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
- Best Overall: NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill
- Best for Beginners: Horizon T101 Treadmill
- Best Budget Pick: Goplus 2-in-1 Folding Treadmill
- Best for Walking: Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T4400 Treadmill
- Best with Incline: ProForm Carbon TLX
- Best Flat-Folding: Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7718 Pro Treadmill
- Best for Vertical Storage: WalkingPad R2 Treadmill
- Best for Taller Folks: XTERRA TRX 3500 Folding Treadmill
Shop the best folding treadmills
Best Overall: NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill
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.
Membership and app options: Connects with the iFit app and membership | Folding options: Upright | Max speed: 12 mph | Max incline: -3% to 12% | Belt dimensions: 22″ x 60″ | Weight capacity: 400 pounds | Warranty: Lifetime motor warranty
Best for Beginners: Horizon Fitness T101 GO Series Treadmill
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.
Membership and app options: N/A | Folding options: Upright | Max speed: 10 mph | Max incline: 10% | Belt dimensions: 20″ x 55″ | Weight capacity: 300 pounds | Warranty: Lifetime frame and motor warranty
Best Budget Pick: Goplus 2-in-1 Folding Treadmill
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.
Membership and app options: Connects to Goplus’s Gymax app | Folding options: Flat | Max speed: 7.5 mph | Incline range: Fixed | Belt dimensions: 16″ x 39″ | Weight capacity: 265 pounds | Warranty: 3 months
Best for Walking: Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T4400 Treadmill
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.
Membership and app options: Connects to Sunny Fit’s app | Folding options: Upright | Max speed: 9 mph | Incline range: 0%, 2%, and 4.37% | Belt dimensions: 15.5″ x 49″ | Weight capacity: 220 pounds | Warranty: 3-year structural frame, 180 days other parts
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%.
More good news: It’s less expensive, but still well-made: “I went from walking to running, and the treadmill remained stable the whole time,” our tester said. “I didn’t feel any wobble on the handles, either.” Her final verdict? “It doesn’t look cheap, and it doesn’t feel cheap.” Win-win.
Membership and app options: Connects to the iFit app and membership | Folding options: Upright | Max speed: 12 mph | Incline range: 0% to 12% | Belt dimensions: 20″ x 60″ | Weight capacity: 300 pounds | Warranty: 10-year frame, 1-year parts, 1-year labor
Best Flat-Folding: Sunny Health & Fitness Motorized Folding Treadmill
Sunny Health & Fitness
Motorized Folding Treadmill
Pros
- Great for super small spaces
- Has USB ports for charging small devices
- Arrives already assembled
Cons
- Not as sturdy as some other options on this list
Because they tend to be lighter than machines that store upright, treadmills that fold completely flat are often sturdy enough for walking, but not great for running. This Sunny Health & Fitness treadmill breaks the mold: You can store it under a bed or couch, but it still has a speed range that should suit most runners.
Sydney Bueckert, NASM-CPT, lead in-house fitness instructor at Sunny Health & Fitness in California, tells SELF that it offers some unique nice-to-have features, including USB ports, a headphone jack, a device holder, and nine preset workout programs.
Membership and app options: Connects to the SunnyFit App | Folding options: Flat | Max speed: 9 mph | Max incline: Fixed | Belt dimensions: 20″ x 47″ | Weight capacity: 250 pounds | Warranty: 3-year frame, 180-day parts
Best for Vertical Storage: WalkingPad R2 Treadmill
WalkingPad
R2 Walk&Run Foldable Treadmill
Pros
- Remote-controlled
- Speed adjusts automatically
- Can be stored flat or upright
Cons
- Not suitable for fast runs
- Small wheels can make it difficult to maneuver, according to reviewers
The WalkingPad has achieved TikTok fame and glory in the last couple years for its space-saving design, ease of use, and the boost it adds to users’ WFH days (some fans hop on during Zoom meetings, while others use it as a welcome distraction).
Its belt provides plenty of shock absorption and has a unique step sensor that automatically adjusts its speed to match your steps. Plus, you can store either it vertically against a wall or flat underneath furniture.
