[UPDATED in 2025]
Whether you’re building a home gym or a commercial setup, finding the right commercial weight room flooring is a key part of designing a durable and long-lasting fitness environment. So, should you choose fitness tiles or rolls? While both gym mat formats offer several advantages, you need to figure out the best solution for your needs. Keep reading to find out the best gym mat formats for your next project.
In this article:
- What is the Best Gym Floor Format?
- What Thickness should I use?
- 4 Gym Mat Formats for Your Fitness Space
What is the Best Gym Floor Format? Gym tiles or rolls?
When it comes to gym matting, you have several options to consider. It can feel like a difficult task to get the right flooring. In general, the best gym matting format depends on a few factors, including:
- Budget
- Space
- Purpose
- Traffic
- Moisture
All of these factors will combine to narrow down your choices. For example, a yoga studio has different needs to an Olympic weight lifting gym. The standard home gym experiences much less traffic than a commercial studio. Your individual situation and intended use play a big role in making the right decision.
Fitness Rubber Rolls
You have three main types of gym matting: rubber gym flooring rolls, gym tiles, and interlocking gym mats. Rubber rolls are suitable for ample space and create a seamless and uniform look. In comparison to tiles, rolls are less labour intensive during the installation process. They also tend to be cheaper than rubber tiles. Because rubber rolls create a seamless finish, there are fewer joins which means it’s less likely to form gaps or become loose with use.
All rolls come with a 4 year guarantee against premature cracking and colour defects.
Gym Mats
For thicker flooring, rubber gym tiles are usually the preferred option. Heavy rubber floor tiles support practically any workout and protect the subfloor from weighty machinery and use. Rubber tiles should be secured professionally to avoid gaps or imperfections, especially in a commercial gym setting.
The other option is to use interlocking gym mats. These are similar to rubber tiles but use either a self-locking feature or have jigsaw edges for easy assembly. So, you can install the flooring without adhesive. This is ideal for home gyms where you don’t want to invest in a costly installation process. Interlocking tiles still provide maximum support despite the easy assembly process. 
What Thickness should I Choose?
4 Gym Mat Formats for Your Fitness Space
Your requirements, use, budget, and space available will all play a part in choosing the best gym mat format for your fitness space. Here are four options to consider that are suitable for a range of environments and activities.
1. Fitness Rolls
An excellent option for the modern fitness studio, these fitness rolls create a seamless and sleek finish. The rubber fitness rolls are suitable for yoga, cardio, spinning, high impact exercise, and even free weights training. The non-slip surface is comfortable and looks fantastic.
2. Heavy Duty Rubber Tiles
For seriously heavy weightlifting, opt for heavy-duty rubber tiles. Rubber gym mats can vary massively in thickness from 11mm to a huge 63mm. The general idea is that the heavier the weights, the thicker the tile should be, as you need a greater amount of shock absorption and sound insulation.
Customer Feedback:
"I needed flooring for my very small gym (an old box bedroom). Because I use light weights most of time, I opted for the 15mm PRO Tiles which gave me sufficient floor protection. Although very small in size, I wasn't confident about fitting them myself so my partner ended up with the job! He said it was really easy to do and the installation video was very helpful. I am delighted with the final result"
Jessie, N. London
3. Flecked Rubber Gym Rolls
Rubber fitness rolls are ideal for larger spaces to create a blanket look. If you want a little flair in your gym flooring, try a flecked rubber roll. The Fleckz Premium Rubber Roll comes in a variety of colours and offers a wide range of functionality. It’s suitable for functional training, supporting heavy workout machines, and protecting the subfloor.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to choosing between gym tiles or rolls, it really depends on the space you have available, your intended use, and your budget. While rubber gym mats are suitable for both home and commercial gyms, fitness rolls tend to be suited to much larger spaces than your average home gym. Match your gym mat format to your needs so that you invest in the best option for your requirements.
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