Do You Need a Mat for Your Training Bench? An 8-Year Home Workout Veteran Explains How to Prevent Floor Scratches, Slipping, and Noise
Hello! I’m Torimune, and I’ve been working out at home for 8 years.
Is it okay to place a training bench directly on hardwood floors?
I’m worried about scratching the floor…
Should I buy a mat to put under the bench as well?
If you are about to purchase a training bench, you might have these kinds of questions.
The bench itself is a significant expense, so you don’t want to buy things you don’t need, right?
When I first started working out at home, I barely thought about floor protection.
However, as a result, I have experience dropping a dumbbell plate and denting my hardwood floor. That scratch is still there today.
Having gone through that experience, my conclusion is that if you are going to use a training bench on hardwood floors, it is recommended to lay down a floor protection mat.
The reason is that it not only helps prevent scratches and dents from the bench legs, but it can also protect the area where you place your dumbbells.
And, personally, I wouldn’t just put a thin yoga mat under the bench legs; I would lay down interlocking mats across the entire training space.
If I were buying one now, I would choose a “two-layer rubber + EVA structure type” like this one.
In this article, based on my experience of over 8 years of home workouts, I will introduce the reasons for putting a mat under your bench, how to choose one, and recommended products.
If you want to create an environment where you can continue working out at home with peace of mind without damaging your floors, please use this as a reference.
3 Reasons Why You Need a Mat Under Your Training Bench
First, there are mainly three reasons why I recommend laying a mat under your training bench.
This is because it not only protects the floor but also leads to stability during training and noise mitigation.
1. To prevent scratches and dents on the floor caused by the bench legs
The biggest reason is to protect the hardwood floor from scratches.
A training bench is subjected not only to the weight of the unit itself but also to your body weight and the weight of the dumbbells during training.
For example, if a person weighing 70kg does a bench press with two 20kg dumbbells, that’s 110kg combined.
Although the weight is distributed to your feet and other points, the bench legs will be supporting this weight.
Of course, some benches come with protective materials like rubber on the legs, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the floor won’t get scratched or marked.
When the bench moves, the legs may scrape the floor, or marks may be left behind depending on the compatibility with the flooring material.
Especially if you store the bench every time, you will have more opportunities to set it up and move it.
If you want to keep your floor in pristine condition, it is safer to lay down a mat from the start.
This applies not only to those living in rental properties but also to homeowners who want to avoid damaging their floors as much as possible. I personally realized the importance of this after I actually dented my own floor.
2. To prevent slipping and shifting during training
Another reason is the stability of the bench.
For example, when pushing up dumbbells during a dumbbell bench press, you brace your feet against the floor while resting your back on the bench.
At this time, depending on the combination of the bench legs and the flooring material, the bench might shift.
It is quite scary if the bench moves while you are holding dumbbells.
This is where a mat with a grippy surface comes in handy.
Especially if you use a mat made of rubber material, it becomes easier to suppress the slipping of the bench legs and your feet.
3. To reduce the impact and noise when placing dumbbells down
Something that is surprisingly easy to overlook is the burden placed on the floor by equipment other than the bench.
Many people who purchase a training bench also use dumbbells together with it, right?
I also mainly use dumbbells for my training.
I prepare the dumbbells before a set and return them to the floor when I finish training.
Each time, the dumbbells come into contact with the floor.
If you place them directly on the flooring, even minor impacts and sounds can lead to scratches.
If you lay down a cushioned floor protection mat, you can significantly reduce these impacts and contact noises.
However, just because you have laid down a mat does not mean it is okay to drop heavy dumbbells.
Especially in apartments, the impact on the floor can sometimes be transmitted as vibration to the floor below.
A mat is one form of soundproofing, but you still need to be considerate by placing dumbbells down carefully and being mindful of the time of day you train.
I have also summarized the types of floor protection mats and how to choose them in this article.
The reason I recommend interlocking mats over thin yoga mats
Some people might think, ‘If it’s just to protect the bench legs, wouldn’t a thin yoga mat be fine?’
