9 Best Treadmills of 2026, Expert-Tested and Reviewed

If you are looking for a treadmill to boost your long-term fitness, consider these highly rated nonfolding options for home.

If you’re looking to buy a treadmill but want to save space at home, consider one of these highly rated folding treadmills. 

Under-desk treadmills, aka walking pads, are smaller machines with fewer features. As their moniker implies, they should be used for walking, not running. During under-desk treadmill testing, we identified highly concerning construction and safety issues.

CR’s tests focus on ergonomics (how well the machine accommodates different users), construction (how durable it is and how well it resists wear), ease of use, exercise range, and user safety.

During the construction phase of our tests, we conduct a durability test, built by CR test engineers, using two custom rigs consisting of giant metal drums fitted with rubber “feet” to simulate a runner’s shoe. (The rigs are nicknamed Johnnie Walker Red and Johnnie Walker Black for their colors—red and black, respectively.) For full-sized treadmills, this is a 25-hour test in which each rig runs in cycles of 1 hour on and 30 minutes off to replicate half a year of use. For under-desk treadmills, we run this test for 12 hours.

For exercise range, we assess whether a machine is suitable for a variety of fitness levels. The category reflects how easily you might share the machine among multiple people in a household, or whether you’re able to use the treadmill as your fitness levels change over time. Our tests factor in the treadmill speed and incline ranges, stability, cushioning, and more. 

Our user safety tests evaluate the security of folding models, the accessibility of the emergency stop button, the workings of the safety key (which stops the treadmill if you fall), and more.

Our recommended nonfolding treadmill models start at $2,300, while folding models start at $1,000. We look at budget folding treadmills, too, which start at $700. 

The average cost of a U.S. gym membership is $59 per month. If you were to spend $2,300 on a nonfolding treadmill, it would take a little over three years to see a return on your investment. Of course, choosing a treadmill that requires a paid subscription can cut into those savings. Factor in those fees for a true comparison.

The lifespan of a treadmill should be seven to 12 years with proper care and maintenance. If you cancel your gym membership, spending $2,300 on a treadmill now means you’ll save money in the long run. You’ll save even more if you go with a less expensive folding model.

If you buy a Peloton, NordicTrack, or ProForm treadmill, you’ll need to sign up for the company’s associated subscriptions. Without that, you’ll only have access to the machine’s basic functions. That’s why we’ve written about the best treadmills that don’t require a subscription.

There are two types of treadmills that will help you bypass the required subscription: self-contained treadmills and treadmills that work with third-party services. The former come with a full set of features out of the box, while the latter work with on-demand, third-party workout subscription services that allow you to take advantage of trial periods and shop around for a subscription that best suits your needs. They often come with programmed workouts, too.