guides

Non-Slip Yoga Mats: What Grip Actually Depends On

By Chaz Bagri6 November 20268 min read

A grandfather and a young boy crawl side by side across a polished wooden floor.

Choose a non slip yoga mat by checking the surface, floor and care instructions. A practical guide to grip, carpet and fixing a slippery mat.

What should a non-slip mat actually do?

Choose a non slip yoga mat that suits your floor and the way you'll use it. Check the top surface, the underside and the cleaning instructions: hands sliding across a mat and a mat sliding across the room need different answers. Thickness and a 'grippy' label alone aren't enough to make that choice.

Before buying twice, narrow it down:

Surface: what does the maker say about dry hands and sweaty practice?
Base: which floors is it intended for?
Care: can you follow the cleaning and drying instructions?
Space: will it fit where you actually want to practise?

In this guide: surface grip, carpet, cleaning, a comparison table and when to choose something else. For the wider buying checklist, see our guide to choosing a first mat.

Where is the slipping happening?

Start by separating movement on top from movement underneath. If your palms travel but the mat stays put, investigate the top. If the whole mat shifts, look underneath and at the floor. Don't judge both problems by how sticky the surface feels in your hand.

Grip is friction stopping surfaces sliding past each other. The Institute of Physics explains that water and oil can reduce friction. For a mat, that means paying attention to what's between your hands and the surface, as well as what's underneath.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance on contamination identifies water, oil and dust as slip hazards on smooth floors. That's workplace guidance, but it's a useful reason to inspect the floor beneath a mat, too.

For the top, ask about intended use. If your hands start sliding when sweaty, you need an answer about damp conditions, not another photograph of someone sitting on the mat.

For the base, ask whether the maker recommends it for your flooring. A material name doesn't answer that question.

On a listing, look for clear photographs of both faces, a description of the surface texture and floor-specific advice. If those details are missing, ask before ordering.

Does carpet change what you should buy?

On carpet, check whether the whole setup stays flat before shopping for extra surface grip. Notice whether the mat moves across the carpet, folds into a ridge or sinks with the pile underneath. Those observations give you something useful to ask the seller about.

Softness matters separately from slipping. East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust uses standing on a cushion to make a balance exercise harder. Our practical takeaway is to consider a firmer location if a mat over deep carpet feels unsteady.

Don't choose extra thickness solely to solve that problem. Look at the mat and floor together, and read our guide to practising on carpet for the setup questions.

Measure the clear floor space, too. A mat's dimensions are useful only if the whole footprint fits where you plan to put it.

On a listing, check thickness and the recommended floor type separately. 'Extra thick' doesn't answer the carpet question.

Will the cleaning routine work for you?

Choose a mat with clear care instructions, including what to clean it with and how to dry it. A quick wipe is only useful if you can also leave the mat out to dry. Check that before buying for a busy household or shared space.

For the floor, HSE warns that even a thin film of water can create a slip risk on a smooth surface. Let it dry fully before laying out the mat.

For the mat, follow its own instructions. Don't improvise with salt scrubs, abrasive pads, oils or kitchen sprays unless the maker explicitly recommends them. A tip for a different product isn't your mat's care label.

If it's new, ask whether a first clean is recommended. Don't assume there is a universal treatment or break-in time.

On a listing, look for an actual cleaning method rather than just 'easy to clean'. Our mat-cleaning guide explains how to start with the care instructions.

How should you compare the details?

Compare the mat you're considering with the adult mat you might already be borrowing. Check the same details for each, rather than assuming that a new purchase answers the grip question. Here are Yogi-Me's specifications alongside the information worth looking for on any listing.

Material, What to look for: Named material and photographs of both faces; What Yogi-Me offers: Non-toxic, PVC-free TPE, from our supplier's specification
Thickness, What to look for: A stated measurement, considered alongside your floor; What Yogi-Me offers: 6 mm
Footprint, What to look for: Dimensions that fit your available space; What Yogi-Me offers: 183 x 61 cm, full length so adults can use it too
Surface layout, What to look for: Plain or illustrated, according to preference; What Yogi-Me offers: 15 numbered poses laser-engraved into the surface
Care, What to look for: A specific cleaning and drying method; What Yogi-Me offers: Damp cloth and mild soap, then air-dry flat

None of those measurements is a grip score. Keep your questions about the floor and damp use separate.

