8 Expert-Approved Folding Treadmills for Every Budget

Running belt: 22" x 60" | Dimensions: 77" x 37” x 59.5” | Weight capacity: 400 lbs | Incline: -3%–12% | Speed: 0–12 mph

The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 has a little bit of everything you'd want in a quality treadmill, plus folding capabilities. For starters, we like the lengthy five-foot running belt that felt solid during tests and offered smooth transitions for incline, decline and speed. Incline goes up to 12% and speed up to 12 mph, which are both impressive ranges for a folding treadmill (most go up to only 10 on both metrics with many offering even less than that). What's unique about this model is that it not only supports a significant incline but even declines to -3% to mimic various running terrains. The range on both speed and incline make this model great for everyone from beginners to more advanced runners, so it will get good use between multiple users in the house.

The treadmill is also fairly easy to fold upright thanks to a built-in mechanism that helps you gently lower and lift the deck. It has a 16-inch rotating HD touchscreen that is bigger than a previous model's 14-inch size, too. While it isn't the largest we've seen, the screen is big enough and pairs with your headphones via Bluetooth. You can join virtual scenic runs and guided workouts coached by iFIT trainers right from the machine for a more immersive experience than working out with your phone or tablet (though the iFIT membership costs extra after the initial 30-day trial). But you can still use the treadmill without the iFIT subscription if you want to run on your own.

You'll find other small features like two water bottle holders, an AutoBreeze fan and a tray to hold your smartphone, headphones and any other items you may need during your run. This treadmill also has a 400 pounds weight capacity which is impressive for the size of the machine (a higher machine weight capacity typically translates to a more durable piece of equipment). Between the fair price point, quality build and special connected features, it was the top performer in our tests.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: NordicTrack Commercial 1750

Running belt: 16" x 50" | Dimensions: 63.4" x 28.75" x 51.4" (Folded: 28.5" x 28.75" x 61") | Weight capacity: 250 lbs | Incline: Three manual levels | Speed: 0–10 mph

For the best of both worlds in terms of affordability and performance, look no further than this popular choice from Xterra; It strikes the perfect balance between the two. With over 12,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, this foldable treadmill offers a nice-sized running belt that allows you to run at speeds up to 10 mph.

We like the substantial console that includes a book rack, accessory holders and an LCD display that tracks metrics like speed, incline, time, distance, calories and more. You can even track your pulse, thanks to the hand pulse sensors mounted on the side handlebars. Many reviewers note how sturdy and versatile this model is in their homes. "The smaller footprint allowed me to keep it on the main level of the house," one reviewer said.

Those looking for some extra guidance will appreciate that this model comes with 12 programmed workouts to choose from. Note that if you want to adjust the incline, you can only choose from three heights — and you have to raise the running deck manually. It also has a lower weight capacity than other models at only 250 pounds. The frame itself folds upright and is relatively compact, given the design. Casual walkers and beginner runners will likely be pleased with this pick, while more advanced runners might prefer a machine with a wider running belt and more special features like an automatic incline, which can be found in the brand's TR260 model.

Running belt: 18.1" x 50.8" | Dimensions: 68.3" x 29.9" x 53.7" (Folded: 43.3" x 29.9" x 57.9") | Weight capacity: 275 lbs | Incline: 15 levels | Speed: 0–10 MPH

This pick from Sunny Health & Fitness — another affordable folding treadmill — is a great machine for walking and jogging, particularly if you're tight on space. You'll find a console with a display for tracking time, speed, distance, calories, pulse and more. We like that the setup comes complete with dual water bottle holders for those longer runs, as well as a device holder and media port for your tablet or smartphone (you can connect to the brand's app for some guided workouts too).

Take advantage of 16 preset workouts, three user-customized workouts and three countdown workouts on this machine. We were impressed with the 15 levels of automatic incline at a competitive price point, plus quick speed and incline buttons to make transitions smooth.

It folds upright and features a soft-drop hydraulic mechanism that the company says is designed to help the deck gently lower itself to the floor. "Easy to use and folds up pretty small," said one reviewer. Just keep in mind that it doesn't have the largest running belt we've seen and has a lower weight capacity (275 pounds) than other treadmills we reviewed. But with its significant automatic incline, decent speed range and reasonable price point, we feel that this treadmill is a great pick for beginners since it has a little bit of everything at a fair price.

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Running belt: 20" x 55" | Dimensions: 70” x 35.7” x 47.5” | Weight capacity: 300 lbs | Incline: 1%–12% | Speed: 1–10 mph

You may have heard of the Centr workout app, founded by actor Chris Hemsworth. The app grew in popularity with its celebrity founder, and even performed well in our tests to the point that it won a GH Fitness Award. Now, Centr has expanded their offerings to include a large lineup of equipment in partnership with Inspire Fitness to outfit your entire home gym and workout routine.

We recently tested out Centr's new foldable treadmill and were impressed with both the look and feel of the machine. You'll find basic speed and incline capabilities, going up to 10 mph and 12% incline, as well as a substantial size running deck size (20" x 55"). It also was smooth and stable to run on and felt like good quality for the price.

