2. Best overall
5. Best for high-energy classes
7. How we test
8. Our experts
9. FAQs
The best treadmills offer a heart-pumping workout from the comfort of your home. Whether you are a novice or seasoned marathon runner, these exercise machines can be an invaluable tool for improving cardiovascular fitness and body composition.
However, picking the right model can be a challenge. There are plenty of options available on the market — from light and compact foldable treadmills to mammoth running machines with big screens, smart features and even complementary dumbbells for mat workouts. Not to mention, the best treadmills often come with high price tags.
At Live Science, we know that investing in a treadmill is a big decision, so our testers have tried out lots of different models to help you make the right choice. We've taken into consideration price, design, durability, value for money, noise levels and how easy it is to use and set up. We've also looked at specs, foldable designs and shock absorption, as well as smart features and accompanying apps.
Many of the models included in this roundup offer walking and hiking workouts with real life footage of famous mountains and treks. Others, including the Peloton Tread, are equipped with rotating screens, cameras and top-quality speakers. However, the best treadmills don't have to be packed with hi-tech features — some of the more budget-friendly options, such as the Mobvoi home treadmill, can give you a good run for your money, too.
But if you’re not sure which cardio machine is right for you, read our guides to the best rowing machines and exercise bikes for useful tips and advice.
The quick list
The best treadmill overall
The meaty NordicTrack x22i takes the crown — its sturdiness, powerful performance and smart features are hard to match. It is, however, the most expensive treadmill in this guide.
Best budget treadmill
Compact, foldable and surprisingly sturdy, the Mobvoi treadmill offers great value for money — but it does compromise on the flashy extras and maximum speed.
Best treadmill for small spaces
This space-savvy foldable treadmill impressed us with sturdiness and smooth performance, and it comes with an app packed with fun workouts.
Best for high-energy classes
The Peloton Tread is iconic for a reason — this thoughtfully designed treadmill offers some of the best live and on-demand fitness classes out there.
Best incline treadmill
This stylish and durable treadmill can reach up to a 12% incline and 22 km/h of speed, and it is foldable, too — but it does come with a high price tag.
The best treadmills we recommend in 2024
Why you can trust Live Science Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best ones for you. Find out more about how we test.
The best treadmill overall
✅ You want a performance-oriented treadmill: Sturdy and powerful, it allows for a wide range of running workouts.
✅ You enjoy fitness classes: There is plenty of great fitness content on the iFit app.
✅ You are tall: This treadmill features a long running belt.
❌ You want something small: It is a beast of a machine, so it will not fit in tight spaces.
❌ You are on a budget: It is the most expensive treadmill in this guide.
The NordicTrack X22i scores 4.7 out of 5 stars on the NordicTrack website. Positive reviews praise this treadmill for its vibrant screen, sturdiness and additional features. As one user said, "With all the programs and all the wonderful trainer, I’m excited to run on my treadmill everyday." Negative reviews cite the significant weight of the X22i, poor customer service from the company, and some user say the treadmill can be noisy when in use.
Forget the Peloton Tread, the NordicTrack X22i is one of the best home treadmills we have tested. This meaty machine thoroughly impressed us with its smart features, durability, and unbeatable running performance, which is why we awarded it a rare 4.5-star rating in our NordicTrack X22i review.
Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned runner, this treadmill will keep you coming back for more. With the NordicTrack X22i, you are spoiled for choice with thousands of motivating on-demand workouts, as well as daily live classes (iFit subscription needed), a cinematic 22” HD touchscreen and an impressive -6 to 15% decline/incline range.
With joint-friendly Reflex Cushioning, a meaty 4CHP (continuous horsepower) motor — which is surprisingly quiet — and seemingly limitless iFit virtual content, we could work our way through studio classes, instructor-led virtual routes and off the treadmill training like Pilates or yoga. The only downside to this we found was the screen is a bit hard to see when you are not on the treadmill so we had to rely on audio cues to know what to do next. You can tilt the screen slightly, but it would be good if you could angle it into a more practical position.
