The Best Treadmills Under $1000

Times are tough! In this article we are going to cover the best treadmills under $1000 that are actually worth the money you pay. Read onto learn more.

The Top 5 Treadmills under $1000 (in case you are in a hurry)

Name	Weight-bearing capacity	Our Rating	Current Price
NordicTrack T Series 6.5 Si Treadmill	300lbs	4.7	Check Price
Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Treadmill	220lbs	4.5	Check Price
XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill	250lbs	4.5	Check Price
UREVO Foldable Treadmills for Home	260lbs	4.6	Check Price
REDLIRO  JK1608E Under Desk Treadmill	220lbs	4.5	Check Price

1. NordicTrack T Series 6.5 Si Treadmill– Best treadmill for runners

If you love running and are willing to spend $1000 on a treadmill, you don’t need to look for anything else as Nordic treadmill will best serve your purpose. 

The two main reasons why recommend it for runners is: 

• It comes with a one-year iFit membership. iFit is Nordictrack’s own app featuring a huge database of online workouts and outdoor routes. So you will not get bored easily. It offers 20 pre-set workouts, which is much more than what the affordable treadmills for home offer. Plus, it can also auto-adjust your treadmill's speed and inclination to mimic the terrain that you have chosen to use. This feature also works pretty well with Google Maps! The auto-adjust feature is incredibly good at this price point. 
• The Nordictrack treadmill utilizes FlexSelect cushioning, which has dampeners below the belt. These dampeners absorb the shock and soften the impact on your joints. Don't worry, you can change your cushioning preferences in case you want to replicate on road running.

Let's look at some of the key features of the NordicTrack T Series 6.5 Si Treadmill. 

Features: 

• Dimension: 67.5 x 36 x 73 inches
• Deck length: 55”
• Weight-bearing capacity: 300lbs
• Motor: 2.6HP
• Max speed: 10MPH
• Comes with 20-builtin programs and 1-year iFit membership 
• Can be folded for storage
• Offers one-touch speed and incline control
• The handlebars have cardiogrip sensors to monitor heart rate
• Has a 10-inch screen for streaming the workouts and for tracking your workout stats 
• You can create upto 5 different profiles
• You can plug in your headphones in the auxiliary input or use the console speakers to listen to the workouts or music
• Warranty: 10 years on frame, 2-years on parts, and 1-year on labor. 

What we like about NordicTrack T Series 6.5 Si Treadmill

Space-saving, foldable design 

Well, don’t fret out. You don’t have to be a Hulk to fold it. It has an EasyLift assist feature to help you. All you need to do is to grab the bar at the base of the deck and try lifting it. It will start folding up. To release it, you need to press the foot bar under the deck. The hydraulic release system will release it down slowly. 

Quiet operation 

Numerous buyers have stated that this Nordic treadmill is much quieter than the other available top rated treadmills for home use. Whether you are walking or running on it, you will hear a very little foot noise. Perfect for people who don’t want to disturb their kids. 

What we don’t like about it: 

• There is no built-in fan, which we did expect at this price point.
• There is no USB port for charging your device. Not a major con but reasonably priced treadmills for home do come with this feature. 
• The 10 degree incline is not that great. We were expecting 15 degrees at this price. 
• There is no resume option. If you stop for more than a minute, you will have to restart your workout from zero. 

Important information 

A lot of buyers have complained that they didn’t like the idea of registering for the iFit app. It should have been optional. Instead, the manufacturer has mentioned in its assembly guide that the Nordictrack treadmill is locked and you need to go to the iFit website to unlock it! 

Please note that you have to enter your credit card details to activate your iFit account. Buyers didn’t like it. They felt cheated because this information is nowhere mentioned in the product description. Nordictrack should have made it optional because many of us wouldn’t be interested in using the app even if it’s free for a year and reasonably priced thereafter. 

Don’t worry though. There is a hack that lets you bypass the iFit registration step. Watch this video. 

Our Rating: 4.7/5

Our Verdict: 

It loses some points only because of its mandatory iFit registration issue. Otherwise, this is one of the best treadmills for runners who need some motivation while exercising from home. It offers some amazing features at a very reasonable price. From cushioning to effortless folding, this treadmill is easy and comfortable to use. 

2. Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Treadmill– Best budget treadmill for walking 

This entry-level treadmill for home provides you a wide variety of features that are not easy to find in other budget treadmills below $500. It has a lot of shortcomings too, but there is nothing major to complain about, except that it is not suitable for running. Plus, it has a very low weight-bearing capacity making it unsuitable for people weighing more than 220lbs.  

