Customer Favorite Rubber Tile Flooring
The Complete Guide to Rubber Floor Tiles for Home Gyms, Playgrounds, and More
Rubber floor tiles are the premier home gym flooring option. Known for their ease and accessibility, tiles are the perfect DIY gym flooring solution. They fit together like puzzle pieces, offering one of the easiest flooring options on the market.
Rubber tiles are also extremely versatile. While primarily used as gym flooring, rubber tiles are also ideal for playgrounds, outdoors, and other high-traffic areas that require durable and/or waterproof flooring.
Not sure how to choose the right rubber tiles? Keep reading to learn more and shop with confidence.
Types of Rubber Floor Tiles
You might think that all rubber tiles are the same, but you actually have a lot of options to choose from! While it’s always great to have more options, it might be hard to know exactly what you need for your space.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of your options to help you decide!
Vulcanized Rubber Tiles
Vulcanized rubber is the cream of the durability crop. During the vulcanization process, the rubber is compressed into dense, ultra-durable, non-porous flooring that’s easy to clean. Vulcanized rubber tiles are perfect for absorbing the shock from even the heaviest weights.
There are two types of vulcanized tiles we carry. If you want maximum durability, look no further than these.
Non-Vulcanized Rubber Tiles
Non-vulcanized rubber tiles are more common rubber tile type sold today. While non-vulcanized rubber tiles are still incredibly easy to clean and maintain, they are not 100% non-porous, the way vulcanized rubber tiles are. Additionally, they are lighter and less dense.
The great news is that non-vulcanized rubber is super affordable. You can find it in just about any thickness or style you want.
Water Jet Cut Rubber Tiles
Rubber tiles can be cut in one of two ways. They can be punched out on a punch press or water jet cut for maximum precision. If you want a rubber tile that is as close to seamless-looking as possible, these are great solutions.
High Color Rubber Tiles
Most rubber tiles are made primarily from black recycled rubber tires, which makes them super durable and affordable. Some customers, however, prefer brightly colored rubber flooring solutions. These are usually made from virgin EPDM rubber and tend to cost a little more. They do tend to stand out, though, and make the gym feel brighter and more inviting. Here are some of our most popular high-color options.
Universal Rubber Tiles
Universal rubber tiles are interlocking or straight-edge rubber tiles that can be used for multiple applications. They're called "universal" because they can be installed in various environments and are often compatible with multiple installation patterns or tile types.
Where to Use Rubber Tile Flooring
Where can you use rubber tiles? As it turns out, almost anywhere, from home gyms to Olympic lifting setups and even commercial gyms. Here are just a few ways you can use rubber tile flooring in your life.
- Home gyms: 1/4" and 8mm thick rubber tiles are perfect for DIY home gyms, and they come in a variety of thickness options to suit your needs. The easy DIY design saves you money on installation.
- Commercial gyms: 8mm, 3/8", and 1/2" thick tiles are versatile enough to handle the huge variety of workouts in a commercial gym. Whether you’re focusing on floor work or cardio, this flooring can handle it.
- Olympic lifting: You can drop heavy weights on these 1/2", 3/4", and 1" thick tiles without worrying about the floor underneath.
Rubber Tile Thickness Options
One of the most important decisions you need to make is which thickness you want for your floor. The typical rule of thumb is the thicker the rubber tile, the more durable the floor.
Here’s a quick breakdown of our most popular thicknesses:
- 8mm: Most popular for home gyms.
- 3/8”: Most popular for commercial gyms and CrossFit.
- 1/2”: Ultra-thick commercial gym / CrossFit tiles.
- 3/4”: Ultra-thick commercial gym / CrossFit tiles.
- 1”: Ultra-thick gym tiles that you can install over plush carpet or residential playground tiles.
- 3”+: Commercial playground tiles.
How to Install Rubber Flooring Tiles
Installing rubber floor tiles is a very common DIY project, especially for home gyms, basements, and garages. The process is straightforward, but taking your time with each step is key to getting a professional-looking result.
Installation Tools Needed:
- Tape Measure
- T-Square or Straight Edge
- Utility Knife
Rubber Tile Flooring FAQs
Still have questions? Here are some of the most common questions customers ask about rubber floor tiles.
Q: What is the best subfloor for rubber tiles?
A: Our rubber tiles can go over any hard, flat surface. Rubber tiles do best over concrete, plywood, hardwood, ceramic, or porcelain tiles, or even on top of compacted dirt. Any subfloor must be leveled to ensure safety and a flat surface for workouts.
You can even install rubber flooring over carpet, as long as it is short, low-pile carpet. If you have plush carpet that you can’t remove, you can lay plywood over the plush carpet and install your rubber tiles over the plywood, or choose rubber flooring designed for plush carpet, like 1" Monster Rubber Tiles.
Q: What are the benefits of rubber floor tiles?
A: Here's a breakdown of the key benefits:
✅ Durability and Impact Resistance
✅ Safety and Comfort
✅ Easy to Install and Maintain
✅ Versatility
✅ Eco-Friendly
Q: Does rubber flooring smell?
