Whether you are a complete beginner or a fully-fledged yogi, the best yoga mats will make all the difference to your workouts and spiritual practice.
Practising yoga is a great way to tap into your spirituality. As well as stimulating the third eye and opening the crown chakra, it helps you tune into your body through breathwork.
What are the benefits of a good yoga mat?
Having a good quality yoga mat is important when it comes to practising your poses. It will provide you with a stable base and make sure you stay solid and secure on more slippery surfaces. If you’re practising yoga on a hard floor, a yoga mat will ensure your joints are cushioned as you hold the pose.
How to choose the right yoga mat?
Are you looking for a mat that will support you during deep stretches or while holding poses? Your ideal yoga mat may be thick with lots of padding. That said, if you’re looking to feel more grounded during your sessions, you may prefer something thinner with plenty of grip.
Best yoga mats 2023
Whether you are looking for an environmentally friendly mat or one specifically for hot yoga, take a look at our list to discover the best mat for home workouts and classes.
Environmentally friendly
This yoga mat is made using TPE (thermoplastic elastomer), so you won’t find any toxic or harmful chemicals in it. The double-layer structure provides optimal grip for sweaty soles and excellent cushioning for many forms of yoga. The double-sided design not only looks great with its two-tone colourway, but both sides have an embossed texture to stop you from slipping.
Key features:
0.6cm thick
183 x 61 x 0.6cm
Weighs 1kg
Review: “This mat is incredibly comfortable not only for yoga but also for general workouts. It's very comfortable and protects my knees, but it's not too thick. It unfolds nicely and it's easy to tuck away in a corner. Arrived with the straps for easier carrying outside of the home. It's very light, could barely feel it when I was carrying it home. I've tried using the mat barefoot and it's very well made so there's no chance of me slipping off it. I'm extremely happy with the quality of the mat and would definitely recommend it to anyone who's a regular exercise geek like me!”
Sustainable
www.sweatybetty.com
The Sweaty Betty Super Grip Yoga Mat is made from natural latex and free from any harmful substance. The soft latex offers an unrivalled grip, so you can practise your poses without fear of sliding all over the place. It is also fully biodegradable, making this the best yoga mat for someone looking for a sustainable option.
Key features:
0.4cm thick
183 x 61 x 0.4cm
Weighs 1.7kg
Review: “As a relative yoga beginner I wanted to replace my cheap mat as it was too soft, spongy and slippy. I’m so pleased with this mat with the non-slip grip and comfortable yet firm base.” [sic]
www.decathlon.co.uk
The KimJaly 8mm Comfort Yoga Mat has been designed with more gentle yoga in mind. It is made from 100 per cent foamed PVC and is thick and cushioned for maximum comfort. It also comes with a strap, meaning you can easily transport it from home to yoga class.
Key features:
0.8cm thick
173 x 61 x 0.8cm
Weighs 1.85kg
Review: “Great, reasonably priced mat for yoga and Pilates. Good grip, medium thickness - not paper thin or that awful thick foam! The carrier strap is good for storage and bringing to class. Would recommend.” [sic]
Best for indoor and outdoor use
The Proworks Yoga Mat is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, so you can achieve a zen state of mind in the comfort of your home or surrounded by nature. This thick, cushioned yoga mat uses a premium quality NBR foam that is latex and phthalate-free.
Key features:
1cm thick
183 x 58 x 1cm
Weighs 0.85kg
Review: “Really pleased with this mat, very comfortable for exercising. It’s long but rolls up nice and small, so saves space. Carry handles are a great idea as well. My friend has already bought one on my recommendation. I don't have much padding on my spine and the mat I was using before didn't cushion me from the hard floor, but this one does. I think it's excellent value for money and I would definitely recommend it.”
www.lululemon.co.uk
Made with a natural rubber material that is sustainably sourced and FSC® certified, it's easy to see why the Lululemon Take Form Yoga Mat is the most expensive on our list. It’s designed with a 3D texture that helps you stay still and focused as you pose and feel your way around the mat without looking down.
Key features:
0.5cm thick
66 x 180 x 0.5cm
Weight 2.24kg
Review: “Great mat! good thickness and doesn't move around. I gave it only four stars because hair and things can stick to it quite easily, I suppose it happens with a lot of yoga mats. You can just wipe it off, but I always find lots of small bits of hair on it.”
Best for comfort and stability
Made using non-slip PVC foam, the Core Blanace Yoga Mat feels sticky to give you a greater grip while also preventing it from sliding on smooth flooring. At 6mm thick, it is the ideal thickness for impact resistance but still thin enough to give your hands and feet a good connection with the floor.
Key features:
0.6cm thick
61 x 173 x 0.6cm
Weighs 1.2kg
Review: “Lightweight and easy to transport. Overall good product.”
