The 13 Best Treadmills for Your Home Gym in 2025, According to Personal Trainers

A treadmill is a staple in just about any commercial gym, and for good reason: These versatile machines consistently deliver a heart-pumping cardio workout. The best treadmills give you the opportunity to keep your fitness routine going regardless of inclement weather or unsafe outdoor running conditions. 

Our expert product testers, who include marathon runners, triathletes, and certified personal trainers, have personally tested more than 50 treadmills, putting them through walking, jogging, and running workouts. We have developed an in-depth treadmill testing methodology and a ratings matrix through which we score machines on a scale of 1 to 5 in categories that include:

• Durability: We gave the highest marks to machines with a weight capacity of 300 pounds or more that also have a strong motor, and minimal movement during use.
• Speed and Incline Range: We favor machines that offer multiple incline ranges and speeds of up to at least 10 miles per hour.
• Programming: Treadmills that receive a 4 out of 5 or higher feature integrated, dynamic programming.
• Ergonomics: To get a 4 or higher here, a treadmill should have a running deck that is at least 20 inches wide and 55 inches or longer.
• Footprint and Portability: In order to score a 3 or higher in this area, treadmills must be easy for at least two people to move around a space.

To further round out our list of the best treadmills, I talked to exercise physiologist Chris Mohr, Ph.D., RD, about the benefits and uses of treadmills. This article was also medically reviewed by Dr. Amy West, who has board certifications in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine.