Best Incline Treadmills of 2025

If you’re looking for an incline home-use treadmill, you want one that has a strong and durable motor, as well as customizations that allow for varied run intensities. The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 covers those bases with a 3 percent decline and 12 percent incline, a 60-inch running deck, and a powerful 3.5 CHP motor. It’s also, in our opinion, one of the best treadmills with iFIT. Out of all the treadmills we’ve tried, the NordicTrack pulled one of the highest overall scores with a 4.5 out of 5.

With iFIT you get access to thousands of scenic on-demand classes encompassing cardio, strength, mobility, and more. The 1750 can also work in tandem with iFIT to make automatic adjustments to your incline, decline, and speed based on your workout. “When the treadmill started to adjust to a decline, it shocked me,” said Kate Meier, a certified personal trainer and BarBend editorial member. “It was cool to watch myself running down a hill [on the screen] and then actually feel like I was running down a hill.” 

You can also swivel the 14-inch touchscreen around if you want to take iFIT workouts off of the treadmill. Workout experience scored a 5 out of 5.

iFIT will cost you $39 a month, so you’ll need to consider that added continual cost if you’re interested in this treadmill. Without iFIT, Meier doesn’t see the machine achieving its full potential. “iFIT is what makes this machine worth it,” she said. “However, if you need decline training, this is probably the cheapest treadmill at under $2,000 with that capability.” Value scored a 5 out of 5.

Coming in at 340 pounds, with an 81-inch length and a 39-inch width, this thing is large. That’s about 100 pounds heavier and 4 inches longer and wider than the average treadmill we’ve tested. For this reason, footprint and portability scored a 3.5 out of 5, and setup was not easy. “Most people should hire someone to assemble this,” said Meier.

When assessing the product for BarBend, certified personal trainer Amanda Capritto noted, “[This] is a tried-and-true treadmill among gym equipment experts and gear reviewers. While the four-figure price tag may not be everyone’s idea of budget-friendly, I truly do think this is one of the best buys for the money.”

Whether you’re an athlete or a weekend warrior, running on a treadmill is an effective way to power your efforts for weight loss goals or speed trials. This treadmill belt is 60 inches long, great for long strides and tall runners, and the strong and quiet 3.0 HP motor powers the machine’s 15 percent incline and max speed of 12 miles per hour. Workout experience and customer reviews scored a 4.5 out of 5.

Our tester, a CrossFit level 1 coach, appreciated the durability of the treadmill. “I liked my workout experience — the treadmill didn’t shake while I was running,” they said. “With a 325-pound user weight capacity and a lifetime frame and motor warranty, it seems pretty durable.” Durability and warranty are important for running-focused treadmills — the harder you push the motor with incline and speed, the more likely you’ll run into problems. However, durability and warranty both scored a 4 out of 5. “Just make sure to register your treadmill on the Horizon website so you can use your warranty in the future.”

There’s no touchscreen for streaming content, just a simple LCD display that provides metrics like calories burned, distance, heart rate, incline, speed, and time. Because of this, there’s no interactive programming. “The treadmill does have Bluetooth speakers and additional Bluetooth connectivity, but only certain apps can connect,” said our tester who scored tech capabilities a 3 out of 5. However, they did appreciate the quick-dial features that allow users to easily adjust speed and incline without having to mash buttons with sweaty fingers. 

The running belt was designed to help support your body, with Three-Zone Variable Response Cushioning that provides support and shock absorption through your stride. For this, we’ve also crowned the 7.0 AT one of the best treadmills for bad knees.

With a 15 percent incline and 12 miles per hour max speed, this folding treadmill can provide you with the intensity you’re after — from Fartlek training to mileage goals. The solid steel frame has a gas shock kick release that’ll help lower the deck smoothly from its folded position. It’s also got four transport wheels, so you won’t have to tip this treadmill to roll it away. Setup, customizations, adjustability, and value all scored a 4.5 out of 5.

This treadmill has little in the way of flash, but it delivers on multiple levels. Basic features include pulse grips and a spacious 20 by 60-inch running surface. “It’s a durable belt,” said our tester, Kate Meier, a certified personal trainer and BarBend editorial member. Sole claims the cushioned deck reduces joint impact by 40 percent, although such a claim is hard to quantify. 

“I was shocked at the quality because this is half as much in cost compared to other high-end treadmills. The incline is smooth, and the motor isn’t too loud when the deck ramps up,” Meier said. Workout experience scored a 4.5 out of 5.

The steel frame is 254 pounds, around 50 pounds less than the average treadmill we’ve tested, and folds up from 77 inches long down to 50 inches. “Folding and moving this machine is doable, though it is heavy,” Meier said. “It also shakes at higher speeds, but it wasn’t a deal breaker.” Footprint, portability, and durability scored a 4 out of 5

Sole stands behind its product with a generous warranty that covers the frame and motor for the lifetime of the machine, which is great because the 3.0 HP motor isn’t the most powerful or durable motor we’ve seen at this price range. 

