How thick should gym flooring be?
- @ryananthoney
- Oct 13
- 6 min read
Gym flooring thickness depends on your training style and equipment. For most home and commercial gyms, 20mm rubber flooring is the ideal standard, providing excellent shock absorption, noise reduction, and durability. However, Olympic lifting and heavy deadlifts require 30-40mm thickness, whilst light cardio areas can use 10/15mm flooring.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll explain exactly which thickness suits your training needs, why thickness matters for equipment protection, and how to avoid costly mistakes when choosing gym flooring.
Gym Flooring Thickness Guide by Training Type
10-15mm Gym Flooring - Light Use Only
Best For:
Cardio-only areas (treadmills, bikes, rowers)
Yoga and Pilates studios
Light stretching zones
Office gym spaces with minimal equipment
Pros:
Most affordable option (£18-£25 per sqm)
Easier to cut and install
Sufficient for bodyweight exercises
Good for temporary setups
Cons:
❌ Not suitable for dropping weights
❌ Limited shock absorption
❌ Wears faster under heavy equipment
❌ Minimal noise reduction
❌ Poor subfloor protection
Our Recommendation:
We rarely recommend 15mm flooring unless you're creating a dedicated cardio or stretching area, or you're creating a home gym on a really tight budget. For any gym with dumbbells or barbells, invest in 20mm minimum.
Real Example:
"One of our major gym chain partners use 10mm EPDM flooring throughout their space in the non-lifting areas and also for some of their machines. Perfect for their needs - looks premium, easy to clean, find for heavy foot traffic, but their heavy lifting areas are all 30mm EPDM, made to withstand serious and regular impacts."
20mm Gym Flooring - The Industry Standard
Best For:
Home gyms (garage and spare room setups)
Personal training studios
Boutique gyms
Hotel gyms
Dumbbell training areas
Functional fitness zones
General strength training
CrossFit boxes (general areas)
Pros:
✅ Excellent shock absorption for most exercises
✅ Protects subfloors from dumbbell drops
✅ Significant noise reduction
✅ 10+ year lifespan with proper care
✅ Suitable for dumbbells up to 50kg
✅ Cost-effective (£25 per sqm for quality tiles)
✅ Handles kettlebells, medicine balls, and moderate barbell work
Cons:
Not ideal for super heavy Olympic lifting (use 30mm+) or get a deadlift platform
May compress slightly under very heavy racks over the years
Our Recommendation:
20mm is our most popular thickness and what we recommend for 80% of customers. It's the sweet spot between performance, protection, and price.
Real Example:
James converted his double garage in Bath with 20mm SBR flooring (30 sqm). He trains with hex dumbbells up to 40kg, has a half rack, and does 150kg+ deadlifts. After 3 years, the flooring shows minimal wear and his neighbours have never complained about noise.
30mm Gym Flooring - Olympic Lifting & Heavy Deadlifts
Best For:
CrossFit boxes (lifting platform zones)
Heavy deadlift areas
Commercial gyms with intense barbell use
Facilities with regular barbell drops
Multi-purpose strength training zones
Pros:
✅ Superior shock absorption for heavy lifts
✅ Excellent subfloor protection
✅ Very good noise reduction (25 decibels)
✅ Suitable for drops up to 150kg
✅ Long commercial lifespan (5 years+)
✅ Handles daily heavy use
Cons:
Higher cost (£40-£50 per sqm)
Heavy (25kg+ per 100x100cm tile)
More difficult to cut and install
Creates height differences if mixing with 20mm
Our Recommendation:
30mm is ideal for CrossFit boxes and commercial gyms where barbells are dropped regularly. It's the most popular choice for dedicated lifting zones or big commercial gyms with a decent budget.
Real Example:
"A CrossFit box in Henleaze installed 30mm EPDM flooring in their 100 sqm gym. Members drop barbells from hip and shoulder height daily. After 18 months of intensive use, the flooring shows minimal wear is still looking great."
40mm Gym Flooring - Olympic Lifting Platforms
Best For:
Olympic weightlifting platforms
Powerlifting competition areas
Elite training facilities
Areas with overhead barbell drops (200kg+)
Professional athlete training centres
Ex retail spaces with noise restrictions
Pros:
✅ Maximum shock absorption (90%+ impact reduction)
✅ Complete subfloor protection
✅ Maximum noise reduction (30 decibels)
✅ Suitable for 200kg+ drops from overhead
✅ Competition-standard protection
✅ Virtually indestructible
Cons:
Most expensive option (£50-£65 per sqm)
Very heavy (35kg+ per 100x100cm tile)
Requires professional installation
Difficult to cut (very tiring!)
Can create significant height differences (40mm step) down to base level
Our Recommendation:
40mm is only necessary for dedicated Olympic lifting gyms where athletes regularly drop loaded barbells from full overhead height or ex retail units where change of use applications may require noise-dampening measures; the 40mm flooring is ideal for this. Unless you hit this criteria, it's probably over the top for you.
Real Examples:
"All gyms that spring to mind with 40mm have been busy city centre ex retail units, second floor gyms, or high-end home".
