7 best treadmills for running at home in 2024
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If you're trawling the internet trying to figure out the best treadmill to invest in, you're not alone. This gym staple has had a resurgence in popularity of late, thanks to viral home workout such as TikTok's 12-3-30 treadmill workout – and under desk treadmills – filling our social media feeds.
Even the queen herself has a soft spot for one: Taylor Swift used a treadmill every day in preparation for her Eras tour, telling Time magazine: “Every day I would run on the treadmill, singing the entire set list out loud. Fast for fast songs, and a jog or a fast walk for slow songs.”
Sure, you can make use of the high-end treadmill at your local gym, but if you're looking to add to your at-home gym equipment, then investing in a treadmill is a savvy move. Treadmills are a great alternative to outdoor running – but there's more to them than just that. Treadmill workouts, where you incorporate equipment such as dumbells – or follow a set programme of varying intensity – can be a really convenient way of boosting your cardio fitness from the comfort of your living room. Pretty handy when the rainy days are with us.
There's no need to even get changed into your workout clothes to use one (hello, TikTok's cosy cardio trend). Though we highly recommend you do at least slip a sports bra on and some decent running trainers.
Regardless, for beginners, shopping for running machines can be overwhelming, with metrics and specs like ‘LCD display’, ‘incline range’ and CHP floating around. What's the treadmill's max speed? Does the treadmill have a tablet holder and bluetooth connectivity for mid-run entertainment? Are you bothered about heart rate monitoring or built-in workout programs? Here’s everything you need to know, whatever your fitness level.
SKIP TO: What are the benefits of running on a treadmill? | What features to look for when shopping for one | How much to spend on a treadmill | How to make treadmill workouts fun | Our full reviews.
Meet the expert:
- Amanda Place, personal trainer and founder of Sculptrition.
Best home treadmills – our top picks:
- Best Overall: NordicTrack Commercial 1750, WAS £2,799 NOW £2,799
- Best Treadmill For Pre-Set Workouts: Peloton Tread, £3,345
- Best Folding Treadmill: Echelon Stride Auto-Fold Connected Treadmill, WAS £1,799 NOW £1,368
- Best Budget Treadmill: Domyos Smart Treadmill T540C, £599.99
- Best Curved Treadmill Belt: Nohrd Sprintbok Treadmill, from £5,849
- Best Running Experience: Pro-Form Pro 9000, WAS £2,499 NOW £2,299
- Best Walking Treadmill: JTX Movelight Walking Treadmill, WAS £499 NOW £479
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How we chose the best treadmills:
Our editors are fitness experts who have taken the time to test not only the best treadmills for at-home use on the market – but exercise bikes, cross-trainers, rowing machines, dumbbells, yoga pants and running trainers, too. We know what it takes to be crowned the best in at-home gym equipment, and scored the following treadmills on a number of key considerations. We looked at everything from size, weight, ease of assembly, durability and overall comfort and experience of using the treadmill. Plus, we noted extra features like immersive LCD screens, connectivity to other fitness tracking devices, whether they can stream workout classes and how well they fit into a busy home.
What are the benefits of buying a treadmill?
Everyone knows cardio is good for you, but there are just so many things that can discourage you from lacing up and getting out there. Raining? No thanks. Overcast? Not today. Cold? Nah. Can't find your running jacket? Nope.
Yet, with a treadmill, you can do everything from the comfort of indoors. Whether you just want to smash your daily steps without venturing out, add some light jogs into your weekly routine, or push yourself to your limits with interval training, there's a tread for it.
An award-winning fitness coach, Place rates treadmills for their versatility, reduction of impact on joints, time-efficiency for workouts and ability to track progress. “Treadmill workouts can be time-efficient, allowing you to squeeze in a quick workout without the time investment required for outdoor activities or commuting to a gym,” she says.
Sure, treadmills take up space (unless you get one designed for easy storage), but if you're someone looking to up your cardio fitness without leaving your home, they're one of the best investments you could make.
What features should I look for when buying a treadmill?
There's a number of features to look out for when buying a treadmill, says Amanda Place, personal trainer and founder of Sculptrition. As well as max user weight and top speed, here are some of the top functionality considerations to keep in mind:
- Motor power: “A more powerful motor generally indicates a higher quality treadmill,” says Place. She advises looking for a motor with a continuous duty rating of at least 2.0 horsepower (HP) for walkers, 2.5 HP for runners, and higher for intensive use.