Another thing worth mentioning: this is a beast of a treadmill and would be better suited to a garage or home gym than the corner of your living room. The plus side of this monster of a treadmill is it has a 22” by 60” belt, so even our tallest tester (6ft 3”) could enjoy a proper run.
The NordicTrack X22i is not cheap, but it’s definitely one of the best treadmills we’ve ever tried, so if you’ve got the funds, you won’t regret the investment.
- Read our full NordicTrack X22i review
Best budget treadmill
✅ You are short on space: It is compact and foldable.
✅ You are on a budget: It costs less than $400.
✅ You want a sturdy machine: This treadmill impressed us with its durable build.
❌ You want the flashy extras: No big touchscreen or dedicated fitness classes.
❌ You want a fast running belt: This treadmill is only for walking and gentle runs.
The Mobvoi treadmill is rated 4.1 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with 59% of users giving it the full five stars. Positive reviews praise this model for its great quality, sturdy build, and value for money. Negative reviews tend to focus on the motor not working properly.
A decent treadmill will usually set you back by around $1000, but this budget alternative from Mobvoi is surprisingly powerful and comes in at less than $400. It has a maximum speed of 12km/h, which is ideal if you want to do daily gentle jogs and runs. You can also add or remove the rails on either side of the machine, allowing you to slot it under a desk and use it as a walking treadmill.
At this price, you won't get flashy extras like a dedicated digital running platform with upbeat classes displayed on a HD screen. But there's a handy slot for your tablet or phone at the front of your device, which allows you to watch shows while you workout.
During our Mobvoi home treadmill review, we found the belt sturdy and smooth — a lot of cheaper machines tend to 'jerk' at higher speeds, but that wasn't the case here. We were also fairly impressed with the in-built Bluetooth speakers, which allowed us to blast tunes while we ran. If you prefer a quieter session, then the Mobvoi is great too; it was whisper quiet during our testing period.
You can navigate the different controls on the machine using either the LED dashboard or a handy remote. And because it's so compact, it easily slots underneath a sofa or bed for storage.
We did find the belt felt a little thin and it's quite narrow too, but for this price you can't really complain.
- Read our full Mobvoi Home Treadmill review
Best treadmill for small spaces
✅ You are short on space: It is compact, foldable, and can fit under a bed.
✅ You enjoy fitness classes: Plenty of engaging workouts on the Echelon app.
❌ You are on a budget: It costs more than $1000.
❌ You want a powerful motor: This treadmill does not offer high speeds.
The Echelon Stride scores 3.9 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with 58% of users giving it a full five stars. Positive reviews praise this treadmill for its compact built and ease of assembly. Negative reviews complain it’s overpriced and the deck is quite hard. One reviewer said: “This is just one step above walking on pavement. I’ve owned $1200 treadmills with great suspension and soft decks so it’s a bit frustrating that it’s like this for the price.”
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%. During our Echelon Stride Auto-Fold Treadmill review, 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
Best treadmill for high-energy classes
✅ You want a great running experience: The belt is sturdy but springy and comfortable to use.
✅ You enjoy fun fitness classes: Peloton fitness content boasts great quality.
❌ You are on a budget: It is almost as expensive as the NordicTrack x22i.
❌ You want a space-saving design: This treadmill is not huge, but it does not fold or decline.
The Peloton Tread scores 4.2 out of five stars on the Peloton's website. Positive reviews praise the choice of workouts, as well as off-treadmill classes, guided runs and the motivational Peloton instructors. Negative reviews wished for a steeper incline option to make workouts more challenging.
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 our Peloton Tread review, we particularly liked its wide selection of live and on-demand fitness classes. In fact, we even dare to say that the high-intensity workouts created by the Peloton instructors are some of the best out there. We were also impressed by the machine's fuss-free touchscreen.
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
Best incline treadmill
✅ You want a performance-oriented treadmill: It boasts a wide range of incline and speed settings.
✅ You are short on space: It is foldable.
❌ You are on a budget: It costs well over $2000.
❌ You want excellent connectivity: This treadmill may come with some minor tech issues.
