The 9 best thick yoga mats in 2024, tried and tested by yogis for maximum support
Tried and tested by the woman&home health team, the best thick yoga mats will protect your joints and keep your zen
The best thick yoga mats are great for those who like to flow with extra comfort around the joints. These mats tend to be padded out with additional grip and have a heavier, stabilising weight that allows you to focus fully on your session.
Sitting among the best yoga mats, thick yoga mats are a good option for anyone looking for a little more support in their practice. "Whether you're a newbie yogi or a decades-long devotee, thicker mats provide extra cushioning for sensitive knees, ankles, and hip joints," says yoga instructor Jamie Kent. "They also support inversion poses, where the neck muscles are weight-bearing, like headstand and shoulder-stand variations."
When choosing a thick yoga mat, most people want a non-slip mat with all the great stabilising qualities - but are worried about choosing a mat that goes too far the other way. A mat that's too thick may be unstable, heavy to carry, hard to store, and difficult to roll out. That's why we've scoured a huge selection to bring you a tried-and-tested edit of the best thick yoga mats. Over several sessions, we've tested these mats to review their thickness, grip, design and weight, and spoken to the experts to reveal which ones are worth buying.
The best thick yoga mats as tested by us
Best overall
RRP: From £25 | Thickness: 6mm
This Gaiam yoga mat ticked all our testing boxes, with our tester Lucy finding that the Gaiam delivers on comfort, support, durability, and appearance.
"I regularly use this mat in gentle yoga classes and yoga mat workouts, and it's lasted me through both for over two years now. I love it because the mat doesn't struggle to stay put during workouts with lots of movements and my hands don't slide around when they get sweaty," said Lucy. "However, during my slower sessions, the couple of inches of thickness really come in handy to make my practice feel as comfortable as possible on my knees and hip joints especially."
The Gaiam Premium Mandala 6mm Thick Yoga Mat also comes in multiple colourways and patterns with options at various price points, so there's one to suit every preference and budget.
Buy if: You're looking for a thick and durable yoga mat
Avoid if: You don't want a PVC mat
Best luxury
RRP: From £115 | Thickness: 6mm
Looking for a durable mat that will last, literally, a whole lifetime? This mat blends exceptionally high-quality materials with functional use, offering a great balance between cushioning and stability for all kinds of workouts. Our tester found the mat had a great grip, meaning she wasn't sliding around during a sweatier workout - but the material wasn't so sticky that it prevented her from moving when she needed to.
This is also a great choice for those who want a darker colour mat - blues, reds, and greens - for a low-key appearance. It comes in various sizes too (from 71" to 85"), so there's a choice for everyone.
However, it is worth noting that this is one of the heavier mats on our list. At 3kg, it's almost 2kg more than the Lululemom foldable mat - our lightweight option. This makes it a better choice for those who practice at home.
Buy if: You're looking for latex-free luxury buy to last many years to come
Avoid if: You need to carry your mat around with you
Best versatile mat
RRP: £60 | Thickness: 8mm
If you're just looking to buy one thick yoga mat for multiple workouts, the Yogamatters Everyday 8mm Thick Wellness Mat is a great choice. Our tester, former w&h health editor Ciara McGinley gave it 5 stars after using it for two weeks.
"It's one of the most supportive yoga mats I've ever used at 8mm, but its unique double-sided design offers stability when needed," she says. "There are deeper grooves on one side to stop it from sliding across tiled or wooden floors, and texture on the other side to stop your hands from slipping. Even when the floor was damp underneath me, the mat didn't move."
It's a fuss-free option, versatile enough to support you in workouts from yoga flows to HIIT. Unfortunately, it's only available in one colour from Amazon but the blue is low-key and doesn't show marks easily.
Buy if: You want a mat that's supportive on the joints.
Avoid if: You want lots of colours to choose from
Best on Amazon
RRP: From £22 | Thickness: 12.7mm
Looking for one of the best yoga mats to buy on Amazon? At 12.7mm and under £25, you can't get much better than the BalanceFrom GoYoga+ All-Purpose mat. Our tester Lucy says it feels at least triple the thickness of a regular mat, very soft to rest on, and pillowy under foot.
"I was expecting it to hold shapes I pressed into the mat during my routine but it doesn't, which makes it feel durable and reliable during workouts where I'm moving around a lot or holding a pose for a longer period," she says.
