9 of the Best Cheap Treadmills of 2024

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Last Updated: September 13, 2023

Buying a treadmill for your home is a large investment in not only your health but also your wallet as well. Searching for a treadmill on a budget can seem frustrating, but we’re here to help! Rest assured, you can still find a quality home treadmill at an affordable price.

We’ve compiled this list of the best cheap treadmills to help you find the perfect treadmill to work for you without breaking the bank. All of these treadmills currently range between $650 and $1300. They each offer features within the designs and consoles, and they also all have folding options. We’ll break down each of them and why we recommend them as being solid, affordable choices.

Why You Should Trust Us

We test all kinds of treadmills that range in price. From our extensive experience in using all kinds of home treadmills, price doesn’t necessarily affect the performance of a cheaper treadmill, especially if it’s from a trusted, reputable brand. This list includes some of our favorite brands that offer solid, durable treadmills that we love and have taken the time to try out for you.

From our testing experience, usually, treadmills under $500 can start to lack in overall quality and features, unless they are compact and can fit in small spaces. That’s why the cheapest treadmill on this list is around $600, rather than $100-$200 because at that point you’re paying for a different kind of machine that has very limited capabilities and lasting power.

If you’re not looking for a cheap treadmill, you can head over to our list of best treadmills and check out overall where we rank some of the top treadmills on the market.

Here Are The Best Cheap Treadmills of 2024

• Best Cheap Treadmill Overall: Sole F63 Treadmill
• Best High-Tech Cheap Treadmill: NordicTrack EXP 7i Treadmill
• Best Cheap Treadmill For Walking: Horizon T101 Treadmill
• Best Free Cheap Treadmill: ProForm Carbon T7 Treadmill
• Best Cheap Running Treadmill: Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill
• Best Cheap Treadmill For Home Use: NordicTrack T 6.5 Si Treadmill
• Best Compact Cheap Treadmill: Horizon T202 Treadmill
• Best Folding Cheap Treadmill: Sunny Health & Fitness Smart Strider

Honorable Mention
Xterra TR200 Treadmill

See the details, Pro’s and Con’s and why each treadmill made our best list below.

Sneak Peek Of The Best Cheap Treadmills:

 

Best Cheap Treadmills of 2024 – Our Experts’ Top Picks

Here is our full list of the best cheap treadmills of 2024 by our team of experts.

1. Best Cheap Treadmill Overall: Sole Fitness F63 Treadmill

Whenever we set foot on a treadmill from Sole, we are blown away by how solid and sturdy they feel. The Sole F63 is no exception. It may be the cheapest in Sole’s lineup, but its hearty, quiet 3.0 HP motor and large 20” x 60” running surface make it capable of handling walking, jogging, and running. It also has a pretty nice weight capacity of 325 lbs and the steel frame is backed by Sole’s lifetime warranty. That is why we consider it to be the best cheap treadmill overall on this list.

In addition to the impressive construction, the Sole F63 has a foldable deck and four transportation wheels for moving and storing. In the console, there are preprogrammed workouts to follow along with or do your own thing. No subscription is required to access these workouts, so you won’t have to worry about an extra monthly cost.

The F63 has a pretty basic, yet functional console that has quick touch buttons to let you jump around with your speed and incline settings. It also goes up to 12 mph and has 15 levels of incline, so you’re sure to get a killer workout on this affordable treadmill!

Learn more about the Sole F63 treadmill in our full written review, here.

2. Best High-Tech Cheap Treadmill: NordicTrack EXP 7i Treadmill

The NordicTrack EXP 7i comes with lots of features. For starters, it’s iFit enabled so once you log in to your membership, you have access to iFit’s thousands of classes that are constantly being added regularly. Work out in on-demand classes of indoor and outdoor videos both on the treadmill and off the treadmill. You can also enjoy iFit’s features like automatic trainer control for hands-free training. The NordicTrack EXP 7i is a great option if you’re looking for the best high-tech cheap treadmill.

The EXP 7i offers a lot of the same features as more expensive treadmills but for an affordable price. The 7” screen is centered on the console within eye level and surrounded by quick touch adjustment buttons that are perfect for interval training.

