Treadmill Buying Guides
Walking, running, hills, or a small apartment? Start with how you will use it.
A treadmill buying guide is a short set of questions that match how you will use a treadmill to the specs that matter. Start with your main use: walking, running, or hill work. Then check the space it needs, the motor and belt, the incline, the noise, and what any membership costs after the first period.
If You Want To | Look For |
|---|---|
Mostly walk | A belt that feels roomy at your stride, a quiet motor, and incline for variety |
Run | A top speed and motor with headroom above your usual pace, and a deck whose cushioning feels comfortable to you |
Train hills | The maximum incline, and whether the treadmill also declines |
Save space | A folding design, the folded and unfolded dimensions, and noise findings from reviews |
Follow guided workouts | Screen size, what content comes with the treadmill, and what the membership costs after the first period |
Share one treadmill | The weight capacity and whether it supports separate profiles |
Adults need at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week, such as 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. [1] Brisk walking is one example of moderate-intensity aerobic activity. [1] A treadmill is one way to fit that into your week, and the checklist above helps you pick one you will keep using.
These cover specs, scores, and tradeoffs for specific machines.
Choosing a treadmill
Start with your main use: walking, running, or hill work. Walkers should look at belt size and noise, runners at top speed, motor, and deck cushioning, and hill trainers at maximum incline and decline. Then check the space the treadmill needs, whether it folds, and what any membership costs after the first period.
It depends on whether you will use guided workouts. A built-in screen raises the price and often adds a membership, while a tablet or phone holder can do a similar job on a treadmill without a screen. Check which features work without a membership before you buy.
Look for a folding design, check the unfolded and folded footprint, and compare noise findings across reviews. Check your building's rules on noise and floor loads before you order. Our reviews say whether a noise finding comes from listening or from measurement.
Some treadmills may need a paid membership for on-screen content and automatic features, and others work without one. Check what works without a membership, what the first period includes, and what renewal costs.
Look for reviews that say how the product was tested and show how each score was built. Ours show all 6 category scores and say when a treadmill is not yet scored.
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