13 best yoga mats for studio and home workouts, tested by our resident yogi

Score: 92/100

This good-looking, premium mat from popular yoga brand Liforme is a savvy pick if you’re looking to dip your toe into yoga and would appreciate some guidance. It features handy visual alignment cues to help with positioning and technique – we found them extremely useful during downward dog and warrior variations.

Yoga aside, our expert tester said the mat was also great for energetic HIIT workouts, thanks to the grippy material. Hands and feet didn’t slide around, no matter how sweaty things got. Music to our ears!

Unlike many bulky rubber mats, this one is lightweight and comes with a complementary travel bag, so you can sling it over your shoulder and take it to class. You do have to roll it up tightly.

It’s not the thickest mat out there, so look elsewhere if you’re after more cushioning and support. Still, it’s made from planet-friendly materials, the edges lie flat when unfurled and it can be wiped clean easily.

Score: 91/100

Whether you have a penchant for dynamic vinyasa flows or prefer gentle, slow-paced yin yoga, this versatile mat will elevate your practice. The plush suede material had our tester in raptures, saying it kept their spine, knees and elbows comfortable as they flowed from pose to pose, even on the most unforgiving floors.

Despite the cushioned platform, it was extremely grippy when we were pouring with sweat, making it a solid choice for hot yoga sessions and high-intensity home workouts, too.

If that wasn’t enough, it lay flat on the floor as soon as we unrolled it (no irritating curled-up edges), you can pop it in the washing machine to keep it fresh, plus it comes with an attachable carry strap for easy transportation. Bear in mind that it is on the heavier side, so we wouldn’t recommend it for your daily commute.

Top tip: give it a quick spray with water before using if your hands are dry, to maximise grip.

Score: 91/100

If you’re partial to a plank or push-up as well as a downward dog, there’s very little not to like about this mat. Clearly designed with fitness fanatics in mind, it held up brilliantly during HIIT and weights workouts, with plenty of cushioning to keep you comfortable during yoga or Pilates practice, too.

It felt soft underfoot and offered excellent grip while jumping and stretching. It rolled up easily and secured into a compact cylinder with a set of adjustable straps. The overall look is quite athletic, but if that’s your bag, then look no further.

Score: 91/100

If you practise regularly, you’ll know that having a quality yoga mat makes a world of difference, and this design from the fitness experts at Les Mills won’t let you down. Made specifically for yoga, it’s the dream for high-energy vinyasa flows and restorative yin sessions alike.

The top layer made from vegan leather proved wonderfully grippy and did a great job of absorbing moisture. When we slipped into savasana (corpse pose), the thick rubber base stopped our spine and joints from getting sore. It lay completely flat on all surfaces, with no irritating curled-up edges. It was also easy to roll up and stow away post-yoga and simple to clean – just wipe it down with a cloth and leave it to dry flat.

It earned bonus points for its size – it’s slightly wider than the other mats we tested, giving you plenty of space to stretch out comfortably in any pose. Note that it comes without a carry strap, but you can easily pick one up on Amazon if you want to take it to class. It’s also on the delicate side, so make sure to remove your shoes or any jewellery that may snag the fabric before getting on the mat.

Score: 90/100

You’ll be sure to stand out if you take this mat to your yoga studio. The bright design was a hit with our tester who said it helped them bring more energy to their session.

It gripped the ground brilliantly, with its soft ‘vegan suede’ upper providing a non-slip surface for bare hands and feet, allowing us to flow between poses with confidence.

One slight quirk is that the sticky surface is activated by moisture. So, if you aren’t planning a sweaty session, we recommend giving it a quick spritz with water before you start.

Score: 89/100

Complete Unity is the brainchild of two experienced yoga teachers, so it’s safe to say they know a thing or two about what makes a good mat. Unlike the many flimsy designs out there, this one is made from durable jute fibres and lavender-infused natural rubber, so it won’t fall apart after a few months of yoga classes. Hallelujah!

The jute surface does feel a little rough against the skin but it’s super sturdy (it won’t budge whether you’re practising on hard wood, carpet or tiles) and at 4mm thickness, it’s suitable for all yoga styles, with sufficient padding for your knees and spine during floor poses. Best of all, it boasts stellar grip thanks to the mat’s unique CompleteGrip™ technology. ‘It’s one of the grippiest mats we’ve ever tested,’ confirmed our resident yogi.

