I’ve been reviewing treadmills for nearly a decade now, and it’s always been difficult finding treadmills with 400 lb weight capacity. Well, it’s not that difficult, but it’s impossible to find a heavy-duty machine that costs under $1500. They just don’t exist.

All treadmills with a 400lb weight capacity have to include a heavy-duty build to cope with the extra weight and a powerful motor to move heavy weights daily.

Heavy-gauge steel frames and heavy-duty treadmill motors are expensive. If you want a well-made heavy-duty treadmill with a 400 lb capacity, you need to be prepared to pay between $2k and $4k for a decent one.

As I mentioned, I’ve spent years reviewing these machines. On the positive side, there are some very impressive machines out there for heavier users. None of the treadmills in this guide will leave you wanting or disappointed.

All are built to withstand years of heavy use. They’re built to take pretty much anything you can throw at them.

Still, if you don’t have the cash for one of the semi-commercial or commercial treadmills or the space to keep one, they are large. There is one other option.

So, yes, there is an option that doesn’t break the bank. Okay, you can only use it for walking, but you can burn 300 calories an hour walking on a treadmill, making it an excellent option for increasing your overall fitness levels and losing weight.

In today’s guide, we’re going to take a close look at the Top 5 Treadmills with a 400 lb weight capacity, including the walking treadmill.

All of the treadmills in this guide are treadmills I know well, and I can confidently say they are the top five you’ll find on the market with a 400 lb weight capacity.

5 Best Treadmills With 400 lb Weight Capacity

Here’s our top picks for the best 400lb capacity treadmills.

• Best Overal 400 lb Capacity Treadmill: Sole TT8 Treadmill

• Best Under-Desk Treadmill With 400 lb Capacity: Exerputic Heavy Duty Walking Treadmill

• Best Folding 400 lb Capacity Treadmill: NordicTrack Commerical 1750 Treadmill

• Best Commerical Grade 400 lb Capacity Treadmill: Life Fitness Run CX

• Best 400 lb Capacity Treadmill on Amazon: 3G Cardio Elite Runner X

Best Overall 400 lb Capacity Treadmill

Product Highlights

Sole Fitness has been around for years and has always been one of my go-to companies when recommending high-quality treadmills for home use.

These guys have a ton of experience building heavy-duty machines.

Before they started making home gym equipment, Sole built and supplied semi-commercial and commercial treadmills and ellipticals to hotels and gyms. They decided to expand and are now using all that experience making fitness equipment for homes.

For the price point, their treadmills offer more than any other company on the market, and the Sole TT8 is my favorite. This machine is a beast, weighing 330lb. It’s a solid, large semi-commercial treadmill, and it even has a light commercial warranty, which is really impressive for a treadmill under $3k.

The TT8 is a sturdy machine with a 400lb weight capacity designed to handle anything that comes its way. The all-steal heavy gauge frame is reinforced and will handle 400 lbs of weight daily with ease.

Heavy-gauge frames like this are normally found on treadmills costing $5k+, so it’s excellent that Sole, with all its experience, can include one on a treadmill under $3000.

And the motor is just as impressive. Sole are using their most powerful motor with the TT8 treadmill, it’s a 4HP high torque motor with a lifetime warranty. This motor is designed for serious use. It should last a lifetime.

Also, what I love about this treadmill is the size of the running belt. It’s commercial-size, just like the one you might use in your local gym. At 22 x 60, it’s as good as it gets for a home treadmill. And unless you’re over 6’3″, you’ll never need a belt any larger than this.

The TT8 Update (2025)

What was already an impressive treadmill became even more impressive this year when Sole Updated the TT8. It was nothing too major, but it was needed.

What they did was give the monitor an update. Instead of a 10″ screen, the Sole TT8 now boasts a 15.5″ touchscreen and free access to the Sole Fitness app, Sole+, a cool app that has 100s of workouts and global routes. It’s a free app, no subscription required. Also, a 6-level decline was added.

Still, the main update was the larger screen; it’s an update I was hoping for, as the screen on the TT8 was the only thing lacking.

What I liked most about the Sole TT8 monitor was how easy it was to use. Most of Sole’s monitors I’ve reviewed are easy to use; there’s nothing overly complicated about them.

The Sole Tt8 Treadmill monitor has large quick access buttons to adjust speed and incline and the all-important handrail buttons, which save you from having to reach the monitor while you’re running.

