Rubber gym flooring comes with many choices. Rolls, tiles, and mats are all commonly used in commercial, industrial, retail, and residential home gym applications. Gym floors, weight room floors, cardio floors, yoga floors, basement floors, and play area flooring are all popular uses for products from Fitfloors.com. Made in the USA from recycled rubber, PremierTuff is the #1 choice for gym floors.
You can find more information on our web, so please take a look.
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The foundation of every home gym is quite literally what’s on the floor. Our team bought and tested some of the best home gym flooring options (as well as some obscure mats) to determine what works best for most people. We used an in-depth fitness equipment testing methodology to assess factors such as:
We have competitive weightlifters, CrossFitters, and many home gym owners on our team. We know that no two home gyms are alike. Some people lift weights in the garage, some do yoga in the living room, and some turn an upstairs bedroom into a high-intensity cardio studio.
We found the best soundproof exercise mats, tiles, and even vinyl planks so you can determine what works best for your workout space. You might be utilizing a yoga mat or whatever flooring you have in your home right now, depending on your setup. However, if you truly want to improve your at-home gym area, investing in a new gym floor can significantly improve your training results.
Good for: People willing to spend a little more money on the best garage gym flooring
Best Overall GGR Score: We test and review fitness products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. 4.7 Flooring Inc 8MM Strong Rubber Rolls 5-year warranty on standard colors 30-day return policy Financing available through Affirm Save up to 30% See Details Material Recycled rubber Adjustability Ships as a roll that can be cut to any custom size Flooring Type Roll Durable Materials This rubber material is built to withstand drops and heavy equipment Minimal Rubber Smell Unlike other materials and options like horse stall mats, these mats don’t have a strong rubber smell Pros Doesn’t have the funky rubber smell some mats do Commercial gyms most often trust this type of flooring High-end look and feel Variety of fleck color options Cons One of the more expensive flooring options at up to $3/square foot Use carpet tape to keep in place Installation takes longer than most other options Material Rubber Thickness 8 mm Color Options 24 optionsIf you want flooring that is consistent, comes with more options, and often less smell than stall mats for your home gym, then Flooring Inc Rubber Rolls around 8mm or thicker is a great choice.
If you want flooring that is consistent, comes with more options, and often less smell than stall mats for your home gym, then Flooring Inc Rubber Rolls around 8mm or thicker is a great choice. This is actually the flooring that I have in my latest garage gym build. Although it’s not going to provide any further shock protection over stall mats, it does move less, has less off-gas, and overall has a more premium look and feel.
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Relative to other rubber mats, this flooring is 8 millimeters. That’s slightly less than the horse stall mats and interlocking tiles. However, after using them for almost a year in my personal garage gym, I’ve become a fan. They hold up against all my gym and cardio equipment and have enough cushioning to protect my floor, and I give them 5 out of 5 for durability. Also, these are the same mats most often used in commercial gym applications.
With a number of fleck color options, the Flooring Inc rolls have a very clean and professional look. That said, they are expensive, and the installation is pretty labor-intensive, and they only earn 3 out of 5 stars for value.
They run between $2.25 and $3 a square foot and come in at least 15-foot rolls, which you’ll clearly need to cut, earning a 4 out of 5 for installation. For the install, you’ll need to use carpet tape to hold the mat in place. In my opinion, it’s worth the work because of the eventual look and feel.
If you’re interested large flooring rolls, we also like Living.Fit Rubber Flooring Rolls.
Good for: Home gym users who want interlocking mats to prevent shifting while lifting
Best Interlocking Tile Flooring GGR Score: We test and review fitness products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. 4 Living.Fit Gym Mats 5-year warranty 30-day return policy Financing available through Shop Pay Material Recycled rubber Adjustability Interlocking mats that can be configured to any floor setup and trimmed if needed Flooring Type Interlocking mats Durable Materials This rubber material is built to withstand drops and heavy equipment Affordable Flooring isn’t cheap, but these mats are affordable compared to other options Pros Spike resistance Interlocking pieces Heavy-duty rubber Free shipping Cons No reviews Odd dimensions if combining with other gym flooring Material Rubber Thickness 8 mm Color Options BlackWith interlocking pieces and free shipping, Living Fit Gym Mats are an excellent choice for gym flooring. Made of a heavy-duty black rubber, the mat is spike resistant and durable enough to last, backed by a five-year warranty.
