It’s every fitness fanatic’s dream to have a house gym. Finding the space,
painting the partitions, and picking out equipment is all a part of the experience.
Constructing a house gym empowers you to manage your fitness journey in your personal
space. Nevertheless, amid the joy of designing your ideal fitness haven, a
crucial query must be answered: How thick should the gym flooring
be?
The reply to this query can significantly impact your workouts’ safety,
performance, and overall experience. In this text, we delve into the
intricacies of choosing the appropriate thickness to your gym flooring,
exploring various aspects that ought to guide your decision-making
process.
Whether you are lifting weights, doing cardio, or wrestling, understanding
the perfect gym flooring will be certain that your own home gym shouldn’t be only a spot
for effective workouts but in addition one in all safety and luxury.
Table Of Contents:
- How Thick Should Gym Flooring Be?
- How Big Should A Gym Floor Be?
- Types Of Gym Flooring
- Best Overall Home Gym Flooring Thickness
- Best Outdoor Gym Flooring Thickness
- Best Gym Floors for Plyometrics
- Best Gym Floor Thickness for Weight Lifting
-
Best Gym Flooring For Dumbbell
- Best Gym Flooring For Martial Arts And Wrestling
- How Much Does Gym Flooring Cost?
- FAQs
How Thick Should Gym Flooring Be?
The thickness of gym flooring is a critical consideration, and there is no
one-size-fits-all answer. You will discover anything from 1/4th inch to 1 inch in
most home gyms.
Several aspects come into play when determining how thick your gym flooring
needs to be
-
Style of Exercise: The training you propose to do in your gym is a
significant factor. For activities like CrossFit and Olympic
weightlifting, where heavy weights are dropped, thicker flooring is
essential to soak up impact and protect your subfloor. Even with heavy
powerlifting, you want a thicker floor. For one of these training,
go for 3/8 to 1-inch mats. -
Floor Material: The present flooring material can influence your
decision. In case your gym is on a tough surface like concrete, you’ll have
thicker flooring to supply sufficient cushioning and shock absorption.
Conversely, if you will have a carpeted floor, you may get away with thinner
gym flooring. -
Budget: Cost is a major factor for many individuals. Thicker
gym flooring tends to be dearer. For those who’re on a good budget, you
may go for thinner mats or tiles while considering other strategies to
minimize the impact. -
Sound Insulation: If noise is a priority, especially in a shared constructing
or apartment, thicker gym flooring may also help dampen sound and reduce the
disturbance to neighbors or other occupants. -
Durability: Thicker gym flooring often has higher durability,
which implies it might probably withstand heavy use and the trials of weightlifting
equipment. Thinner mats may wear out more quickly.
How Big Should A Gym Floor Be?
The dimensions of a house gym floor can vary widely depending in your available
space, fitness goals, and the exercises you propose to do. It’s essential to
figure this out beforehand so you possibly can order your flooring and get it laid
down before every other gym equipment arrives.
-
Space Availability: Essentially the most significant limitation of your gym’s size is
available space. Start by measuring the world you possibly can allocate to your own home
gym. Consider every other non-fitness equipment or furniture that should
coexist in the identical room. -
Exercise Needs: Consider the sorts of exercises you propose to perform.
For basic cardio workouts and body weight exercises, a smaller space may
suffice. Nevertheless, in case you’re incorporating weightlifting, a bigger area
with enough room for weight racks, benches, and adequate clearance is
essential. You want enough gym flooring to cover your whole
equipment. -
Storage Area: Consider whether you wish space for storage, resembling
racks or shelves for weights and accessories. Having an organized storage
area can keep your gym space clutter-free and functional. -
Multi-Purpose Use: For those who plan to make use of the gym area for other activities,
like stretching, or as a play area for kids, factor that into your
flooring requirements. You might only need gym flooring for a part of the
area. -
Budget: Your budget may influence the scale of your own home
gym. It’s okay to begin small. Flooring and equipment will be expensive.
Ensure to strike a balance between your fitness goals and budget
constraints.
Types Of Gym Flooring
As discussed, gym flooring mats have various types and thicknesses to
accommodate different workout needs and preferences. Here is an inventory of some
common sorts of gym flooring, together with their typical thickness
ranges:
1) Rubber Flooring
-
Rolled Rubber: Thickness ranges from 1/4 inch to 1 inch or
more. - Rubber Floor Tiles: Thickness can vary from 1/4 inch to 1 inch.
