Best Exercise Mats for Bad Knees: Thickness, Grip and What to Avoid

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For kneeling moves, look for 10 to 15 mm of dense foam or NBR. Very soft thick mats can feel unstable and make balance work harder.

Grip matters more than most people expect. A textured, non-slip underside keeps the mat from sliding on hardwood and tile.

Check size too: at least 70 inches long and 24 inches wide lets you lie flat with room to move. Closed-cell materials wipe clean and resist sweat.

If you only need padding for knees, a separate kneeling pad can be cheaper than a thick full mat.