The Best Home Gym Flooring for 2025

If you want flooring that is consistent, comes with more options, and often less smell than stall mats for your home gym, then Flooring Inc Rubber Rolls around 8mm or thicker is a great choice. This is actually the flooring that I have in my latest garage gym build. Although it’s not going to provide any further shock protection over stall mats, it does move less, has less off-gas, and overall has a more premium look and feel.

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Relative to other rubber mats, this flooring is 8 millimeters. That’s slightly less than the horse stall mats and interlocking tiles. However, after using them for almost a year in my personal garage gym, I’ve become a fan. They hold up against all my gym and cardio equipment and have enough cushioning to protect my floor, and I give them 5 out of 5 for durability. Also, these are the same mats most often used in commercial gym applications.

With a number of fleck color options, the Flooring Inc rolls have a very clean and professional look. That said, they are expensive, and the installation is pretty labor-intensive, and they only earn 3 out of 5 stars for value.

They run between $2.25 and $3 a square foot and come in at least 15-foot rolls, which you’ll clearly need to cut, earning a 4 out of 5 for installation. For the install, you’ll need to use carpet tape to hold the mat in place. In my opinion, it’s worth the work because of the eventual look and feel.

If you’re interested large flooring rolls, we also like Living.Fit Rubber Flooring Rolls.

We tend to not recommend puzzle-piece gym mats, as they are often made with a high-density EVA foam, and those foam tiles don’t stay locked well and also get dirty easily. That’s not the case with Living.Fit Gym Mats. Made with heavy-duty rubber, these square stall mats have jigsaw edges that stay locked together even through heavy lifting.

Garage Gym Reviews expert panel member and USA Weightlifting Level 2 Coach Jacob Penner tried these mats at his gym and was immediately impressed: “I didn’t expect such high-quality mats. They have a great thickness and the rubber is fantastic. It has a great grip to it—three of us walked on it and were shocked.” At almost a half-inch thick, these mats will give a good amount of cushioning for your flooring underneath, too.

At just under $100 for a mat that measures 14.3 square feet, this is a relatively inexpensive option for your gym space (especially for rubber mats), whether for storing exercise equipment or dropping heavy deadlifts. It gets a 4 out of 5 for its value.

It can handle a solid drop from an Olympic barbell; it’s actually spike-resistant, meaning it can hold up against most damage you’d expect in a home gym. Jacob rates the durability a solid 5 out of 5.

Jacob does warn, “The gym mats arrive rolled up, so I’d recommend letting them lay out to settle, perhaps with some weight plates on top to speed it along.” With the mats flat, they’ll be easier to interlock. They aren’t the lightest gym mats, but shouldn’t be a problem if you are okay with moving weight. The smell of rubber is present, though, earning it a 3 out of 5. If you’re OK with that fresh rubber smell at first, then these interlocking tiles can be a great addition to your home gym.

If you like the idea of modular flooring but don’t want to deal with interlocking tiles, check out Second Skin Stomp Mats.

If you’re tired of the sound of clanging barbells or don’t want to upset your downstairs neighbor, the appropriately-named Second Skin Stomp Mat is a perfect choice. Rubber mats and rolls have always been known for being able to help dampen noise in a gym, but these mats in particular have even been trusted by laundromats for silencing machines that tend to cause a lot of noise—so they can work for your loaded barbell and bumper plates, too.

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We haven’t personally tested this home gym flooring, yet, but we’re so enticed by the specs that I’m actually installing it in my mother’s home gym (shhh, don’t tell her—it’s a secret). Here’s why we’re confident in recommending them: Both the 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch thickness options have an R-value of 2.0 per square inch. (R-value is how thermal temperature insulation is measured.) These rubber rolls easily get a 5 out of 5 for durability with that R-value.

Each mat is 4 feet by 6 feet, which is more than enough to cover a weightlifting platform, that wobbly exercise bike, or anything else where you want the best soundproofing. Because you can cut each mat as needed, and it’s a little easier t manuever than a rubber roll, these mats get a 3.5 out of 5 for versatility.

Just note that the half-inch mats are $80 more than the 1/4-inch mats, making them have a little less value, although the thicker mats can absorb more weight drops. It gets a 4 out of 5 for value.

If you want another durable option with plenty of sound-dampening, Tractor Supply ¾” Rubber Stall Mats are very popular with home gym owners, and worth considering.

If you’ve got a large space you’re working with, like a basement, garage, or commercial gym, rubber flooring rolls are often much easier to use than interlocking pieces. You may need to cut them, and installation can be difficult, but rolls make covering large spaces much easier.

Living.Fit rubber flooring rolls are made in the USA, and specifically designed to cover large spaces. They’re sold in 4′ x 24′ rolls, which can be cut to fit your space as needed. These rolls earn 4 out of 5 stars for versatility.

