10 Best Treadmills for Runners on a Budget

A treadmill can be an invaluable tool for your fitness goals by helping you stay consistent. I am reviewing the ten best treadmills for runners on a budget. These ten home treadmills come with different capabilities and price points. My favorite is the Xterra FitnessTR150 Folding Treadmill because it goes up to a 10 mph speed and has 50” running deck. Many of the budget treadmills have short decks and low speed which this one does not! Get the full reviews of my ten best budget treadmills below!

budget treadmill — A lot of people just need a treadmill that moves, is safe, and has some cushion without the big price tag.

Having a treadmill as a part of your home gym is a great way to make sure that you can get in your run regardless of your schedule, childcare situation, darkness, or the weather outdoors. Treadmills are pricy though! Enter my list of budget-friendly treadmills.

Some treadmills are unnecessarily expensive and come with features that you really don’t need like preset programs or a wide speed range. I want to help you keep your training going, no matter the obstacles, with the best cheap treadmills—top quality in a low price range.

IF you are looking for the a high-end treadmills and don’t care about the cost, then my recommendations are the Nordictrack C1750 ($2,500) and the Sole F 80 ($1,800)…(ouch).

If you want a low-cost treadmill is around $500 or less, and can slide under your bed or desk, read on.

10 Best Treadmills for Runners on a Budget

How I Picked the Best Budget Treadmill List

To create my list of top picks of affordable treadmills, I first asked my athletes and thousands of Instagram followers for their favorites. They were super honest, sharing what they liked and didn’t like about their treadmills, features they wish it had, and features they didn’t use.

Then I, and a hired researcher, scoured reviews, including the 1-star ratings, looking for trends in users’ experiences. We then culled our list down to ten home treadmills. The treadmills come in a range of prices depending on where you buy, and some are in stock, and others have limited quantity.

budget treadmills pin — Pin this list of best budget treadmills for later!

The below top 10 Best Treadmills for Runners on a Budget offer:

Basic features
Are safe
Don’t break the bank
Most are under $500
Most are foldable

They are:

Xterra FitnessTR150 Folding Treadmill
Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Treadmill
Proform City L6 Folding Treadmill
Ovicx C100 Foldable Treadmill
Weslo Cadence G 5.9i Treadmill
Sunny Health & Fitness Running Treadmill SF-T7515

best budget treadmill post — The best budget treadmills list is here!

Goplus 2 in 1 Folding Treadmill 2.25 HP

Oma 1017 EB $500

Urevo Treadmill with Desk, 3 in 1 Foldable Treadmill

Horizon Fitness T101 Treadmill

Ok, let’s get to the list!

10 Best Treadmills for Runners on a Budget

Treadmills Under $500

Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Treadmill (SF-T4400) – Best Folding Treadmill

$419.99

The Sunny Health & Fitness Folding treadmill is a budget-friendly treadmill that gets the job done without breaking the bank. This treadmill is middle of the road—it comes at a moderate cost and with moderate features—not the highest, not the lowest.

This treadmill can easily fold up out of the way which is great for small spaces, and it has a quiet drop feature so you don’t have to lower the deck all of the way to the ground. Simply tap the bar with your foot and it will decline slowly and quietly on its own.

Sunny Health and Fitness Treadmill — Sunny Health & Fitness Running Treadmill SF-T7515

The Sunny Health & Fitness tread has a maximum weight limit of 220 pounds, and the deck is 49 inches in length and 15.5 inches wide. The maximum speed for this treadmill is 9 miles per hour, and the incline can be changed manually for runners who are looking for more of a challenge. This treadmill is easy to set up right out of the box in just a matter of minutes.

This budget treadmill does come with quite a few features that you might not expect from an inexpensive treadmill. These include a large LCD display with 9 preset training programs. You can also use it to track calories burned, distance, speed, and time. There are speed controls on the handlebars in addition to the pulse sensors. There is also a water bottle holder and a tablet holder you can use for your tablet or phone. These are features that are often missing on budget fitness equipment.