A: I mean….yes. Rubber flooring does have the smell of, well, rubber. Some rubber flooring products smell stronger than others, depending on the type of raw material used or how the flooring was made.
Here’s the real deal: when you first get your flooring, the smell will be the strongest, but after installing your rubber flooring, the room and floor will air out over the next few days/weeks.
In addition to giving your rubber flooring proper time to air out, give it a nice wash with a mild soap and water cleaning solution like any of the ones mentioned above. This will help alleviate some of that rubber smell. Once your rubber floor has had the opportunity to fully air out, you won’t even notice the rubber scent without bending over and physically putting your nose up to the flooring.
Q: How do I cut rubber floor tiles?
A: Use a sharp utility knife and a straight edge. Warm the tiles slightly to make them easier to cut.
Q: Are rubber floor tiles waterproof?
A: One of the best things about rubber flooring is that it’s extremely water-resistant! Spilled water, sweaty workouts, heck, even the ocean! No water is too much for these rubber floor tiles.
If you need to be 100% certain no water ever reaches your subfloor, you can use a seam sealer where the tiles interlock, since the interlock isn’t 100% impenetrable. However, for most cases, that is not necessary.
Related content >> The Best Waterproof Flooring Options
Q: Can rubber tiles be used outdoors?
A: Rubber floor tiles are a great outdoor flooring option, as well. They are ultra-durable, specially designed to withstand heavy use and abuse.
Tips for outdoor rubber flooring success:
- Keep tiles covered: These rubber floor tiles are rated for outdoor use; however, they are not UV stable, and they may fade in direct sunlight.
- Be cautious of the elements: While these tiles are waterproof, there are many other elements that can enter our rain and snow, such as salts. These rubber flooring tiles are porous, and salts can get trapped in the pores.
- Account for expansion: With temperature fluctuation, these floor tiles may expand and contract.
Q: How do I clean rubber tiles?
Good news: learning how to clean rubber floor tiles is super easy.
- Give them a quick vacuum to get rid of any loose crumbs, dust, or debris.
- Occasionally, use a damp mop with a mild soap and water cleaning solution.
- Sit back and enjoy!
For ideal, gentle soaps, you can purchase Tide laundry detergent or Dawn dish detergent. Or, get everything in one place - we offer some cleaning and seam-protecting solutions for your convenience.
- Rubber Floor Cleaner and Degreaser: Your easy, all-in-one rubber floor cleaner.
- Rubber Floor Finish and Sealer: Use this on the seams of your tiles to prevent liquids from seeping down into your subfloor.
Note: Do not use any solvent or oil-based cleaners, such as Pine-Sol, Lysol. Murphy’s Oil Soap, WD40, paint thinner, etc. These cleaners may damage the floor over time.
Rubber Floor Tile Reviews
''Sales person was great, shipment came quickly, easy to install, zero odor, looks great!"
- Frank
5/8" Evolution Rubber Floor Tiles
"These were perfect for my garage gym application. The mats snapped together easily once soapy water was sprayed into the grommets. Sizing the mats perfectly and cutting was very easy with a sharp utility knife, which allowed me to customize the fitment. Shopping was exactly as described by flooringinc and I would recommend this product and Flooring Inc to anyone who is on the fence regarding a purchase."
- Robert
"The 3x3 squares worked out great underneath our home gym equipment. So long as you follow the installation instructions (placing tiles the correct side up), then joining the pieces together is fairly straightforward. This was a good value solution for our needs."
- Mirleb
Other Helpful Rubber Tile Content
Rubber tiles are known for their ease and simplicity. Clicking in together like puzzle pieces, they are truly one of the easiest flooring options on the market. It is a job anyone, and I mean anyone, can do, and the tiles look great! You can also add some flair and design with different colors if that’s your jam, or keep it simple.
Use this all-inclusive rubber floor tiles buying guide to choose the best rubber floor tiles for your application. Learn everything from thickness to application.
Best Home Gym Flooring Options
So you're ready to build your home gym, so you can finally get in your workout even when you can't make it to the local gym. But wait! There's one critical piece that is often forgotten – your floor! The floor is one of the most essential pieces in your home gym. It's important to choose a floor that can protect both your joints and your subfloor from the demands of your fitness routine.
Start building your gym with our top options for the best home gym flooring. Use this guide to choose from rubber, foam, carpet, turf, or vinyl, and find the best option for you.
Rubber Tiles vs. Rolls: Which One's Best for You?
Rubber flooring has become a go-to choice for a variety of spaces, from high-energy gyms and cozy home basements to safe and durable playrooms. Its durability, slip resistance, and versatile designs make it a favorite flooring material for both residential and commercial needs. But when it comes to choosing the right rubber flooring option, the big question is: rubber tiles or rubber rolls?
Both options have unique benefits and drawbacks, and your choice depends on factors like the size of your space, your design preferences, and how the floor will be used. In this article, we'll break down the key differences and help you decide which option—rubber tiles vs. rolls—best suits your needs.