The ProForm Pro 9000 scores only 1.9 out of 5 stars on Amazon, based on 18 ratings. Negative reviews often cite parts not working properly, poor durability, connectivity problems, and inaccurate speed and distance measurements.
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 will need some cash and space to house it. However, it is a worthy investment. During our ProForm Pro 9000 review, we were particularly impressed by its wide range of incline settings and foldable design.
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 Pro 9000 review
How we test treadmills at Live Science
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.
Our expert
Bianca Grover is a certified exercise physiologist, medical exercise specialist and personal trainer. She holds several certifications and specializations from the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Heart Association. Bianca told Live Science about the ways in which running on the treadmill changes the body, and gave her take on the accuracy of treadmill sensors.
FAQs
Are treadmill calorie counters accurate?
Put simply, not quite. Treadmill calorie counters are only really estimating your total calorie burn and the number quoted is most likely to be inaccurate, because it doesn’t take into account the multiple variables that affect its total — including age, gender, height, body composition and fitness level.
However, the calorie estimate is useful for indicating the overall intensity of your session. “Having a general sense of calories burned is always better than nothing,” exercise physiologist Bianca Grover told Live Science. Some treadmills may ask you to put in personal details such as age, weight and height before you start, and this is likely to improve how accurate they are. “They don’t have pinpoint accuracy,” says Grover, “but they are likely closer than those that don’t take this information into account.”
Do treadmills help you lose weight?
To a certain degree, yes. “Treadmill exercises – like any physical activity – require you to burn calories, this can help contribute to your desired daily calorie deficit,” Grover says. However, if you’re looking to decrease your body fat percentage, she advises addressing several other factors alongside upping the amount you’re exercising.
“Treadmills are only one factor in the equation. If you are looking to lose weight, you must be at a consistent caloric deficit, meaning you must burn more calories than you are taking in.” Grover recommends “a safe caloric deficit” of between 200 and 500 calories (per day), with a general goal of losing one or two pounds per week. This will enable your body to slowly lose weight without starving it.
Are treadmill distances accurate?
As treadmill manufacturers are aware of the length of their running belt and the speed at which it is moving, distance-trackers on these machines should be able to provide a good level of accuracy.
“It likely depends on the treadmill, but (in general) they are quite accurate,” says Grover, adding: “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?
Does running build muscle? To a certain degree, yes. A 2015 study published in Exercise and Sports Sciences Reviews concluded that aerobic exercise, such as running on a treadmill at a moderate speed, “should be acknowledged to increase skeletal muscle mass and be considered an effective countermeasure for muscle loss with advancing age”.
But, while running can increase skeletal muscle mass to some extent, it can’t be used to pack on significant slabs of muscle. If muscle gain (or hypertrophy) is your goal, then strength exercises should be your first port of call. We prescribe hitting the weights and following a program that takes advantage of the progressive overload principle.
What is a good treadmill size?
Treadmill size will depend on the space you have available in your home — a folding treadmill may be a good option if you need to pack the treadmill away after your workout.
Your height and stride length will determine the belt length and width you need, as will the type of workouts you wish to undertake. Keep in mind that the required running space, which you can work out via the treadmill belt size, can also impact the overall footprint of the treadmill. A 22 inch wide belt is usually sufficient for runners, whilst walkers can get away with a 20 inch. If you are over six feet tall, then you’ll want a 60 inch length belt, but if you are under six feet then 55 inch is long enough. If you will be walking exclusively, then a 50 inch belt length is suitable.
What does treadmill warranty cover?
Treadmill warranty will vary depending on the model, but a boilerplate warranty will offer different periods of cover for different parts of the machine: frame, motor, parts and labor.
Treadmill warranties are designed to cover manufacturing defects, as well as potential wear and tear on the machine over time. You should ideally look for frame warranties that are 10+ years, motor warranties that are 5 to 10+ years and parts and electronics that are 1 to 3+ years. Most companies will also have a labor warranty lasting 90 days to 2 years, which covers the cost of the repairman if the machine breaks down in that time. Some brands, like NordicTrack and Proform, have clauses that say storing your treadmill in a garage will void the warranty, as it is potentially exposed to damage in this space.