- Running surface: “Ensure the treadmill has a sufficient and comfortable running area. For running, a deck length of 55 inches or longer is recommended. The width should accommodate your stride without feeling cramped.”
- Incline and decline options: Treadmills with incline and decline settings provide a more versatile workout, says Place. “They simulate uphill and downhill conditions, engaging different muscle groups and adding variety to your routine,” she adds.
- Cushioning system: “Look for a treadmill with an effective cushioning system to reduce impact on your joints,” says Place, explaining that quality cushioning can make your workouts more comfortable and decrease the risk of injuries.
- Foldability and space: “If space is a concern, opt for a treadmill with a foldable design. Ensure it's easy to fold and unfold, and that it fits comfortably in your available space.”
- Warranty: A good treadmill typically comes with a solid warranty, says Place. Check the warranty coverage for the motor, frame, parts, and labour; “a longer warranty period often reflects the manufacturer's confidence in the product's durability,” says Place.
How much does a good treadmill cost?
If you're looking to invest in a Peloton treadmill, then you're looking at an eye-watering £3,345. But don't worry. You can still get a ‘good’ treadmill for under £1,000. You just need to know where to look…
Trying to find good treadmills that'll stand the test of time isn't easy - and finding treadmills that are still in stock is an entirely different ball game. Fear not, though, as we've done the legwork (pardon the pun) so you don't have to. We've been trying and testing, figuring out which treadmill is best.
There are tonnes of great options on the market with varying training programmes and levels of incline from retailers like John Lewis, Amazon, Argos, Nordictrack and JTX Fitness (JTX Sprint, we're looking at you).
How to make treadmill workouts fun:
Thankfully, treadmills can be about more than just never-ending running without changing scenery; there's ways and means of making treadmill workouts more varied and fun. A quick Google will bring up a range of options, from a guided treadmill and strength training circut to a range of ‘boredom-busting’ treadmill workout ideas. Many treadmills these days will have built-in workout suggestions or the ability to stream classes, so there really is a feast of options to choose from. Place has a few suggestions for the treadmill to get you started though.
- Walking lunges: “Hold onto the handrails for balance, and step into walking lunges. This adds a strength element to your lower body workout.”
- Side shuffles: “Turn to the side and perform shuffling motions to work your inner and outer thighs. This helps improve lateral strength and agility.”
- Hiking simulation: “Increase the incline to simulate hiking or hill climbing. This engages the glutes, hamstrings, and calves more intensively.”
- Interval training: “Alternate between periods of high-intensity running or walking and lower-intensity recovery. This boosts calorie burn and improves cardiovascular fitness.”
- Sprint intervals: “This can be an effective way to improve speed and endurance: alternate between short sprints at high speeds and slower recovery periods. ”
After more fitness and exercise content? Head this way for exercise bikes, over here for cross-trainers and in this direction for the best rowing machine. We've also got resistance bands, dumbbells, ankle weights, yoga blocks, the best running shoes and yoga mats to level-up your at-home practise.
Keep scrolling for our full edit of the best treadmills on the market.
- 1/7
Best Overall
Why we love it: NordicTrack treads are renowned and highly-regarded for a reason. This version, the Commercial 1750 has three horsepower and goes up to speeds of 12mph, with an adjustable incline of up to 12%.
Plus, unlike some of the other lower-end treadmills, you get a ten-inch tablet included, which makes viewing your workout stats super slick. Stream live running workouts to your tablet or choose scenic locations to get a sweat on - virtually - around the globe.
But it's not just running that this treadmill is good for; workouts via the iFit app range from hiking and walking to strength and ‘time crunch’. The great news is that a 30 day iFit trial membership is included when you buy the treadmill.
It also works like a coach, with integrated progressive series you can access and follow on the machine. Even better, its SmartAdjust machine learning technology will automatically adapt every workout to fit you.
The 14 inch HD touchscreen tilts and pivots so you can follow along on and off the treadmill with no bother. Plus it has a neat feature, where if you purchase the SmartBeat™ heart rate monitor (sold separately), the treadmill can automatically adjust your speed and incline to maintain your optimal heart-rate zone. Clever eh?
Specifications:
- Dimensions: L 79 inches x W 40 inches x H 70 inches.
- Belt size: 60 inches x 20 inches.
- Screen type: 14 inch tilt and pivot HD touchscreen.
- Speed range: 0 to 12 mph.
- Incline range: -3% decline and 12% incline.
