The Quietest Treadmills to Keep Noise Low in 2024

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Whether you choose to buy a treadmill, elliptical machine, exercise bike or other piece of cardio fitness equipment, working out at home provides a level of convenience and privacy you won't find in a commercial gym. However, if you have to sneak in your workouts while your kids or partner are trying to sleep, you need quiet exercise equipment that won’t disturb them.

Even though treadmills are one of the most popular types of cardio equipment for home workouts, most treadmills are quite noisy. Between the whirring sound of the motor and the thumping of your feet against the deck of the treadmill as you run, avoiding noisy treadmill workouts can be nearly impossible.

Fortunately, there are some treadmills that operate more quietly by having better motors and smoother belt operations. In this article, we share our top picks and reviews for the best quiet treadmills as well as how to choose a treadmill that will be less noisy for home cardio workouts.

Our Picks for the Best Quiet Treadmills in 2024:

• Best Overall Quiet Treadmill: NordicTrack Commercial X22i
• Best Budget-Friendly Quiet Treadmill: Horizon Fitness 7.0 AT Treadmill
• Best Quiet Treadmill for an Apartment: Sole Fitness F80 Treadmill
• Best Quiet Treadmill with a Large Display: NordicTrack Commercial 2450 Treadmill
• Best Quiet Treadmill with an Integrated Tablet/Phone Holder: Sole Fitness F63 Treadmill
• Best Quiet Treadmill with Safety Features: Echelon Stride-5s Smart Treadmill
• Best Quiet Treadmill with a Cushioned Deck: ProForm Carbon T10 Treadmill

Best Overall Quiet Treadmill: NordicTrack Commercial X22i

Key features and specs

• Incline levels: 40 percent incline to -6 decline
• Speed levels: Zero to 12 miles per hour
• Dimensions: 70 inches long X 39 inches wide X 72.5 inches high
• Machine weight: 417 pounds
• Max recommended user weight: 300 pounds
• Belt size: 60 inches long by 22 inches wide
• Average decibels: 67 decibels walking at three miles per hour at a 3 percent incline and 73 decibels when running at six miles per hour at a 3 percent incline

Our pick for the quietest treadmill overall is the NordicTrack x22i Incline Treadmill, a high-performing, feature-packed best treadmill. Oftentimes, when you’re looking for a quiet treadmill, you have to compromises on the features, but that’s not the case here. The NordicTrack x22i has a heavy-duty steel frame, solid uprights and a shock-absorbent deck with Extensive Reflex Cushioning, all of which reduce overall noise output. Essentially, there are fewer moving parts that may otherwise squeak or rattle during use and the shock-absorbing deck attenuates pounding noises from impact as you run or walk. There is also a robust, commercial-grade 4.0 horsepower motor that not only supports an incredible automatic incline range from -6 percent to a whopping 40 percent grade and a maximum running speed of 12 miles per hour, but is also powerful enough to remain smooth and quiet even at high-intensity levels.

Related Post: The Best Incline Treadmills

Pros:

• Electric treadmill also features a manual mode for resistance training for sled pushes and parachute pulls
• Large, 22-inch smart HD touchscreen display and compatible with interactive iFIt workouts
• 50 built-in workout programs
• Roomy cushioned running deck and sturdy frame

Cons:

• Expensive and must pay for ongoing iFit subscription to stream interactive workout classes
• Large footprint and non-foldable frame

Best Budget-Friendly Quiet Treadmill: Horizon Fitness 7.0 AT Treadmill

Key features and specs

• Incline levels: up to 15 percent incline
• Speed levels: up to 12 miles per hour
• Dimensions: 76 inches long X 35 inches wide X 66 inches high
• Machine weight: 277 pounds
• Max recommended user weight: 325 pounds
• Belt size: 60 inches long X 20 inches wide
• Average decibels: 71 decibels walking at three miles per hour at a 3 percent incline and 76 decibels when running at three miles per hour at a 3 percent grade

Many inexpensive treadmills, such as some of the cheap treadmills on Amazon, have one thing in common: they are loud. The construction is often less durable and the thin housing around the motor allows for a lot of the noise to escape the hood. Rather than enjoying a quiet hum during operation, there can be a whining, whistling or clunking sound at the motor spins. The Horizon Fitness 7.0 AT Treadmill is our top pick for the best budget-friendly treadmill for users who not only want a durable, reliable and feature-packed machine for home cardio workouts but also need their treadmill to be as quiet as possible. The lifetime frame and motor warranty are evidence of the fact that this machine is built to withstand the toughest workouts and heavy-duty use.

