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Quiet treadmills for apartment living

Measured noise data, real specs, and setup guides for treadmills that won't start a war with your downstairs neighbor.

The short answer

The quietest full-size treadmill with independent measured data is the Horizon 7.0 AT at 34.7 dB, followed by the Sole F80 at 35.4 dB and the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 at 36.3 dB. All three numbers come from one BarBend test: the tester stood one foot from each machine at its top speed and subtracted the room's ambient noise (35 to 38 dB) from every reading. Two caveats apply. The F80 and 1750 readings cover older model years, and both machines have been updated since. And a decibel figure from one lab cannot be compared with a figure from another lab, a reviewer, or a manufacturer spec sheet.

If you mostly walk, a walking pad is the quieter category by design. BarBend's FAQ explains why: walking pads use smaller motors, have fewer moving parts, and draw less power. Walking itself is quieter than running because each running stride strikes the deck harder, and harder impacts create more vibration, which creates more sound.

No treadmill is silent in an apartment. Review numbers are measured next to the machine. What a downstairs neighbor hears is mostly the thud of each footstep traveling through the floor structure, not the motor hum. A mat, placement, and training schedule matter as much as the model you buy. The guides below cover each of those.

How to read every decibel number on this site

A decibel figure means nothing without its test method. The independent measurements cited on this site were taken three different ways:

Manufacturers publish their own numbers under their own conditions. UREVO lists about 35 dB for the CyberPad for Office under specified test conditions. MERACH lists under 42 dB for the T12 Pro. WalkingPad lists under 65 dB for the X21. DeerRun's UK site lists 45 dB or less for the A1 Pro Move+. The other models on this page make no numeric noise claim.

The rule on this site: numbers from the same test can share a table. Numbers from different tests never appear in one ranking. A 34.7 dB isolated reading and a 61.4 dB lab reading are not on the same scale, and comparing them tells you nothing.

Never rank models by mixing decibel figures from different sources. Check the source and method behind every number before you compare.

BarBend's measured values (one test, one method)

Model Measured noise Notes
Horizon 7.0 AT 34.7 dB Tested specs match the current model
Sole F80 35.4 dB Reading covers the older F80; the 2026 F80 is updated
NordicTrack Commercial 1750 36.3 dB Reading covers the 2023 model; the current 1750 is updated
ProForm Carbon TLX 37.4 dB Same test, same method
AssaultRunner Elite (manual) 28.2 dB Manual treadmill with no motor; BarBend notes manual models run about 25 percent quieter than motorized ones

All five figures come from BarBend's test: one foot away, top speed, ambient noise deducted. The 28.2 dB result shows why manual treadmills measure quieter. They suit walkers better than runners in an apartment, which is why this site concentrates on motorized options.

What the other independent tests found

Outdoor Gear Lab recorded 61.4 dB for the Horizon 7.4 AT in its 8-machine lab comparison and described it as among the quietest in its class within that test. That is a different machine from the 7.0 AT measured by a different lab with a different method, so it does not contradict BarBend's 34.7 dB for the 7.0 AT. The two numbers describe different things.

Tom's Guide measured an average 57.3 dB for the WalkingPad Z1 with the DecibelX app, while the product's own description claimed below 45 dB. Both statements are on the record: one is a third-party average reading, the other is the manufacturer's claim. The gap is exactly why this site cites the source and method with every number.

Full-size folding treadmills

Model Belt Folded size Weight Capacity Noise data Listed price
Horizon 7.0 AT 20" x 60" 44" x 35" x 68" 277 lb 325 lb 34.7 dB (BarBend) $1,099 on the official site (2026-10-02)
Sole F80 (2026) 20" x 60" 48" x 36" x 66" 218 lb 350 lb 35.4 dB (BarBend, older F80) $1,599.99 on the official site (2026-10-02)
Sole F63 (2026) 20" x 60" 42" x 34" x 71" 187 lb 325 lb No official claim found $1,199.99 on the official site (2026-10-02)
NordicTrack Commercial 1750 (2026) 22" x 60" SpaceSaver folding 311.5 lb shipping weight listed; net weight not listed 400 lb 36.3 dB (BarBend, 2023 model) Current listed price not verified for this article

Prices are official-site listed prices checked on 2026-10-02. Checkout prices move with promotions, so treat them as a snapshot. Full details for small spaces are in the folding treadmill guide.

