What Is Shore Hardness? A Simple Guide for Exercise Mat Buyers

When choosing an exercise mat, people often focus on factors like thickness, color, and price but forget another very crucial metric - hardness, which will directly affect how the exercise mat feels during the workout.

While thickness can be measured directly, but how can we assess the hardness performance of a mat? That's when we turn to something called Shore Hardness. If you've never heard of it, don't worry - this guide will explain what it is, how it's measured, the difference between thickness and hardness in reflecting mats' performance and help you to choose the right hardness for your workouts.

What Is Shore Hardness?

Shore hardness is a metric commonly used to measure the hardness of materials such as rubber, foam, and plastics. It works by testing the material resistance to external pressure, helping determine whether the material is relatively soft or hard, and how much force it can withstand.

This standard was invented by American engineer Albert F. Shore in the 1920s, which is why it's named Shore hardness. Shore hardness use different scales towards different types of materials (as listed below). In every scale, the higher the number, the harder the material; the lower the number, the softer it is. In the fitness mat area, the most commonly used scales are Shore A and Shore C, for yoga mats and exercise mats.

shore hardness scale

Shore Scale	Applicable Material Range	Hardness Value Range	Common Applications
Shore 00	Ultra-soft materials	0-100	Silicone gels, soft foam, gel insoles
Shore 0	Very soft materials	0-100	Denser soft foams, soft plastics
Shore A	Medium-soft materials	0-100	Rubber, yoga mats, general fitness mats, seals
Shore B	Between Shore A and Shore C	0-100	Harder rubber, soft plastics (less common)
Shore C	Medium-hard foam materials	0-100	High-density exercise mats, gym flooring
Shore D	Hard plastics and hard rubber	0-100	Hard plastic parts, gears, rollers
Shore E	Certain hard foams and plastics	0-100	Rigid foam, engineering plastics

How Shore Hardness Is Measured

Measuring hardness requires a specialized tool called shore hardness durometer, which consists of a spring and a probe. For different shore hardness scales you should use durometer with different shape probes.

During the measurement process, the durometer need to pressed vertically against the surface of the material, and the hardness value is determined based on how deeply the probe penetrates. The deeper the probe penetrates, the closer the value is to 0, indicating a softer material; conversely, if the probe does not penetrate at all, the hardness value is 100, indicating a very hard material.

Why Shore Hardness Matters for Exercise Mats

So how will the metric actually affects the performance of a mat. It can be concluded in the following important ways:

• Support: If a mat is too soft, thenyou will sink in, which makes balance and stability difficult. While too hard might be uncomfortable, especially during floor work.
• Shock Absorption: Hardness will affect the shock absorption of a mat. Find aright hardness will cushions your joints, protects your knees, wrists, and spine during impact-heavy exercises.
• Durability:Mats with high hardness can resist more wear and tear, prevent permanent dents, and better withstand the pressure of weights and equipment.
• Workout Experience: The ideal Shore Hardness improves both performance and comfort.Choosing the right hardness according to different sports can effectively improve the sports experience

That's why we should take Shore Hardness into consideration when choosing a fitness mat. A suitable hardness will help you get the right balance of support, protection, improve durability for your workouts and maximize your exercise experience

Thickness vs Shore Hardness: What's the Difference?

When choosing an exercise mat, some people often confuse the concepts of hardness and thickness. The key point is they don't know how these two factors affect a mat's performance. As a result, they offer use thickness to represent hardness, which is a common mistake.

Thickness

Thickness refers a mat's height. The metric directly influences the mat's cushioning and shock absorption ability. The thicker the mats, the better vibration absorption and floor protection it is, which makes them ideal for high-impact exercises like jumping and running. Usually, yoga mats' thickness ranges from 4mm-20mm; fitness mats range from 7mm-15mm; gym flooring will be more than 10mm+.

Hardness

Hardness, on the other hand, indicates a mat's resistance to pressure and wear. The higher the hardness, the less cushioning and elasticity the mat provides, making it better suited for supporting heavy weights or placing gym equipment. Usually soft exercise mats typically have a Shore A hardness between 25 and 45, while heavy-duty mats have a Shore C hardness between 70 and 85.

So find a better combination of thickness and hardness towards your actual need is important in considering buying exercise mats.

Find the Perfect Shore Hardness for Your Workout

As different workouts have different demands when it comes to cushioning, support, and stability, which is why choosing the right Shore hardness is essential. So when picking a mat, it's a good idea to consider your workout style, personal preferences, and where you'll be using it, to choose one that really fits your needs.

Recommended Shore Hardness by Workout Type

Here's a quick guide to help you match the right Shore hardness with your preferred type of training:

• Yoga & Stretching: The recommended hardness for yoga and daily stretching is Shore A hardness of 25-35. This level offers excellent cushioning, comfort for floor poses, and protects your joints without feeling too stiff.
• Bodyweight Exercises & HIIT: If you will do more intense exercise, then go for a medium hardness, around Shore A 35-45. It will have a better shock absorption and stability in dynamic movements and exercises like jumps or quick transitions.
• Strength Training with Weights: For heavy-duty strength work, select a mat with a Shore C hardness of 70-85. These mats provide high wear resistance, excellent support for heavy equipment, and minimize dents or compression marks.
• Multi-Use Home Gym Flooring: If your want to create a multipurpose workout area at home, a mat in the Shore C 65–80 range is a smart choice. It offers durability and versatility for both equipment usage and fitness routine.

Balance Shore Hardness and Thickness

After choosing the hardness, you should take thickness and hardness both in consideration to find a best experience for your workout.

For high hardness mats (Shore C 80+), a thickness of 10-20mm is recommended to prevent joint discomfort caused by excessive firmness. For medium hardness mats (Shore C 40-60), a thickness of 5-10mm is suggested to balance stability and portability.

Of course, the specific choice should still be adjusted according to individual needs. Below is a summary table for your reference.

Workout Type	Shore Hardness	Recommended Thickness
Yoga & Stretching	Shore A 25-35	4mm-10mm
Bodyweight Exercises & HIIT	Shore A 35-45	7mm-15mm
Strength Training with Weights	Shore C 70-85	10mm-20mm+
Multi-Use Home Gym Flooring	Shore C 65-80	10mm-20mm+

Conclusion:

After reading this article, here's a quick summary of key points about the application of Shore Hardness in choosing an exercise mat:

1. Shore Hardness is a measurement of a material ability to resist pressure - the higher the metric, the harder the material.

2. Thickness and hardness are two different concepts: thickness refers cushioning and shock absorption ability, while hardness determines durability and pressure resistance.

3. You should choose the mat's hardness based on your workout type:

• Yoga: Shore A hardness of 25-35 is recommended.
• Strength training with weights: Shore C hardness of 70-85 is recommended.
• Multi-purpose home gym areas: Shore C hardness of 65-80 is recommended for a balanced mix of cushioning and support

4. Finding a perfect combination of thickness and hardness in choosing a mat will significantly improve your workout comfort, safety, and overall experience.