9 Best Pilates mats: our top picks of mats for gym or at-home workouts

HOLLY Willoughby, Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna and so many famous athletes swear by the power of Pilates.

The best Pilates mats comfortably carry your body through years of great workouts. As founder Joseph Pilates once said, "A man is as young as his spinal column."

Whether you're a Pilates guru on the search for the latest mat, or taking it up to help your working-from-home posture, there are so many mats for you to choose from.

A lot of designs come with detachable handles to be carried, so they're easy to transport to your classes or down to the beach for a sunrise workout on holiday.

Pilates mats should be thicker than thin yoga mats because a lot of the work is done on your back and stomach on the floor. Plus, smoother ones are best as it's good to be able to slide.

Having the proper equipment is a great way of motivating you to practise Pilates, so we've found the best Pilates mats to shop now, from best bargains to best-sellers. It's time to engage your core.

Best pilates mats at a glance:

• Best for thickness:
• Best colour choice:
• Best pattern:
• Best bargain:
• Best eco-friendly:
• Best for at home workouts: Exercise Mat
• Best for travel:
• Best waterproof:
• Best pro-level:

UMI. by Amazon - Pilates Exercise Yoga Mat 

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• UMI. by Amazon - Extra thick Pilates mat, £24.99 from Amazon -

Amazon's UMI has an extra thick mat, perfect for padded Pilates sessions.

At under £30, this black mat promises tear resistance and is even complete with a line down the middle to help you keep your spine aligned.

Reviews say the removable carry strap is durable too, which is always a plus if you're always transporting your mat from place to place.

Dimensions: 72.1L cm x 26W cm, Thickness: 0.4cm, Material: Foam

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Sparta Nfinity Fitness Mat - Multi Purpose

9

• Sparta Nfinity Fitness Mat - Multi-Purpose, £12.99 from Amazon -

Another Amazon gem: Sparta's Nfinity fitness mat can double for your Pilates sessions and your weight workouts.

Choose from four colours - deep purple is delicious -, enjoy the extra dense base and pelvic curl until your heart's content.

This best-selling mat's NBR foam is a synthetic rubber material which is fast-drying and moisture-resistant. You simply wipe clean and hang dry. Its material will also prevent you from sliding around during a sweaty workout. Phew.

Dimensions: 72.1L cm x 24W cm, Thickness: 0.4 cm, Material: Rubber

Opti Floral 6mm Thickness Printed Yoga Exercise Mat

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• Opti Floral 6mm Thickness Printed Yoga Exercise Mat, £18 from Argos -

If you're into pretty patterns then Opti have a bargain mat that's right up your street, or should we say, Pilates path.

Featuring 6mm thickness, this printed, lightly cushioned mat has a textured base so it won't slip as you exercise and it comes with a strap to carry.

Treat yourself to some funky leggings to match – there's nothing like some groovy gear to get you motivated.

Dimensions: L172 cm x W61 cm, Thickness: 6mm, Material: PVC

Core Balance Pilates Mat

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• Core Balance Pilates Mat, £12.99 (was £29.99) from Core Balance -

Just because you're not spending an arm and a leg, doesn't mean you can't stand out. With this teal pilates mat from Core Balance, there's double the thickness of a regular mat at 10mm, and has been designed with a groove texture to stop slipping.

Lightweight and just over £10, you'll be taking this to all your pilates classes.

Dimensions: 180cm x 60cm, Thickness: 10mm, Material: Foam

Sweaty Betty Yoga Mat

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• Sweaty Betty Yoga Mat, £24 (was £40) from Sweaty Betty -

Sweaty Betty wants you to workout guilt-free as its yoga mat is crafted from eco-friendly foam material that's non-toxic and recyclable.

For under £25, it's a non-slip mat that's also equipped and latex free.

Slip the carry strap over your shoulder to easily transport around this 2kg fitness must-have.

Dimensions: L 183cm x W 61cm , Thickness: 6mm, Material: TPE fabric

John Lewis Exercise Mat

9

• Exercise Mat, £25 from John Lewis -

Featuring a padded thickness of 10mm, John Lewis has a fitness mat that'll work wonders for Pilates moves.

Made from NBR closed cell foam material, this hyper-cushioned mat is quite big so it's amazing for at-home workouts or to keep inside studios.

We feel some daily aligning coming on...

Dimensions: H182 cm x W58 cm, Thickness: 10mm, Material: NBR

Opti 12mm Thickness Yoga Exercise Mat6.

9

• Opti 12mm Thickness Yoga Exercise Mat, £24 from Argos -

Looking for a mat that stands out from the rest? Opti have a hot pink gem that'll definitely brighten up your Pilates session.

This 12mm thickness mat is under £25, comes with handy straps and is made from softer-than-soft NBR rubber.

Amid the raving reviews, one customer writes: "This a really nice mat, the quality is amazing, it is thick and you feel very comfortable. Really good mat for home gym."

Dimensions:  L173 cm x W61 cm, Thickness: 1.2 cm, Material: Rubber

Strong and Flexible Yoga Mat

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• Strong and flexible yoga mat, £29.50, from Karma Fitness -

What could be more motivating than a mat with a message?

This one by Karma Fitness has all the right qualities you need in a yoga mat; 10mm thickness (over twice as thick as a normal yoga mat) for cushioning, double-layered TPE for safety, stability and softness during your workout, and it's even made with waterproof, eco-friendly material.

What's not to love?

Length: 183cm L x 61cm W, Thickness: 10mm, Material: Waterproof and eco-friendly

Fable Yoga

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• Pro Grip Studio yoga mat, £69, from Selfridges -

If you like your mat at a pro-level then Fable Yoga is the one for you. Not only does it have a tree rubber base and polymer upper to give it a natural grip when you are working up a sweat but it also is longer and wider than a normal mat size. This makes it ideal for yoga, Pilates or even equipment-based workouts too.

We love the rose colour and it is also biodegradable making it a solid eco-friendly choice.

Dimensions: L185cm x W68cm, Thickness: 4mm, Material: Rubber and polymer

Are yoga and Pilates mats the same?

There are some similarities between yoga and Pilates mats. Both have non-slip surfaces aimed to keep poses and moves firmly on the mat to balance out the body.

While yoga mats tend to be slightly thinner, Pilates mats are a little thicker to take impact, support the spine and avoid injury. But there are many exercise mats that are curated to be used for both as well as many other exercises, so if you like to do a variety of workouts go for a thicker mat that can take various exercise styles.

What is the best mat for Pilates?

A good pilates mat will not only support the body but be also sufficient in size and have NBR thickness to take any impact in the workout. Some of our favourite Pilates mats can be found at , , , and .