If you’re looking for ways to exercise at home, there’s a lot to recommend getting a treadmill. Whether you’re already a keen runner or are looking to exercise more regularly, having access to your own treadmill makes it that little bit easier to establish a routine and there are plenty of treadmill workouts to choose from to keep your training interesting.
Treadmills are a part of the connected fitness revolution too and Peloton has released its own treadmill, although that’s not the only option. Many of the best workout apps, such as Fiit and Apple Fitness+, include treadmill sessions too, while Zwift for runners lets you race and train in a virtual world.
Below you’ll find a range of great treadmills to suit every runner and walker, whether you’re looking for a budget machine or have thousands to splash out on a gym-standard unit. You’ll also find a buyer’s guide with info on how to go about picking the right treadmill for you.
How We Choose The Best Treadmills
Why you can trust Coach Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Our recommendations are based on hands-on experience with treadmills. We began reviewing in April 2020 and have been working through as many as possible since then. Senior writer Nick Harris-Fry, a committed amateur runner with a marathon time of 2hr 28min, has reviewed all but one model for Coach, giving him the experience to compare and contrast. He spends two to three months with each machine, integrating it into his training schedule.
You’ll find those we’ve reviewed ranked here, as well as options from brands we’ve reviewed that we think offer good value or an attractive alternative to the treadmill we tried. We’ve also included a few machines we haven’t reviewed, but have tried and are convinced they’re an option you should know about.
The Best Home Treadmills
If your budget for a home treadmill is £1,000, this excellent machine is almost certainly your best bet. The speed range of up to 20km/h is equivalent to commercial machines, while the incline goes up to 12%. We found that even when running for long periods at high paces the belt ran smoothly and the machine was easy to assemble, though having an extra person on hand is vital to get the heavy base in position.
The JTX Sprint-7 doesn’t have some of the bells and whistles you get on more expensive treadmills, such as Zwift connectivity, but it does connect to the Kinomap app and it will serve all your running needs very well even if you’re an experienced runner (our tester with a 2hr 29min marathon PB trained on it happily) and we found the belt was spacious enough for a 1.8m (6ft) tall runner.
Get more details from our JTX Sprint-7 review
The Run 100 has a slightly bigger running area and higher top speed than most entry-level treadmills, and it will more than satisfy the needs of newer runners and those who mainly want a home treadmill for walking. It also runs quietly and folds down to make it easier to store, and it’s often reduced as well to make it even better value.
If you’re in the UK you also get extra connectivity with the Run 100E version of the treadmill, which can connect to the Zwift and Kinomap apps, which is unheard of in a machine this cheap. In the US only the Run 100 treadmill is available for now, but on the plus side it is reduced by $200 at the moment to just $399.
Peloton began with a wildly successful spin bike and glossy subscription app, and it applies that format to indoor running. The treadmill has a huge 23.8in (60.5cm) HD screen on the console that streams an inexhaustible supply of guided workouts as well as scenic runs in exotic locations, which look stunning on the screen. You control the speed and incline on the treadmill by twirling two knobs on the sides of the machine, and it maxes out at 20km/h and a 12% incline.
The main reason to get the machine is of course the extra motivation of the live and on-demand workouts, but it’s also a high-end bit of kit in general, with a slatted belt that gives a more realistic running feel. Of course, this all comes at a cost: the treadmill will set you back $3,495/£3,345 with a further $39/£39 a month for a subscription to the app.
Get more details in our Peloton Tread review
It may be expensive, but if you have the money the Technogym MyRun offers the most complete indoor running experience we’ve tried. The impressive hardware includes a 3.0CHP motor, a top speed of 20km/h and an incline range that goes up to 12%. Despite being a compact machine that doesn’t dominate a room, it also has a large 143 x 50cm running belt that accommodated a 183cm-tall runner easily in our testing.