The 300 lb weight capacity and 20” x 55 running surfaces pair nicely with the 2.6 CHP motor to handle walking, jogging, and light running. The NordicTrack EXP 7i has a max speed of 10 mph and up to 12% incline. We really like that the EXP 7i’s cushioning provides enough impact absorption to minimize the stress on your joints, too.

Check out more about the NordicTrack EXP 7i in our full written review.

3. Best Cheap Treadmill For Walking: Horizon T101 Treadmill

The Horizon T101 is a great treadmill that feels really stable and is quiet to use. We really like that Horizon includes a lifetime warranty for the frame and motor. It also comes with an impressive 300 lb weight capacity to handle larger users. Both of these confirm that this is a really solid, well-built machine.

The console is one of the most simple ones on this list. Instead of a screen, the T101 has 3 small LED displays to show your workout metrics. If you do want some entertainment though, the device rack lets you use your phone or tablet to watch and read whatever you want.

The 20” x 55” deck and 2.5 CHP motor make this treadmill best for walking and light jogging. Its 10% max incline and 10 mph max speed are definitely enough to get you moving on this great treadmill. The 3-zone variable response cushioning feels soft underfoot and provides comfort on your joints when using. This makes the Horizon T101 not only a great buy but comfortable to use as well.

If you’re looking for the best cheap treadmill for walking, check out the Horizon T101.

You can check out our full in-depth review, here.

4. Best Free Cheap Treadmill: ProForm Carbon T7 Treadmill

If you’re looking for a great bang for your buck, check this one out. Currently, you can get the ProForm Carbon T7 Treadmill for free with the purchase of a 3-year iFit membership. iFit is integrated to keep you motivated while using it and it makes this treadmill available for a sweet deal. The 7” touchscreen is positioned in the center of the console to see fairly easily. On top of thousands of classes, iFit has wonderful graphics and videography. The ProForm Carbon T7 is a great treadmill for walking, hiking, and light jogging.

Plus, you’ll get plenty of functionality out of the console with the Carbon T7’s added speed and incline buttons. These buttons let you jump around from low to high inclines and speeds to adjust the treadmill quickly while working out. The 10 mph and 10% incline max are also sufficient to get your heart pumping.

The 20” x 55” deck, 2.6 CHP, and heavy 300 lb weight capacity will let you enjoy getting in those steps as you follow along with iFits’ trainers or do your own thing in manual mode.

Adding all the features of this treadmill and its quality, make it a great cheap treadmill. We love that ProForm includes the Carbon T7 part of their ProForm+ Program.

Click here to read our full review of the ProForm Carbon T7 Treadmill.

5.Best Cheap Running Treadmill: Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill

The Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill is a great deal. At just under $1000 this is what we consider to be the best cheap running treadmill on this list of best cheap treadmills. It has impressive features that make it great for running and a high-quality treadmill, in general. It has a quiet 3.0 HP motor that we suggest for light to moderate running. This is paired with a 20” wide by 60” long deck, so most runners will have plenty of room.

The deck also folds up using a lift assistance so you don’t have to lift the entire weight of the deck when folding. And when unfolding the deck lowers to the floor, itself. This treadmill is compact, yet sizable for running, weighing 277 lbs and handling users up to 325 lbs. Its construction is also backed by a lifetime frame and motor warranty. Even though the 7.0 AT is large and great for running, it is still fairly doable to move for most people.

The cushioning in the deck is also more than what we see from most cheap treadmills and entry-level models. It is forgiving underfoot to make for a comfortable running experience. For guided training, there are included onboard workout programs to choose from with preset speeds, and incline levels. Of course, you can also just hop on and go to do your own thing. With the 12 mph max speed and 15% incline, you’ll have lots of training variables to make your workouts challenging.

Check out our full review to learn more about the Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill, here.

6. Best Cheap Treadmill For Home Use: NordicTrack T 6.5 Si Treadmill

The T 6.5 Si treadmill from NordicTrack has lots of options. For one, you won’t get bored picking from over 16,000 indoor and outdoor classes on iFit. The T 6.5 Si is iFit enabled and you can take classes on and off the treadmill. That is why this treadmill is the best treadmill for home use on this list.

