Best Treadmills Under $400 (2024): Compact, Sleek, and Space-Saving Options

If you’re on a budget, buying a treadmill can feel like an impossible task. The thing is, treadmills under $400 actually exist and are totally worth considering adding to your home workout space.

With a budget machine, don’t expect to find all the high-end or high-tech features of commercial-grade equipment. However, an affordable treadmill will still help you get your steps in and meet the American Heart Association’s recommendation of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per week. 

Increasing your daily movement (and intensity) can even decrease your risk of heart disease and stroke. If that’s not a reason to hop on a treadmill, then I don’t know what is!

We Know A Good Treadmill Deal When We See One

Our team of expert product testers knows that it’s important to consider quality when you’re shopping for budget home gym equipment. You can spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on a home gym set up, but you don’t have to. 

We’ve put dozens of treadmills to the test so you can determine the best budget treadmill for your space. Our expert product testers are made up of former college athletes, certified personal trainers, CrossFit Level 1 Trainers, and nutrition coaches. That means we know a thing or two about cardio equipment and what most people are looking for. 

Best Treadmills Under $400 

• Best Overall Treadmill Under $400: Sunny Health and Fitness (SF-T4400) Treadmill
• Best Interactive Programming Under $400: Weslo Cadence G 5.9i
• Best Walking Treadmill Under $400: SereneLift Smart Digital Treadmill
• Best Incline Treadmill Under $400: XTERRA Fitness TR150
• Best Under Desk Treadmill Under $400: GoPlus 2-in-1 Treadmill

Best Overall Treadmill Under $400: Sunny Health and Fitness (SF-T4400) Treadmill 

Good for: Anyone looking for a folding budget treadmill with incline options

Best Overall

Sunny Health and Fitness Treadmill SF-T4400

GGR Score: 3.6

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Product Highlights

• Under $500
• Has manual incline options
• Compact and folds
• Speeds up to 9 MPH

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Has incline
• Folds easily
• Very compact
• Tread comes with shock absorption
• Quick-speed buttons on the handrail

Cons

• User weight capacity is 220 lbs
• Top speed of 9 MPH
• No decline option

Bottom Line

The SF-T4400 is a great budget walking treadmill that can be easily folded and used in small spaces.

The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T4400 treadmill is a trusty choice when it comes to getting the most bang for your buck. Will this treadmill be right for everyone? Probably not. Will this treadmill get the job done for a lot of home gym owners? Sure.

The SF-T4400 is a solid budget treadmill that can be found on Amazon for right around $350. That price point won’t lend itself to high-tech features like a touchscreen. However, you will find an easy-to-read LCD display and nine preset programs. The SF-T4400 is easy to assemble, has a soft-drop folding mechanism, and features a compact footprint. 

Although there are some solid selling points, there will also be some shortfalls on a treadmill in this price range. The 2.2 horsepower motor won’t offer the best power for a lot of running and sprinting (although not impossible). You may also be disappointed to know that the running belt measures 49 inches long and 15.5 inches wide. It’s not only narrow, it’s shorter than we like to see for treadmills designed for running. 

You will however be able to take advantage of the three manual incline options. These adjustable incline settings will require the treadmill to be stopped and you to be entirely off the running deck. The SF-T4400 will be a solid option for casual runners and those looking to get in more steps throughout the week. 

Best Interactive Programming on Treadmill Under $400: Weslo Cadence G 5.9i 

Good for: Anyone who wants an iFIT-enabled treadmill without spending big bucks

Best With Interactive Programming

Weslo Cadence G 5.9i Treadmill

GGR Score: 3.5

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Product Highlights

• Lightweight and compact folding treadmill 
• Cushioned 50-inch-by-16-inch deck 
• 5-inch LCD display to monitor fitness stats
• iFIT-enabled for trainer-led workouts and auto-adjusting setting
• 30-day iFIT membership included
• 2.25 CHP 
• 10 MPH speed 
• Manually adjustable two-position incline
• 6 pre-programmed workout options

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Compact and lightweight
• Budget-friendly
• iFIT-enabled
• 30-day iFIT membership for free
• Folding design

Cons

• Will not support sustained or fast running
• Difficult assembly
• Disappointing warranty
• Small screen

Bottom Line

The G 5.9i is a budget-friendly treadmill best suited for those who plan to walk or jog. Its compact size makes it a viable option for smaller spaces.

