with access to thousands of studio classes, instructor-led virtual routes and off treadmill workouts. So, if you’re not in the mood for a run, you can opt for a strength, Pilates or yoga session instead.
Given its impressive credentials, we think the NordicTrack X22i is the perfect training partner for anyone looking for a machine that can revolutionize their home workouts and provide a well-rounded fitness routine.
- Read our full NordicTrack X22i review (opens in new tab)
At $1,299, the Echelon Stride isn't exactly cheap – but it's by far our favorite when it comes to balancing a good set of features with a mid-range price tag. It's the ultimate space-savvy machine, with a compact running belt and fully foldable design – ideal for storing under a bed or behind a sofa. And it seems the saying “good things come in small packages” rings true, with the tread delivering an impressive performance on test (in spite of its diminutive dimensions).
It offers speeds of up to 12mph and incline settings as high as 10%. We found the base felt sturdy and secure, with only slight wobbling at the highest paces and gradients, and though it only has a 1.75 horsepower motor the belt moved smoothly with no juddering underfoot.
There is an LED console on the handlebars with several interval sessions of varying difficulty on offer. However, we think it’s well worth investing in the Echelon Fit app which – for a monthly subscription fee – allows you to link the treadmill with your phone or tablet and access a huge selection of engaging classes. During testing, we discovered even those sessions labeled advanced proved on the easier side, but there is a huge selection of on-demand studio classes, live workouts and more to explore.
So, if you’re a running newcomer looking for a compact, affordable option, the Echelon Stride is the best treadmill for you.
- Read our full Echelon Stride Auto-fold Treadmill Review (opens in new tab)
The Peloton Tread is a sleek and well-made treadmill that offers a satisfying running experience for all fitness abilities. It comes in Peloton's signature black and red colors and has a striking minimalist design. During testing, we particularly liked the machine's fuss-free touchscreen, which is easy to navigate.
Speed and incline dials are positioned on the handrails, so there is really very little to distract you from that shiny display. It doesn't have any kind of base at the front of the tread, so you can run along its full length—useful if you have a particularly long stride.
The machine doesn’t have quite as many features as we'd like to see at this price point, as it's lacking a decline option or in-built fan, both of which you can find in the slightly cheaper NordicTrack model above. You will also need a Peloton app subscription to access those famous virtual classes. All of that aside, it is a satisfyingly compact, stylish and quiet machine for runners of all ability.
- Read our full Peloton Tread review (opens in new tab)
ProForm has taken a minimalist approach to design with the ProForm Pro 9000, using a black and silver palette that gives the tread a slick and subtle look. There’s nothing subtle about the size or price tag of this model though, so you’ll need some cash and space to house it.
The 9000 comes complete with inbuilt dual speakers, fans, and iFit capability which provides access to a vast array of workouts and classes from top-notch coaches and trainers in the game. The 22” eye-catching crisp color touchscreen display will certainly suck you in, and with so much workout choice available, this tread can quench the thirst of even the fittest of running fanatics. The speed and incline quick controls are splashed across the dashboard to offer fuss-free on-the-go adjustments, and you can choose between -3% to +12% incline/decline, as well as up to 22 km/h of speed – all of which can be automated by your trainer during workouts.
While this treadmill does offer an immersive training experience, we found some of the tech tricky to master when we tried it out. There are a couple of tech fixes that could make this model more competitive for the top spot, especially when pitched against models like the NordicTrack X22i.
- Read our full ProForm Premier 9000 review (opens in new tab)
The LifeSpan Fitness Treadmill TR3000i has everything a traditional treadmill should. We found it benefits from a stable, cushioned running deck, a maximum speed of 12mph and incline settings up to 15%. Yet, with the multitude of mod cons crammed into newer running machines, its traditional approach struggles to keep pace with its smarter competitors.
The 7in touchscreen feels tiny and, while it’s fairly responsive, the display is a bit grainy. It feels wholly unnecessary too, as the machine only has a scattering of preset programs to choose from – a figure that pales in comparison to the thousands of live and on-demand classes on offer from the likes of the Peloton Tread and NordicTrack X22i.
It took us almost an hour to set up, with the upright handles needing screwing into place and the monitor requiring an overcomplicated (not to mention fiddly) wire-matching exercise before it would work. Yet it costs over $1,000USD, meaning you’re still spending a considerable chunk of money on a treadmill that lacks the innovations of other modern models.
Seasoned runners may appreciate the simplicity as, once the treadmill is set up, a quick start session allows you to get running with minimal fuss, adjusting your incline and speed settings as you go. But anyone looking for a piece of fitness kit to transform their home workouts will be better served elsewhere.
- Read our full Lifespan TR3000i Folding Treadmill review (opens in new tab)
Not only is the Mobvoi Home Treadmill a great way to stay active during the working day, at around $400 it’s also less than half the price of the other machines in this guide. Now, don’t expect to set a 5K PB or face a lung-busting workout on this machine – it has no incline settings and a maximum speed of 12km/h (just under 7.5mph). But this is ideal for its MO as a walking treadmill, allowing you to move at a brisk pace while checking your emails or tending to spreadsheets (if you pair it with a standing desk).
