--- title: "10 Best Treadmills of 2026, Expert-Tested and Reviewed" url: https://stacklist.com/card/dec8bc2c-8ca9-4e4a-890d-4eba2625fc59 source_url: "https://www.consumerreports.org/health/treadmills/best-treadmills-of-the-year-a6151534118/" stack: https://stacklist.com/c/fitness/stack/70320fd7-c439-4e61-aec8-762dce185573 summary: "Consumer Reports presents its expert-tested rankings of the 10 best treadmills of 2026, covering nonfolding, folding, and under-desk models from brands like Peloton and Sole across 55+ units tested in their labs. The article details CR's rigorous testing methodology including durability, ergonomics, safety evaluations, and highlights that top-rated models start at $2,400 while budget folding options are available around $700." tags: "treadmills, consumer-reports, home-gym, fitness-equipment, product-reviews, under-desk-treadmills, exercise" key_entities: "Consumer Reports (organization), Peloton (organization), Sole (organization), Kevin Loria (person), Justin Krajeski (person), Sarah Bogdan (person), Scott Meadows (person), Peloton Tread+ (technology), under-desk treadmills (concept), durability testing (concept)" classification: "reference" content_hash: "sha256:e0ca5ef156777101038e6919981b5f305eb7eeb7c622e769eb113a536d49173b" acp_version: "0.2" token_counts_approximate: 1346 visibility: public agent_accessible: true status: "final" --- # 10 Best Treadmills of 2026, Expert-Tested and Reviewed 10 Best Treadmills of 2026, Expert-Tested and Reviewed Our testers subjected treadmills from brands like Peloton and Sole to rigorous testing in our labs. The most expensive ones weren’t the best. By Kevin Loria Senior Health & Food Reporter Updated by Justin Krajeski Updated January 1, 2026 When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more . Test engineer Sarah Bogdan assessing a treadmill in our labs. We test every model for durability, ergonomics, and safety. Photo: Scott Meadows/Consumer Reports Buying a reliable treadmill for your home can help ensure that you can take a run or get your steps in even if it’s pouring rain outside or if you need to stay indoors because your child is fast asleep. While the up-front cost of a treadmill can be substantial, it can beat the cost of a gym membership when used regularly over time. In this article Arrow link Best Treadmills: For a Home Gym Under-Desk How CR Tests Treadmills Maintaining Your Exercise Equipment More on Treadmills CR's Treadmill Ratings & Buying Guide Best Ways to Work Out on a Treadmill Best Cardio Machines to Meet Your Fitness Goals Are Under-Desk Treadmills Safe? Best Under-Desk Treadmills But it’s key that you get a solid machine that’s fun and easy to use—not a clunker that you prefer as a coat rack, actually. Our testers put 55 nonfolding and folding treadmills (and 14 under-desk treadmills) through a series of rigorous lab tests , including one that uses a custom-built rig to simulate six months of use, to find the best treadmills for your home. While a treadmill can cost $5,000 or more, our recommended nonfolding models start at $2,400, and one of our highest-rated machines comes in at $2,700. If you’re looking to save even more, you can get a well-rated foldable treadmill for around $700. Members can access our full treadmill ratings or review our buying guide for more shopping advice on the best treadmills. Best Treadmills for a Home Gym The roundup below includes some of our top picks from our tests of nonfolding and folding treadmills for home. We’re including the test results for the rereleased Peloton Tread+. This treadmill was recalled in 2021 after dozens of injuries and one death due to a problem with its belt. Peloton has since added a rear safety guard to the Tread+. Best Under-Desk Treadmills Under-desk treadmills , also known as walking pads, are smaller machines with fewer features. As their moniker implies, they’re designed for walking only. We’ve tested 14 of these, but we recommend only those listed here. During testing of some under-desk treadmills in our labs, we identified highly concerning construction and safety issues . We suggest consumers be very wary of these products and avoid simply buying the one available for the lowest price online. How CR Tests Treadmills CR’s tests focus on ease of use, the quality of construction (including design, noise, feel, and durability), ergonomics (how well the machine accommodates different users), exercise range, and user safety. For exercise range, we assess whether a machine is suitable for a variety of fitness levels. Our tests factor in the range of treadmill speeds, the incline range, stability, cushioning, and more. Our user safety tests evaluate the security of folding models, the accessibility of the emergency stop button, the workings of the safety key (which stops the treadmill if you fall), and more. We also perform a durability test using custom rigs made of giant metal drums covered with rubber “feet.” Each rig runs along each treadmill for a total of 25 hours to simulate half a year of use. The results are factored into our construction rating. For more information on how we test treadmills, refer to our treadmill buying guide . Maintaining Your Exercise Equipment No matter what type of exercise equipment you have, a little regular cleaning helps prevent germs from spreading and keeps your machine in top shape. How to Clean Your Exercise Equipment Step 1 After every workout, go over your machine’s surface with a soft cloth dunked in mild soapy water and wrung out. Don’t pour liquid cleaners on it; that may damage the electronics inside. Clean hand weights the same way, then wipe them dry. Step 2 If you're sharing workout equipment with others in your household, clean the handles and other high-touch surfaces with a disinfectant wipe between uses. Step 3 To reduce dust buildup from around the motors of treadmills and other mechanical items, occasionally unplug the machine, remove the motor cover (your owner’s manual can help you find it), and vacuum the visible debris. @consumerreports Ready to run? 🏃🏃‍♀️ Tap the link in our bio to access the best treadmills of 2024. Our testers put 50 machines through rigorous tests in our labs. #treadmill #treadmillworkout #running #fitnesstiktok ♬ original sound - Consumer Reports Kevin Loria Kevin Loria is a senior reporter covering health and science at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2018, covering environmental health, food safety, infectious disease, fitness, and more. Previously, Kevin was a correspondent covering health, science, and the environment at Business Insider. Kevin lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife and children. Follow him on X: @kevloria .