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Aug 08, 2023

The Best Home Gym Flooring You Can Buy

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Building the proper home gym starts from the ground up ... literally. Having a home gym setup can

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission.

Building the proper home gym starts from the ground up ... literally.

Having a home gym setup can be a great way to stay on track when it comes to your fitness goals, but working out isn't just a strain on your muscles. There's plenty of stress that's placed on the surrounding environment, too, especially when tossing around weights and lifting new PRs. In order to keep your strength-building sessions focused on your frame instead of your house's, it's vital to invest in high-quality home gym flooring.

Whether in tiled pieces, pre-cut mats or lengthy rolls, a proper home gym flooring can do wonders for your workout space. These materials help keep your floors safe from impact and abuse as well as add extra grip and traction underfoot. Plus, the thicker, shock-absorbing composition of most gym flooring options can be excellent for noise control — you can bust out a few deadlift sets without fear of disturbing your roommates, children or pesky neighbors.

As is the case with any flooring decision, however, choosing which gym floor to accent your training room with can take some research and added thought. Thankfully, we've done the heavy lifting when it comes to finding the best of the best.

While flooring isn’t the easiest product to compare side-by-side, I have trained on a number of the options listed below across a variety of workout disciplines. I’ve leaned on these experiences to curate this roundup, noting how effective each pick is in terms of shock absorption, traction, cost and more. Plus, I’ve taken into consideration how easy each gym flooring option would be to install — is it a simple endeavor that’s essentially a large-scale puzzle, or would this be more involved home-renovation? Naturally, aesthetics were also considered, as a good-looking floorspace can really set the mood when it comes to creating that premier training environment.

Editor's Note: The following prices are for 45 square feet of gym flooring material, unless otherwise noted.

If you’re looking for a premium flooring solution for all your training needs, look no further. These 5/8-inch thick rubber tiles from Flooring Inc. are excellent at deadening any dropped weight, and they’re rigid enough to withstand the static load of power racks and other bulky home gym machines. I also appreciate the ridged channels at the base, which keeps the flooring somewhat elevated off your subfloor and still grants access to any drains underneath.

The Flooring Inc. Evolution Rubber Tiles are also vulcanized for easier cleaning and moisture defense, so mopping up any spills or pooling sweat is a breeze post-training. Be sure to take your time during installation, though. Some athletes have noted the interlocking teeth can be difficult to set in place due to their rigid structure. I recommend treating the teeth with hot, soapy water before locking them together, as this can create a more efficient attachment point that doesn’t make install a workout in itself.

I like these mats from Rep Fitness for their premium textures on both sides of the profile — a tacky bottom layer helps prevent slippage, while a smooth upper allows for comfortable floor exercises without the need for an additional yoga mat or other barrier. Plus, the 3/8-inch thickness is great for dampening the noise of clanging weight plates or dumped dumbbells at the end of a set.

The Rep Fitness Floor Mats also boast excellent anti-microbial properties, meaning heavy sweaters can rest easy knowing there’s little chance of developing funk and bacteria over extended use. The one major downfall of this premium gym flooring option, though, is the lack of customization. The mats are sold only in packs of 5 or 10, which means your training area dimensions need to fall in multiples of 12 — unless you want to purchase multiple packs or don’t mind breaking out a handy utility knife for trimming needs.

Don’t let the agricultural roots fool you. Stall mats can be excellent picks for home gym flooring, and this 24-square-foot option from Tractor Supply is one of the best. I’ve trained atop plenty of these mats over the years in both indoor and outdoor settings, and appreciate how sturdy the profile is across the board. The raised nubs across the top provide excellent traction for heavy sets and pulls, while the hefty mat thickness absorbs plenty of shock and noise — they’re made for livestock housing, after all. Plus, if you fancy yourself a DIYer, these stall mats can be a perfect material to include across an at-home lifting platform.

Of course, though, this budget-friendly flooring is not for everyone. The 3/4-inch thickness does create a heavy silhouette at nearly 95 pounds, so getting these mats into place can take some doing. Additionally, these stall mats carry a strong rubber odor despite the vulcanized composition, so I recommend placing them in a garage or outdoor setting with plenty of airflow.

These puzzle-like mats from ProsourceFit can be great for turning any corner of your dedicated training room into a worthwhile workout atmosphere thanks to a quick, simple interlocking system and lightweight design. The diamond-plated texture also gives this flooring solution some grip and traction, perfect for finding your footing in various stances and poses. I particularly like these Puzzle Exercise Mats for creating a protective layer between my subfloor and weight benches, which helps prevent any scuffs and scrapes during training.

The ProsourceFit Puzzle Exercise Mats are also moisture-resistant, so cleaning up post-workout is as simple as wiping away your perspiration with a gym towel. I do recommend, however, that athletes more involved with heavy strength training disciplines forgo this flooring option. While the foam makeup is durable and provides great protection for your subfloor, it’s not durable or shock-absorbent enough to withstand excessive weight drops. For these needs, I’d recommend a rubberized option.

Want to create your own fitness studio in the comfort of your home? Give your training area that premium look and feel with these aesthetically-pleasing vinyl tiles from Tivoli. Each tile features an easy peel-and-stick backing, which makes installation a breeze for any budding DIY-er. Plus, the scratch-resistant top layer can be the perfect foundation for agility workouts, yoga flows and lightweight HIIT classes alike. Naturally, though, at just 1.2mm thick, this gym flooring option is not the best solution for heavy strength training.