- Extra features: Bluetooth headphone and heart rate connectivity.
- 2/7
Best Walking Treadmill
Why we love it: Take one look at TikTok and you'll see the walking treadmill, or pad as it's also know, is having a moment. With a trend towards being kinder to ourselves and mindfulness when it comes to exercise, the walking pad is a fab companion for a more relaxed stroll, lower impact exercise or to use under a desk (if that's your vibe).
With its one HP, it's not the most powerful but it doesn't need to be it and it also means it has a quiet motor. An easy-to-use remote control allows you to effortlessly switch between its four training modes or to increase or decrease the speed as you're moving.
It's also a sturdy piece of kit that comes with a clear console display at the head of the walking treadmill, so you can glance at easily when using it and take note of your steps, speed, duration of workout and calories burned.
Fans of the JTX Fitness Movelight Walking Treadmill praise it for making it easy to get your steps in, but the compact pad can also be used for light jogging. Another plus point? When you're not using it the portable treadmill, which has transport wheels attached, is super convenient to store under a sofa or bed. The machine weighs in at just under 30kg so it can be moved pretty easily by one person.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: L 58 inches x W 24 inches x H 5 inches.
- Belt size: 48 inches x 18 inches.
- Screen type: Console on treadmill displays time, distance, calories, speed and step count.
- Speed range: up to 4 mph with 0.3 mph.
- Incline range: N/A.
- Extra features: Four training modes.
- 3/7
Best Foldable Treadmill
Why we love it: We get it: fitting a chunky piece of gym equipment like a treadmill into an already packed home is not the easiest task. If you're limited on space, then a foldable treadmill is the way to go. Not only can you fold it up and pop it away so it's not in the way, but you can also move it more easily if you change your mind about where you want it stationed.
At under £2,000, the Echelon Stride Auto-Fold Connected Treadmill has a more reasonable price tag, but that doesn't mean it skimps on the features. Sure, it doesn't come with a screen but you can connect with an iOS or Android device and there is a tablet/phone holder on the console area.
This smart treadmill can sync with your fitness apps, such as Strava, Apple Health and Fitbit to monitor and track your progress, as well as the Echelon Fit app. With the latter, you can enjoy on demand and live classes, and track real-time performance stats, including leaderboard ranking, distance, speed, calories burned, and total output for every workout.
There's lots to love about the Echelon Stride and with its design and features it makes for an impressive option for those newer to treadmill running and workouts. More experienced runners might want a higher maximum incline though.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: L 69 inches × W 31 inches x H 49 inches.
- Belt size: L 55 inches x W 20 inches.
- Screen type: Screen not included.
- Speed range: 0.5 to 12 mph.
- Incline range: 12 levels - max incline 10%.
- Extra features: Connects via your personal iOS or Android device to Echelon Fit app, Strava, Apple Health and FitBit. Also, for a limited time, a 30 day Premier membership is included (worth £29.99).
- 4/7
Best Curved Treadmill
Why we love it: Where to start with this unique and innovative …machine? Or display piece for our dream home? Or perhaps it's both?
WaterRower is well-know for its distinctive take on gym equipment - all polished wood, extraordinary craftsmanship and attention to detail - so this treadmill from its sister brand NOHRD follows suit. If the wooden curved appearance of the treadmill didn't already give you some clues, the Sprintbok is not your regular machine for getting your jog on.
There are no mechanical limitations on speed with this treadmill - the speed is determined by how fast or slow you can run, with the idea being it gives runners “the same level of natural control felt when running outside”. Again, unlike your regular running belt, the Sprintbok's is made up of 62 movable wooden slats, each with a linoleum finish. A patented flexion system cushions, absorbing shocks and vibration to offer protection from injury and keep noise to a minimum.
Because the Sprintbok doesn't require a motor to drive the running belt, the manual treadmill only requires mains power for the touch screen display meaning it consumes a fraction of the electricity of a conventional treadmill. Sold? Well, now all you have to decide is which wood to go for: ash, cherry, walnut, club or oak.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: L 69 inches x W34 inches x H 63 inches.
- Belt size: 63 inches x 18 inches.
- Screen type: 17.3 inches touchscreen tablet.
- Speed range: Speed is determined by how fast or slow users run, without any mechanical limitations.
- Incline range: N/A.
- Extra features: Touchscreen tablet is pre-installed with the Sprintbok performance monitoring app.