The LED display tracks your speed, time, distance and incline, and a tablet holder is available for entertainment during your workout. Plus, the one-touch buttons made it easy to adjust incline and speed during those more intense runs and were intuitive to use. But if you want an integrated screen, you can opt for the "smart" version of the treadmill, though for the jump in price point we don't think it's worth the extra splurge. Dual water bottles are great for those longer runs too, but there is no compartment for your headphones, car keys or smaller items.

Running belt: 22" x 60" | Dimensions: 76" x 37" x 63" (Folded: 42" x 37" x 71") | Weight capacity: 350 lbs | Incline: 0%–15% | Speed: 0.5–12 mph

Built for powerful performance, the 7.4 AT Treadmill from Horizon Fitness has a supportive 22-inch wide running deck and easy-to-use dial controls on the handles for seamless speed and incline changes. Roll the dial on the right handle forward to increase speed or back to decrease speed, and roll the dial on the left forward to go up a hill and back to come back down. We found that this model provided seamless transitions in our tests, making it great for interval training.

Since the speed goes up to 12 mph and the incline goes up to an impressive 15%, both novice and competitive runners (and incline walkers) are able to take advantage of the machine and get a great workout. And it folds upright when not in use via a handy hydraulic folding mechanism.

Though it does away with a fancy screen, it includes a built-in device holder for your tablet or phone so you'll have access to entertainment, as well as a simple display for adjusting your speed, incline and more. We also like that you can connect your phone to the treadmill’s speakers via Bluetooth and listen to music or stream your favorite show while working out sans headphones. “I love the built-in area above the screen for placing your phone, iPad or book,” one tester said, adding that the machine felt sturdy and secure and wasn’t too loud even at higher speeds.

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Running belt: 22" x 60" | Dimensions: 85" x 39.6" x 65.3" (Folded: 44.5" x 39.6" x 70") | Weight capacity: 400 lbs | Incline: -5%–15% | Speed: 0–12 mph

If you're looking for a top-of-the-line machine, the Bowflex Treadmill 10 model delivers all the bells and whistles, including an adjustable 10-inch HD touchscreen, decline and incline capabilities, a speed range up to 12 mph and Bluetooth connectivity options for smart devices and heart rate monitors.

Seasoned runners will appreciate the solid build of this machine as well as the longer and wider running belt (60" x 22") compared to competitors. But runners of all levels will likely enjoy the great class content and guidance offered through JRNY (your membership is free for the first two months), as well as the ability to access entertainment options, like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu. It's worth noting that the screen is on the smaller side, so if you're looking for something larger we also highly recommend the Bowflex Treadmill 22 model (which has a 22-inch screen).

While this choice isn't as compact as others on this list, it does fold upright to save some space when storing it. You definitely won't be able to slide it under a bed or discreetly store it in a corner, but testers agreed that the amount of real estate it takes up is worth it for the premium features. "I've never been more excited to run," one tester said. "This is a sturdy, state-of-the-art machine. I feel grounded running at full speed. But really the best feature is that I can connect it to Netflix and other streaming video services so I almost forget that I'm exercising." If you're an avid runner looking for a foldable treadmill with smart capabilities, this choice is for you.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Bowflex Treadmill 22

Running belt: 20" x 60" | Dimensions: 77" x 35" x 67" (Folded 50"
x 35" x 72") | Weight capacity: 325 lbs | Incline: 15 levels | Speed: 0.5–12 mph

While this machine may not have all the fancy features that other more premium machines offer, for the price point you'll get a large running belt, a built-in fan, Bluetooth speakers (so you can listen to music or entertainment without headphones), a tablet holder and a USB port to charge your devices.

This treadmill doesn't have a decline option, but does have the ability to go up to 15% incline, and can easily be adjusted between .5 to 12 mph on the console. The console also tracks and displays stats like speed, incline, time elapsed, distance, calories, pulse and pace.

Though this model doesn't come with a content screen, we liked that it was easy to connect a smart device to watch shows or workout routines. The machine also comes with access to the Sole+ app which offers a library of hundreds of fitness classes and hours of exercise content all free of charge (included with purchase of the treadmill).

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Running belt: 15" x 40.1" | Dimensions: 51.2" x 22.6" x 4.6" | Weight capacity: 265 lbs | Incline: None | Speed: 0.6–6.2 mph

If you plan on mostly walking, and possibly doing some light jogging, on a treadmill at home, this pick from Urevo may be just what you need. The two-in-one design allows you to use the machine for walking up to 4 mph when the handrail is folded or running up to speeds of 6.2 mph when the handrail is raised. In addition to multiple color designs, this machine comes with a remote so you can easily adjust your speed when the risers are lowered (and the buttons on them are not accessible). We appreciate that the remote is magnetic and can be attached to the treadmill so it doesn't go missing.

Not only is this treadmill super easy to fit under a bed or couch (it only takes up less than five inches when folded), but it’s also a great choice for home offices if you want an under-desk treadmill to keep you active during work hours. There is a small display as well that shows calories, steps, speed, distance and time, too. Keep in mind that there is no incline on this treadmill, as is the case for most under-desk treadmills of similar design. And the running belt is significantly shorter than others on our list, since this is not designed for competitive running but rather more casual walks. But at such a low price point, it may be just what you need for a versatile under-desk treadmill that allows you to stay active during the day.

If you're looking for an even more compact option, WalkingPad offers an under desk treadmill that folds in half for easy storage.