Best Treadmill Under $400 To Buy In 2023

It’s tough trying to choose the best treadmill under $400 as the quality varies so much from one treadmill to the next that you need to do your research first.

I’ve been reviewing treadmills for almost a decade, and I’ve always found this to be the most challenging price bracket to find a well-made treadmill. There are so many shady companies making low-quality rips offs of their competitors that you need to be extra careful.

From my experience, there are only three companies you can trust that build decent treadmills in this price range: Sunny Health & Fitness, Weslo, and Serenelife, a company that’s really started to make a mark in the low-cost cardio market.

Quick 2-Minute Guide: What To Look For

Before you read the reviews, it might be a good idea to know what to look for and what features you can expect to find in this price bracket. If you’d like a more thorough guide, just scroll past the reviews for an in-depth guide.

• Weight (build quality) The treadmill’s weight is more important than you think. We need some weight to help keep the treadmill planted to the floor. Stability is important. You don’t want this thing moving around while you exercise. You Won’t find heavy duty in this price range, but anything near 100lb is impressive—the heavier, the better for stability.
• Running Belt – The size of the running belt determines who can use the treadmill and for what. Running belts in this price category are short, most around 40-43″. If you can find anything over 43″, you are doing well. Anything near 50″ is excellent for a treadmill in this price bracket.
• Motor power – Look for over 1.5HP, especially if you want to use the treadmill for jogging.
• Incline – great if you can find a treadmill in this price bracket that includes an incline. Sadly you won’t find power adjustable inclines. But there are manual inclines which are better than nothing. Walking or jogging on incline burns twice as many calories as walking on flat and builds and strengthens hard-to-train muscles like your glutes and calves. It really is an essential feature if you want to get the most out of your cardio sessions.
• Folding system – It is always a good idea to look for a treadmill with a folding system; once folded, it halves the machine’s overall footprint. Most treadmills in this price range come with folding systems. Folding systems that use hydraulics are best as they take little effort to fold. Hydraulic folding systems can be found on a select few treadmills under $400.
• And lastly, deck cushioning – A decent anti-shock/deck cushioning system can help protect your joints from the impact of running by up to 40%. This is another essential feature that only a few treadmills in this price range include

Best Treadmill Under $400 Comparison Table

Reviews

1. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T4400 Treadmill

Sunny Health & Fitness are a company that’s been around for over two decades in the home fitness industry.

These guys specialize in quality cardio gear at affordable prices; their entry-level rowing machines are some of the best on the market, so too are their exercise bikes, and by the looks of things, their treadmills are hitting the mark too.

The Sunny Health SF-T4400 has become one of the most popular treadmills under $400, and there’s a good reason. This thing is packed full of useful features, such as a 3-level incline, nine workout programs, handlebar pulse sensors, an anti-shock system, and one of the longest-running belts for the price.

Finding a treadmill with an incline in this price bracket is surprising, but finding one with three levels is impressive.

Incline workouts are going to add that extra challenge to your cardio session, you’re going to burn twice as many calories when jogging on an incline, plus you’re be working different muscle groups which are going to help you build and strengthen your butt, hamstrings, and calves,

Another prominent feature of this treadmill is its near 50″ running belt; this is nearly 6″ longer than anything else you’ll find in the under 400 price bracket.

The extra length of the running belt will allow taller people to jog comfortably on the machine. The extra 6″ makes a big difference in who can use the machine for faster-paced cardio sessions.

Monitor With 9 Workout Programs

The Sunny Health Treadmill boasts an impressive nine workout programs, so not only will the pre-set programs help keep away the monotony of long cardio workouts, but they’ll also give you an extra challenge and help increase your cardio fitness.

Also, users have mentioned the motor on this machine is surprisingly quiet, so if the pre-set workouts aren’t enough to keep away the boredom of long sessions, you can always watch TV while you exercise without being disturbed by the sound of the machine.

Another feature worth noting is the deck cushioning system, again great to see on an entry-level machine. A few years ago, we’d only see anti-shocks on high-end machines.

Deck cushioning systems are there to protect your joints, mainly your knees. They’ll help absorb up to 40% of the impact. It’s a useful feature and something you should always look for when buying a treadmill.