Although there is just a basic backlit LCD display, there is a built-in tablet holder so that you can watch the media of your choice or stream on-demand workouts from your favorite fitness app. Plus, the treadmill offers Bluetooth connectivity, making it compatible with fitness apps like Peloton, Zwift and STUDIO. You also aren’t locked into having to always follow guided workouts from a specific fitness app. This versatility can be great for people who get bored doing the same types of workouts, and want the option to watch a TV show, run or walk to a virtual course, compete in a virtual Zwift race or just use one of the workouts that come preset on the console. One nice sound-reducing feature is that you can silently adjust the incline and speed with the quick-dial adjustments at the ends of the handlebars instead of pressing audible buttons.

Pros:

• Doesn’t require ongoing subscription and Bluetooth connectivity allows use of different treadmill running apps
• Great budget-friendly compact treadmill with large running surface
• Foldable treadmill is ideal for a small space
• Three-zone cushioning in the running deck
• Lifetime warranty for frame and motor

Cons:

• Low-tech LCD console instead of an immersive touchscreen

Best Quiet Treadmill for an Apartment: Sole Fitness F80 Treadmill

Key features and specs

• Incline levels: 0.5-15 percent incline
• Speed levels: up to 12 miles per hour
• Dimensions: 82 inches long X 37 inches wide X 62 inches high
• Machine weight: 278 pounds
• Max recommended user weight: 375 pounds
• Belt size: 60 inches long by 22 inches wide
• Average decibels: 72 decibels walking at three miles per hour at a three percent incline and 80 decibels when running at six miles per hour at a three percent grade

With an impressive folding frame technology, and one of the quietest treadmills on the market, the Sole Fitness F80 Treadmill is the best pick for your apartment workout. One of the reasons this folding treadmill is virtually silent is because, as you'll find with all Sole Fitness treadmills, the F80 has a solid welded frame, so there are not as many components that need to be connected via bolts, providing more stability and less potential for clanging due to parts that are slightly loose. The powerful 3.5 CHP motor located under the hood of the treadmill hums quietly, with user reviews noting that even at high speeds, the operation is pleasantly quiet.

Another sound-dampening feature of the Sole F80 is the patented Cushion Flex Whisper Deck. Not only does Sole Fitness report that the cushioning in the running deck reduces joints impact stress by about 40 percent, but it also helps attenuate some of the audible thumping noise from the foot falls as you run. The console does make a single beep sound when you select a workout program or adjust the speed and incline of the treadmill, but you can actually turn down the volume of the beats in the settings so that pressing buttons is not as loud.

In addition to these sound-reducing features, the F80 is among the top treadmills in its price range in terms of performance, warranty and comfort. The powerful motor is capable of supporting running speed up to 12 miles per hour with an automatically adjustable incline range of zero to 15 percent grade. There are several preset workout programs, pulse monitors in the hand rails for heart rate monitoring as well as an included compatible chest strap heart rate monitor, an integrated tablet holder, built-in speakers and a USB charging port to keep your device powered throughout the duration of your workout. Like all Sole cardio exercise equipment, the F80 is backed by one of the best warranties in the industry (lifetime warranty on the frame, motor and deck, five-year warranty on electronics and parts and two-year labor warranty), providing even more value and assurance of the quality of your investment.