What really sets the MyRun apart is the range of features in the partner app, Technogym Live. These include guided workouts with instructors and interval sessions where the machine’s speed and incline settings are changed automatically, so you can run them in the background while you watch one of the streaming services you can access in the Technogym app, like Netflix and YouTube. It costs £8.99 a month to get full access to the app – but you’ll find more than enough classes to keep you busy on the free option.
You can also easily connect the MyRun to Zwift, and pair it with your Strava to recreate your outdoor runs indoors. It’s an extremely smart machine, and all the options it offers will make your training more engaging and help to keep you coming back for more.
Get more details in our TechnoGym MyRun review
The EnduRun offers a gym-standard experience thanks to its sizeable 151cm x 53cm running belt, high top speed of 22km/h, powerful 2.5CHP motor, and easy-to-use console that includes buttons to take you directly to certain levels of speed or inclines. You can also adjust these using handily placed buttons on the sides of the machine, which are easier to use while running.
It can also connect directly to Kinomap and the ledge on the console is well placed so you can rest your tablet there without obscuring the EnduRun’s display. When we reviewed the treadmill we were also able to connect it directly to Zwift easily, but it’s now not listed as Zwift compatible, so that might no longer be the case.
There are 27 workout modes on the machine, several of which can be configured by the user, but the connectivity to apps means you’ll be able to access far more immersive guided workouts that way, even if the preset options are handy in a pinch.
Get more details in our DKN EnduRun Treadmill review
The Stride connects to the Echelon app where you’ll find enough live and on-demand guided classes to last you a lifetime. The treadmill has a top speed of 19km/h and the incline goes up to 10%, with a 1.75CHP motor under the hood. The guided workouts are the key selling point of the Stride (the app subscription costs £25-£39.99 a month, depending on the length of contract), but another major plus of the machine is that it folds up to just 26cm thick and 176cm tall, making it easier to tuck out of the way when not in use.
The size of the running belt, power of the motor and top speed all make the Stride a little under-specced for the price, but it still performed well when we tested it out, and the small size when folded adds to its appeal significantly. It also works well as a general treadmill even if you have no plans to use the Echelon app, though if you are going to do that there’s better value for money to be found in the JTX or DKN machines.
Get more details in our Echelon Stride review
The Mobvoi Home Treadmill is a cheap, quiet machine that’s great for walking and can be used for running, though the narrow belt means that longer runs will feel awkward. The treadmill’s party trick is being able to fold down flat so it’s 11cm high, making it easy to store or use as an under-desk treadmill. However, note that a bit of unscrewing is required to fold it down flat; it’s not as easy a process as you might think.
While it’s not going to satisfy keen runners looking to do their training at home, the Mobvoi Home Treadmill is a convenient entry-level option for those seeking to increase their activity.
Read more in our Mobvoi Home Treadmill review
We’ve tested and loved the DKN EnduRun, which is the more expensive model in this range, but the EzRun will easily fulfil the needs of most runners and it’s much cheaper. The EzRun has an impressive speed range that runs up to 20km/h and the incline range tops out at 12%. At 140cm long, the running belt is smaller than on the EnduRun, and the 1.75CHP motor is weaker, but both will suffice unless you’re especially tall or fast enough to spend long periods running at near the max speed (which translates to a pace of 3min/km). The EzRun can also connect to the Kinomap app via Bluetooth, which is a bonus on a machine that costs less than £1,000.
The Power 995i is an impressive machine with a spec to please runners of all levels. The speed tops out at 22km/h and the incline goes up to 12%, and with a powerful 3CHP motor the machine will run smoothly even if you’re accomplished enough to run near the top of those ranges. The running deck also folds up and it can be wheeled out of the way.
The Power 995i can connect to the iFit app where you’ll find guided workouts to help you vary your training (iFit membership is required – a one-year subscription is included with the treadmill), and there’s a tablet holder on the console.