We tend to not recommend puzzle-piece gym mats, as they are often made with a high-density EVA foam, and those foam tiles don’t stay locked well and also get dirty easily. That’s not the case with Living.Fit Gym Mats. Made with heavy-duty rubber, these square stall mats have jigsaw edges that stay locked together even through heavy lifting.
Garage Gym Reviews expert panel member and USA Weightlifting Level 2 Coach Jacob Penner tried these mats at his gym and was immediately impressed: “I didn’t expect such high-quality mats. They have a great thickness and the rubber is fantastic. It has a great grip to it—three of us walked on it and were shocked.” At almost a half-inch thick, these mats will give a good amount of cushioning for your flooring underneath, too.
At just under $100 for a mat that measures 14.3 square feet, this is a relatively inexpensive option for your gym space (especially for rubber mats), whether for storing exercise equipment or dropping heavy deadlifts. It gets a 4 out of 5 for its value.
It can handle a solid drop from an Olympic barbell; it’s actually spike-resistant, meaning it can hold up against most damage you’d expect in a home gym. Jacob rates the durability a solid 5 out of 5.
Jacob does warn, “The gym mats arrive rolled up, so I’d recommend letting them lay out to settle, perhaps with some weight plates on top to speed it along.” With the mats flat, they’ll be easier to interlock. They aren’t the lightest gym mats, but shouldn’t be a problem if you are okay with moving weight. The smell of rubber is present, though, earning it a 3 out of 5. If you’re OK with that fresh rubber smell at first, then these interlocking tiles can be a great addition to your home gym.
If you like the idea of modular flooring but don’t want to deal with interlocking tiles, check out Second Skin Stomp Mats.
Good for: Those who want to reduce noise in their home gym or for their downstairs neighbors
Best Soundproof Home Gym Flooring GGR Score: We test and review fitness products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. 4 Second Skin Stomp Mat 5-year warranty 30-day return policy Financing available through PayPal Pay Later Material Black recycled rubber held together with a poly-binder Adjustability 4′ x 6′ mats that can be cut to size Flooring Type Large rubber mats Durable Materials This rubber material is built to withstand drops and heavy equipment Multiple Sizes All of the mats are 4′ x 6′, but you can choose 0.25″ or 0.5″ thickness Pros Durable Soundproofing capabilities Can be used in multiple settings for many uses Cons Pricey compared to other gym flooring options, but comes with free shipping Fairly heavy, especially the thicker mats Material Rubber Thickness 0.25″ or 0.5″ Color Options BlackThe Second Skin Stomp Mat is a great choice for gym flooring, especially for those who need the ability to soundproof their gym. Coming in two different thickness options, these mats can provide noise reduction for home gyms, as well as for drum sets and laundry machines. Although a bit pricey, its noise reduction might well be worth the price.
If you’re tired of the sound of clanging barbells or don’t want to upset your downstairs neighbor, the appropriately-named Second Skin Stomp Mat is a perfect choice. Rubber mats and rolls have always been known for being able to help dampen noise in a gym, but these mats in particular have even been trusted by laundromats for silencing machines that tend to cause a lot of noise—so they can work for your loaded barbell and bumper plates, too.
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We haven’t personally tested this home gym flooring, yet, but we’re so enticed by the specs that I’m actually installing it in my mother’s home gym (shhh, don’t tell her—it’s a secret). Here’s why we’re confident in recommending them: Both the 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch thickness options have an R-value of 2.0 per square inch. (R-value is how thermal temperature insulation is measured.) These rubber rolls easily get a 5 out of 5 for durability with that R-value.
Each mat is 4 feet by 6 feet, which is more than enough to cover a weightlifting platform, that wobbly exercise bike, or anything else where you want the best soundproofing. Because you can cut each mat as needed, and it’s a little easier t manuever than a rubber roll, these mats get a 3.5 out of 5 for versatility.
Just note that the half-inch mats are $80 more than the 1/4-inch mats, making them have a little less value, although the thicker mats can absorb more weight drops. It gets a 4 out of 5 for value.
If you want another durable option with plenty of sound-dampening, Tractor Supply ¾” Rubber Stall Mats are very popular with home gym owners, and worth considering.
