Vinyl, tile, carpet, and hardwood flooring have nothing on rubber when it comes to creating your ideal home gym. I’ve worked out in so many places, and I can’t stand the slippery feeling of sweat on tile or clinging of carpet fuzz to my hands. I much prefer rubber floors for a little shock absorption for any high-impact training and floor workouts.
Gym flooring is also a great way to set your exercise space apart from the rest of the room. If you can’t dedicate an entire room or your whole garage to gym equipment, gym flooring is also a good way to divide your space.
Keep scrolling below to find our top recommendations for the best home gym flooring!
Best of 2024 – Our Experts’ Top Picks
Popular flooring in homes and commercial gyms includes rubber rolls, mats, turf, carpet, and vinyl. All have different purposes, which we’ll discuss below. In our opinion, rubber is the best type of gym flooring, and we highly recommend it for your home treadmill, but we’ve included a variety since not all home gyms are alike.
IncStores ¼” Tough Rubber Roll
Best Home Gym Flooring Overall
- These can be customized to cover your entire gym. Each roll fits together seamlessly.
- The texture helps prevent any slipping of equipment or yourself.
- The rubber helps to absorb impact on your joints when doing exercises that involve jumping.
- It can be installed with polyurethane adhesive or double-sided carpet tape to secure it to the floor.
- It can show dirt and footprints easily but can also be cleaned easily.
- It is heavy to move.
First, it comes in recommended and custom sizes that can be tailored to fit your space. Each Rubber Roll is 4 feet wide and machine cut, so when placed together, there are no gaps. The rolls come in a minimum of 15 feet long but can be cut to fit your gym.
IncStores also offers them in various fun colors so that you can customize and coordinate everything in your gym. The IncStores ¼” Tough Rubber Roll is the flooring in our studio. We use all the equipment we test on it, including treadmills that work well on this floor. The Rubber Rolls keep large and small fitness equipment planted, eliminating any sliding.
The Rubber Rolls help eliminate dust and fabric fibers that can get into the motor when placing a treadmill on flooring such as carpet. It can show dirty footprints, but that is expected with black rubber floors, and the Tough Rubber Rolls clean up easily and well with a vacuum and mop.
We find the ¼” thickness to be perfect for under treadmills and other equipment and for most uses. The Tough Rubber Rolls from IncStores do come in other thicknesses besides ¼”, like 8mm, ⅜”, and ½”, which might be better for heavy lifting, especially if you plan on throwing some weights around. Having thick gym flooring helps protect the floor underneath the rubber.
Interested in the IncStores ¼” Tough Rubber Roll?
Tractor Supply ¾” Stall Mats
Best Home Gym Flooring for Heavy Weight
- They are durable and popular among home and garage gyms.
- They can be fastened to stay secure and fit seamlessly together.
- You can drop weights on them and not worry about damaging your subfloor.
- The smooth surface is easy to clean and helps hold equipment, like treadmills, evenly.
- These are heavy and hard to move.
- When new, these mats usually have a rubber smell.
If they can handle my gelding pawing with shoes on, they can easily handle treadmills and dropped weights. That’s why they’ve earned the award for being the best home gym flooring for heavy weights.
One reason why they’re so durable is that they’re large, heavy, and thick. Stall Mats from Tractor Supply are 4′ W x 6′ L and ¾” thick. Each mat also weighs a whopping 94 lbs. These Stall Mats are dual-textured with a button surface on one side and a flat surface on the other.
We recommend keeping the mats flat side up to keep your equipment even. Plus, the flat surface is easier to clean. They’re considered a staple among gym flooring because they’re rubber, so they absorb the shock that comes with plyometric exercises and protect your subfloor from any damage.
One thing to note is that they can have a strong rubber smell when you first get them. We recommend washing them and leaving them in the sun to help eliminate the odor. The smell diminishes with time, and it’s one of the few downsides to these mats. They are popular among home gyms because they protect your floor, hold any equipment, and can handle any workout.
Interested in the Tractor Supply ¾” Stall Mats?
ProsourceFit Puzzle Exercise Mat
Best Foam Home Gym Flooring
- They fit together seamlessly and are a great affordable flooring option.
- The tiles are lightweight and easy to move and install.
- The texture helps keep you from slipping while working out.
