I’m a senior staff writer covering fitness and the author of Wirecutter’s guides to running shoes, GPS running watches, and rowing machines, among others. For this guide:

• Previous authors and I consulted running coaches, sports researchers, and industry insiders to understand how treadmills can and can’t help with exercise and training.
• I recruited members of The New York Times Run Club and Wirecutter staffers with varying running experience to test the treadmills.
• Like all Wirecutter journalists, I review and test products with complete editorial independence. I’m never made aware of any business implications of my editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards.

Treadmills provide a simple and efficient way to exercise. But it’s all too easy for a treadmill to become an expensive coat rack. According to one estimate, 40% of home-gym equipment isn’t used as often as the buyer had expected.

For a fee, subscription services on some machines allow you to join trainer-led classes or simulated workouts in locations around the world, but you should think about how much you will actually use this added programming and whether you’re okay running without any guidance. “Anyone looking to purchase a treadmill should consider the cost in relation to how much they think they will use it,” said Nicole Hagobian, a running coach and sport and exercise scientist at California Polytechnic State University.

“It’s a good idea to vary the speed and incline periodically if you are stuck inside running on a treadmill for an extended period,” said Rich Willy, associate professor at the school of physical therapy and rehabilitation science at the University of Montana.

If you have small kids or pets, make sure that you have space for your treadmill in a separate room or a sectioned-off area so that they can’t injure themselves while the machine is running. Common advice is to keep a treadmill behind a locked door, if possible.

This review covers treadmills specifically for running and walking. See Wirecutter’s review of under-desk treadmills, sometimes called walking pads, for more about that category.

Throughout this guide’s eight-year history, we’ve looked at both home treadmills and commercial models intended for use in gyms (the latter models are generally more expensive, with ultra-sturdy frames to handle a lot of daily use). Home versions tend to have a softer frame with a lot of plastic, said Harry Pino, manager for exercise physiology at the Princeton Longevity Center.

Here are the features we focused on:

• Belt length: We preferred treadmills with belt lengths of at least 60 inches.
• Speed: Most of the treadmills we tested go up to 12 mph (a five-minute mile)—speeds that are helpful for serious track and interval-based workouts but not necessary for most runners.
• Incline: These settings mimic the stress of running on hilly terrain and allow you to do interval work. Some treadmills can also decline, which simulates going downhill.
• Motor type: Most at-home treadmills have direct current (DC) motors (currents running in a single direction); these are usually quieter, but they’re generally less durable than alternating-current (AC) motors (currents reversing direction 60 times per second). AC motors last longer and are found in pricier machines.
• Horsepower: Most treadmill motors are measured in “continuous horsepower,” an industry term for the power that a motor can sustain over time. In theory, more horsepower equals faster switches between speeds and inclines. It doesn’t always correlate with a smoother run, though. Pino recommends a motor of 3 horsepower or more, which was the standard power for all of the treadmills we’ve tested.
• Deck: Running surfaces vary in springiness. Terms such as “flex” or “cushioning” indicate that a treadmill is on the bouncier side. “There should be some give so it doesn’t feel like someone’s excessively stomping each stride,” said Adam Tenforde, MD, director of running medicine at the Spaulding National Running Center.
• Weight capacity: At-home treadmills and entry-level commercial models typically hold at least 300 pounds, a capacity we generally look for when selecting machines to test.
• Accessories: Ideally, we wanted machines with large, secure water-bottle holders, a few small bins for storage, and perhaps a tablet holder.
• Folding mechanism: The decks of most treadmills allow you to position them vertically when you aren’t using them. If you have trouble lifting a heavy box of books onto a shoulder-high shelf, you may have trouble folding a treadmill.

Since 2017, we’ve had a total of 87 testing panelists—of varying skill levels—try 37 treadmills. For our most recent testing, in early 2025, 12 people walked and ran on three treadmills. I logged at least 50 miles on each machine, pushing the maximum speed, incline, and other features.