Pros

Water bottle & tablet holder
Soft drop opening so it won’t slam floors
Preset Training Programs

Cons

Maximum weight limit of 220 lbs
Narrow running surface
Manual Incline

Ovicx C100 Foldable Treadmill – Best Budget Cushioned Treadmill

$350

The Ovicx C100 foldable treadmill is an affordable running treadmill option that will also fold up out of the way easily when it’s not in use. The treadmill can be stored standing or completely flat. This treadmill has six different points of shock absorption to reduce strain on your knees, hips, and ankles.

This treadmill has a weight limit of 300 pounds, a top speed of 9 miles per hour, and a running deck that is 41 inches long (so not great for long strides). The motor is super quiet so you can get your workout in without having to worry about disturbing others. The treadmill has an LCD display, a tablet holder, and a fatigue sensor that you can touch and have the treadmill slow to a walking speed.

There is a wide belt on this treadmill at 17 inches, which is a good bit wider than many. There is a safety key that stops the treadmill immediately when pulled. This treadmill does have bluetooth capabilities and you can sync it with your phone to track your workout over time.

Pros

Ultra quiet motor
Higher weight limit than competitors
Wider belt than competitors
Folds down completely flat
Bluetooth capabilities

Cons

Very short deck
Better for people with a short stride.
No cup/bottle holder
No preset training programs

Related: How to Find Time to Run

best budget treadmills pin — Pin this list of best budget treadmills for later!

Weslo Cadence G 5.9i Treadmill – Best Budget Treadmill for Speed Workouts

$350

The Weslo Cadence treadmill is the best treadmill for serious runners who want a treadmill that fits into small spaces. This affordable treadmill has a cushioned deck for comfort, interactive programming , and a speed range up to 10mph which you don’t usually find on cheaper treadmills.

The weight limit on this budget treadmill comes in at 275 pounds, and the running deck is 50 inches long. There is a tablet holder above the LCD display so your view of the display is not obstructed. This treadmill has a maximum speed of 10 miles per hour. It comes with a 30-day free trial of iFit which gives you access to workouts for your treadmill and beyond. The bluetooth connectivity allows the treadmill to adjust the speed based on your workout.

This treadmill has a smaller motor at just 2.25 horsepower, but it still gets the job done. The treadmill does have adjustable levels of incline, but it must be done manually when the treadmill is not in use. There are six pre-programmed workouts that you can use without bluetooth or a monthly subscription to iFit which offers on-demand workouts.

Pros

Lightweight and compact
Bluetooth/IFit enabled
Higher weight limit
Free trial of iFit app
Long deck of 50 inches

Cons

Difficult to assemble
Small LCD Display
Short warranty

Sunny Health & Fitness Running Treadmill SF-T7515 – Best Budget with Incline

$500

The Sunny Health & Fitness Running Treadmill SF-T7515 is one of the best treadmills on the market right now, and at under $500 with incline capabilities it’s easy to see why.

This treadmill can be folded up for easy storage when it’s not in use. The running deck is 49.5” long, and 16.5” wide, which IS pretty narrow for a treadmill, but not super short in length. This treadmill makes up for the narrow width with some other features you will usually only find on higher end machines.

This treadmill has a weight limit of 240 pounds, and the maximum speed is 8 miles per hour. The motor is a little small at 2.2 horsepower, but this treadmill has a 12% incline which is unheard of in treadmills at this price point, and the incline can be changed with a push of a button (no manual adjustments needed like the others on this list).

The LCD screen comes with your basic measurements of time, distance, and calories burned, and there are 12 interval based workouts already built in. There are built-in water bottle holders, and bluetooth capabilities. There is also an audio jack for older MP3 players.

Pros

12 levels of power incline
Bluetooth Speakers
12 workout programs

Cons

Top speed of 8 miles per hour
Narrow running surface
Low weight capacity

Oma 1017 EB – Easiest to Assemble

$500

If the thought of putting a treadmill together at home is what’s holding you back from getting a great workout at home the Oma1017 EB treadmill might be the one for you. Assembly is easy with just a couple of screws to be placed, and it comes with a one year warranty, and lifetime customer service.