Other features include wifi, BlueTooth 4.0, screen mirroring, built-in workout programs, 7 built-in apps that include Netflix, YouTube, and some news channels, wireless heart rate monitoring capabilities, and, of course, access to their app. It’s a decent monitor and includes everything you need.

15% Incline – 6% decline – Best in Class

Lastly, I want to mention the incline feature, as it’s one of the best I’ve seen. It has a 15-level 15% incline, more than enough for hill walking and running, and they’ve even included a decline option.

Owning a treadmill with an adjustable incline is, in my opinion, essential. It adds so much more to each workout session. You’ll double your calorie burn and strengthen and tone those hard-to-ttrain muscles like your glutes, calves, and hamstrings. 

Overall, the TT8 is a market beater, especially when you are thinking that you’re getting a near-full commercial-grade treadmill without the hefty price tag. Yes, this machine costs just under $3k, but it boasts the features and build of a $5k commercial machine.

You get a lot of treadmill, and a lot of experience when buying a treadmill from Sole Fitness. It’s certainly my favorite 400 lb capacity treadmill on the market right now.  You won’t be disappointed.

Read Our Full  Sole TT8 Treadmill Review

Best Under Desk Treadmill With 400 lb Capacity

Product Highlights

Exerpeutic is a company that has been around for decades. I’ve reviewed many of their products, and what impresses me most about this company is the quality of the products and their price points.

They’re one of the only companies I’ve come across that manages to keep prices low and the quality high.

And the Exerpeutic Supermax 2 in 1 treadmill is yet another treadmill from these guys that really impresses for the price point. It’s a walking pad that’s been designed especially for heavy users. The reinforced running deck and sturdy build of this treadmill allow for a high weight capacity.

Yes, of course, the Exerpeutic treadmill is a long way off commercial or even semi-commercial grade. Still, it doesn’t need a commercial heavy-duty build. Why? Because it’s a treadmill designed for walking. It doesn’t need to cope with the stresses of a heavy user jogging or running on it.

And because it’s designed only for walking, it doesn’t need such a powerful motor or a large running belt, which really helps keep the price down.

A walking pad like this is basic. There is no techy stuff, no screens, and no high-end features. This treadmill is designed for one thing: to give heavy users on a budget the opportunity to exercise at home.

It does the job well. It’s a study compact walking pad. When the handles are raised, the top speed increases to 4mph, so you can even use it for fast-paced walking.

Something that really impressed me about this 400-lb capacity walking pad is the power of the motor. At 2.75HP, it’s more powerful than many mid-level $1k treadmills I’ve reviewed, and the motor is quiet. You won’t disturb anyone else in the house with the sound of your workouts.

Short Running Belt Height Restricted to 6″2 For Walking

It’s a compact machine, one of the smallest treadmills you can buy, and because of its compact size, the running belt length suffers. A belt of this sort is suitable only for users up to 6’2″ for walking and for faster-paced walking or light jogging, which requires a larger stride. The height limit will be less, around 5’10”.

The major drawback of all compact treadmills and walking pads is the size of the running belt. You might be surprised at how small a 16″ x 43″ belt is, especially if you’ve been used to treadmills in your local gym. It can take some time to get used to a belt this size.

Overall, it is a very basic but well-built walking pad. I like the option of adjusting the treadmill’s speed with the remote or the handrail control. The remote is handy when using this treadmill under a desk.

There’s no assembly, it is easy to store, and it will last years if you look after it. If you only need a treadmill for walking? Then, the Exerpeutic Supermax Treadmill is worth considering. Priced at just $300, you get a lot of bang for your buck with this one.

Read Our Full Exerpeutic 2 in 1 Treadmill Review

Best Folding 400 lb Capacity Treadmill

Product Highlights

NordicTrack can sometimes be blamed for overdoing the tech and forgetting about the essentials. A few of their products I’ve reviewed over the years might have had the best tech in the industry, but they were really lacking in things like build quality.

Still, these guys get it right most of the time. Their commercial treadmills are more than impressive. They are sturdy, built well, and include just the right amount of tech and features. I always thought of their commercial treadmills as the diamonds in the rough for this company.

My favorite treadmill these guys make is the NordicTrack 1750 Treadmill. It’s their flagship treadmill and has been for the last decade.

This machine is unbeatable in the under $2k price range. For just under $2k, you’re getting a near semi-commercial treadmill. At a whopping 297lb, it’s a solid, well-built machine.