And lastly, one of the best features of the SF-T4400 is that it folds to nearly half its overall length, great for apartment living or anyone tight on space; just fold, tilt and roll on the integrated transport wheels to store.

Overall, the SF-T4400 is a very capable treadmill from Sunny Health and Fitness. I love the incline feature, the deck cushioning, and the workout programs.

I also like the small touches, such as controlling the speed from buttons on the handrails and the soft drop system, which effortlessly lowers the running deck when you unfold the machine.

There really isn’t anything better out there than the excellent Sunny Health SF-T4400 in the under $400 price range.

Unboxing and Set Up – Sunny SF-T4400

Our Full Review: Sunny SF-T440 Treadmill

2. Weslo Cadence 5.9i Treadmill

The Weslo 5.9i is another treadmill built by a well-known company. Weslo is owned by Icon Health & Fitness, these are the guys who own Proform and NordicTrack, so there’s no lack of experience when it comes to this company; they know what they are doing, and they do it well even in the budget ranges.

The Weslo, just like the Sunny Health SF-T4400, includes an incline feature. It can only boast two levels compared to Sunny’s three but as I mentioned, even having an incline is a plus at this price.

We also see a shock absorption system, so another excellent treadmill for protecting your joints.

Weslo has included heart rate monitoring, except rather than using pulse sensors in the handlebars, they have a thumb sensor built into the monitor, which is slightly disappointing. Handlebar pulse sensors are the better option as there’s no need to lean forward to touch the monitor in the middle of a session. Still, to include a pulse sensor is a bonus, even though it’s just a thumb sensor.

But what sells this treadmill is the length of its running belt; just like the Sunny, this thing has a 50″ belt, which is fantastic to see at this price.

Yes, the belt suffers from being relatively narrow, the same as the Sunny’s. Still, at this price, we’re never going to find a wide running belt. Let’s at least be happy it’s 6″ longer than the entry-level standard 43.”

The Weslo benefits from 6 built-in preset workouts, three less than the Sunny but impressive for an entry-level machine. However, because this machine is built over at Icon, the Weslo Cadence comes iFit enabled.

iFit (1000s of workouts)

iFit is one of the best fitness apps you will find, and because the Weslo has BlueTooth, you can take advantage of it. It’s the first time I’ve seen iFit available on a budget cardio machine, so if you’re into your fitness apps, the Weslo might sound more appealing than the Sunny SF-T4400.

iFit offers 1000s of workouts from its extensive online library. They include personal trainers who train alongside you and encourage you, global routes so you can run anywhere in the world, and a google maps feature that lets you design your own routes; there’s a ton of other stuff, too much to mention here.

It’s an excellent app, but it comes at a price, as with most good things! A dollar a day doesn’t sound much, but when you add it up, it’s over $300 a year, so it might not be an affordable option for all.

You don’t have to use iFit to enjoy this machine; simply hold down the BlueTooth button for 30 seconds to disable it. Remember, you still get the six workout programs, and there are other apps you can use on the treadmill. Some good ones are free.

Overall an impressive machine for the price, suitable for users 6’1″. It lacks a few features compared to the Sunny Health SF-T4400, such as one less incline level, fewer workout programs, and no controls on the handlebars, which is a shame.

Still, a good length running belt for an entry-level machine and it comes iFit enabled, which might be a big selling point for some of you.

Our Full Review: Wesleo Cadence 5.9i

3. Serenelife Treadmill (best compact)

As I mentioned in the intro, Serenelife is a company that’s really starting to impact the low-cost cardio market. These guys are one of the only new companies out there that have managed to make affordable good quality cardio equipment.

This is their entry-level treadmill, and it’s one of my favorites. What sells this treadmill for me is just how easy it is to use and set up. Assembly takes just 10 minutes, and there’s no complicated monitor to set up. Everything about this treadmill is fuss-free.

But perhaps the reason this machine is so popular is because of its compact size. This is a treadmill that’s been designed for small spaces. So if you’re tight on space and you’re on a budget, this might be the treadmill for you.