- They are just as quick and easy to disassemble as assemble.
- They can shift and come apart, so you might need to secure them to the floor and together.
- The material isn’t as durable as rubber, so it might not last with hard and heavy use.
The ProsourceFit Puzzle Exercise Mat is water-resistant and easily cleaned with a cloth, dish soap, and water. They come in black, blue, brown, and grey to match your home’s color scheme. The mats come in three sizes to fit your gym space. The tiles have edge pieces for a clean look, too. The 24-square-foot size comes with six 24-inch tiles and 12 border pieces.
ProsourceFit’s Puzzle Exercise Mat is best if you want to cover part of your gym’s floor. However, they can be cut to cover your entire gym, too. They’re ideal for yoga, pilates, strength training with weights, and more.
Fitness equipment can also be used on top of the Puzzle Exercise Mat. ProsourceFit also has even thicker Puzzle Exercise Mats if ½” isn’t thick enough. You can purchase ¾” and 1″ mats that fit together like puzzles.
Interested in the ProsourceFit Puzzle Exercise Mat?
Impact Rubber Tiles
Best Interlocking Tiles
- Durable, yet easy to install
- They interlock together like a puzzle for a seamless design.
- They are easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth.
- They provide cushioning underfoot, and the texture prevents slipping.
- They are more expensive than other flooring options.
- Heavy free weights and weight equipment aren’t recommended for use on the tiles.
Like the ProsourceFit Puzzle Mat, the Impact Rubber Tiles interlock together like a puzzle. They come in ⅜” and ¾” thicknesses, and each tile weighs around 3-4 lbs, depending on the thickness. One tile covers about 3.67 square feet. The Tiles can work as a large mat to cover part of your gym or can be cut to size to fit your entire gym floor.
You’ll get plenty of shock absorption for your high-impact workouts, so your joints will thank you. The Impact Rubber Tiles can be used for all kinds of workouts, and your cardio equipment should work well on them, too. Each tile has border pieces for a clean look, and their setup is quick and simple.
Interested in the Impact Rubber Tiles?
Rubber Flooring 4′ x 6′ Premium Mats
Best Rubber Mat Gym Flooring
- The rubber is durable, heavy, and thick enough to handle all kinds of uses and equipment.
- They are mold and mildew-resistant, as well as non-porous, so you don’t have to worry about them absorbing water or sweat.
- They come in multiple colors and two different thicknesses.
- They can be easily cleaned and sanitized.
- They’re a bit pricier than other rubber flooring options.
- They’re pretty heavy and harder to install and move if needed.
The Premium Mats come in multiple speckled color options and plain black. The rubber is non-porous, so it doesn’t absorb water and is mold-resistant. We like that the texture is smooth yet non-slipping. Depending on thickness, these mats are heavy at 47 lbs to 60 lbs, so they’ll stay in place while holding even your heaviest equipment.
The Rubber Flooring 4′ x 6′ Premium Mats fit together nicely to eliminate gaps and can be cut to fit any space. We appreciate that they come backed by a 5-year warranty from Rubber Floor Inc.
If you’re looking for the best rubber mat home gym flooring, check out these Rubber Flooring Premium Mats from Rubber FlooringInc. They come in individual 4′ x 6′ mats and different thicknesses depending on your needs.
Interested in the Rubber Flooring 4′ x 6′ Premium Mats?
Turf Tiles
Best Artificial Turf Gym Flooring
- It is great for absorbing the shock from high-impact workouts and provides a great texture to prevent slipping, especially for workouts like sled pushing.
- The interlocking design is seamless and stays together and in place because of the weight of the rubber backing.
- They are water and sweat-resistant to prevent mildew.
- Great for covering part of your gym for specific exercises and can be cut to size.
- It is not best to place it under motorized equipment.
- Expensive compared to other types of gym flooring.
The Turf Tiles are water-resistant and come in a green grass color. They can be cleaned by sweeping or wiping them with detergent and water. However, if they become matted, they may require a little bit more maintenance over time. It’s recommended to brush them with a synthetic brush to eliminate this if it bothers you.
