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Setting up your home gym? Don’t overlook the foundation – literally. Choosing the right gym flooring is crucial not just for the look of your space but for your performance and equipment longevity. Whether you’re into calisthenics, weightlifting, or a mix of everything, the floor beneath your feet needs to be up to the task.
Durability is key. You want materials that can take a beating without falling apart. Think rubber, foam, or PVC; remember, not all floors are created equal. The right choice depends on your workout style. Heavy lifters might lean towards rubber for its toughness, while yogis could prefer the cushioning of foam.
Thickness and density matter too. They’re about more than just feel; they’re about protection and stability. Aim for a balance that supports your equipment and your joints, and don’t forget about grip. A slip mid-workout isn’t just annoying; it can be downright dangerous.
Lastly, consider the practicalities. How easy is it to install and keep clean? You want to spend your time working out, not maintaining the floor.
Now, let’s take a closer look at what to look out for when shopping for the best gym flooring or the best home gym flooring options.
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The Buyer’s Guide to Gym Flooring
When setting up the perfect home gym, flooring might not be the first thing on your mind, but it should be. The right flooring can protect your equipment, boost your performance, and even help prevent injuries.
With so many options out there, finding the best rubber gym flooring or foam floor cover can be a bit of a workout in itself. To take the heavy lifting out of the process, I’ve put together a buyer’s guide breaking down the top picks for gym flooring that will fit a variety of needs and spaces.
1. Rubber Flooring
Best for: Heavy weights and high-impact workouts.
Rubber is the go-to choice for most home gyms, especially if you’re into weightlifting or any workout involving heavy equipment, such as deadlifts and deadlift variations. It’s durable, offers excellent shock absorption, and is resilient under pressure.
You can find rubber flooring in rolls, tiles, or mats, with thicknesses varying from ¼ inch to ¾ inch. Thicker mats are ideal for heavier weights, as they better protect the floor beneath.
The downside? Rubber can be on the pricier side and might have a strong smell when new, though this usually dissipates over time.
2. Foam Tiles
Best for: Yoga, Pilates, and light workouts.
Foam tiles are the softest option, making them perfect for low-impact exercises such as air squats, or where you might be doing a lot of floor work. They’re lightweight, easy to install, and can transform any room into a comfortable workout space. Plus, they’re the most affordable option.
However, foam isn’t suitable for heavy weights or intense workouts, as it lacks the durability and stability of rubber. You definitely don’t want to be doing heavy squats or deadlifts while standing on the cushion of foam.
3. PVC Vinyl Flooring
Best for: Versatile workout spaces.
PVC vinyl flooring is a great all-rounder. It’s tough enough to handle moderate weights and high-traffic areas, easy to clean, and water-resistant.
PVC comes in a variety of styles and can even mimic the look of hardwood or stone, giving your home gym a more polished look. While it’s more durable than foam, it doesn’t offer the same level of shock absorption as rubber, making it a compromise between functionality and aesthetics.
4. Interlocking Tiles
Best for: DIY enthusiasts looking for easy installation.
Interlocking tiles can be made from rubber, foam, or PVC, offering the benefits of each material with the added bonus of a simple, tool-free installation. They’re perfect for creating custom-sized workout areas or for temporary setups.
The tiles lock together like puzzle pieces, making it easy to replace just one tile if it gets damaged. However, seams between tiles can be a tripping hazard if not properly locked in place.
5. Carpet Tiles
Best for: Multipurpose rooms and light workouts.
Carpet tiles are an option for those who use their home gym space for multiple purposes. They provide more warmth and sound insulation than other flooring types, making them a good choice for home gyms in shared spaces.
While not ideal for heavy weights or intense workouts, carpet tiles can be suitable for yoga, stretching, or bodyweight exercises. Keep in mind, carpet tiles require more maintenance to keep clean and odor-free.
Installation and Maintenance
Whatever flooring you choose, consider how it will be installed and maintained. Rubber, foam, and PVC tiles are generally easy to install on your own, while rolls might require professional help to lay down smoothly. Look for water-resistant materials that are easy to wipe down and clean, especially if you’re doing sweaty workouts or using chalk for grip.
Remember that your gym flooring is the foundation of your workout space. It’s worth taking the time to choose a material that suits your activities, budget, and aesthetic preferences.
Top 6 Best Gym Flooring Products (Reviewed)
Below is a full list of our top-rated flooring products for home gyms and fitness facilities, selected for their value, safety profile, aggregated customer reviews, and durability.
1. Dura Lock Tiles (Rubber Flooring Inc.)
The “Dura Lock” tile lineup from Arizona’s very own Rubber Flooring Inc. gets our top pick given that it’s one of the most universally trusted sources for gym flooring in America. They’ve got an “A+” accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, a generous product return policy, and an excellent customer satisfaction record online.
While their bestselling 1/4″ (6mm) rubber tiles are more than sufficient for a home gym, a more commercial facility or a hardcore powerlifting gym may want to opt for their 8mm rubber option. Their Dura Lock tiles go up to 1″ in thickness but, in my opinion, this is overkill and can even add too much cushion for a strong and stable workout session. For reference, 1-inch rubber is what is commonly used as the foundation of children’s playgrounds.