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- 5/7
Best Affordable Treadmill
Why we love it: For £600, Decathlon have you covered with the Domyos Smart Treadmill T540C. You can run up to 10mph on a motorised incline of up to 10% and indulge in 24 workouts with pre-set goals that adjust according to your skill level. Did we mention that it's also foldable?
Once delivered, it only takes 45 minutes for two people to set up the treadmill and although its running deck is a little smaller than some of the higher end options, it's still a decent size that will work for many people.
The Domyos Smart Treadmill is compatible with the Domyos Econnected and Kinomap apps, and six shortcuts allow you to quickly adjust the speed and incline. A backlit LCD screen displays key fitness information while you walk or run on it, highlighting info such as your session time, distance run, calories burned, speed and incline, as well as an estimate of your heart rate.
It might not have the live classes of Peloton or NordicTrack but for the £600 price tag, it does offer 24 pre-set training sessions to help you reach your goals and guide your workouts, which are broken down into: eight ‘health and well-being’ workouts to improve muscle tone and ease back into cardio, eight ‘calorie burn’ workouts to boost fat loss during or after your workout and eight ‘endurance’ workouts to increase your physical fitness and endurance.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: L70 inches x W31 inches x H 56 inches.
- Belt size: L 50 inches x W 18 inches.
- Screen type: 5 inches x 2 inches backlit LCD screen.
- Speed range: Up to 10 mph.
- Incline range: Motorised incline up to 10%.
- Extra features: Compatible with apps Econnected or Kinomap.
6/7Best For A Gym-Like Experience
Why we love it: Like the high-end Peloton, NordicTrack and Echelon options, the Pro-Form Pro 9000 Treadmill has a multitude of live and on-demand classes that can be streamed to a crystal clear, large display. Like NordicTrack, the Pro 9000 uses iFit to offer a range of studio classes, interactive training, strength workouts and scenic locations.
We love its built in workout fan, which is adjustable with a single push of a button. Its much appreciated once you start breaking into a sweat and nice to feel a breeze, as if you were running outdoors. You can connect your headphones via Bluetooth too, so you can really get yourself in the zone.
The Pro 9000 also cleverly automatically controls your speed and incline, from a -3% grade up to 12%, to realistically match the terrain of the workout. All you have to focus on is the gains.
There's another couple of cool features worth shouting about too; its patented SpaceSaver Design means the deck of the Pro 9000 can be folded up, while its EasyList Assist offers you a built-in, powerful shock to help you lift the deck with an easy push. It also has wheels attached so you can move the piece of equipment more easily.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: L 77 inches x W 35 inches x H 60 inches.
- Belt size: 60 inches x 20 inches.
- Screen type: 22-inch touchscreen.
- Speed range: 0 to 14 mph.
- Incline range: 12 levels of up to 12 %.
- Extra features: MP3 and Bluetooth connectivity. iFit programme included.
Save when you shop for the best treadmills with these Argos discount codes.
- 7/7
Best Treadmill For Real-Time Running Classes
Why we love it: If you want studio vibes at home, then the Peloton Tread offers bucks of motivation as you workout alongside other members in real-time.
With a touch screen, intuitive speed and incline wheels and a spacious, 59 inch running belt, this treadmill isn't like any old treadmill in the gym. It's better. Way better. One of the best perks? Peloton deliver it right to your door, place it in the right space and get you set up on delivery day. If you're already part of the Peloton family with the exercise bike, then you'll be happy to know that no additional membership is needed.
Of course, as you'd expect, the Peloton Tread seamlessly pairs with a heart rate monitor, Strava and the Peloton Watch app. It also boasts a really smooth transition up and down speeds, and also for any inclines or declines via a set of knobs. There are also buttons that allow you to jump quickly to the next mile or incline grade if you want a speedier change.
A red centerline down the middle of the textured belt, allows you to easily align your stride and it's also possible to lock your Peloton Tread with a passcode. We could go on and on with the many features and well-thought out design of the Peloton Tread, but let's put it this way: you're paying a lot for this piece of kit but, as you'd expect, you're getting a lot back too.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: L 68 inches x W 33 inches x H 62 inches.
- Belt size: L 59 inches x W 20 inches
- Screen type: 23.8 inch HD touchscreen with front and rear-facing studio-quality speakers.
- Speed range: 0 to 12.5 mph with 0.1 mph increments.
- Incline range: 0 to 12.5% grade with 0.5% increments.
- Extra features: Can pair with heart rate monitor, Peloton Watch app and Strava.
