The short answer
Walking is quieter than running on a treadmill, and the reason is mechanical, not mysterious. BarBend's FAQ states it directly: sound is produced when force is applied to an object and makes it vibrate, and running applies more force with every stride than walking. Less force means less vibration, which means less sound reaching the floor and the neighbors.
That settles the activity question. The machine question is harder, because the published decibel numbers were measured by different parties with different methods and cannot be ranked together. This page presents every number with its method attached and explains exactly what each one does and does not prove.
How BarBend measured (the method behind the 30s)
BarBend tested 41 treadmills with a fixed protocol: the tester stood one foot from each machine at its top speed, measured the room's ambient noise first (35 to 38 dB on average), and subtracted the ambient figure from every reading. The published numbers are therefore "isolated" values with room noise removed. That method is legitimate and consistent within its own test, which is why the figures below can be compared with each other. They cannot be compared with any number measured a different way.
BarBend's results (one test, comparable within the table)
| Model | Measured noise | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AssaultRunner Elite (manual) | 28.2 dB | No motor; BarBend notes manual models run about 25 percent quieter than motorized ones |
| 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 model 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 |
The manual treadmill's 28.2 dB shows the motor's share of the noise: remove the motor entirely and the number drops. That is also why walking pads, with their smaller motors, fewer moving parts, and lower power demand, form the quieter category by design, per BarBend's FAQ.
What Outdoor Gear Lab measured (a different test)
Outdoor Gear Lab ran lab tests on 8 treadmills and recorded 61.4 dB for the Horizon 7.4 AT, describing it within that test as among the quietest in its class. This is a different machine from the 7.0 AT and a different method from BarBend's. It is specifically invalid to write that the 7.0 AT at 34.7 dB is quieter than the 7.4 AT at 61.4 dB. The two numbers are not on the same scale.
What Tom's Guide measured (a third method)
Tom's Guide reviewer Ashley Thieme used the DecibelX app and published an average reading of 57.3 dB for the WalkingPad Z1, adding that it made about as much noise as the treadmills she had used at the gym. The Z1's product description claimed below 45 dB. Both are on the record. The measured average and the marketing claim disagree, which is precisely why this site pairs every number with its source.
What manufacturers claim (their own conditions)
- MERACH T12 Pro: under 42 dB, per the official product page for the 0.5 to 7.5 mph machine.
- UREVO CyberPad for Office: about 35 dB, with the official FAQ limiting the figure to specified test conditions and noting results vary with speed, shoes, and flooring.
- WalkingPad X21: under 65 dB, per the official product page for the 1 to 7.5 mph machine.
- DeerRun A1 Pro Move+: 45 dB or less on the UK official site; the US product page carries no decibel figure.
Each claim was produced under that manufacturer's own test conditions, which are not published in comparable detail. They are claims, not measurements, and they cannot be ranked against each other or against third-party tests.
Electric vs manual: the motor question
The AssaultRunner Elite's 28.2 dB in BarBend's test, against 34.7 to 37.4 dB for the motorized machines in the same test, is the cleanest available demonstration of what the motor contributes. BarBend's own summary puts manual models about 25 percent quieter than motorized ones. Manual treadmills suit walkers; runners generally need motorized machines. In an apartment, that trade is worth understanding: the quietest measured option overall is manual, but it is also the most limited for training.
Brushless vs brushed motors
Manufacturers market brushless motors as quieter, and several product pages on this site mention brushless designs. No tested source quantifies the noise difference between brushless and brushed motors in treadmills, so this site treats it as a design note, not a decibel fact. Do not let a "brushless" label substitute for a measured number.
Beyond the machine
Machine choice sets the floor; behavior sets the rest. A dense rubber mat, isolation feet, placement away from shared walls, belt lubrication on the manufacturer's schedule, and daytime training hours do as much as the model. The complete playbook is in how to reduce treadmill noise in an apartment.
When comparing any two noise figures, ask three questions: who measured it, how far from the machine, and what was subtracted. If any answer is missing, the comparison is invalid.