Top 6 compared
The best yoga mats
Somewhere soft for the knees and steady for the feet, whether it’s Pilates in the lounge or a weekly class.
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The top 6 at a glance
A yoga mat is a roll of foam or rubber, laid out on the floor for yoga, Pilates or stretching and rolled up again afterwards. Thick NBR foam is soft and cushioned, lovely for Pilates, stretching and floor exercises on a hard floor. TPE mats are firmer and grippier, which suits yoga poses where you need a stable base, and rubber-based mats are firmer and heavier again.
For balance poses, a thinner, firmer mat usually beats a thicker, softer one, while extra thickness is kinder to knees on a hard floor. Some have alignment lines marked on top, which help beginners place their hands and feet. Most here come with a carry strap for taking to a class.
What matters
- Grip on the underside, so it stays put on a wooden floor.
- Length and width, if you’re tall or like room to move.
- The weight, for a mat that travels.
#1Core Balance TPE Yoga Mat with Alignment Lines
£10–£20
- Non-slip underside grips floors
- Alignment lines marked on top
- Wide at 65cm
Closed-cell TPE that grips on both sides, with laser-etched alignment lines that help place hands and feet, and a 65cm width with room to move. At 6mm it cushions the knees without wobbling in balance poses.
What owners say: Owners find it good quality and grippy on the floor, comfortable, and not so thick that balancing gets hard; they like the size and the colours too.
A closer look: The wave pattern on the underside stops it creeping on wooden and tiled floors, so it doesn’t need a rug beneath it. Rolled up and fastened with its hook-and-loop strap, it makes a tube 65cm long, small enough to stand upright in the corner of a wardrobe between sessions.
Best for: Staying put on floors
- Material
- TPE
- Thickness
- 6mm
- Size
- 183 × 65cm
- Weight
- 860g
- Alignment lines
- Yes
- Carry strap
- Yes
#2Liforme Classic Yoga Mat with AlignForMe Markings
£125.00 RRP
- Grippy top even when sweaty
- Alignment markings on top
- Wide at 68cm
- Heavy at 2.5kg
- Costs more for little gain
Liforme’s patented AlignForMe markings guide hands and feet into place, on an eco-polyurethane top over a natural rubber base that the maker says stays grippy even when wet. At 68cm it’s the widest mat here, though only about 4mm thick, and it comes with a bag.
What owners say: Owners like the alignment markings for placing poses precisely and say it’s supportive and pleasant to practise on, with a handy carry case; value divides opinion, with some finding it expensive, and so does its weight.
A closer look: Weighing 2.5kg, it’s far heavier than a foam mat, so it suits practice at home or a short trip to class better than a long commute. The markings work best when the mat lies square to the room, so line its long edge up with a wall or the floorboards before starting.
Best for: Grip when wet
- Material
- PU on natural rubber
- Thickness
- 4.2mm (maker)
- Size
- 185 × 68cm
- Weight
- 2.5kg
- Alignment lines
- Yes
- Carry strap
- Bag
#3Sparta NBR Exercise Mat, 8mm (183 × 61cm)
Under £10
- Light at 700g
- Thick 8mm cushioning
- Shoulder carry strap included
Dense 8mm NBR foam that cushions spine, hips, knees and elbows on hard floors, in a full 183 × 61cm size, for Pilates, sit-ups and stretching. It rolls up small with a shoulder strap for classes, and NBR dries fast after a sweaty session.
What owners say: Owners find it comfortable, with thickness that cushions the knees for Pilates and floor work; the drawbacks are grip, which some find too slippery for yoga, and wear, with reports of ripping within the first few uses.
A closer look: At 700g it’s light enough to keep in the car for a class straight from work or a session in the park. Let it air-dry fully before rolling it up, and carry it by the strap rather than folding it, which leaves creases in the foam.