If you just want to avoid direct contact with the floor, a yoga mat might work.
However, if I were setting up a home workout environment now, I would choose interlocking mats that can protect the entire training space, not just the bench legs.
Let me explain why.
1. Protecting only the bench legs doesn’t protect the area where you place your dumbbells
When using a training bench, it’s not just the bench legs that touch the floor; you also place equipment like dumbbells on the floor.
If you only put a small mat under the bench legs, the surrounding flooring remains unprotected.
When you finish a set and put your dumbbells down, there is a chance you might place them outside the mat.
Think of it not as a “mat to put under the bench,” but as a “mat to protect the area where you do home workouts.”
With this mindset, even if you increase the weight of your dumbbells or buy new equipment after purchasing the bench, you can continue using the same setup.
2. Thin yoga mats may not be suitable for protecting floors from heavy equipment
Yoga mats are convenient items for stretching and bodyweight training.
However, if you use a thin and soft type, the mat might sink significantly when the weight of the training bench is concentrated on its legs.
Also, there is a risk that the mat could flip up or shift when you move the bench.
If I were buying new equipment now, I would choose a mat designed for floor protection from the start.
If you use both a bench and dumbbells, you will likely regret it less if you choose a mat suited to the equipment you use rather than trying to get by with just a thin yoga mat.
3. Interlocking mats allow you to protect the necessary area all at once
The advantage of interlocking mats is that you can adjust the coverage area to fit your room.
For example, with 60cm x 60cm mats, you can combine several pieces to create a training space.
Not just under the bench, but
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the area where the bench is installed
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The area where you plant your feet
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The area where you place your dumbbells
can all be protected at once.
Also, if your equipment increases as you continue your home workouts, you can add more mats of the same standard to expand your space.
I have been doing home workouts for over 8 years myself, but I didn’t have all the equipment from the start.
My equipment increased little by little, and the way I used it changed as well.
That is exactly why I want those who are just starting home workouts to choose their gear by thinking about whether it will be useful in the future, not just for the equipment they have now.
I dropped a dumbbell and dented my hardwood floor
When I first started home workouts, I didn’t lay down a floor protection mat.
One day, while doing side raises, a plate from my screw-on dumbbell came loose and fell onto the hardwood floor. It left a dent.
That scratch is still there today.
At the time, I thought, “I can get a mat later,” but I regretted it when I saw the damaged floor.
Of course, even if you lay down a mat, it doesn’t completely prevent damage from drops, but I still wish I had laid one down from the start to reduce the risk of damaging the floor.
To avoid the regret of damaging your floor like I did, if you are planning to buy a bench, please consider getting a floor protection mat as well.
If I were to buy one again now, I would choose the two-layer rubber and EVA type from “SINO” that I introduced earlier.
Check the current price and reviews of the SINO gym mat on Amazon
How to choose a mat for a training bench: Check these 3 things—thickness, material, and size
So, what kind of mat should you actually choose?
If you are buying one for the first time, there are so many types that it can be confusing, right?
If it were me, I would check these 3 things.
1. Thickness | Aim for at least 10mm, preferably around 12mm
The first thing to check is the thickness of the mat.
For home workouts using a bench and dumbbells, I use 10mm thickness as a baseline. If possible, finding one around 12mm or thicker makes it a strong candidate for purchase.
Actually, the mat I bought after I had already dented my floor is 8mm thick. I bought it in a hurry without any knowledge.
I still use it now, but I’m thinking of replacing it soon.
If I were to buy one again now, I plan to choose the “SINO Rubber + EVA” mat I mentioned at the beginning.
However, thicker isn’t always better. If the material is too soft, the bench legs might sink in, making it unstable.
In addition to thickness, you should also check the hardness of the material and whether the bench can be set up stably.
2. Material | Should you choose EVA or Rubber + EVA?
There are several materials for floor protection mats, but for typical home workouts, you just need to compare these two: EVA and Rubber + EVA.
For reference, I will also compare them with professional-grade all-rubber mats.