When it comes to treadmills under $400, you’ll be making some compromises in the tech department. However, the Weslo Cadence G 5.9i might be one of the best options we’ve reviewed with interactive programming in this price range.

The Weslo comes with a 30-day trial of iFIT interactive programming, which gives you access to a vast library of on-demand workouts (and not just for your treadmill). You’ll have to use your own smartphone or tablet to create an account and stream workouts, but you will benefit from Bluetooth technology that automatically adjusts your speed to the coaching cues or your virtual trainer. You can adjust the incline of the treadmill, but it will need to be done manually when the treadmill isn’t running. 

Other features we like about this Weslo treadmill are the deck cushioning, tablet holder that doesn’t cover up your workout metrics, and folding space-saver design. A few things you’ll need to keep in mind if you’re considering the G 5.9i: the running deck is 50 inches (which is fairly short for tall runners or anyone who has a long stride) and the 2.25 horsepower motor is less powerful than we’d like to see on treadmills intended for running. 

RELATED: Best Treadmill for Tall Runners

Best Walking Treadmill Under $400: SereneLift Smart Digital Treadmill 

Good for: Anyone shopping for a lightweight, portable, and compact walking treadmill

Best Walking Treadmill Under $400

SereneLife Smart Digital Treadmill

GGR Score: 3.9

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Product Highlights

• Foldable treadmill with soft-drop system 
• Available on Amazon 
• FitShow app for logging workouts

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Compact and foldable
• Soft-drop system
• Contact grip heart rate monitors

Cons

• Difficult assembly
• Quality seems hit or miss
• Small running belt

Bottom Line

The SereneLife Smart Digital Treadmill is a compact and affordable treadmill with some extra features like grip contact heart rate monitoring and a soft-drop folding system. However, it has issues with durability and apparently quality control.

The SereneLife Smart Digital treadmill has a short belt surface measuring only 39.3 inches long and 13.4 inches wide. That doesn’t leave a whole lot of room for anything more than getting in your daily steps. Don’t expect to do much running on this ultra-budget treadmill. 

The SereneLife is considered a smart treadmill because it has Bluetooth capability to FitShow app, which allows you to track your workout data and challenge friends. Although this connectivity might not be a huge selling point, there are a few other features worth mentioning. 

For home gym treadmills, our expert product testers like to see a user weight capacity of at least 275 pounds. With budget treadmills, it’s hard to find maximum loads that high. However, this SerneLift Smart Digital treadmill comes in just under what we normally expect at 265 pounds. 

This machine features 12 built-in workout programs to keep your workouts interesting, however the top speed is only 6 miles per hour and incline options are adjusted manually. Perhaps not a deal-breaker, but good to know what you’ll get at this price. 

Best Incline Treadmill Under $400: XTERRA Fitness TR150 

Good for: Casual joggers or walkers looking for incline settings to enhance calories burned

Best Incline Treadmill Under $400

XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill

GGR Score: 3.5

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Product Highlights

• Simple to use
• Lifetime warranty on the frame
• Easy to build
• 12 preset programs
• Deck has sub-par cushioning

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Foldable
• Portable with transport wheels
• Ideal for beginner walkers to speed walkers
• Lightweight
• Great warranty
• Easy-to-read 5-inch LED display
• 12 preset programs onboard

Cons

• Only 2.25 horsepower motor
• Some reviewers report it is noisy
• Water bottle holders on console reportedly do not fit normal bottle sizes
• Users claim they received an error code after one use
• Several reviews reported that the dimensions provided are inaccurate
• Not suited for experienced and heavy users

Bottom Line

The XTERRA TR150 is a starter treadmill available on the lower end of the budget scale offering a commendable lifetime frame warranty and features comparable to competitive models. If you are just beginning your fitness journey, this is a great option for you.