- Price: $2.35 sqft
- Material: Rubber
- Origin: USA
- Warranty: 5 Years
2. Iron Company Carpet Tile (CARPETile®)
As one of America’s top home gym outfitters since 1997, you can’t go wrong with Iron Company. For over a quarter of a century, Iron Company has supplied gym equipment to big-name clientele, including Planet Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Gold’s Gym, and even the White House.
If you aren’t big on rubber, your best choice is Iron Company’s patented CARPETile technology, consisting of highly durable plastic made to securely lay over carpeting, concrete, or wood floors. CARPETile has the look and feel of a regular carpet, but without the absorbant inter-woven fibers, ensuring that you can securely work out without worrying about carpet fabric soaking up sweat or machine grease.
- Price: $279 per tile (53.8 sqft)
- Material: 100% UV stabilized ASOTA® polypropylene
- Origin: Unknown
- Warranty: 5 Year Full Commercial
3. Crown Gym Mats Inc. (Folding Mat)
Those looking for a safe and heavily padded mat for gymnastics and bodyweight exercises might want to consider the 1000-462 Folding Mat from Crown Gym Mats Inc. Although they’re not suitable for heavy lifting, their mats offer some of the best protection against hard falls and stumbles, making them ideal for jumping and other dynamic exercises.
Each mat neatly folds in an accordion style, making it simple to store these mats when not needed. The mats, which measure 4 feet wide by 6 feet long, are pieced together with side hooks and loop fasteners to cover additional floor space. At one and a quarter inches thick (1.25″), these mats are about as thick as they come in the gym flooring market.
- Price: $193 per mat
- Material: Unknown
- Origin: Unknown
- Warranty: 3 Years
4. Again Faster High Performance 8mm
If heavy-duty flooring solutions are what you’re after, look no further than Again Faster’s 8mm (5/16″) high-performance rubber rolls. While these certainly aren’t cheap, you get what you pay for. And if the $1,300 price tag is a stretch, you can finance their flooring starting at $118 monthly with 0% APR.
These mats are an all-around winner since they offer more padding than 1/4″ mats but more stability and rigidity than 1/2″ rolls. These are extremely durable mats that are suitable for heavy compound lifts and training with barbells and kettlebells. Be warned, however, that their 400 square feet of coverage may be too big for most small home or garage gyms.
- Price: $1,299 for 400 sqft (4×100 sqft rolls)
- Material: Rubber
- Origin: Unknown
- Warranty: 2 Years
5. Giant Lifting Rolled Rubber
At only $220 per roll of 25’x4′ rubber composite, there are few affordable gym flooring options that provide as much value as Giant Lifting’s. One thing that we love about these mats is that they are specially crafted to reduce unwanted odors and repel moisture, whereas other affordable brands often come with a strong scent out of the box.
We would probably rank this product higher on our list if it weren’t for the company’s opaque warranty policy. Unfortunately, their flooring products are not listed in the Warranty section of Giant Lifting’s Terms and Conditions.
- Price: $220 per 25’x4′ roll
- Material: Rubber & Urethane
- Origin: Unknown
- Warranty: Unknown
6. VersaFit Flooring (Force USA)
Offering a 10% discount to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and first responders, Force USA is one of the top providers of gym equipment, including gym flooring. Their proprietary flooring product, the VersaFit, is a great catch-all solution for home gym owners no matter their needs.
With 5/8″ thickness, these mats offer a lot of padding for heavier compound weight training while being durable and firm enough to give you plenty of structural support. At just 27 pounds per tile, these flooring solutions are easy to install and can be mixed and matched between three distinct colors to give your home gym a unique look and feel.
- Price: $55 per square meter (39.4″)
- Material: Recycled Rubber
- Origin: “Designed in the USA”
- Warranty: 30-Day Money Back Guarantee + Lifetime Structural Warranty
Gym Flooring: The Foundation of Your Home Fitness Journey
Whether you opt for the durability of rubber, the comfort of foam, or the versatility of PVC, the right flooring can elevate your home gym from a makeshift space to a professional-grade fitness studio.
As you can see in our list above, we generally recommend rubber or polyurethane flooring as they offer firm structural support while shielding your home’s floor from bumps and scuffs.
At the end of the day, the best gym floor for you is the one that meets your specific needs, so consider what you’ll be doing most and make your choice accordingly. With the right foundation underfoot, you’re one step closer to reaching your fitness goals.
Interested in building a better home gym? Check out our list of the best power racks and home squat racks as well as our top-ranked kettlebell sets so you can properly outfit your home gym.
Liam Hunt, M.A., is a writer and fitness enthusiast with a background in endurance cycling as well as competitive ice hockey, CrossFit, powerlifting, and bodybuilding. He is certified in Exercise Theory and Resistance Training from the Nova Scotia Fitness Association (NFSA).