The 10 Best Yoga Mats
Updated by · How we research
Thickest isn't best for a yoga mat. We rank ten by grip, cushion, material and warranty, and the Manduka PRO comes out on top. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Thickest isn't best: a half-inch foam mat feels lovely for floor stretches and wobbly in tree pose, so pick for the yoga you actually do. A standard mat runs about 68 to 74 inches long and keeps hands and feet from slipping on a hard floor. Beginners, older adults, sweaty-class regulars and daily practitioners all use one, and some carry theirs to class.
Editor's Notes
October 19, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
Many studio teachers own the mat that now leads, and half the old list is gone. The Clever Yoga LiquidBalance, Aurorae Synergy, Aurorae Classic and Sivan mats are no longer available, and we cut the BalanceFrom GoYoga because two other budget mats already cover that ground.
The Manduka PRO is that mat, and it stays from the old list. It's heavy, but it's dense, it lasts, and independent reviewers keep naming it. The JadeYoga Harmony, Gaiam Premium 6mm, Heathyoga TPE and YogaAccessories Deluxe stay too. New picks answer what readers ask about: the Gaiam Dry-Grip for sweaty classes, the Retrospec Solana for sore knees, the Manduka PROlite for carrying to class, the Manduka Begin for beginners and seniors, and the KEEP Extra Wide for anyone who spills off a standard mat.
Thickest isn't best. A half-inch foam mat feels lovely for floor stretches and wobbly in tree pose, so pick for the yoga you actually do.
January 30, 2020:
While it seems a simple enough invention, some yoga mats can be better or worse for people with certain conditions, goals, and experience levels. For example, items like the newly-added Manduka Pro offer closed-cell construction, which helps block bacteria and moisture from sweat and makes cleaning easy. Then, some people prefer an open-cell design, like with the Jade Harmony, which can help provide a solid grip for hands and feet. Open-cell options are better if you don't perspire that much, or are okay with thoroughly washing and drying your mat consistently.
If you walk to class or travel with your mat often, then a lightweight option like BalanceFrom GoYoga is a good idea. It also comes with a carrying strap, as does the Sivan Health and Fitness. Those who want to take something compact on a vacation should consider something from our list of travel yoga mats.
Today we added the high-end Manduka Pro at the expense of the Youphoria Premi-Om, which became unavailable, and the Heathyoga Eco Friendly in place of the AmazonBasics Extra-Thick. The AmazonBasics model is a solid choice if you want something budget-friendly and thick, however, the Sivan Health and Fitness and Aurorae Classic both satisfy those needs. We thought the ranking would be better served with something like the Heathyoga model, a biodegradable selection with an exclusive design that keeps practitioners in alignment. This is extremely helpful for those with poor balance and brand new yogis.
Speaking of being eco-friendly, a huge priority for this list was selecting options that are free of toxic chemicals, don't use unsustainable materials, last a long time without needing replacement, and will biodegrade once discarded.
Special Honors
Liforme Liforme, a British company, makes a natural rubber mat with a polyurethane top and no PVC. Lines and markers printed across the surface help with hand and foot placement, and OutdoorGearLab scored it 76 out of 100, ahead of the Lululemon and Gaiam mats it reviewed. It costs more than most mats here and is sold mainly through Liforme's own store. liforme.com
Lululemon The Mat 5mm Lululemon's The Mat 5mm pairs a polyurethane top layer, which soaks up moisture for grip in sweaty classes, with a natural rubber base for cushion. It's reversible, so the rubber side works for low-sweat sessions, and it contains natural rubber, so it isn't for people with latex allergies. Lululemon sells it in its stores and online. shop.lululemon.com
Baller Yoga For a mat that doubles as a conversation piece, Baller Yoga makes mats from pebble-grain football leather, the same tacky leather used for footballs, and builds them in the U.S. The maker says leather grips when damp and gets better with age, but it costs far more than a rubber or PVC mat and needs leather care. balleryoga.com
Thickness, Cushion And Stability
Most yoga mats are 3 to 6 millimeters thick, and that range is a good fit for most people.
Most yoga mats are 3 to 6 millimeters thick, and that range is a good fit for most people. Thicker isn't automatically better. OutdoorGearLab, which scored mats with a panel of yoga teachers, gave its top marks for comfort to dense mats like the 6-millimeter Manduka PRO, not the thickest ones. Density matters as much as millimeters: a firm 5-millimeter mat protects knees better than a soft one that squashes flat.
