How Heavy Are Rubber Floor Mats for Gyms?

1. What Are Some Lightweight Options for Rubber Floor Mats for Gym Layouts?


2. Will Thicker Rubber Mats Protect the Subfloor?

Rubber floor mats for the gym are a popular selection, as they offer a number of significant benefits for athletic facilities. However, they do have a significant amount of weight to them, which can complicate installation. A standard 4-by-6-foot mat that measures 3/4 of an inch thick can weigh more than 100 pounds.

Thinner rubber floor mats for the gym will carry less weight, which makes them easier to install, but they don’t offer the same level of protection for the subfloor when used under weightlifting equipment. Thicker mats are the best selection for protecting the subfloor in a home or commercial gymnasium where large free weights are in use - especially if you intend to drop the weights.

For a customer who has a concern about the weight of rubber floor mats for the gym complicating the installation process, it may help to think about the weight of the rubber flooring per square foot of coverage area. Mats and rolls 3/8 inches and less in thickness may weigh 1 to 3 pounds per square foot. Those rubber floor mats for the gym that measure 1/2 inch and thicker may weigh 3 to 5 pounds or more per square foot.

Here are some of the various weights that can be found in rubber materials used in gymnasiums.

What Are Some Lightweight Options for Rubber Floor Mats for Gym Layouts?

Stick with thin materials for lightweight options when installing rubber rolls or tiles in a gymnasium setting.

One of the lightest options is the Rubber Flooring Rolls 1/4 Inch Thick product. This roll ships in a 4-by-10-foot segment, so it will cover a lot of space in the gymnasium quickly. It will deliver a level of protection for the subfloor from small dumbbells, but it won’t work as well for large machinery or barbells.



The entire roll weighs 49 pounds, giving it a weight of 1.23 pounds per square foot. For those who need less coverage space but who like the lightweight configuration of this 1/4-inch roll, just cut the roll to fit the desired coverage area.

For a little more thickness in a lightweight roll, try the Geneva Rubber Flooring Rolls 3/8 Inch Thick product. This roll offers a 4-foot width and a custom cut length that customers can specify at the time of ordering (with a minimum order of 25 feet of length).



The 3/8 inch roll delivers a weight of 2.1 pounds per square foot of coverage. It has a slightly different look than a traditional black rubber roll, as it offers color flecks at a 10% concentration in the black roll. Some rolls even offer two types of color flecks in the same roll.

For those who prefer to work with interlocking tiles in their rubber gym floor mat products, consider the 3/8-Inch Interlocking Rubber Tile Gmats Black model. Each tile measures roughly 2 by 2 feet in size with interlocking puzzle edges on each tile that create a secure fit without the need for adhesive.



These tiles each measure 3/8 inches in thickness and have a weight of 2 pounds per square foot of coverage. (Because of the puzzle edge, the coverage measurement of each tile at 3.88 square feet doesn’t quite match the 4 square foot measurement for a flat edge 2x2 tile.) Each tile has the option of having color flecks inserted into the black base color. Each tile weighs 8 pounds.

Will Thicker Rubber Mats Protect the Subfloor?

For those who need a greater level of protection for the original floor in the workout room, thicker rubber floor mats for the gym will do the job.

The Horse Stall Mats Straight Edge Cobblestone model consists of a mat measuring a little less than 4 by 6 feet (with 23.6 square feet of coverage). It will work to support workout equipment and big machines without the fear of damage occurring to the subflooring.



Each mat has trued edges, creating a clean look. Additionally, the installer could lay out multiple mats side by side to gain additional coverage area. Moving the large mats into place can be challenging, though, as each one weighs 100 pounds. The Horse Stall Mats Straight Edge Cobblestone mats have a nonslip pebble texture pattern on the top layer to provide traction.

For a mat that offers even more heavy-duty protection for the subfloor, consider the 3/4-Inch Sundance Mat Straight Edge Standard model. This mat works well for setting up a free weights workout station in a garage or basement, protecting the subflooring from any dropped weights or from the heft of the weight rack.

Each mat measures 4 by 6 feet (with 24 square feet of coverage). At 100 pounds in weight overall, this mat will be difficult for one person to move into place alone. With multiple people available to perform the layout of this mat, though, it will go into place quickly.

The Sundance Mat Straight Edge Standard mats have a hexagon texture pattern on the top layer to provide slip-resistant properties.