Heavy-duty gym flooring has the most difficult job of all, protecting the subfloor from extreme impacts and shock.

Whether your gym has a concrete or boarded subfloor, the flooring system has to be rated for the types of work that will be performed.

Other considerations include user safety, grip and replaceability. Ideally, the gym flooring can be replaced in sections or repaired without ripping up the whole floor, which is why tiles are such a popular choice in commercial gyms.

Here are the most common types of heavy-duty gym flooring:

Sprung rubber tiles

Sprung rubber tiles are perfect for mid to high impacts, absorbing shocks from dumbbells, plates and other weights. The rubber surface offers optimal grip while its shock-absorbing qualities isolate vibration and sound.

Sprung rubber is a popular choice in commercial gyms because it is designed for heavy-duty applications without sacrificing comfort.

Sprung rubber anti-shock tiles

Sprung rubber anti-shock tiles are designed to absorb the heaviest impacts. They achieve this either with increased thickness or a unique elastomeric rubber formulation. Anti-shock tiles are typically around 40mm thick.

Anti-shock tiles are best reserved for heavy workout zones, although they can be used in the whole gym if you want a consistent experience.

Rubber outdoor tiles

Outdoor rubber tiles are even grippier than standard tiles because they have a heavily textured surface. In addition, the rubber is formulated with UV resistant qualities so that the colour doesn’t fade after decades of use.

Outdoor rubber tiles are stiffer than indoor tiles, so they feel harder underfoot and require a squishy underlay to provide optimal comfort.

Interlocking tiles

Interlocking tiles are generally thinner than non-interlocking variants. Two types are available: EPDM rubber tiles and EVA foam tiles. EVA foam is squishy and ideal for yoga and HIIT zones, while EPDM rubber is best for weight zones.

EVA foam is not considered a heavy-duty material, but it is generally sufficient in areas that do not use weights. It is lightweight and inexpensive.

Rubber matting (flooring rolls)

While thinner than tiles (3mm to 10mm), rubber rolls cover large spaces with a high-quality, durable rubber floor suitable for most types of workout.

Rubber matting is designed to support the subfloor in heavy equipment zones, making it ideal for machines of all types. It isn’t suitable for free weight areas, but the 10mm version is ideal for functional training and martial arts.