The Turf Tiles have recycled rubber on the bottom, which keeps them from moving. They weigh about 14.5″ per mat, which helps keep them in place, too. The interlocking design is seamless and cohesive for a clean look. It isn’t best for placing under equipment like treadmills, but you’ll be able to perform all kinds of workouts, such as HIIT, CrossFit, and sled-pushing.
Athletes or coaches of turf sports should consider using turf for all or a segment of their exercise area. Athletes can then wear their cleats during agility drills and other conditioning. It’s a great way to get a really sport-specific workout.
Rubber FlooringInc Turf Tiles is our pick for the best artificial turf home gym flooring because of its interlocking design and durability. It can be purchased by square footage or length and width, so you can get the right size for your home gym.
Interested in the Turf Tiles?
Indoor Outdoor Carpet
Best Home Gym Carpet
- It is durable and versatile for working out and other activities.
- It is made for indoor and outdoor use with UV-protected materials.
- It comes in multiple sizes and can be cut for custom sizing.
- It’s thin and softer for exercises that involve being on the floor.
- It is not best for placing under heavy equipment.
- It isn’t water or mildew-resistant, and it’s harder to clean than other gym flooring types.
Indoor-outdoor carpet gives you traction with the ribbed texture to prevent any slipping while working out. Even though it is best for low-impact workouts because of its limited shock absorption, it does have a rubber backing to help keep it in place.
An indoor-outdoor carpet is a nice option if your gym space is multi-use. It is ¼” thick and relatively lightweight when purchasing the smaller sizes, so it should be pretty easy to install in your gym.
The Indoor Outdoor Carpet is available on Amazon, and we’ve given it the award as the best home gym carpet on this list of best home gym flooring because it is durable, easy to install, and versatile enough to be used indoors in your home and outdoors on your patio or even boat. So, if you’re looking for flooring for different areas besides your home gym, this is a great option.
Interested in the Indoor Outdoor Carpet?
ProGym Planks
Best Vinyl Gym Flooring
- It fits in well with most homes.
- It is best for sporting activities like basketball courts and gyms.
- It’s durable and coated in a heavy-duty polyurethane finish, so it’s mold-resistant.
- It is easy to clean with a vacuum, broom, or mop.
- Equipment can move around on it during use because of the smooth, slippery surface.
- It’s not best for high-impact activities because it doesn’t provide cushioning like other flooring types.
Installation is pretty straightforward. The planks interlock, so no glue is required. The ProGym Planks are also mold and mildew-resistant, so they’re easy to clean by sweeping, vacuuming, or mopping with soap and water.
ProGym Planks are made in the USA and are backed by a 15-year warranty. You can choose how much you need by square footage or length and width to fill your entire home gym, regardless of size.
Vinyl flooring isn’t the best for heavy weights and other heavy fitness equipment because it doesn’t help with slipping and isn’t designed to help absorb the impact if you drop a weight on it. If you want to use heavy fitness equipment on this floor, we recommend placing some mats over the top to eliminate slipping.
Interested in the ProGym Planks?
What to Consider when Buying Home Gym Flooring
When purchasing flooring for your home gym, it’s important to consider some factors. Factors like flooring type, equipment, and activity, as well as thickness, can determine how well your subfloor and even joints are protected.
Type Of Gym Flooring
Our best home gym flooring list includes various popular options. Since gyms have multiple uses and are not all alike, it is important to consider the type of flooring available.
Rubber Flooring
Rubber is an excellent gym flooring choice because it offers shock absorption, is water—and sweat-resistant, is easy to clean, and can protect your subfloor from damage if it is thick enough. We recommend placing rubber under treadmills, heavy free weights, and strength training equipment.
Rubber is best for all types of workouts, especially those that involve high-impact activities like jumping and dropping weights. The shock absorption will make these movements friendlier on your joints and the floor underneath the rubber.
Rubber can cover your entire gym or just part of it, and it comes in various types, such as rolls, mats, and tiles. Whether they fit together seamlessly with clean edges or like puzzles, rubber stays in place, although they might require fastening to do so. It’s highly durable yet cumbersome and hard to move.
Foam
Alternatively, foam is a lightweight flooring option that is usually quick and easy to install and remove. If your home gym doubles as another type of space, foam can be convenient if you need to clear your gym out of the way when you’re done with your workout.
