How thick should home gym floors be?

Home gym floors should always be thick enough for rigorous workouts and weights or machines. According to Tolle, this is anywhere from a quarter-inch to a half-inch thick. "If the flooring is too thick, you lose support underfoot, and [the surface] is very heavy," he says. "If the flooring is too thin, it won't properly protect the weights or underflooring."

Can you put a home gym on a second floor?

You can put a home gym on the second floor of your home, as long as you do so with caution. Before getting started, check the floor capacity to ensure that your exercise equipment doesn't outweigh it. Your space should also be up to code, with proper underlayment underneath the existing floors. Additionally, using the proper materials is key. Foam or rubber are great choices for general exercise, though shock-absorbing rubber tends to be a little better at protecting your floors from heavier equipment and plyometric (jumping) exercises.

How do you install a home gym floor?

The proper way to install a home gym floor depends on the type of product and the material you use. Interlocking foam pieces easily connect together and can be placed over your existing flooring without any adhesive. For rubber rolls, use heavy-duty, double-sided carpet tape to secure them to your floors and prevent the gym flooring from curling up. When in doubt, check the manufacturer's installation instructions.

The 7 Best Home Gym Floors of 2023

ProsourceFit Puzzle Exercise Mat — The Spruce / Angelica Leicht

A high-quality home gym floor is crucial when designing a workout space. "It helps to protect the floor underneath, is easy to clean, and dampens the noise of weights hitting the floor," says Iowa-based gym owner Eric Tolle, founder of the Trainers Edge studio in Des Moines.

With pointers from Tolle in mind, we researched standout options for various types of at-home exercises and evaluated them on durability, shock absorption, installation, and slip-resistant materials.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

TrafficMaster Shock-Absorbing Foam Floor Tiles at Home Depot

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Best Mat:

Surface Co. Power Platform at Roguefitness.com

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Best Rubber:

Rubber Flooring Inc. 8mm Rubber Rolls at Rubberflooringinc.com

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Best Interlocking:

ProsourceFit Foam Interlocking Exercise Puzzle Mat at Amazon

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Best Interlocking Tiles:

Next Gym Flooring Mats at Best Buy

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Best Roll:

Rubber-Cal Elephant Bark Rubber Rolling Mat at Amazon

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Best Foam:

Norsk Reversible Faux Wood Foam Mats at Home Depot

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In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look for
FAQ
Why Trust The Spruce

Shock-Absorbing Black Foam Gym Floor Tiles

Walmart

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What We Like

Dense yet flexible and cushiony
Protective rubber surface
Easy to install and remove

What We Don't Like

Costs more than some

TrafficMaster Gym Floor Tiles are made of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), a type of lightweight yet dense foam with a cushiony feel. You can buy as many sets as you need to fill in your home gym area and effortlessly remove them when you need to make an adjustment. Best of all, installing these tiles shouldn't damage your floors underneath.

They're nearly three-quarters of an inch thick and feature a rubber coating on top. Trainers Edge founder and owner Tolle explains that the rubber component helps dampen the sound of weights while protecting your floors underneath. It's super easy to mop or wipe clean, too.

These flexible, shock-absorbing floor tiles come in sets of four, plus eight straight-edge borders to create a more uniform look around the perimeter of your space. They easily connect, like puzzle pieces, and can be cut with heavy-duty scissors, if needed.

While the price per tile is a little higher than average, you can count on long-lasting quality.

Price at time of publish: $60 (4-tile pack)

_{Intended Activity: Weights, general exercise | Material: Foam, rubber | Size: 25.2 x 25.2 inches | Thickness: 0.68 inches | Color: Black}

Rogue Fitness

View On Roguefitness.com

What We Like

Indoor/outdoor design
Foldable and portable
Durable and antimicrobial

What We Don't Like

Priced far higher than most

If you prefer a single mat, Surface Co. has you covered. The Power Platform is made of vulcanized rubber, meaning it's hardened using heat and sulfur. This makes it not only exceptionally durable and long-lasting but also supportive and water-resistant. The base contains waffle-pattern impact zones base designed to muffle noise and vibration. What's more, the closed-cell material is antimicrobial, meaning bacteria and fungi can't grow on it.

The Power Platform is 90 x 72 inches (7.5 x 6 feet) and three-quarters of an inch thick. You can place it anywhere in your home—no adhesive needed. And since this mat folds in half, it's easy to move around and take on the go. The weather-friendly design can also be used indoors or outside.

The manufacturer states that this product is used at the highest levels of competition, and we agree. You will spend far more for this product than for comparable alternatives in this roundup. But this is the only such product we found that is similar to those used in professional studios. It's for the person who wants a serious home gym.

