The Ultimate Thick Gym Mat Buying Guide – All the Options Compared

The easiest way to overpay for a thick gym mat is to go for one that covers every possible use case.

Simply get specific about your own needs, and getting the perfect thick fitness or gym mat becomes easy.

This guide covers the best value thick gym mats in detail. It guides you through all the options, so you won’t waste money on the wrong mat or get one that you’ll never really use.

Here are the most common use cases for thick fitness mats:

• Mats that go underneath fitness equipment such as treadmills, bikes or ellipticals.
• Multi-gym floor protection, including mats for strength training setups and for free weights.
• Non-slip mats for floor workouts like pilates, bodyweight exercises, or circuit training
• Mats for children’s play areas
• Mats for Dojo’s, boxing gyms and commercial gym flooring

Thick Fitness and Gym Mats: My Picks for the Best Value Options

This table shows the best thick gym mat for each use case, with size options. After this, I go into more detail on the materials, thickness, and surface finish options for the main mat categories.

	Best Mat for Cardio Machines Quality UK brand York Fitness are my go-to for mats that go under treadmills, exercise bikes or ellipticals. These mats are built to last.	Check Price!
	Thick Mat for Yoga / Pilates These mats roll up (straps included) and are 12mm thick, way better than those skinny yoga mats you are used to. Choice of colours too.	Check Price!
	Interlocking Rubber Mats Floor workouts, bodyweight and HIIT fans will love these thick interlocking rubber mats. Easy to fit, and easy on the joints!	Check Price!
	MiraMat Single Piece Rubber Mat Big, thick and super hard-wearing. These popular rubber gym floor mats from MiraFit are single-piece and great value.	Check Price!
	Commercial Grade Heavy Rubber Mats Pick your floor area and see how many of these 9kg slabs of rubber you need. Serious quality you'll only ever need to buy once	Check Price!
	Thick Foam Mats for Kids Playrooms Soft enough for a kids playroom, yet tough enough to withstand those dings and spills. You get a choice of colours too.	Check Price!

Main Types of Thick Fitness Mat for Gyms, Play Areas, and Home Use

Gym mats vary in thickness between 3mm and 50mm.

They are made of rubber, foam, or plastics. Sizes vary – from 50cm x 50cm tiles, through to and giant mats that can cover up to 3×2 meters.

Here are the thickness levels for different use cases and build, starting with the thinnest:

• Yoga Mats: 3mm (thin) to 7mm (thick)
• Floor Workout Mats: 7mm to 10mm
• Under Treadmill Mats: 5mm to 10mm
• Mats for Children’s Play Areas: 10mm+ (foam tiles)
• Weight’s Gym Mats: 10mm to 25mm
• Dojo / Boxing Gym Flooring: up to 50mm

If you want to roll your gym mat between uses, its thickness is limited. Anything over 10mm (1cm) is going to be tricky. Conversely, a permanent / semi-permanent floor covering has no real constraints on weight or thickness. Here I’d recommend the toughest build – something you won’t need to replace by moving your equipment around.

Double layer flooring, including a protective under-layer is ideal for converting your garage for gym use.

Thick Gym Mats by Category

The sections below summarise your options for thick gym mats by activity. This includes size options, as well as different materials.

#1 – Thick Gym Mats to Use Under Fitness Machines

Treadmills, rowers, ellipticals and bikes all need a thick mat of at least 7mm. For added protection and soundproofing – 10mm is even better.

I use rubber here, as it is hard-wearing, dampens some of the impact sound and does the best job of protecting your carpet or wooden floors. Thicker rubber mats are also non-slip, perfect for tiles, lino, or wooden floor use.

Leading fitness brands supply their own mats.

You’ll pay a small premium for the brand. That said, you do get a quality guarantee, and won’t need to worry about the mat being too small for the footprint of your cardio machines.

Aim for a mat at least 5cm wider and longer than your treadmill or elliptical.

Choosing a long-running flooring supplier with a lot of satisfied customers gets you the best long-term value. I like these thick rubber fitness mats from the respected York Fitness. Their standard size is big enough for all but the biggest home fitness machines – and they are built to last.

#2 – Floor Workouts: The Best Fitness Mats

For circuit training or a combination of free and bodyweight exercises a thicker fitness mat of between 7mm and 10mm is needed – depending on which material you choose.

An ideal setup would have a wider footprint – and would be non-slip.

Interlocking mats work great for floor exercises, though a wider fitness mat that you can roll (closer to 7mm makes this easy) will also work. With the interlocking option, you can clear your workout area between sessions – and quickly stack those mats away.

Foam mats are naturally thicker than rubber ones (up to 20mm). They are firm enough to keep your floor safe, and provide enough grip for those planks, squats, and burpees.

For a single piece mat, you can’t go far wrong with MiraMat. There are different sizes (ignore the photoshopped models, they are ridiculously small). 2 meters – 6 foot five for reference. These mats are waterproof, UV resistance and will work on top of carpet or wood / tile floors.

This is the ‘Mega’ version, you can choose from different sizes over on this page at amazon.co.uk

I also like theses interlocking mats from ComFy. You get them in packs of four. Each one is 60cm square. You even get a choice of colours. If and when a few start showing the signs of repeated workouts, simply replace those individual mats.