NordicTrack has done a great job of integrating the iFit app and its guided workouts across its own range of cardio machines. With the Commercial X22i you’re getting a 22in (56cm) touchscreen on the console to stream iFit workouts, and the app will automatically adjust the treadmill’s speed, incline and decline according to the instructor’s demands. You get a one-year iFit membership included with the machine (it’s £129 a year thereafter) and the workouts cover yoga, strength and Pilates sessions as well as running.
The Commercial X22i is also just a great treadmill, even if you never intend to use the iFit app. The incline range is vast, extending from a 6% decline up to 40% incline, with a top speed of 22km/h, while a 4CHP motor ensures the belt runs smoothly even if you plan to run at 22km/h on a 40% slope. Good luck.
Treadmill Buyer’s Guide
How much should you spend on a treadmill?
Treadmills cost from as little as a few hundred to as much as a few thousand, and how much you spend should be dictated by the kind of runner you are, rather than your budget, because it would be easy to spend more than you need to.
If you are planning the occasional run/walk session you’ll be fine with an entry-level model, but anyone who plans on just running will need to look to spend something closer to four figures to satisfy their needs.
The more you spend, the more powerful a motor you should expect, which allows the machine to run more smoothly at a higher speed for longer. The number to look for and compare across models is the CHP or continuous horsepower (plain HP represents peak power and is less relevant to everyday use).
By spending more you’ll get a higher top speed, a greater incline range and more preset training programmes. You’ll also get a larger running deck, which can be crucial, because cheaper machines with shorter belts might well force you to shorten your stride.
An increasingly common feature on treadmills is Bluetooth connectivity. While this is available across the price spectrum, it is more likely to appear on more expensive machines. The benefit is that Bluetooth treadmills can sync to companion or third-party apps (Zwift for runners is one of our favourites), which provide more workouts to follow and make the experience much more engaging. Bluetooth connectivity isn’t essential, but we expect it to become a standard feature in the near future.
Pay a couple of thousand and you should expect large built-in HD touchscreens, although often what you’re paying for is a commercial-grade machine that can handle multiple runners pounding away for most of the day. Unless you live with an extended family of keen runners, a cheaper model may well suffice.
How powerful a motor do I need?
As a general rule we like a treadmill to have a 2.5CHP motor as a minimum. This will ensure it can run smoothly at its higher speeds for long periods. The higher the top speed of your treadmill, the more important it is that it has a powerful motor to back it up. The peak power is less important than the continuous horsepower rating.
However, if the treadmill you buy has a low top speed and you’re mainly planning to use it for walking and short jogs, a 1.5CHP motor will suffice.
How big should the running deck be?
A spacious running deck is important, especially for 5ft 10in (178cm) or taller runners. A length of around 20in (50cm) will suit most runners.
Treadmill FAQs
What is the best treadmill for home use?
We’ve singled out the JTX Sprint-7 as the best home treadmill, and that’s because of a variety of key features that you can look for a treadmill for home use. One is a high top speed – around 10-12mph (16-19km/h) is useful even if you intend to run only short sprint intervals at those high speeds. An incline range that goes to 10% or more is also helpful because you can increase the challenge of your workouts in a different way.
Is running on the treadmill the same as running outside?
There are some clear differences between indoor and outdoor running, the main one being that you aren’t affected by the elements. However, when we asked experts if running on a treadmill is bad for you, they said that the science suggests that treadmill running really is broadly equivalent to running outdoors.
Some people like to add a small amount of incline – around 0.5% to 1% – in order to counter the lack of air resistance when using a treadmill. This might bring the difficulty level of running indoors into line with running outdoors, but in our experience running on a slight incline at all times can affect muscles in unexpected ways, so don’t feel obliged to stick to this rule. Treadmill running will still improve your fitness and work all the same muscles as outdoor running.
Nick Harris-Fry is a journalist who has been covering health and fitness since 2015. Nick is an avid runner, covering 70-110km a week, which gives him ample opportunity to test a wide range of running shoes and running gear. He is also the chief tester for fitness trackers and running watches, treadmills and exercise bikes, and workout headphones.