The mat also comes with an additional pad with an extra 15mm of cushioning, which can be used as a knee pad for wall Pilates or to support your hands, wrists, or feet. Despite its thickness, this mat is still lightweight and portable, and it comes with a carry strap. However, our tester notes that it's definitely not as grippy as others - even though it has thick grooves in the material. If you're doing hot yoga or are concerned about grip, consider another option - like the Gaiam Premium 6mm Thick Yoga Mat.
Buy if: You want a thick mat with Amazon delivery
Avoid if: You do a lot of balance work
Best rubber
RRP: £75 | Thickness: 4mm
You might be wondering why a yoga mat that’s only 4mm is included in a round-up of the best thick yoga mats, where normally we'd advise a minimum of 6mm. Thanks to a clever three-layer design, this mat feels a lot thicker and a lot more supportive than its thickness would suggest.
The top layer feels smooth to the touch but it's very grippy when in use, our tester says, while the middle layer is made up of an air pocket which offers natural cushioning for your flow. The natural rubber base, the third later, has a pattern on the base that prevents the mat from slipping. But despite its premium construction and heavier weight (2.3kg), the Kin Primal Yoga Mat comes in at under £80 - making it a more budget-friendly option than other premium mats on the list.
As well as being great for grip, this top layer stops bacteria from being absorbed into the mat, making it easier to clean your yoga mat. While it does only come in one colour, the mat comes with a free strap to help you carry it around.
Buy if: You do a lot of balance work
Avoid if: You want a very lightweight option
Best lightweight
RRP: £108 | Thickness: 6.5mm
We have a couple of heavier mats on our list that have been rated 5 stars for their comfort and support - but these may not be suitable for those who need to carry their mat to and from the studio. Enter, Lululemon's foldable mat.
At 6.5mm, it's an averagely thick mat that offers cushioning and support during use but the folding design and 1.6kg weight makes it a packable and versatile option for all kinds of settings and workouts. "It's super lightweight and you don't need a bulky bag to carry the mat, which I loved," says our tester. "I just fold this one up and put it in my normal gym bag. I think it's a great pick if you're taking it on the move. I also loved that it's totally non-slip, which gave me confidence in class to move around."
At 71" (about 6ft) in length, however, it's not the longest on the list. If you're under 5ft 7 inches (like our tester), then it shouldn't be a problem, but any taller yogis will benefit from a longer mat to get the most from their session.
Buy if: You want a non-slip mat
Avoid if: If you're about 5'7 or want a longer mat
Best for comfort
RRP: £140 | Thickness: 8mm
The Jade Fusion 8mm Thick Yoga Mat may be the most expensive on the list but according to our tester, it's one of the best. Made from eco-friendly rubber, our tester says it feels sticky underfoot but without an overpowering smell (that normally comes with rubber mats). It blends thickness and comfort for the ultimate support during yoga sessions and higher-intensity workouts.
"I have sensitive knees from a running injury years ago and I find this mat made child's pose and Shavasana so comfortable - I almost couldn't feel the ground under me," she says. "It feels springy when I'm moving around on it though, so I never feel unstable on the mat."
The only downside of the mat, our reviewer mentioned, was that it's heavier than most. At 3.2kg, it's heavier than the Manduka Pro Premium 6mm Thick Yoga Mat - but only just. It also started to show some signs of wear and tear within six months of using the mat five times a week, she says.
Buy if: You want an eco-friendly option
Avoid if: You want a more affordable option
Budget-friendly
RRP: £24 | Thickness: 7mm
If you're doing yoga for beginners or want a budget-friendly buy that may not stand the test of time but won't impact your purse too much either, then this mat is a great option, with a host of 5-star reviews on the Argos website.
"My knees felt protected on this mat and it offered good support for my hips and ankles too, which normally ache even after a quick yoga session. It has a textured underside that holds the mat to the floor, no matter how much you move, which I find useful for weighted workouts where I'm moving around," says tester Lucy. "For those new to yoga and not doing it too often, it's a good choice, but I did find the mat wasn't as durable as others I'd tried so it's not one for those who do yoga every day." If you regularly practice, a more premium option - like the Manduka or Gaiam mats, may be a better choice.
But as well as yoga and full-body Pilates workouts, this mat would be a great choice for fans of strength training mat workouts and HIIT as it has an easy-clean texture and smooth surface area.
Buy if: You want a budget-friendly buy
Avoid if: You want a subtle design, without a visible logo
Best for tall yogis
RRP: £60 | Thickness: 5mm
If you're a taller yogi, you'll naturally benefit from a longer mat. Grace Walsh, our health editor, is 6ft tall and tested this mat for a couple of weeks to see if it held up across Pilates, yoga, and HIIT workouts.
