![[Ultimate Deals] The Best Treadmill Under $500 In 2020](https://cdn.blogarama.com/images/posts_thumbs_site_id/13459/1345925-2197128599.jpg "[Ultimate Deals] The Best Treadmill Under $500 In 2020")
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Treadmills are one of the best pieces of exercise equipment to own for weight loss. Yet, finding the right Treadmill for your home can be overwhelming, especially when you’re on a budget. While most treadmills will run well over the $1,000 mark, there are lots of great treadmills for much less. So we went out on a quest to find the best treadmill under $500 and spent 30+ hours researching and testing out treadmills. We found 5 budget treadmills with tremendous value — here’s our list.
- Comparison Chart – Our 5 Best Treadmills Under $500 Compared
- Reviews – The Best Treadmill under $500
- Budget Treadmill Buyer’s Guide
We also included a buyer’s guide below which is a great resource if you’re just starting out with your research. We listed each of the features we reviewed for each treadmill to help you find the right treadmill for you.
Comparison Chart – Our 5 Best Treadmills Under $500 Compared
| Image | Name | Speed (MPH) | Incline | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProForm Performance 300i | 0 – 10 | Up to 10% (auto) |
5/5 | Check Price | |
| XTERRA TR150 | 0 – 10 | 3 levels (manual) | 5/5 | Check Price | |
| MaxKare | 0 – 8.5 | 3 levels (manual) | 4.5/5 | Check Price | |
| Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7705 | 0 – 9 | Up to 15% (auto) |
4.5/5 | Check Price | |
| Merax L510C | 0 – 6.2 | None | 4/5 | Check Price |
Reviews – The Best Treadmill under $500
ProForm Performance 300i
Product Details
Motor: 2.0 CHP
Walking Surface: 16” x 50”
Display: LCD Display
Speed: 0-10 MPH
Incline: 0% – 10%
Max Weight: 300 lbs
Our Review
For just under $500 the ProForm Performance 300i is a great deal! It has almost all of the features of more expensive treadmills at an affordable price.
The powerful 2 CHP motor goes up to 10 MPH which should give even the most dedicated runners a great workout.
While the Incline on the ProForm Performance 300i only goes up to 10%, it’s controlled by the digital LCD display so you can change it during your workout.
We also love the fact that this treadmill has a large, cushioned running surface. This will protect your joins while giving you a comfortable space to exercise.
The ProForm Performance 300i is also foldable, which is great if you’re looking to exercise in a smaller space!
Overall, the ProForm Performance 300i is amazing value and definitely belongs on our list of best treadmill under $500!
Pros
- Large, cushioned running surface to protect your joints
- Foldable — save space in your home!
- EKG Heart Rate Monitor for accurate HR monitoring
Cons
- Only 10% max incline
XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill
Product Details
Motor: 25 HP
Walking Surface: 16″ x 50”
Display: 5″ LCD (speed, incline, time, distance, calories, and pulse)
Speed: 0.5-10 MPH
Incline: 3 levels (manual)
Max Weight: 250 lbs
Our Review
The XTERRA TR150 is our top pick for best elliptical under $500 because it combines quality, comfort and convenience.
At well below $500 this elliptical has most of the features of it’s bigger brothers at a fraction of the price.
The running surface of the TR150 is large and equipped with the XTRASoft deck cushioning technology which provides maximum impact absorption to protect your joints.
The TR150 has a max speed of 10 MPH which stacks up to most expensive ellipticals.
There are 3 levels of incline, which you’ll have to set manually. While this won’t let you adjust your incline mid-workout, at this price this is an acceptable compromise.
The large 5” display allows you to keep an eye on your speed, incline, time, distance, calories and pulse (there are pulse grips on the handles!)
We also love the fact that the TR150 is foldable. So if you’re looking for an elliptical that you can use and store away, this is the elliptical for you. It’s especially great for those looking to get exercise in small spaces.
Pros
- Great value at a low price!
- Large, cushioned running surface to protect your joints
- Foldable — save space in your home!
- Large LCD console with time, speed, distance, calories, & pulse
Cons
- Weight limit is 250 lbs
- Incline is manual
MaxKare
Product Details
Motor: 2.5 HP
Walking Surface: 16″ x 43.3″
Display: 4 LCD Displays
Speed: 0 – 8.5 MPH
Incline: 3 Levels (Manual)
Max Weight: 220 lbs
Our Review
The MaxKare treadmill is a simple, yet sleek and affordable treadmill.