Nevertheless, it is still a good option for beginners, people who do not have major fitness goals, and those who are recovering from injuries. 

Features: 

• Dimension: 62” L x 25.5” W x 50” H
• Deck: 15.75″ wide x 48.82″ long
• Weight: 103lbs
• Weight-bearing capacity: 220lbs
• Motor: 2.20 HP
• Max speed: 9.0 MPH
• Inclination: It is a manual incline treadmill. Has three levels of inclination. Max inclination degree is 4.37 degree.
• Comes with 9 preset workouts. Most affordable treadmills for home use do not offer this feature.
• Can be folded for storage
• Has built-in speakers and aux cable port
• Has pulse sensors and quick access buttons on handrails
• Available in pink and grey color. We found the pink one to be too bright but a lot of buyers liked the color. 
• Warranty: 1 year on frame and 90 days on parts

What we like about the Sunny Health and Fitness SF-T4400 treadmill for home

Great features

This treadmill under $500 offers preset workouts and heart rate monitoring, the two major features that aren’t available with most other affordable treadmills for home use. Plus, it has a foldable design! 

It comes with a soft-drop mechanism, which helps the deck unfold and land slowly, preventing any damage to the floor or to itself. You can’t expect anything beyond this at this price. No wonder why buyers have claimed that it is the best budget treadmill for casual use. 

Reasonably priced 

Currently, the Sunny Health and Fitness SF-T4400 treadmill for home is being sold at $399. Plus Amazon ships it for free for Amazon Prime members. Any other treadmill with the same features will cost you at least twice as much. So, obviously it is an excellent option for people who need a basic home gym equipment to get started. 

What we don’t like about it: 

• The width of this treadmill is just 25.5”. If you have a wide figure, you will have to keep your arms close to your body so they don’t hit the handrails. 
• The SF-T4400 Sunny Health and Fitness treadmill for home isn’t very quiet. The motor does make a decent amount of noise and the faster you walk, the louder the noise will be. Plus, the frame is made of hollow metal and plastic, which adds to the overall noise it makes. That being said, the noise isn’t unbearable but could disturb you if you want to watch TV.  
• Numerous buyers have stated that after a few months of decent use, the belt starts to shift to the sides. You need to readjust its position, which is fairly easy and Sunny Health & Fitness has included the steps in the instruction manual. The major problem here is that the adjustment is not a one-time job. Many buyers have complained that they have to readjust it every other day, which is annoying. 

Our Rating: 4.5/5

Our Verdict:

Well, despite its drawback, we would still claim that it is the best treadmill for walking for someone who has an average height, doesn’t weigh more than 220lbs, and doesn’t want to spend $1000 for better alternatives. 87% of buyers have rated it 4-stars and above and thousands of them have stated that it does what is expected from it. But, don’t expect durability from it. This is not a treadmill that would last for a decade or so. With regular use, it will hardly last a year or two and that’s OK because by then you should be ready to upgrade. 

3. XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill– Best treadmill for entry-level runners

If you are looking for the best budget treadmills for home use, the XTERRA Fitness TR150 should be on your list. It offers slightly better features than the Sunny Health and Fitness one listed above. It has a decent construction and works as expected although you should keep your expectations low because, at the end of the day, it is just a $350 treadmill for home. 

But, more than 85% of buyers have rated it 4-stars and above and thousands of them have claimed that they have been using it for years and it still functions at its best! It deserves to be one of the top 10 treadmills for home. 

Features: 

• Dimensions: 63.4 x 28.75 x 51.4 inches
• Deck length: 50 Inches
• Weight- 108lbs
• Weight-bearing capacity: 250lbs
• Motor: 2.25HP
• Speed: 0.5-10 MPH
• Inclination: Just like the Sunny Health and Fitness treadmill for home use listed above, this one too is a manual incline treadmill. Has 3 levels of inclination that offer a max 5 degree inclination. 
• Since it is an affordable treadmill for home use, it has a single-ply belt.
• Offers 12 preset workout programs. 
• Has a 5” LCD screen and hand-grip sensors
• Can be folded for storage
• Warranty: 1-year on motor and 90 days on parts and labor, lifetime on frame

What we like about it:

Cushioned deck

Numerous buyers have admitted that the Xterra Fitness TR150 treadmill for home use provides a decent amount of cushioning, something that most treadmills in this price range don’t offer. The manufacturer has mentioned that it uses its XTRAsoft cushioning to keep your joints safe, which is why it is one of the top 10 treadmills for home under $500. 