2) Foam Flooring
3) Vinyl Flooring
- Vinyl Rolls: Thickness ranges from 1.5mm to 5mm or more.
- Vinyl Tiles: Thickness can vary from 2mm to 5mm.
4) Turf Flooring
Best Overall Home Gym Flooring Thickness
If I had to select one of the best overall thickness for gym flooring, it will be
an 8mm (slightly below 1/3 inch) rubber floor.
This thickness is flexible enough to accommodate different workouts,
making it a wonderful alternative if you will have a various fitness routine. Whether
lifting weights, doing yoga, or engaging in high-intensity interval training
(HIIT), 8mm flooring balances cushioning and stability.
Moreover, this rubber flooring thickness
is durable and may withstand the demands of a house gym for a few years. It
helps protect your gym equipment and the underlying subfloor from damage
over time.
Our top pick is IncStores 8mm Titan Rubber Interlocking Floor Tiles, but for more home gym ideas, take a look at this text: 4 Best Home Gym Ideas
& Setups We have Ever Seen.
Best Outdoor Gym Flooring Thickness
When organising a house gym outside, you must account for the results of
the weather. From a flooring standpoint, you would like something that may handle
the weather and be effective to your workouts. One of the best option is rubber
horse stall mats. They’re thicker (3/4 inch), so you possibly can do any training
you would like with them. One of the best part is the worth. A 4 x 6 rubber mat is less
than $50.
Here’s a home gym user’s experience:
Best Gym Floors for Plyometrics
To do plyometrics and other athletic-style training, you will have flooring
to accommodate the assorted movements. One option is turf. Plyometrics
involve explosive moves like jumps, bounds, and agility drills that strain
the joints significantly and require a surface that gives stability and
shock absorption.
Turf flooring provides several key benefits for plyometric workouts. Its
surface is designed to be forgiving on the joints, reducing the danger of
injuries during high-impact movements. The natural texture of turf also
offers excellent traction, promoting stability and stopping slips or
slides, which is crucial for precise and protected plyometric exercises.
Moreover, the slight cushioning of turf flooring helps absorb shock and
impact forces, sparing your joints from excessive stress. Moreover, turf
is durable, easy to scrub, and may withstand the wear and tear and tear of intense
workouts, making it a practical and efficient alternative for home gyms focused
on plyometrics.
Its versatility extends beyond plyometrics, as it might probably even be used for
various agility drills, prowler, and functional training exercises, making
it an ideal multi-purpose surface for dynamic workouts in a house gym
setting. We actually just like the
Agility Turf Rolls from IncStores
for our indoor plyometric workouts.
Best Gym Floor Thickness for Weight Lifting
For lifting weights, thick rubber flooring (3/8 – 3/4 in) is one in all the
best selections. First, rubber offers exceptional durability, able to
withstanding the heavy use and wear and tear related to heavy
lifting.
Secondly, thick rubber tiles provide a stable surface to lift on. One among
the most important mistakes people make once they wish to lift heavy is getting
foam flooring. The froth compresses under your feet, creating an unstable
surface. That’s the exact opposite of what we would like when lifting
weights.
Moreover, in case you plan to do Olympic lifts (snatch and clean) or heavy
deadlifts, it is sensible to get a lifting platform. A lifting platform is a
dedicated area with a reinforced surface, often wood and rubber, designed to
provide stability and shock absorption. It offers a secure foundation for
lifting heavy weights while protecting the gym floor and reducing noise. You
could make a platform with a few pieces of plywood covered by
rubber.
For one of the best rubber flooring to place atop your own home gym lifting platform, look
no further than
IncStores Impact Foam Rubber Tiles. At 3/8 inches thick, these 2’x2′ interlocking foam mats permit you to
construct your flooring to the specs of your platform and available space.
They’re waterproof and anti-slip, which makes them perfect for extra sweaty or
even outdoor sessions. Finally, the closed cell EVA foam provides an awesome
impact profile, and the highest layer is crafter from recycled rubber for extra
grip underfoot.
Best Gym Flooring For Dumbbell Areas
If your own home gym will only have dumbbells, you will have many options for
flooring. For essentially the most part, you would like something that may protect your
floors. After all, rubber will work, but you possibly can get by with a thinner foam
or vinyl to save lots of some money.
