Buying Guide: Gym Floor Tiles [Everything You Need To Know]

Looking to give your commercial gym an upgrade with new gym flooring? At FitKit, we are masters of gym installations and know a thing or two about gym floor tiles, so we have pulled together the most commonly asked questions about gym flooring. 

We will cover everything from installation to care – so if you have a question about gym flooring, it is about to be answered. We’ll dive into the benefits it can have for your customers or yourself if you have a home gym and give you all the consideration points if you are looking for an installation. 

What are the benefits of using gym floor tiles?

• Helps to improve shock absorption for those jumping on the area, which can prevent ligament damage.
• Non-slipping gym floor tiles can also help prevent injuries, including falls and dropped equipment.
• Makes your fitness space easier to maintain regarding cleaning.
• The shock absorption will take the weight of heavy gym equipment or barbells.
•  Gym flooring can also help with noise reduction, which is great for gym spaces that accommodate those that lift heavy but also have users who practice yoga. 

How to clean rubber gym floor and tiles

To ensure your gym stays clean and in the best condition possible, make sure to clean your rubber gym floor tiles regularly. To do this, follow this process:

1. Vacuum any dust or debris from the flooring before you start. 
2. Fill a bucket with water and grab a mop. 
3. If you want to use cleaning products in the mix, make sure that you test the solution on a small section of a gym floor tile. (Stay away from acetone-free cleaning products that don’t contain turpentine, as these chemicals can stain the tiles.)
4. Once you have found a solution that works for you, dip your mop into the solution. 
5. Here, you can mop the gym floor and leave it to air dry. 

Can you put gym flooring over carpet?

If you have a home gym or you are looking to install one into your property, you may be wondering if you can install gym flooring over your carpet. The answer is yes! Gym flooring can be placed over the carpet; just be sure to install the carpet securely to ensure it doesn’t slip. We recommend installing rubber gym flooring tiles over the carpet if you do decide to install flooring in your home.

Can you wear turf shoes on gym floor?

Yes, you can wear turf shoes on gym floor. Other gym shoes may be more practical, but it is still safe to wear turf shoes on a gym floor if you want to. Most contemporary turf shoes don’t leave marks on gym flooring due to their non-marking sole properties.  

How much does gym flooring cost

At Fitkit UK, we have a lot of gym flooring options for you to install in your fitness space at affordable prices. 

The most budget-friendly option we have is the Jordan Fitness Gym Flooring Grey Tiles, which you can purchase a 50cmx50cm tile for £2.99. Prices usually range from around £3-9 per tile. 

Typically you will purchase a number of gym square tiles in 50cmx50cm dimensions that will then cover the full floor area. 

How much gym flooring do I need?

The amount of gym flooring you need depends on how much of the space you want to cover. Variables should also include: 

• The type of fitness space you have
• If you have multiple fitness machines
• Do you have a deadlift or squat area that needs to be covered?

How to work out how much gym flooring I need?

As gym floor tiles are square, you will need to work out the surface area of the space to find how many flooring tiles you need to purchase. This can be slightly trickier if you have a space that is not square, but by segmenting the room into sections, you can get a rough guide on how many gym floor tiles you will need. 

• Measure the length of your space in metres.
• Measure the width of your space in metres. 
• Multiply the two numbers to get the surface area. 
• Add these numbers together to get the square footage if you have a misshaped room. 
• Make sure to check the size of your gym floor tiles before working out how many you will need to purchase. 

TOP TIP: We would advise adding an extra 10% to the figure to ensure you have enough to cut in trickier areas and for any wastage. 

How much gym flooring do I need for a home gym?

If you are installing a home gym into your property, you may be wondering how much flooring you need to add to the space. The good news is that you don’t have to cover the full surface area of the floor if you don’t want to. You can opt to cover a segment of the room which will help to protect your dumbbells and their longevity.

How thick does gym flooring need to be?

For commercial gym spaces, you need to consider the possibilities that a range of gym activities could be performed. This can include anything from high-impact weight lifting to lighter activities such as yoga.

How thick should home gym flooring be?

If you are looking to install a home gym and considering how thick the flooring needs to be, you should also consider the types of activities you will perform in the space. If you will be performing exercises with heavy weights, such as deadlifts or exercises that require an Olympic bar – the best choice would be to include thick rubber tiles that are a minimum of 20mm. This will ensure that the shock from the weight is absorbed while limiting noise. If these types of exercises don’t fit with your gym regime and you will be performing low-impact activities, such as pilates, then you can install foam or rubber tiles that are 10mm thick. 

How to cut gym floor tiles 

Many gym floor tiles are rubber, which is a durable material, but despite this, it can be easy to cut to fit the shape of your gym floor. You will need the following materials:

• Utility knife
• Chalk
• Straight edge 
• Gloves 

Step 1 – Lay your gym floor tile on the ground and use the straight edge to mark the line where you want to cut. Use the chalk to ensure that this line is visible and straight. 

Step 2 – Place the straight edge onto the cutting mark and grab your knife to score a line through the chalk line. Repeat this 3 to 4 times as this should give you a groove. The thicker the floor tile, you will need to score more grooves. 

Step 3 – Place your materials to one side and pick up your floor tile, then bend it along the line towards you. The line should break when you do this. 

Step 4 – Put the mat back onto the floor and score until it is cut. 

How to fit gym flooring

You can piece the segments together as gym flooring is often square by dimension. 

• To do this, make sure you lay to clear the space and sweep the base for any dust or debris.  
• If you are adding a protective layer then make sure you lay this out at this stage. 
• Place your gym floor tiles down to ensure that the full area is covered. Check that you have enough gym floor tiles to fill the space. 
• From here, you can add some adhesive to the bottom of the mat and start to line up your flooring accordingly.
• Leave your flooring to set for 24 hours to ensure that the adhesive has had time to work its magic. 
• If you want to ensure the flooring stays in place and doesn’t lift, you could place dumbbells on top of each tile to ensure it stays. 

Gym floor tiling at Fitkit

Enhance your fitness space and provide your customers with the finest gym floor tiles for all the benefits mentioned above. You will find that your gym is quieter, safer and looks so much nicer – what more could you want? Make sure to check out the full range of gym flooring at FitKit UK today for premium gym flooring options at affordable prices.