Pros:

• Folding treadmill frame helps save space
• Welded frame and solid construction affords a high maximum weight capacity
• Excellent warranty
• Cushioned running deck
• Built-in Bluetooth speakers

Cons:

• Only has an LCD display but not a touchscreen

Best Quiet Treadmill with a Large Display: NordicTrack Commercial 2450 Treadmill

Key features and specs

• Incline levels: -3 percent decline to 12 percent incline
• Speed levels: up to 12 miles per hour
• Dimensions: 70 inches long X 39 inches wide X 72.5 inches high
• Machine weight: 303 pounds
• Max recommended user weight: 300 pounds
• Belt size: 60 inches long X 20 inches wide
• Average decibels: 73 decibels walking at three miles per hour at a 3 percent incline and 82 decibels when running at six miles per hour at a 3 percent grade

Having a quiet treadmill doesn’t mean you have to go without added features. The NordicTrack Commercial 2450 Treadmill boasts a 22-inch smart HD touchscreen display that can be used to stream on-demand iFit workout classes, as well as virtual Explore the World trails. Because the touchscreen display pivots, you can seamlessly transition off the machine to complete on-demand workout classes from the iFit library, helping you build a well-rounded training plan to help you reach your fitness goals.

Not only does the NordicTrack Commercial 2450 Treadmill have hands-free training with automatic control, meaning that the speed and incline of the treadmill will adjust automatically based on the instructions from the iFit personal trainer, but it also has ActivePulse technology. This means that if you buy the SmartBeat Heart Rate Monitor, the incline and speed will automatically adjust to help you stay within your target heart rate zones for more effective training programs. Based on user reviews, the treadmill is said to operate smoothly and quietly. It has a powerful 3.6 CHP motor, allowing you to run at speeds up to 12 miles per hour through an impressive incline and decline range of negative three to 12 percent grade.

Pros:

• Supports incline and decline training to work different muscle groups
• Large, 22-inch smart HD touchscreen display and compatible with iFit workouts
• Foldable treadmill is great for small spaces
• Roomy cushioned running deck
• Great value for the performance and features

Cons:

• Expensive and must pay for ongoing iFit subscription to stream workout classes

Best Quiet Treadmill with an Integrated Tablet/Phone Holder: Sole Fitness F63 Treadmill

Key features and specs

• Incline levels: up to 15 percent grade
• Speed levels: up to 12 miles per hour
• Dimensions: 82 inches long X 35 inches wide X 66 inches high
• Machine weight: 254 pounds
• Max recommended user weight: 325 pounds
• Belt size: 60 inches long X 20 inches wide
• Average decibels: 72 decibels walking at three miles per hour at a 3 percent incline and 84 decibels when running at six miles per hour at a 3 percent grade

Sole Fitness is known for manufacturing high-quality cardio equipment for home use. Not only does the brand offer one of the best warranties for home exercise equipment, but many of the treadmills in the lineup, such as the F63, are among the quietest treadmills for running that you can buy, largely due to the fact that they are designed with a solid frame with welded components, rather than bolts that may loosen and cause rattling during use. Although the F63 has a basic LCD display instead of a built-in touchscreen, there is an integrated tablet holder so that you can stream your favorite media or workout classes while still being able to see your workout metrics on the LCD monitor.

The Sole F63 supports the Sole STUDIO fitness app subscription with on-demand classes. As a bonus, the membership fees are much lower than most of the other on-demand workout apps, and you don’t have to subscribe to use the treadmill. There are even preset programs on the LCD console if you prefer to follow a guided workout but don’t want to pay for a fitness app.

Pros:

• Adjusting incline and decline is reportedly nearly silent
• Console does not make any noise except when you adjust speed or incline
• Nearly silent treadmill belt and motor
• Excellent warranty, including a lifetime warranty on the frame and motor

Cons:

• Backlit LCD screen rather than large touchscreen display
• Cushioned deck provides shock absorption but doesn’t deaden foot pounding noises as well

Best Quiet Treadmill with Safety Features: Echelon Stride-5s Smart Treadmill

Key features and specs

• Incline levels: up to 15 percent grade
• Speed levels: up to 12.5 miles per hour
• Dimensions: 81 inches long X 36 inches wide X 60 inches high
• Machine weight: 315 pounds
• Max recommended user weight: 300 pounds
• Belt size: 60 inches long X 22 inches wide
• Average decibels: Not reported by company, but user reviews note that it’s “surprisingly quiet”

To reduce the noise level and protect your joints, the Echelon Stride-5s Smart Treadmill features high-quality cushioning with a Duro-50 Cushioned Suspension system. This helps absorb the impact and sound of your feet thumping against the treadmill deck. There are also excellent safety features, such as a rear-frame safety bar to protect objects from pulling under, safety stop lanyard and emergency stop button. 