Our panelists noted whether the treadmills felt hard or had more bounce. Some machines shook at different speeds or inclines.

We also paid attention to the operating noise of each machine. The consoles and screens were of varying quality, and testers noted how easy it was to use each one.

Many treadmills have built-in fans, and we tested those models at full blast to note noise levels and the quality of the air placement.

Top pick

NordicTrack Commercial 1750

The best treadmill for most runners

This updated version of a long-standing favorite has a 16-inch touchscreen monitor and a responsive cushioned deck that hits a sweet spot between soft and stable.

$2,000 from Abt

$1,999 from NordicTrack

The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 has a responsive deck that feels soft yet highly stable, a powerful engine, and an overall sturdy build, so the treadmill doesn’t wobble much at faster speeds. Like some machines that cost significantly more, this model’s latest version has a 16-inch touchscreen that rotates, so you can easily view and perform virtual workouts when you’re not on the machine. This can be helpful if you want to follow along with non-running virtual classes, such as HIIT or strength training, which are available through NordicTrack’s subscription-based iFit platform ($39 per month, or $396 per year for a family plan).

NordicTrack has updated the Commercial 1750 three times in as many years. So if you’re shopping for a used machine, note the production year. The features on a secondhand Commercial 1750 may not line up with the ones we describe here, which apply to models produced in late 2024 and beyond.

The deck hits a sweet spot between soft and sturdy. The deck on the newest version of this machine feels soft—there’s some bounciness in your stride—yet foot strikes still feel solid. “This was the lowest barrier to entry for any treadmill I've ever used,” one tester said.

The screen enhances the interactive workout experience. A 16-inch high-definition touchscreen beautifully (and easily) connects you to the iFit programming of your choice. If you choose not to do iFit workouts and instead only use the treadmill’s manual mode, it’s a bit easier to focus on just running. That’s because the screen doesn’t obstruct your direct line of vision as much as the screens on other machines (it can also be tilted at different angles and rotate 90 degrees to the left or the right). When the treadmill is in manual mode, you can visualize your progress on the screen via an outdoor track. A camera on top of the monitor is currently not functional, a spokesperson for the company said.

It’s not overly noisy, and it’s easy to fold. The belt is not too loud, and it doesn’t make any concerning or annoying screeching sounds. Even with the treadmill set at high speeds, our 2025 testers found they could easily hear iFit trainers or music from the monitor at low to medium sound levels. With hydraulic assistance, the deck lifts easily, saving some space. The fan is quiet and packs a decent punch in terms of airflow.

The Commercial 1750 has a lifetime warranty for the AC motor, 10 years for the frame, two years for parts, and one year for labor.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Onboard storage space is minimal. In terms of storage, the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 has two water-bottle holders and not much else. So when you’re running on this machine, it can be inconvenient to view content on, say, a tablet or a phone.

The touchscreen isn’t always responsive. For the treadmill’s new screen layout, NordicTrack got rid of buttons on the side of the monitor, where you could control speed and incline. Now the only way to adjust these features is on the control panel underneath the monitor or through the touchscreen. However, on a few occasions, the speed buttons on the touchscreen weren’t immediately responsive, and it took a few pushes or a very hard push to activate them. In February 2025, a spokesperson for the company said NordicTrack would soon release a hardware update to fix the issue.

An awkward bar can block some controls. On the new Commercial 1750, there’s still an obtrusive bar in front of the control panel, and it can make accessing some controls more difficult than it should be (though the bar can provide stability). Amby Burfoot, author of several books about running and winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon, told us that you shouldn’t have to look down to see a treadmill’s panels and controls, since that “could cause loss of balance.”

Runner-up

BowFlex T9 Treadmill

A quieter, more conventional treadmill

This machine has easy-to-use controls and more storage space than our top pick. But it doesn’t decline, and it has a more-rudimentary screen.