Compact folding treadmills (walk, jog, and light running)

Model Belt Folded size Weight Capacity Noise data Listed price
WalkingPad X21 47.6" x 18.1" 39.6" x 27.9" x 8.8" 81 lb 240 lb Under 65 dB (official claim) $799 on the official site (2026-10-02)
MERACH T12 Pro 17.7" x 47.3" 25.6" x 27.6" x 55" 99.2 lb 320 lb Under 42 dB (official claim) $529.99 on the official site (2026-10-02)
DeerRun A1 Pro Move+ (2026) Not listed on the US product page 53.35" x 24.06" x 44.57" in use 79.59 lb 350 lb 45 dB or less (UK official site; no figure on the US page) $269 on the official site (2026-10-02)
UREVO Strol 2S Pro 42.52" x 16.54" 54.72" x 25.39" x 6.69" 74.51 lb 265 lb No official claim found $319.99 on the official site (2026-10-02); pre-order with estimated delivery 2026-10-15

Under-desk walking pads

Model Belt Size Weight Capacity Noise data Listed price
WalkingPad P1 47" x 16.5" Folds to 32.5" x 21.5" x 5" 62 lb 220 lb No official claim; BarBend subjective noise score 4/5 $349 on the official site (2026-10-02)
UREVO CyberPad for Office 39.4" x 16.5" 42.9" x 22.8" x 6.3" 63.1 lb 400 lb About 35 dB (official claim, specified test conditions) $479.99 on the official site (2026-10-02)
UREVO CyberPad for Home 43.3" x 16.5" 47.6" x 23.6" x 8.7" 70.6 lb 350 lb No official claim; "30% noise reduction" marketing claim $399.99 on the official site (2026-10-02)
DeerRun Q2 Urban Not listed on the product page 45" x 20" x 4.5" 41 lb 300 lb No official claim found $119 on the official site (2026-10-02)

The full desk-fit breakdown is in the under-desk treadmill guide.

Walking pad or full treadmill?

Choose by how you train. Walking pads fit under a desk or sofa, weigh 41 to 81 lb, and top out around 3.75 to 4 mph, with the X21 and A1 Pro Move+ reaching jogging and running speeds. Full-size folding treadmills need a permanent corner, weigh 187 to 277 lb, and run to 12 mph on full 20" x 60" decks. The detailed decision framework is in walking pad vs treadmill.

Measure your space before you buy

A treadmill has two footprints: the space it needs while you use it and the space it needs while stored. Measure both, plus the doorway it must pass through. Upstairs bedrooms add a weight question on top of the noise question, covered in the upstairs apartment checklist and the small bedroom guide.

Budget bands

The noise you can control

The machine is only half the equation. A high-density rubber mat, placement away from shared walls, isolation feet, regular belt lubrication, and daytime training hours do as much for your neighbors as the model choice. The complete playbook is in how to reduce treadmill noise in an apartment, with mat specifics in the treadmill mat guide and neighbor strategy in treadmill neighbor etiquette. Belt care has its own maintenance guide.

Frequently asked questions

Are walking pads really quieter than treadmills? By design, yes, with limits. BarBend's FAQ states that walking pads use smaller motors, have fewer moving parts, and need less power, and that walking is quieter than running because harder foot strikes create more vibration and therefore more sound. No independent test has measured a walking pad and a full treadmill with the same method, so there is no head-to-head decibel winner.
Why can't I compare the 34.7 dB and 61.4 dB figures? They come from different labs with different methods. BarBend measured one foot away at top speed and subtracted ambient room noise. Outdoor Gear Lab published straight lab readings. The figures are not on the same scale, and the two machines (Horizon 7.0 AT vs 7.4 AT) are different models anyway.
Will my downstairs neighbor hear the treadmill? Probably, at least the footstep thuds. Structure-borne vibration through the floor is the main path sound takes to the apartment below, and no treadmill is fully silent in an apartment. A dense mat, isolation feet, placement away from shared walls, and daytime use reduce it, but no source on this site supports a zero-noise claim.
Is a heavier treadmill quieter? No tested source on this site links machine weight to lower noise. Buy weight for stability and capacity. Control noise with the mat, placement, maintenance, and training schedule instead.
Do I need a mat under the treadmill? Every noise-focused source recommends one. A high-density rubber mat damps vibration traveling into the floor and protects the flooring from scratches, dents, and sweat. A thin 3/16-inch mat gives basic floor protection; real vibration damping starts around 1/2 inch of dense rubber. Details are in the [treadmill mat guide](best-treadmill-mat-apartment.html).