You also can choose which size screen you want to view iFit from. This lets you get extra price points to choose from, too. Plus, you’ll get to choose if you want to have deck cushioning or not on this machine. We love NordicTrack’s cushioning and the FlexSelect on the T 6.5 Si definitely enhances your comfort when in use.

We suggest using this NordicTrack treadmill for walking and light jogging. Most users will be able to use this treadmill because of its hearty 300 lb weight limit, and the 2.6 CHP motor is excellent for lighter use. In addition to these features, it also folds up and can be moved around fairly swiftly. You’re sure to get the most out of this cheap treadmill, yet pretty high-tech treadmill.

Learn more about the NordicTrack T 6.5 Si, here.

7. Best Compact Cheap Treadmill: Horizon T202 Treadmill

The Horizon T202 is another solid treadmill and affordable contender. It’s the next model up from the T101 and has a few different features, such as a larger 2.75 CHP motor, a 60” long-running surface, and a 12 mph max speed. All of this is great for jogging and walking. Light running can also work, but it’s best to avoid serious training on the T202.

The straightforward console doesn’t require a membership to use and it comes with 6 workout modes. Plus, it has a large rack to place your phone or tablet for added entertainment which is entirely up to you. The Bluetooth-enabled speakers even let you stream audio from your device through them.

The Horizon T202 has the same 3-Zone Variable Response Cushioning as the T101 that we like, so you’ll get some protection for your joints when you use it, too.

Check out our full in-depth review of the Horizon T202 Treadmill, here.

8. Best Folding Cheap Treadmill: Sunny Health & Fitness Smart Strider

If you’re looking for a cheap treadmill that folds flat, then look no further than the Sunny Health & Fitness Smart Strider. This is an excellent, compact option and can be stored under a bed. The treadmill only weighs 118 lbs, too.

Even though the Smart Strider is so small, it has some impressive features. The 2.5 peak HP motor allows users to get more use out of the deck and to utilize the treadmill’s 9 mph max speed. Users up to 250 lbs will be able to use this treadmill for walking and jogging. The deck is 20” wide by 47” long, making it perfect for walking and light jogging for most users.

The console has 9 built-in programs and can be used with the SunnyFit App. The console displays your workout metrics like distance, speed, time, steps, and estimated calories. There are also preset buttons for 3 and 6 mph, making it great for interval training. When finished, the console folds down onto the deck.

If you’re looking for the best folding cheap treadmill then check out the Sunny Health & Fitness Smart Strider. This treadmill is storable and good for smaller spaces.

Honorable Mention: Xterra TR200 Treadmill

The Xterra TR200 treadmill is a compact treadmill for home use. The max user capacity is 250 lbs, and the running surface is 16” x 50”. These make this treadmill best for walking, and the 2.25 HP motor is a great size to handle regular use, too.

Even with just walking, you’ll get lots of variety on the TR200 because of the 12 preset workouts. The 5.5” LCD display and 3 additional quick touch speed buttons, keep the console simple yet efficient to use. It even has inclining capabilities, although you have to manually incline it yourself.

We recommend looking into the Xterra TR200 Treadmill if you’re looking for a compact, folding cheap treadmill to save you some extra money and space in your home.

What To Look For When Buying A Cheap Treadmill

If you’re looking for an affordable treadmill, then you probably already know the price range that you’re looking to spend. From our team’s experience with using all kinds of treadmills, the budget-friendly ones tend to range from at least $500 to around $1300. Any cheaper than $500, and you’ll most likely get a machine that won’t hold up for long that has very limited workout capabilities. But what about cheap treadmills within that price range?

Check The Specs

With buying any treadmill it’s important to check out what features it has and what the specifications include. If you’re confused about what the different motor sizes and treadmill belt sizes mean, I’m about to break it down for you.

