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Training for a race? Looking to get some steps in as you listen to a podcast or audiobook? No matter your fitness goals, the best treadmills can help you get moving—even when the weather outside is less than ideal (read: cold, rainy, snowy, or sweltering hot).
“I’m a strong proponent of using the tools that you have to best get your workouts in,” Katherine Wuestenfeld, a NASM-certified personal trainer and RRCA-certified run coach in Chicago, tells SELF. Having a home treadmill also helps nip any “I’ll just do it tomorrow” excuses in the bud: As Allison Gruber, PhD, an associate professor of kinesiology at Indiana University Bloomington who uses her treadmill to work out safely before sunrise, previously told SELF, “whatever can keep you running, do it.”
Knowing which one to buy, however, isn’t always easy. To help you navigate a sea of seemingly similar options, we’re here with expert tips and insights from SELF testers. Shop our favorite treadmills for almost any space and fitness goals below.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: NordicTrack Commercial 1750, $2,499
- Best Cushioned: Horizon 7.0 AT, $2,100
- Best Classes: Peloton Tread+, $5,995
- Best Compact: ProForm Carbon TLX, $1,499
- Best Budget Pick: Sunny Health Compact Motorized Smart Treadmill, $400
- Best Under-Desk Treadmill: Walking Pad C2, $599
Shop the best treadmills
If you’re just starting to look into fitness equipment for your home gym, a treadmill is a great place to start.
Best Overall: NordicTrack Commercial 1750
NordicTrack
Commercial 1750 Treadmill
This 2024 SELF Home Fitness Award winner takes the gold because it’s high-tech, but still user-friendly. For $39 per month, you can stream over 10,000 classes from iFit, a fitness coaching platform, on its large touchscreen. (Pro tip: You can also use it in manual mode, no membership required.) During these workouts, the machine will automatically adjust your speed and incline to follow the instructor—no more fiddling with buttons mid-sweat session. And because the screen pivots, you can use it to follow off-tread yoga or strength training workouts too.
The 1750 also earns points for its cushioned running surface, strong 4.25 CHP motor, and auto-adjusting fan that speeds up or slows down to match the intensity of your workout. Although it’s pricey, we think it’s well worth the investment (especially if you sign up for iFit): You definitely “get what you pay for,” our tester, a marathon runner, confirmed.
Dimensions: 77’’ x 37’’ x 59.5’’ | Screen display: 16’’ pivot touchscreen | Max weight capacity: 400 lbs | Speed range: 0-12 mph | Incline range: -3% to 12% | | Foldable: Yes
Best Cushioned: Horizon 7.0 AT
With three zones of cushioning in the running deck, the Horizon 7.0 AT is a high-quality choice for runners looking to save their joints. As Kelly Bernadyn, CPT, a Michigan-based group fitness instructor at Life Time clubs, previously told SELF, treadmills with cushioned running decks make workouts easier on your body by offering extra shock absorption—it’s like wearing an über-cushy sneaker. Gregory Moy, DPT, a physical therapist in California, also told SELF that cushioned treadmills can be helpful for people with foot problems or “marathoners [and] ultramarathoners who are running 70 to 100 miles a week and need some time off from the hard pavement.”
Beyond padding, the Horizon 7.0 AT offers a broad range of incline settings; a dial to help you adjust your speed and incline quickly; and Bluetooth, Apple, and Samsung Galaxy connectivity.
Dimensions: 76” x 35’’ x 67’’ | Screen display: 7.25’’ LCD | Max weight capacity: 325 lbs | Speed range: 0.5-12 mph | Incline range: 0% to 15% | Foldable: Yes
Best with Classes: Peloton Tread+
World-class programming, including a large, growing collection of live and pre-recorded classes, give the Peloton Tread+ a special edge. “I really like the classes on my Peloton, as they provide a nice distraction from being inside and make my runs go by faster than if I was just staring at a blank screen,” says Wuestenfeld.
Classes aside, Wuestenfeld says the Tread+ also feels very well-made. “On other treadmills I’ve tried, when the speed gets below a 7-minute-mile pace, things get shaky, don’t feel as smooth, and it doesn’t always feel like a safe surface for running fast,” she says. “The Tread+ feels smooth on the slatted belt, even at faster speeds. The slatted belt is also a lot more cushioned than some of the really hard landing surfaces of other treadmills I’ve been on.”
If the Tread+ is out of your budget, check out the slightly cheaper OG Tread: While it has a different belt, a smaller screen, and can’t incline as much, we still think it’s a solid machine.
Dimensions: 75’’ x 36.5’’ x 72’’ | Screen display: 32-inch tilt touchscreen | Max weight capacity: 300 lbs | Speed range: 0-12.5 mph | Incline range: 0% to 15% | | Foldable: No
Best Compact: ProForm Carbon TLX
Another Home Fitness Award winner, the ProForm Carbon TLX has a small footprint and can be stored vertically when you’re not using it. We also like that it’s designed with shock-absorbing cushioning in the deck that helps reduce the impact of running on your body. Just know that if you’d like to take iFit classes on this one, you’ll need to spend an extra $39 each month on a subscription (if not, you’ll only be able to use the machine in manual mode).