The console comes with a 4 simple LCD displays so you can keep an eye on your speed, time, calories burned, distance, and heart rate.
While the walking space is a little smaller than other treadmills on this list, it still gives plenty of room to exercise comfortably. For some, this may even be a benefit as the MaxKare will take up less space.
The MaxKare also folds for convenient storage — a bonus for those looking for exercise equipment for smaller spaces.
The MaxKare has a max speed of 8.5 MPH which is a little slower than some of the other treadmills on this list, but still plenty of speed for most of us.
The running belt itself is a multi-layer running belt and is designed to soften the impact on your knees and ankles.
Overall, the MaxKare is great value for well under $500 and is going to look sleek and stylish in your home while providing you with a comfortable way to exercise!
Pros
- Sleek and stylish
- Multi-layer running belt and is designed to soften the impact on your knees and ankles
- Foldable — save space in your home!
Cons
- Max speed of 8.5 MPH
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7705
Product Details
Motor: 2.2 HP
Walking Surface: 15.5″ x 49″
Display: Digital Monitor
Speed: 0 – 9 MPH
Incline: 15 levels
Max Weight: 220 lbs
Our Review
The SF-T7705 treadmill sneaks in right under $500 and comes loaded with lots of great features such as 15 levels of automatic incline, a digital display, and a hydraulic soft-drop system for easy folding.
While this treadmill is on the high end of our budget treadmills, it’s well worth it’s price point.
Where the SF-T7705 stands out is the ability to adjust it to 15 different incline levels with a push of a button. This allows for great HIIT workouts.
We also really like the hydraulic soft-drop system which can come in handy if you’ll be storing away your treadmill each time after exercising — the system makes storing the treadmill super easy.
All in all, if you’re looking for a budget treadmill that is great quality and comes with lots of features, then the SF-T7705 is the best treadmill for under $500 for you.
Pros
- 15 levels of incline that can be adjusted automatically
- Quick buttons to adjust speed and incline
- Soft-drop hydraulic mechanism system allows the deck to gently lower itself to the floor
- Digital Monitor with Device Holder for your phone or tablet
Cons
- Pricier budget treadmill, just under $500
Merax L510C
Product Details
Motor: 1.5 HP
Walking Surface: 15.7″ x 43.4″
Display: 5” LED Display
Speed: 0 – 6.2 MPH
Incline: None
Max Weight: 240 lbs
Our Review
The Merax treadmill is likely the best budget treadmill under $500. While the features are very basic, this treadmill is one of the most affordable on the market and can be snagged for well below $500.
Of course, the affordability comes at a cost. The Merax is slightly smaller than some of the other treadmills on this list, has a slower max speed and doesn’t support an incline run.
However, the Merax is still a great value at its price point. It’s foldable so it, too, stores away when you’re not exercising and is overall a great quality treadmill.
Overall, this treadmill is amazing value at it’s low price point — as long as you’re OK with sacrificing on the max speed.
Pros
- Great value – the cheapest treadmill on our list!
- Foldable — save space in your home!
- Very quiet
Cons
- Max speed of 6.2 MPH
Budget Treadmill Buyer’s Guide
Investing in a treadmill for your home is great idea. It’s also be a big financial decision.
So before you hit that order button, there are a few features you should review and consider to make sure you end up with the treadmill that is right for you.
Depending on your personal preference and situation, some of these features may be more important than others.
Price
We’ll start with the obvious one — price. Since you ended up reading this blog post, I am assuming you have a certain budget in mind. The first thing you should know is that even $500 will buy you a quality treadmill that will provide you with killer workouts
The average treadmill will cost you around $1,000. As you spend less on your treadmill, you’ll have to sacrifice some of the features like automatic incline adjustments or a fancy display.
You can still get a great deal on a treadmill — just know what features you’re willing to sacrifice so you can narrow down your search.
If you’re not ready to pay hundreds of dollars today, you can typically find companies that allow you to finance your treadmill with monthly payments. However, you’ll typically have to spend a little more than $500. It may still be a great option for you.
Incline Levels
There are lots of benefits to walking or running at an incline. You’re working out and building different muscle groups and are burning more calories.
Having the option to exercise with inclines levels is a great feature of many high-end treadmills. For our budget treadmills, the incline feature is often sacrificed. There are a couple of things to keep and eye on:
Percentage of incline: this determines how much of an incline your treadmill can be adjusted to. In general, the higher the percentage the better.
Number of levels: the number of levels determine how much flexibility you have between no incline and the max. Generally, the more levels the better bu
