Can You Park a Car on Horse Stall Mats?

Rubber horse stall mats are supremely tough and durable, and they’re designed to withstand the weight and traffic of horses and other livestock. Since the mats are large and long-lasting, they’re also a popular choice for home gym settings and garages. But can you park on horse stall mats?

Why are Horse Stall Mats Ideal for Your Garage Gym?

Horse stall mats measure ½ or ¾ inches thick, so they’re more durable than your average rubber gym flooring. These mats are large and very heavy, meaning you can dry lay them in your garage gym without worrying about a glue-down installation. They’re convenient if you need to be able to remove that flooring periodically, and the installation process couldn’t be similar.

Horse stall mats are also ideal for your garage gyms because they offer excellent protection to your subfloor. They’re strong enough to withstand the weight of exercise equipment, and their thick rubber design means they can absorb the impact of dropped weights.

The mats are affordably priced, too. They’re large enough so that you can quickly cover a gym space with them, but they’re not so large as to be difficult to handle. Many horse stall mats measure 4x6 feet, so you could floor part of your garage for your gym space while leaving the other portion free for vehicle use or other purposes.

The Horse Stall Mats Straight Edge Cobblestone are an excellent choice for use in a garage gym. These mats feature a pebble top surface to maximize traction during your workouts. They’re crafted from closed-cell rubber, which is non-absorbent and easy to clean. The mats are also anti-fungal and anti-bacterial for a safer, more hygienic environment.

These mats have an important benefit: They help insulate you against the cold and damp subfloor. They’re comfortable to stand on and contribute to a more enjoyable workout environment on colder days. Plus, they’re thick and durable enough to absorb the impact of dropped weights, protecting your subfloor.

What’s the Difference Between Stall Mats and Gym Mats?

There are some key differences between stall mats and gym mats. Stall mats tend to be larger than gym mats, but with gym mats, you have more design and installation options, such as with individual tiles, which can then be connected together.

Gym mats are also available in more thickness options, including in thinner ¼-inch options when you need minimal shock absorption but want to protect your subfloor from wear and tear. You can also find gym mats that are thicker than stall mats if you need extra shock absorption for heavier dropped weights.

Keep in mind that gym mats are designed specifically for use indoors, while stall mats aren’t. Some stall mats feature a stronger rubber odor, so you’ll need to budget plenty of time to let these mats air out before enclosing them in your garage. Plan to maximize ventilation in your garage for several weeks if you’ll be using stall mats.

Can You Park on Horse Stall Mats?

While flooring your whole garage with stall mats might sound like an ideal solution, it’s not a great idea if you plan to park vehicles in part of your garage. Horse stall mats are strong and durable, but they’re not designed to withstand the weight of vehicles.

Can you drive on horse stall mats? Technically, yes, but we don’t recommend it. The repeated weight of vehicles can shorten the lifespan of your mats. Additionally, any oil, antifreeze, or automotive fluids that leak can also damage the rubber and cause it to deteriorate.

While it’s not advisable to drive or park on horse stall mats, you can still create a garage gym using stall mats. We recommend using horse stall mats for the designated part of your garage that will be your gym. Then, leave the areas where you will be driving or parking as bare garage floor. This arrangement allows you to enjoy the benefits of horse stall mats without damaging them with your vehicles.

Why You Should Buy Horse Stall Mats from Greatmats

At Greatmats, we have an excellent selection of rubber horse stall mats in various thicknesses. In addition to traditional stall mats, we also have interlocking mats that you can connect together to create a larger, unified surface.


If you decide that stall mats aren’t the right choice for your garage, we offer a fantastic selection of gym mats, including mats, tiles, and rolled flooring, so you can customize and enhance your garage gym. And if you’ll be using your garage as a vehicle workspace, we have flooring options that are suitable for use around vehicles while maximizing your traction, comfort, and safety.

Contact us today with any questions. We’re happy to help you decide which product is best for your budget and your goals for the space.