And it doesn’t lack features either. It comes with the best monitor out of all the treadmills in this review, boasting 16 built-in workout programs, a large backlit LCD screen, and the handy extra pair of speed buttons on the handrails. You also get a 3-level incline. And best of all, it has the desirable soft drop folding system, so it’s another treadmill that’s super easy to fold and store.

The downside to owning a compact treadmill is the small running belt. If you want a compact treadmill, you have to live with a small running belt. The Serenelife running belt measures just 43″ x 16″. This means the max height for light jogging on this treadmill is around 6ft.

If you don’t mind the smaller running belt, the Serenelife SLFTRD25 treadmill is unbeatable in this price range. There isn’t a better compact treadmill on the market for under $400. It’s well made and boasts some impressive features for the price point, plus it’s easy to set up and use.

Our Full Review: Serenelife Treadmill

4. GoPlus 2-1 Folding Treadmill

Working from home is something a lot of us are doing nowadays, and the demand for desk treadmills has gone through the roof. Even with such high demand, there aren’t many impressive desk treadmills on the market, especially in this price range.

The GoPlus treadmill is one of the better ones, the build quality is there, and most importantly, it boasts an ultra-quiet motor, so you won’t be disturbed by the treadmill’s sound if you’re on a work call.

But what I like most about this treadmill is its 2-in-1 feature. With the raiser down, it can be used under a desk for walking, and if you lift the riser, the max speed of the treadmill increases from 4pmh to 8mph, so can be used for more intense cardio workouts.

Just like the Serenelife, this is a compact treadmill, so it’s great for small spaces. And when it’s folded, you can even slide it under a bed to store. There is no assembly involved. This machine is ready to use right out of the box.

Because of its compact size, the running belt is short, just 40″, so will always be limited to light cardio. Still, it has a lot of power for such a small treadmill boasting a 2.5HP motor which is impressive for its size.

Our Full Review: Go-Plus 2 in 1 Treadmill

5. FYC Folding Treadmill

The FYC is a no-frill treadmill, its not as powerful as the top treadmills in this review as it only has a 1.5HP motor. Still, this less powerful motor is sufficient for powerwalking and light jogging.

While there’s no incline on this machine and I didn’t expect there to be (it cost less than the above three) yet it has features I know a lot of people are going to love. One of them is that the treadmill folds flat for storage. What’s great about the fold-flat is you can fold it and store it under a bed or prop it up against a wall.

The fold-flat feature is this treadmill’s main selling point, and for people who live in apartments, it’s an appealing feature as it saves a ton of space.

And what’s surprising about this no-frills treadmill is it provides 12 workouts programs that’s not bad at all considering the price.

The running belt on the FYU is short at 41.3″ but, this is a compact treadmill designed for small space, so we expect to see a short running belt.

And just like the Maxkare, this treadmill is best suited for shorter people because of the running belt length, plus the weaker motor isn’t going to allow for fast-paced running; there’s just not enough power.

Overall it’s an excellent choice if you really don’t have much room to house a running machine at home; ok, it can’t provide much in the way of features, but it does have all the essentials for a decent cardio workout—the monitor tracks all the important stuff such as distance, speed, time, and calories.

Our Full Review: FYC Folding Treadmill

In-Depth Buying Guide – Treadmills Under $400

1. Incline

There’s a ton of treadmills out there they don’t offer an incline in this price bracket; heck, I’ve seen a few costing $500+ that don’t provide this essential feature.

When you choose a treadmill, you at least want one level of incline if you can find two or more at this price point, even better. We’re not going to find a power-adjustable incline in the under 400. Still, 3 levels of manual are ideal for an entry-level treadmill

An incline cardio session is going to tone the muscles much faster, improving quads, hamstrings, glutes, and also ankle strength. A higher incline tones muscles and burns calories 5 times quicker for fast fat loss.

Walking or jogging at an incline will also push your heart rate even further than jogging on a flat, increasing your cardio fitness.

2. Running Belt

The length and width of the running belt are more important than most people think. The length of the running belt will determine whether you can walk, jog run on the machine.

Typically we see running belts with a length anywhere from 36″- 50″ on budget machines.