"I loved everything about this yoga mat," she says. "While I don't normally go for bright colours in my workout leggings or activewear generally, I didn't mind the water-inspired design of this mat as it looks premium and isn't too bold in colour. The picture online looks brighter than it actually is."
"I also appreciated the longer length. At 190cm, I never found my toes stretching over the edge during a lunge or having to shuffle down to keep my head on the mat when lying down. The 5mm thickness didn't feel too thin either, it was just right for my weighted workouts and yoga sessions."
This mat does make compromises though, our tester notes. "It's not as wide as other yoga mats I've used, but I didn't find it to be a limiting problem. It's also very lightweight at 0.75kg, which makes it very easy to carry around."
Buy if: You're a tall yogi
Avoid if: You want something super thick
How we tested the best thick yoga mats
The woman&home health team and our expert testers put all the thick yoga mats in this guide to the test through multiple yoga sessions, ranging from intense cardio-based Vinyasa yoga classes to gentle stretching sessions. We also tested the mats in HIIT classes and strength training workouts at home and even used one mat as a base for an indoor cycling set-up.
The mats were initially tested last year. However, we've reviewed them again in 2024 once again and can confirm these are the very best thick yoga mats to buy.
When reviewing the mats, we considered the following criteria:
- Thickness: Every yoga mat we tried had to be above 4mm thick as the minimum required to be a thick yoga mat. Anything above 6mm was great and all yoga mats above 8mm were prioritised as specialist mats.
- Grip: Was the mat non-slip? We noted whether each mat offered plenty of grip and support. After all, you don't want to be sliding around while trying to get into downward dog.
- Design: Not only did we look at the designs and colourways on offer, but we also evaluated the materials. We tested mats made from everything from natural rubber and man-made rubber to PVC.
- Weight: A weighty mat will feel luxe and durable, and it could help with stability, but for those who want a yoga mat for on-the-go, a lightweight option is best. We considered a range of weights to highlight the best ones in each category.
- Price: When testing, we also considered the price. Quality yoga mats don't have to be expensive, and sometimes it's best to opt for a budget option if you're new to the practice. Yoga should be an accessible activity for everyone, so as well as including luxury buys, we've included mats from across the market's price spectrum.
How thick should a yoga mat be?
Why you can trust Woman & Home
A yoga mat should be 3mm thick, while thicker options are usually 6mm or above. Anything thinner than 3mm and you risk not having adequate support for your back, feet, knees, and other parts of the body that come under pressure during the practice.
When figuring out how to choose a yoga mat you like, thickness should be a consideration. For maximum thickness, opt for a mat of at least 8mm, but a mat of at least 6mm should be enough to support the major joints in the body.
Ultimately, how thick your yoga mat should be is down to you and your practice. "There is no real ideal thickness for a yoga mat, it all depends on the person practising, style of yoga being practised and where the practice is taking place," Georgie Davies, a yoga teacher who teaches vinyasa yoga as well as gentler classes, tells us.
"For instance, you may not need as much padding in the mat if you're practising at home on carpet compared to the wooden floor of a studio," says Georgie, who also created an online yoga platform, Yogipod. "If the class you're taking explores a lot of postures on the hands and knees or if you have any conditions that make that uncomfortable then more padding would be ideal."
It's also worth noting that the extra padding of thicker mats may feel nice for certain poses, but you're less connected to the floor. This could impact your ability to balance or land correctly during higher energy movements.
"Thicker mats can make it harder to find balance in one-legged postures such as Vrksasana (tree pose) or stability in standing postures due to the depth of padding underneath the foot," explains Georgie. "This can be mitigated though by moving balancing postures off the mat so that the padding is there when required and also creating more stability and strength in the ankles, feet and legs."
Georgie Davies is a certified yoga teacher and founder of Yogipod, a business of handprinted yoga props and homewares.
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Ciara McGinley is a meditation practitioner and health journalist. She qualified as a meditation teacher with the British School of Meditation in 2020 and is the founder of Finding Quiet, a series of classes, workshops and retreats that combine meditation practices and mindfulness techniques to make mindful living realistic in an always-switched-on modern world. She is all about bettering that mind-body connection but believes wellness looks different to everyone.
Ciara is also the former Health Channel Editor at woman&home and has covered all things health and wellbeing for years, from fitness to sleep to relationships.
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