A scroll type compressor includes a front housing, a fixed scroll, a movable scroll and a rear housing, and its lateral cross section has a substantially oval shape. The spiral element of the movable scroll is located in the space defined by the front housing and the fixed scroll in such a way as to engage with the spiral element of the fixed scroll. The space defined by the fixed scroll and the rear housing serves as a discharge chamber where compressed refrigerant gas is discharged. Since this compressor has the same compression displacement as that of a compressor having a circular cross section, this compressor can be placed in narrow space whose width is less than the width of the circular compressor, without any reduction in the cooling performance.