At this price range, you won’t find a lot of treadmills that offer incline settings. It’s one more feature that costs the manufacturer supplies and labor to build in. The XTERRA Fitness TR150 does include a manually adjustable incline option. 

That means you will have to get off the treadmill belt and set the incline manually. Although this might be a hassle, our expert product testers like to see the manual option more than no incline at all. 

The XTERRA Fitness TR150 has pretty similar specs to the Sunny Health and Fitness SF-T4400 treadmill, which we think is a fantastic deal for a treadmill under $400. Both treadmills have similar running deck sizes, motor horsepower, and top speeds. 

However, we think the XTERRA stands out with its lifetime warranty on the frame. The TR150 also has a heavier user weight capacity of 250 pounds (which is still under industry standards, but decent for a treadmill in this price range). 

If you’re wondering why the XTERRA TR150 didn’t make the spot for best overall treadmill under $400, it’s mostly because the TR150 doesn’t have a gas shock to help slow down the unfolding process. Our product testers found that if you’re not careful, the treadmill deck can crash to the ground. It’s not only noisy but unsafe if you have pets or children at home. 

I will mention that the price fluctuates quite a bit on Amazon. When we wrote our original full length review of the TR150 it was priced around $350 but I’ve seen it fluctuate over $400. On average, it seems to be right around $400. 

Best Under Desk Treadmill Under $400: GoPlus 2-in-1 Treadmill 

Good for: Small spaces or the ability to get steps in during the workday

GoPlus 2-in-1 Treadmill

GoPlus 2-in-1 Folding Treadmill

GGR Score: 3.5

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Product Highlights

• Fits seamlessly under most standing desks
• Quick assembly
• Folds extremely flat for storage
• Comes with remote to change speed with ease

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Lightweight
• Easily portable and stored
• Emits minimal noise
• Very easy assembly
• Bluetooth speaker on console
• Phone mount
• Remote control
• Safety key
• Ideal for use in small spaces and those who are casual joggers/walkers
• Transport wheels

Cons

• Not intended for sustained or fast running
• Smaller than typical running surface
• Does not fold once handrails are installed
• Handrails do not adjust and are at a fixed 3.5 feet (not ideal for taller individuals)
• Only two modes available
• Max speed is 8 miles per hour
• No incline/decline
• Can not mount a tablet

Bottom Line

The GoPlus 2-in-1 Folding Treadmill is a great value purchase for any walker or casual jogger looking to save space while still getting in a solid cardio session. If you are looking for a treadmill to train for your next marathon on, this is not the one for you.

The GoPlus 2-in-1 treadmill is a highly adaptable and compact treadmill you can use both under your desk during the workday or to supplement your fitness routine. The GoPlus is a perfect walking treadmill, and not for anyone who plans on doing any amount of serious running (the walking surface is only 40 inches long). 

It features a design you can pretty much use right out of the box. You’ll have two optional handrails you can install if you plan on using the treadmill without a standing desk. 

Because the GoPlus doesn’t feature a traditional console or monitor, you’ll start, stop, and control the treadmill speed with a remote control. This is super handy for changing speeds and stopping the running belt while you work, but it’s worth mentioning that the remote control is the only way to get the treadmill started or stopped. 

Without a console, you’ll also notice your workout metrics are shown at the base of the treadmill on a small LED display. Also at the base of the treadmill is a built-in Bluetooth speaker. 

Lastly, our product testers noticed that if you’re standing on the treadmill while you get the belt started with the remote control, the motor can bog down a little. Our testers have noted it’s worth starting the treadmill belt before hopping on. 