36″ – 43″ running belt is best-suited for walking or power walking – shorter users may be able to jog on a belt this length. However, it will still depend on the motor; if the motor is under 600W, it may not be powerful enough to keep up with a jogging pace.

43″ – 50″ running belt is usually ok for both walking and jogging. If you’re over 6ft, I’d recommend paying more and finding a machine with at least a 55″ running belt, especially if you want to run on the machine.

3. Monitor/Control Console

We certainly won’t find any advanced monitors with HD screens and VR in this price range. What we will find are basic monitors that track useful workout data such as speed distance etc.

I often think basic is better when it comes to monitors of fitness equipment. Some monitors I’ve used on high-end cardio machines take half an hour to figure out before you can use the thing.

What’s nice about basic is you can switch it on and get going with your cardio session, and that’s all a lot of people need, and I don’t blame them because over-complicated monitors are troublesome, and half of the features most won’t use anyway.

So what can we expect from an entry-level monitor? Some of the better basic monitors provide workout programs; preset programs are great for providing extra challenges that help push your cardio sessions harder. They’re also excellent for keeping you interested and coming back for more.

All of the treadmills in this review include tablet holders – if you own a tablet, take advantage of some of the free treadmill apps. Long workout sessions can get boring – prest workouts, fitness apps all help to kill time.

Not as accurate as heart rate chest straps, we do see a lot of treadmills that include built-in pulse sensors. If you can, choose a machine that has the pulse sensors built into the handlebars; they are easier to reach than the thumb alternative that are built into the monitors.

The best entry-level treadmills will include:

• Preset workout programs
• Pulse sensors
• Tablet holders
• Option to control speed from monitor and handlebar buttons

Fold For Storage

Most treadmills in the under $400 price bracket are foldable. This is a good thing as a treadmill has a large footprint, and finding one that folds to half its original length is going to save you a lot of space.

When it comes to the folding feature – Look for one that includes systems like the soft drop! Systems like this make unfolding the machine hassle-free. A few budget machines are a nightmare to fold and unfold, so look out for easy to use folding systems.

If you’re super tight on space, then a fold-flat is your best option. These machines will fold almost completely flat. They can be stored under beds or propped up against a wall.

Power

Unless you are buying a treadmill just for walking, you will need a motor of at least 1.5HP anything less will have trouble with keeping up with your pace even when jogging.

A rough estimate to motor power is 500W – 1.5HP for walking, power walking | 1.5 – 2.5HP jogging |  2.5 – 5HP running

To Sum Up

Although it can be hard to find a treadmill in this price bracket that’s both well built and has enough features to cater to most people’s fitness needs, it’s not impossible.

After much research, we came across the excellent Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T4400. This treadmill stood out because it has everything you can expect and more from a treadmill in this price bracket.

Not only does the Sunny Health SF-T4400 provide a 3-level incline and an excellent length running belt, but it also boasts a soft drop folding system, pulse sensors, and an impressive amount of workout programs.

And what’s best of all, it’s built by a company with more experience than anyone at making high quality, low-cost cardio gear.

Best Treadmill Under $400 FAQS

Are Budget Treadmills Bad For Your Knees?

There’s no doubt running is a high-impact exercise, especially on hard surfaces like roads. This is why many people choose to use a treadmill, as treadmill running decks are usually equipped with a deck cushioning system to protect your joints. Sadly, some budget treadmills are not equipped with a deck cushioning system; these are the treadmills to avoid. Good budget treadmills can be found for under $400 with deck cushioning systems.

Are Treadmills Under 400 Noisy?

Most treadmills in this price range use small motors as the treadmill are only designed for walking and jogging. Small motors are much quieter than larger, more powerful treadmills. Many users have found they can watch TV and listen to music without being disturbed while exercising on a budget treadmill.

Can I run on a Treadmill That Cost Under $400?

The majority of treadmills in the under $400 price bracket are designed for walking and jogging. The motors are not powerful enough for fast-paced workouts, and the running belts are not long enough to cope with the larger strides running requires. If you want a treadmill for intense cardio, it’s best to look for a treadmill with at least a 3HP motor and a large runner belt.