Already have knee problems? Go for it!

Just getting started with jogging or running? Go for it!

12 preset workout programs 

The most challenging part of exercising from home is lack of motivation. While you have to be self-motivated, preset workouts help a lot! Just like the Nordictrack treadmill mentioned above, the Xterra Fitness  TR150 treadmill too comes with 12 preset workout programs. You can shuffle them regularly, so you will have something different to do every day. Affordable treadmills do not provide that. 

What we don’t like: 

• There is no audio in the Xterra Fitness TR150 folding treadmill. We understand that it is the best budget treadmill for beginners, so obviously the manufacturer will cut down a few features to make it affordable. But, Sunny Health and Fitness SF-T4400 has built-in speakers. Not a major drawback but you must know what to expect from it. 
• Numerous buyers have complained that their product arrived in totally beaten up packages. Sometimes, even the plastic parts of the machine were broken. Maybe, the manufacturer needs to take care of these shipping-related issues because they are affecting the overall rating of the product. 
• It lacks an automatic power off feature. You will have to manually switch it off. 

Please note: 

Xterra Fitness TR150 treadmill for home requires regular maintenance, which primarily includes lubricating the belt. You have to lubricate it after every 40 hours of use. This helps the machine work at its best. 

We love that Xterra Fitness has included a built-in reminder feature, which notifies you when the lubrication is due. The product manual provides clear instructions on how to oil the belt. Plus, the manufacturer also sends a bottle of oil with the product, which could last up to 1 year. We have found this video to help you understand the lubrication process: 

Our Rating: 4.5/5

Our Verdict: 

Definitely a cost-effective home gym equipment for casual joggers and people who want to start running. People have reported low durability issues. With decent use, you can expect it to last 3-5 years, which surprises us considering its low price. 

If you have just started running, you will most likely get muscle cramps. Exogun deep tissue massager can help you get rid of those cramps and knots. You can try Vive Foot Rocker Calf Stretcher too if you suffer from ankle mobility issues, which makes it difficult for you to get a good run. 

4. UREVO Foldable Treadmills for Home– best under desk treadmill for home use 

Don’t have floor space for bulky treadmills? 

Don’t worry, UREVO products are meant for people who live in small homes or apartments where space is a luxury. This treadmill can be folded flat and tucked away under the bed or sofa. The other treadmills listed above are also foldable but they still require a lot of floor space, as you cannot put them under your bed. This is a major reason why it is one of the best treadmills for home use. 

Another interesting thing that you would love to know about UREVO treadmill is that its LED screenbar is totally flat. Although the manufacturer hasn’t recommended it, a lot of buyers have stated that they keep their laptop on it and work while they walk. You can buy a separate laptop mount if you want to. Or maybe, you can just not attach the LED screen and place it under your standing desk. 

Here are some of the best standing desks that we recommend for home office and even for your professional workplace. 

Features: 

• Dimension: 55.2 X 38.2 X 27.8 inches
• Deck length: 45.7”
• Weight: 83.7 lbs 
• Weight-bearing capacity: 260lbs
• Motor: 2.5 HP
• Speed: 0.5-7.5 MPH
• Inclination: No inclination
• Provides enough cushioning for decent use 
• Comes with 12 preset programs 
• Has an LCD display and a phone holder
• Available in black and white colors
• Warranty: 12 months 

What we like about it: 

One of the few treadmills meant for walking while working 

Although being rated as one of the best treadmills for home use, the UREVO Foldable Treadmills can be used in home offices as well as at your workplace. We have already mentioned above that you can slide it under your standing desk and use it while working. None of the other foldable treadmills listed here offer this benefit. If you are hard-pressed for time, this is probably one of the best exercise machines that you can buy for your home office. 

Can't walk while you work? Check out this list of best under desk ellipticals that can turn your home office into a home gym. 

Affordable 

You will agree with us that it is the best budget treadmill that you can buy for your home office. Although there are numerous other foldable treadmills available in this price range, none of them are compact enough to be used along with a standing desk. 

It is priced close to what the standard Walmart treadmills cost. Yet, it is designed to provide you enough cushioning, so you can use it for hours without bothering about knee pain.  

