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The best yoga mats for your practice: thickness, material, size and care

By the Life in Good Form editors. Updated 2026-10-14.

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Thickness: how much cushion you need

Gaiam's mat guide sorts mats into four thickness bands, which match what you will see on most labels.

Gaiam notes that thick mats, some as thick as 1/4 inch, can make it harder to feel a strong connection to the floor. Thin, dense mats feel more stable; thick, soft mats feel kinder to knees. If knee comfort is your main concern, see our thick yoga mat guide, or keep a thinner mat and add a yoga knee pad.

Material: grip, cushion and allergies

• Natural rubber. Gaiam says rubber mats are heavier and more durable and have the most grip. Its guide is clear: if you are allergic to latex, avoid natural rubber mats.
• PVC. Latex-free, lightweight and cushioned, with the most give. Gaiam calls it the tried and true sticky mat and says it can last more than a decade.
• TPE. Lightweight and naturally cushioned, and Gaiam describes it as resistant to germs and odor.
• Cork. Lightweight and resistant to germs and odor, with among the least give. See our cork yoga mat guide.
• Jute. Latex-free and non-slip, and absorbs moisture, which Gaiam says suits hot yoga.

Surface matters for cleaning too. Manduka says the closed-cell surface on its PRO series seals out moisture for easy cleaning.

Size, weight and grip

Gaiam gives the standard mat size as 68 by 24 inches, and its long and wide mats as 10 inches longer and 2 inches wider. If your hands or feet go off the end of the mat in downward dog, or you are tall, choose a long size. Manduka's PRO line, for example, comes in 68, 71 and 79 inch lengths at 26 inches wide.

Weight matters if you carry your mat to class. Manduka lists its 6 mm PRO at 7.5 lbs in the standard size and its 4.7 mm PRO Lite at 4.6 lbs. For a mat that folds into a suitcase, see our travel yoga mat guide.

For grip, rubber leads. If your hands slip as you sweat, a grip towel on top often helps more than a new mat; see our yoga towel and non-slip yoga mat guides.

How to clean a yoga mat

Always check your mat's own care label first, because materials need different care. Manduka's care guide gives a good general pattern:

1. After each practice, spray the whole surface with a mat cleaner and wipe it dry with a clean cloth before rolling it up.
2. At least once a week, do a deeper clean: spray until the mat is visibly wet, let it sit 1 to 2 minutes, gently scrub any marks, then wipe dry.
3. For natural rubber, Manduka says not to use any soap; it uses a rubber restore product left on for 5 minutes, then wiped off.
4. Dry it fully before rolling, out of direct sun.

Avoid: soaking or submerging the mat, the washing machine, bleach, solvents and harsh chemicals. Manduka also warns that essential oils applied straight to a mat make it slippery. For ready-made options, see our yoga mat cleaner spray guide.

If you go to a gym, the American Academy of Dermatology suggests bringing your own yoga mat from home rather than using a shared one, and cleaning shared equipment with disinfectant wipes or spray.

Practicing safely on any mat

The NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says yoga is generally safe for healthy people practicing under a qualified instructor. The most common injuries are sprains and strains, most often of the knee or lower leg. NCCIH adds that learning alone without supervision has been linked to higher risk, and that hot yoga carries a risk of overheating and dehydration.

A mat that grips and lies flat helps you stay steady, but it cannot make a pose safe on its own. Beginners should skip extreme poses such as headstands and shoulder stands until they have guidance.

What to look for when you buy

Questions people ask

What thickness yoga mat is best?

For most people, 3 to 6 mm. Go thinner (about 2 mm) for travel, and thicker only if you need knee cushion and accept less floor feel.

How do you clean a yoga mat?

Spray it with a mat cleaner after practice and wipe it dry, and deep clean at least weekly. Do not soak it, machine wash it or use bleach, and use no soap on natural rubber, per Manduka's care guide.

Which yoga mat material has the best grip?

Gaiam says natural rubber has the most grip. People with a latex allergy should choose PVC, TPE or cork instead.

How long should a yoga mat be?

Standard mats are about 68 inches long. If you are tall or your feet and hands run off the ends, pick a long size around 79 inches.

Should I bring my own yoga mat to the gym?

Yes, when you can. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests bringing your own yoga mat from home rather than using the gym's, and wiping shared equipment with disinfectant.

Sources

• Yoga Mat Guide (gaiam.com), Gaiam (maker)
• Manduka PRO Series Yoga Mats (manduka.com), Manduka (maker)
• How To Clean Your Yoga Mat (manduka.com), Manduka (maker)
• Yoga: What You Need To Know (nccih.nih.gov), NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
• How to prevent common skin infections at the gym (aad.org), American Academy of Dermatology

Sources checked 2026-10-14.