Specialists Love These Folding Treadmills for At-Residence Exercises

You don’t need a ton of space to work out at home—your office or bedroom can double as a gym, with the right equipment.

Unlike a traditional treadmill, a folding treadmill can easily be stored under your desk or against the wall when you’re not using it, and it can unfold in a snap when you’re ready to hop on. Plus, they tend to be more budget-friendly than higher-end smart treadmills (like ones from Peloton or ProForm), but they can be just as effective when it comes to reaching your fitness goals.

We asked fitness experts for their folding treadmill recommendations and advice on what to keep in mind as you shop. Find their guidance and browse some of our favorite, SELF Home Fitness Award-winning models below.

Our top picks

1. Best Overall: NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill
2. Best for Beginners: Horizon T101 Treadmill
3. Best Budget Pick: Goplus 2-in-1 Folding Treadmill
4. Best for Walking: Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T4400 Treadmill
5. Best with Incline: ProForm Carbon TLX
6. Best Flat-Folding: Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7718 Pro Treadmill
7. Best for Vertical Storage: WalkingPad R2 Treadmill
8. Best for Taller Folks: XTERRA TRX 3500 Folding Treadmill

Shop the best folding treadmills

Best Overall: NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill

Pros

• Large screen
• Lots of quick-response options for changing speed and incline
• Stable ride
• Fan can adjust automatically to intensity of workouts

Cons

• Heavy and hard to move around

This machine earned a top spot in our 2024 Home Fitness Awards. It’s certainly an investment piece—but according to our tester, who’s a former marathon runner, “you get what you pay for.”

While the high-tech 1750 is packed with bells and whistles, it’s not hard to navigate: “All of the handles and adjustments are easily accessible, there are quick jump-buttons on the monitor beside the screen, and there are also manual adjustments on the front handlebar if you want a more precise speed or incline,” our tester said. You can even practice downhill running with this machine, thanks to its negative incline settings.

With an iFit membership, you can follow along with trainer-led running and strength workouts and track your statistics—iFit can even use this info to customize your workouts in the future, so you’re always pushing yourself. This tread folds upright and it has wheels for storage—just note that it’s still pretty heavy, so it’s not the easiest machine to move.

Best for Beginners: Horizon Fitness T101 GO Series Treadmill

Pros

• Bluetooth connectivity
• Assisted folding mechanism
• Speed and incline are easy to adjust
• Has space for a tablet and charging ports

Cons

• Heavy, according to reviewers

“This no-frills treadmill is excellent for beginners, but even the most avid runners can find something to like about it,” Garret Seacat, CSCS, head coach of Absolute Endurance in Manhattan, Kansas, tells SELF. He adds that it has a hydraulic folding mechanism and enough updated features—like Bluetooth speakers and one-touch setting buttons (so you can select the exact speed and incline you want, without having to toggle through a range)—to keep it current.

The T101 Go tread features a nicely cushioned belt, which can help reduce impact on your joints. It also has a tablet mount with charging ports, so you can stream your favorite Netflix show or fitness class on your own device while you run. In sum, it’s a breeze to use and tailor to your fitness level, even if you’re a treadmill newbie.

Best Budget Pick: Goplus 2-in-1 Folding Treadmill

Pros

• Relatively lightweight
• Quiet motor
• Has a handrail that can fold flat when not in use

Cons

• Not suitable for fast runs

The Goplus 2-in-1 Folding Treadmill is not only compact and less expensive than other models, but it also has a surprisingly versatile design. When the handrail is raised, the treadmill is in “jogging mode,” and its maximum speed increases to seven and a half miles per hour (mph). When the handrail is down, the “walking mode” kicks in and the top speed decreases to two and a half mph (making it a great option for an under-desk treadmill).

It’s also pretty low-profile—it weighs 70 pounds and has a very quiet motor. If you’re hoping to squeeze more steps in at home without dropping a ton of money, this Goplus tread is a solid option.

Best for Walking: Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T4400 Treadmill

Pros

• Budget-friendly
• Stable design
• Wide range of settings, for the price

Cons

• Incline is manual
• Low weight capacity

A 2023 Home Fitness Award winner, the SF-T4400 has a supportive belt, a lower price tag, and a great range of settings. For a piece of equipment with such a small footprint (it measures 34.25 by 26.25 inches when folded vertically), it still has three incline options and a comfortable walking pad that can reach up to nine mph.

It comes with nine pre-programmed workouts, a reading rack, a water bottle holder, pulse monitor grips on the handles, and an LCD monitor that tracks your time and speed. If you’re looking for a foldable treadmill that you can use mostly for walking and jogging (and don’t need one you can all-out sprint on), this one is a great option. One thing to note: At 220 pounds, its weight capacity is pretty low.

Best with Incline: ProForm Carbon TLX

Pros

• Well-cushioned belt
• No-wobble ride, according to our tester
• Good price point

Cons

• Doesn’t have large screen (iFit membership will work best when used with a tablet)

This compact tread (another 2024 Home Fitness Award winner) packs a ton of impressive features for its price. The ProForm Carbon TLX has quick-response settings, includes trial access to an iFit membership (which has a library of trainer-led running and strength training classes, plus scenic destinations), and offers a notable incline range of up to 12%.