What we don’t like: 

• It is a very basic treadmill and that is its beauty! But, we did expect it to have at least a pause button so you can resume your workout after a quick break. It is supposed to be used at work, where you may have to take frequent breaks. So, a pause button would have made it better. 
• It doesn’t incline at all. 
• The belt gets off-centered with use. You need to retighten it as and when needed. 
• Assembly and maintenance are easy and pretty straightforward but, if you have never assembled anything before, you may have to brainstorm a bit. The instructions are unclear. 
• No water bottle holder, or audio output, or heart rate monitoring system but we don’t mind that. This treadmill for home use is supposed to be compact. With those add-ons, the machine would have become bulkier. 

Please note: 

When you fold the handles down, you will have to unscrew the panel and screw them back when you want to use it. Screwing can be done with hands but numerous buyers have stated that a clickable thing would have made it much easier to use. 

Our Rating: 4.6/5

Our Verdict: 

The only reason why this best budget treadmill by UREVO loses some points is the lack of inclination. The manufacturer should have provided some basic degree of inclination because it helps achieve more from your workouts.  We highly recommend it to people who: 

• Want to walk while they work at their standing desk 
• Cannot afford to devote maximum space of a room for a treadmill

Want to be more active while working? Try these quick resistance loop band workouts during your breaks. These are some of the best resistance loop bands that you can keep your home office drawer for to get a quick burn. 

5. REDLIRO  JK1608E Under Desk Treadmill

This also falls under the category of top rated affordable treadmills for home use. Just like the UREVO one listed above, it is totally collapsible and can be stored under the bed or sofa. You can use it with your standing desk to create a setup where you can work while you walk. 

REDLIRO Under Desk Treadmill, however, has a low weight-bearing capacity and a not-so-powerful motor. Nevertheless, it is cheap and works as expected. We recommend it for people who are on a budget, who do not want to walk at a high speed, as well as for people who are suffering from mobility problems and need something very basic to stay active and healthy. 

Don't get us wrong. It is not something that is meant to be used by senior citizens or people who do not have high fitness goals. This treadmill for home is suitable for most of us; you just have to ensure that you are fine with its weight-bearing capacity and its max speed. 

Here are some of its key features: 

Features: 

• Dimensions: 51.9 x 24.8 x 42.1 inches
• Deck size: 41”
• Weight: 57lbs
• Weight-bearing capacity: 220lbs
• Motor: 2.2HP
• Speed: When the arms are in normal position, the speed you can get is 0.5-7.5 MPH. when the arms are folded flat on the floor, the max speed you can get is 4MPH.
• Incline: it is a no incline treadmill 
• Has a 5-layer shock-absorbing belt. It isn’t the best treadmill for runners but you can jog while you work because the cushioned deck will keep you comfortable and safe. 
• Has an LCD display and a phone holder 
• Comes with 12 preset workouts
• Available in black, silver, and red colors
• Warranty: 1-year 

What we like about it:

Value for money 

If you are looking for the best treadmill of 2021 that offers maximum value for money, this is it. The REDLIRO JK1608E Under Desk Treadmill costs less than $300 and yet, it surprises us with so many features that other budget-friendly treadmills below $500 hardly provide. 12 preset workouts, fully collapsible frame for under desk use, decent cushioning and speed, durable frame, etc. are some features that make it count among the top rated treadmills for home use. 

You might not like the low speed limits but do you think you will ever be able to walk or jog faster than this, especially while working? REDLIRO JK1608E Under Desk Treadmill is not meant for fitness enthusiasts with very high fitness goals. It is a very basic home exercise machine suitable for most of us who want to stay active and fit while stuck at home due to the pandemic or bad weather. 

Speaking of bad weather- if you have been thinking of buying a desert cooler/swamp cooler for cooling your garage gym, don’t do that. They neither help get rid of humidity nor do they help bring down the temperature. We tried Hessaire swamp cooler recently and were left disappointed even though it is one of the top-rated products on Amazon. 

What we don’t like: 

• Just like the UREVO treadmill for home use listed above, this one too doesn’t come with a pause feature. You will have to restart your walk every time you take a break and that can be quite annoying, especially if you love to track your goals. 
• It should have at least a basic manual incline. 
• A few buyers have stated that the user manual is vaguely written. You will hardly need it but you should know that you won’t get much help from it. 
• Some buyers have reported shipping and handling related issues. 
• A few buyers have stated that the company is bribing people to leave a 5-star review with pics and videos. THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. However, buyers have mentioned that the treadmill works as expected and their reviews have nothing to do with the cashback the manufacturer offers. See the image below: 

Our Rating: 4.5/5

Our Verdict: 

Overall a good treadmill for home or home office. Gets the job done and doesn’t cost $1000. Not meant for serious use but it is anyways an under desk treadmill. 

