[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f19h3owzt9hb64":3,"$f3gk00a23knndt":92,"$f20e4bkbpspufr":486},[4,60,83],{"id":5,"label":6,"categories":7},"cardio","Cardio",[8,21,33,46,55],{"slug":9,"label":10,"to":11,"subs":12},"treadmills","Treadmills","\u002Fau\u002Ftreadmills",[13,17],{"slug":14,"label":15,"to":16},"incline","Incline treadmills","\u002Fau\u002Ftreadmills\u002Fincline",{"slug":18,"label":19,"to":20},"folding","Folding treadmills","\u002Fau\u002Ftreadmills\u002Ffolding",{"slug":22,"label":23,"to":24,"subs":25},"walking-pads","Walking pads","\u002Fau\u002Fwalking-pads",[26,30],{"slug":27,"label":28,"to":29},"with-handlebar","Walking pads with handlebars","\u002Fau\u002Fwalking-pads\u002Fwith-handlebar",{"slug":18,"label":31,"to":32},"Folding walking pads","\u002Fau\u002Fwalking-pads\u002Ffolding",{"slug":34,"label":35,"to":36,"subs":37},"rowing-machines","Rowing machines","\u002Fau\u002Frowing-machines",[38,42],{"slug":39,"label":40,"to":41},"magnetic","Magnetic rowing machines","\u002Fau\u002Frowing-machines\u002Fmagnetic",{"slug":43,"label":44,"to":45},"water","Water rowing machines","\u002Fau\u002Frowing-machines\u002Fwater",{"slug":47,"label":48,"to":49,"subs":50},"ellipticals","Cross trainers","\u002Fau\u002Fellipticals",[51],{"slug":52,"label":53,"to":54},"compact","Compact cross trainers","\u002Fau\u002Fellipticals\u002Fcompact",{"slug":56,"label":57,"to":58,"subs":59},"vibration-plates","Vibration plates","\u002Fau\u002Fvibration-plates",[],{"id":61,"label":62,"categories":63},"free-weights","Free weights",[64,73,78],{"slug":65,"label":66,"to":67,"subs":68},"adjustable-dumbbells","Adjustable dumbbells","\u002Fau\u002Fadjustable-dumbbells",[69],{"slug":70,"label":71,"to":72},"heavy","Heavy adjustable dumbbells","\u002Fau\u002Fadjustable-dumbbells\u002Fheavy",{"slug":74,"label":75,"to":76,"subs":77},"kettlebells","Kettlebells","\u002Fau\u002Fkettlebells",[],{"slug":79,"label":80,"to":81,"subs":82},"barbells","Barbells","\u002Fau\u002Fbarbells",[],{"id":84,"label":85,"categories":86},"racks-and-benches","Racks and benches",[87],{"slug":88,"label":89,"to":90,"subs":91},"weight-benches","Weight benches","\u002Fau\u002Fweight-benches",[],{"guide":93,"products":263,"specs":314},{"slug":94,"title":95,"marketTitles":96,"description":99,"category":9,"markets":100,"author":104,"updatedAt":105,"targets":106,"keywords":108,"sources":113,"blocks":117},"best-cheap-treadmills","Best cheap treadmills Australia (2026): budget picks",{"us":97,"uk":98,"au":95},"Best cheap treadmills (2026): budget picks compared","Best cheap treadmills UK (2026): budget picks","Budget treadmills and walking pads compared: which cheap picks can run, fold and take your weight, with speeds, incline and belt sizes for each market.",[101,102,103],"us","uk","au","Fitness Market Hub editorial team","2026-11-09",{"us":107,"uk":107,"au":107},"best cheap treadmill",[107,109,110,111,112],"best budget treadmill","cheap treadmill","budget folding treadmill","cheap treadmill for running",[114],{"title":115,"url":116},"Horizon Fitness help centre: treadmill maximum user weights","https:\u002F\u002Fhelp.horizonfitness.com\u002Fhc\u002Fen-us\u002Farticles\u002F47020144635412-What-are-the-Maximum-User-Weight-for-Treadmills",[118,122,146,156,160,168,173,177,180,191,195,198,208,212,215,225,229,232,242,258,261],{"type":119,"markets":120,"text":121},"p",[103],"If you mostly walk, the WalkingPad Z1 has the lowest list price of the picks and folds away, but it is a walking pad: it stops at 6 km\u002Fh. For running on a budget, buy the Lifespan