Made from certified clean rubber, Living.Fit claims that these rolls don’t have any weird rubber smells, though we haven’t tested them ourselves yet to verify this. Still, this is a great feature, as anyone who’s installed rubber flooring knows that the smell can be quite strong for a while.

Even though we haven’t used these exact rolls, our team has used similar rubber flooring rolls for years, and we expect these to be quite durable, as similar products have earned 5 out of 5 stars for durability.

Each roll is 8mm thick and designed for easy cleaning, making them a great choice for both home gyms and commercial training centers.

Finally, the flooring is protected by a 5-year warranty, so you can rest assured that even if something happens to these rolls, Living.Fit has you covered, earning it a 4.5 out of 5 for customer experience.

For another great rubber flooring roll option, check out our pick for the best overall home gym flooring, the Flooring Inc 8mm Rubber Rolls.

Synthetic and artificial turf has become a staple in athletics over the last 50 years¹. It definitely also has its place in home gyms—under the right circumstances, of course. Flooring Inc has several gym-specific turf options.

While we haven’t tested this turf yet, the Performance Turf Rolls are a great choice because of their versatility. They work well inside and outside, and if you choose the non-cushioned back option, there are holes for drainage. For versatility, these earn 5 out of 5 stars.

Unlike some other options, the Performance Turf Rolls aren’t nylon; they are polyethylene, which makes them softer and a better choice for floor-based movements (though turf is still fairly abrasive to lie on). I have turf in my gym and love it for really high-impact exercise. Turf is well-known for its ability to minimize the joint shock effect of activities like box jumps and bounding jumps. I also love turf for sled drags.

Turf is pretty easy to install, especially if you can just roll it out, and these rolls earn 4 out of 5 for installation. Carpet tape easily secures it in place and keeps it from moving while you’re doing sled drags or pushes.

The downside to turf is that it tends to be expensive. Normally priced at about $4 a square foot, this is one of the pricier flooring options on our list, earning it a 3.5 out of 5 for value. I don’t recommend outfitting your entire gym space in turf, either, because it isn’t designed for weightlifting. However, a small turf area looks great, is easy to maintain, and is useful to protect your joints.

If turf isn’t your thing but you still want a soft training surface, you might like Feather Peel and Stick Carpet Tiles.

The absolute staple for most home gym floors and especially garage gyms the world over is the horse stall mat. For most people, the easiest and cheapest place to buy these is from Tractor Supply. You can order online or simply go to the store to pick them up (as long as your vehicle is big enough to transport them).

These horse stall mats from Tractor Supply use recycled rubber, are 3/4″ thick, 4 ‘x 6’ in size, and weigh upwards of 100 pounds. You can find horse stall mats for home gyms at other farm supply stores, and they will be similar in dimensions. The thickness makes this flooring sound absorbent and extremely durable, earning a 4 out of 5 for its sound dampening and a 5 out of 5 for its durability. I’ve used these mats in gyms for years and they hold up great.

These mats are suitable for any exercise. If you’re into powerlifting or CrossFit, using powerlifting barbells or CrossFit barbells for deadlifts, squats, bench presses, clean and jerks, situps, etc., these mats withstand literally any exercise.

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At around 100 pounds each, the mats themselves can be moved, but it may require more than one person, depending on your strength. A hundred pounds doesn’t seem like a lot, but it’s an odd object, so it can get a little clunky. However, these are relatively easy to cut to accommodate odd dimensions and small sizes. Laying down several of these can be a burden, though, so the installation scores a 3 out of 5 here.

It’s important to note that these do not have a smooth surface. That can be great for grip, but some people find it harder to clean. Also, horse stall mats are notorious for the, um, funky rubber smell. I, personally, don’t mind it because that’s what a garage gym smells like to me, but keep that in mind when choosing this option.

If you want heavy-duty mats that are a little lighter, you’ll want to consider Second Skin Stomp Mats.

If you’re looking for a gym flooring option that can withstand continuous high-performance training, we recommend the Forge rubber flooring by PLAE. We actually installed this at our Garage Gym Reviews headquarters, along with their Achieve flooring in an 18mm thickness (the Forge is a more affordable version of the Achieve). 

This flooring has held up beautifully despite our reviewers sweating on it, dragging heavy treadmills and exercise bikes across it, and slamming heavy barbells on it—we’ve even had an Olympic weightlifter drop 450 pounds from overhead onto the floor, so we have to give this rubber flooring a durability rating of 5 out of 5.

The 12-millimeter thickness also provides excellent shock and sound absorption, not to mention the fact that you feel secure on it thanks to its super-grip technology. It earns a 4 out of 5 in noise reduction.

To be clear, these aren’t removable mats but actual flooring that will be installed on top of whatever’s currently in your garage gym. The good news is it works with just about any type of subflooring (such as wood, plywood, or concrete). 

PLAE typically works with fitness studio owners, but that doesn’t mean you can’t install this in a home gym (just make sure you’re going to be there for a while). In fact, their white glove design and installation service sets them apart. With this option, they get a 4.5 out of 5 for the installation. Expect to get the royal treatment with Plae.