Why Gym Flooring Thickness Matters
1. Shock Absorption & Equipment Protection
Thicker flooring absorbs more impact when weights are dropped, protecting:
Your dumbbells and barbells from damage
Your subfloor (concrete, wood, or tiles)
Your building's structural integrity
Equipment like racks and benches from vibration damage
The Science:
A 20kg dumbbell dropped from 1.5m generates approximately 300kg of force on impact:
15mm flooring absorbs 40-50% of this shock
20mm absorbs 70-80%
30mm absorbs 85-90%
40mm absorbs 90%+
2. Noise Reduction
Thicker flooring significantly reduces noise transmission:
15mm: Minimal noise reduction (5-10 decibels)
20mm: Good noise reduction (15-20 decibels)
30mm: Excellent noise reduction (25 decibels)
40mm: Maximum noise reduction (30 decibels)
Why This Matters:
Home gyms: Keep neighbours happy
Commercial gyms: Reduce complaints from adjacent businesses
Multi-storey buildings: Prevent noise travelling to floors below
3. Durability & Lifespan
Thicker flooring lasts longer under heavy use.
4. Safety & Comfort
Thicker flooring provides:
Better cushioning for joints during high-impact exercises
Reduced fatigue during long training sessions
Safer landing surface for plyometric exercises
Better grip and stability
Common Mistakes When Choosing Flooring Thickness
❌ Mistake #1: Choosing 15mm to Save Money
The Problem:
15mm flooring wears quickly under dumbbells and provides minimal equipment protection. You'll likely need to replace it within 3-5 years.
The Solution:
Invest in 20mm from the start. The £5-7 per sqm difference pays for itself in longevity and performance.
Real Cost:
15mm for 20 sqm: £400 (after a few years)
20mm for 20 sqm: £500 (should last the test of time, especially EPDM)
❌ Mistake #2: Using Same Thickness Everywhere
The Problem:
Different training zones have different requirements. Using 40mm everywhere is wasteful; using 15mm everywhere is inadequate.
The Solution:
Zone your gym:
Cardio area: 15mm acceptable or use carpet/LVT.
General training: 20mm standard
Heavy lifting zones or deadlift platforms: 30mm
❌ Mistake #3: Using 40mm When 30mm Would Suffice
The Problem:
40mm flooring costs £10-15 per sqm more than 30mm. Many gyms over-specify when 30mm would handle their needs perfectly.
The Solution:
Choose 40mm only if:
Dropping 200kg+ from full overhead height
Building competition Olympic lifting platforms
Elite athlete training facility
Noise considerations
Choose 30mm if:
Dropping barbells from hip/shoulder height
CrossFit box lifting zones
Heavy deadlift areas
Commercial gym strength zones
❌ Mistake #4: Not Considering Ceiling Height
The Problem:
Thicker flooring raises your floor level. In garages with low ceilings, 30-40mm flooring might prevent overhead pressing. Or mean a rack doesn't quite fit in.
The Solution:
Measure ceiling height before choosing thickness:
2.2m ceiling: Use 20mm maximum
2.4m ceiling: 20mm works well, 30mm possible
2.7m+ ceiling: Any thickness suitable
❌ Mistake #5: Ignoring Subfloor Condition
The Problem:
Very uneven subfloors need thicker flooring to level out, but thickness alone won't fix major issues.
The Solution:
Minor unevenness (±3mm): 20mm flooring sufficient
Moderate unevenness (±5mm): Consider levelling compound first
Major unevenness (±10mm+): Level subfloor before installing flooring
❌ Mistake #6: Buying Based on Price Alone
The Problem:
Cheap flooring under £20 per sqm is often:
Made from low-quality recycled rubber
Incorrect density (too soft or too hard)
Missing fire safety certifications
Poor dimensional tolerance (tiles don't fit together)
Smells
The Solution:
Look for:
B1 fire rating certification
Dimensional tolerance: ±1%
Virgin or high-quality recycled rubber
Supplier with good reviews, check these online!
Our Top Final Gym Flooring Recommendations:
For 90% of customers, we recommend 20mm flooring. It's the perfect balance of:
✅ Performance (excellent shock absorption and noise reduction)
✅ Protection (safeguards equipment and subfloors)
✅ Price (£25 per sqm for quality SBR)
✅ Longevity (15+ years in home gyms, 8-10 years commercial)
✅ Versatility (handles dumbbells, kettlebells, moderate barbells)
Don't compromise on flooring thickness to save a few pounds per square metre. The difference between 15mm and 20mm is just £5-7 per sqm, but the performance gap is enormous. A 20 sqm home gym costs just £100-140 more with 20mm flooring, yet it will last three times longer and protect your equipment investment far better.
Similarly, don't over-specify. If you're building a home gym for dumbbell and moderate barbell training, 20mm is perfect—you don't need the expense of 30mm or 40mm flooring.
Next Steps:
Measure your space (length x width in metres)
Add 5-10% for wastage
Choose your thickness (20mm for most applications)
Select SBR or EPDM (SBR for durability, EPDM for aesthetics)
Order with confidence
Need expert advice? Our team at Recharge Fitness has helped hundreds of customers across Bristol and the UK choose the perfect flooring for their training space.
📞 Call us: 0330 043 4554
📧 Email: team@rechargefitness.co.uk
⏰ Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
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