What's the cost of a treadmill for home?

Home treadmills are ideal for those who want to fit their workout routine around their busy lifestyle. They offer an effective and convenient way to get your daily dose of cardio, as well as help you build strength and muscle definition in your legs. But with so many different types to choose from, it can be hard to know which is right for you. 

The cost of a treadmill for your home is likely to be a deciding factor, so to help you find the one that provides the best value, we've found the main factors that affect the price of a treadmill. 

Treadmill brands

One of the easiest ways to find the value of a treadmill is by brand. There's a huge price gap between models from the most expensive brands and the cheapest. If you're looking for a relatively affordable treadmill, brands like CitySport or Homcom sell treadmills for £200-£300. Treadmills from recognisable athletics brands like Adidas usually start at around £500.

Treadmills from the most famous home exercise machine brands like NordicTrack and ProForm tend to be much more expensive, often costing over £1000. These treadmills are so costly because they're premium machines with powerful motors, tough frames and other features experienced runners are looking for.

The power source of your treadmill is likely to have a substantial effect on the cost.

For most people, the first thing that pops into their head when they imagine a treadmill will be an electric-powered machine with a digital display, but manual treadmills are also still widely available at a lower cost.

Manual treadmills

Manual treadmills rely on no electrical power source and are instead powered by the movement of the person using them. These types of treadmills are essentially just rubber running belts placed on a slight incline, with the speed of your movement directly impacting the speed of the treadmill.

Manual treadmills come in two styles: curved and flat-belt.

• Curved treadmills are U-shaped and have a curved running belt that supports strides, making them more suitable for intense workouts.
• Flat-belt treadmills are more suitable for walking and light-jogging, with the flat belt making it difficult to generate the momentum required for higher speeds.

Manual treadmills tend to be more affordable than electric, especially when you factor in that there are no electrical running costs to add on. But while the cost benefits are undeniable, manual treadmills can be restrictive for many runners.

With no electricity source, you won’t have the ability to set speeds (except by running faster) and there’ll be no console display to see workout stats for heart rate, calories burned, or distance. Another issue is that beginners can find manual treadmills difficult to get started at first: You have to run in a specific rhythm to keep the treadmill belt moving. However, this is just a teething problem, and as a low-cost option, they're ideal. 

Electric treadmills

Electric (or motorised) treadmills are the type you’re likely to have used before in a gym. This type of treadmill is powered by a built-in electric motor and must be plugged into a power source.

They usually have a digital screen that can be used to set workout programs, view vitals and adjust belt speed. If the model is an incline treadmill, the screen is usually how you can adjust the angle you're running at as well.

The size and quality of this screen depends on the cost of the model. A budget electric treadmill will usually have a small, 1980s-style LCD display with limited information. An expensive one might have a full colour, HD touchscreen that can show you motivational workout videos as you run.

While many electric treadmills include these features, premium treadmills tend to have a greater range of speeds and inclines. We’ll cover both of these aspects in more depth below.

Checking the maximum speed is key to ensuring you buy a treadmill that’s appropriate for your workout goals.

The speed of an electric treadmill can have a significant impact on the price, with many of the more economical choices having maximum speeds of less than 10mph.

This is because the motor must be larger and more powerful to reach those speeds. The extra cost also comes from a larger frame, which is needed to house the bigger motor and to make sure it won't break from you running on it at full speed.

While this may be fine for most people, it may be restrictive for high-level runners or those looking to incorporate sprints into their workouts.

Commercial treadmills are larger, premium machines that you’d usually expect to find in a gym. These treadmills can often cater for higher speeds, with some able to reach over 20mph.

While many electric treadmills have an adjustable incline feature, some of the high-end models come with a greater range than you’re likely to find on a standard treadmill. Incline can vary from just a couple of inches on budget treadmills to up to 40-degrees on top-of-the-range models.

The best incline range for you will depend on your workout goals. For serious runners wanting to increase their endurance, buying a treadmill with an incline of at least 15-20 degrees is advisable. 

If you're a casual runner who's only looking for light weekly exercise, incline could be one area where you can save money.

As well as the different aspects that affect the price of a treadmill, it’s also worth considering the electricity costs required to run an exercise machine at home.

While this isn't an issue for manual treadmills, the running costs of an electric treadmill can vary depending on the equipment. The wattage on your treadmill will be a good indicator of how much electricity the equipment is likely to consume.

Most home treadmills tend to use around 300-900W of power. With some basic calculations, you can give yourself an idea of how much electricity your machine is going to use.

By estimating how many hours you use your treadmill each month and multiplying this number by your treadmill’s wattage, you can give yourself an idea of the costs you’re likely to incur.

For example, if your treadmill uses 800W of electricity and you use your treadmill for 10 hours per month, your treadmill will have accounted for 8KW of energy use that month. By looking at your electricity prices, you can then assess how much this is likely to cost.

It’s also worth noting that using your treadmill at higher speeds and inclines will result in increased electricity use. Thankfully, the wattage of most treadmills means that any increased electricity costs are unlikely to break the bank.

That's everything you need to know about the cost of a treadmill for home use! 

Want to know more about treadmills? Shop with confidence by checking out our guide to all the different types of running machines available. Or if you need a hand understanding all the different terminology, read our treadmills jargon buster! 

While treadmills can be a brilliant choice for cardio, no single exercise machine offers a comprehensive workout. To explore other workout options, including our selection of dumbbells for strength training, head to our exercise and fitness department.