[UPDATED in 2025]
When it comes to playground rubber tiles, the options can feel overwhelming. How do you know which ones are the safest? Which are the best fit for your space? Whether you're planning to spruce up your garden or looking to install tiles for a local park or school playground, getting it right the first time is crucial. The wrong choice can lead to costly mistakes - or worse, safety hazards.
But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about playground rubber tiles. From understanding what they are to choosing the right ones for your needs, here’s our short guide to creating a safe and enjoyable play space for children.
In This Guide:
- What Are Playground Rubber Tiles?
- How to Choose the Best Playground Rubber Tiles
- 3 Tips for Buying the Right Playground Rubber Tiles
What Are Playground Rubber Tiles?
Playground rubber tiles are a specially designed flooring solution for play areas, prioritising safety and shock absorption. Typically made from premium recycled rubber, these safety tiles are available in a range of colours such as black, blue, red, and green, allowing for creative and vibrant designs that kids will love.
One of the standout features of playground tiles is their granulated texture, which provides extra traction to help prevent slips and falls. This makes them an incredibly popular choice for spaces with swing sets, climbing frames, and other play equipment. Durable, shock-absorbent, and reliable, rubber playground tiles are designed to cushion falls and minimise injuries, a must-have for any playground.
Other Playground Surface Solutions
As well as rubber tiles, there are other playground surfaces worth considering either as part of your playground design or as an alternative to standard playground tiles.
Play Grass & Lawn Protection Mats
Artificial lawns and grass protection mats have also become popular for outdoor playground use. These options either mimic the look and feel of real grass or blend into a real lawn to protect against damage while providing a slip resistant surface for play.
Modular Playground Tiles
These contemporary outdoor modular sports court tiles blend a playground solution with a high performance sports surface for added versatility. The PVC interlocking tiles can be painted with court markings to create a Basketball Court or Multipurpose Sports surface which can be used all year round.
How to Choose the Best Playground Rubber Tiles
When selecting playground rubber tiles, there are several key factors to consider. After all, children’s safety is the top priority, so you’ll need to ensure the tiles are up to the job.
Key Features to Look For:
Fall Protection
Playground flooring must protect against falls from equipment like swings or climbing frames. Injuries such as sprains, broken bones, or even head trauma can happen when kids are playing. Tiles with a high fall-protection rating are essential to keep serious injuries at bay.
Weather-Resistance
Durability and Stability
Smooth Finish
Ease of Maintenance
Eco-Friendly Materials
3 Tips for Buying the Right Playground Rubber Tiles
Making the right choice for your playground involves a bit of planning. Here are three practical tips to help you choose wisely:
1. Consider the Height of Your Equipment
The height of your playground equipment plays a major role in determining the type of rubber tiles you’ll need. Look for tiles with the right critical fall height rating (or HIC value) to match the tallest equipment in your play area. The higher the equipment, the thicker and more protective the tiles should be.
Also, think about how the playground will be used. A busy public park will need a more robust solution compared to a small garden play area.
2. Get Creative with Colour
Rubber tiles come in a variety of colours, giving you the chance to create a fun and engaging space for kids. Whether you want to design colourful patterns or divide the area into zones for different activities, the possibilities are endless. While black might be a practical choice for parks, schools and nurseries often benefit from vibrant colour schemes that capture children’s imaginations.
3. Prioritise Safety
Safety should always come first. Features such as shock absorption, non-slip surfaces, and fall protection are non-negotiable. A proper flooring solution can make all the difference, not just in preventing injuries but also in providing peace of mind for parents.
Customer Feedback:
"I was looking for good, strong flooring to go under my kid's trampoline and climbing frame. The 30mm tiles were really easy to lay and cut around corners. They not only look great but I have extra piece of mind if there's any accidents!"
Final Thoughts: Building a Safe and Fun Playground
When choosing playground flooring, consider everything from the height of the equipment to the expected foot traffic and weather conditions. Rubber tiles are a smart choice because they combine durability, safety, and design flexibility.
Remember, the right flooring does more than just keep kids safe—it also adds to the fun and enjoyment of play. By investing in high-quality playground rubber tiles, you’re creating a safe and inviting space where children can swing, climb, and play to their hearts’ content, while parents can rest easy knowing they’re protected.
So, take your time, do your research, and make a decision that ticks all the boxes for safety, durability, and fun. A great playground starts from the ground up!
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