Literal Walking Tacos: Our Fave Folding Treadmills

Treadmills are great, but they can be super bulky — which is a no-go for small spaces. So take a peek below the fold, because we’ve rounded up the best foldable treadmills for any and everybody (cause we all gotta get our workout on, even if we live in sardine-can apartments).

Here are our favorite foldable treadmills.

Share on Pinterest

Here’s how we decided which treadmills to invite into the fold:

• Foldability. First, and most importantly, does it fold?
• Reviews. We also looked for treadmills that had mostly positive reviews (at least 4 out of 5 stars).
• Other features. To make sure you get the best value for your money, we hunted for treadmills that offered some useful extras (like incline options) or fun add-ons (like a built-in touchscreen).

Best overall

Bowflex Treadmill 10

• Price: $$$
• How it folds: vertically
• Speed options: up to 12 miles per hour
• Incline options: -5 to 15%
• Weight: 323 pounds
• Warranty: 15-year frame and motor, 5-year mechanical parts, 2-year labor, 1-year electronics

Bowflex — purveyor of fine workout equipment with literal cult followings — makes a mean treadmill, tricked out with everything from a 10-inch streaming-ready touchscreen and Bluetooth capability to a tablet holder. This treadmill also has a 400-pound weight capacity, but be warned — it may not be the easiest to get into your third-floor walk-up apartment.

Top rated

XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill

• Price: $
• How it folds: vertically
• Speed options: up to 10 miles per hour
• Incline options: 3 manual incline settings
• Weight: 108 pounds
• Warranty: lifetime frame, 1-year motor, 90-day parts and labor

With over 8,000 Amazon reviews averaging 4.4 stars, this is a pretty solid choice for a treadmill. It’s no-frills for sure — it has a top speed of 10 miles per hour and 3 manual incline settings — but reviewers are impressed with its durability and ease of use.

Best budget option

MaxKare Folding Treadmill

• Price: $
• How it folds: vertically
• Speed options: up to 8.5 miles per hour
• Incline options: 3 manual incline settings
• Weight: 94.8 pounds
• Warranty: 2-year purchase protection through Amazon available for $24.99

Looking for a solid choice under $300? You got it! This treadmill is perfect for walking and light jogging. It even comes with a tablet stand so you can work out and binge Real Housewives.

The downside of this budget pick is that the manufacturer recommends that it only be used by people who weigh 186 pounds or less. Also, reviews suggests you’ll have to add on a purchase protection plan for $25, since the manufacturer doesn’t provide any warranty details.

Best for using with standing desk

Goplus 2-in-1 Folding Treadmill

• Price: $
• How it folds: horizontally
• Speed options: up to 7.5 miles per hour
• Incline options: N/A
• Weight: 75 pounds
• Warranty: 1 year warranty per manufacturer

This treadmill’s handles fold down, so you can place it underneath your standing desk to use while you’re WFH (we get it, you’re fit). You can also lift the handles to use it for jogging, too. It comes with Bluetooth speakers and a remote control, and folds horizontally so you can slide it under your bed when you’re not using it.

Some reviewers say they had trouble with the manufacturer warranty, so it might be a good idea to buy the extra protection plan during checkout.

Best for running

NordicTrack T Series Treadmill

• Price: $$
• How it folds: vertically
• Speed options: up to 10 miles per hour
• Incline options: 0–10%
• Weight: 125 pounds
• Warranty: 10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor

If you’re a dedicated runner, you’re prob looking for a high-quality treadmill that can take a bit of a beating. This treadmill fits the bill. With a max speed of 10 miles per hour, it’s not quite fast enough for sprinters, but it provides one touch speed and incline controls that won’t interrupt your run and a streaming-ready 10-inch touchscreen display.

Best for small spaces

Sunny Health & Fitness ASUNA Space Saving Treadmill

• Price: $$
• How it folds: horizontally
• Speed options: up to 8 miles per hour
• Incline options: N/A
• Weight: 95 pounds
• Warranty: 5-year frame, 180-day parts

This folding treadmill from Sunny Health & Fitness tops out at 8 miles per hour, making it ideal for walking and jogging. It also comes with speakers and a tablet holder, and folds up horizontally so it can slide right under your bed or couch when you’re not using it. Talk about savin’ space!

Here are a few tips to help you find the foldable treadmill of your dreams.

• Know your needs. Plan on doing sprints? You’re gonna need a more powerful treadmill with higher speeds. Just walking? You’ll be fine with one of the more compact models with lower speeds.
• Peep the specs. Make sure the treadmill will fit where you plan to put it (unfolded and folded), and that it will accommodate your weight.
• Stay in your budget. There are treadmills at every price point, from $150 to $3,000+. Figure out your gotta-haves, and then find a treadmill that offers those in a price range that won’t make you cry yourself to sleep.
• Read reviews. Always read reviews to make sure the treadmill meets your standards for ease of set up, warranty length, and how responsive the company’s customer service is. Getting the real picture can save you from some serious headaches down the line.

Foldable treadmills are great for small spaces and dual-purpose rooms in your home.

Some models fold and lay flat horizontally, and these are ideal if you’re in a tiny apartment or if you’re sharing a space with roomies. These treadmills can slide right under your couch or bed when not in use.

However, these tiny treadmills are better suited for walking because they often don’t have the power needed for higher speeds or incline.

Others fold vertically, so they’ll always be visible, but you can reclaim that precious floor space when the treadmill isn’t in use. These treadmills tend to be a bit larger and more powerful. They’re better for running as they can usually reach higher speeds and offer more incline options, and they also have higher weight capacities.

So, runners and walkers alike — there’s a foldable treadmill that’s perf for you.

Most treadmills can fold up when they’re not in use. But treadmills that fold upright tend to be bigger and more powerful, better suited for running, heavy use, and larger bodies.

OTOH, treadmills that can be stowed away flat on the floor are smaller, lighter, and easier to hide under your bed — but they’re also slower and might not have any incline options.

These six options are a great place to hit the ground running — just make sure you do your homework and figure out what’s most important to you before sealing the deal.