Membership and app options: Connects to the KS Fit app | Folding options: Flat | Max speed: 7.45 mph | Max incline: Fixed | Belt dimensions: 17″ x 47″ | Weight capacity: 240 pounds | Warranty: 1 year limited warranty
Best for Taller Folks: XTERRA Fitness TRX 3500 Folding Treadmill
Pros
- Spacious running belt
- Bluetooth connectivity
- You can adjust speed and incline from the handlebars
Cons
- Heavy
Another top pick of Seacat’s is the Xterra TRX3500. It has a large, durable running deck that can feel more comfortable for taller people with a longer stride.
Like some of our other picks, this treadmill has Bluetooth speakers and can connect to community-based fitness apps like Zwift, “to allow you to race against friends and other runners in a digital world,” says Seacat. And however you like to work out, there’s likely a pre-set program for you somewhere in the machine’s library of 30 choices.
Membership and app options: Connects to the Zwift, Tacx, and Kinomap apps | Folding options: Upright | Max speed: 12 mph | Max incline: 12% | Dimensions: 20″ x 60″ | Weight capacity: 350 pounds | Warranty: Lifetime frame, 2-year parts
What to consider when shopping for a folding treadmill
The treadmill’s speed range will dictate what kind of workouts you can do. “Some compact folding treadmills top out at just three miles per hour (mph),” Sean Penwell, MD, ACSM-certified personal trainer and CEO of Healthstar Technologies, tells SELF. For most people, that’s regular walking speed—so don’t expect to do anything brisker. “If you’re already running an eight-minute mile, you’ll want a treadmill that can go at least 7.5 mph,” he says (and we’ve got a few on this list).
Be sure to measure the area where you plan to use and store your treadmill, then cross-reference those specs with the dimensions of the tread itself, Bueckert says. That way, you can enjoy the treadmill and tuck it away without any hassle.
You may need to put aside more room than you think, depending on how your machine works. “Very few modern treadmills fold completely up and will be more of a V-shape,” Seacat says. That means you’ll need enough vertical and horizontal space to accommodate its shape. Models that fold flat, on the other hand, can fit under furniture or in narrow upright areas—they’re especially easy to store in small living spaces.
Some treadmills have a manual incline—meaning you’ll have to physically step off to change the degree—while others can be adjusted automatically. Many folding treadmills don’t offer a huge range of incline levels, so if you’re hoping for a more challenging home workout, this is definitely a factor you’ll want to consider.
Folding treadmills often have lighter maximum weight capacities compared to nonfolding models because they’re built for portability (as opposed to sturdiness). Folding tread weight capacities generally range between 200 and 300 pounds, whereas ones for traditional or higher-end treadmills can range up to 500 pounds.
Some extra nice-to-haves include app compatibility, live-streaming classes, and access to online communities where you can share your progress with other users, Dr. Penwell says. Convenient design elements, like a device holder and a place for your water bottle or remote control, may make your workout more seamless too.
How we test treadmills
SELF selects treadmills for testing by tapping a panel of fitness experts—as well as our own staffers—to nominate their all-time favorite machines. Then, we put them to the test over weeks of training, utilizing all their features so we can evaluate their design and what makes them unique. Many treadmills on this list also earned top spots in previous years’ Home Fitness Awards, so you can be confident we’ve loved them for a while.
Frequently asked questions about folding treadmills
Can you run on a folding treadmill?
Yes—some may not go as fast or feel as stable at high speeds and inclines as traditional treadmills do, but there are plenty of sturdy foldable treadmills out there that you can run on.
If you’re planning to focus on mostly sprint, interval, or hill work, you’ll want to invest in a high-quality foldable treadmill with a warranty or opt for a nonfoldable option. But if you don’t sprint much in your workouts, then a foldable treadmill should serve you just fine.
Is a folding treadmill worth it?
If you know you’d use a treadmill often, but you’re short on space, then a foldable machine could be a great investment. Read customer reviews and look for warranties to help make sure that the treadmill you buy is one you can use for a long time.
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