Best Gym Flooring Guide
Choosing the Best Flooring Option for Your Home or Commercial Gym
Getting the best flooring for your home or commerical gym is a more complex topic than you might think. You’ll have plenty of options. These range from rubber mats to interlocking foam, cork, laminate, yoga mats or even carpet (though carpet is not recommended!). Which gym floor is best depends on the floor you are trying to protect, your use – for example free weights, exercise machines or body-weight exercise – plus noise and ‘sweat’ considerations.
This page simplifies the home gym flooring options – and points you in the right direction to get a great deal on whichever option you pick.
The information below is divided into sections.
Firstly, the options are listed for different types of exercise. This focuses on pros and cons of the main gym floor types for each category.
After that, I have turned things around, and covered the 4 main home fitness flooring types in a little more detail. Some have multiple options, others are more straightforward. The table below lists the key options, with a link to the amazon.co.uk product page for more detail and comments from previous buyers.
Table: Main Categories of Home Gym Flooring
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Interlocking Foam Squares Lightweight and portable, foam squares provide a cushioned surface for both equipment and floor-based exercises. You'll need 2+ packs of 4 for decent coverage. Good value, though not the most durable. |
Check Latest Price! |
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Rubber Mats Roll-up rubber mats provide a non-slip (and often non absorbing) surface, ideal for exercise equipment and easy to clean too. Available in different sizes. |
Check Latest Price! |
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Heavy Duty Rubber Mat For multi-gym and weights I recommend a heavier mat. These will last, handle dropped weights and wipe-clean. An investment that could last for years. |
Check Latest Price! |
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Yoga Mats These are not just for Yoga! Light, roll up mats cover all floor types, and are comfortable enough for floor work too. Lots of variations available in this category. |
Check Latest Price! |
Home Gym Flooring for Different Exercise Types
Weight Training Floor Options
However careful we are, weights are bound to hit the floor at some point. This means that your choice of flooring not only has to be functional, you really need to consider that extra level of protection. Dropping a dumbbell or kettlebell on a thin foam mat with ceramic tiles underneath is simply asking for trouble.
Another consideration for multi-gym or weight bench owners is that certain areas of your floor covering will be high-use, while other parts will barely get a look in.
If you have the money, then a commercial quality heavy duty rubber mat is ideal. You can even have some cushioning underneath this, or extra padding on top (via that interlocking foam). A popular budget option is to buy a rubber mat that is used for horses. These are put under the horse in a box (trailer) to protect the knees… and are cheaper than many gym-specific alternatives.
Cork, laminate or even cheaper wood can be used as a base layer. Again with interlocking foam or ideally a rubber mat.
Check out this page for the main rubber gym mat options at amazon.co.uk. (more on specifics in the 2nd part of this guide below)
Exercise Machine Floor Options
With machines like treadmills, elliptical trainers and bikes, stability is important – as well as having a wipe-down surface. This means it is best not to go ‘too soft’, thick foam does not fit the bill. At the same time, some machines have only 4 or so points where they touch the floor. This can mean a lot of force on those points, which can easily mark your floor.
Carpet, even with a small mat or single foam square under your machine is never a good idea. Those droplets of sweat will add up over time, and you could end up with mould or simply a smelly area of your home.
If you already have laminate flooring (with its own underlay / cushioning), then a simple rubber yoga mat can do the trick. Many people prefer going a little heavier. For the heavier machines (treadmills, vibration plates and many elliptical cross trainers), then those cheap and cheerful interlocking foam mats are perfect for the job.
66 Fit have the best selling interlocking mats, check out the dedicated amazon.co.uk product page here.
You can find reasonably priced rubber mats which are strong enough to protect your floor from Reebok and the popular York Fitness.
Floor Based Gym Exercise – Floor Covering Options
The final category includes body-weight routines. This will include Yoga and Pilates as well as many abs and core routines – even good old fashioned push-ups.
Since you will be in contact with your floor, comfort is a factor.
Unlike the mostly fixed setups of the first two categories, you’ll need something portable too. If you already have a carpet, then a yoga mat is perfect here. Get a lightweight one and not the smallest, and most of your needs are covered. Many yoga mats are washable these days, great for getting rid of the sweat.
If you have laminate flooring, or want to (for example) cover the concrete floor of your garage, then those interlocking foam squares are just right. If you plan on using these alone (with no covering mat) make sure that they are wipe-clean.
For those that are doing more acrobatic exercise (for example TRX) then it can give you some peace of mind to have an inch of foam underneath you if you fall.
You can check out the best selling 66 Fit interlocking foam mats on this amazon.co.uk product page.
Yoga mats are a huge category, with many variations, this page will give you a list of the most popular choices.