What can you fix before replacing the mat?

Before ordering another mat, note what moves and when it happens. Work through the floor, the mat and the maker's instructions in that order. The aim is to give yourself a clear description of the problem, rather than choosing a replacement with the same unanswered questions.

Inspect underneath: check for dirt or moisture on the floor and the base.
Check the setup: follow the maker's instructions about which face goes upwards.
Clean as directed: let everything dry before using it again, including the floor beneath it.
Look at the edges: curled mat edges are a trip hazard identified in HSE's hazard checklist. Resolve the curl before continuing.

If slipping persists, stop using that setup and contact the seller. For example, 'the whole mat shifts on dry laminate' is a more useful description than 'not grippy'. Don't buy a second mat solely to cover up the first problem.

Stay with your child during practice, as the NHS advises for children's exercise. If their balance in everyday play concerns you too, speak to your GP or health visitor.

Where does Yogi-Me fit into that choice?

Yogi-Me makes sense when you're choosing by pose layout as well as mat specifications. The 15 numbered poses are laser-engraved into the surface for ages 3 to 8. Start with whether your child wants those pictures; choosing the mat still means considering the floor you'll use.

Sun Salutation is the more active, standing-focused sequence. It starts with mouse and finishes with eagle, tree and dancer. Freedom Flow is the calmer sequence, mostly on the floor, starting with flower and finishing with happy baby, rabbit and waterfall.

The choice is about the kind of sequence your child would like to follow. Neither design name tells you how the mat will behave in your room.

The full length means an adult can use it too. That may suit a family sharing a mat, provided the dimensions work in the space.

You can compare the standing and floor-based designs.

When should you look elsewhere or ask for advice?

Choose something else if you want a plain surface or a mat for a child under 3. For hot yoga or gymnastics, ask the maker or instructor whether the equipment suits the activity. A full-length mat can be used by adults, but length doesn't answer questions about a sweaty class or a setting's cleaning requirements.

Under 3: the pose guide is aimed at ages 3 to 8.
Tumbling or gymnastics: choose equipment specified for that activity by the instructor.
Hot yoga or sweaty adult classes: look for explicit guidance on damp-use performance.
A plain mat: ours has engraved poses.
Frequent commercial cleaning: choose a mat whose care instructions meet your setting's required routine.

Once you've checked your floor and care needs, choose a Yogi-Me pose design for home practice. Each mat is £34.99 with free UK delivery.

Frequently asked questions

Which yoga mat is best for preventing slipping?

Choose for the floor and conditions where you'll practise. HSE's slip guidance considers the floor, its cleanliness and footwear together, which is why a 'non-slip' label alone isn't enough for our buying checklist. Ask the seller about the underside, intended surfaces and damp use.

Why is my new yoga mat slippery?

Newness alone doesn't explain the slipping. Check whether the floor is damp or dusty, whether the correct side faces up and whether the maker recommends cleaning before first use. Follow those instructions, then contact the seller if it still moves. Don't accept an unspecified break-in period as the whole answer.

How do I make a yoga mat less slippery?

Follow the maker's cleaning instructions and check the floor underneath as well as the top. For Yogi-Me, use a damp cloth and mild soap, then air-dry flat. Avoid homemade grip treatments. If slipping continues, tell the seller exactly which surface moves and where you're using it, rather than trying progressively stronger cleaners.

Can I use a non-slip yoga mat on carpet?

Ask whether the maker recommends it for your carpet, and describe the pile rather than just saying 'carpet'. Include whether you're doing standing poses or mostly sitting and lying down. If you already own a mat, note any bunching or movement before asking about a replacement.

Sources

Shop the mats →