5 Things to Know Before Buying Gym Rubber Flooring

07 Jul.,2025

 

Things to Consider Before You Buy Gym Flooring [UPDATED]

Key Features to Look for in Gym Flooring

Durability and Shock Absorption

Commercial gym flooring endures a lot—from heavy machinery to the repetitive impact of intense workouts. It’s essential to invest in a strong, durable surface that can withstand wear and tear while offering excellent shock absorption. This not only protects the floor but also reduces strain on the joints and muscles of gym users.

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Additionally, good gym flooring should strike a balance between grip and slip. While it must provide stability, a slight allowance for natural movement ensures users can exercise fluidly and safely. The right flooring also prevents equipment from shifting during use, reducing the risk of accidents.

Rubber Flooring: The Go-To Option

Rubber gym flooring is a popular choice for fitness facilities, and for good reason. Its resilience makes it ideal for handling high-impact activities without showing signs of wear. It also improves traction, allowing athletes to accelerate and perform their best without the fear of slipping or injury.

Hygiene and Maintenance

Gyms are high-traffic spaces with a significant build-up of moisture, sweat, and dirt—factors that can compromise hygiene. Rubber flooring is a practical choice here, as it’s resistant to mould and easy to clean.

A simple wipe-down or light mop with a neutral cleaner keeps the floor sanitised and fresh, maintaining a welcoming and hygienic environment for all gym-goers.

Aesthetic Appeal

The look and feel of a gym can influence motivation. Flooring that is inviting, energising, and aligned with the gym’s aesthetic goals can make a big difference. Rubber gym floor tiles and rolls come in a variety of colours and designs, enabling gym owners to create zones or add character to the space.

Bright, engaging flooring can transform a dull gym into a vibrant, motivational environment that keeps members coming back.

Thickness and Density

When selecting rubber floor mats, thickness and density are critical factors.

Thickness: Choose according to the activities and equipment in use:

  • 4mm–10mm: Suitable for subfloor protection and light-impact activities.
  • 11mm–30mm: Ideal for medium-to-high-impact workouts.
  • 40mm–60mm: Designed for heavy weight training and high-impact fitness.

Density: Opt for a density of at least 900 kg/m³ for maximum durability. While cheaper options are available, they often compromise on quality. Ordering samples is a smart way to assess the material before making a purchase.

"Always consider the key activities you will be doing, the maximum level of weights you plan to use in your gym, and how often. This will help you to determine the right thickness to pick. Also take into account the overall floor height and if it is suitable for your specific space." – Danny, Sprung Gym-Flooring

Noise and Vibration Control

Gyms can be noisy environments, especially with heavy weights being dropped or energetic training routines in progress. Soundproof gym flooring helps absorb sound and vibrations, creating a quieter atmosphere for gym-goers and reducing disruption to surrounding areas. This feature enhances the usability of the space and ensures a better experience for everyone.

Conclusion

The right flooring is a cornerstone of any gym. It provides safety, durability, and comfort while contributing to a hygienic and visually appealing environment. Rubber floor tiles stand out as a versatile option that ticks all the boxes, from impact absorption to noise control and ease of maintenance.

Whether you’re upgrading commercial gym flooring or a home gym workout space, investing in high-quality flooring tailored to your needs will pay dividends in performance, longevity, and user satisfaction. Make your gym a place to feel energised, safe, and ready to achieve fitness goals.

Explore our Bestselling range of Gym Flooring Tiles for an instant gym upgrade.

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9 Rubber Flooring Pros and Cons: What You Should Know

Thinking about building a home gym and wondering if rubber flooring is the right choice for your space? You probably know that rubber flooring is the gold standard in gym flooring, but maybe you’re concerned about potential drawbacks.

The last thing you want is to make a purchase you regret. This guide can help! We’re taking an in-depth look at rubber flooring to find all the benefits and some important considerations. 

Discover the top nine rubber flooring pros and cons to help you make a smart shopping decision. 

What is Rubber Gym Flooring?

Known for its versatility and durability, rubber flooring is the ideal surface for your gym. Whether you’re trying to create a workout room or updating a commercial gym, you can find the perfect flooring to meet your needs.

Most rubber flooring is made from materials like recycled vehicle tires. This makes the flooring extremely durable and low-maintenance. 

