Best Pilates Mats (2026): Cushioned, Foldable and Budget Picks

Balanced Body is one of the biggest names in Pilates equipment, and the EcoWise is its main Pilates mat. The brand says it strikes "a balance of cushioning with floor 'feel'," and describes a "proprietary grippy textured surface" that's easy to clean and contains "no latex, PVC, or chloride."

• Size: 72 x 23 x 3/8 in (183 x 58 x 1 cm), per Balanced Body
• Colors: purple and black
• Studio version: a hanging mat with grommets comes in the same size

Yahoo Health named it Best Cushioned and found it "especially supportive for rolling moves, side-lying leg work, and supine spine articulation." Its testers measured it at about ½ inch, a bit thicker than the 3/8 inch Balanced Body lists.

Their main con: "When wet, the surface can get slick, so it's not the best pick for hot or sweaty workouts." They also noted limited portability and a narrower width.

Balanced Body's page doesn't list the weight or the exact foam type, so we couldn't confirm either.

ProsourceFit's extra-thick mat is an inexpensive way to get real padding. It's made of high-density NBR foam that the brand calls "moisture-resistant," and it comes with a carrying sling.

• Size: 71 x 24 in
• Thickness and weight: ½ in (13 mm, 2.55 lb) or 1 in (25 mm, 4.5 lb), per ProsourceFit
• Warranty: the brand's page mentions a lifetime warranty, but the terms aren't shown on the product page

Yahoo Health named it Best Budget. Fitness expert Erica Walters told Yahoo it supports "her back and hips, making it perfect for yoga and Pilates." The trade-offs: the cushioning is "harder to use" for burpees and similar moves, and the grip "isn't the best," so the mat is "more inclined to move around on the floor." Yahoo's testers also said the ½ inch version "sometimes felt more like a pool floaty than a steady exercise mat."

Amazon has several ProsourceFit listings, and some show conflicting thicknesses. Check that you're buying the ½ inch or 1 inch version you want.

If you want the most padding, the Retrospec Solana gives you a full inch. NBC Select called it its top exercise-mat pick for Pilates in an older (January 2024) Pilates equipment guide.

• Size: 72 x 24 x 1 in
• Material: high-density foam with a "ribbed, slip-resistant surface," per Retrospec
• Extras: carrying strap and 13 colors

Retrospec lists the mat for "mat Pilates." Its page gives the weight as 1,814 g (about 4 lb), but some retail listings say 2.2 lb, so treat the weight as unconfirmed. Keep in mind that 1 inch is thicker than either named Pilates source suggests (about ½ inch from Pilates Anytime, about ¾ inch from a Club Pilates instructor). Pilates Anytime's mat guide warns that much thicker mats can make you feel like you're sinking.

The Stakt Mat folds instead of rolling. Flat, it's 69 x 24 inches. Folded, it's a 12 x 24 x 3 inch block that tucks into a closet or under a bed. Stakt recommends it for "yoga, sculpt, pilates, HIIT and more" and says the folded mat doubles as a step, block or meditation seat.

• Thickness: 12 mm
• Weight: about 3 lb, per Stakt
• Material: EVA foam blend with a ribbed underside

What reviewers said:

• NBC Select (Zoe Malin, January 2025, about 18 months of near-daily use): praised the foldable panels, the "thick, supportive" feel and easy storage. Cons: scuffs from sneakers and moisture pooling, so it's not ideal for heated workouts.
• Yahoo Health: named it Most Versatile Folding, but said it's "not as grippy as some mats" and its light weight means it can move during active exercises.
• Women's Health: a contributor called it "a little cumbersome to transport."

A Stakt Mat Pro with a textured top layer for grip also exists. We couldn't confirm warranty terms on Stakt's product page.

Merrithew makes STOTT PILATES equipment, and at 15 mm its Deluxe mat is the thickest Pilates-brand mat among our main picks. Merrithew says its "durable, cushion construction is designed to protect your spine and soften hard surfaces."

• Size: 72 x 24 x 0.6 in (183 x 61 cm x 15 mm)
• Weight: 3.5 lb
• Material: closed-cell foam that rolls up
• Extras: graphite or midnight blue, a downloadable exercise guide, and a 30-day return policy for unused products

These are all Merrithew's specs. We didn't find a review from a major outlet, so this pick rests on published specs only. Merrithew also sells a larger Deluxe Grommet Mat for studios.

If you carry your mat to a studio, weight matters. Merrithew's Pilates Express Mat weighs 1.8 lb (810 g), the lightest published weight on this list. Built-in Velcro straps give it what Merrithew calls "roll-and-go portability."

• Size: 72 x 24 x 0.4 in (10 mm), per Merrithew
• Material: NBR closed-cell foam, "dual textured" with ribbed and flat sides
• Brand description: "super-cushy, lightweight"

As with the Deluxe, we found no major-outlet review, so this pick is based on Merrithew's specs. Amazon listings may show slightly different dimensions than the brand page, so check the listing before you buy.

If you split your time between yoga and Pilates, a dense 6 mm mat is a firmer, grippier middle ground. The Manduka PRO is high-density, closed-cell PVC that the brand says offers "floor-like stability," backed by a lifetime guarantee (see Manduka's terms for what's covered).

• Sizes: 71 x 26 in standard (7.5 lb) and 85 x 26 in long (9.5 lb), per Manduka
• Thickness: 6 mm

Garage Gym Reviews named it Best for Yoga and describes it as "ideal for yoga, pilates, and bodyweight training." Its pros: two lengths, many colors and the lifetime warranty. Its cons: it's expensive and needs a break-in period. Pilates Anytime's mat guide also includes the Manduka PRO.

New PRO mats can feel slick at first. Manduka says this "resolves on its own with use." It no longer recommends salt scrubbing and suggests regular use and wiping the mat down after each session instead.