Price at time of publish: $399

_{Intended Activity: Weights, general exercise | Material: Vulcanized rubber | Size: 90 x 72 inches | Thickness: 0.75 inches | Color: Black}

Rubber Flooring Inc.

View On Rubberflooringinc.com

What We Like

Easy to install, cut, and clean
Supportive cushioning
Dampens sound

What We Don't Like

Slightly thin
Weeks-long wait for some colors/sizes

Our gym flooring consultant Tolle stands behind rubber for home gym floors, as it's easy to clean, protects the flooring underneath, and helps dampen sound. These rubber rolls from Rubber Flooring Inc. are a little more than a quarter-inch thick and come in custom sizes to accommodate the exact dimensions of your space.

While they're on the thinner side, you can still count on supportive cushioning that reduces fatigue and prevents slipping. And unlike thicker options, the rolls are easy to cut if needed.

This gym flooring is easy to install. When you use heavy-duty carpet tape, you can ensure a smooth, uniform surface that doesn't curl at the edges. We've noted that some colors and sizes may take a few weeks to ship out, but other than that, we have no complaints.

Price at time of publish: $2.65/square foot

_{Intended Activity: Weights, cardio machines, general exercise | Material: Rubber | Size: Custom | Thickness: 0.3 | Color: Black, black speckled}

Thick Foam Interlocking Exercise Puzzle Mat (6-pack)

Amazon

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What We Like

Extra-thick foam
Lightweight yet durable
Non-skid texture

What We Don't Like

Tricky to cut

ProsourceFit makes a great interlocking option that's also easy on the budget. This floor-covering product is made of lightweight yet durable high-density EVA foam that offers the perfect balance of support and cushioning. Available in black, blue, or gray, the material is water-resistant, easy to clean, and noise-reducing. It also has a non-skid surface texture to prevent slips and provide grip underfoot.

The puzzle-like pieces come in sets of six, and you can buy as many as you need to cover your home gym. They connect easily, but since the foam is an impressive three-quarters of an inch thick, they can be tricky to cut when you need a smaller piece for the edges of your space. Still, we appreciate that the pack comes with 12 border tiles for a more seamless, polished look.

Price at time of publish: $60 for 6-pack of 1-inch tiles; other sizes/prices available

_{Intended Activity: Weights, general exercise | Material: EVA foam | Size: 24 x 24 inches | Thickness: 0.5 inches | Color: Black, gray, blue}

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Best Buy

View On Best Buy View On Bonanza.com

What We Like

Comfortable cushioning
Textured surface prevents slipping
Protects floors underneath

What We Don't Like

Not suited for heavy machines

Next Gym Flooring comes in the form of interlocking tiles. You get a set of 24 pieces, each 24 x 24 inches, to cover nearly 100 square feet (about the area of 2½ king-size beds). The pack also comes with 10 border pieces to create more uniform edges. And you can buy additional sets to cover a larger area or expand your home gym in the future if needed.

Made of high-density EVA foam and measuring half an inch thick, the material offers comfortable cushioning while protecting your existing floors beneath. We also like that the textured surface helps prevent slipping when you’re working out—which can avoid muscle pulls.

We have noted, however, that some heavy machines, such as Pelotons or treadmills, can permanently flatten the materials. We recommend this product for general use, but not for large equipment.

Price at time of publish: $80

_{Intended Activity: Weights, general exercise | Material: EVA foam | Size: 24 x 24 inches inches | Thickness: 0.5 inches | Color: Black}

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Elephant Bark Rubber Flooring Rolling Mat

Amazon

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What We Like

Made of recycled tires
Absorbs shock
Easy to install

What We Don't Like

Alternatives can cost less

If you prefer rolls of material over tiles, Rubber-Cal Elephant Bark might be your best bet. This eco-friendly home gym flooring rolls are 4 feet wide and come in 15 lengths, ranging from 2 to 12 feet, so you can order multiple sizes to get the exact coverage you need.

The rolls are rubber sourced from recycled tires. The raw material is first shredded, then molded into a solid, sturdy formation. The material is a little under half an inch thick, making it easy to cut to size if needed, but still thick enough to absorb shock and provide supportive cushioning.

Though the price per square foot is slightly steep, you could still cover a 10 x 10-foot space (about 2 1/2 king-size beds) for around $500. Elephant Bark is also super easy to install, using double-sided carpet tape.

