5 Best Home Gym Floors – 2022 Buying Guide

By Jennifer Lester / February 23, 2022 / 0 Comments

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    Nothing beats working out from the comfort of your home! But what happens when you need to start choosing a floor for your new gym and you’re not quite sure what to pick? Below you’ll find our top picks for the best home gym floors.

    If you’re not sure what you should be looking for, we have included a full buying guide.

    Our Top Picks

    1. Best Overall: Gorilla Premium Large Exercise Mat
    2. Best Eco-Friendly: Rubber Cal Elephant Bark Floor Mat
    3. Best Budget: Amazon Basics Foam Interlocking Exercise Gym Floor Mat Tiles
    4. Best Thickness: BalanceFrom Puzzle Exercise Mat
    5. Best for Color Choices: New Forest Floor Printed Foam Tiles

    Home Gym Floor Buying Advice

    Best Overall: Gorilla Premium Large Exercise Mat

    Floor Critics Rating (4.9):

    Key Features:

    • High-density, non-toxic 16P free natural rubber, and PER foam
    • 72″ long x 48″ wide x 0.25” thick
    • Available in three colors: black, midnight blue, and silverback grey

    Pros:

    • Comes with a towel, carry bag, and two Velcro straps
    • Made of a non-toxic fabric that has no latex, silicone, or phthalates and no smell
    • Double-sided durable design that doesn’t slip

    Cons:

    • You’ll need more than one to cover a larger surface
    • It’s a costly investment but worth every cent
    Gorilla Premium Large Exercise Mat
    Gorilla Premium Large Exercise Mat

    The Gorilla Premium Large Exercise Mat is one of the best flooring solutions for your home gym. Thanks to the fact that it comes packed in a carry bag, you can easily transport it wherever and whenever you want to. You can feel free to place gym equipment on the mat without fearing that you will destroy it.

    Everyone who needs instant floors for their home gym should turn to Gorilla and their premium mat. This is not only the best overall product on the list, but it’s also amazing for any type of exercise including cardio, weight workouts, high-intensity workouts, P90x, dance workouts, T25, kettle belle, jumping rope, TRX, Insanity, Zumba, and more.

    If you’ve worked out on mats before, you already know that one of the biggest problems is their slippery nature. This one, however, is so highly rated because it’s non-slippery, and you can work out barefoot, with socks, or with your shoes on without having any trouble. The high density of the material will make exercising more comfortable and safer, while also protecting your joints.

    This mat works great on all types of floors including hardwood, concrete, tile, carpet, and more. That’s why you can use it in every room of your home, the garage, and even outdoors.

    The Gorilla Premium Large Exercise Mat is undoubtedly one of the best home gym floor mats with fantastic quality. If you’ve been looking to cover a smaller area of your home for working out, or you want a flooring solution that is easy to roll up and transport wherever you need it, this mat is the one!

    Best Eco-Friendly: Rubber Cal Elephant Bark Floor Mat

    Floor Critics Rating (4.8):

    Key Features:

    • Made of recycled rubber from discarded tires
    • Available in 21 sizing options that start at 24” long x 48” wide and go up to 300” long x 48” wide
    • 3/16” thickness
    • Available in five colors: black, blue dot, blue steel, green dot, and red dot

    Pros:

    • Super simple installation that doesn’t require previous knowledge or special tools or products
    • UV- and water-resistant, meaning you can install it outdoors as well
    • Extremely durable and provides excellent protection for surfaces

    Cons:

    • Thinner compared to similar alternatives, but still highly durable
    • It’s heavier compared to foam mats
    Rubber Cal Elephant Bark Floor Mat
    Rubber Cal Elephant Bark Floor Mat

    Have you been looking for the perfect rubber rolls for your gym? If you stopped using commercial gyms and you’re ready to create one at home, this product is so versatile that it works well over various flooring types, concrete basement and garage floors, garage mats, and more.

    Since the rolls are made of discarded tires, you can already guess how durable they are. This heavy-duty nature of the eco-conscious recycled rubber material makes the mats resistant to moisture, abrasions, heavy impact, UV, temperature, and ozone. In other words, if you want to create a gym on your balcony, basement, even outside, this is the flooring that you need.

    Another thing worth mentioning is the vibration reduction that these rubber mats provide. If you live in an apartment and love doing cardio, but you don’t want to disturb the neighbors, you have to try these floors. At the same time, they will protect your current flooring from abrasions and damage from heavy weights and equipment.

    The Rubber Cal Elephant Bark Floor Mat is the best rubber flooring for your home gym if you’re looking to purchase rubber rolls. Easy to install, extremely durable, not prone to damage, and available in different sizes, these rolls will create high-quality floors for your equipment and exercises.

