How Fast Do Treadmills Go? Top Speeds by Budget

How fast do treadmills go? Most home treadmills reach a top speed of between 8 and 15mph, and exactly where yours lands comes down mainly to price. Treadmills work by moving a belt over a set of rollers. A motor spins the rollers, and as they reach their top speed you feel a push from behind. The faster the belt moves, the harder it pushes back against your feet.

So how fast can treadmills actually go? It primarily depends on the treadmill itself. You can roughly split the majority of models into three price brackets (low budget, mid range and high budget), so let's look at the speeds you can expect at each.

Low Budget Treadmills

Low budget treadmills typically range in price from £50 to £300. At the very lowest end you're getting manual treadmills, powered simply by your own feet, so the top speed is however fast you're able to run.

The problem with these is that they're not very well built and usually aren't suitable for running, especially sprinting. If you want something simple and aren't worried about high speeds, they could be ideal, as they can usually reach around 3-5mph.

Treadmills between £100 and £300 are more likely to be motorised and typically have a top speed of around 8mph. These are ideal if you're starting out on your fitness journey, or if you don't want to spend too much but still want a home treadmill to lose weight effectively.

Mid Range Budget Treadmills

Mid range treadmills typically cost anywhere between £300 and £600. They're usually very well built with a plethora of features, making them ideal if you want something that isn't going to end up being a paperweight after 6 to 12 months.

You'll get features such as an LCD screen tracking your speed, distance and time, a handful of incline options that adjust either manually or automatically, and the ability to fold the treadmill away after use. At this price point, most treadmills can reach a top speed of 10-12mph.

High Budget Treadmills

At the very top end is the best of the best. This typically covers treadmills above £600, and sometimes significantly more.

These machines are perfectly suited to anyone who wants to take their fitness and running seriously and is happy to invest in a gym-quality treadmill that will last a lifetime. The NordicTrack S20i Treadmill is a great example of a higher budget treadmill.

Expect a massive range of features, including an abundance of running programs, automatic incline, plenty of live metrics, and even live fitness classes. At this price point, most treadmills hit a max speed of around 15mph or more, which should be more than enough for the majority of home treadmill users.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it. If you're looking for a treadmill to improve your fitness and lose weight, a top speed of 8mph or more should be more than enough to make the most of your workout and see real results.

If you want some help choosing the best treadmill for your needs, check out our guides to the best treadmills on the market:

• Best Budget Treadmill UK
• Best Treadmill Under £1000
• Best Treadmill Under £500