Part 2 – More Detail on the Types of Home Gym Flooring Available
This section looks at specific products. Keep in mind that there are premium versions (as well as ‘no brand’ knock-offs) of the same things. My tip at amazon.co.uk is to look at the ‘viewer of this item bought…’ listing for the close alternatives.
Most Popular Interlocking Foam Gym Floor – York Fitness Floor Guard
Fans of the range of strength training and exercise equipment from York Fitness can also have this brand underneath their kit.
This is a foam square, 1.3cms thick, with edging. Each square is 60cms by 60cms, and you can buy them in packs of 4. You’ll need more than one pack for most setups (the exception might be a stepper or smaller exercise bike). I’d recommend at least 2 packs for a treadmill, weights bench or elliptical. These foam squares can’t be rolled up. They are easy to setup and remove between sessions for those who do not have a permanent spot for their home gym. No adhesive is needed.
Foam will never be as tough as a rubber mat, and if you are lifting weights then I do recommend something underneath if you have tiled floors or varnished floorboards to protect. The foam will cushion minor impacts – though a dumbbell dropped from 2 meters (for example) has a lot of momentum and can crack tiles through a foam mat.
66 Fitness provide a close-up look at these foam squares, and a comparison with their other products like heavy duty rubber mats, on this dedicated amazon.co.uk product page – check it out now!
Rubber / PVC Gym Fitness Equipment Floor Mats – Reebok
Reebok are my favourite brand in a number of categories. Best known for their shoes, step and cardio equipment, this brand has quality accessories too – including rubber mats which work perfectly under your home fitness equipment.
What I like is the combination of 6mm rubber with a non-slip surface. This is just the right thickness for bikes and cross trainers. It protects your floor, while being rollable between uses.
The 155cm mat is sized well for most home equipment. If you have a bigger machine (commercial size) then you might need two.
Comments from previous buyers indicate that this is not ‘slippy’. One person specifically stated that it stayed put on a tiled floor. This mat is not only for equipment, many people use it for floor / body weight / aerobic type exercises too.
Check out the feedback for yourself now over on this dedicated amazon.co.uk product page.
Heavy Duty Gym Matt – 12mm Thick Rubber – Commercial / Garage Floor Type
If you are kitting out a garage, or want to turn a room into a permanent gym – then the next level up is not too much more expensive. You can get a commercial quality 6ft x 4ft rubber mat setup, which is 12mm thick and will not absorb any moisture or odours.
I’m featuring mats from a rubber specialist, rather than a commercial gym equipment maker. Ark Rubber provide the real thing. While comments from previous buyers of the categories above are ‘mixed’, almost everyone is super-positive about these rubber slabs! They are non-slip too.
Most setups will require 3 or 4 for good coverage. Sure, this is more expensive than interlocking foam. When you look at it in terms of durability, then like many buyers you’ll see this type of flooring as an investment that will last you for many years.
You can check those comments, and see the full spec of these heavy-duty rubber mats on this dedicated amazon.co.uk product page.
Yoga Mats – Not Only for Yoga!
Yoga mats are ideal for all types of floor based exercises, these can also provide enough protection for lighter equipment – I’m thinking crunch trainers and the like. If you have a suitable floor, for example laminate, then a Yoga mat can go on top.
Keep in mind that these mats are for your own comfort, and are too thin to offer much in the way of protection for a floor should you drop a kettlebell (for example) on it! This thin design makes them portable, and you can also machine wash them in some cases.
I have a more detailed yoga mat comparison piece in the pipeline.
Until then, check out the best sellers (both branded and generic) on this amazon.co.uk listing page.
Summing Up: The Best Gym Flooring Options
Gym flooring does not need to be complicated… once you see the options laid out, you’ll be able to narrow down the options to 1 or 2.
If you plan on using your gym or fitness machines for the long term, decent quality flooring can be a good investment. Sure, you’ll pay a little more for the thicker, wipe-clean and durable floors. Not only will you avoid needing to replace these for many years – you will not have to think about things like flooring either. Sort your floor, and focus on getting fit!
Here is the table from the start of the page once again. If you read through the different points to get there, the options will now make a lot more sense.
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Interlocking Foam Squares Lightweight and portable, foam squares provide a cushioned surface for both equipment and floor-based exercises. You'll need 2+ packs of 4 for decent coverage. Good value, though not the most durable. |
Check Latest Price! |
| |
Rubber Mats Roll-up rubber mats provide a non-slip (and often non absorbing) surface, ideal for exercise equipment and easy to clean too. Available in different sizes. |
Check Latest Price! |
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Heavy Duty Rubber Mat For multi-gym and weights I recommend a heavier mat. These will last, handle dropped weights and wipe-clean. An investment that could last for years. |
Check Latest Price! |
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Yoga Mats These are not just for Yoga! Light, roll up mats cover all floor types, and are comfortable enough for floor work too. Lots of variations available in this category. |
Check Latest Price! |
More Detailed Gym Equipment Guides:
