Commercial Gym Flooring Buying Guide
Find the most durable floor for your commercial gym or fitness studio with our commercial gym flooring buying guide. Discover your options in rubber gym flooring and more.
There’s no better feeling than finally opening that fitness studio you’ve been dreaming of or at last getting to do that big remodel in your gym. Whether you’re starting from scratch or rebuilding your established gym, it’s a huge and sometimes overwhelming process.
The thing we see time and time again is gym owners having purchased all of their equipment and at the last minute remembering, “Oh yeah, I have to have a floor!”
Flooring just isn’t typically the exciting part. Or, at least, not the part at the forefront of people’s minds.
I may be biased, but personally, I think the floor is the most important piece in your commercial gym. It’s important to choose a floor that can protect both your athletes’ joints and your subfloor from the demands of varied rigorous fitness routines.
Unless you have a very specific niche, chances are there is going to be a wide variety of workouts taking place in your gym. It’s important to choose a gym flooring option versatile enough to handle everything from floor exercises to Olympic weightlifting.
There are a variety of floor-covering options available for commercial gym flooring. Often, picking out the right solution can seem like a difficult task. The most popular flooring options for use in commercial gyms are rubber flooring rolls, rubber floor tiles, gym turf rolls and gym turf tiles.
Learn all about the benefits of each option, and choose the right fit for you!
There’s no better feeling than finally opening that fitness studio you’ve been dreaming of or at last getting to do that big remodel in your gym. Whether you’re starting from scratch or rebuilding your established gym, it’s a huge and sometimes overwhelming process.
The thing we see time and time again is gym owners having purchased all of their equipment and at the last minute remembering, “Oh yeah, I have to have a floor!”
Flooring just isn’t typically the exciting part. Or, at least, not the part at the forefront of people’s minds.
I may be biased, but personally, I think the floor is the most important piece in your commercial gym. It’s important to choose a floor that can protect both your athletes’ joints and your subfloor from the demands of varied rigorous fitness routines.
Unless you have a very specific niche, chances are there is going to be a wide variety of workouts taking place in your gym. It’s important to choose a gym flooring option versatile enough to handle everything from floor exercises to Olympic weightlifting.
There are a variety of floor-covering options available for commercial gym flooring. Often, picking out the right solution can seem like a difficult task. The most popular flooring options for use in commercial gyms are rubber flooring rolls, rubber floor tiles, gym turf rolls and gym turf tiles.
Learn all about the benefits of each option, and choose the right fit for you!
Rubber Gym Flooring Rolls
Rubber flooring rolls are the premier commercial gym flooring option. Known for their sharp, sleek looks and extreme durability, rubber rolls are a staple in just about every traditional gym out there.
Rubber rolls are known for their seamless appearance. When installed correctly, it is nearly impossible to see where one roll ends and another begins.
Rubber gym flooring rolls come in a variety of different thickness options to suit your needs. You can even purchase high-impact rubber rolls specially designed to keep your joints safe during high-impact, plyometric movements.
In terms of price, rubber gym flooring rolls range from under $1/sqft all the way to $7/sqft.
There are many variables that factor in to determine cost. However, our most popular commercial gym flooring rolls typically run anywhere from $2.00/sqft-$2.50/sqft.
Rubber rolls are known for their seamless appearance. When installed correctly, it is nearly impossible to see where one roll ends and another begins.
Rubber gym flooring rolls come in a variety of different thickness options to suit your needs. You can even purchase high-impact rubber rolls specially designed to keep your joints safe during high-impact, plyometric movements.
In terms of price, rubber gym flooring rolls range from under $1/sqft all the way to $7/sqft.
There are many variables that factor in to determine cost. However, our most popular commercial gym flooring rolls typically run anywhere from $2.00/sqft-$2.50/sqft.
Recommended Thickness
One of the most important decisions you will make when choosing rubber gym flooring is the thickness. The thickness determines how well the rubber will protect your subfloor from dropped weights.
The most popular thickness for commercial gyms is 3/8”. In fact, we sell more of our 3/8” Heavy Duty Rubber Rolls than any floor on our site. It’s what we have installed at my CrossFit gym and it works great for virtually any commercial gym setting.
In the most extreme conditions, gym owners will choose 1/2” rubber rolls. These babies are ultra-thick and can protect your subfloor from the impact of your heaviest dumbbells. For heavy dumbbells in particular where the point of contact is smaller and less spread out, the 1/2” rubber rolls are the optimal choice.