Good for: Gym owners with large floor spaces to cover
Best Rubber Flooring GGR Score: We test and review fitness products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. 4.2 Living.Fit Rubber Flooring Rolls 5-year warranty on standard colors 30-day return policy Financing available through Shop Pay Material Recycled rubber Adjustability Ships as a roll that can be cut to any custom size Flooring Type Roll Durable Materials This rubber material is built to withstand drops and heavy equipment Minimal Rubber Smell Unlike other materials and options like horse stall mats, these mats don’t have a strong rubber smell Pros Durable Made in the USA 30-day money back guarantee Made for home and commercial gyms Cons Rolls can be harder to install Only available in one color Material Rubber Thickness 8 mm Color Options Black with grey specsMade of certified clean rubber, Living.Fit Rubber Flooring Rolls are an excellent choice for gym flooring. They’re sold in 4′ x 24′ rolls, are designed for easy cleaning, and don’t have a strong rubber smell.
If you’ve got a large space you’re working with, like a basement, garage, or commercial gym, rubber flooring rolls are often much easier to use than interlocking pieces. You may need to cut them, and installation can be difficult, but rolls make covering large spaces much easier.
Living.Fit rubber flooring rolls are made in the USA, and specifically designed to cover large spaces. They’re sold in 4′ x 24′ rolls, which can be cut to fit your space as needed. These rolls earn 4 out of 5 stars for versatility.
Made from certified clean rubber, Living.Fit claims that these rolls don’t have any weird rubber smells, though we haven’t tested them ourselves yet to verify this. Still, this is a great feature, as anyone who’s installed rubber flooring knows that the smell can be quite strong for a while.
Even though we haven’t used these exact rolls, our team has used similar rubber flooring rolls for years, and we expect these to be quite durable, as similar products have earned 5 out of 5 stars for durability.
Each roll is 8mm thick and designed for easy cleaning, making them a great choice for both home gyms and commercial training centers.
Finally, the flooring is protected by a 5-year warranty, so you can rest assured that even if something happens to these rolls, Living.Fit has you covered, earning it a 4.5 out of 5 for customer experience.
For another great rubber flooring roll option, check out our pick for the best overall home gym flooring, the Flooring Inc 8mm Rubber Rolls.
Good for: Athletes looking to minimize pressure on the joints
Best Artifical Turf for Gyms GGR Score: We test and review fitness products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. 4.4 Flooring Inc Performance Turf Rolls 5-year warranty 30-day return policy Financing available through Affirm Material PE Fiber w/ unitary or Shock Pad Foam Backing Adjustability Sold in custom lengths or cut to size Flooring Type Synthetic turf Durable Materials Synthetic turf is a great shock-absorbant flooring for home gyms Indoor/Outdoor Use This turn is specifically designed for both indoor and outdoor installation Pros Excellent shock absorption Fairly easy install with carpet tape Cleans easily Excellent durability to withstand explosive exercise as well as heavy weights Cons Cost is around $2.79/square foot Not ideal for weightlifting Not as gentle for floor exercises as other materials Material Synthetic turn Thickness 5/8″ Color Options Forest Green, Forest Green with Shock PadThe Performance Turf Rolls are a great choice because of their versatility. They work well inside and outside, and if you choose the non-cushioned back option, there are holes for drainage.
Synthetic and artificial turf has become a staple in athletics over the last 50 years1. It definitely also has its place in home gyms—under the right circumstances, of course. Flooring Inc has several gym-specific turf options.
While we haven’t tested this turf yet, the Performance Turf Rolls are a great choice because of their versatility. They work well inside and outside, and if you choose the non-cushioned back option, there are holes for drainage. For versatility, these earn 5 out of 5 stars.
Unlike some other options, the Performance Turf Rolls aren’t nylon; they are polyethylene, which makes them softer and a better choice for floor-based movements (though turf is still fairly abrasive to lie on). I have turf in my gym and love it for really high-impact exercise. Turf is well-known for its ability to minimize the joint shock effect of activities like box jumps and bounding jumps. I also love turf for sled drags.
Turf is pretty easy to install, especially if you can just roll it out, and these rolls earn 4 out of 5 for installation. Carpet tape easily secures it in place and keeps it from moving while you’re doing sled drags or pushes.
