Is a Thick Yoga Mat Better? What an 8mm Mat Is Good For
A thicker yoga mat helps kneeling and lying poses on hard floors. How 8mm compares with a standard mat and with a firm exercise mat.
Short answer: a thicker yoga mat is better if your knees, wrists, hips or spine feel the floor through a standard mat, or if you practice on hardwood, tile or concrete. Most standard yoga mats are about 3 to 6mm thick. Our Yoga Mats are 8mm: softer under kneeling and lying poses, with a sticky surface that grips bare hands and feet. If you practice in shoes or with weights, you want a firmer 1/4" exercise mat instead.
Key takeaways
- 8mm is thick enough to soften kneeling, lying and seated poses on hard floors.
- Width matters too: on a narrow mat, wide poses put your knees and hands back on the floor.
- Barefoot yoga, Pilates and stretching: 8mm Yoga Mat. Shoes and weights: 1/4" Exercise Mat.
- All our Yoga Mats are 8mm, in 5 sizes from 6' x 4' to 15' x 6'.
When a thick yoga mat helps
- Kneeling poses. Cat-cow, low lunges, table top and camel put your full weight on your knees.
- Lying and seated poses. Bridge, boat, twists and rest on your back press your spine and tailbone into the floor.
- Hard floors. Hardwood, tile and concrete have no give. Carpet has some, but it's uneven.
- Long practices. Twenty minutes on your knees and back adds up.
“It's nice not having my toes or hands on hard flooring when doing yoga poses.”
Verified buyer · 5 stars · Large Yoga Mat
Thickness and width work together
A thick mat only helps where it is. On a standard 2-foot mat, a wide-knee child's pose, a side lunge or a twist with your arms out puts your knees and hands back on the floor. Our Yoga Mats are 4 to 6 feet wide, so the cushion is under you in every direction. Sizes for every height are in What Size Yoga Mat If You're Tall?
“Was nervous that the Mat would be too thin and not provide enough padding. But it is extremely comfortable! Also it is grippy enough for yoga without slipping.”
Verified buyer · 5 stars · Large Yoga Mat
8mm yoga mat or 1/4" exercise mat?
| Yoga Mat | Exercise Mat | |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 8mm | 1/4" (6mm), plus one 8mm size (7' x 4') |
| Feel | Softer, sticky grip | Firm, high-density |
| Best for | Yoga, Pilates, stretching, meditation, light bodyweight work | HIIT, jumping, weights, machines, workouts in shoes |
| Shoes | No, bare feet only | Yes |
| Sizes | 5, from 6' x 4' to 15' x 6' | 8, from 6' x 4' to 15' x 6' |
Both are non-slip on both sides. The full comparison is in Exercise Mat vs Yoga Mat, and exercise-mat thickness is covered in How Thick Should an Exercise Mat Be?
“This is a good quality yoga mat. Very thick and cushiony for bare feet!”
Verified buyer · 5 stars · Large Yoga Mat
Living with an 8mm mat
- It lays flat. Give a new mat a day to relax if the ends curl from shipping.
- It's light for its size. A 7' x 5' Yoga Mat weighs 11 lbs and rolls up with the included straps.
- Brand new, it can feel a little slippery. That's normal and improves quickly with use. A wipe with mild dish soap and warm water speeds it up.
- Keep shoes, weights and equipment off it. They damage the softer surface, and that isn't covered by the warranty.
Soft under your knees, room on every side
Free shipping, 60-day returns, and a lifetime warranty on every mat.
Shop Exercise MatsSee the Size GuideRelated guides: A 20-Minute Home Yoga Flow That Uses the Whole Mat · Mat Pilates at Home · A 10-Minute Full-Body Stretching Routine
FAQ
Is 8mm too thick for a yoga mat?
For most home practice, 8mm is a comfortable thickness: soft under knees and back, with a sticky surface for bare hands and feet.
How thick is a standard yoga mat?
Most standard yoga mats are about 3 to 6mm thick and about 2 feet wide. Ours are 8mm and 4 to 6 feet wide.
Is a thick yoga mat good for bad knees?
Many people find kneeling poses more comfortable on a thicker mat, especially on hard floors. If a pose hurts, skip it or ask your doctor.
Can I wear shoes on a thick yoga mat?
No. Our Yoga Mats are for bare feet. For workouts in shoes, use our 1/4" Exercise Mat.
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