Top 5 compared
The best yoga blocks
A firm place to rest a hand when the floor feels a long way down.
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The top 5 at a glance
A yoga block is a firm brick to lean on or sit on. A hand rests on it in a standing pose instead of straining for the mat, and one under the hips raises a cross-legged seat. B.K.S. Iyengar, the founder of Iyengar Yoga, pioneered props such as blocks and belts so that students of all ages could work in the poses.
Most here are EVA foam: light, with a little give, and easy to wipe clean. Cork is firmer and much heavier, so it sits steady under a hand and makes a solid seat. A block stood on its side, its end or flat gives three heights, and some come singly, some in pairs, for poses with a block under each hand.
What matters
- Beveled or contoured edges, kinder to hands and wrists.
- A textured or closed-cell surface that grips sweaty hands.
- Weight, if it travels to class in a bag.
- Latex-free foam, for anyone with a latex allergy.
#1Manduka Cork Yoga Block
$20–$30
Manduka’s fine-grain cork block: firmer than a standard foam brick, with a textured surface that’s easy to grip, and heavy enough at 2.2 lb to sit steady in balancing poses. It’s the usual 9 × 6 × 4 in size, and the cork comes from renewable cork oak.
What owners say: Sturdy and stable are the words owners reach for, a real help for anyone whose balance wobbles, and it’s heavy enough to stay put yet easy to move about. It holds up to constant use, firm with just a little softness.
Heads up: Sold singly: add a second to the cart for even support under both hands.
A closer look: Manduka advises nothing more than a damp cloth for cork, so keep it out of the sink. Stood on end, it brings the floor up to meet a hand in triangle or half moon, the standing poses where a firm block counts most.
- Textured, easy-grip surface
- Weighs 2.2 lb
- Cork from renewable cork oak
- Made without toxic chemicals
Best for: A firm, steady block
- Material
- Cork
- Size (each block)
- 9 × 6 × 4 in
- In the pack
- 1 block
- Cleaning
- Damp cloth
#2Gaiam Foam Yoga Block
Under $10
A foam brick in latex-free EVA, 9 × 6 × 4 in, with beveled edges that are kind to wrists, and at 4.6 oz it weighs next to nothing. It’s sold singly in a range of colors, so a second one is easy to add later.
What owners say: Durable is the verdict, with one owner seeing no sign of wear and another putting full body weight on it without it bending or cracking. Beginners in yoga and Pilates get the most from it, and the range of colors is a bonus.
A closer look: Spot-clean it with a little mild detergent, then let it air-dry or towel it off, as Gaiam suggests. Beyond yoga, it makes a firm cushion under the hips for meditation, or a block for core and glute work in Pilates.
- Beveled edges kind to wrists
- Weighs 4.6 oz
- Three heights
- Latex-free
- Doubles as a meditation cushion
Best for: Yoga, Pilates and meditation
- Material
- EVA foam
- Size (each block)
- 9 × 6 × 4 in
- In the pack
- 1 block
- Cleaning
- Mild detergent, air dry
#3KEEP Yoga Blocks (2-pack)
$10–$20
A pair of high-density EVA foam blocks with a closed-cell, textured surface that keeps sweat out and hands steady. At about 0.44 lb each they’re light enough for a class bag, yet firm enough not to squash under your weight.
What owners say: Owners use the pair for Peloton yoga and stretching routines as well as balance work, and find them sturdy and light, supportive without feeling hard. The color earns compliments too.
A closer look: Rest one under each hand in a lunge or a forward fold so both sides sit at the same height, then lower them as the stretch opens up. A wipe with a dry cloth after class is all the care KEEP asks for.
- Closed-cell surface keeps sweat out
- About 0.44 lb each
- Recyclable, latex-free foam
Best for: Lunges and forward folds
- Material
- EVA foam
- Size (each block)
- 9.6 × 5.9 × 3 in
- In the pack
- 2 blocks
- Cleaning
- Dry cloth
#4TriDeer Cork Yoga Blocks (2-pack)
$20–$30
Two dense cork blocks with contoured corners that sit comfortably in the hand. TriDeer puts cork at three times as hard as foam, so they don’t give under body weight, which makes them a steady seat for meditation as well as support in standing poses.
What owners say: The cork is dense and doesn’t slip on the mat, owners say, and the blocks are heavier than they expected, which they count in their favor. Heart- and hip-opening poses are where they help most.
A closer look: At about 3.5 lb the pair, they’re happier at home than in a class bag, where a foam pair is the lighter choice. The exercise guide in the box shows where to use them, from first stretches to harder poses.
- Contoured corners
- About 3.5 lb the pair
Best for: A heavy pair for home practice
- Material
- Cork
- Size (each block)
- 9 × 6 × 3 in
- In the pack
- 2 blocks, guide
- Cleaning
- –
#5Manduka Recycled Foam Yoga Block
$20–$30
Manduka’s foam block is made with 50% to 75% recycled EVA, and it’s denser and less squishy than most foam bricks, with contoured edges that are easy to grip. At 0.9 lb it’s light enough to carry to a studio.
What owners say: It strikes owners as softer than cork but nothing like spongy foam, and it holds steady under the hands in arm balances without hurting. The recycled material wins points, and it keeps its shape over time.
A closer look: Clean it with a damp cloth, or with the half-and-half apple cider vinegar and water mix Manduka suggests, then let it dry. It also works under the sacrum in a supported bridge, or between the thighs in chair pose to keep the knees in line.
- Contoured, slip-resistant edges
- Weighs 0.9 lb
- Works in supported bridge
Best for: Studio classes and arm balances
- Material
- Recycled EVA foam
- Size (each block)
- 9 × 6 × 4 in
- In the pack
- 1 block
- Cleaning
- Damp cloth or vinegar mix
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Manduka cork | #2Gaiam block | #3KEEP pair | #4TriDeer cork pair | #5Manduka foam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best budget | Best foam pair | Best cork pair | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.6 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.4 |
| Price | $20–$30 | Under $10 | $10–$20 | $20–$30 | $20–$30 |
| Material | Cork | EVA foam | EVA foam | Cork | Recycled EVA foam |
| Size (each block) | 9 × 6 × 4 in | 9 × 6 × 4 in | 9.6 × 5.9 × 3 in | 9 × 6 × 3 in | 9 × 6 × 4 in |
| In the pack | 1 block | 1 block | 2 blocks | 2 blocks, guide | 1 block |
| Cleaning | Damp cloth | Mild detergent, air dry | Dry cloth | – | Damp cloth or vinegar mix |
| Best for | A firm, steady block | Yoga, Pilates and meditation | Lunges and forward folds | A heavy pair for home practice | Studio classes and arm balances |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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