The downside to turf is that it tends to be expensive. Normally priced at about $4 a square foot, this is one of the pricier flooring options on our list, earning it a 3.5 out of 5 for value. I don’t recommend outfitting your entire gym space in turf, either, because it isn’t designed for weightlifting. However, a small turf area looks great, is easy to maintain, and is useful to protect your joints.
If turf isn’t your thing but you still want a soft training surface, you might like Feather Peel and Stick Carpet Tiles.
Good for: Any home gym in a basement, garage or even outdoors
Best Budget Stall Mats GGR Score: We test and review fitness products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. 4.3 Tractor Supply 3/4″ Rubber Stall Mats 5-year limited warranty 30-day return policy Financing available Buy 25, get 5% off each See Details Material 100% recycled vulcanized rubber Adjustability Can be cut, but they’re thick and heavy Flooring Type Horse stall mats Durable Materials Horse stall mats are nearly indestructible, and should last for years in your home gym Indoor/Outdoor Use These mats are durable enough to be used anywhere Pros Great durability for any exercise Anti-skid surface Good noise reduction for dropped barbells Less than $60/piece (less than $2.50/square foot) Cons Heavy, weighing around 100 pounds for each piece Some people don’t like the rubber smell Surface is not smooth; these have raised bumps May be harder to clean than smooth surfaces Material Rubber Thickness 0.75″ Color Options BlackThese horse stall mats from Tractor Supply use recycled rubber, are 3/4″ thick, 4 ‘x 6’ in size, and weigh upwards of 100 pounds. You can find horse stall mats at other farm supply stores, and they will be similar in dimensions. The thickness makes this flooring sound-absorbent.
The absolute staple for most home gym floors and especially garage gyms the world over is the horse stall mat. For most people, the easiest and cheapest place to buy these is from Tractor Supply. You can order online or simply go to the store to pick them up (as long as your vehicle is big enough to transport them).
These horse stall mats from Tractor Supply use recycled rubber, are 3/4″ thick, 4 ‘x 6’ in size, and weigh upwards of 100 pounds. You can find horse stall mats for home gyms at other farm supply stores, and they will be similar in dimensions. The thickness makes this flooring sound absorbent and extremely durable, earning a 4 out of 5 for its sound dampening and a 5 out of 5 for its durability. I’ve used these mats in gyms for years and they hold up great.
These mats are suitable for any exercise. If you’re into powerlifting or CrossFit, using powerlifting barbells or CrossFit barbells for deadlifts, squats, bench presses, clean and jerks, situps, etc., these mats withstand literally any exercise.
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At around 100 pounds each, the mats themselves can be moved, but it may require more than one person, depending on your strength. A hundred pounds doesn’t seem like a lot, but it’s an odd object, so it can get a little clunky. However, these are relatively easy to cut to accommodate odd dimensions and small sizes. Laying down several of these can be a burden, though, so the installation scores a 3 out of 5 here.
It’s important to note that these do not have a smooth surface. That can be great for grip, but some people find it harder to clean. Also, horse stall mats are notorious for the, um, funky rubber smell. I, personally, don’t mind it because that’s what a garage gym smells like to me, but keep that in mind when choosing this option.
If you want heavy-duty mats that are a little lighter, you’ll want to consider Second Skin Stomp Mats.
A high-performance gym flooring option that provides grip, noise and shock absorption, and protection for your floors.
If you’re looking for a gym flooring option that can withstand continuous high-performance training, we recommend the Forge rubber flooring by PLAE. We actually installed this at our Garage Gym Reviews headquarters, along with their Achieve flooring in an 18mm thickness (the Forge is a more affordable version of the Achieve).
This flooring has held up beautifully despite our reviewers sweating on it, dragging heavy treadmills and exercise bikes across it, and slamming heavy barbells on it—we’ve even had an Olympic weightlifter drop 450 pounds from overhead onto the floor, so we have to give this rubber flooring a durability rating of 5 out of 5.
The 12-millimeter thickness also provides excellent shock and sound absorption, not to mention the fact that you feel secure on it thanks to its super-grip technology. It earns a 4 out of 5 in noise reduction.
To be clear, these aren’t removable mats but actual flooring that will be installed on top of whatever’s currently in your garage gym. The good news is it works with just about any type of subflooring (such as wood, plywood, or concrete).
