What's The Best Type Of Fitness Flooring?

Whether you’re walking, jumping, squatting, or doing burpees, your flooring should provide the level of cushioning and slip-resistance you need to work out. To safely perform exercises, you need the right flooring. There a ton of different workouts from kickboxing and yoga to HIIT and weight lifting, they all benefit from having the correct type of flooring. 

We would love to tell you the exact flooring you need, but the truth is that the best flooring solution depends on a few different factors. What works for one project may not be ideal for another. A commercial or home gym is a big investment. Flooring is a big part of the many things you will need to consider. Keep reading to find out the best type of fitness flooring and how to find the right solution for your project. 

In this article:

• 4 Must-Have Qualities of Fitness Flooring
• The Best Type of Fitness Flooring 
• Installation: Gym Flooring Rolls vs Tiles 

Your flooring will control what you can safely install. For example, if you choose foam flooring, you won’t be able to install heavy workout machines and weights without marking and potentially damaging the floor. However, if you invest in thick, high-quality rubber flooring, it can handle an intense free weights session as well as large exercise machines. When thinking about your fitness flooring, here are four must-have qualities to look out for. 

A non-slip surface is important in a gym. As you naturally move through your workout, a non-slip surface creates a good level of traction. This helps to reduce any slips and falls. Fitness flooring provides a safe environment for exercise. 

The Sprung 20mm rubber heavy duty tile is one of our most popular options for gyms. With optimum shock absorption and non-slip safety, it creates a soft surface. By using recycled rubber, these tiles are environmentally friendly and completely metal-free. As the rubber is flat and anti-porous, it doesn’t have that lingering rubber smell that’s often associated with rubber gym tiles.  

Your commercial gym flooring should be durable enough to withstand years of exercise and use. High-intensity workouts are no match for premium quality flooring. A material such as concrete may be durable in the long-term, but it comes with no shock absorption qualities. Drop a heavy dumbbell on concrete, and it may result in damage. This is why it’s so important to find a flooring solution that is not only durable but shock absorbent, non-slip, and water-resistant. 

High impact exercises like running, jumping, and burpees are great for your health. But these types of activities can be tough on the body. If you’re continuously jumping and running for extended periods, that’s a lot of impact on your knees, ankles, and joints. For impact exercise, you want an adequate level of shock absorption while providing a firm surface to work out. 

Rolls of rubber flooring or interlocking gym tiles are a good solution as they provide plenty of shock absorption and look great. Sprung’s Jet Black Rubber Fitness Roll contains smooth HD rubber and is a smart and straightforward option for your gym.   

When investing in good quality fitness flooring, make sure that it’s easy to maintain. Given the naturally hot and sweaty environment that comes with fitness, dirt can build up quickly on the floor. Your fitness flooring should be easy to clean and maintain. A water-resistant surface means you will be able to wipe down the flooring without it absorbing the water. This is especially useful in a commercial setting where you will need to clean the floor regularly. 

When it comes to fitness flooring, you have a few different options. The best material for you really depends on how you’re going to use the space, the size of the area you’re covering, and the type of equipment you plan on installing. 

Before talking about the best type of fitness flooring, let’s talk about options you should actively avoid. When a surface isn’t designed for exercise and fitness, it’s more likely to lead to injury and damage to equipment. If you’re buying cheap rubber tiles not designed for fitness, typically, the material won’t be the right density for high impact exercise and heavy weights. 

The same applies to both hard and soft surfaces. One of the biggest mistakes we see in home gyms is the use of interlocking foam tiles. Foam functions well with yoga and Pilates. But in a garage gym with free weights and any fitness equipment, it’s not suitable. 

One of the best options for fitness flooring to support your workout style is rubber flooring. This is because it’s available in a range of thicknesses and styles. It starts at about 15mm thick and goes up to 60mm. You can choose between tiles, rolls, and interlocking tiles. Rubber is usually the go-to choice for commercial gyms because of its versatility. If you need flooring that will cater to different types of exercises, then rubber fitness rolls would be ideal. 

If you’re looking for something specific for dance, yoga, or sports, then wood flooring is perfect. Sprung’s wood flooring features a shock-absorbing underlay as well as a 5G click system for simple and quick installation. 

Another flooring option is a sprint track. If you plan on doing sled pulling and sprinting, then artificial turf is a great choice. It adds a bold statement of colour in a gym and adds a new layer of versatility to a facility. 

For more advice on the right flooring solution, we’ve pulled together a gym flooring buying guide to help you make the best choice for your project. 

Now that you have a better idea of the type of fitness flooring to use, you can make some final decisions. With rubber flooring, you have two choices: rolls and tiles. The gym rubber tiles tend to come in either a standard tile or with an interlocking system. Depending on how you plan to use the space and the size you have available, one option may suit you more than another. 

If you’re opening a commercial gym, you may find that rubber fitness rolls will be easier and quicker to install. You also have the option to add a section of artificial turf to increase workout versatility. For a home or garage gym, you may prefer interlocking tiles as they are super simple to install and don’t require adhesive. They are suitable for small and large spaces and have a seamless and professional finish. 

There are pros and cons to both types of flooring which we explain in further detail in our guide on how to choose between rubber gym flooring tiles and rolls. 

The best fitness flooring is the solution that meets your needs. Wood flooring is fantastic for a dance studio while heavy duty rubber tiles work well for a free weights gym. Match your flooring specifications to your situation to find the right solution that’s safe and long-lasting.  

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