If you’ve ever priced commercial gym treadmills, you were probably shocked at how much money goes into making a comfortable treadmill experience. While not everyone loves running on the treadmill - thus, the nickname “dreadmill”- it does comes with undeniable benefits like keeping you in shape even during the harshest weather and allowing those with troublesome knees to keep on trucking.

The thing is, though, to get the most of those benefits, you often need a bigger budget. Sure, you can scoop up a treadmill under $200, but it’s not going to allow for the workout variance and shock proof comfort that the treadmills at the gym offer.

So how much should you plan to spend on a treadmill? The good news is that it’s not as unaffordable as you think - for $1000 or less, you really can get a top-notch treadmill that has pretty much everything you're looking for - and maybe even more!

While some economy versions of treadmills (like the under $500 range) don’t allow for running, you can definitely get a sturdy treadmill that lets you walk, jog, run, and sprint, if you’re willing to take your budget up to $1,000.

You also are going to get a lot more technology, as part of the joy of upgrading treadmills is in looking at the bells and whistles that come with higher price points. While most at-home treadmills have basic mechanisms for tracking time, distance, and calories burned, treadmills in the $1,000 price range generally have an abundance of pre-programmed workouts, device capability (like iPods), and extra technological flare in compatible apps.

Some of them let you virtually escape to a whole different country through Google maps!

And, you are guaranteed to get a better treadmill deck (with a more expensive model). This is especially important for people who may have joint trouble and want to be sure you’re getting the lowest impact workout possible.

While all of these perks are exciting, you do have one major consideration when purchasing a more expensive treadmill: the size. These treadmills are much bigger and heavier, and while some of them fold up to make them more compact, they are definitely not compact by nature.

They typically weigh in at least 200 pounds, so you will need extra muscles around you to help maneuver it or move it around. These treadmills are best suited for serious runners (or incline walkers) or those training for events who want the comfort and convenience of an indoor, at-home workout. (Note: We also review one unique combo treadmill desk below that fits in to this price point.)

So, what options do you have? Let’s dive in to seeing what the best treadmills under $1,000 are!

Best Treadmills Under $1,000

When it comes to choosing a treadmill at this price point, you've got options and more options! That sounds like a good thing until you find yourself still sitting at your desk at 2 AM flipping through one treadmill review after another. 

To spare you the agony of sacrificing sleep to treadmill research, here's a little list of the absolute best picks for treadmills under $1,000. They all differ a little so you'll be able to find at least one that fits your specific needs perfectly! Read on to meet your treadmill soulmate...

NordicTrack T6.5 Folding Electric Treadmill

Calling all tech-lovers, this treadmill has apps for days. It comes with 20 pre-programmed workouts that will give you a variety of challenging workouts, and it is iFit compatible, which means you can simulate running in the streets of Paris or through a jungle terrain, since iFit is powered by Google Maps.

To make that even more realistic - and comfortable for your preference - the treadmill belt adjusts so it can feel like running on a rubber track or like running on a concrete sidewalk. It also has a built-in speaker system that allows you to stream your music or listen through headphones.

As for the basics, you can run up to 12 MPH and crank it up to a 10% incline. One thing to consider is that this treadmill is heavy - like 200 pounds heavy - so make sure you have some help for delivery and assembly, too. It can fold, but it’s not necessarily a compact option, which means you’ll need dedicated space for this treadmill. One super perk is the great warranty - lifetime frame, 25-year motor, and 1 year for parts and labor.

At this price point and with this warranty, we consider this an incredible deal. Read user reviews!

ProForm 505 Folding Electric Treadmill

If you don’t need all the tech options of the NordicTrack above but want something similar, this ProForm model is a bit less dressed up but still has attractive features like ProShox cushioning (helps protect your joints and absorb impact of your gait), 18 pre-programmed workouts, ability to hit 10 MPH speed, and one-touch quick incline adjustability up to 10%.

The one-touch option is really convenient, as cranking the incline up or down in 1/10 increments can be really annoying during a workout. Note that this treadmill does NOT come with the iFit module, which could be a make or break for you with a price point similar to the NordicTrack.

This treadmill does have similar built-in speakers that are iPod compatible (or tablet), so you can stream your playlist OR plug in to your favorite television show while you exercise. It also is similar in size - around 200 pounds - so be sure to have help at delivery and when you want to move it.

Also, note that many users have struggled during assembly time, thanks to the poorly written instructions and badly packaged materials. Unless the manufacturer has improved that aspect, you may need some serious patience - and problem solving skills - when putting this treadmill together. Read user reviews!

Exerpeutic WorkFit Treadmill Desk

The only combined treadmill and desk for under $1000, this Exerpeutic walking desk features a four foot working surface that can be used for a computer, iPad, or general desk area. The desk can hold up to 80 pounds of weight, so you have plenty of space and weight capacity to make it into a decked out work station.

It also has four different angle adjustability options, BUT, you need to consider that you can’t adjust the height from the desktop to the treadmill. What that means is - it’s not ergonomically correct, and if you fall outside of the average height range (5’6-5’10ish), then you could have some issues reaching the desk or it being too low.

Another small design critique that may not matter to you - the desktop comes with cup holders, but they are way in the back of the desk and kind of useless since they can’t be easily reached.

Otherwise, the designers did a great job by including holes for cords and plugs, foam for wrist support, and a stand for an iPad or Kindle. And, this treadmill does have incline and speed settings, but walking and working generally requires a lower speed (you know, to avoid typos or productivity issues!). Overall, it’s a great value for a walking work station, and you can avoid the time it takes to create a “hacked” version with lots of pieces! Read user reviews!

LifeSpan TR1200i Folding Treadmill

Yes, this treadmill is at the higher end of the price spectrum, but it has some great trade-offs. Let’s start with the high horsepower but quiet motor - this is a huge advantage to paying a bit more, as some treadmills in this price bracket can be loud and bothersome. Not the Lifespan - with this model, you will actually hear your foot steps more than you will hear the motor!

It includes 21 pre-programmed workouts plus goes up to 15 levels of incline and 11 MPH! You will not outpace this treadmill.

Another really cool feature is that you can change incline/speed from the handlebars instead of the main console. This is mentionable because if you’re a serious runner, you know how cumbersome and awkward it can be to change your running posture to accommodate reaching up to the middle console and changing settings.

With the options at your side, you get to keep more of your natural running form.

This treadmill also comes with a USB port and club membership; you simply plug in a thumb drive, and the treadmill records all of your relevant workout data. When you export it on your computer, you get a lovely display of your time, distance, calories burned, heart rate, and more to keep you motivated and informed about your progress.

One critique - the speakers are not the best quality, so you may need to keep your headphones handy. Otherwise, this is a stellar at-home treadmill that will keep you running strong for years to come. Read user reviews!

Xterra TR6.6 Folding Treadmill