PLAE typically works with fitness studio owners, but that doesn’t mean you can’t install this in a home gym (just make sure you’re going to be there for a while). In fact, their white glove design and installation service sets them apart. With this option, they get a 4.5 out of 5 for the installation. Expect to get the royal treatment with Plae.
If you own a gym of any kind and want to go for extra protection, opt for Achieve. But for home gym owners looking for high-caliber flooring, the Forge is our pick.
If you want a more budget-friendly option that’s still extremely durable, you can’t go wrong with Tractor Supply ¾” Rubber Stall Mats.
Good for: Home gym owners on a budget who need to protect their floors under heavy equipment
Best Cheap Home Gym Flooring GGR Score: We test and review fitness products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. 3.5 ProsourceFit Puzzle Exercise Mats Lifetime warranty covering manufacturing defects 30-day return policy Free shipping for Prime members Material EVA foam Adjustability Interlocking mats that can be configured to any floor setup and trimmed if needed Flooring Type Interlocking mats Foam mats This flooring isn’t the most durable, but it’s very comfortable to stand on Affordable This flooring is very affordable, perfect for home gym owners on a budget Pros Inexpensive Portable and easy to move Interlocking tiles are easy to connect and install Ideal for placing under heavy exercise equipment Cons Not as durable as rubber Porous material makes it harder to clean Not very slip-resistant Can wear down easily Material EVA foam Thickness 0.5″ Color Options Beige, Black, Blue, Brown, GreyProsourceFit Puzzle Exercise Mats are an inexpensive flooring option for home gyms. These are best for low-impact exercises, since heavier weights will cause them to break down easily, especially if the weight is dropped onto the mats.
If you’re on a bare-bones budget and need something quick to protect your floor, you can opt for ProsourceFit Puzzle Exercise Mats. Available in packs of six, 12, or 36 tiles, these mats can cover 24, 48, or 144 square feet for cheap; the six-tile pack costs around $25, earning a 5 out of 5 for value.
Although we haven’t tested this brand of foam mats ourselves, we know that the EVA foam these mats are made of are best for low-impact home workouts because heavy weights and drops will cause them to break down easily. Because of this, they only earn 3 out of 5 stars for durability. (Amazon has many high-density EVA foam flooring options from other brands like IncStores, as well.)
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EVA foam like this should be alright if you want to have something softer under you while doing yoga or lightweight dumbbell exercises. Interlocking puzzle mats like ProsourceFit are also great to set under heavy equipment like a rower or a plate tree because they can provide some protection for your floor without costing a fortune.
We wouldn’t recommend foam mats for high-impact activity, like CrossFit, plyometrics, or heavy lifting—especially if you’re dropping weights.
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With that said, also keep in mind that in socks, you might slip easier on a foam mat. Sometimes, foam mats even slip on the concrete itself and would definitely slide around on the hardwood. If you need a non-slip surface, rubber would be the way to go. However, foam mats can get the job done for certain exercises and certain workout spaces.
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Because they’re so light, they’re also extremely easy to install and earn 4 out of 5 stars for the installation process. Customers (and us) recommend buying all the mat you need at once, as ProsourceFit occasionally changes the design of the interlocking mechanisms along the edge, meaning older mats may not connect properly with newer mats.
If you want interlocking floor tiles that are significantly more durable, we recommend Living.Fit Gym Mats.
Good for: Very low-impact workout spaces featuring high cardio and lightweights
Best Carpet Tile for Gyms GGR Score: We test and review fitness products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. 4 Eclipse Peel and Stick Carpet Tiles 30-day return policy Free shipping for Prime members Financing available through Amazon Material Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Adjustability Peel and stick carpet piles that can be trimmed to any size Flooring Type Carpet tiles Soft flooring This flooring isn’t the most durable, but it’s comfortable and easy to maintain Affordable This flooring is very affordable at $3.11 per square foot Pros Easy to install Lightweight Free shipping for Amazon Prime members Made in the USA Cons Different designs are the same basic color Not great for heavy lifting Material Carpet Thickness 3/16″ Color Options Northern Lights, Sunset, Equinox, Full MoonEclipse Peel and Stick carpet tiles are a budget-friendly and easy-to-install home gym flooring option that feels like carpet. It’s not ideal for lifting heavy weights, but should work for bodyweight exercises or storing your treadmill or other cardio equipment.