    Best Budget: Amazon Basics Foam Interlocking Gym Floor Tiles

    Floor Critics Rating (4.8):

    Key Features:

    • Dense foam material
    • Tile measurements: 24” long x 24” wide x 0.47” thick
    • 6 tiles that cover 24 square feet
    • Available in two colors: black and grey

    Pros:

    • Very easy to assemble without tools in only minutes
    • Affordable price for a great quality
    • Easy to store because you can separate the pieces and stack them

    Cons:

    • Not as protective as rubber flooring, but still do a good job
    • Less durable compared to rubber home gym floor alternatives
    Amazon Basics Foam Interlocking Gym Floor Tiles
    Amazon Basics Foam Interlocking Gym Floor Tiles

    Only sold on Amazon

    The Amazon Basics Foam Interlocking Exercise Gym Floor Mat Tiles are a favorite purchase among people who are trying to create their home gym. This is a reasonably affordable product that will serve its purpose without breaking the budget.

    Each pack of the Amazon Basics Foam Interlocking tiles features six tiles that are very simple to put together. They create a puzzle-style workout mat that is perfect for the basement, garage, and any room in your home.

    The fabric used in the production of these mats is high-density foam. It’s easy to clean, provides noise reduction, is water-resistant, and will protect the floor underneath from weights and heavy equipment. You can use the foam mats on top of any other flooring type, but rubber rolls will deliver more suitable protection if you have very heavy machines.

    The surface is non-slippery and comfortable, so you’ll feel very safe while working out.

    These Amazon Basics puzzle-style foam mats can be your go-to purchase if you don’t want to spend too much on floors for your gym or don’t own hefty equipment and don’t do very high-intensity exercises.

    Best Thickness: BalanceFrom Puzzle Exercise Mat

    Floor Critics Rating (4.7):

    Key Features:

    • Made of high-density EVA foam
    • Available in seven sizes with thickness of ½”, ¾”, and one inch
    • Available in three colors: black, grey, and blue

    Pros:

    • 2-year warranty and 100% BalanceFrom Satisfaction Guarantee
    • Best value for an amazing quality
    • It’s water-resistant, and you can easily wash it with just water and soap

    Cons:

    • Can be a little slippery when placed on top of hardwood floors
    • Slight discoloration on some of the tiles in the packages
    BalanceFrom Puzzle Exercise Mat
    BalanceFrom Puzzle Exercise Mat

    If you don’t want to cover up your garage floor most of the time, but want to protect it when weather conditions get difficult, then check out this containment mat from TruContain.

    Made from a heavy-duty commercial grade vinyl material, you can simply roll the mat out and fix it at the corners when the season to use it arrives. Place it where you park your car, and it will protect your floor from any snow, mud, ice, and other damaging liquids you bring in. It has a cell foam containment edge, ensuring that nothing spills out over the sides.

    It will also protect your floor against oil and other spills if you want to roll it out to turn your garage into a temporary workshop.

    The mat is simple to clean with soap and warm water, and it also comes with its own long-handled sponge squeegee to make the process even easier.

    There are four different sizes available, 16 feet by 7.9 feet, 18 feet by 8.6 feet, 20 feet by 8.6 feet, 22 feet by 8.6 feet. It comes with a one-year limited warranty, which is actually quite good for garage flooring options.

    If you are looking for top quality but temporary protection you can roll out when it starts snowing or when you do your annual car maintenance, then this option from TruContain is the perfect solution.

    Best for Color Choices: New Forest Floor Printed Foam Tiles

    Floor Critics Rating (4.6):

    Key Features:

    • EVA foam material
    • Available in three sizes to cover 24, 48, or 100 square feet
    • The size of each tile is 24” long x 24” wide x 3/8” thick
    • Available in seven different wood-like finishes: cherry, carbon, light bamboo, mahogany, slate, and white oak

    Pros:

    • Unique appearance great for everyone who doesn’t like the aesthetic of rubber or foam
    • Good support for workouts such as yoga and Pilates
    • Easy maintenance

    Cons:

    • Sun can cause discoloration, so keep them away from direct sunlight
    • Slightly lower quality compared to the previous four products
    New Forest Floor Printed Foam Tiles
    New Forest Floor Printed Foam Tiles

    The New Forest Floor Printed Foam Tiles are a breath of fresh air on this list. With a gorgeous wood-like appearance, they will make the home gym more stylish than ever.

    If you’re tired of the same dull black and grey foam and rubber floors, this is the product you’ve been looking for. You can use the interlocking tiles for any room in your home including the basement and garage. They come with two detachable borders you can trim for a perfect fit.

    The tiles are surprisingly easy to take care of and are water-resistant. It will take you only minutes to put them together and pull them apart.

    They work well over other surfaces and provide that support for your joints while you’re working out. If you practice yoga, Pilates, dance classes, and similar exercises, this is the product that you need.

    Everyone who’s not into the aesthetic of rubber or foam tiles or rolls should opt for these New Forest Floor Printed Foam Tiles. They are durable and more suitable for low- and medium-intensity workouts.