This is a no-frills treadmill, so you won’t be getting a touchscreen display or built-in streaming programming. However, there’s a media stand so you can watch shows or stream content — there’s a free Sole + app with some cardio workouts — from your own device. 

Running plans evolve, and you want a treadmill that can keep up and adjust whether you’re doing high intensity interval training or a recovery run. The ProForm Pro 9000 is a high-quality treadmill with immersive iFIT streaming capabilities, incline (and decline), and a 3.6 CHP motor that’ll keep cool (and quiet) even as you heat up. Adjustability scored a 5 out of 5 with our team, as did durability, customizations, dynamic programming, and conveniences.

One of our expert testers, Kate Meier, a certified personal trainer and BarBend editorial member, noted, “You can easily change the speed and incline with ‘QuickDial’ controls… which makes this a good treadmill for intervals because you don’t have to keep pressing up and down to slow down or speed up.” 

The 22-inch touchscreen is big —around 8 inches larger than many of the treadmills we’ve tested — and perfect for streaming classes from the iFIT app, which provides access to thousands of trainer-led workouts. iFIT’s AutoAdjust can automatically adjust your speed, incline, and decline based on class specifications, leaving you free to focus on your sweat. However, the iFIT subscription comes with an additional $39 monthly fee after a one-month free trial. 

Keep in mind, you won’t be able to stream other programming or apps from the screen, so if you’re certain iFIT isn’t a good fit, we’d suggest looking at other treadmills. The screen also doesn’t swivel, so if you take classes off of the treadmill, you’ll need to position yourself close to the machine so you can still see the screen. 

There also aren’t any heart rate sensors on this treadmill, so if tracking your heart rate is important to you, you’ll need to buy a monitor separately. Customer reviews scored a 3.5 out of 5, as many reviews mentioned problems with tech capabilities and WiFi issues.

When assessing the treadmill for BarBend, Amanda Capritto, certified personal trainer and corrective exercise specialist, said, “The ProForm 9000 is one of my favorite treadmills… I found that this treadmill feels sturdy enough to sprint at top speeds with no rattling or shaking — a must for race prep.”

Even some of the best walking treadmills are limited in their incline and decline settings, but the NordicTrack Commercial X22i has much more expansive incline and decline capabilities than most. 47 levels of grade adjustments make it a great option for people who want to take their training skyward. With a large touchscreen and a sturdy 417-pound base, durability, customizations, workout experience, and tech capabilities all scored a 5 out of 5.

People who prefer a slower-paced workout also tend to be more open to steeper inclines that help increase the intensity of a walking workout. This treadmill delivers in that regard, with the ability to elevate to an incline of 40 percent and handlebars to keep you steady. A powerful 4.0 HP motor allows it to work well even when at max incline. 

Our tester, a CrossFit level 1 coach, said, “The 300-pound weight capacity is standard in the industry, but even when I took this to the top speeds and the top incline, it felt very sturdy.” The commercial-grade tread belt is also textured to provide users with a stable and secure foot surface.

Thanks to its 22-inch display and compatibility with iFIT, an app with a massive library of fitness classes, we find this to be one of the best treadmills with screens. We love the AutoAdjust feature that automatically controls your speed and incline in classes, so if your trainer starts picking up the pace while climbing up a hill, you’ll feel like you’re right there on that hill. 

At $3,499, the X22i is one of the most expensive treadmills we’ve tried, nearly $1,500 more than the average high-end option. iFIT programming will add to this, with a $39 monthly subscription. “All together it’s expensive, but you’re getting all of the bells and whistles,” said our tester, who rated its value a 4 out of 5.

At 417 pounds, almost 100 pounds heavier than the average treadmill, this thing is a beast. If you’re looking for a compact treadmill, this isn’t it. “This doesn’t fold, which makes it tough to keep in most homes. I definitely wouldn’t recommend this for apartments,” noted our tester, who rated its portability a 3 out of 5.

Treadmills aren’t the smallest piece of home gym equipment. And for those who need to save as much floor space as possible, they may seem like a no-go. Luckily, there are plenty of compact options on the market, like the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T4400.

This compact treadmill has a 62-inch length, shorter than most alternatives, which sit somewhere around 75 to 80 inches long. We also like the lightweight 103-pound frame, earning this machine a 5 out of 5 for size and portability.

You do get a few incline options with this budget-friendly machine, too. It goes up to a 4% incline, though, we must admit this is quite a bit less than other machines, which usually go up to 15%.

Unfortunately, we had to give the Sunny Health & Fitness machine a 3 out of 5 for versatility. You can only go up to 6mph on this treadmill, which is about half the speed of most other machines.