Price at time of publish: $41-$212 depending on length of roll

_{Intended Activity: Cardio machines, weights, general exercise | Material: Rubber | Size: 15+ sizes available | Thickness: 0.25 inches | Color: Black}

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Walmart

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What We Like

Reasonably priced
Aesthetically pleasing
Slip-resistant surface

What We Don't Like

Not ideal for heavy weights

For those partial to foam, we recommend Norsk. The brand's Faux Wood Foam Mats come in sets of four 24 x 24-inch interlocking tiles, each roughly half an inch thick, plus eight straight-edge borders. One side features a wood-like finish in your choice of five natural-looking designs, and the back is plain black. The black side features a grippy textured surface, and while the reverse side is smooth, it still provides some slip resistance.

Since foam is somewhat compressible, the material may not be ideal for very heavy weights (such as barbells), but lighter dumbbells should be no problem. Still, this is a great choice for someone looking for a reasonably priced, aesthetically pleasing floor-covering solution for their home gym.

Price at time of publish: $1.75 per square foot

_{Intended Activity: General exercise | Material: Foam | Size: 24 x 24 inches | Thickness: 0.47 inches | Color: Charcoal, brown, gray, driftwood, walnut}

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Final Verdict

Overall, we like TrafficMaster Shock-Absorbing Foam Gym Floor Tiles, which are made of dense yet flexible and cushiony EVA foam, and feature a protective rubber surface. If you're on a budget, the ProsourceFit Foam Interlocking Exercise Puzzle Mat is an excellent choice. And if you prefer solid rubber, Rubber Flooring Inc. 8mm Strong Rubber Rolls are your best bet.

Material

"Rubber makes the best material for gym floors," Eric Tolle, founder and owner of the Trainers Edge studio in Des Moines, Iowa, says flatly. He explains that rubber protects the floor underneath, dampens noise, and is easy to clean. Foam is another popular option, offering flexible cushioning, usually at a slightly more affordable price.

Rubber and foam work can be placed over most types of hard flooring and even concrete, such as in basements and garages. If you want the best of both worlds, consider TrafficMaster Shock-Absorbing Gym Floor Tiles, which are made of foam and feature a rubber surface.

Durability

Rubber tends to be slightly more durable than foam, as the material absorbs shock well and resists compression. For instance, you can count on Rubber Flooring Inc. 8mm Strong Rubber Rolls to last several years or more.

Tolle tells The Spruce that proper care will expand the lifespan of your home gym floors too. "Avoid using cleaners that are too acidic, and prevent water from getting between the original floor and the top layer," he says.

Type of Exercise

Also think about the type of exercise or activity you do in your home gym. If you use cardio machines, barbells, or other heavy equipment, a thicker material is best. Again, rubber is ideal, as it resists compression, as with Rubber-Cal Elephant Bark Rubber Flooring. For lightweight dumbbells, yoga flows, barre workouts, and bodyweight exercises, you have more flexibility in terms of material and thickness.

Yes4All Interlocking Exercise Foam Mats — The Spruce / Sharon Lehman

FAQ

How thick should home gym floors be?

Home gym floors should always be thick enough for rigorous workouts and weights or machines. According to Tolle, this is anywhere from a quarter-inch to a half-inch thick. "If the flooring is too thick, you lose support underfoot, and [the surface] is very heavy," he says. "If the flooring is too thin, it won't properly protect the weights or underflooring."
Can you put a home gym on a second floor?

You can put a home gym on the second floor of your home, as long as you do so with caution. Before getting started, check the floor capacity to ensure that your exercise equipment doesn't outweigh it. Your space should also be up to code, with proper underlayment underneath the existing floors.
Additionally, using the proper materials is key. Foam or rubber are great choices for general exercise, though shock-absorbing rubber tends to be a little better at protecting your floors from heavier equipment and plyometric (jumping) exercises.
How do you install a home gym floor?

The proper way to install a home gym floor depends on the type of product and the material you use. Interlocking foam pieces easily connect together and can be placed over your existing flooring without any adhesive.
For rubber rolls, use heavy-duty, double-sided carpet tape to secure them to your floors and prevent the gym flooring from curling up. When in doubt, check the manufacturer's installation instructions.

Theresa Holland, a freelance commerce writer specializing in home improvement and recreation, has been reporting on fitness products, home decor, appliances, and organizational solutions at The Spruce since 2019. For this roundup, she interviewed Eric Tolle, owner of the Trainers Edge fitness studio in Des Moines, Iowa, who offered insight into the best material and thickness for gym flooring. Next, she researched today's best options, narrowing it down to durable, shock-absorbing, slip-resistant materials that are easy to install.

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