We like the flexibility of those
Snap Together Dance Floor Tiles by IncStores
because they’re easy to put in, offer a wide range of prints to match your own home
gym aesthetic, and are available in 10 different bulk-buying options to save lots of you some
money.
Best Gym Flooring For Martial Arts And Wrestling
Growing up a wrestler, I all the time dreamed of getting a mat in my very own garage
gym. Nevertheless, to not age myself, but wrestling mats was once much harder
to seek out. Luckily, now you will have a variety of options. Search for an 8 x 8 or 10 x
10 wrestling mat that’s 1.25 inches thick. It’ll work excellently for any
wrestling or martial arts training you need to do.
IncStores Rollout Wrestling Mats
are our first pick for home gyms or training on the go. They’re 1 and 5/8
inches thick, produced from closed-cell EVA foam rubber, and topped with
heavyweight vinyl to maximise cleanliness. Plus, they’re lightweight and
complete with underside relief cuts to permit for simple rollout anywhere, at
anytime.
How Much Does Gym Flooring Cost?
The knowledge on gym flooring is mandatory, but let’s get all the way down to the
brass tacks. How much does it cost?
The most affordable sort of gym flooring shall be foam tiles. While not great for
heavy lifting or plyometrics, in case you are only going to be performing some light
dumbbell work and stretching, you possibly can get by with this. Most foam
interlocking tiles will cost around $1 per squat foot.
The following level up is what I consider one of the best overall value. Horse stall
mats are thick, rubber mats you possibly can do any sort of training on. One of the best
part is that they only cost around $2 per square foot.
For those who like the concept of using rubber gym floor mats but want something that
looks nicer than horse stall mats, you possibly can go together with a rubber roll. A rubber
roll can have a high-end feel and appear, which most industrial gyms use. The
only downside is the worth. It’ll cost you around $3 per square
foot.
Last but not least is turf. Turf is pricey, but most individuals only use
turf for a part of their gym. In that case, you possibly can have half the gym rubber
with the opposite half turf. It’s one of the best of each worlds. Most turf will cost
between $3-4 per square foot.
FAQs
Listed here are some answers to some common questions on gym flooring.
Why do gyms need special flooring?
Gyms need particular flooring to soak up shock, reduce noise, and protect
each the subfloor and equipment. Gym flooring also offers slip resistance,
easy maintenance, and sturdiness, making it crucial for a protected and
functional workout environment.
What are the standards for gym flooring (for industrial
gyms)?
Business gyms often adhere to industry standards, which usually
recommend gym flooring thickness of at the very least 3/eighth inch (8-10mm). These
standards prioritize safety, durability, and shock absorption to accommodate
various exercises and equipment.
Do you wish underlay for gym flooring?
The necessity for underlay is dependent upon the sort of gym flooring and the
subfloor’s condition. Underlay can provide extra cushioning, reduce noise,
and address minor imperfections within the subfloor, making it a great option for
certain gym setups.
Can you set gym flooring over concrete?
Yes, you possibly can install gym flooring over a concrete floor. The truth is, concrete
is a typical subfloor for garage gym areas. Properly chosen gym flooring,
resembling rubber or foam mats, provides the mandatory cushioning and
protection over concrete surfaces.
Is foam or rubber higher for the gym floor?
The alternative between foam and rubber for gym flooring is dependent upon your needs.
Rubber is durable and suitable for high-traffic and heavy-weight areas,
while foam is softer, making it ideal for yoga and mobility exercises.
Select the fabric that best aligns together with your gym’s primary
activities.
Should I glue down rubber gym flooring?
Generally, gluing down rubber gym floors shouldn’t be mandatory. Nevertheless, if
keeping the rubber gym flooring mats in place is a difficulty, you possibly can try
carpet tape.
Thickness For Gym Flooring: Key Takeaways
To wrap things up, the fee of gym flooring can vary widely based on
aspects resembling the sort of material, thickness, quality, and the scale of
your gym space. Whether considering budget-friendly options or investing in
high-end, durable flooring, weighing the long-term advantages against the
upfront expense is crucial.
Ultimately, the appropriate gym flooring alternative should align together with your fitness
needs, budget, and aesthetic preferences. We hope this text has provided
invaluable insights to allow you to settle on your gym flooring investment.
Keep in mind that the appropriate flooring enhances your workout experience and plays
a vital role in making a protected and supportive fitness environment.