They didn’t skimp on the essentials, either. You get a commercial-size running belt measuring 22″ x 60″, an excellent 12% power incline with decline, their RunFlex anti-shock system to protect your joints, and my favorite folding system, the hydraulic soft drop folding system.

It is certainly the best folding 400 lb capacity treadmill on the market.

So many of the semi-commercial and commercial treadmills don’t include a folding system, so if you’re tight on space and need a treadmill that you can fold after your workouts, the 1750 treadmill is the best choice.

The folding system is so easy to use: Just press a button, and the running deck will unfold gently in front of you. Folding is just as easy: It can be done with one hand, and the hydraulics do all the work for you. Once folded, the treadmill’s footprint is almost halved.

As a heavy-duty treadmill, the 1750 is not quite as impressive as Sole’s TT8 treadmill. You don’t quite get the feel of a gym-quality machine with this one, but it’s sturdy and solid enough to cope with heavy users who use it daily for walking, jogging, and running. It’s certainly a powerful treadmill.

That brings me to the motor. This thing boasts a 4.25CPH motor, the most powerful motor in this guide. 4.25CPH is what you’d find on gym machines; it’s that good.

A 4.25 CHP (Continuous HorsePower ) motor will have a peak performance of 7-8HP, which is rare to find on a 2k treadmill. It’s more than powerful enough for any type of workout.

Also, this is NordicTrack, so the tech is better than anything else you’ll find, even on treadmills costing 3 times the price.

You get a 16″ crystal clear pivoting touchscreen, 1000’s workouts with their iFit app, which also includes app control.

App control means the incline and speed will automatically adjust for you depending on the type of workout you choose. There are too many other features to list here. But yes, if you like your tech and fitness apps, you’ll love this treadmill.

As I mentioned, most importantly, NordicTrack got all the essentials right with this treadmill: the build, the power, the belt size, and the incline.

I love the incline feature on this one. It adjusts so smoothly, and with app control, it’s a very cool feature. Having someone else control the incline and speed allows you to concentrate solely on your workout.

Okay, so for $2k, you’re getting a lot of treadmill here and a lot of tech, so there has to be a drawback, right? Yes, to get the most out of this treadmill and any product from NordicTrack, you have to subscribe to iFit, which is $39 a month.

One of the reasons why they can offer you such a good deal on a treadmill is because they make a lot of money on their app.

You don’t have to use their app, but the treadmill is designed around it, and if you don’t, you’ll miss out on many features, which is a shame. If you love fitness apps, I think the 1750 is worth taking seriously. I like the iFit app—it’s one of the best fitness apps on the market—but at $40 a month, it’s too expensive.

Best Commerical Grade Treadmill With 400 lb Capacity

Product Highlights

The Life Fitness Run CX is one of my favorite treadmills. It outshines everything in its class when it comes to build quality, and it should do, considering its hefty price tag.

Life Fitness treadmills have always been expensive. They’re a mix of semi-commercial and commercial treadmills, so you’re paying for ultra-durable, heavy-duty treadmills. These things are beasts. You’ll be surprised how large a commercial treadmill is compared to something you might buy from Walmart or Amazon.

You need a lot of space to house a commercial machine like the Run CX Treadmill. And because it is a commercial machine, it doesn’t fold.

Most commercial treadmills do not include a folding system, which is a good thing because it gives the treadmill an even more solid feel. Still, without a folding system, you need a dedicated room or a large space in your home gym for this treadmill.

Weighing close to 350 lb, the Run CX is a heavy treadmill built to last and, of course, to handle any workout.

Life Fitness has been supplying health clubs for decades. They’re a very well-known and trusted company in the fitness industry, and if you’ve got deep pockets and can afford one of the treadmills, you won’t be disappointed.

Also, with commercial treadmills like the Run CX, you normally find the best warranties, and I’m happy to say Life Fitness has provided a very impressive warranty for their Run CX treadmill.

With lifetime on frame, lifetime on the motor, a whopping 10 years on parts, and 1 year of in-house labor. This is great news. You’ll have peace of mind for years using this treadmill that should anything go wrong, it will be sorted quickly.

What sells this treadmill is the quality of the parts used in the build, its commercial heavy duty frame, and the commercial-sized running belt.

