As we all know, exercise is a much-needed part of your daily routine. One of the things you can do to make this easier is to incorporate a treadmill into your own living space. But if you live in an apartment This may not seem as easy as it would for people that live in homes.

The vast majority of the time you can have a treadmill in your apartment. There are just lots of variables you should take into consideration like space, time, noise, safety, etc.

It’s best to check in with your building managers or look at your lease agreement to know for sure before taking action and actually getting a treadmill for yourself. This guide is going to take a quick look at all the factors you need to consider as well as the actual process of getting a treadmill into your apartment.

Can I Have A Treadmill In An Apartment?

You are going in to look into these key factors before you take action in getting your treadmill:

Look Into Your Lease Agreement

The first thing you want to do is look over your lease agreement. Usually, the agreement will mention something about exercise equipment. But if it’s still unclear, contact your landlord or leasing office to make sure.

Measure Your Apartment and Treadmill

The second thing is you want to make sure that you have enough space by measuring your planned treadmill space and looking at the size of your desired model. Look at the square foot measurements for each and compare.

There are lots of treadmill sizes and models but you still want to make sure that everything fits properly with room to spare.

Check Electrical Capacity

You are also going to want to look into the electrical requirements of your desired treadmill model. The average treadmill will work fine on a standard 120v household outlet.

Meanwhile, a massive treadmill usually requires larger capacity outlets that you want to look into before you pull the trigger.

Most treadmill manufacturers also recommend that you get a surge protector or unplug the machine altogether when it is not in use.

Be Considerate Of Your Neighbors

Since you live in an apartment building, you have to be aware of the fact that a treadmill can make a considerable amount of noise that can disturb those around you.

I have some tips here at the end of this article on how you can reduce overall noise and disturbance for neighbors. But no matter what, your treadmill is still going to cause some level of noise.

The treadmill will have a base level of noise caused by the motor and belt which is added to your running.

Can You Get The Treadmill In Your Apartment?

This may seem trivial but many people do not consider that to get their treadmill to their unit, they may have to through certain doorways, elevators, or stairways where the treadmill may not fit.

Can I Have A Treadmill Upstairs?

Lots of people fear owning a treadmill everyone their apartment because they fear that their upstairs apartment cannot support the weight or will cause too much noise.

Treadmill weight should not be an issue if that is what you are worried about. Any upper floor should be able to support the weight.

But the weight is not the only to consider. You should also look into how you are going to get the treadmill upstairs. Can your friends help? Does it fit in the elevator? Are there neighbors below you?

If there are people below you, they could be disturbed by the noise produced by your treadmill.

If it was me, I would take the extra step and familiarize myself with what or who is below me. I would try to work around the person’s schedule so I do not wake them up.

Will A Treadmill Damage My Floor?

Treadmills themselves are quite heavy. On top of that, while you are running, the treadmill will be supporting your entire weight and then some. Without the proper precautions, a treadmill could potentially damage your floor.

So in terms of where you put your treadmill, I would opt for a harder surface like wood, tile, and so on. Carpet may seem like a good idea because it’s soft and it’ll absorb all the running but the weight and overall exercise use will cause some lasting damage to your carpet as it will be heavily indented.

A treadmill also has a motor that enables it to run. Placing your treadmill on the carpet can make it very easy for fibers or dust to get in and damage your treadmill.

On top of that, it’s just much easier to clean a harder surface compared to carpet. Since you’re going to be doing exercise, the floor around your treadmill will commonly be subjected to sweat and sport drink spills.

Furthermore, treadmills require basic lubrication once in a while. Any type of lubrication spill will be easier to clean on a hard surface.

But no matter where you put your treadmill one of the things that I thoroughly recommend is getting a strong mat to put it on. And this way you don’t have to worry about any damage to your flooring, any potential mess any spillage It should all be very easy.

In general, here is my basic guide for where you should place your treadmill:

1. Look for a place that has a few feet of space on every side. This way, it’s a lot safer and you feel less cramped.

2. Secondly, as I mentioned before, use a mat under your treadmill. Anti vibration treadmill mats work great but any rubber mat will work to limit damage and enhance noise cancellation.

How Do I Reduce Treadmill Noise In An Apartment?