The mat’s eco-friendly credentials also deserve a mention. Not only are the materials non-toxic (BPA, PU, TPE and PVC free) and vegan-friendly, the manufacturing process is zero waste and the packaging is fully recyclable.

If you’re an on-the-go yogi, you can purchase your yoga mat with carry strap if you prefer.

Score: 89/100

This quality mat from Kimjaly punches well above its price tag. Our expert said the rubber provided great grip during dynamic flows, yet the plush base still provided sufficient cushioning during more restorative poses like savasana. They also appreciated the alignment markers, which help to ensure your hands and feet are in the correct positions – particularly useful for new yogis.

Plus, the mat lies completely flat, rolls up easily and comes with a handy carry strap, so you can happily keep up your yoga routine when travelling. It doesn’t have that unpleasant rubber smell that many yoga mats do, either.

Score: 85/100

If you’ve ever practised yoga on a mat that’s too small, you’ll know how challenging (and irritating) it can be. Fortunately, there’s no such problem with this extra-large design from the experts at Liforme – it’s 25cm longer and 1.25cm wider than most standard mats, allowing you to spread out comfortably without rolling off the edge.

Our expert awarded it top marks for grip – they didn’t slide around at all when sweaty and the underside stayed rooted to the floor, providing a stable base for their sessions. For beginners, there are alignment markers to help you stay centred and handy pointers in the accompanying leaflet. It also comes with a carry case and a travel strap, so it’s the perfect companion if you’re on the go all day.

Though it doesn’t come cheap, the XL mat is a good choice for anyone who wants some extra space. Comfortable, portable and non-slip, what more could you want?

Score: 81/100

We’re huge fans of Vuori’s chic, high-performance activewear, and the brand’s yoga mat proved just as impressive. Our in-house yogi said it was a pleasure to use throughout – it's easy to unroll, lay completely flat and stayed in place throughout their practice, without sliding around on the floor. It also scored highly on the grip front, even during more dynamic, sweaty flows.

The mat is a good size and, with a thickness of 4mm, it offers sufficient cushioning, without compromising grip. It didn’t have that strong rubbery smell when we unrolled it, and cleaning was simple – just give it a wipe down with a damp cloth after each use. Thanks to the robust design, it's a bit heavier than some of the other mats in this round-up, but it’s the perfect companion for all your at-home yoga sessions.

Score: 79/100

Designed to support all forms of yoga – from hot to hatha – this natural rubber mat has a grippy top layer to prevent slipping and sliding during dynamic movements, while the cushioned support ensures optimum comfort during floor work. Om, indeed.

Rolling it out was effortless, and while it had a strong rubber smell on first use, this faded quickly. As it’s a heavier mat, it’s a little trickier to transport without a bag or strap; despite this, it’s easy to store and we reckon the durability, grip and range of unique colourways more than make up for it.

Score: 75/100

US brand Alo Yoga is a firm favourite among celebrities, including the likes of Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Lopez, so we had high hopes when its yoga mat arrived in our lab. Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint.

The luxe mat is ideal for seasoned yogis who know their vinyasa from their yin. Impressively, its moisture-wicking material gave our expert plenty of grip when wet, making it a smart buy for dynamic yoga sessions and high-intensity, extra sweaty workouts. The plush fabric also had our testers in raptures, saying it kept their spine, knees and elbows comfortable as they flowed from pose to pose, even on the most unforgiving floors.

Thanks to its extended length, it’s great for a variety of postures and practices, and taller yogis needn’t worry about hanging off the edges. The anti-odour finish means there won’t be any unpleasant smells, plus it’s super easy clean (there are detailed instructions on the Alo website).

It is on the heavier side, which makes it feel more durable, but it’s probably best suited to home workouts. If you do want to take it on your daily commute, Alo offers a sleek travel strap to make it easier.

Score: 73/100

If you’re after a thicker mat that offers ample cushioning for your spine and limbs, consider this no-nonsense option from Gaiam. Measuring 6mm thick, our tester liked the soft, spongy feel beneath their hands and feet and said it felt more supportive than many of the mats we tested.

It also performed well during high-impact workouts and can withstand sessions with shoes. You needn’t worry about getting the mat dirty as it’s a doddle to wipe clean, plus it’s wide enough to accommodate users of all sizes.

It wasn’t the grippiest of mats – we did slide around a little when sweaty – and we had to flatten the edges down a few times during exercise, but those were our only gripes. Overall, it’s a reliable buy.