Quick answer: for most home and garage gyms, 15mm–18mm rubber gym flooring is the right choice. Go thinner (4mm–12mm) if you only use cardio machines or bodyweight training, and thicker (20mm+ or a lifting platform) if you regularly drop heavy barbells. The exact answer depends on two things: what you do and what floor is underneath.
Gym flooring thickness at a glance
| Thickness | Best for | Typical format |
|---|---|---|
| 4mm–6mm | Under treadmills, bikes and rowers; yoga and stretching; protecting floors from machine feet | Rolls cut to length |
| 8mm–12mm | Cardio areas, circuits, light dumbbells, fitness studios, kids’ activity rooms | Rolls or 12mm tiles |
| 15mm–18mm | Free weights, kettlebells, CrossFit, most home and garage gyms | 6ft x 4ft mats or 1m interlocking tiles |
| 20mm+ | Heavy deadlifts, Olympic lifting, drop zones | Thick tiles, layered mats or a lifting platform |
1. Choose by workout type
Cardio machines and bodyweight training: 4mm–12mm
Treadmills, bikes and cross-trainers don’t create sudden impacts, so you mainly need grip, floor protection and a little cushioning. A rubber gym flooring roll in 4mm–6mm is enough under machines; 8mm–12mm feels better underfoot for circuits, HIIT and floor work.
Dumbbells, kettlebells and general strength: 15mm–18mm
This is the sweet spot for most people. A 15mm–18mm mat absorbs the shock of a dumbbell set down hard or a kettlebell dropped at the end of a set, protects your subfloor, and reduces noise. Popular options include our 17mm 6ft x 4ft rubber gym mats, 12mm and 18mm bubble hammer mats and 17mm Durasof interlocking gym tiles.
Heavy barbells and Olympic lifting: 20mm+
If you drop loaded barbells from overhead or pull heavy deadlifts, 15mm–18mm alone may not fully protect a concrete slab, let alone a timber floor. Build a dedicated drop zone: layer two mats, use thicker tiles, or build a lifting platform with bumper plates. Not sure what you need? Ask our team.
2. Choose by the floor underneath
- Concrete garage or ground floor: concrete is unforgiving but strong. 15mm–18mm covers most training; go thicker in the lifting area.
- Timber floors and upstairs rooms: go one step thicker than you would on concrete and avoid dropping weights. Rubber reduces impact noise and spreads load, but no gym mat makes an upstairs room fully soundproof.
- Carpet: fine for light use, but mats can shift and the carpet compresses. For lifting, a firm, level base performs much better.
3. Rolls, tiles or mats?
- Rolls (4mm–12mm): the fewest joins and lowest cost per m² for large rooms. Sold by the linear metre or in 1m x 10m rolls.
- Interlocking tiles (12mm–17mm): easy to lay in awkward rooms, no adhesive needed, and you can replace one damaged tile.
- 6ft x 4ft mats (12mm–18mm): heavy, stable and quick to lay in a garage gym or lifting area.
Many gyms combine them: a roll across the room, with thicker mats in the weights area. Browse the full gym flooring range or our rubber gym mats.
How much gym flooring do I need?
Measure the length and width of the area in metres and multiply to get m². For a 1m-wide roll, the number of linear metres equals the m². For 1m x 1m tiles, one tile covers 1m². A 6ft x 4ft mat covers about 2.2m². Add around 5% for trimming.
Gym flooring thickness FAQs
Is 10mm gym flooring thick enough?
For cardio, circuits and light dumbbells, yes. For free weights and kettlebells, 15mm–18mm is a safer choice.
Is 6mm rubber flooring OK for a home gym?
6mm is fine under cardio machines and for floor exercises, but too thin to protect a floor from dropped weights.
What thickness do commercial gyms use?
Commercial gyms usually use 8mm–12mm rolls in cardio areas and 15mm–20mm+ tiles or platforms in free-weights zones.
Do I need to glue gym flooring down?
Not usually. Heavy mats and interlocking tiles can be loose-laid. For large commercial roll installations, use a suitable rubber flooring adhesive.
Related guides: Home gym flooring guide · Best gym mats for weightlifting · Garage gym flooring guide
Need advice? Call 01744 520 110 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm) or browse our gym flooring with free UK delivery.