Not all home gyms are in garages. Living rooms, spare bedrooms, and basement areas also double as workout spaces. Depending on your activity, carpeting may be just right. Eclipse Peel and Stick Carpet Tiles are great because they are easy to install, look great, and are fairly easy to maintain. They’re also pretty affordable, since you can cover 22.5 square feet for under $70.
Carpet tiles may be a good option for you if you tend to do lower-weight exercises, cardio on a treadmill or exercise bike, stretching, yoga, and Pilates, for example. A nice plus is that the Eclipse Carpet Tiles also have an attached polyurethane 6-pound cushion pad underneath the carpeting, providing a bit of cushioning.
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It’s not going to provide much floor protection and the cushioning is minimal, though, so it only earns a 3 out of 5 for durability. Still, that doesn’t mean it won’t be a great fit for your home.
Additionally, peel-and-stick carpet tiles give you the ability to mix and match colors to create a cool-looking space. The carpet can still be grippy enough to keep you from sliding while wearing the best Pilates socks you have. If you’re looking to decorate a room on a budget, these are a great choice, and earn 4 out of 5 stars for versatility.
Where I wouldn’t use carpet tiles is in a home gym where you’re using heavy weights and barbells. At 3/16-inches thick, this carpet is just too thin and will not provide the shock absorption necessary to protect your floors or foundation. If you’re wanting to lift some weights, I’d recommend any of our rubber flooring options we’ve discussed for the most durability and noise-dampening capability.
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If you like the idea of customizing your space with a variety of tiles but aren’t sold on carpet, you might like Flooring Inc Modular Grid-Loc Tiles.
Good for: People who want their home gym to be aesthetically pleasing
Best Vinyl Gym Flooring GGR Score: We test and review fitness products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. 3.8 Flooring Inc Modular Grid-Loc Tile No warranty 30-day return policy No financing Material High-grade polypropylene and a vinyl top surface Adjustability Interlocking tiles that can be arranged in any pattern, but may be difficult to cut Flooring Type Vinyl tiles Lightweight flooring This flooring isn’t the most durable, but it’s easy to install and comes in a variety of colors Multiple colors These vinyl tiles come in a variety of colors, making it easy to customize your space however you see fit Pros Water- and moisture resistant Aesthetically pleasing Easy to install Cons Hard floor that offers some durability but little shock absorption Won’t withstand extremely heavy lifting Expensive at around $8.99/square foot Material High-grade polypropylene and a vinyl top surface Thickness 0.5″ Color Options 8 colorsThis is a good option if you want nice-looking flooring in your home gym and you don’t drop weights or do high-impact activities.
Depending on your gym space, you may want a flooring that looks less like, well, a gym. If your space is in an area where you need it to look a little less dungeon-y and a little more presentable, Flooring Inc Modular Grid-Loc Tile could work. It has a vinyl top and gives you the look of hardwood or even tile without the porous and breakable nature of either material. It’s often water-resistant and staves off issues like mold and mildew.
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Now, if you’re doing heavy deadlifts or dropping weights from overhead, steer clear of vinyl, which only earns 3 out of 5 stars for durability. That’s a recipe for disaster. But if you want a good-looking workout room to do some cardio, dance, HIIT training, yoga, or pilates, vinyl suffices. Some basketball and sports courts also use vinyl planks.
While these tiles aren’t great for heavy lifting, they’re good for plenty of other activities and earn 4 out of 5 for versatility.
Generally speaking, vinyl flooring can be affordable when you’re looking for something that looks nice. It’s definitely cheaper than hardwood, for example, but it’s going to run you more than simply throwing down some horse stall mats. Flooring Inc Modular Grid-Loc Tile costs about $8.99/square foot, so it only gets a 3 out of 5 for value.
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For customizable tiles with a softer finish, we suggest Feather Peel and Stick Carpet Tiles.
Here are some other flooring options that we took a look at or have used, but didn’t quite crack our best of list:
Before investing in some high-quality gym flooring, take into account a few considerations:
There are a few basic types of material to choose from:
Are you going to be dropping weights like adjustable dumbbells or kettlebells? Are you worried about the flooring underneath the gym floor? If you said yes to either of these, then finding a durable material, like rubber flooring, is a must. Rubber and turf are among the most shock absorbent, whereas vinyl and carpet won’t do much.