This budget treadmill has a maximum weight capacity of 300 pounds, and a running deck that is 48” long, and 17.5” wide. The motor is super quiet and has 2.5 horsepower, and reaches speeds of 8.5 miles per hour. There is no incline, but the treadmill comes pre-programmed with 36 preset workouts.

The treadmill has a tablet holder, and handle bars on both sides that track your pulse. The LED display tracks your time, distance, and calories burned. This treadmill is unique in that it comes almost 100% assembled right out of the box, and it folds down flat enough to slide it under a couch or bed. This makes it a great option for people living in small spaces.

Pros

Pre-assembled
Folds flat
High maximum weight limit
Longer and wider than competitors
Quiet

Cons

No Bluetooth connectivity
No incline
Max speed of 8.5 mph
Limited warranty, but lifetime customer service

Goplus 2-in-1 Folding Treadmill 2.25 HP – Easiest to Store

$300

The Goplus 2 in 1 folding treadmill is the most compact treadmill on the list. This treadmill sits flat on the floor so when you fold it down it can be easily slid under furniture and out of the way. The Goplus treadmill can be used as a walking treadmill under a standing desk, or on its own with handlebars.

The walking deck of the budget treadmill is short, at just 39” long, and narrow at 16” wide. This is so that it can be comfortably accommodated under a standing desk. This treadmill has a 265-weight limit, which is impressive for a treadmill of this size.

The motor in this treadmill is an ultra-quiet, 2.25 horsepower motor that can obtain speeds of 7.5 miles per hour when the handlebars are upright. With the handle bars down you can go from 0.6 to 2.5 miles per hour in walking mode. This treadmill also has a remote control you can use to adjust the speed.

There is an LED display where you can track distance, speed, calories, and time. There is also a tablet holder for your devices. The treadmill is Bluetooth enabled and there is a speaker built into the display so you can listen to your music or watch your favorite show while you work out.

Pros

Can be used under a desk or on its own
Comes ready out of the box.
Two in one design

Cons

Very short 3-month warranty
Short running deck
Narrow width

Urevo Treadmill with Desk, 3 in 1 Foldable Treadmill – Best Under Desk Treadmill

$219

If the idea of multi-tasking (working out while you work) then you might like the Urevo 3-in-1 treadmill. This treadmill can be used under a standing desk by itself, on its own with handlebars on each side, or with the handlebars up and a removable desktop that can easily hold your work materials.

This treadmill has a maximum weight capacity of 285 pounds, a five-layer running belt with eight shock absorbers for a comfortable and quiet workout. The quiet motor is 3 horsepower, with a maximum running speed of 8.6 miles per hour. The treadmill deck is 42.5” long and 16.5” wide, and it only takes two seconds to have it upright and working.

Urevo Treadmill with Desk, 3 in 1 Foldable Treadmill

This 3 in 1 treadmill has an LED display for time, speed, distance and calories burned. There is a remote control to adjust the speed, and it also shows the time, speed, distance, and calories burned. There are three modes that can be changed with the remote control, walking, running, and working.

Pros

No assembly
Comes with a working desk.
Three modes of use.

Cons

No Bluetooth connectivity
No preset workouts
Maximum running speed of 8.6 miles per hour.

Treadmills Under $750

Xterra FitnessTR150 Folding Treadmill — Best Foldable Treadmill for Speed Workouts

$450-$679.99

If you are working with limited space and need a treadmill that you can fold up easily and move it out of the way, the Xterra Fitness TR150 treadmill might be the choice for you. This treadmill is appropriate for both running and walking workouts and comes with a weight limit of 250 lbs.

This treadmill does not have some of the bells and whistles that you will find on more expensive models. There is no bluetooth connectivity, and no classes that you can workout along with like you may find with some of the pricier treadmills. The Xterra TR150 Folding treadmill weighs 108 pounds, has a 50” running deck, a 2.25 CHP motor, and running speeds of up to 10 miles per hour.