If you own a gym of any kind and want to go for extra protection, opt for Achieve. But for home gym owners looking for high-caliber flooring, the Forge is our pick.

If you want a more budget-friendly option that’s still extremely durable, you can’t go wrong with Tractor Supply ¾” Rubber Stall Mats.

If you’re on a bare-bones budget and need something quick to protect your floor, you can opt for ProsourceFit Puzzle Exercise Mats. Available in packs of six, 12, or 36 tiles, these mats can cover 24, 48, or 144 square feet for cheap; the six-tile pack costs around $25, earning a 5 out of 5 for value.

Although we haven’t tested this brand of foam mats ourselves, we know that the EVA foam these mats are made of are best for low-impact home workouts because heavy weights and drops will cause them to break down easily. Because of this, they only earn 3 out of 5 stars for durability. (Amazon has many high-density EVA foam flooring options from other brands like IncStores, as well.)

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EVA foam like this should be alright if you want to have something softer under you while doing yoga or lightweight dumbbell exercises. Interlocking puzzle mats like ProsourceFit are also great to set under heavy equipment like a rower or a plate tree because they can provide some protection for your floor without costing a fortune.

We wouldn’t recommend foam mats for high-impact activity, like CrossFit, plyometrics, or heavy lifting—especially if you’re dropping weights.

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With that said, also keep in mind that in socks, you might slip easier on a foam mat. Sometimes, foam mats even slip on the concrete itself and would definitely slide around on the hardwood. If you need a non-slip surface, rubber would be the way to go. However, foam mats can get the job done for certain exercises and certain workout spaces.

Because they’re so light, they’re also extremely easy to install and earn 4 out of 5 stars for the installation process. Customers (and us) recommend buying all the mat you need at once, as ProsourceFit occasionally changes the design of the interlocking mechanisms along the edge, meaning older mats may not connect properly with newer mats.

If you want interlocking floor tiles that are significantly more durable, we recommend Living.Fit Gym Mats.

Not all home gyms are in garages. Living rooms, spare bedrooms, and basement areas also double as workout spaces. Depending on your activity, carpeting may be just right. Eclipse Peel and Stick Carpet Tiles are great because they are easy to install, look great, and are fairly easy to maintain. They’re also pretty affordable, since you can cover 22.5 square feet for under $70.

Carpet tiles may be a good option for you if you tend to do lower-weight exercises, cardio on a treadmill or exercise bike, stretching, yoga, and Pilates, for example. A nice plus is that the Eclipse Carpet Tiles also have an attached polyurethane 6-pound cushion pad underneath the carpeting, providing a bit of cushioning.

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It’s not going to provide much floor protection and the cushioning is minimal, though, so it only earns a 3 out of 5 for durability. Still, that doesn’t mean it won’t be a great fit for your home.

Additionally, peel-and-stick carpet tiles give you the ability to mix and match colors to create a cool-looking space. The carpet can still be grippy enough to keep you from sliding while wearing the best Pilates socks you have. If you’re looking to decorate a room on a budget, these are a great choice, and earn 4 out of 5 stars for versatility.

Where I wouldn’t use carpet tiles is in a home gym where you’re using heavy weights and barbells. At 3/16-inches thick, this carpet is just too thin and will not provide the shock absorption necessary to protect your floors or foundation. If you’re wanting to lift some weights, I’d recommend any of our rubber flooring options we’ve discussed for the most durability and noise-dampening capability.

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If you like the idea of customizing your space with a variety of tiles but aren’t sold on carpet, you might like Flooring Inc Modular Grid-Loc Tiles.

Depending on your gym space, you may want a flooring that looks less like, well, a gym. If your space is in an area where you need it to look a little less dungeon-y and a little more presentable, Flooring Inc Modular Grid-Loc Tile could work. It has a vinyl top and gives you the look of hardwood or even tile without the porous and breakable nature of either material. It’s often water-resistant and staves off issues like mold and mildew.

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Now, if you’re doing heavy deadlifts or dropping weights from overhead, steer clear of vinyl, which only earns 3 out of 5 stars for durability. That’s a recipe for disaster. But if you want a good-looking workout room to do some cardio, dance, HIIT training, yoga, or pilates, vinyl suffices. Some basketball and sports courts also use vinyl planks.

While these tiles aren’t great for heavy lifting, they’re good for plenty of other activities and earn 4 out of 5 for versatility.

Generally speaking, vinyl flooring can be affordable when you’re looking for something that looks nice. It’s definitely cheaper than hardwood, for example, but it’s going to run you more than simply throwing down some horse stall mats. Flooring Inc Modular Grid-Loc Tile costs about $8.99/square foot, so it only gets a 3 out of 5 for value.

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For customizable tiles with a softer finish, we suggest Feather Peel and Stick Carpet Tiles.