You can access live and on-demand classes or opt to follow along on scenic routes on the Echelon Stride-5s Smart Treadmill's 24-inch touchscreen. There are 16 levels of automatic incline and the treadmill operates at speeds up to 12.5 miles per hour, making this treadmill suitable for beginners and advanced runners alike. 

Pros:

• Three-point safety system with a rear-frame safety bar to protect objects from pulling under, safety stop lanyard and emergency stop button
• Large, 24-inch smart HD touchscreen display for live workouts and on-demand classes
• High maximum weight capacity
• Large running deck with excellent cushioning from the Duro-50 Cushioned Suspension system

Cons:

• Low power motor may reduce the motor lifespan, especially with heavy-duty use
• Short one year warranty
• Large footprint and non-foldable frame

Best Quiet Treadmill with a Cushioned Deck: ProForm Carbon T10 Treadmill

Key features and specs

• Incline levels: up to 12 percent incline
• Speed levels: up to 10 miles per hour
• Dimensions: 75 inches long X 35.5 inches wide X 64.5 inches high
• Machine weight: 223 pounds
• Max recommended user weight: 300 pounds
• Belt size: 55 inches long X 20 inches wide
• Average decibels: Approximately 70–82 decibels depending on treadmill speed and incline

A well-cushioned treadmill deck is a standout feature of a quiet treadmill for two reasons. Most importantly, it helps reduce impact shock, decreasing the stress on your joints. And, a cushioned treadmill running deck and belt will help minimize the thumping sounds of your feet as you run. The ProForm Carbon T10 Treadmill deck has ISO Flex cushioning, which reduces the stress on your feet, ankles, knees and hips according to ProForm. Another sound-reducing feature of the Carbon T10 is the 2.75 CHP Mach motor, designed to stay cool even during longer workouts and at high speeds, and user reviews report that it runs smoothly and quietly, reducing disruption to others in your home.

This model features a 10-inch HD touchscreen. And like other ProForm and NordicTrack cardio fitness equipment, the T10 treadmill is iFit-compatible. This is a budget-friendly treadmill, so you won't see top-of-the-line features. The top speed is 10 miles per hour, which is sufficient for beginners and most intermediate runners, but if you are a competitive athlete, the maximum speed may not be adequate for your training goals. 

Pros:

• Cushioned deck for reducing impact and stress on joints
• Connectivity with iFit
• Folding treadmill with easy lift assist

Cons:

• Smaller touchscreen display
• Must pay for ongoing iFit subscription to stream workout classes
• Shorter running belt and slower maximum speed may make it unsuitable for taller users and faster runners

What to Look for When Choosing a Quiet Treadmill

Although it’s not really possible to have a completely soundproof motorized treadmill, there are a few features to look for when choosing the quietest treadmills. Better cushioning, sturdy or solid frames and a thick TPU running belt can help reduce rattling and absorb sound. Look for a powerful motor (at least 3.0 HP motor is ideal) because a stronger motor will be able to handle top speeds with more ease, reducing the rumbling to a quieter hum.

You will also want to consider other treadmill specs such as the dimensions, connectivity features, top speed, adjustable incline, user reviews, warranty and maximum user weight capacity. If you have a small space, look for a folding treadmill or a compact treadmill, but be mindful of the size of the running surface. If you are taller than 5' 10", look for a treadmill belt that is at least 60 inches long.

What are decibels?

A decibel (dB) s is a unit of measure that describes the relative intensity of sound or noise on a logarithmic scale. When the decibel range is low, the item or sound will be quieter than something with a higher decibel value. According to the CDC, prolonged exposure to noise above 70 dB may start to damage your hearing. Normal breathing is about 10 dB, a whisper is about 30 dB, a refrigerator hum is about 40 dB, normal conversational volume is about 60 dB and a motorcycle is about 95 dB.

How We Chose the Best Quiet Treadmills

We looked at all of the top-rated treadmills from reputable manufacturers and evaluated each of the treadmills based on criteria including value for money, the overall dimensions and size of the running deck, the power of the motor, the quality of construction, user ratings and reviews, the technological features offered, the performance specs such as the maximum speed and maximum incline, the warranty and the additional features such as integrated heart rate monitoring or a foldable design. We researched the decibel level of operation at different speeds where available, user reviews about the real-life noise level during use and design features that would decrease noise generated by the treadmill such as a welded frame, thicker housing around the motor to absorb sound and a well-cushioned deck with a thicker running belt. We included models to meet the needs of walkers and runners with different budgets and training goals.

Benefits of Owning a Quiet Treadmill

The obvious benefit of a quiet treadmill is that it produces less noise during operation. This makes a quiet treadmill ideal for anyone who lives in a shared space. Additionally, if you live in an apartment building with neighbors who live below you, or you plan to put the treadmill in your apartment next to a thin wall, having a quiet treadmill can help ensure that you will not disturb your housemates or neighbors.

Even if you live alone and do not have neighbors who might be bothered by the sound of a noisy treadmill, it can still be much more enjoyable to use a quiet treadmill for your own sake. When walking or running on a quiet treadmill, it’s easier to hear the music, podcasts or on-demand workout classes you’re streaming. If you have young children at home or like to keep an ear out for the doorbell ringing, using a quiet treadmill will allow you to stay tuned into what’s going on in your home.

Quiet Treadmill FAQs

What components make a treadmill quieter?

Treadmills can be noisy if any of the bolts or components are loose, so treadmills built with a solid frame that is welded together tend to be quieter. The motor should also run quietly, so it needs to be high-grade and housed in a thick casing at the front of the treadmill to help absorb the sound. The more smoothly the motor runs, the more likely it will produce a gentle hum even at high speeds. A cushioned deck and thick TPU belt help absorb some of the impact sound of your feet landing on the treadmill, and there may be foam rollers or rubberized pads underneath the belt to dampen the noise.

Why does my treadmill get so loud when I run?

Even the quietest motorized treadmills generate some amount of noise when running because the motor is whirring at a high speed and the belt is spinning across the running deck, which generates audible friction as the belt moves over the rollers and deck. Plus, when you run on a motorized treadmill or manual treadmill, the pounding of your running shoes as your feet hit the running surface makes a thudding sound because you are landing down on the deck from an airborne position. The more you weigh and the faster you run, the louder this thumping will be because you are pounding more forcefully onto the treadmill.

Does putting a mat under a treadmill make it more quiet?

Yes. If your gym floor is a hard surface, using a treadmill mat will help reduce some of the pounding noise from your feet hitting the running deck. You can also purchase anti-vibration pads, which stick under the four contact points of the treadmill.

Can my apartment neighbors hear my treadmill?

Depending on the decibel level of the treadmill you choose, the thickness of the walls and where the treadmill is located in your home gym relative to your apartment neighbors, your neighbors may be able to hear your treadmill. If you are on the first floor and using a quiet treadmill, it’s unlikely that using your treadmill will disturb your neighbors. In contrast, your apartment neighbors are most likely to hear your treadmill thumping if they live below you.

Final Thoughts

Overall, treadmills are one of the most versatile and user-friendly pieces of exercise equipment for home cardio workouts. However, poorly constructed treadmills are often quite noisy. The best quiet treadmills offer all of the performance and technology features you would expect from premium treadmills while incorporating sound-reducing elements. Adding a mat under your treadmill and setting up your home gym on the bottom floor of your home can help cut down on the sound produced by the treadmill.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.