The most popular thickness for commercial gyms is 3/8”. In fact, we sell more of our 3/8” Heavy Duty Rubber Rolls than any floor on our site. It’s what we have installed at my CrossFit gym and it works great for virtually any commercial gym setting.
In the most extreme conditions, gym owners will choose 1/2” rubber rolls. These babies are ultra-thick and can protect your subfloor from the impact of your heaviest dumbbells. For heavy dumbbells in particular where the point of contact is smaller and less spread out, the 1/2” rubber rolls are the optimal choice.
Pros of Rubber Gym Flooring Rolls
- Ultra-durable: Rubber flooring is perhaps the most durable commercial gym flooring option available. You will even see rubber flooring installed in ice skating rinks where skaters walk on their ice skates. Like, with blades. And still, you won’t need to replace the floor for 10+ years.
- DIY, glue-free installation: You can 100% install rubber flooring rolls without the help of an installation professional. Just make sure you have some swole friends to help because these bad boys get pretty heavy.
- Easy to clean: Simply vacuum or use a damp mop when necessary.
- Environmentally responsible: Rubber flooring rolls are made from recycled rubber with many made right here in the USA. You can also find plenty of FloorScore certified options.
- Sound and shock absorbing: For tough workouts and heavy weights, rubber gym flooring rolls will absorb the shock and sound, keeping your joints and subfloor safe and sound. And your neighbors happy.
- Anti-microbial: That’s a fancy way to say you won’t see weird things growing in your floor.
- Water resistant: Sweat your heart out and create your gym on any level, including your basement. Rubber isn’t particular.
Cons of Rubber Gym Flooring Rolls
- Weight: With superhuman durability comes a pretty bulky floor that weighs quite a bit. If you choose rolled rubber gym flooring, you’ll definitely want to enlist the help of fit friends to help with installation.
- Little temperature insulation: Rubber is a bad insulator against temperature transmission. When you use rubber on cold basement subfloors, the rubber will still feel cold to the touch. However, rubber does work well over heated flooring systems.
- Color fleck rolls are not UV-stable: You’ll want to keep these guys covered from the sun to protect their color.
Rubber Gym Flooring Rolls Installation
Rubber flooring rolls are extremely easy to install. They are, however, cumbersome. Listen - thick, durable rubber is going to be heavy. This is not the kinda job you want to do solo.
While learning how to install rubber flooring rolls is extremely easy to do without the help of an installation professional, I wouldn’t say you want to do it yourself. We think of it as more of a DIWF (Do It With Friends) flooring option.
When you install rubber rolls you have 3 options:
While learning how to install rubber flooring rolls is extremely easy to do without the help of an installation professional, I wouldn’t say you want to do it yourself. We think of it as more of a DIWF (Do It With Friends) flooring option.
When you install rubber rolls you have 3 options:
- Loose lay: If you are loose-laying your gym flooring rolls, after you roll them out and in place, you really are done! Most of the time, the rolls are heavy enough to naturally stay in place with no extra adhesive necessary. If you loose lay your rubber rolls, you can pick them up and move them or take them with you to a new location at any time.
- Double-sided tape: For more tougher conditions, consider using double-sided carpet tape around the perimeter of your floor. This is extremely easy and you will still be able to transport your rolled rubber flooring in the event that you change locations.
- Glue-down: In extreme conditions, some CrossFit and commercial gym owners prefer to fully glue down their rubber gym flooring rolls. This will ensure no movement and no curling up at the edges. However, once the rolls are glued, they cannot go with you if you move locations.
Rubber Gym Floor Tiles
Rubber tiles are most well known as the premier home gym flooring solution. However, many gym owners love using rubber floor tiles as commercial gym flooring, as well. They are durable, affordable and known for their easy, DIY, interlocking installation.
DIY-ers love that installing rubber tiles is just like putting together a giant, life-size rubber puzzle. Each tile contains interlocking edges that come together way more easily than one of those Thomas Kinkade puzzles.
In terms of price, rubber floor tiles range from under $2/sqft all the way to over $18/sqft.
Many variables factor in to determine the cost. However, our most popular commercial gym flooring tiles typically run anywhere from $2.50/sqft-$3.50/sqft.
DIY-ers love that installing rubber tiles is just like putting together a giant, life-size rubber puzzle. Each tile contains interlocking edges that come together way more easily than one of those Thomas Kinkade puzzles.