#3 – Home Gym Mats for Benches, Multi-Gyms, and Heavier Free Weights

Foam won’t cut it when it comes to flooring for weights – you’ll need a thicker rubber gym mat.

The key options are a larger thick rubber one piece fitness mat or interlocking / tiled solutions.

There are pros and cons of each, with the ability to replace (or switch around) individual interlocking tiles that bear the brunt of your weight drops or the feet of your bench a big factor in favour of these.

If you are setting up a garage gym, a single 20mm+ thick rubber slab solves a lot of problems at once. You can always add a thinner covering for those hard-use areas.

Unlike the foam interlocking mats, the thicker rubber versions have solutions underneath at the corners. This stops them from looking too much like a kid’s playroom – giving a polished and professional surface instead.

Two picks in this area, depending on which solution you prefer:

At 9kgs each these 1 meter by 50cm tiles are heavy enough not to need adhesive. They come from Cannons UK, and are built to European standards. 20mm is plenty thick enough for mats of this weight and quality. There is a handy selection tool that shows how many mats you need to cover your floor (in square meters).

If you want the best mats that won’t need replacing for years, these are the ones to opt for.

Check out these pro heavy rubber mats now, on this dedicated Cannon’s UK page at Amazon.co.uk!

Smaller interlocking heavy duty rubber mats have the locking mechanism hidden. This gives you a smooth surface, providing the perfect base for your weights, benches, and multi-gym equipment. These tiles are 50x50cm, and a solid 25mm thick. They will absorb impacts and will last.

#4 – Dojo / Boxing Gym / Commercial Gym Flooring Options

At this level you need a cushioned floor that will last – withstanding the most intense use cases.

Floors for MMA gyms and other commercial uses are up to 50mm thick, they are made of the best quality rubber – and can be sized for their specific surroundings.

(Need to Confirm Source, old supplier unavailable)

#5 – Kid’s Playroom Thick Mat Flooring

In addition to creating a safe, cushioned, and non-slip floor for your kid’s playroom – there are some special requirements in this category.

The mats also need to be spill-proof, easy to wipe clean and capable of withstanding repeated dings, dinks, and bashes.

I recommend a two-step approach here.

Interlocking thick (15mm+) mats make for the perfect base layer. On top of that, add a mat which is involved in learning or play. Options here include the village / road mat, animal versions or ones with letters and numbers.

Quality interlocking mats will last. You do have the option to replace them when they show the signs of wear and tear.

These interlocking mats were made with kid’s playrooms in mind. Instead of the usual grey and black, you get to choose from a range of colours. Why not mix them up a little, to create a design all your own.

For even more ideas, check out this dedicated page on options for flooring for Kids Playrooms.

Thick Gym Mats and Fitness Flooring: Frequently Asked Questions:

How Thick Should my Mat be Under my Treadmill / Elliptical / Exercise Bike?

The minimum thickness of a mat that goes under your cardio equipment is 5mm. A little more than this will help protect against noise and vibration (7mm to 10mm). Rubber is perfect, as this can be rolled up and put away when not in use. If you have a thick carpet, opt for a heavy-duty mat. As a side note, some ‘generics’ in this space are shockingly bad quality. Paying just a little more for a branded mat will save you money in the long run.

What is the Best Material for a Thick Gym Mat or Flooring?

Without a doubt this is rubber. Foam has its place, especially where you’ll be moving around a lot. Rubber is more durable, easier to clean, and absorbs much more of the vibration / noise. It also protects your floor that much better.

How do Thick Interlocking Foam Mats Work?

There are two main types of interlocking foam / rubber gym mat, and they work slightly differently.

Cheaper mats work like jigsaw puzzle pieces – locking together at the sides. A professional set will have the locking mechanism underneath. This gives you a smooth surface to work out on – though does have the downside of taking longer to assemble / remove.

What is the Cheapest Type of Thick Gym Mat?

This would be a simple foam interlocking mat. Many ‘generics’ come from unknown brands, and get the job done at a cheap price point. A plus point about these cheap solutions is that interlocking thick gym mats are easy to replace as and when they wear out.

Wrapping Up: Gym Mats Guide – Final Thoughts

As with everything in life – paying for quality is always the right choice. This applies to thick gym flooring and mats just as much as it applies to the fitness equipment you use.

Here is the table once again.

By the time you have read the information above – my picks will now make perfect sense.

	Best Mat for Cardio Machines Quality UK brand York Fitness are my go-to for mats that go under treadmills, exercise bikes or ellipticals. These mats are built to last.	Check Price!
	Thick Mat for Yoga / Pilates These mats roll up (straps included) and are 12mm thick, way better than those skinny yoga mats you are used to. Choice of colours too.	Check Price!
	Interlocking Rubber Mats Floor workouts, bodyweight and HIIT fans will love these thick interlocking rubber mats. Easy to fit, and easy on the joints!	Check Price!
	MiraMat Single Piece Rubber Mat Big, thick and super hard-wearing. These popular rubber gym floor mats from MiraFit are single-piece and great value.	Check Price!
	Commercial Grade Heavy Rubber Mats Pick your floor area and see how many of these 9kg slabs of rubber you need. Serious quality you'll only ever need to buy once	Check Price!
	Thick Foam Mats for Kids Playrooms Soft enough for a kids playroom, yet tough enough to withstand those dings and spills. You get a choice of colours too.	Check Price!