EVA material joint mats are attractive because they can be purchased relatively cheaply.
Because they are lightweight and easy to handle, they are a type that is easy for those just starting home workouts to choose.
If I were to buy one now, I would choose the two-layer Rubber + EVA type.
The rubber material on the surface provides grip, while the EVA material on the back provides cushioning. It’s effective not only for floor protection but also for when you need to plant your feet firmly during training.
3. Size | Lay it out over a wider area than the bench itself
One thing I don’t want you to forget when choosing a mat is the size.
If you only check the dimensions of the bench itself before buying, you might not be able to protect the area where you place your dumbbells.
I recommend choosing a size that covers the area around the bench as well.
For example, if you use six 60cm x 60cm joint mats, you can arrange them in a 2×3 grid to create a space of about 120cm x 180cm.
In my case, I usually train in a space of about two tatami mats, and I keep the bench in the corner of the room and move it slightly to the center of the mat when I start my workout.
If you are going to buy one, please consider not only where you will place the bench, but also the space where you will actually move while holding dumbbells.
The space for storage and the space for safe training are two different things. Simply measuring your room’s dimensions before purchasing will help you avoid mistakes.
2 Recommended Mats to Place Under Your Training Bench
For those who have read this far and are thinking, “So, which mat should I actually buy?”
If I were to buy a floor protection mat for home workouts now, I would recommend these two: “SINO” and “AIRHOP”.
Both are 60cm x 60cm interlocking tiles, making them suitable for protecting not just the area under the bench, but also the space where you use dumbbells.
Please note that the two products introduced here are not ones I have personally used for a long time, but rather purchase candidates I selected by comparing products based on my experience of over 8 years of home training.
Recommendation 1: For Stability, Choose SINO | 2-Layer Rubber + EVA Structure
If I were to choose one mat right now, this would be it.
SINO Gym Mat (Rubber + EVA, 14mm thickness)
The main features are as follows.
The reason for choosing this mat is the combination of the rubber surface material and the EVA material on the back.
The grip of the surface makes it easier to prevent your feet from slipping when using the bench.
The EVA material on the back provides cushioning, which can reduce direct impact on the floor.
Even for exercises I do regularly, like dumbbell presses and shoulder presses, the stability of my footing where I can push off is a point of concern.
If you are choosing a mat with consideration for not just floor protection but also ease of use during home workouts, this 2-layer structure is attractive.
If you are planning to get dumbbells and a bench and want to keep up with home workouts for a long time, consider adding this to your list of potential purchases.
Recommendation #2: AIRHOP for Cost-Consciousness | EVA Joint Mat
If you are thinking, “The bench alone is expensive enough, so I want to keep the mat as cheap as possible,” then a joint mat made solely of EVA material is a perfectly viable option.
AIRHOP Training Mat (EVA, 12mm thickness)
Here are the main features.
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Size: 60cm x 60cm
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Thickness: 12mm
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Material: EVA
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Quantity: 6-piece set
The advantage of EVA material is that it is lightweight and relatively easy to keep affordable.
With a thickness of 12mm, it is a product that is easy to introduce for home workouts using a bench or dumbbells.
Personally, I would choose SINO if I wanted to prioritize stability, but I would also consider AIRHOP if I wanted to keep the budget down.
It is not the case that you cannot do home workouts unless you buy an expensive mat from the start. You just need to choose one that fits your budget and how you plan to use it.
Should you buy a training bench and a mat together?
I have talked about mats up to this point, but I imagine some of you have not yet purchased the training bench itself.
You might be wondering, “Should I get the bench and the mat at the same time?” If you are in an environment where floor protection is necessary, I would recommend considering purchasing them together.
The reason is that you can lay down the mat before setting up the bench.
It is easier to think about the layout if you decide on your training space first, rather than thinking about floor protection after you have already bought the bench.
▶ My recommended training bench is “Leading Edge”
For those who are about to purchase a training bench, I will introduce a model that I recommend as a candidate for purchase.
My recommended model is the Leading Edge LE-B80.