As far as motor sizes, they typically range from 1.5 to over 4 horsepower. In our testing, we’ve found that treadmills with 2-3 hp motors handle walking and light jogging best. Once you get into larger motor sizes like 3.0+ hp is where running and heavier use are tolerated. So, you shouldn’t buy a treadmill with a smaller than 3.0 hp motor if you’re planning on doing a lot of running and sprinting.

Treadmills under 2.0 hp are usually much smaller in size and can be stored out of sight when not in use, like under a bed.

Another spec that we pay close attention to is the running surface size. We have reviewers ranging from 5’ tall all the way up to 6.5’ tall, and we’ve determined that a 60” long deck is best for users of all heights and stride lengths to be able to run comfortably on. For electric treadmills, like all the ones on this list, a width of at least 20” is plenty sufficient as well.

In some cases, if you have a shorter running stride, 55” long decks can work for running. Just make sure that the other specs, like the motor, can support heavier use like running too. Usually deck lengths under 55” are only suitable for walking for most people.

We also recommend checking out the weight capacity. On home treadmills, 400 lbs is typically the maximum weight capacity, but more affordable treadmills rarely have limits up to that. 300 lbs is still really great and can accommodate most users. A good rule of thumb is that the heavier the weight capacity, the more solid and durable the treadmill most likely is.

Your Home Space

Now that you’ve gotten an idea of what to look for in the specs of a treadmill, let’s fit one in your home. All treadmills generate some type of sound, although most have a fairly low noise output. But what about the size of your space? Do you need a treadmill that folds up? Do you need a smaller compact one that can be stowed under your bed or couch? Do you need to move it around often?

Fortunately, all of the treadmills on this list fold up and have wheels for transporting. Although some can move around easier than others. If you have physical limitations though, moving your treadmill might be out of the question, especially if it is larger. If the treadmill inclines and you have lower ceilings, that might make it more challenging to fit in your space, too.

Content Preference And Workout Goals

As mentioned above, if you’re looking for a treadmill to run and sprint on, you will need to determine if it can handle that kind of use. On top of making sure that the treadmill is suitable for what you want to do with it, you want to make sure that you’ll actually use it.

If you buy a treadmill that comes with an additional monthly subscription in order to utilize all of its features and you aren’t into trainer-led classes and paying an extra fee, then odds are you aren’t going to like or use the treadmill. It’s important to see what kind of content the treadmill comes with.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is A Cheap Treadmill Worth It?

In our experience, a cheaper treadmill can be worth it. Although we recommend looking for one that is priced over $500 at least though. The really inexpensive treadmills commonly found on Amazon for $100 or $200, most likely won’t be worth the money. Plus, they usually come with more limited functionality, like smaller decks, motors, and lower max speeds and incline levels (if they incline at all).

Treadmills closer to $1000, and even in the $500 to $700 range can be really great options, especially if they’re from a good brand like all of the treadmills on this list. We also strongly encourage consumers to buy directly from the treadmill’s manufacturer, so you can be sure to get access to their warranty package in case you do face issues with the treadmill.

How Do I Get The Best Deal On A Treadmill?

Brands can offer sales and discounts at any time. Usually, later in the year from around Black Friday all the way through January can be a great time to score a deal. Usually, towards the end of the year and into the new year, brands will offer discounts on models they are planning on discontinuing or upgrading.

Is It Worth It To Buy An Expensive Treadmill?

Buying a high-end, expensive treadmill can definitely be worth the investment. Typically, more expensive models have a more durable construction to last longer. It can be especially worth it if you plan on using it regularly and heavily. If this sounds like your goal we recommend paying extra for a treadmill that can handle long-term, heavy use.

How Long Do Cheap Treadmills Last?

It’s hard to give an exact timeline because it depends on what it is being used for, how much it is, the build quality, and how often it is being used. Most likely, more expensive treadmills ($2000+) will last longer than treadmills under $1000. But with regular maintenance, like belt lubrication if it’s needed, and using the treadmill appropriately, it could last for years.

We recommend looking into treadmills over $500 to around $1000 if you’re looking for an affordable treadmill. Anything under $500, like treadmills found on Amazon, gets into the territory of not lasting and lacking in quality overall.