Thickest yoga mat
With a 15mm thick foam design, the JLL Yoga Mat will cushion your spine, knees and hips as you get into a pose. It has a special moisture-resistant coating that will allow you to wipe clean any water spillage or sweat. With its non-slip traction and smooth texture foam surface, this yoga mat will ensure you have a good grip.
Key features:
1.5cm thick
183 x 61 x 1.5cm
Weighs 1.3kg
Review: “I bought this mat because our yoga class moved from a room with a sprung floor to one with a floor that was so hard it was causing me discomfort in some of the positions, particularly my knees and back. This mat is really thick. I prefer using it on the hard floor, although the springiness of it takes a bit of getting used to. I almost toppled over when we were standing on our toes! Also, when you drag your feet over it, there is a bit of a squeak. On the whole, it is so much more comfortable so I'm going to stick with it when we are in that room.”
Planet-friendly yoga mat
The Liforme Original Yoga Mat is at a more premium price point, but it’s worth investing in if you’re looking for a planet-friendly mat. It’s made using an eco-polyurethane foam that is fully biodegradable and will be able to decompose in landfill within five years. The layers have been stuck together using a special heat-bonding process as a substitution for glue. If that wasn’t enough, this yoga mat will be delivered to your door in recyclable packaging, avoiding unnecessary single-use plastics.
Key features:
4.2mm thick
185 x 68 x 0.4cm
Weighs 2.5kg
Review: “A great yogis mat. No more slipping, great grip including when you're sweating, which means you feel more secure while practising. The alignment markers on the mat are brilliant, even for experienced yoga practitioner, these markings are helpful. With this comfortable mat, my practice is a better experience, for balance, stretching and strength. Eco friendly and even comes with its own bag. It was worth every penny, don't hesitate to invest in your practice. Your down dog will be a totally new experience.”
Eye catching design
www.argos.co.uk
This 6mm thick yoga mat is certainly one of the prettiest on our list with its printed floral design. The Opti Floral 6mm Thickness Printed Yoga Exercise Mat has a textured non-slip surface that gives you excellent traction so you can stay focused on holding your pose. When you’re not using it, it can be easily rolled and wrapped with the carry strap, which is perfect for storage.
Key features:
0.6cm thick
172 x 61 x 0.6cm
Weighs 1.35kg
Review: “This is excellent! Perfect thickness with memory foam type material. The design is so pretty! Really impressed with the quality. Perfect for yoga!”
Perfect for beginners
The ACTIVE FOREVER yoga mat is the best yoga mat for someone starting out. This dual-layer yoga mat is made with tear-resistant material and has a non-slip surface to help you keep your balance. It comes with a strap for easy transportation and storage. We love that it has baby pink on one side and a very light blue on the other.
Key features:
0.6cm thick
183 x 63 x 0.6cm
Weighs 0.9kg
Review: “I love this mat!! The size is great, it’s light, it doesn’t move on surfaces and the pink colour is pretty! It is at first a little sticky, and tough to move on during transitions, but after a while it’s great! Highly recommend!” [sic]
Large and thick
www.argos.co.uk
This mat is slip-resistant to ensure you don’t slide when you need to focus. Made with thick foam, it'll keep you feeling comfortable when practising on a hard floor.
Key features:
1.2cm thick
173 x 61 x 1.2cm
Weighs 1kg
Review: “Bought over a month ago and have used it for yoga at home. It is a thicker mat than my previous yoga mats, which has proved more comfortable when doing poses on my knees. The only downside is that it doesn’t have a bag to hold it.”
Ideal for hot yoga
We were drawn to the quirky, abstract aesthetic of this mat. It’s made from natural rubber and the design is printed with non-toxic water-based inks and dyes. It also has a highly absorbent microfiber towel surface that becomes grippier the more you sweat, making it the ideal mat for hot yoga.
Key features:
0.2cm thick
183 x 61 x 0.2cm
Weights 1.5kg
Review: “The best yoga mat ever! Very convenient for hot yoga. Easy to clean and carry around. No discomfort doing yoga on the ground. And of course- looks very stylish. Loving it!” [sic]
Best Yoga Mat FAQs:
Why is a yoga mat important?
A yoga mat provides a comfortable surface for you to maintain your balance and posture. Practising yoga on a hard or slippery floor with sweaty hands and feet can be a recipe for disaster, leading to injury and increased soreness. A yoga mat is important for stability and will help reduce the risk of you slipping over and hurting yourself.
How to clean a yoga mat
As with everything in life, your yoga mat will need a deep clean from time to time. Combine warm water and a few drops of washing up liquid in a spray bottle, spritz both sides of your mat and firmly scrub with a cloth. We would recommend doing this at least once a month.
To keep your yoga mat looking fresh in between your deep cleans, wipe down your mat every week or so. If you sweat a lot during your sessions, you will need to do this more often to ensure you keep your mat clean and free of bacteria.