Other Treadmills Under $400 We Tried and Researched 

Sunny Health and Fitness SF-T7603: This treadmill was close to making this list, but the SF-4400 is very similar and usually ranks higher with our product testers.

UREVO 2-in-1 Treadmill: This desk-friendly machine almost made the list, but our product testing team usually ranks the GoPlus higher than the UREVO for under-the-desk options. 

Zelus Folding Treadmill: This machine offers incline training and has good customer reviews, but because we haven’t tested this one ourselves, we left it off the list. 

How We Picked and Tested the Best Treadmills Under $400

For our cardio equipment roundups, there is a lot of thought going into what products make the list. Here are the considerations I made when choosing the best treadmills under $400: 

• Price range: Is the treadmill priced under $400?
• Warranty: Is there a warranty for this product and how does it compare to industry standards?
• Construction: Does the treadmill feel solid while walking and can it be used for running?
• Weight limit: What is the maximum user weight capacity and how inclusive will that be for larger people?
• Assembly: How many parts come with the treadmill? How long will assembly take? Deck size: Does the length of the running deck allow for walking only or can it support running strides?  
• Display: What metrics are shown on the console? Is this a backlit display or LCD display?
• Speed range: What is the maximum speed of this treadmill?
• Extras: Does the treadmill have Bluetooth connectivity? Does it have cup holders, storage options, or a tablet holder?  
• Compactness: Does the treadmill fold (and does it feature gas shocks for a soft drop system)? Does the machine feature transport wheels for portability?

Benefits Of A Treadmill Under $400

Other than the fact you’re not spending an arm and a leg on cardio equipment, here are some other benefits to buying a treadmill under $400:

Cardiovascular Health

If owning a treadmill challenges you enough to increase your heart rate, you’ll be able to keep your heart healthy and efficient at pumping blood to the rest of the body. The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity each week. But what is moderate activity defined as? The AHA states that a brisk walking pace of 2.5 miles per hour is enough to be considered moderate activity. 

Lightweight and Moveable

If you’re not in your forever home, it’s worth thinking about how many times you’ll have to move your treadmill as part of the total moving process. Most affordable treadmills offer space-saving footprints and typically weigh less, making moving one a little less of a hassle. 

Budget For More Home Gym Equipment 

Because you didn’t spend thousands of dollars on a treadmill (yes, you can literally spend $2,00 or more on a treadmill machine), presumably you’ll have a little more wiggle room in your budget for your next home gym purchase. Perhaps it’s time for a squat rack or an adjustable dumbbell set?

Things to Consider When Buying A Treadmill Under $400 

When you’re shopping for your budget treadmill, contemplate the following factors:

Price: When shopping for a treadmill under $400, keep in mind you won’t always have financing options. However, I’d still recommend sticking to a budget because exercise equipment can get pricey fast. 

Motor: Budget machines usually have less powerful motors than commercial-grade equipment. We like to see at least 2.25 horsepower motors for running, but that’s not always the case for treadmills in this price range.

Warranty: In general, we like to see at least 10- to 15-year warranties on the treadmill frame. In budget-friendly treadmills though, you won’t always see the same high-quality warranties you’re used to with brands like NordicTrack and ProForm. 

Weight limit: We like to see at least 275 pounds as the maximum weight capacity on treadmills. Budget machines are often lighter and can’t tolerate as much load. Pay attention to the weight capacity and make sure it will accommodate your body weight. 

FAQs on the Best Treadmills Under $400

Lauren Strong, CPT

Lauren is an NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer working with clients of all ages and skill levels. She specializes in coaching the squat, bench, and deadlift and enjoys introducing beginners to barbell training. Before becoming certified, she worked in marketing roles after graduating from the University of Maine with a BA in Journalism. Writing for Garage Gym Reviews blends her two passions: writing and lifting. Lauren spends her leisure time in the kitchen, reading fiction, and taking nature walks. She's also an avid downhill skier, learning how to ski when she was just two years old. She lives in Maine with her husband and two cats.

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