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A guide to gym flooring: exploring the different types and their benefits

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Gym flooring is one of the most important, and often underestimated, elements of any fitness space. From safety and acoustics to aesthetics and durability, the right flooring choice can improve the user experience, protect equipment and extend the lifespan of your facility.

In this guide, motive8 explores the different types of gym flooring, their benefits, cost considerations, and where each type works best within a gym or fitness space.

WHY GYM FLOORING MATTERS

The correct gym flooring supports:

  • user safety – reducing slip risk and impact injuries
  • equipment protection – absorbing shock and distributing weight
  • noise reduction – essential in residential and mixed-use environments
  • aesthetics & brand identity – reinforcing the look and feel of the space
  • longevity & maintenance – lowering long-term operational costs

Selecting the wrong flooring can lead to premature wear, increased injury risk, noise complaints and costly replacements.

TYPES OF GYM FLOORING

Below we look at the different types of gym flooring available, explain the benefits, different formats and where they should be positioned within a gym.

Rubber Flooring

Best for: free weights areas, strength zones, functional training spaces
Rubber flooring is the most common choice in gyms due to its durability and shock-absorbing properties.

Benefits:

  • excellent impact absorption
  • slip-resistant, even when wet
  • protects subfloors from heavy equipment
  • durable and easy to maintain

Typical formats:

  • rubber tiles
  • interlocking mats
  • rolled rubber flooring

Costs from: £30 per m² (installed, depending on thickness and quality)

Positioning in the gym:

  • free weights areasfree weights areas
  • power racks and lifting platforms
  • functional and HIIT zones

Luxury vinyl tile

Best for: cardio areas, studios, reception and circulation spaces

Luxury vinyl tiles combine durability with a premium aesthetic, making it ideal for gyms where design is as important as performance.

Benefits:

  • stylish, hotel-quality finish
  • easy to clean and maintain
  • good acoustic performance when installed with underlay
  • more forgiving underfoot than hard tiles

Costs from: £35 per m²

Positioning in the gym:

  • cardio zones (treadmills, bikes, cross trainers)
  • stretch areas
  • boutique studio spaces
  • entrance and waiting areas

Artificial Turf

Best for: sled tracks, functional training, performance zones
Artificial turf creates a high-impact visual statement and supports athletic-style training.

Benefits:

  • highly durable
  • ideal for sled pushes and agility drills
  • adds texture and visual zoning
  • can be branded with logos or markings

Cost from: £30 per m²

Positioning in the gym:

  • functional training areas
  • sprint lanes and sled tracks
  • performance-focused zones

Wood & engineered wood flooring:

Best for: Pilates, yoga, barre, dance studios, stretch and wellness spaces

Wood and engineered wood flooring is commonly used in group exercise studios and premium fitness environments, offering a warm, and natural look.

Benefits:

  • premium, high-end appearance
  • smooth yet supportive surface for barefoot or studio-based training
  • enhances acoustics in calm, low-impact environments
  • strong design alignment with residential and hospitality settings

Engineered vs solid Wood:

  • engineered wood is preferred in gyms due to greater stability and resistance to temperature and humidity changes
  • often installed with a shock-absorbing subfloor for comfort and performance

Costs from: £60 per m² (depending on wood type, subfloor system and finish)

Positioning in the gym:

  • Yoga, Pilates and barre studios
  • Dance and movement-based class spaces
  • Stretch and recovery zones within premium gyms

Important considerations: wood flooring is not suitable for free weights or heavy and requires controlled humidity and often requires professional maintenance as it must meet slip-resistance and fire-rating standards.

Sports vinyl & studio flooring

Best for: group exercise studios, dance, barre, yoga

Designed specifically for movement-based classes, studio flooring offers grip without restricting movement.

Benefits:

  • slip-resistant but smooth for dynamic movement
  • comfortable for barefoot and low-impact training
  • professional studio appearance

Cost from: £40  per m²

Positioning in the gym:

  • group exercise studios
  • dance, barre and yoga spaces

SAFETY IN GYM FLOORING

When selecting flooring, safety considerations should always come first:

  • slip resistance: especially important in high-sweat areas
  • shock absorption: reduces joint impact and injury risk
  • fire ratings: essential for commercial and residential compliance
  • accessibility: smooth transitions between flooring types to avoid trip hazards

At motive8, we ensure all flooring selections meet UK safety standards and are appropriate for the intended use of each space.

AESTHETICS & ZONE FLOORING

Flooring plays a key role in defining zones within a gym without the need for physical barriers. Colour, texture, and material changes can:

  • create clear workout zones
  • improve wayfinding
  • reinforce brand identity
  • enhance the overall design

In residential and hotel gyms, a more premium aestheticis often preferred, combining wood, rubber and luxury vinyl tiles for a softer, premium feel.

COST PLANNING

While initial costs are important, flooring should be viewed as along-term investment.

Factors to consider include:

  • expected footfall
  • equipment weight and usage
  • cleaning and maintenance requirements
  • replacement cycles

Higher-quality flooring often delivers better value over time through reduced.

HOW MOTIVE8 APPROACHES GYM FLOORING DESIGN

At motive8, flooring is never an afterthought. We collaborate closely with:

  • our in-house gym design and operations teams
  • trusted flooring experts, manufacturers and installers
  • equipment partners to ensure compatibility

This holistic approach ensures flooring works seamlessly with equipment layouts, user flow, acoustics, and overall gym design.

motive8 specialises in the design, supply, and management of fitness and wellness facilities across residential, commercial, and corporate sectors. From flooring specification and equipment installation to full gym fit-out and ongoing gym and spa management and maintenance.

To discuss your next gym design project, please contact our team at info@m8group.co.uk or call today on 020 8481 9700.

This guide was created in collaboration with motive8’s in-house gym design consultants, alongside industry-leading flooring and equipment partners, drawing on their experience across hundreds of fitness and wellness facilities.

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Louise Rogers

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Her responsibilities span HR, recruitment, team development, and employee engagement. Ensuring every team member feels supported, valued, and set up for success. Louise also champions compliance and best practices in health and safety, helping maintain high standards across all locations.

With a passion for people, Louise works closely with site teams to build inclusive, motivated, and high-performing environments. She also leads on resident engagement, collaborating with teams to deliver meaningful wellness experiences that foster community and connection.

Outside of work, Louise is a dedicated Crystal Palace supporter and enjoys attending matches with her three children, sharing her love of football and quality family time.

Victor Adegbesan

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Victor was welcomed into the logistics and gym install team team in 2023.

New to gym installation and maintenance, Victor is extensively experienced in the involved applications via previous positions, interests and hobbies.

With a long standing passion for fitness and discipline, Victor has been embedded within the gym scene for many years and was the primary attraction to his current position.

In his free time he enjoys staying fit and healthy, and spending time with his family and friends.

Lily Lamthong

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Lily joined the Gym & Spa design team in 2023. She is an architecture graduate with years of experience in architectural practice, now transferring her architectural skills into her role at motive8.

With her love for the gym and all things design, she provides creative and administrative support to the design team. This includes tasks such as creating 3D visualisations, 2D design drawings and quotes.

In her free time she enjoys cooking, travelling and weight training. She also volunteers her time to the Lao Association in the UK. 

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In her free time she enjoys cooking, travelling and weight training. She also volunteers her time to the Lao Association inn the UK.

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In 2020, he joined motive8 as a Gym & Spa Manager and was soon promoted to Area Manager, where he continues to lead with passion, precision, and purpose.

Adrian believes deeply in the power of human connection and emotional intelligence, consistently infusing creativity and empathy into his work to foster more engaged, dynamic teams and environments.

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Warren started his career as an Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration engineer servicing a wide range of commercial and industrial systems. He has over 20 years’ experience in the FM industry working for major players across the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. With his technical and hands-on experience, Warren has always been happy to roll his sleeves up and get involved with works on sites when needed. In Warren’s spare time he enjoys DIY, quizzing and country walks. He is also involved with helping at his local Irish club organising charity fundraising nights and other events.

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Her greatest piece of advice is simply “consistency…this will help you achieve your goals for the long term.”

Kate Halsall

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Kate is an enthusiastic personal trainer, and qualified biomechanics coach, who specialises in posture and back care. She has worked in the industry since 2009, and her other specialisms include weight/fat loss, group exercise and working with specialist populations.

On top of that, Kate loves working with groups of pregnant ladies as she is also pre and post-natal qualified! Exercise is a real passion of hers, and she can often be found riding her bike, going to fitness weekends, walking in the lake district – and she’s recently started participating in cycling sportives.

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Sarah Humphreys

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Josh Remedios

Gym & Spa Area Manager

Josh has worked for motive8 since 2013 after graduating from University of Portsmouth. He has worked his way up through the gym and spa department from Spa Operative, to Supervisor, Manager and now Area Manager. Josh works with the managers he oversees to provide facilities residents can enjoy as an extension to their homes as well as working closely with the estate management companies to ensure the standards at all sites remain high.

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Ashley Wright

Head of Gym & Spa Management

Ashley Wright is the Head of Gym & Spa Management at motive8. She is a leading industry expert in gym and spa management, working with gym and spa facilities all over the UK.

Ashley joined motive8 in 2019, initially as Gym & Spa Area Manager before being promoted into her current role. Ashley’s background encompasses Personal Training, working for prestigious brands such as Nuffield Health and Digme Fitness; as well as service management.

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Sally is passionate about gym and spa design and takes pride in each individual project, whether that be residential, corporate, commercial or within the hotel market. She consults, designs layouts and provides product advice on schemes nationwide with a range of developers, designers, project managers and private clients.

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Kim Mead

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Kim has worked alongside Nick for the past 11 years and transforms his ideas & designs into 3D visuals and 2D floor layouts via CAD & Visio in line with the architect’s requirements. She brings together all project documentation including equipment specifications, quotes & project drawings. Once finalised and agreed, Kim procures all the required equipment.

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Monika’s skills include accounting, IT and of course the backbone of all busy administration roles, multi-tasking!

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Nisha Hansewraj

Accountant

Nisha graduated from university with a BA Hons in Accounting and Finance. Since then, she has gained significant experience and knowledge in all aspects of accounting and finance. She has joined our accounts team and is responsible for managing our books and preparing relevant financial reports for the business. She is very productive in challenging roles and as a self-motivated and meticulous person is willing to learn new skills and develop existing knowledge.

Outside of work, Nisha enjoys spending time with her family and exploring nature, especially taking scenic countryside walks. Cooking and baking is another of Nisha’s passions. 

Sheena Sudera

Office Manager & HR Coordinator

Sheena joined the motive8 team in 2024, with over 15 years’ experience as a PA, her position is essential to the smooth running of the office. From managing office operations to supporting the heads of departments, Sheena’s role is to provide administrative support and develop relationships across all departments within the company.

Away from motive8, Sheena is a keen runner and qualified personal trainer, championing women in supporting them with their physical and mental health.

Rob Clarke

DIRECTOR

Rob has worked in the leisure industry for nearly 20 years and brings with him a wealth of experience from the commercial leisure sector. He has provided consultancy to the majority of the country’s top developers, architects and property management companies, and is widely considered as one of the leading experts in residential leisure facilities.

Rob has been with motive8 for nearly seven years, having previously held a long-term position at The Hogarth Group’s The Park Club as Facilities Manager and Health & Safety Manager, before transferring to The Weybridge Health Club & Spa as Operations Manager. At motive8, Rob has been a key member of the team as a Gym & Spa Consultant, Pool & Spa Maintenance Manager, and latterly, Head of Operations, before moving onto the company’s board of directors in 2020. 

Rob’s key responsibilities at motive8 involve business development; overseeing the maintenance and management departments; and consulting on a variety of client projects. A values-driven professional, 2021 saw Rob work with the motive8 team to produce a series of social initiatives including the Empowering Performance ambassador programme, supporting athletes to reach their goals; carbon offsetting with Make It Wild; and creating a Wellbeing Committee for employees.

Richard Moon

DIRECTOR

Richard is a leading industry expert in gym and spa maintenance and has been a Director and a co-owner of motive8 since 2016. He was responsible for setting up the maintenance department 15 years ago, starting with just one maintenance contract, to now, over 250 and has supported across multiple different roles throughout the company over this period.

Richard’s key responsibility at motive8 is to head up the maintenance division, which provide service and maintenance contracts for all motive8 equipped facilities to ensure longevity and value for the client. The maintenance department currently services in excess of 250 sites across the UK. Richard and his team work with the client and their onsite teams to provide H&S best practice, daily maintenance checks and aftercare packages.

Richard enjoys working at motive8 and within the leisure industry. Internally, he enjoys the people he works with and being part of a team. Externally, he finds it fulfilling to provide a service to his clients that makes him happy: “I am in a fortunate position that the decisions I make have an impact”.

Sarah Cleland-Smith

DIRECTOR

Sarah has worked in the fitness industry for 17 years and is a co-owner of motive8. She has worked across all areas of the business, predominantly the day to day operations of the Gym and Spa facilities we currently manage on behalf of our clients. She has a key understanding of how design must meet operational requirements, ensuring the client and end user receive the best possible service and ongoing running costs are considered in the design. Her current focus is project management and financials.

Jenny Cromack

DIRECTOR

Jenny is a leading expert in personal training and service delivery, with over 20 years’ experience in the gym and leisure industry.  

A driving force within motive8, Jenny set up motive8 North alongside motive8 Founding Director, Nick Sadler, in 2011, before merging with the wider motive8 brand in 2018.

A key facet of Jenny’s role is to run the motive8 Personal Training studio in Leeds. With extensive experience as a Personal Trainer, Jenny leads motive8’s inductions; working across a range of motive8’s portfolio including unmanned sites and placing a focus on first rate, bespoke service delivery as a key priority.

Jenny has also been instrumental in the development of motive8’s flagship commercial gym in York, Supersonic Fitness, which opened in 2018; as well as working with developers to enhance the functionality of motive8’s own booking system, which is used in both unmanned and manned facilities to manage classes and gym attendance to offer an affordable and effective solution for clients. Jenny brings an informed, progressive approach to business development and innovation for motive8, strengthened by her broad on the ground experience.

Before becoming a Director at motive8 Jenny owned and ran a personal training company for nearly four years, and has previously held positions as Health Club & Spa Manager, working within the Radisson Edwardian for Fitness Express, and Assistant Gym Manager for corporate law firm, Addleshaw Goddard.

A keen duathlete and triathlete who has represented Great Britain for her age group, outside of work Jenny loves spending time with family and friends, alongside her much-loved sports of cycling, swimming and running.

Nick Sadler

Managing Director

Nick Sadler is the Founding Director of motive8 and has worked in the industry for 18 years. He has worked as the lead Gym and Spa consultant on projects across all sectors on a number of prestigious schemes with developers, architects, interior design agencies and managing agents. His expertise and consultancy on projects have ensured that the original design concepts are always met or exceeded whilst maintaining the future operational efficiency of the facility.
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