Fitness Pursuit MAX 2: it reaches 16 km\u002Fh and folds. The WalkingPad X21 is a compact middle ground at 12 km\u002Fh. The NordicTrack T Series 10 is a step up rather than a cheap treadmill: it has the highest list price here, for 12% incline and a touchscreen.",{"type":123,"title":124,"picks":125},"picks","Our picks",[126,130,134,138,142],{"product":127,"award":128,"why":129},"walking-pads\u002Fwalkingpad-z1","Cheapest for walking","The lowest list price of the picks in every market. A 121 cm belt, a 110 kg limit and a fold, but walking only at up to 6 km\u002Fh.",{"product":131,"award":132,"why":133},"treadmills\u002Fhorizon-t101","Best budget running treadmill","Reaches 16 km\u002Fh with 0 to 10% incline and a hydraulic fold, rated for 136 kg.",{"product":135,"award":136,"why":137},"treadmills\u002Flifespan-fitness-pursuit-max-2","Best budget treadmill (Australia)","Folds, reaches 16 km\u002Fh on a 2.5 CHP brushless motor and adds 15 incline levels, with a five-year motor and frame warranty.",{"product":139,"award":140,"why":141},"walking-pads\u002Fwalkingpad-x21","Best compact budget pick","Double-folds like a walking pad but reaches 12 km\u002Fh, with a handrail and a 46 cm wide belt.",{"product":143,"award":144,"why":145},"treadmills\u002Fnordictrack-t-series-10","Best step-up pick","The highest list price here, but 12% incline, a 152 cm belt, a 3.0 CHP motor and a touchscreen.",{"type":147,"products":148,"specs":149},"compare",[127,131,139,135,143],[150,151,152,153,154,155],"maxSpeedKph","maxInclinePct","beltSizeCm","motorHp","maxUserKg","foldable",{"type":157,"text":158,"id":159},"h2","What you give up on a cheap treadmill","what-you-give-up",{"type":161,"items":162},"list",[163,164,165,166,167],"Belt length. Budget machines often have shorter belts: as short as 121 cm on the cheaper picks here, against 152 cm on the T Series 10. That is fine for walking but tight for running if you are tall.","Top speed. Walking pads stop at about 6 km\u002Fh. For running, look for 16 km\u002Fh (10 mph) or more.","Incline. Many cheap machines have none or a little. On the cheaper picks here it is none on the walking pads and at most 10% on the treadmills.","User limit. Budget frames carry less: as low as 110 kg on the cheaper picks here. Stay under the maker's figure.","Motor and warranty. Look for a continuous horsepower (CHP) figure and a long motor warranty. Not every maker publishes the CHP figure.",{"type":169,"tone":170,"title":171,"text":172},"callout","tip","Before you buy the cheapest option","Check the user limit first, then the belt length against your stride. A machine you outgrow in a month is not good value. Put any treadmill on a mat, clip the safety key to your clothing, and leave clear floor behind the deck as the manual sets out.",{"type":157,"text":174,"id":175,"markets":176},"WalkingPad Z1: cheapest for walking","walkingpad-z1",[101,102,103],{"type":119,"markets":178,"text":179},[101,102,103],"The Z1 has the lowest list price of our picks in every market. It is a folding walking pad with a 121 x 40 cm walking area, a 6 km\u002Fh top speed and a 110 kg user limit, and at 23 kg it is easy to move. It has no incline and no handrail, so it suits walking at a desk or in front of the TV, not running.",{"type":181,"markets":182,"pros":183,"cons":187},"proscons",[101,102,103],[184,185,186],"23 kg, the lightest pick to move and store","110 kg user limit","121 cm belt",[188,189,190],"No incline and no handlebar","Walking only: tops out at 6 km\u002Fh","WalkingPad lists different motor ratings on its US, Canadian and