In terms of price, rubber floor tiles range from under $2/sqft all the way to over $18/sqft.
Many variables factor in to determine the cost. However, our most popular commercial gym flooring tiles typically run anywhere from $2.50/sqft-$3.50/sqft.
Recommended Thickness
Just like rubber rolls, choosing the right thickness for your commercial gym tiles is an incredibly important decision.
The most popular thickness for commercial gyms is 3/8”. In the most extreme conditions, gym owners will choose 1/2” rubber floor tiles. These babies are ultra-thick and can protect your subfloor from the impact of your heaviest dumbbells.
For heavy dumbbells in particular where the point of contact is smaller and less spread out, the 1/2” rubber floor tiles are the optimal choice.
The most popular thickness for commercial gyms is 3/8”. In the most extreme conditions, gym owners will choose 1/2” rubber floor tiles. These babies are ultra-thick and can protect your subfloor from the impact of your heaviest dumbbells.
For heavy dumbbells in particular where the point of contact is smaller and less spread out, the 1/2” rubber floor tiles are the optimal choice.
Pros of Rubber Gym Floor Tiles
- Ultra-durable: Whether you choose tiles, rolls or mats, rubber gym flooring is top notch when it comes to durability.
- Easy DIY installation: The biggest appeal for tiles over rolls is that they come together just like puzzle pieces. It’s a super easy install that literally anyone can do.
- Lighter than rubber rolls: You don’t need to enlist your barbell club to move these guys around.
- Easy to clean: Simply vacuum or use a damp mop when necessary.
- Environmentally responsible. Non-vulcanized rubber floor tiles are made from recycled rubber. Additionally, many rubber tiles are made right here in the USA.
- Sound and shock absorbing: For tough workouts and heavy weights, rubber gym flooring rolls will absorb the shock and sound, keeping your joints and subfloor safe and sound. And your neighbors happy.
- Anti-microbial: That’s a fancy way to say you won’t see weird things growing in your floor.
- Water resistant: Sweat your heart out and create your gym on any level, including your basement. Rubber isn’t particular.
Cons of Rubber Gym Floor Tiles
- Tedious installation for big spaces: Although rubber gym tiles are easy to install, they do get time-consuming in large spaces. They are best for smaller areas.
- More seams than rubber rolls: While most tiles are virtually seamless, they will never be quite as seamless as rolled rubber flooring.
- Price: Rubber gym tiles are more expensive than rolls per square foot.
Rubber Gym Floor Tiles Installation
One of the primary benefits of rubber floor tiles is they are ridiculously easy to install – so easy, even a novice can install them in an afternoon.
Interlocking rubber tiles come together just like a puzzle. Simply lock each tile into place, then sit back and praise yourself for your exceptional installation. Yes, it’s really that simple.
You can install your rubber gym floor tiles by either loose-laying them or using double-sided tape for a more permanent installation. We do not recommend gluing your rubber tiles to the subfloor because the glue can seep up through the seams and nobody wants that.
When you install rubber rolls you have 3 options:
Interlocking rubber tiles come together just like a puzzle. Simply lock each tile into place, then sit back and praise yourself for your exceptional installation. Yes, it’s really that simple.
You can install your rubber gym floor tiles by either loose-laying them or using double-sided tape for a more permanent installation. We do not recommend gluing your rubber tiles to the subfloor because the glue can seep up through the seams and nobody wants that.
When you install rubber rolls you have 3 options:
- Loose lay gym flooring: If you are loose-laying your gym tiles, after you lock them together, you really are done! Most of the time, the tiles are heavy enough to naturally stay in place with no extra adhesive necessary. If you loose lay your tiles, you can easily pick them up and move them at any time.
- Double-sided tape: For more extreme conditions, consider using double-sided carpet tape around the perimeter of your floor. This is extremely easy and you will still be able to transport your rubber gym tiles in the event that you change locations.
Rubber Gym Floor Mats
For small spaces or weightlifting areas, sometimes gym floor mats are the way to go. For example, you don’t need 1/2” or 3/4” thickness over your entire gym floor. Instead, you can dedicate a heavy lifting area and use ultra-thick and durable weightlifting mats.
You can also order specific rubber mats to go underneath your cardio equipment. If you wanted to do a low-pile commercial carpet over your main area, you could easily protect it with treadmill mats underneath your machines.