    Side by Side Comparison

    ProductOur RatingKey Features
    Gorilla Premium Large Exercise Mat
    Gorilla Premium Large Exercise Mat
    View on Amazon –>
    View on Gorilla Mats –>
    Best Overall

    Overall: 4.9
    High-density, non-toxic 16P free natural rubber, and PER foam
    72″ long x 48″ wide x 0.25” thick
    Available in three colors: black, midnight blue, and silverback grey
    Rubber Cal Elephant Bark Floor Mat
    Rubber Cal Elephant Bark Floor Mat
    View on Walmart –>
    View on Amazon –>
    Best Eco-Friendly

    Overall: 4.8
    Made of recycled rubber from discarded tires
    Available in 21 sizing options that start at 24” long x 48” wide and go up to 300” long x 48” wide
    3/16” thickness
    Available in five colors: black, blue dot, blue steel, green dot, and red dot
    Amazon Basics Foam Interlocking Gym Floor Tiles
    Amazon Basics Foam Interlocking Gym Floor Tiles
    View on Amazon –>
    Only sold on Amazon
    Best Budget

    Overall: 4.8
    Dense foam material
    Tile measurements: 24” long x 24” wide x 0.47” thick
    6 tiles that cover 24 square feet
    Available in two colors: black and grey
    BalanceFrom Puzzle Exercise Mat
    BalanceFrom Puzzle Exercise Mat
    View on Amazon –>
    View on Walmart –>
    Best Thickness

    Overall: 4.7
    Made of high-density EVA foam
    Available in seven sizes with thickness of ½”, ¾”, and one inch
    Available in three colors: black, grey, and blue
    New Forest Floor Printed Foam Tiles
    New Forest Floor Printed Foam Tiles
    View on Amazon –>
    View on Walmart –>
    Best for Color Choices

    Overall: 4.6
    EVA foam material
    Available in three sizes to cover 24, 48, or 100 square feet
    The size of each tile is 24” long x 24” wide x 3/8” thick
    Available in seven different wood-like finishes: cherry, carbon, light bamboo, mahogany, slate, and white oak

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    The Complete Home Gym Floor Buyer’s Guide

    Purchasing home gym flooring can get so overwhelming with all the available products. But, there are certain factors that you need to consider before buying.

    Material

    Although foam and rubber are the two best flooring options for a home gym, other materials might be a good fit for this purpose. Some of the other popular choices are vinyl, carpet, turf, soft wood, bamboo, and more.

    Foam and rubber are still the top choices because of their affordable character, durability, simple maintenance, easy installation, and high shock absorption ability.

    Maintenance

    Rubber, without a doubt, is one of the easiest flooring types to clean when installed in a home gym. All you need is water and soap to keep it neat for everyday use. Foam tiles are also relatively simple to clean, but frequent cleaning with products can shorten the lifespan of the material.

    Type of Workout

    Not all flooring types will be suitable for the type of workouts that you do. Rubber and thick foam tiles are the best alternatives if you practice high-intensity workouts.

    For low-intensity exercises, you can choose a thinner material and go for a more affordable option.

    Price

    Before you decide which flooring solution you’ll purchase for your home gym, you should set a budget. If you don’t want to spend too much money, you can choose a product that features a decent quality and is somewhere in the middle of the price range.

    Durability

    Rubber is one of the most durable flooring options; that’s why it’s a favorite for so many people. Foam is less durable compared to rubber, a reason why it’s more affordable in most cases.

    This doesn’t mean that your foam tiles will only last for a few months, but if you want to make a long-term investment, rubber is the material of choice.

    The Floor Underneath

    When looking at home gym flooring ideas, you need to keep in mind the floor that will be underneath. You should protect the floor from the impact of your weights and the weight of the gym equipment.

    Imagine damaging those precious hardwood floors just because you picked the wrong flooring type for the gym. Choose a thicker rubber or foam mat so that it can absorb the shock and keep the floor underneath safe.

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    FAQs

    What Thickness Should The Floor Be In My Home Gym?

    There is no rule about how thick the floor should be, but the recommended thickness is at least 3/8”. The thicker the floor is, the more durable it will be. The shock absorption also increases with the thickness.

    So, if you prefer high-intensity workouts such as CrossFit, you should opt for a thicker floor. Also, if you use heavy weights and have heavy equipment, make sure to purchase thick flooring.


    Is Vinyl Floor Good For Home Gyms?

    Vinyl floors are a good alternative if you decide to station your home gym in a humid room. Vinyl is more resistant to mold and mildew compared to all the other home gym flooring types. This is a durable material that is easy to clean, but it might feel too hard on your feet and joints while you’re working out.

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    Final Thoughts

    Choosing the right flooring options for a home gym is such a tough decision. But, now that you know more about the five top picks, together with the factors that you need to consider, you will have a much easier time buying the best product for you.

    My personal favorite is the Gorilla Premium Large Exercise Mat. It’s not only one of the highest-quality rubber mats that you’ll find, but it’s also extremely durable, lightweight, and works well over different flooring types. This might be the costliest purchase on the list, but it will make up with all its qualities.

    When choosing your flooring type, don’t forget to go over factors such as the durability that you expect to get, the floor that will be underneath, the types of workouts that you do, the price, and more.

    If you have any comments or firsthand experience with flooring for your home gym, please post them below or share your pictures via our social media.

    About Jennifer Lester

    Jennifer Lester is a writer, blogger, and home improvement fanatic. She loves to write about things that will transform your house into your dream home. Jennifer is a graduate of Texas A&M University. Visit Website.

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