So, you are installing a garage gym, or you are already set up with a gym, but you are tired of working out on a concrete slab. Regardless, it’s time to explore some garage gym flooring ideas. A good, durable floor protects your home’s foundation, your expensive equipment, and most importantly, you and your joints!

So what is the best floor for a gym? Well, if you’ve ever stepped foot in a box gym or CrossFit facility (as I’m sure you have), you’ve seen the dense, durable rubber flooring they have installed. While this is probably the best flooring option (and I’m sure what most of us would like to have), most of us can’t afford to outfit our personal gym with this stuff. So we need other options.

Option 1: Commercial flats

Let’s first look at the commercial floor you were talking about. The stuff you would find in a large global gym. If money is not an issue, this is the best you can get. It is called Aktiv after Regupol. It is offered in a color tone, and when it comes to commercial product pricing, every place I’ve seen it requires you to request a quote.

You can also buy the tiled version of this floor. It is called Aktivlok. I’m not sure how it compares to commercially installed flooring, but pricing is more readily available without asking for quotes, and it sells for around $ 4 to $ 5 per square foot. So not too bad for a high quality product.

Option 2: rubber stall mats

The next option is almost as good as the commercial flooring mentioned above. Believe it or not, they are horse mats. They are 3/4 “thick 4 ‘x 6’ rubber mats that cost about $ 40 each ($ 1.66 per square foot). You can cover some serious square footage for not much money with these. Here’s what I used in my own garage gym. They are relatively easy to cut to fit your space or when you need to drill holes to secure equipment to the ground. In my garage, my power cage is anchored to the slab. I easily cut around the cage feet with a jigsaw, I’ve also seen videos of these things being cut with box cutters.

A couple of things about these mats. First of all, they are extremely durable. I drop dumbbells and weights on these regularly and never think twice about doing it. I haven’t even scratched these mats. They also keep their shape. If you group four or six of them into a square, they all line up. They do not warp like lower quality rubber mats do. However, they are extremely heavy. They weigh about 100 pounds each. Get help from a friend when you pick them up at the store (Tractor Supply Company has them for $ 39.99).

Option 3: Interlocking rubber tiles

Finally there is the economic option. CAP Barbell makes interlocking rubber tiles that you can buy at local sporting goods stores like Academy or Dicks, or even online at eBay or Amazon. It is cheaper than any other option, but you get what you pay for. If you’re going to be dropping crash plates and dumbbells on a consistent basis, you may want to avoid them. I looked at them when I was buying my gym floor, but didn’t feel like they held out for long. Having said that, I didn’t actually buy them, so I can’t say how well they will hold up for you. Read some reviews on Amazon to get an idea of ​​how people like them.

Hardware stores also sell interlocking versions of the rubber or vinyl tile. Online reviews are hit or miss, and the specs don’t look that great for the price (they seemed thin). Still another option for you to consider.

So in short, lighter interlocking floor mats or tiles seem better suited to place under a treadmill or elliptical. Something that won’t move a lot, but will still protect the floor underneath. For explosive moves with bumper plates, especially moves where a failed rep means dropping the bar, I would at least go with heavier duty mats like horse mats. If you have installed a flooring that is not mentioned here and you love it, please leave a comment and let us know.