Thick foam mats, a half inch (about 13 millimeters) or more, are made of soft NBR foam. They feel great for floor work, sit-ups and stretching, and people with sore knees often like them. But your feet sink in, so standing balance poses feel unsteady. If you do flowing or standing yoga, stay near 4 to 6 millimeters and fold a blanket under your knees when you need it.
Size matters too. A standard mat is 68 inches long and 24 inches wide. People over about 6 feet should look for a 71- to 74-inch mat, and wide stances or larger bodies fit better on 26- to 32-inch widths.
What Yoga Mats Are Made Of
Four materials cover nearly every mat. PVC is dense, durable and closed-cell, so sweat sits on top and wipes off. It's what the Manduka PRO and most Gaiam mats use. It can feel slick when wet and smells when new. Natural rubber, used in the JadeYoga Harmony, grips bare skin best when dry, but it's heavier, smells at first, picks up lint and can carry trace latex proteins. JadeYoga tells people with latex allergies to avoid its mats; MedlinePlus explains how latex allergy reactions range from rashes to severe reactions.
TPE is a lighter, PVC-free foam found in mats like the Manduka Begin. It's soft and springy but usually wears out sooner. NBR foam is the cheap, very thick material in half-inch exercise mats.
Labels can be vague. In 2019 the nonprofit Healthy Stuff Lab tested 11 mats and found that several sold as eco-friendly were PVC, made soft with plasticizers it called likely safer than older phthalates but in need of more study. If materials matter to you, look for a clear material name rather than a green-sounding label.
Grip, Sweat And Care
Grip is the main safety feature of a mat, since a slick mat on a hard floor is how people fall. Dry grip and wet grip are different problems. Natural rubber holds best for dry hands; Wirecutter picked the JadeYoga Harmony as its top mat largely for grip. For hot yoga or heavy sweating, look for a mat with a wicking top coat or a polyurethane top, or lay a microfiber yoga towel over a PVC mat. OutdoorGearLab marks the Manduka PRO down for wet grip even though it rates it highest overall.
New PVC and rubber mats are often slick or smelly for the first few sessions. Unroll a new mat and let it air out for a day or more, and expect a PVC mat like the PRO to get grippier as its surface wears in.
Clean a closed-cell mat with mild soap and water and let it dry flat or hung up. Open-cell rubber soaks up sweat, so wipe it after each session and avoid harsh cleaners. Keep rubber and printed mats out of direct sun, which can fade and dry them out, and store mats rolled loosely rather than folded.
How we researched this
We compared 22 yoga mats, read makers' specifications and care instructions, used independent reviews from OutdoorGearLab and Wirecutter where they exist, analyzed owner feedback patterns, read the Healthy Stuff Lab's 2019 yoga mat tests, and checked every brand for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. We found no yoga mat recalls.
Sources (13)
- OutdoorGearLab: The Best Yoga Mats
- Wirecutter: The Best Yoga Mats
- Healthy Stuff Lab: Yoga mat testing (2019)
- JadeYoga: Harmony mat
- Manduka: PRO series
- Manduka: Begin yoga mat 5mm
- MedlinePlus: Latex allergy
- Retrospec
- Gaiam
- YogaAccessories
- Liforme
- Baller Yoga
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Recalls
Frequently asked questions
What is the best yoga mat for beginners?
A 5- to 6-millimeter mat with good grip is the safest start. The Gaiam Premium 6mm is a low-cost first mat, and the Manduka Begin adds a center alignment stripe. If you know you'll keep practicing, a dense mat like the Manduka PRO lasts for years.
What is the best yoga mat for seniors?
Pick grip and stability first, then cushion. A firm 5- to 6-millimeter mat that doesn't slide is safer than a very thick foam mat, which can feel unsteady in standing poses. A light mat, like the Manduka Begin, is also easier to carry and unroll.
How thick should a yoga mat be?
Most people do well with 4 to 6 millimeters. Thinner mats feel stable and travel well. Half-inch foam mats suit floor exercises and sore knees but wobble in balance poses.
What are yoga mats made of?
Most are PVC, natural rubber, TPE foam or NBR foam. PVC is dense and durable, rubber grips best when dry, TPE is light and PVC-free, and NBR is the soft foam in thick exercise mats. Rubber mats can contain trace latex.
What is the best yoga mat for hot yoga?
Look for a mat with a sweat-wicking or polyurethane top, like the Gaiam Dry-Grip, or put a microfiber yoga towel over a PVC mat. Plain PVC and natural rubber both get slick when they're wet.
How much should I spend on a yoga mat?
A budget mat is fine for trying yoga or home workouts. Daily practitioners usually get more for their money from a dense PVC or natural rubber mat that lasts years instead of compressing within months.