Other features include a 15% auto-adjustable incline, the best deck cushioning system found on any treadmill I’ve ever reviewed, but a fairly basic monitor. The monitor is the only thing lacking with this treadmill.

So, it’s not the worst monitor I’ve seen, but it’s basic for such an expensive treadmill.

Yes, it has Bluetooth built-in workout programs and wireless heart rate monitoring, but it still lacks a decent-sized screen.

This treadmill costs close to $5k. I expect at least a 10″ screen for running apps like KinoMap and Zwift, which Life Fitness Treadmills works great with. Instead, you have an 8″ backlit LCD, which I feel is disappointing. It’s best to use an iPad with this treadmill to take advantage of the Life Fitness running app and third-party apps.

So, overall, this treadmill’s build quality is the most impressive in this guide. It’s a commercial-grade treadmill, so it should be very impressive and ultra-durable. The only drawback I can find with this treadmill is the monitor. It needs an update.

Best 400lb Capacity Treadmill on Amazon

Product Highlights

3G Elite is another company known for building heavy-duty fitness gear for home use. Their equipment isn’t quite as high quality as Life Fitness products, but they’re not far off.

The 3G Cardio Elite Runner X is truly a beast of a machine. This thing is heavy-duty and the largest of all the treadmills in this review at 386lb, it’s built like a tank. There’s no movement when running on this treadmill, and all that weight keeps it firmly planted on the floor, which is exactly what you want.

Boasting an oversized 22″ x 62″ running belt, you have a treadmill that can accommodate users up to 6’5″ running at pace. It’s a very large running belt. But it also makes the machine that much larger. This really is a treadmill that enjoys its own room to live in.

Again, because we’re full commercial, there’s no folding system, so that’s something to keep in mind when planning your space for this machine.

What I like most about this treadmill is its price. Just under $4k is an excellent price for such a well-made commercial machine.

This treadmill should, if looked after last decades, its that good. And it has a warranty to back it. With a lifetime on frame and motor, 10 years on parts, and an impressive 2 years of in-home labor.

Everything about this treadmill is impressive. There’s nothing I can really fault, and there shouldn’t be any faults when you’re paying this much for a home machine. It’s the best of the best and won’t disappoint.

Still, the common issue with many commercial treadmills, not just the 3G treadmill and those from Life Fitness, is their monitor. They really are basic for the money. The 3G cardio Elite monitor is so basic that I’ve reviewed better monitors on treadmills for under $1k.

I’m not too concerned about the tech of fitness products, especially treadmills. I’d much rather the company invest most of the money into the build. But when you’re paying $3k+ for a machine, I expect at least a decent monitor with a large touchscreen. You shouldn’t have to provide your own iPad or tablet at this price point.

Thankfully, at least there’s Bluetooth 4.0 FTMS  with this treadmill, so it works great with KinoMap and Zwift, which is important as there’s no other apps included.

Overall, this is another heavy-duty, well-made treadmill. It is built for anything you can throw at it. It is easy to use. All the essentials are there, only the monitor lets it down.

Buyers Tips – Essential Features To Consider

Apart from the 400lb weight cpacity, there are no stand-out features someone who is on the heavier side should look out for. Like anyone else, you will need a treadmill for increasing cardiovascular health, lowing blood pressure, burning some unwanted calories, and strengthening lower body muscles.

So yes, if you are on the heavier side, it’s best to find a treadmill that can support your weight, but you also need to consider all the other features that make a treadmill the right choice for your cardio needs.

Do I need An Incline Feature?

While most budget treadmills do not include an incline feature, if you spend slightly more – $500+, we start to see treadmills with manual incline.

A manual incline does require you to get off the machine and adjust the incline level manually, but this small inconvenience is more than made up for by the health benefits of incline workouts.

Walking. Jogging or running on an incline will target different muscle groups compared to walking on flat surfaces. You’ll be able to strengthen and build your glutes, hamstrings, and calves, and walking at an incline will also burn twice as many calories.

If you have deep pockets, there are treadmills that include power-adjustable inclines.

Power adjustable inclines are the gold standard for a home treadmill. The great thing about them is you don’t have to interrupt your workout getting off the machine to change the inclination level; all you have to do is press a button on the monitor.

Power adjustable inclines are not an essential feature, so don’t worry if you havent got the cash to buy a treadmill that includes a power-adjustable incline. Manually adjusted inclines do the same job. The only downside is they take a couple of seconds to adjust manually.