Rubber flooring also comes with several DIY-friendly options. You can choose from interlocking tiles, rolls, mats, and sheets to fit your space.

Related Content >> Rubber Floor Tiles Guide

Pros of Rubber Gym Flooring

Rubber is the ultimate gym flooring option, and there are many reasons for this, from durability to DIY installation. Check out these advantages of rubber flooring that make it so popular.

Slip Resistance

Rubber flooring is unique because it becomes more slip-resistant when it gets wet. That means you have a safe, slip-free surface to work out on, no matter the conditions. You don’t have to worry about spills causing potential injury.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Gym Rubber Flooring.

Plus, because it doesn’t get slippery when wet, rubber flooring is also ideal for outside use. Install it in your yard to create an easy outdoor workout area. 

Water-Resistant

In addition to being slip-resistant, rubber flooring is also water-resistant! 

To be 100% certain no water ever reaches your subfloor, you can seal the flooring with a rubber floor finish and sealer and also seal the seams with a seam sealer. Without a finish and sealer, there is still a chance water can get under the flooring.

Related Content >> Best Home Gym Flooring Options

Incredibly Durable

Rubber flooring is built with durability in mind. After all, it needs to handle heavy workouts and high-traffic commercial gyms. 

While the common misconception is that thicker rubber means higher durability, that’s not necessarily true. Durability is more about density. Dense rubber flooring is tough and durable.  Low-density rubber flooring is more shock absorbant but also not quite as durable.

Vulcanized rubber are the most durable. If you need superb durability, make sure to search for these options.

  • Vulcanized rubber: During the vulcanization process, the rubber is compressed into a dense, ultra-durable, non-porous rubber. This option naturally has a significantly milder scent than non-vulcanized rubber.

Absorbs Impact

Intense workouts can put a lot of stress on your joints, so you need flooring that can absorb the impact of your burpees, plyometric workouts, and dropped weights.

High impact rubber flooring can lessen the stress and wear on your knees, back, and hips, and protect you from injury.

For the best high-impact gym flooring, look for products made from recycled, lower-density rubber. You can also find flooring with waffle backings designed specifically to absorb heavy impacts.

Related Content >> High Impact Flooring Guide

Easy Installation

One of the best things about rubber flooring is the ease of installation. Whether you choose rubber floor tiles, rubber rolls, or rubber gym mats, you can upgrade your gym in a single afternoon. 

Rubber tiles are the most DIY-friendly option. The edges interlock together like giant puzzle pieces, and they’re heavy enough that you don’t need to glue them down. 

Rubber flooring rolls are also extremely easy to install. You just roll them out, and you’re done!

Cons of Rubber Gym Flooring

Smell

Rubber flooring does have a distinct smell. This is caused by off-gassing from the glue that holds the flooring together and the rubber itself.

Some products smell stronger than others, depending on the type of raw material used or how the flooring was made. For example, virgin rubber flooring doesn’t really have a smell, so if you’re sensitive to the smell, this would be the best option for you.

When you first get your flooring, the smell will be the strongest, but after installation, it will become less intense after a few weeks. 

You can also mop a few times with a mild soap and water cleaning solution like Dawn or Tide, and then keep the room well-ventilated or leave the flooring outside to dry. This should alleviate the smell.

Style

Rubber flooring is very functional, but it’s not necessarily known for its style. For the most part, your flooring is going to be black. If you want a minimalist look, this isn’t a problem. 

One way to amp up the style is to introduce color. Some options will come with EPDM color flecks, containing anywhere from 10% to 95% color fleck. 

Price

As you consider rubber flooring pros and cons, price may be a big factor. Rubber is premium gym flooring. It’s ultra-durable with highly sought-after features like shock absorbency, a non-slip surface, and easy installation. This is an investment in your gym and your fitness, and the cost is worth it.

Heavy

The densest and most durable options are pretty heavy, especially if you’re installing a cumbersome rubber roll or a mat. 

If you want more portable gym flooring, consider something lighter like 6mm Energy Rubber Tiles.

Related Content >> How to Clean Rubber Gym Flooring

Conclusion

Those are the biggest rubber flooring pros and cons. Now that you know the top pros and cons, you’ll have a better idea if this is the right home gym flooring for you. 

If you want to upgrade your gym with rubber flooring, get started with some free samples to find the perfect options for you.

For more PP Interlocking Tilesinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.