You don’t need to be a Pilates princess to know we’re in the midst of a Pilates boom — and the cost of reformer classes can really add up. That said, mat Pilates is a way to bring your practice home (and for a lot less, thanks to online workouts). “Mr. Pilates intended his students to be able to take their practice outside of the studio,” says Bombshell Pilates founder and lead teacher Kelly Korn, referring to Pilates inventor Joseph Pilates. “He would work them and correct them in their sessions while at his NYC studio on Eighth Avenue so that they would remember enough to self-practice when he wasn’t around.” That’s why Korn, who has studios in Gramercy and Chelsea, says mat work is a significant part of a holistic Pilates practice, and “it’s the most portable piece, since it really requires no equipment, besides a mat.”
While you may already own a yoga mat — and there is some crossover between the two categories of mats — Pilates mats tend to be thicker (generally 6-mm. thick or more) and provide extra cushioning for your spine and joints. “When it comes to choosing a mat, I think clients should consider their bony landmarks and how sensitive those might be as well as using a mat that feels safe and won’t compromise their ability to focus on what they came to the mat for: movement,” says Tay Milburn, founder and lead instructor at Fringe Pilates in Flatbush. That means you’ll want to find a Pilates mat with some padding but not so much that it affects your stability. And while you’ll want a nonslip surface to help hold you in place, keep in mind that Pilates mats are generally smoother than yoga mats, which offer more grip for balancing poses. To help you find the right mat for your needs, I interviewed nine instructors, studio founders, and avid Pilates people about their favorites, including the ones they use in their own practices. Below you’ll find their recommendations for the best mats for Pilates, including stackable mats, extra-thick options, and some for more advanced exercises.
Updated on August 8, 2025
This guide has been updated from top to bottom with all new sources and picks.
Best under-$100 Pilates mats
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When it comes to an affordable price point, cushioning, and ground stickiness (a.k.a. nonslip) factors, Milburn says her favorite Pilates mat is from Gaiam. Her preference is the 6-mm. Gaiam mat, which offers medium-to-firm support and is made from lightweight PVC.
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Korn says the SPRI hanging exercise mats are the top choice for her studio’s larger mat classes, mainly for the three-eighths-inch thickness that’s cushy enough to support and protect your spine for rolling exercises. Korn notes that the SPRI hanging mat is very similar in appearance to the Balanced Body Ecowise mat, which we recommended in a previous version of this story: “I prefer the SPRI mat simply because the texture is not as sticky,” Korn told me. “While a thick mat is preferable for Pilates, a sticky mat can be a hindrance when attempting to perform the mat transitional exercises.” She also likes that the mat is hangable, which works well for a dedicated home gym (but you can also roll it up and put it away like you would a yoga mat). The mats are very durable, too: Korn says the ones in her studio “look hardly worse for wear after several years of usage in a professional setting.”
For an even more cushiony feel, certified Pilates instructor Dear Pilates in the Flatiron District, prefers the slightly thicker version that’s five-eighths inches in thickness. “I’ve used it personally for years and also purchased it for our studio — our clients love it,” Rim says. She notes that it’s incredibly durable, thick enough to support the spine and joints, and the reinforced grommets make it easy to hang and store. “It holds up beautifully even with regular, heavy use,” she adds.
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Breanna Mayes, director of sales and marketing at Pointe Studio, takes Pilates classes and works closely with instructors. Her mat of choice is this one from Stakt. She says the original version, which is 12-mm. thick, offers more support and structure than a traditional yoga mat. It makes a big difference during Pilates exercises, especially for moves that put pressure on your knees. “It’s durable, foldable, and gives just the right amount of lift where you need it most,” Mayes says. It also has the advantage of doubling as a block for added versatility outside your regular mat Pilates workouts, from elevated planks to using it as a step stool.
Best under-$200 Pilates mats
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Manduka PRO Yoga Mat 6mm
Kate Durand, founder and teacher at YO BK Hot Yoga + Pilates, says she loves Manduka’s 6-mm. Pro Mat because it’s durable and provides the right amount of support without feeling overly cushioned or heavy. “This mat is great for classical Pilates exercises performed on the stomach or back and absorbs shock for HIIT Pilates classes that include burpees and mountain climbers,” Durand says. “We’ve been using these mats at YO BK for a couple of years and are very happy. Our mats get a lot of use, and these have stood the test of time.” Just note: Durand describes the Manduka PRO Mat as grippy, which makes sense since it’s technically a yoga mat (multiple yoga instructors are also fans of this mat for its cushioning and density). The grippiness will be less necessary for mat Pilates but will come in handy if you want to use this mat for yoga, as well.
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Tiffany Lauren Mason, founder of Harlem Pilates, says they use the AIREX Corona 200 Mat, which is a hefty 15 mm. thick and has a high-quality feel thanks to the closed-cell foam. “The AIREX mat is flexible and provides optimal cushioning without compromising stability for Pilates exercises,” Mason says. With two length options (six or 6.5 feet) and a 39-inch width, the Corona 200 Mat is ideal for all kinds of people, including taller folks. Plus it’s easy to store, making it a practical choice for any Pilates enthusiast.
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Bala The Play Mat
For the past two years, Nancy Giftos, founder of the grip socks brand Sticky Be Socks, says her go-to mat for Pilates is Bala’s Play Mat, which “strikes the perfect balance between style, support, and performance.” With its 8-mm. thickness, it offers just the right amount of cushioning to protect her joints during core work and stretches without sacrificing stability. “I also love that it’s made with high-density, nontoxic materials that hold up to my daily workouts,” Giftos says. “When I take a class, I always make sure to wear my favorite pair of Sticky Be Socks because when paired with Bala’s nonslip surface, I know I’ll stay in place while crushing my planks and bridges.” When she’s not doing reformer Pilates, Sydney Dumler, founder of Forza Pilates in Nashville, loves the Bala Play Mat because it’s heavy and stays in place, even on the most slippery floors. “With how grippy the mat is, no towel is required,” Dumler says.
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The Stakt Mat Pro
Ritual Moves founder and certified Pilates instructor Kati Villavicencio says they use the Stakt Mat Pro at both her studios, which are located in Austin and Brooklyn. “It’s thick enough to support your spine but still light enough to carry around the city,” she told me. “It folds flat, which comes in clutch for fusion classes where we’re doing more somatic, expressive movement and need room to move,” Villavicencio says. They even packed the Stakt Mat Pro for their last retreat in Mexico. “It’s super-durable, easy to clean, and doesn’t get worn out or floppy like other mats I’ve tried,” she says.
Best splurge-worthy Pilates mats
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For serious practitioners, this premium mat is Rim’s higher-end favorite. It comes with a pair of upholstered moon boxes, removable dowel handles, and an attached foot strap — everything you need for a classical Pilates mat experience. “I love this mat for its sturdy, studio-quality feel, deep cushioning, and thoughtful design,” Rim says. For $50 more, a foldable version is also available if you need more flexibility while still elevating your at-home Pilates space.
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In a previous edition of this roundup, we recommended Gratz’s High Rigid Mat, which Korn points to as an excellent choice but one that’s less practical for smaller spaces and apartments. Instead, she prefers the Low Folding Mat, which she says is just as luxurious and also comes with handles, moon boxes, and a foot strap but has the added advantage of neatly folding up when not in use. “I live in a small Brooklyn apartment, and it’s easy to store underneath my living room couch,” Korn says. “And like other Gratz pieces, it will last a lifetime.” Gratz is a family-owned company and one of the original manufacturers of Pilates equipment. “All of their equipment is made to order and of the highest quality,” Korn says.
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