I also like the abundance of patterns and colorways available in this profile, which can be perfect for creating a fitness atmosphere that’s inviting and worthwhile. Just be sure to install these tiles on a flat, smooth surface like concrete or existing hardwood. Placing these over carpeted floors is not advised, so you may be limited in terms of where your studio can live within your abode.

It’s not hard to infer that carpeted floors are more comfortable than, say, rubberized mats, and if you fancy this vibe in your training setup, look no further than these carpeted floor tiles from Nisorpa. Each tile features a 3.5mm thickness, which may be uncomfortable for floor-bound movements but creates an excellent sense of grounded stability for heavy strength training setups. Plus, the 20-tile kit comes with cloth tape to help ensure a simple install that doesn’t leave any unwanted residue behind.

Of course, the 3.5mm thickness does limit how much protection your gym floor can bring to your setup, and the carpeted composition is less capable of dampening any errant noise. There’s simply not enough material at play to make those dropped dumbbells or slam ball exercises less audibly noticeable. At less than $100 for 54 square feet of coverage, though, it’s worth considering.

Want to really lay the groundwork for a home gym that rivals even the most popular training centers? Consider Plae’s Achieve lineup of 13mm rubber flooring. This gym flooring option is the cream of the crop when it comes to subfloor protection and shock absorption, which is why many collegiate and professional sports teams trust Plae for outfitting their strength training centers. I also appreciate the clean aesthetic you can achieve thanks to the rolled makeup. There’s fewer seams across your layout, provided you cut and place your pieces correctly across your working surface.

It doesn’t take long to realize why this impressive gym floor option doesn’t sit at the top of this roundup, however, when you get a glimpse of the price tag. If you want some color and vibrancy across your Achieve gym flooring, expect to pay extra, too. For athletes that want a material that’s prime for supporting heavy PR after heavy PR, though, that hefty cost could be worth it.

Maybe installing your own gym floor isn’t your cup of tea. Thankfully, you’re still able to protect your subfloor with some padding through a pre-assembled lifting platform. This Full Deadlift Platform from Titan Fitness uses eight shock-absorbing rubber pads to defend against weight drops, and the mats are kept in place through a sturdy 11-gauge steel frame. I also appreciate the included band pegs that allow for more resistance training regimens, as well as floor clips to keep the entire structure grounded during workouts.

The Full Deadlift Platform is also ideal for those looking to give their training area a heightened sense of professionalism. After all, getting used to stepping onto a lifting platform can go a long way in building that motivational sense for progress. It is recommended, though, that you ensure this platform can actually fit in your training space prior to purchase — there’s no adjustments to be made if your room cannot accommodate the 40.91 square foot structure.

When deciding on gym flooring options, the first component to consider is your flooring's material of choice. For most needs, I would recommend rubber tiles, mats or rolls given the heightened resiliency against dropped weights as well as the material's boosted ability to dampen sound.

For athletes wanting more comfortable or aesthetically-pleasing workout environments, carpet or vinyl can be worthwhile solutions. These picks can really bring your training area to life with color and coziness, but may be less capable of sustaining the abuse and impact synonymous with weight training.

Athletes can also opt for foam gym flooring. This material is excellent for keeping your subfloor safe from scuffs and scrapes, which is why many utilize foam gym floors underneath heavy machines or equipment. Foam is less dense than rubber, though, so there is potential for dents and unstableness over extended use.

Naturally, you want to find a home gym flooring solution that meshes well with the space you intend to train in. If you're looking to convert a square or rectangular area into your dedicated at-home gym, you're less likely to run into snags. If you need to account for rounded walls or obstacles like water heaters, washing machines and other structures, consider opting for a flooring material that's easy to cut and mend into your desired shape.

Most of the picks listed above are able to be trimmed and cut into shape with little difficulty, but this is highly dependent on the next component often considered when searching home gym flooring.

The thicker your home gym flooring, the more durable and shock absorbent it will be. That dense makeup can less maneuverable, however, when it comes to cutting the material to size or rearranging your workout area. It's best to weigh your wants and needs, as well as focus on how you intend to train atop your chosen surface. Yoga enthusiasts and average fitness buffs can probably get away with thinner flooring solutions without posing too much of a threat to the subfloor, while strength-minded individuals aiming for max deadlifts and heavy dumbbell work should look for mats at least 1/2-inch thick.

There's no need to purchase thick rubber flooring if you never intend to lift a free weight in training. Comparatively, if you're constantly dropping hundreds of pounds of iron and barbell in your daily workouts, it makes little sense to place your subfloor's safety in the hands of a gym floor that's millimeters thick, no matter how appealing the pattern may be.

Matching your fitness discipline to your gym flooring can help you get the most out of each, so be sure to consider how dedicated you are to a given modality. If you think you'd like to keep a versatile schedule that mixes up intensities, I'd recommend opting for a 1/2-inch thick rubber option. This can give you enough comfort underfoot that allows for cozy stretches and floor exercises while still giving your subfloor some padding against errant drops or weight dumps.