Still, I would recommend you always choose a treadmill with an incline feature manual or power, especially if you want to get the most out of cardio sessions.

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″ – 65″ running belt, especially if you want to run on the machine

Fold For Storage

Most treadmills are foldable. This is a good thing as a treadmill has a large footprint, and finding one that folds to half its original length will 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 2HP anything less will have trouble keeping up with your pace even when jogging.

A rough estimate to motor power is 500W – 1.5HP for walking, power walking | 2HP– 3HP jogging |  3HP – 5HP running – 

Anti-Shock – Belt Cushioning Protect Joints

Looking after our joints at any age is always a good idea. One of the main reasons people choose indoor running is the stress road running/walking puts on our joints; therefore, it’s a clever idea to look for a decent deck cushioning system on a treadmill.

The best cushioning systems are normally reserved for the high-end semi-commercial or commercial treadmills, but we can find some impressive anti-shock systems on lower priced treadmills.

Even the low priced treadmill cushioning systems will take up to 30% of the stress of each foot strike.

It’s important to note that not all treadmills will come fitted with anti-shock systems, so make sure you check first before buying if a cushioning system is an important feature for you.

Monitor/Control Console

The more features your treadmill monitor includes, the more expensive the treadmill is going to be. While I like the idea of HD screen and subscription fitness apps, they are definitely not essential for your cardio session, plus many of the advanced monitors are complicated to use. It can take an hour just to work out how to use the thing.

I find it a better idea to look for companies that spend most of their time and effort on the machine’s quality and durability and its essential features such as belt size, incline, deck cushioning, and ease of use.

Many treadmills out there with flashy advanced monitors do not deliver when it comes to the treadmill’s build quality. They cut on overall quality to give the user an advanced monitor.

If you want a high-end treadmill that delivers on build quality and durability but also comes with easy to use well-equipped monitors, look for Sole or Horizon treadmills, these guys have the best reputations when it comes to home fitness products.

However, if you are spending under $600 on a treadmill, you won’t find any advanced monitors anyway.

All monitors in the under $600 price bracket are basic and track all the essential workouts data such as time, distance pulse, and calories burned. Heck, nothing wrong with basic, they are easy to use, and you can usually jump on the machine straight away as they only take a minute or two to set up.

To Sum Up

The Sole Fitness T88 Treadmill is by a long way the best 400 lb capacity treadmill on the market today. You’re basically getting a near full commercial treadmill for well under $3k, and the updated monitor and its features truly do make an already excellent heavy-duty treadmill unbeatable in this price range.

If you only need a treadmill for walking, then the Exerpeutic SuperMax Treadmill is the best and really only choice for heavy users on a budget.

Exerpeutic is a company that excels in making high quality budget gear for people with health issues, and this is the main reason I like this company, if it wasn’t for them a lot of  people wouldn’t be able to afford to exercise at home.

Their Supermax walking pad is a treadmill, which I’m happy to recommend, and it is an excellent choice for beginners who only need a basic machine to get started on their fitness journey.

Best Treadmills With 400 lb Capacity FAQS

Can You Use a Treadmill if You Are Over The Weight Limit?

It’s never a good idea to go over the maximum weight capacity of a treadmill. The companies test their treadmills to specific weight limits. If you go over the weight limit, you could burn the motor out early and break the treadmill’s frame. If anything, it is always best to stay at least 50lb under the maximum capacity of a treadmill. That way, your treadmill motor will last longer.

Are Treadmills Bad For Your Knees?

Treadmills are a great alternative to running on hard-impact surfaces like roads, which can damage your joints. Many people choose to run indoors on treadmills because treadmills include deck cushioning systems. These systems can protect your joints from the impact of each foot strike by up to 40%

How Much Do Treadmills With High Weight Capacities Cost?

Most treadmills with high weight capacities will be expensive because they need heavy-duty frames, running decks, and powerful motors to cope with the extra weight of the user. Heavy-duty treadmills cost anywhere from $1500 to $5000. Still, you can find cheaper treadmills with high weight capacities, but these treadmills can only be used for walking, costing as little as $600

What Extra Features of a Treadmill Will Help Me Lose Weight?

If you want to burn extra calories on a treadmill, look for a treadmill with an incline feature. Walking or jogging on an incline will burn three times more calories than walking or jogging on a flat surface. Incline jogging is also great for building and strengthening your glutes, calves, and hamstrings.