Top 5 compared
The best yoga mats
Somewhere soft for the knees and steady for the feet, whether it’s Pilates in the living room or a weekly class.
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The top 5 at a glance
A yoga mat is a padded layer between you and the floor, rolled up and put away after each session. Thick foam mats, usually NBR, are the soft ones, kind to knees and the spine during Pilates, stretching and floor exercises. Thinner, denser mats in TPE or PVC are firmer, a steadier base for standing and balance poses.
Most here are 24 in wide, with Manduka’s PRO a little wider. Grip divides owners on most of these mats, some finding them steady and others slippery, and some foam mats arrive with a smell that fades once they’ve aired out. At 7.5 lb, the Manduka PRO is by far the heaviest to carry.
What matters
- About 1/4 in thick for yoga, 1/2 in or more for sore knees.
- Length, if you’re tall and want to stretch out fully on it.
- Alignment lines, for learning where hands and feet go.
- A carry strap or harness, if it goes to class.
#1Amazon Basics Extra Thick Exercise Yoga Mat (1/2 in)
$20–$30
A half-inch NBR foam mat, 74 x 24 in, with a textured top: soft under knees, hips and spine for floor work, stretching and gentle yoga on a hard floor. An elastic strap holds it rolled and slings over the shoulder to carry it.
What owners say: The padding is what owners like best, the right amount of cushion for knees and back, and most think it fairly priced. Grip and wear divide them: some find the surface grippy and long-lasting, others slippery or quick to tear.
Heads up: Unroll it and let it air out for a day or two before the first session; several owners noticed a smell right out of the box.
A closer look: At 74 in it’s the longest mat here, long enough for most adults to lie at full length for stretches and floor work. Roll it with the textured side out so it lies flat next time, and wipe it down after a sweaty session.
- Springs back into shape
- Textured top surface
- Wipes clean
Best for: Floor work, stretching and gentle yoga
- Material
- NBR foam
- Thickness
- 0.5 in
- Size
- 74 x 24 in
- Weight
- 2.2 lb
- Alignment lines
- No
- Carry strap
- Yes
#2Gaiam Essentials Thick Yoga Mat (10mm)
$20–$30
Gaiam’s classic thick mat: 10mm of NBR foam with a textured surface for dry workouts on most hard floors, and an easy-cinch strap. It’s soft and cushioned rather than firm, which suits beginners, low-impact yoga and floor exercises.
What owners say: It gives knees an easier time, and the thickness, the comfort and the price earn praise. Some find it holds the floor and others that it slides, and there are complaints about a strong smell when new and wear over time.
A closer look: At 10mm it’s a little thinner than a half-inch mat, a middle ground between cushion and a steady base. Wipe it with a damp cloth after use, and cinch the strap around the roll to carry it from room to room or to the car.
- Textured for dry workouts
- Wipe with a damp cloth
Best for: Beginners and low-impact workouts
- Material
- NBR foam
- Thickness
- 0.39 in
- Size
- 72 x 24 in
- Weight
- 3.1 lb
- Alignment lines
- No
- Carry strap
- Yes
#3YOGATI Yoga Mat with Alignment Lines
$20–$30
A classic yoga mat: 6mm TPE that stays firm enough for tree and warrior poses yet cushions knees and wrists, laser-etched center lines that show where hands and heels belong, and a shoulder harness for the trip to class.
What owners say: The cushioning takes the pressure off wrists and feet in poses, owners find, and the colors on offer earn compliments. Grip is mixed, with some feet sliding and others staying put, and many say the ends keep curling after unrolling.
Heads up: Fresh from the box the ends tend to curl; roll it the other way for a few minutes, or leave it flat for a while, and it settles.
A closer look: Line up palms and heels with the etched center markings and every downward dog starts from the same spot, a real help while learning. Wipe it with mild soap and water and let it air-dry, as YOGATI advises; one face is warm sand and the other caramel, so it can be flipped.
- Reversible two-tone colors
- Closed-cell textured surface
- Steady for tree and warrior
- Clean with mild soap
Best for: Learning yoga at home
- Material
- TPE
- Thickness
- 0.24 in
- Size
- 72 x 24 in
- Weight
- 1.8 lb
- Alignment lines
- Yes
- Carry strap
- Shoulder harness
#4CAP 1 in Extra Thick Exercise Yoga Mat
$10–$20
A full inch of high-density NBR foam, twice the depth of a half-inch mat, for knees, elbows and backs on a hard floor. It’s latex-free and mold- and mildew-resistant, and a carry strap keeps it rolled.
What owners say: Soft enough to sleep on, according to some owners, and kind to the knees during floor exercises and free-weight work. It rolls up and stores easily, while a few measured it shorter than stated and durability reports vary.
A closer look: At this depth it’s a mat for floor work, such as sit-ups, bridges, stretching and kneeling exercises, rather than standing poses, where the foam gives too much underfoot. Roll it tight and fasten the strap so it keeps its shape between uses.
- Latex-free
- Mold- and mildew-resistant
- Textured surface
Best for: Sore knees and floor exercises
- Material
- NBR foam
- Thickness
- 1 in
- Size
- 71 x 24 in
- Weight
- 3.8 lb
- Alignment lines
- No
- Carry strap
- Yes
#5Manduka PRO Yoga Mat (6mm)
$100–$150
Manduka’s long-lasting studio mat: dense 6mm PVC, made in Germany from OEKO-TEX certified material, with a closed-cell surface that seals out sweat and a dotted underside that holds the floor. Manduka guarantees it for a lifetime of practice.
What owners say: Its staying power gets the most praise, outliving the mats owners had before, along with a firm cushion that protects knees and joints. Grip splits them, solid for some and slippery for others, and at 7.5 lb it’s a lot to carry.
A closer look: Clean it with Manduka’s own mat wash, as the maker recommends (other cleaners aren’t advised), and hang it to dry. It’s a mat for someone who practices most days and wants one to last; for an occasional class, a lighter, cheaper mat makes more sense.
- Closed-cell surface seals out sweat
- Dotted base grips the floor
- Made in Germany
- OEKO-TEX certified material
- Lifetime guarantee
Best for: Daily practice for years
- Material
- PVC
- Thickness
- 0.24 in
- Size
- 71 x 26 in
- Weight
- 7.5 lb
- Alignment lines
- No
- Carry strap
- No
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Amazon Basics 1/2 in | #2Gaiam 10mm | #3YOGATI | #4CAP 1 in | #5Manduka PRO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Runner-up | Thickest | Best premium | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.1 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 8.8 |
| Price | $20–$30 | $20–$30 | $20–$30 | $10–$20 | $100–$150 |
| Material | NBR foam | NBR foam | TPE | NBR foam | PVC |
| Thickness | 0.5 in | 0.39 in | 0.24 in | 1 in | 0.24 in |
| Size | 74 x 24 in | 72 x 24 in | 72 x 24 in | 71 x 24 in | 71 x 26 in |
| Weight | 2.2 lb | 3.1 lb | 1.8 lb | 3.8 lb | 7.5 lb |
| Alignment lines | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Carry strap | Yes | Yes | Shoulder harness | Yes | No |
| Best for | Floor work, stretching and gentle yoga | Beginners and low-impact workouts | Learning yoga at home | Sore knees and floor exercises | Daily practice for years |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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