So in terms of how you reduce noise, there are a number of things you can do but first, you need to understand where the noise actually comes from.

1. The motor and treadmill belt. The motor produces an electric buzzing noise while the mat will noise as its spins. The faster your treadmill is going, the louder the motor and belt will sound.

2. You will be the second cause of the noise. As your run and make contact with the treadmill, your shoes will make noise. As before, the faster you go, the noise more noise will be made.

3. Vibrations will be the third culprit. If you have your treadmill close to other objects, the treadmill will cause these items to vibrate and make extra noise.

Guide To Noise Reduction:

Getting A Rubber Mat

So the first thing you can do is get an equipment map. This will dampen lots of vibrations that come from you know your actual exercise on the treadmill.

Location Placement

Secondly, you want to place your treadmill in a strategic location. Ideally away from other objects and any interior walls that are shared with your neighbors.

This limits the noise that travels to your neighbor.

Running At Down Times

You should schedule your exercise sessions to times of the day when people are usually out and are not busy if possible. For most people, this really just means avoiding early morning or late night workouts when your neighbors are probably trying to get some sleep.

Soundproofing

If you can afford to soundproof, it is definitely an option for you to look into. A few wall panels really go a long way to reduce sound vibrations.

Getting Good Running Shoes

Lastly, you should really look into getting a great pair of running shoes. Ones that have a thick cushion and are made by a quality company will limit the impact noise.

How Do I Actually Get A Treadmill Into My Apartment?

Even if you got a smaller treadmill, it can still be quite difficult.

Check If Your Treadmill Folds Or Dissasembles

The first thing you want to do is check for any disassembly instructions in the owner’s manual or on YouTube. You can just look up your treadmill model followed by disassembly. Some models will fold while others will allow you to remove large parts so that they are easier to move.

Check For Wheels

Secondly, check for wheels under your treadmill. This won’t help going up stairs but it can be really useful for moving your treadmill through your apartment building.

Use A Furniture Dolly Or Jack

You could also check if your building has a dolly or jack that you can use. Also ask your friends if you have one you can borrow. These pieces of equipment are really easy to use and limit the amount of carrying you have to do.

Prep Your Treadmill For Transport

Before you start moving your treadmill, make sure that the cable is tied down and that the corners are wrapped in some kind of soft material.

The corners of a treadmill can be sharp which can cause damage if you bump into any door frames or walls. Also, it will make it easier to carry or move since there are more places where you can grab onto it.

Measure Your Route Ahead Of Time

Before you get moving, plan out your route ahead of time. Measure any door frame or stairway that may seem a bit tight. This way you can avoid any unexpected surprises while you potentially have a heavy treadmill in your hands.

Ask For Help

Do not be afraid to ask for help. Treadmills can be very heavy and you do not want to move one yourself up a flight of stairs. This can be a very dangerous situation.

I always insist on at least having one other person with me so that give you a hand and watch out for any hazards.

Is It Worth It To Have A Treadmill In An Apartment?

I think a treadmill in an apartment has a factor of convenience that is worth a lot but you also have some other options:

Use Your Building Fitness Center

While these apartment complex gyms tend to lack luster in terms of weight lifting equipment, they usually never lack in terms of cardio equipment. They also tend to not be too overcrowded. If you have a nice fitness center at your building, it may be worth just using this instead of getting your own treadmill.

Going On Walks

This option is more dependent on the area you live in. For many people, exercising outside becomes unfeasible for some portions of the year due to extreme heat or cold. Also if you live in an unsafe area, I could understand why you would be hesitant about going for jogs outdoors.

But for those that live in a nice, warm area this is a great option.

Final Thoughts

So as a whole, getting a treadmill in your apartment is definitely feasible.

Almost anybody at any treadmill can get into their apartment. There are just some things you have to think about separation like your individual apartment and lease agreements as well as how the treadmill will fill would fit into the context of your current living space and how you could adjust it for the people around you as well.

FAQs

Michael K.

Daniel Mesa, CPT, is a trusted fitness expert and founder of  FitDominium. With his extensive experience and commitment to helping others, Daniel is the go-to source for reliable fitness advice and recommendations.