$1,499 from BowFlex

If you want a quieter running experience, and you care less about a high-definition touchscreen, the BowFlex T9 Treadmill may be a better choice for you. The belt is not too soft and not very loud. And various digital readouts spread across the monitor are the same as those on our top pick’s monitor (including distance, estimated calories burned, and split times). So there’s plenty of information about your run to keep you engaged.

It has a maximum 15% incline, which is 3% more than our top pick’s. (Unlike our top pick, the T9 treadmill doesn’t have a decline function.) We found the T9’s fan to be decent, but it was not as powerful as our top pick’s.

Changing speeds and inclines is a cinch. The T9 goes up to 12 mph, the same maximum speed our top pick has. On the top of each handle, a wheel allows you to make rapid speed and incline adjustments; there are also numbers on the side of the monitor that allow you to make pace changes. “The wheel was really easy to use while running, and it adjusted quickly,” one tester said. It “made me feel really in control of the run.”

The display is easy to understand. The actual LCD monitor on the T9 is fairly small (7.75 by 3 inches). But there are separate areas throughout the display that show calories burned, distance, time, speed, incline, and other metrics (almost like a detailed scoreboard). While you can also change speeds and incline through buttons on the side of the display, our testers more often used the wheeled handles.

It provides a quiet and smooth ride. The T9’s DC motor and belt are slightly quieter than the NordicTrack Commercial 1750’s. The deck is less bouncy than our top pick’s, but it’s not too hard, and it’s easy to fold up when it’s not being used.

The T9 comes with a lifetime warranty for the frame and motor, three years for mechanical parts, and one year for labor.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The tablet/phone holder isn’t stable. The BowFlex T9 Treadmill has more storage space than our top pick, but not every nook feels secure. At the top of the display, there’s a holder that can fit a smartphone or small tablet, but when we put electronics in it during a run, they shook vigorously. You can connect the T9 to BowFlex’s own Jrny programming ($20 per month, or $149 per year, two-month free trial for new members) or to Peloton or Zwift workouts (but a separate device is likely to be distractingly shaky).

It may take some time to adjust to the handle placement. The two handles curve out into U-shaped horns, creating an obstruction that not many machines have. While the wheeled controls are great, and there are also heart-rate sensors on the handles, this architectural quirk can sometimes get in the way of a running motion. I hit my right hand a few times before training myself to avoid the handle.

If you regularly train for races and want to mimic running outdoors: The Wahoo Kickr Run is a unique treadmill that adjusts to your stride. At $5,000, it’s an investment that some runners will find worthwhile. But for others, this treadmill’s lack of a monitor featuring MPH rates—and its tendency to suddenly stop when ending a workout—may be off-putting. In the Kickr Run’s Run Free mode, sensors automatically adjust the machine’s speed, allowing you to adjust your running pace as you would while running outdoors (as opposed to staying at, say, a 10:00 pace throughout a treadmill run, unless you were to manually change speeds). The layout is simplified: There’s one lever to adjust speeds and one for incline/decline, so you can focus on running. And Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity allow you to stream interactive workouts to a separate device of your own—TV, phone, laptop, or tablet—and connect to Zwift (if you want to broadcast your workout stats from the machine). The Kickr Run’s belt and deck are top-tier and ideal for sprints or interval work—several of our testers said they could envision themselves running for longer on this machine than on most treadmills. The Kickr Run has a warranty of five years for frame, motor, and running belt, one year on all other treadmill parts, and one year on labor by Wahoo authorized repair providers.

