The 7 Best Home Gym Flooring Options, Depending On Your Workout

If your home gym includes dumbbells, kettlebells, or any type of resistance equipment, you should seriously consider these heavy-duty rubber tiles.

They’ll absorb impact to protect your floors, and the seamless interlocking design means that no adhesive is necessary. The tiles simply fit together like giant puzzle pieces.

That’s a benefit, as rubber flooring has a tendency to shift and shrink. “I like the interlocking rubber tiles, as they keep tight seams,” says Paul Fischer, a certified personal trainer and owner of Framework Personal Training.

The tile approach also keeps things flexible. “In a home situation, I would opt for a floating rubber system rather than a rolled system,” recommends Rish. “That’s mainly because most rolled systems require an adhesive.” If you need the option of converting that home gym into a nursery in a few years, these interlocking tiles will be easy to take apart with no damage to your floor.

This is a great option for weightlifters looking for a temporary gym setup, but those seeking something more permanent will want to look elsewhere.

This freestanding exercise mat is specifically designed to protect your joints and your floors when you’re busting out burpees and other high-impact moves that require some space. It’s made with non-toxic rubber and has a firm but cushioning feel and a no-slip grip. Plus, it’s available in a range of spacious sizes to suit your space and it's double-sided.

At one-quarter inch thick, these mats are on the thinner side. But they still offer the absorption you want during high-impact workouts, and protect your floors from wear and tear. And since they roll right up when you’re done, they quite literally turn any room in your home into a usable gym space. 

Cork flooring is a stylish and impressively effective choice for home gyms. Not only is it impact-resistant, cushioning, and low-slip, it’s particularly beneficial if you have a treadmill, stationary bike, rower, or another oversized piece of equipment. Cork is smooth and resilient, but it naturally flexes and compresses to absorb shock beautifully.

It also insulates nicely against acoustical vibrations to reduce noise, no matter how fast you’re sprinting, stepping, or spinning, making it a great choice to go under your favorite cardio machine.

This is the flooring you want if you're hoping to design a gym space that's as aesthetically pleasing as the rest of your home.

Another bonus: unlike most other flooring materials, cork is a renewable resource that won’t shed microfibers or trap dust. Plus, it's super easy to keep clean (though it isn't completely water-resistant).

There’s a reason yoga studios all seem to have the same floor. “Vinyl is the best product for [yoga] because it can be cleaned easily, has a little give underfoot, and is aesthetically pleasing,” says Felicia Rish, senior commercial interior designer at Architects in Partnership. “You can opt for a lot of different patterns here that look like real wood or stone, which gives you a more biophilic or Zen design aesthetic.”

This option from Lifeproof is antimicrobial to resist mold and mildew. It’s also scratch and stain resistant and waterproof if you’re feeling the Bikram yoga. While you will have to install it, the drop-and-lock system is straightforward. Plus, it can go right over existing tile, wood, concrete, and vinyl floors.

Laminate, hardwood, and even polished concrete also tend to crop up in the yoga world, but Rish still prefers vinyl for its slip resistance, she says. “I would go with something that does not have a beveled edge,” Rish adds. “Dirt likes to make a home in the crevices so save yourself some sanity and make sure it has a flat edge.”

Whether you’re using a heavy bag or following a contact-free cardio kickboxing class, you need a secure base that’s not too slick. “You want a non-slip surface that’s easy to clean, and it needs to be fairly firm (not foamy) to help provide a stable platform to train on,” says Kerri Husk, sports therapist and owner of Huskie Sports Therapy & Performance. That’s key when you’re throwing both contralateral and ipsilateral combos. 

These stand-alone mats are heavy enough to stay put no matter how nasty that left hook/right round gets, and a proprietary manufacturing process ensures they’ll always lay flat—no curling edges here. They come in multiple sizes and thicknesses, so you can choose the right one for your space and cushion needs. There are even options for a little splash of color.

Each mat weighs a fair amount (the 4' x 6' size comes in at 48 pounds) so these are not necessarily portable. And while you can line up multiple mats for a larger floor, they won't stay locked together.

These thick rubber gym tiles will give you a great base for any studio class that leads you through an energetic, calorie-burning workout. The tiles come with a connection piece for a secure fit, which is key when you’re moving quickly through high knees or dance moves. (The last thing you want is your floor coming apart.) The rubber also absorbs shock well and is slip-resistant even when it’s wet, which means no slipping or sliding.

The tiles have a patented wear layer for long-term durability and come with a 15-year warranty. They also come in multiple colors and designs, making them a solid option for anyone who wants a customized floor but is on a budget.

If your fitness focus is mobility training to really work range of motion, this foam flooring is a good pick. It assembles and disassembles in just five minutes to create a supportive, cushioning platform that absorbs shock so you can focus on flexibility and strength. Because of its lightweight, interlocking features, this flooring is best suited for controlled, intentional movements (think yoga, pilates, or weightlifting—no explosive cardio). It’s also the least expensive option on our list, which is always a bonus.