For intensive activities like jumping rope or weight training, use rubber or foam flooring—it will absorb impact better than carpet, vinyl, or grass. These materials are more suitable for yoga or serve as a foundation for exercise bikes or treadmills.
If you’ve ever dropped a barbell from overhead, you know the kind of noise it makes. Putting in a thick rubber floor can dampen that sound. Some people even pad deadlift areas with extra mats to absorb the sound.
Foam is easily the cheapest home gym flooring you can find, and turf tends to be on the more expensive end. Within the world of rubber flooring, there is variance in price. And be aware that companies and e-sellers like Amazon all list the price differently: per foot, per roll, per 4×6 piece, etc. Figure out what each cost per square foot for a good comparison.
If you have a perfectly square or rectangle space, then your options are wide open. However, most garage gyms have uneven walls, water heaters, and other items to work around. If that’s your space, find a material that you can easily cut and move around, like rubber flooring.
The size of your space will also factor into your cost, since you’ll obviously have more flooring to cover. Depending on your budget, you may need to consider a more budget-friendly option for a larger garage gym, but you may be able to afford a more premium flooring for a more compact space.
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Some types of flooring are better than others for athletic performance, as seen in a study2 that compared different sports floors with shoe cushioning, finding that different floors had different responsiveness depending on the cushioning of the shoe. An older study3 notes that basketball players’ vertical jumps improved on composite flooring when compared to normal wood floors.
Although there are some obvious reasons to having home gym flooring, there are a couple benefits that you may not have thought of.
The biggest benefit of home gym flooring is that it protects the foundation of the garage, room, or wherever else you may be working out. It should go without saying that a loaded barbell is a heavy object and when dropped (whether intentional or not) can cause significant damage to concrete, wood, and other surfaces.
On the other hand, this also can help protect your weights and equipment, too, by dampening the weights’ impact with the ground and reducing the likelihood of your weights bouncing up at odd angles. Weights bouncing wildly can potentially hurt you or damage any home gym machines or racks nearby you.
Speaking from experience, dropping weight on concrete can be loud. The proper home gym flooring can also reduce the noise a barbell makes when it hits the ground. Flexible flooring like rubber rolls can absorb the impact to reduce the noise created. Certain mats will even have waffle patterns built underneath the mat to help further absorb and disperse noise, making it even quieter.
Of course, no flooring or mat will completely silence your weights on impact, but there are several that can help reduce the noise.
Certain gym floorings can open up the possibilities of what your garage gym can be used for. Rubber flooring is some of the most versatile flooring, since it’s durable enough for heavy lifting, but also grippy enough for some plyometrics and bodyweight exercises.
Other flooring options may limit what you can do, but will help you perform your intended type of training. Turf, for example, shouldn’t be used for heavy cleans, but the material is great for plyometrics and running drills. You can even use it for pushing a weight sled around—if you don’t want to drag it around your neighborhood.
Home gym flooring is relatively simple, at least when compared to finding the best Olympic barbell or best trap bar. There are really only a few different materials used as flooring for a home gym: rubber floor, vinyl flooring, foam mats, carpet tiles, and artificial turf.
To begin my search for the best flooring for a home gym, I ran out to the garage gym to see all of the samples I had on hand. What I’ve done in the past in building different home gyms was order samples from most manufacturers to feel and see the difference between all of the options they make.
What becomes clear rather quickly is the fact that most rubber flooring varies primarily on aesthetics and thickness, unless you go with a really high-end option like Plae Flooring that uses multiple laminated layers to suppress sound and vibration.
After training on all the different types of mats, I weighed the thickness versus the price of rubber matting. Thicker is almost always better. It will suppress sound, protect your foundation, and protect your equipment better than thinner matting. However, it requires more material, often uses special molds, and is, therefore, more expensive.
Here are the specifications we judged the matting on to decide how to rank the various options:
There is a wide range of materials used for home gym flooring, but, by and large, the best is rubber. Not all rubber is the same. Some are recycled while others use virgin rubber. In most cases, avoid foam and plastic, go with rubber.