We found the running belt felt sturdy in use with no unsettling jerking or wobbling, and it’s a breeze to set up thanks to its compact, folding design. This has the added bonus of making it simple to store, as it will easily slide under most sofas.
Thanks to the folding handlebars, you can use the machine as a flat walking pad under your desk or raise them up for the functionality of a traditional treadmill. If you choose the latter option, the handlebars house a bright LED dashboard with quick touch controls for speed and an attachable phone holder. Or, if you’re using it as a walking pad, a handy remote means you can stay in control at all times.
The belt itself felt a little thin underfoot and the lack of cushioning was noticeable. It was also quite narrow to stand on, which could feel quite suffocating if you’re a bigger user. But the machine is whisper quiet in action and has Bluetooth speakers built in, so you can blast power ballads while smashing your daily step goal – if that’s your thing.
- Read our full Mobvoi Home Treadmill review (opens in new tab)
How we test treadmills
We tested all treadmills in our purpose-built testing center (with the exception of Mobvoi, which was tested out at home) completing a longer run, an intense shorter session, and (where applicable) several workout classes on each machine. We also checked any claims made by brands, including the machines’ functionality at their maximum speed and incline settings, before awarding each one a score out of five for the following categories:
- Set-up and usability
- Design and display
- Features
- Performance
- Value for money
These figures were used to calculate a final score out of five, and decide which running machines made our roundup of the best treadmills.
Are treadmill calorie counters accurate?
Buying one of the best treadmills is an investment in your health, and it’s often not a small one, so chances are you’ve got a few more questions before you click “add to basket”. We’ve spoken to exercise physiologist and medical exercise specialist Bianca Grover to unpack some of the most frequently asked questions.
Firstly, are treadmill calorie counters accurate?
The short answer to this is no. Treadmill calorie counters can give an estimate of your overall calorie burn, but they cannot take into account the multitude of factors that come into play when determining energy usage, such as height, weight and fitness level. However, the estimate provided can be a good indicator of the intensity of your session.
“There are several factors that play into the amount of calories you burn while exercising,” Grover told Liver Science. These include your age, weight, height, body composition, and so on. In general, treadmills are showing the amount of calories burned on average. This is not the most accurate system, but it is helpful.
“...Having a general sense of calories burned is always better than nothing.”
Grover says some treadmills may ask you to input personal information such as your age, weight and height before you start running, and this is likely to improve their accuracy.
“Again, these do not have pinpoint accuracy, but they are likely closer than those that do not take these into consideration,” she says.
Do treadmills help you lose weight?
Many people looking to buy a treadmill will be doing so with the goal of decreasing their body fat percentage. This is definitely a process that treadmills can benefit, Grover says, but there are more things to consider such as diet.
“Treadmills can certainly help you lose weight, but they are only one factor in the equation. If you are looking to lose weight, you must be at a consistent caloric deficit (opens in new tab), meaning you must burn more calories than you are taking in. A safe caloric deficit is between 200 and 500 calories (per day). This will allow your body to slowly lose weight, without starving it. In general, you will be looking to lose one or two pounds a week, depending on the individual.
“Because treadmill exercises – like any physical activity – require you to burn calories, this can help contribute to your desired daily caloric deficit.”
Does a treadmill make you faster?
While some prospective treadmill purchasers may be looking to lose weight, many others will be seeking to improve their athletic performance.
Grover says the answer to this question will depend on what we mean by becoming faster; a treadmill is unlikely to help a sprinter increase their maximum speed, she warns, but can contribute significantly to those looking to improve their endurance. This latter factor can have a significant positive impact on your PBs over longer distances, so by this definition a treadmill can make you faster.
“If we define ‘getting faster’ as improving your top speed, then treadmills will play a minimal role in that,” she says. “In order to improve your top speed, you will need to incorporate things such as resistance training and plyometrics into your routine.
“However, by improving your cardiovascular health, treadmill workouts can help reduce your times over longer distances. This improvement in conditioning means your body is using oxygen and fuel more efficiently, allowing you to maintain a higher speed for longer.
Are treadmill distances accurate?
“It likely depends on the treadmill, but (in general) they are quite accurate,” says Grover.
“Keep in mind that they will certainly feel different than running outside or on a track. Treadmills usually impact things such as length of stride and consistency of terrain.”
Does a treadmill build muscle?
This question is largely answered by our feature querying, “Does running build muscle (opens in new tab)?”.
A 2015 study published in Exercise and Sports Sciences Reviews concluded: “Collectively these data warrant that aerobic exercise training should be acknowledged to increase skeletal muscle mass and be considered an effective countermeasure for muscle loss with advancing age.”
(All the more reason to invest in one of our tested edit of the best running shoes for supination (opens in new tab).)
However, it should be noted that running won’t have the same brawny byproducts as hypertrophy (opens in new tab)-focused training methods such as bodybuilding and other forms of weight training (opens in new tab). If muscle gain is your goal, we prescribe hitting the weights (like some of the best adjustable dumbbells (opens in new tab)) and following a program that takes advantage of the progressive overload (opens in new tab) principle.