Top speed: 15 mph
Max incline: 15%
Decline: -3%

If you want the most immersive Peloton experience: The Peloton Tread+ has an extensive library of on-demand and live classes, all broadcast on a giant, 32-inch color touchscreen, which cost an additional $44 per month for an all-access subscription. (It also has a 5-megapixel front-facing camera; a Peloton spokesperson said that its only function is to take your user-profile photo.) At $6,000, the Tread+ is the most expensive treadmill we’ve tested to date. Our testers rated it as the most steady model, with the best controls, top-notch responsiveness, and a superlative interactive experience. The belt consists of rubberized slats that are supposed to absorb shock better than a traditional non-slatted belt; this is a style made popular by Woodway treadmills (motorized versions of which start at more than $10,000). The Tread+ also offers a Just Run setting (which allows you to, well, just run, with or without a subscription) and a Free Mode (which simulates a manual treadmill experience without the use of a motor). After a 2021 safety recall of the Tread+, Peloton equipped the treadmill with new safety mechanisms, including a rear safety guard that’s intended to break away, decelerate the belt, and shut off the treadmill when it makes contact with an object.

The Tread+ has a 2.0-horsepower AC motor, and the incline is adjustable by both half and whole grades. Peloton’s warranty is one of the least comprehensive we’ve come across: 12-month limited coverage for the touchscreen and “most” components, with five years of coverage for the frame, and five years for the motor, belt, and rear guard.

Top speed: 12.5 mph
Max incline: 15%
Decline: none

If you want a pared-down Peloton experience: The Peloton Tread offers the same extensive library of on-demand and live classes on a 23.8-inch touchscreen for $3,000 less than the Tread+. If you don’t like the feel of running on slats, the Tread’s belt is smoother than the Tread+’s, and the deck is solid and comfortable, though a bit firm. Most testers who ran on both Peloton models preferred the Tread+’s running surface, also noting that the pricier machine seemed to adjust speeds and inclines quicker. The Tread’s maximum incline is 12.5%, which is less than the 15% max on the Tread+. But, like the Tread+, this model allows you to adjust the incline by both half and whole grades. The Peloton Tread also has the Tread Lock safety feature. Its warranty is similar to that of the Tread+, but it lasts for only three years on the motor and belt.

Top speed: 12.5 mph
Max incline: 12.5%
Decline: none

If you prefer to stream classes on a device of your own, and you require quick adjustments: You might like the Horizon Fitness 7.0 AT. Like the BowFlex T9, the 7.0 AT provides two wheel controls (one for speed, one for incline) on what look like video-game joysticks. The console (which has a tablet holder for streaming workouts from your own device; it also pairs with Zwift for interactive workouts) houses a 7.25-inch LCD. Water bottles and other items shook a lot on the machine’s storage platforms, however. And although the 7.0 AT folds, it returns to the ground with a harder landing than other foldable treadmills we’ve tried. The warranty is strong: lifetime for the frame and motor, three years for the parts, and one year for labor.

Top speed: 12 mph
Max incline: 15%
Decline: none

When you’re contemplating where to put a treadmill, consider the uniformity of your flooring, since even surfaces work best. You can also do a few things to take care of your machine and reduce the likelihood of having to do major maintenance.

If your treadmill stops moving when you step on the belt with all of your weight: It needs more lubrication. Some treadmills come pre-lubed, and their makers advise not adding more lubricant. Other models may require adding some lubricant occasionally; the manual will tell you exactly how often you need to do this. Most treadmills come with a bottle of it.

If your treadmill’s belt moves back and forth horizontally: You likely need to tighten it. At the back of the deck, there are two bolts (one on each side) that control the tightness.

If the screen measurements seem to be off: Calibrate the treadmill by following the instructions in the manual.

If you have an animal who enjoys hanging out around your treadmill (when the machine is off, of course): Hand-vacuum or wipe down the belt regularly. These machines can get gummed up with pet hair.

Many of the treadmills we’ve tested over the years have been discontinued or replaced by newer versions. The following  treadmills are models we’ve tested that remain available.

The Horizon Fitness T202 showed promise early on, with testers enjoying its belt, which had little to no give but wasn’t too soft, either. The main dealbreaker was that after three weeks of use, this machine’s belt became noticeably squeaky to the point that it distracted several runners. (A Horizon spokesperson said that if a customer is covered under the product warranty, the company will send out a service provider to fix this kind of issue on any of its treadmills.) Also, two testers felt electrical shocks when touching the handles while running.