Australian pages",{"type":157,"text":192,"id":193,"markets":194},"Lifespan Fitness Pursuit MAX 2: best budget treadmill in Australia","lifespan-fitness-pursuit-max-2",[103],{"type":119,"markets":196,"text":197},[103],"The Pursuit MAX 2 has a 2.5 CHP brushless motor, a 1 to 16 km\u002Fh speed range, 15 automatic incline levels up to 5.77% and a 130 x 48 cm belt. It folds and is rated for 130 kg. Lifespan gives a five-year motor and frame warranty and 12 months on parts.",{"type":181,"markets":199,"pros":200,"cons":204},[103],[201,202,203],"Reaches 16 km\u002Fh","Folds for storage","Five-year motor and frame warranty from Lifespan",[205,206,207],"130 cm belt is short for running strides","Incline tops out at 5.77%","130 kg max load rating",{"type":157,"text":209,"id":210,"markets":211},"WalkingPad X21: best compact budget pick","walkingpad-x21",[101,102,103],{"type":119,"markets":213,"text":214},[101,102,103],"The X21 is a double-folding treadmill that reaches 12 km\u002Fh on a 121 x 46 cm belt, with the controls on a handrail. It is rated for 110 kg and has no incline. It suits jogging and brisk walking in a small home, but its belt is short for faster running.",{"type":181,"markets":216,"pros":217,"cons":221},[101,102,103],[218,219,220],"Reaches 12 km\u002Fh, fast enough for a jog","Handrail with the controls on it","Widest belt of the WalkingPad picks at 46 cm",[222,223,224],"No incline","37 kg, heavy to move for a folding pad","More a compact treadmill than an under-desk pad once the handrail is up",{"type":157,"text":226,"id":227,"markets":228},"NordicTrack T Series 10: best step-up pick","nordictrack-t-series-10",[101,102,103],{"type":119,"markets":230,"text":231},[101,102,103],"The T Series 10 is not a cheap treadmill: it has the highest list price of the picks in this guide. It is here as NordicTrack's lower-priced alternative to the Commercial 1750, for people who need what the cheaper picks lack: 12% incline, a 152 cm belt, a 3.0 CHP motor, a 148 kg user limit and a 10-inch touchscreen for iFIT. It reaches 19 km\u002Fh (12 mph) and folds.",{"type":181,"markets":233,"pros":234,"cons":238},[101,102,103],[235,236,237],"12% incline and 19 km\u002Fh (12 mph), the same as the Commercial 1750","152 cm belt, long enough for running","Lower 21.1 cm step-up height",[239,240,241],"148 kg user limit","Narrower 51 cm belt","Trainer-controlled speed and incline need an iFIT membership",{"type":243,"markets":244,"items":245},"faq",[103],[246,249,252,255],{"q":247,"a":248},"Is a cheap treadmill worth it?","For walking and light jogging, yes, if the user limit and belt length suit you. For regular running, a budget machine that reaches 16 km\u002Fh, like the Pursuit MAX 2, is the minimum. Heavier users should look at the user limit before the price.",{"q":250,"a":251},"What is the cheapest treadmill you can run on in Australia?","Of our Australian picks, the Lifespan Fitness Pursuit MAX 2 is the budget option that reaches 16 km\u002Fh. Walking pads such as the WalkingPad Z1 cost less but stop at 6 km\u002Fh.",{"q":253,"a":254},"Is a walking pad a cheap treadmill?","It is a cheaper way to walk indoors. Most walking pads have no handrail, short belts and top speeds of about 6 km\u002Fh, so they are not for running.",{"q":256,"a":257},"Do cheap treadmills fold?","All of the picks here fold. Folding saves floor space but a folded treadmill is still heavy, so check you can lift the deck.",{"type":157,"text":259,"id":260},"How we chose","how-we-chose",{"type":119,"text":262},"We have not tested these treadmills. We ranked by the