The thicker the flooring, the better (to a degree.) Thicker flooring will suppress sound, protect your foundation and protect your equipment.
Suppressing sound in a home gym is an often-requested feature of flooring. However, most flooring that is designed specifically for sound suppression is very expensive. They use unique molds and a lot of material.
Potentially slipping during a deadlift is something that simply should not ever happen. You should feel secure on the floor during all movements with both shoes on and off.
The ideal gym flooring should not compress underfoot. Compression leads to instability and is the same reason it’s not recommended to wear thick-soled running shoes while squatting.
Although flooring shouldn’t compress greatly while underfoot, it should compress under a heavy load. Compressing under a barbell and plates will protect your equipment.
The features and quality should be reflected by the price. What we’re looking for is the best value, not just the best without considering the cost.
The best method to clean horse stall mats is with a Simple Green cleaner and a deck brush. Both can be found at your local grocery or hardware store for less than $10. If the smell lingers, you can try baking soda or essential oils (tried and tested).
RELATED: How To Clean Rubber Gym Flooring
In addition to that, I suggest getting a leaf blower and blowing the mats off periodically. If you’re not in a garage gym, a vacuum can work well too, although it will take longer. Personally, I use both a battery-powered leaf blower and vacuum so I don’t have to deal with cords.
A lot of people immediately think of foam home gym flooring when weighing their options. It may be a cheaper alternative to most commercial grade flooring choices, however, it is not ideal.
When choosing gym flooring, you want something that will last for years to come, protect the floor or foundation of your home (garage, basement, bedroom, etc.), and be easy to clean/disinfect.
Imagine deadlifting or dropping a weight onto the foam. That foam will decompress over time, which may result in damaging the floor underneath. The cracks in between can also cause smaller items to become lost. Unfortunately, I learned this too late and now have some small cracks in my basement floor from heavy deadlifts.
Next, even if you’re the only person lifting in your gym, the foam tiles are porous. They absorb any type of liquid, whether it’s an all-purpose cleaner, sweat, a sports drink, or that whey protein shake you made minutes before it fell to the ground. As you move quickly to mop up the excess liquid, it will be too late.
Foam tiles are even more of a potential injury nightmare when they become wet because they become super slick. When I reinstalled my tiles, I thought most of them were dry and began to install and walk on them, which was a huge mistake. I nearly wiped out some of the tiles still holding on to water, even after hours of drying time outside.
Foam flooring may be cost-effective, but the potential risks outweigh the price. You don’t want to be liable if someone slips or falls due to faulty flooring. Your best bet is to spend the money on our top pick and install the correct flooring the first time.
Home gym floors should always be sturdy enough to withstand strenuous exercises and the use of weights or equipment. Increased cushioning will also be gentler on joints and will protect an existing floor below. Shock-absorbing foam is ideal for home gyms with weight machines and cardio equipment. To offer floor protection and traction, this puzzle-like material should be 0.32 inches thick or thicker.
The most common thickness for home gym flooring is 8 millimeters. CrossFit exercises and Olympic lifting, on the other hand, require at least 3/8 inches. If you intend to drop very heavy dumbbells and/or kettlebells on a regular basis, we recommend going with the 1/2 or 3/4 inches just to be cautious.
Depending on how much wear and tear you expect from your home gym use (dropping weights and dumbbells), the thickness you may want or need might vary. Most rubber flooring is about 8 millimeters thick, but there are thicker options for lifters who will be dropping weights routinely.
Our favorite pick for rubber flooring is the 8-millimeter rubber rolls from Flooring Inc. However, for a thicker flooring, you can opt for PLAE Forge or for budget horse stall mats from Tractor Supply.
Foam can often be an inexpensive alternative to rubber flooring for a home gym. It’s great for using underneath home gym storage, or as padding for bodyweight exercises. However, if you’re looking to lift and drop weights, dumbbells, and kettlebells, you’ll want something a bit more durable, like a rubber floor.
The ideal type of flooring for your home gym will protect any subflooring underneath it and also provide you with the durability and protection to go through your typical workout routine. Rubber tiles and rolls are some of the most common types of gym flooring due to its durability and protection for lifting and dropping weights, but foam, turf, vinyl, and other types of flooring can be used for different purposes and modes of training.
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