Life Fitness treadmills are ubiquitous in gyms and hotel exercise rooms. We like the size, the easy-to-use features, and the strong warranty coverage of the Life Fitness T3. In our performance tests, however, it started out feeling sturdy but became more wobbly after repeated use over several weeks. The 3.0-horsepower motor took a while to ramp up to top speeds, and some testers reported there was more shaking the faster the belt went.

The NordicTrack EXP 7i, which we recommended as a lower-cost treadmill with a smaller footprint, has been discontinued. We still think it’s a worthwhile buy if you find one used. It has a soft deck and a 7-inch touchscreen that streams iFit programming, and it quickly adjusts up to a 12% incline and speeds of up to 12 mph.

The NordicTrack Commercial X22i incline trainer is extreme in every way—it inclines to a whopping 40%, declines to -6%, and sports a 22-inch color touchscreen that, though large and lovely to look at, was wobbly in our tests. We also found this treadmill to be loud: During testing, a colleague remarked from across the room that the Commercial X22i was significantly noisier than a different model he had heard a few minutes earlier. In addition, we noticed that its sled grips (which extend up from the arms and in toward the screen) blocked access to the water-bottle holders and platforms for holding a phone. (One tester wrote: “It felt like a Game of Thrones–style torture device with a space-age immersion screen.”) The deck was springy and made us feel as if we were wearing especially responsive running shoes. All in all, it’s a lot.

The ProForm Carbon TLX is a budget treadmill with good reviews, but we found that it shook far too much. One tester said: “I think I would rather run around my apartment in circles than run on this. It’s so unsteady, my phone fell off and my Stanley [tumbler] was rattling as though it were in an earthquake.” Some testers with mobility challenges appreciated the sturdy bar across the front of the machine, and they found that the treadmill adjusted speeds nicely. But the fan was not ideally placed for shorter testers (5-foot-5 and below), with the air hitting those runners right in the face. This model doesn’t have a fancy screen, just a basic digital readout indicating the time, pace, speed, and other metrics (but you can connect a device to the treadmill to access iFit workouts, with a subscription).

The Sole F63 disappointed us with a confusing display and slow responsiveness. The deck made a disquieting, off-and-on-again cracking noise while we ran. And the belt—which is two-ply, in contrast to the three-ply belts on most competitors—felt the hardest of the bunch. As on the Sole F80, on the Sole F63 the front kickplate seemed to be oddly positioned, and we kept kicking it during our runs.

The Sole F80, formerly a pick in this guide, has a 10.1-inch touchscreen, a comfortable belt, and a 15% incline. We enjoyed this model’s tactile controls for speed and incline, as well as the handy wireless-charging station on its ample item-storage area. Some testers with balance issues appreciated how the belt started and stopped slowly. But a majority of our testers did not like the placement of the front kickplate, since many repeatedly hit their feet against it during their runs; this prompted some testers to run more closely to the edge of the belt than they preferred. Because the screen is angled away from the runner and is not adjustable, many testers had to reach forward to use the touchscreen and other controls—and this also led to more kicking of the front plate. “If I’m not running fast enough, or if I try to touch the console while I’m running, it feels like a tripping hazard,” one tester said. The Sole F80 also has a tablet holder on top of the touchscreen, but testers found that if they went over 5 mph, it shook to a point where their devices didn’t feel secure. Several testers also noted that the fan felt weak.

Although the Spirit XT485 has a 4.0-horsepower motor, in our tests it took longer than we expected to reach higher speeds. We also frequently hit the kickplate on this model, and we found its phone/tablet holder to be inconveniently placed (most devices cover up a good portion of the console’s screen, blocking the readouts). But the belt on our test unit was smooth and provided an enjoyable ride.

Shannon Palus and Ingrid Skjong contributed reporting. This article was edited by Tracy Vence and Kalee Thompson.