Our team does love the affordable price, though! For cost, this machine earned a 5 out of 5, as it only costs about $347.55, which is a fraction of the price tag you’ll see on other machines.

For athletes who want an incline treadmill to suit their favorite walking workouts, our testers recommend the Bowflex BXT8J treadmill. This machine goes up to a 14% incline, which works well for athletes who love to vary their walking workouts or want to simulate a hiking experience.

“This treadmill deck has a great bounce and is incredibly easy to use,” according to our tester who gave their overall experience a 4 out of 5 rating. “However, the programs are a little difficult to navigate and finding the workout programs took a little hunting.”

Our testers also like the convenient, foldable design. This machine fully folds in half to help save precious floor space in your home. We also enjoyed the overall construction, giving it a 4.5 out of 5 rating.

“After doing a few runs and walks on this treadmill, I’d give it a 4.5 out of 5 for durability,” one tester said. “This machine felt sturdy and secure. I didn’t notice much shaking at all, even when in a full-out run.”

We do think this machine was a little bit pricey, given the amount of tech available. This machine has 26 built-in programs but no streaming options, which we’d like to see with a machine that’s more than $1,000.

We love scoring a deal on the best budget home gym equipment, and the Xterra TR150 is our pick for the best budget incline treadmill. The $315 price tag is $2,000 to $3,000 less than many of the best incline treadmills we’ve tried. For that price, you’ll get 3 manual incline settings, a 2.25 HP motor that can power speeds up to 10 miles per hour, and a 250-pound max weight capacity. Value, conveniences, portability, and setup scored a 4 out of 5.

This treadmill comes with a phone holder, a water bottle holder, a media stand, and heart rate monitors on the handles, which is why we scored its conveniences a 4 out of 5. Due to the 10 mile-per-hour max speed and the 3 manual incline adjustments, value scored the same. “This is a simple, affordable treadmill, and I like that about it. I just wouldn’t recommend this for someone who wanted to put a lot of use on it,” said our tester.

However, we budget kings and queens know that scoring a deal comes with a bit of compromise. The cost of scoring this sweet, sweet deal is the workout experience, which scored a 3.5 out of 5. “I’d recommend this treadmill for walking and maybe a little jogging,” said our tester. “The deck isn’t comfortable, and the belt isn’t great.” You’re also only getting a 2.25 HP motor which won’t support frequent or intense use. We recommend CHP motors for more running-focused workouts.

Unlike the best commercial treadmills, which tend to have hydraulic-assisted folding, this unit must be lowered carefully by hand. You’ll want to be careful, too — once the pin is pulled, the deck can slam down onto the ground. “I don’t like the lack of safety for the fold-up feature, but if you never fold it up, you won’t have to worry about that,” said our tester, who gave adjustability a 2 out of 5.

If you’re looking for streaming content to keep you motivated across sled push workouts and running and strength training sessions, Peloton’s classes provide. With Peloton’s all-access subscription, you get access to thousands of on-demand classes and more than 10 daily live classes. The machine is a large investment at $2,995, but the machine has a large 59-inch running belt, 12.5 percent incline capabilities, a max speed of 12 miles per hour, and a sturdy 3 HP DC motor. 

“This treadmill is so sturdy, which I love,” our tester said, giving the durability a 5 out of 5 rating. “I’ve tested many other treadmills and this one is definitely superior. I’d say this is one of the best pieces of workout equipment I’ve tried.”

The Peloton Tread’s popularity is primarily due to its classes. From progression runs and power walking to HIIT runs, there’s a class modality to fit your goals. Peloton’s also got bangers, with some of the best music we’ve heard on a fitness streaming app. You can run to hip-hop, rock, or 80s soundtracks, or opt for an artist collection highlighting artists like Lady Gaga, A Tribe Called Quest, or my favorite, ABBA.

“I really love Peloton’s programming,” our tester said, rating the tech a 5 out of 5. “However, you do have to pay a monthly membership, which is an additional expense to consider. This isn’t the cheapest machine as is.”

The speed and incline capabilities are a little above average, as the industry standard max speed is 10 miles per hour and incline is 12. However, for the cost, which is nearly $1,000 more than most high-end treadmills we’ve tried, we’d like to see a max speed of 12 miles per hour and a 15 percent incline. That said, the Peloton Tread is unique in the space as it can be used in Free Mode, much like a manual treadmill, where you power the running belt forward without a motorized assist — like a sled push. 

It’s a large investment, and you’ll also need to keep up with the monthly $44 subscription fee to keep your access to classes. The warranty is also something we weren’t impressed with, and is something we’ve seen customers complain about in reviews. There is a 5-year frame warranty, which is a drop in the bucket compared to more common 15-year-to-life warranties we’ve seen on treadmills in the same price range.