Best for: Light to carry
- Material
- NBR foam
- Thickness
- 8mm
- Size
- 183 × 61cm
- Weight
- 700g
- Alignment lines
- No
- Carry strap
- Yes
#4Respire Fitness 8mm NBR Yoga Mat (185 × 57cm)
£10–£20
- Two faces to choose from
- Thick 8mm cushioning
- Carry strap included
- Narrow at 57cm wide
Two faces, smooth for comfort and ribbed for grip, on dense 8mm NBR, a sweat- and water-resistant material that suits hot yoga and hard workouts as well as Pilates and stretching. A carry strap comes with it.
What owners say: Owners find it thick, well cushioned and very comfortable, rate its quality and like how easy it is to carry; size is the mixed point, with some finding it narrower than expected.
A closer look: Being 57cm wide, it’s on the narrow side, so anyone broad-shouldered may want a wider mat for floor work. Try both faces before settling on one: the ribbed side gives more traction for standing poses, the smooth side is softer for lying stretches.
Best for: A smooth or ribbed side
- Material
- NBR foam
- Thickness
- 8mm
- Size
- 185 × 57cm
- Weight
- 1kg
- Alignment lines
- No
- Carry strap
- Yes
#5Core Balance NBR Pilates Mat, 10mm (180 × 60cm)
£10–£20
- Thick 10mm cushioning
- Light at 850g
- Loop-over shoulder strap
Almost double the thickness of a standard mat, in high-density 10mm NBR with a grooved non-slip top, for Pilates, physio and floor exercises where joints need protecting. It rolls up to 850g with a loop-over shoulder strap for classes.
What owners say: Owners find it comfortable and soft, with a thickness that suits Pilates and yoga; how long it lasts divides opinion, with some reporting damage after a few weeks.
A closer look: Lay it out with the grooved side up: the pattern gives hands and feet more purchase in planks and bridges than a smooth top would. For kneeling work, fold the end over to double the cushioning under the knees rather than buying a separate pad.
Best for: Thick but light
- Material
- NBR foam
- Thickness
- 10mm
- Size
- 180 × 60cm
- Weight
- 850g
- Alignment lines
- No
- Carry strap
- Yes
#6OZE SPORTS Extra Thick NBR Exercise Mat
Under £10
- Thick 10mm cushioning
- Carry strap included
- Less grip for sweaty yoga
Thick, cushy 10mm NBR foam in a full 183 × 61cm size for Pilates, stretching and floor work on hard floors, with a textured non-slip surface and a carry strap.
What owners say: Owners find it thick enough for hard floors, with cushioning that supports Pilates and home workouts; grip and durability are both mixed, with some saying it slides on hardwood and others that it gets damaged quickly.
A closer look: Soft NBR foam is kind to knees and spines during Pilates, sit-ups and stretching, which is where it shines. Roll it with the top side facing out so the edges lie flat when it’s next unrolled, rather than curling up at the ends.
Best for: Extra cushioning
- Material
- NBR foam
- Thickness
- 10mm
- Size
- 183 × 61cm
- Weight
- 1kg
- Alignment lines
- No
- Carry strap
- Yes
Side by side
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 6.
| Feature | #1Core Balance TPE | #2Liforme Classic | #3Sparta NBR 8mm | #4Respire Fitness 8mm | #5Core Balance NBR 10mm | #6OZE SPORTS NBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best premium | Best budget | ||||
| Picked Rating | 9.2 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.8 |
| Price | £10–£20 | £125.00 RRP | Under £10 | £10–£20 | £10–£20 | Under £10 |
| Material | TPE | PU on natural rubber | NBR foam | NBR foam | NBR foam | NBR foam |
| Thickness | 6mm | 4.2mm (maker) | 8mm | 8mm | 10mm | 10mm |
| Size | 183 × 65cm | 185 × 68cm | 183 × 61cm | 185 × 57cm | 180 × 60cm | 183 × 61cm |
| Weight | 860g | 2.5kg | 700g | 1kg | 850g | 1kg |
| Alignment lines | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Carry strap | Yes | Bag | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Staying put on floors | Grip when wet | Light to carry | A smooth or ribbed side | Thick but light | Extra cushioning |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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