The treadmill does have a 5-inch LED display that shows heart rate, distance, speed, and the length of the workout. There are 12 pre-set workouts including some that gradually increase in speed, and others that have steady speeds with quick bursts of faster speeds. This treadmill does have three levels of incline, but they have to be changed manually so you can’t change it during your workout.

Pros

Folds up out of the way
Speed limit goes up to 10 mph
Easy to assemble
Good for walking and running
Available on Amazon
One-year warranty on most parts

Cons

Manual incline adjustment (3 levels) so not best for hills
Basic treadmill with no “extras”
May be a safety risk for those with small children due to how easy it folds down (one handed button right at child height)
More expensive than other models on this list (because it is bigger and his a higher speed)

Proform City L6 Folding Treadmill – Most for the Money

$500 – $599

The Proform City L6 is one of the best treadmills for people who want high quality fitness equipment without having to spend an arm and a leg. This treadmill folds completely in half, which makes it easy to keep it out of the way when it’s not in use.

The maximum weight for this budget treadmill is 250 pounds and the maximum speed is 8 miles per hour. The deck of the treadmill is a bit shorter than most, at just 45 inches long, which is part of what makes it so compact. The maximum speed for this model is 8 miles per hour, and there is a small LCD display that shows time, distance, and speed. This treadmill is best suited for easy runs, no speed workouts that you need to stride out on. Also, not suited for taller runners.

There is a tablet holder on top of the display, and the treadmill has bluetooth connectivity. The purchase of this treadmill comes with a free 30-day trial of iFit which you can use to join interactive streaming workouts on demand. There are many customers who love this treadmill, however, for those that didn’t like it, it is difficult to return and it will cost you a $250 restocking fee. Just something to keep in mind when you are shopping for your perfect treadmill.

Pros

Easy to assemble
Bluetooth connectivity
Deck cushioning

Cons

Short deck of just 45 inches long
0 mph speed limit
Small LCD display
Poor customer service

Horizon Fitness T101 Treadmill – Best Quality for the Money

$599- $749

The Horizon Fitness T101 treadmill is a popular entry level treadmill that fits the home gym needs of many. This treadmill has a lot of features that you don’t normally find on treadmills that are less than $1000.

This budget treadmill, like most of these, folds up compactly and it has wheels so that it can be easily moved out of the way when it is not in use. The lifting mechanism is hydraulic so raising it and lowering it is easy and quiet. The treadmill has a 55” long deck that is 20” wide, and the deck is cushioned for comfortable shock absorption during your workout.

The treadmill has a 300-pound maximum weight capacity, and a very quiet 2.5 CHP motor, that can accommodate walking and running. The maximum speed is 10 miles per hour, and the incline can go from 0 to 10%.

There are 3 LED displays where you can track heart rate, incline, calories, speed, time and distance. This treadmill has built-in speakers, a tablet holder, Bluetooth audio, two cup holders, a fan, USB charging ports, and 5 built-in workout programs. There is a lifetime warranty on the frame and the motor, a two-year warranty on parts, and a one year warranty on cushioning and labor.

Pros

300 lb weight limit with sturdy construction
Easy hydraulic lifting and lowering of the deck
Bluetooth Compatible

Cons

Only five preset workouts
Limited warranty on parts
Low speaker output volume

I wouldn’t recommend doing all your runs on these treadmills, but they are good enough to fill in the blanks when it’s hard to get out the door because it’s too cold, hot, stormy, dark, or you have little ones at home. I hope this list of budget-friendly treadmills helps you find the perfect treadmill for you!

If you want a custom plan to fit your marathon goals with your busy schedule, check out my run coaching services. Also, be sure to check out my free training plans:

10 Best Treadmills for Runners on a Budget

Table of contents

How I Picked the Best Budget Treadmill List

The below top 10 Best Treadmills for Runners on a Budget offer: