# Are walking pads loud? What you and your neighbours hear

Source: https://deckandstride.co.uk/blog/are-walking-pads-loud
Published: 2026-10-12
Publisher: Deck and Stride

**In short:** In the room, most walking pads are fairly quiet at walking speeds: you hear a motor hum and the swish of the belt, usually less than a television at normal volume. The bigger issue is footfall, which travels through floors and can be more noticeable to people below than to you. Slow speeds, a dense mat and a soft step make a real difference.

Noise is one of the biggest worries for people buying a walking pad, especially in flats and upstairs rooms. The answer depends on which noise you mean. A walking pad makes three kinds of sound: the motor, the belt and your feet. Each behaves differently, and each reaches the people around you in a different way. This explainer separates them, explains what changes them and tells you what to look for on a listing if quiet operation matters. For practical fixes, see our guide on [reducing treadmill noise in a flat](https://deckandstride.co.uk/blog/how-to-reduce-treadmill-noise-in-a-flat).

## The three sources of walking pad noise

Understanding where noise comes from makes it much easier to reduce.

| Source | What it sounds like | Who hears it most | What changes it |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Motor | Steady hum or whine | You, in the same room | Speed, motor type, motor cover |
| Belt and rollers | Swish, light tick from the seam | You | Lubrication, tension, belt condition |
| Footfall | Thud or thump | People below and next door | Speed, step, floor type, mat |

Walking pad noise sources

## Motor and belt noise in the room

Most walking pads use a motor of a few horsepower running slowly, so the hum at walking speeds is modest. Brushless motors, now common on newer pads, tend to run more quietly and smoothly than brushed ones; see [brushless vs brushed walking pad motors](https://deckandstride.co.uk/blog/brushless-vs-brushed-walking-pad-motor). Motor noise usually rises with speed.

The belt makes a soft swish and, on many pads, a light tick each time the seam passes a roller. A dry deck can add squeaks and a rubbing sound. Keeping the deck lubricated and the belt correctly tensioned keeps this to a minimum. If a pad suddenly gets louder, our [walking pad noise guide](https://deckandstride.co.uk/blog/walking-pad-making-noise) matches sounds to causes.

Where the pad sits also changes what you hear. A pad on a bare wooden floor in a sparsely furnished room sounds louder than the same pad on a mat in a carpeted room with curtains and soft furnishings, because hard surfaces reflect sound. Moving the pad away from walls and into the middle of a rug can take the edge off the hum.

## Footfall: the noise neighbours notice

Footfall is impact noise. Each step sends a small shock into the deck, through the feet of the pad and into the floor. Concrete floors absorb much of it. Suspended timber floors, common in UK houses and older flat conversions, can flex and carry it into the ceiling below as a low thud.

This is why a walking pad can seem quiet to you but noisy to the person downstairs. A dense rubber mat under the pad spreads the impact, and a lighter, rolling step helps a lot. Walking slower also reduces the force of each step. If you share floors, our [treadmill mat article](https://deckandstride.co.uk/blog/do-you-need-a-treadmill-mat) explains what to look for.

## On calls and video meetings

Many people walk during calls. At slow speeds, the motor hum is usually low enough that a headset microphone with noise suppression filters it out. The belt tick and footfall can come through more clearly on a desk microphone. Try a test call at your normal speed before relying on it for important meetings.

Remote beeps can be distracting, so check whether your pad can mute them. The Urevo SpaceWalk Lite listing, for example, mentions muting buzzer sounds from the remote.

## What to look for if you want a quiet pad

Listings rarely give reliable decibel figures, and where they do, the measuring conditions are not stated, so treat them with caution. Look instead for the factors that tend to reduce noise.

Our [quiet walking pads guide](https://deckandstride.co.uk/best/best-quiet-walking-pads) brings together models chosen with noise in mind, and our [under-desk treadmill guide](https://deckandstride.co.uk/best/best-under-desk-treadmills) notes features such as remote muting.

- Brushless motor, where stated on the listing.
- Multi-layer belt and shock absorbers to soften footfall.
- A solid, heavier frame that rattles less.
- Option to mute remote and console beeps.
- A dense mat to go underneath, bought at the same time.

[Compare quiet walking pads](https://deckandstride.co.uk/best/best-quiet-walking-pads)

## Frequently asked questions

**Are walking pads loud for downstairs neighbours?** They can be on timber floors, mainly because of footfall rather than the motor. A dense mat, slow speed and a soft step help most.

**How loud are under-desk treadmills?** At walking speeds, the motor and belt are usually quiet enough for a home office. Footfall is the bigger issue in flats.

**Are walking pads louder than treadmills?** Not usually. Running on a treadmill creates much more impact than walking on a pad. Motor noise depends on the model.

**Can I use a walking pad at night in a flat?** You can, but footfall carries more at night when it is quiet. Use a mat, walk slowly and consider your neighbours' hours.

## Buying guides on this topic

- https://deckandstride.co.uk/best/best-quiet-walking-pads
- https://deckandstride.co.uk/best/best-under-desk-treadmills
- https://deckandstride.co.uk/best/best-walking-pads