makers' own list prices in each country, then compared specifications, user limits and warranties, and kept only models the maker or a retailer inside that country sells new. We do not show prices because they change often; the wording here is relative to the other picks.",{"walking-pads\u002Fwalkingpad-z1":264,"treadmills\u002Flifespan-fitness-pursuit-max-2":280,"walking-pads\u002Fwalkingpad-x21":292,"treadmills\u002Fnordictrack-t-series-10":301},{"id":127,"slug":175,"name":265,"brand":266,"category":22,"categoryName":23,"summary":267,"verdict":268,"specs":269,"bestPrice":276,"wasPrice":276,"rrp":276,"currency":277,"bestStore":276,"offerCount":278,"href":279},"WalkingPad Z1","WalkingPad","Light folding walking pad with a 121 x 40 cm belt, a 6 km\u002Fh top speed and a 110 kg user limit, weighing 23 kg.","A lower list price than the C2, a lighter frame and a higher user limit.",{"maxSpeedKph":270,"beltSizeCm":271,"beltLengthCm":272,"maxUserKg":273,"foldable":274,"weightKg":275},6,"121 x 40",121,110,true,23,null,"AUD",0,"\u002Fau\u002Fwalking-pads\u002Fwalkingpad-z1",{"id":135,"slug":193,"name":281,"brand":282,"category":9,"categoryName":10,"summary":283,"verdict":284,"specs":285,"bestPrice":276,"wasPrice":276,"rrp":276,"currency":277,"bestStore":276,"offerCount":278,"href":291},"Lifespan Fitness Pursuit MAX 2","Lifespan Fitness","Folding treadmill with a 2.5 CHP brushless motor, a 16 km\u002Fh top speed, 0 to 5.77% automatic incline, a 130 x 48 cm belt and a 130 kg load rating.","A folding Australian treadmill that reaches running speed at a budget list price.",{"maxSpeedKph":286,"maxInclinePct":287,"beltSizeCm":288,"motorHp":289,"maxUserKg":290,"foldable":274},16,5.77,"130 x 48",2.5,130,"\u002Fau\u002Ftreadmills\u002Flifespan-fitness-pursuit-max-2",{"id":139,"slug":210,"name":293,"brand":266,"category":22,"categoryName":23,"summary":294,"verdict":295,"specs":296,"bestPrice":276,"wasPrice":276,"rrp":276,"currency":277,"bestStore":276,"offerCount":278,"href":300},"WalkingPad X21","Double-fold walking and running treadmill with a handrail console, a 121 x 46 cm belt, a 12 km\u002Fh top speed and a 110 kg user limit.","The pick for jogging as well as walking, and it still folds down for storage.",{"maxSpeedKph":297,"beltSizeCm":298,"beltLengthCm":272,"maxUserKg":273,"foldable":274,"hasHandlebar":274,"weightKg":299},12,"121 x 46",37,"\u002Fau\u002Fwalking-pads\u002Fwalkingpad-x21",{"id":143,"slug":227,"name":302,"brand":303,"category":9,"categoryName":10,"summary":304,"verdict":305,"specs":306,"bestPrice":276,"wasPrice":276,"rrp":276,"currency":277,"bestStore":276,"offerCount":278,"href":313},"NordicTrack T Series 10","NordicTrack","Folding treadmill with a 3.0 CHP motor, 0 to 12% incline, a 51 x 152 cm belt, a 10-inch touchscreen and a 148 kg user limit.","A lower-priced NordicTrack with the same 12% incline and top speed as the Commercial 1750.",{"maxSpeedKph":307,"maxInclinePct":297,"beltSizeCm":308,"motorHp":309,"maxUserKg":310,"foldable":274,"stepUpHeightCm":311,"appSupport":312},19.3,"51 x 152",3,148,21.1,"iFIT (10-inch tilting touchscreen)","\u002Fau\u002Ftreadmills\u002Fnordictrack-t-series-10",[315,320,324,327,330,333,337,340,344,347,350,353,357,360,363,366,369,371,374,377,380,383,386,389,392,394,397,399,402,405,408,411,414,417,420,423,426,429,432,435,438,441,445,448,451,454,457,460,463,467,470,473,476,479,482],{"key":316,"label":317,"unit":318,"better":319},"maxWeightKg","Max weight","kg","higher",{"key":321,"label":322,"unit":318,"better":323},"minWeightKg","Min 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