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Supports flat, incline, and decline positions
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Simple rectangular structure
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Nominal load capacity of 300kg
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Foldable design
I currently use a GronG multi-training bench that is no longer sold, but after using it for many years, I have realized that a bench with a simple shape is the easiest to use.
When there are fewer unnecessary parts, they don’t get in the way when you sit down with dumbbells or adjust your foot position.
Although I haven’t used the LE-B80 myself, it is a strong candidate I can recommend to everyone because it perfectly matches the criteria I prioritize when choosing a bench.
I hope you can create a long-lasting home workout environment by combining it with a mat.
For more details on how to choose a training bench, please check out this article.
It introduces points you should check before purchasing, so if you haven’t decided on a bench yet, please use it as a reference.
Frequently Asked Questions About Training Benches and Floor Protection Mats
Finally, I will answer some common questions about bench mats.
Q1: Can I use a 100-yen shop mat or a thin yoga mat as a substitute?
If your only goal is to prevent the bench legs from coming into direct contact with the floor, it may work as a substitute.
However, thin mats are highly likely to sink under concentrated weight or fail to sufficiently absorb the impact of placing dumbbells down.
Also, placing small mats only under the legs won’t protect the area where you place your dumbbells.
If you are using a bench and dumbbells together, I would choose a floor protection joint mat.
Q2: Can laying down a mat prevent noise in an apartment?
By laying down a mat, you can significantly prevent contact noise and impact when placing dumbbells on the floor.
However, it cannot completely prevent vibrations or heavy impact sounds from traveling to the floor below.
If you are working out at home in an apartment, it is important to place your dumbbells down carefully in addition to using a mat.
Since I also continue my home workouts while living with my family, the two concepts of “preparing the environment with a mat” and “preventing noise through proper movement” are very important.
Q3: Is a mat necessary even if I fold the bench every time?
I strongly recommend protecting the floor even if you have a foldable bench.
In fact, if you store the bench every time, the opportunities for the legs to come into contact with the floor during setup and movement increase.
I personally don’t fold my bench usually, and I leave it in the corner of the room. This is because I can start training immediately whenever I want to use it.
On the other hand, if you live in a studio apartment or a room shared with family, being able to store it compactly is also a major benefit.
I explain the differences between foldable and stationary types, as well as the reasons why I don’t fold my bench, in detail in this article.
Summary | Protect not just the bench legs, but the entire home workout space
If you are using a training bench on a hardwood floor, I recommend laying down a floor protection mat.
It not only makes it easier to prevent scratches and dents caused by the bench legs, but having an environment where you can also protect the area where you place your dumbbells is important for continuing home workouts.
And if you are going to buy one from now on, I would choose a joint-type mat that can protect the entire training space, rather than just laying a thin yoga mat under the legs.
Rubber + EVA for stability, EVA for cost-effectiveness.
If you think based on these criteria, it should be easy to choose a mat that suits you.
If I were to buy one now, I would choose the Rubber + EVA type from “SINO”.
Check the current price and reviews of the SINO gym mat on Amazon
Also, if you are someone who is going to buy a bench as well, please take a look at Leading Edge, which I recommend as a purchase candidate.
Check the current price and size of the Leading Edge LE-B80 on Amazon
First, decide where to place the bench and think about how much area you need to protect.
From there, it is enough to gather the things you need little by little.
Let’s reduce your anxiety about the floor and continue to enjoy home workouts together.
For those who are unsure about choosing home workout equipment
“I want to enhance my home workout environment a bit more,” “What kind of equipment should I choose next?” For those who are wondering.
I have compiled a ranking of the equipment I have actually used during my 8+ years of home training, which I felt were ‘great purchases’ or ‘what I would buy if I were starting now’.
Please use this as a reference when choosing home workout equipment that suits you, such as dumbbells, benches, and pull-up bars.
Thank you for reading to the end this time as well!
*This article contains Amazon Associate links. As an Amazon Associate, Torimune earns from qualifying purchases. The products introduced are those I have actually used myself or those I truly feel are recommended after many years of home training.