Things to Consider When Looking at Treadmills

Belt dimension 

Belt dimension makes a lot of difference to your workouts as well as your comfort. If you are looking for or a treadmill for running we would recommend you a 22 inch wide belt instead of the 20 inch standard belt, which is good for walking. You can use a treadmill with a 20 inch belt for running but you will have to be extra careful not to hit the edges. So, it is safer to spend a bit more and get a wider one. 

The standard belt length of the top rated treadmills for home use is 50”. But if you are a runner, you should get a 55” or maybe 60” so you don’t slip off. 

Treadmill motor 

Most treadmills for home have a 2.25 to 4.25 HP motor. A few affordable treadmills may have 1.5 HP motor whereas the higher end ones may have 5.0 CHP motor. 

So, which one should you choose? 

Here is what we recommend: 

• If you are looking for the best treadmill for walking, choose 2.0 CHP or higher.
• If you want to use your treadmill for jogging, choose 2.5 CHP or higher.
• The best treadmill for runners should have at least 3.0 CHP or higher motor power. 
• If you are obese, make sure you choose a treadmill with a more powerful motor. If obesity is a concern before you start off you should check out all about obesity and how to tackle it.

Basically, the heavier you exercise, the more powerful motor you would require. 

Does that matter? 

Yes, it does! If you use your treadmill at its full capacity, it will wear out faster. Always buy something that can bear more use than you would usually put. 

Tread belt durability 

Do you know why some treadmills are cheaper and some are ridiculously expensive even if they have the same belt size and motor? 

The price difference is mainly because of the thickness of the belt. Affordable treadmills for home use often have two-ply tread belts. Some even have just a single ply belt! But we do not recommend them unless you are recovering from injury and want something to just keep you going. 

The top rated treadmills for home use usually have a 4-ply tread belt. They are expensive but worth their price because thicker belts provide quieter workouts. You can further reduce the vibration and noise by adding a mat beneath them. Check out this BalanceFrom mat, if you don’t already have one. 

Please note: Very often, manufacturers do not list the tread belt thickness in their product description. They intentionally hide it because they know that’s the weak point in their product. If you come across a product that is claimed to be the best budget treadmill, ask about its belt thickness and do not buy it if it is a single-ply one. 

Speed

Most treadmills for home have a standard speed of 10 mph, which is more than enough for walking, jogging, and even for running. But, if you are an avid runner who wants to hit the target of 5-minute per mile, you should get a treadmill that offers a higher speed such as 12 mph. 

Cushioning 

Cushioning is important, especially if you are looking for the best treadmills for runners. It helps reduce the impact of the workout, thereby helping you keep your joints safe. Most top rated treadmills for home use provide ample cushioning so you don’t need to worry. But, if you are looking for cheap Walmart treadmills, you definitely need to evaluate your exercising needs and decide accordingly. 

If you are already suffering from bone and joint diseases, try rowing instead of treadmill running. Here are some of the best rowing machines that we recommend for home use. 

Incline 

The more you incline your treadmill, the more calories you will burn. Further, inclining the treadmill helps you target different muscle groups. 

Good quality treadmills for home offer a standard inclination of 10 degrees. But, the more expensive, top rated treadmills for home use can provide you as much as 15 or 20 degrees of inclination.

The more inclination a treadmill provides, the more price you will have to pay for it. But if you are looking for an affordable option you may go with the manual inclination feature instead of the motorized one. 

Extra (but not so necessary) features that you might want to have in your home gym equipment 

• Most affordable treadmills for home use do not come with any preset workouts. If you want them, you will have to go with the expensive ones. 
• Do you need a bluetooth speaker? 
• Don’t have enough space? Look for foldable treadmills such as this Nordictrack treadmill. Scroll below to read its full review. 
• Do you need an auto-stop feature to ensure your safety while you are doing a rigorous workout? 

We hope the above information has helped you understand how to buy a treadmill for home that best suits your workout needs. 

Need quick suggestions? Scroll below to learn more about the top rated treadmills for home use that we highly recommend.

Wrap up 

The above-mentioned treadmills for home are affordable, durable, and suitable for most of us. However, if you are someone who loves an intense running session, they may not be enough. You need to look for high-end models such as the Proform Pro 2000 Smart Treadmill, which could cost you somewhere between $1500-$3000 or more. Such treadmills have a heavy-duty motor, which could last for at least a decade without giving any glitches. So, they are worth their price. 

Don’t want to spend so much? Try spinning! It is an amazing cardio activity and helps with weight loss too. Here are some of the best spin bikes that we recommend.