Dimensions: 74.3’’ x 35.1’’ x 59.1’’ | Screen display: 7’’ display; device holder | Max weight capacity: 300 lbs | Speed range: 0-12 mph | Incline range: 0% to 12% | Foldable: Yes
Best Budget Pick: Sunny Health Compact Motorized Smart Treadmill
Sunny Health & Fitness
Compact Motorized Smart Treadmill
For a fraction of the price of some of our other top picks, this treadmill is a little bare bones, but it still works great. It’s not designed with sprints or hill training in mind (it actually can’t make incline adjustments), but it’s perfect for walking workouts and jogging. (That streamlined experience actually makes it great for treadmill beginners.)
Plus, it’s space-saving, with wheels and a folding mechanism to help you tuck it out of the way when you’re not using it. Weighing around 70 pounds, it’s much easier to move around than other hulking pieces of gym equipment.
Dimensions: 49.9’’ x 27.4’’ x 50.4’’ | | Screen display: Device holder | Max weight capacity: 220 lbs | Speed range: 0.5-6.5 mph | Incline range: N/A | | Foldable: Yes
Best Under-Desk Treadmill: WalkingPad C2
WalkingPad
C2 Mini Foldable Walking Treadmill
If you’re interested in adding movement to your work-from-home calls or TV binge-watching, an under-desk treadmill (sometimes also called a walking pad) might be up your alley—as SELF has previously reported, it offers many of the same benefits.
While this option from WalkingPad doesn’t incline and only reaches a max speed of 3.7 mph, it’s fairly lightweight at 55 pounds, making it more portable than some of our other picks. It also folds up, so you can stash it out of sight underneath a bed or couch.
Another bonus: You can control it using the LED display panel at the top of the tread belt, the included remote, or even the KS Fit app on your phone, which is key on exercise equipment that doesn’t have a console in arm’s reach.
Dimensions: 56.9’’ x 20.4’’ x 5.4’’ | Screen display: N/A | Max weight capacity: 220 lbs | Speed range: 0.5-3.7 mph | Incline range: N/A | Foldable: Yes
Is treadmill running as effective as running outside?
Running offers a ton of benefits—like improving your heart health, boosting your mood, helping you sleep, and more—and using a treadmill can help you unlock all of them safely. “When I trained for the 2019 Boston Marathon, we had a really snowy and icy winter in the months leading up to the race,” Wuestenfeld says. The conditions forced her to do a lot of her training indoors on a treadmill. “I ended up still setting a PR at the race, so I think that’s a testament to the power of treadmill training and how effective it can be.” She also likes training for long runs on a treadmill so she can practice effectively fueling herself—staying indoors offers easy access to water and gels, she says.
Treadmills can help you brush up on specific skills too. A machine with incline and decline settings will allow you to practice running up and down hills if you live in a flat area, while speed controls take the guesswork out of sprints or interval runs.
The pros add that you’ll see the most benefits if you use your treadmill regularly. “If you’re running consistently on a treadmill, it’s absolutely effective,” Erin Molloy, an RRCA-certified run coach in Brooklyn, tells SELF. “It’s all about what keeps you motivated and moving.”
Which features should you look for in a treadmill for your home gym?
As you shop, here’s what to keep in mind to help you pick the right treadmill for your space.
Before you start browsing, measure your space to make sure a treadmill will fit. Leave several feet of room behind the machine (in case you fall) and make sure your ceiling is high enough to accommodate the height of everyone who will use the machine, says Wuestenfeld.
The top speeds of the treadmills on this list range from 3.7 to 12.5 miles per hour (mph). “I would look at the top end speed that a treadmill offers as it relates to your own personal top-end speed,” says Wuestenfeld. She also recommends testing the treadmill out in person at higher speeds, so you can see how stable it feels (but if you’re shopping online, you can usually find this information in the treadmill’s reviews).
Some of our picks can incline and decline from -3% to 15%—others don’t tilt at all. Consider where you like to run and how much you want to switch up your workouts: “Incline ability is helpful for simulating hills that you would encounter outdoors,” says Wuestenfeld.
Most treadmill motors have continuous horsepower (CHP) or horsepower (HP). CHP describes how the motor will perform over time, while HP refers to the maximum power the treadmill is capable of reaching (but doesn’t tell you for how long). This makes CHP a more reliable measurement of a treadmill’s juice. If you’re a runner, look for a machine that has at least 3.0 CHP. Anything lower than that is better for walking or light jogging. (Note: Not all brands on this list share their treadmills’ CHP or HP.)
”Many treadmills offer programming these days—either with virtual coaches, like Peloton or iFit, or with pre-programmed workouts on the treadmill itself,” says Wuestenfeld. Just keep in mind that you may need to pay extra for a membership to access guided workouts and classes
How we picked the best treadmills
We sourced our winners by asking experts for their shopping advice and personal favorites. We also kept each treadmill’s size, speed range, workout programming capability, and price in mind as we built this list. SELF staffers even tested some of these treadmills themselves, as part of our Home Fitness Awards. Whether you’re training for a marathon or want a walking pad to go with your standing desk, we have you covered with reliable options from brands like NordicTrack, Peloton, and more.
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