Foam is softer than rubber and provides a cushioned feel underfoot. It can cover all or part of your gym’s floor and all kinds of workouts. You can also place heavy fitness equipment on it, but the foam can become dented with time. It isn’t as durable as other flooring types, but it can be a more affordable option.
Turf
Turf is perfect for high-impact activities, and its texture is great for CrossFit and sled-pushing. It can be pretty easy to clean and durable, but it might need extra maintenance, like brushing, if it becomes matted.
The turf is backed with rubber to prevent slipping and is water-resistant to eliminate the chances of it getting mold. We don’t recommend placing motorized equipment on it, but it can be used to cover all or part of your home gym.
Carpet
When we talk about carpets in home gyms, we aren’t talking about shag carpets from the 70s or even plush carpeting. We are talking about all-purpose carpets that are often used indoors and outdoors. This type of carpet can be great in basements, garages, and other areas of the home. It isn’t waterproof or mildew-resistant, though.
Carpet is very durable and great for covering all or part of your gym. It is a softer alternative to the other flooring options and can be enticing if your workouts involve a lot of time on the floor. Low-impact activities are also best since carpet doesn’t offer shock absorption for your joints.
We don’t recommend using heavy weights or placing equipment like treadmills on it because the fibers can get underneath the deck and damage the rollers, deck, and motor over time. If you have carpet in your gym with your treadmill, we recommend placing a mat under your treadmill to protect it from this damage.
Vinyl
Vinyl is arguably the chicest home gym flooring option. It’s found all around the home and looks great in your gym. Vinyl is comfortable underfoot, easy to clean, and water-resistant. It also comes in various finishes like wood and tile for different looks.
Vinyl is very durable, but it is not best for placing heavy weights or fitness equipment. For equipment like rowing machines, exercise bikes, ellipticals, and treadmills, we recommend placing a rubber mat under them to keep them from sliding around.
Activity/Equipment
Now that you know a little bit more about each floor type. Let’s get into what you’ll do in your gym – exercise! It’s important to consider what kind of activity as well as equipment your home gym will house.
Some types of flooring, like rubber and turf, are better for higher-impact activities like running and jumping because they protect the joints. Heavy fitness equipment should also only be placed on certain types of flooring, like rubber.
If you are doing yoga, pilates, or dance, you might have more options for what type of floor you select. However, vinyl may provide the aesthetic you are after.
Thickness/Texture/Durability
As mentioned above, different types of flooring are better for different activities, and some are more durable than others. The texture is important to consider if you want to eliminate slipping or if you want an easy-to-clean surface.
Gym flooring comes in various thicknesses. ¼” inch for rubber is great for most purposes, but you might want a thicker floor up to ½”+ if you lift and drop equipment like heavy free weights to avoid damaging your subfloor.
Storage and Portability
The type of gym flooring you select may also depend on how permanent you want the flooring to be. If your gym is in your home in a dedicated location for exercise, you may like a more permanent gym flooring solution. In this case, large and heavy rubber mats may be a good option.
Gym flooring that is more portable and storable may be necessary for exercisers who do not have permanent home gyms. Thinner rubber mats that you can roll up or interlocking boards or puzzle pieces may be your best option.
You should also consider how easy it is to move equipment and other furniture in and out of your home gym. Gym flooring like the Turf Tiles, may make transporting heavy equipment across it much more difficult where, as harder surfaces with little give are easier to roll machines across.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best flooring for a home gym?
Rubber is the best for all-around use, so whether you are doing high-impact workouts, lifting heavy weights, or using machines like treadmills, rubber is the best option to help protect your joints and subfloor.
How thick should home gym flooring be?
8 mm is the most common floor thickness in public and private gyms. ¼” can work for home gyms; however, we recommend looking into ½”+ floor thicknesses if you lift and drop heavy weights.
Can you put gym flooring over carpet?
You can put gym flooring over carpet, but it really depends on the carpet. We don’t recommend placing the flooring over a thick, plush carpet because the surface of the flooring will not feel stable and secure while you work out.
If you need to secure the flooring with a fastener, this could damage the carpet underneath, too.
How often should you clean your home gym flooring?
A good rule of thumb is to wipe your home gym floor after every workout and to clean it more thoroughly with appropriate cleaners about once a week, depending on how often you’re using your home gym.
Leave a Reply