For gym matting, you can choose anything from thin 1/4” mats for bodyweight exercises all the way up to 3/4” Shock Mats, which are specially designed to handle the impact of heavy Olympic weightlifting and dumbbell exercises.
Commercial gym flooring mats are typically sold by the full mat price, rather than by square foot. They range from about $40 to $150, depending on thickness.
You can also order specific rubber mats to go underneath your cardio equipment. If you wanted to do a low-pile commercial carpet over your main area, you could easily protect it with treadmill mats underneath your machines.
For gym matting, you can choose anything from thin 1/4” mats for bodyweight exercises all the way up to 3/4” Shock Mats, which are specially designed to handle the impact of heavy Olympic weightlifting and dumbbell exercises.
Commercial gym flooring mats are typically sold by the full mat price, rather than by square foot. They range from about $40 to $150, depending on thickness.
Pros of Rubber Gym Floor Mats
- Great for small spaces: When you don’t need to do an entire area, rubber mats will be your best option, saving you time and money.
- Ultra-durable: These gym floor mats are specially designed to hold up to your heaviest lifts.
- Excellent sound and shock absorption: Protect your athletes’ joints, your subfloor and the ears of all your members with sound- and shock-absorbing rubber matting.
- No installation necessary: Simply lay it and leave it. Seriously, so easy.
- Anti-microbial: That’s a fancy way to say you won’t see weird things growing in your floor.
- Water resistant: Sweat your heart out and create your gym on any level, including your basement. Rubber isn’t particular.
- Portable: Easily change your setup by simply picking the mats up and moving them where you want them.
Cons of Rubber Gym Floor Mats
- Not appropriate for large spaces: If you have a big space to cover, you’re better off going with rubber rolls, both financially and time-wise.
- Price: Rubber gym floor mats are affordable on their own, but they do end up being more expensive per square foot.
Rubber Gym Floor Mats Installation
Installation is almost a strange word to use here. All you need to do is lay the mat down where you want to use it and you’re done.
In extreme conditions, you may consider using double-sided carpet tape around the perimeter to ensure your mat stays perfectly in place.
In extreme conditions, you may consider using double-sided carpet tape around the perimeter to ensure your mat stays perfectly in place.
Commercial Gym Flooring FAQ
That’s quite a bit of information! Still looking for answers? Here are a few of our most frequently asked questions about commercial gym flooring.
Q) What’s the best flooring for commercial gyms?
A) Rubber gym flooring rolls are by far the most popular commercial gym flooring option. They are durable, shock absorbent and perfect for large spaces.
Our most popular commercial gym flooring roll is our 3/8” Heavy Duty Rubber Roll. These rolls are perfect for virtually any workout.
Q) How thick should commercial gym flooring be?
A) 3/8” is the most popular thickness for commercial gym flooring. If you plan to repeatedly drop super heavy dumbbells and/or kettlebells, we recommend choosing the 1/2” just to be safe. There is a common misconception that commercial gyms require 1/2” or even thicker rubber gym flooring. That’s just not true. The 1/2” is best for a heavy dumbbell area, but otherwise, most commercial and even CrossFit gyms do great with the 3/8” rubber.
Q) How do you clean commercial gym flooring?
A) It depends which option you go with. Most gym flooring options require a simple cleaning solution of mild soap and water.
Each product offers specific instructions on cleaning and maintenance.
Q) How much does commercial gym flooring cost?
A) Commercial gym flooring ranges in price from under $2/sqft all the way to over $18/sqft.
Whoa! That is quite the range, eh?
There are many variables that factor in to determine cost. Our most popular commercial gym flooring typically runs anywhere from $1.90/sqft-$3.50/sqft.
The good news is many of these options are super DIY-friendly so your cost (typically) just comes down to materials and shipping.
Here’s what it would look like to floor a large 30’x30’ gym area.
| Material | Good Deal Price by Sqft | Average Shipping Cost | Good Deal Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
3/8" Rubber Rolls
|
$1.91
|
$815
|
$2,650
|
| 3/8" Rubber Tiles | $2.89 | $920 | $3,655 |
|
Turf Rolls
|
$2.59
|
$630
|
$3,430
|
| Turf Tiles | $6.44 | $900 | $7,300 |
Note: Prices vary and are subject to change at any time. Shipping costs vary by product and location. These averages were calculated averaging locations in the US, excluding Hawaii and Alaska.
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