11 Best Yoga Mats for Bad Knees to Protect Your Joints

Buy from Amazon, starting at $16.98

The yoga accessory experts over at Gaiam designed this yoga mat to be nearly 1/2-inch thick, but still roll up effortlessly for transportation. Not only will it fit nearly any budget with its less than $20 price tag, it also comes in nine great colors to coordinate with the rest of your workout accessories. Best of all, it’s non-toxic, and includes a mat-carrying strap.

One buyer with arthritis praised this “great” mat for its cushioning, while another wrote, “There is a lot of support given by this mat” and “my knees thank me for it.”

Buy from Amazon, starting at $42.49

If you’ve been avoiding yoga due to fears of slipping and sliding on hard surfaces, we don’t blame you! But fear not — this extra-thick yoga mat by JELS is equipped with a unique suction cup grip design, so you can rest assured your exercise surface will stay put, no matter how active your flow gets. We also love its sturdy and durable anti-tear design, which will make this mat last for years, as well as its cushy thickness to offer some relief to your knees and joints.

One fan of this mat raved that it’s “comfy, durable, and most of all — it’s not slippery.” She went on to say that, “No matter how much I’m moving or sweating, I do not slip,” and that “It’s saving my joints, too, because it saves me from the impact of hard surfaces.”

Buy from Amazon, starting at $32.60

If your knees are beyond the point of a few aches and pains and the thought of just kneeling down makes you wince, try this tri-fold exercise mat from ProSource. With its durable foam interior, it’s by far the thickest workout mat on our list, boasting a cushy 1.5 inches. It doesn’t roll up like a conventional yoga mat, folding up into a suitcase-like square instead. There are also convenient carry handles for easy transport. 

Buy from Amazon, starting at $24.60

In addition to being especially great for joints, thanks to its one-inch thick, high-density foam padding and its double-sided non-slip tread, we love the awesome color selection that this BalanceFrom GoCloud mat affords. It’s also moisture-resistant (so long, sweaty mats!) and comes with a convenient carrying strap, as well as a two-year warranty.

“Wow, it really helps my knees,” gushed one happy buyer, who also said, “Apart from being double or nearly triple the size (rolled up) of a regular mat, it works great… Anything to help my knees and get me going to yoga is a good thing.” 

Buy from Amazon, starting at $19.49

Another contender for the best cheap yoga mat would be BalanceFrom’s GoYoga mat. This high-density, anti-tear yoga mat is roughly 1/2-inch thick, so you’ll be able to get into your favorite yoga poses without having to worry about your painful joints. It also has double-sided non-slip surfaces, which are perfect for sweatier hot yoga or Bikram. But don’t take it from us: This No. 1 bestseller has more than 50,000 five-star ratings on Amazon alone!

One happy shopper said that thinner yoga mats “were not working, and any pose requiring me to be on my knees was extremely painful, even with the mats doubled up.” This mat, however, was “perfect,” and “thick enough to pad my knees on a hardwood floor, with the exact right ‘give.‘” 

Buy from Amazon, starting at $29.15

With a non-slip surface for reinforced stability, Retrospec’s one-inch thick yoga mat is a great choice for those with sensitive joints. Made from non-toxic, soft-but-thick foam, it’ll make you forget that you’re practicing on a hard floor. It’s incredibly durable and easy to clean, and best of all, it comes in pretty much any color you can imagine.

One happy Amazon reviewer said, “With this thick, dense mat, you can ignore your pressure points and concentrate on your exercise.”

Buy from Amazon, starting at $16

This AmazonBasics mat, which comes in seven colors, is 1/2-inch thick to provide gentle support for all your yoga moves. It’s also shock-absorbing to take away some of the pressure on your joints, and comes with a convenient carrying strap for portability. Another helpful feature is the textured foam surface, which ensures you won’t slip and slide your way out of your downward dog. 

Sasha, a happy user, appreciates its “great cushion for landing, which is soft on the feet and knees” as well as “the extra padding when doing yoga poses like cat/cow, because otherwise my hardwood floors really hurt my knees.” She also says it has “good grip and doesn’t move around or slip, even when barefoot.”

Buy from Amazon, starting at $19.99

People are loving Sivan Health and Fitness’ ultra-thick yoga mat — it’s got over 6,000 five-star reviews!  So what makes it so special? For starters, it’s made with 1/2-inch memory foam that’s specially designed to protect the knees and joints. One side has a non-slip ribbed surface to grip the floor and stay in place, and the other is a smooth, easy-to-clean, slip-free surface for you to safely exercise on. It also has a carrying strap. 

One buyer with “terrible back and knee pain” raved that this mat has “the perfect amount of thickness and comfort” and that it’s also great for “being rolled up on one end to sit on (like a pillow) for forward folds if you have painfully tight hamstrings, like I do.”

Buy from Amazon, $32.99 (originally $34.99)

HemingWeigh’s 1-inch thick foam exercise mat is Amazon’s Choice for “best extra thick yoga mat,” and we’re not surprised in the least. It’s a deluxe, high-quality, durable pick that’s built to last. Despite its density, it’s still lightweight enough to carry around with ease (a self-integrated strapping system is included), and its non-slip properties will keep you safe and secure as you work out.

One satisfied customer said this mat is “TRULY extra thick,” and that “there was so much cushion, and it was such a relief not feeling the wood ground as I stretched.” She also called it “extremely high quality for the price” and said she “could seriously gush about this exercise mat all day.” In addition, she appreciates that it’s “extremely compact and lightweight despite being so much thicker.”

Buy from Amazon, $39.99

You’d be forgiven for falling asleep in your Shavasana pose on this super comfortable yoga mat. The aptly named “yoga cloud” is made from high-density, 1-inch cushioned foam, and is Amazon’s choice product for “very thick yoga mat.” Its gripping ridges make sure the mat doesn’t slip and slide, and it’s available in black, blue, pink, and red.

One satisfied customer, who called this mat “AMAZING,” said she used to experience “back pain and knee pain when doing poses that involved being on the floor.” However, since she started using this mat, “This is no longer a problem,” and she loves how “squishy and wonderful it is.”

Buy from Walmart, starting at $19.98

The right yoga mat can help alleviate pressure from joints, like your knees and elbows, which is why we like this impact-absorbing mat by Crown Sporting Goods. Its 3/4-inch thickness provides a cushiony yet stable surface for practicing yoga, pilates, stretching, or any other floor-based activity, and the ridged, moisture-resistant surface offers a good grip for sweaty hands. This mat also features a non-slip bottom to keep you from sliding all around, and the four color options include red, black, pink, and blue.

One happy shopper said this mat was “sooo comfortable,” she even used it on concrete and “was able to kneel on the mat, lay on my back and stomach” without feeling a thing!

Buy from Amazon, $31.75

Yoga gel pads are popular in the yoga world for those with weak wrists that continually give way, but they’re incredibly useful for sore knees, too. They ease the tension and pressure away from the joint and provide cushioned support to relieve pain. These come in a set of two, and are incredibly compact, taking up very little space in your yoga bag. What’s not to love? 

Buy from Amazon, $34.99 (originally $39.99)

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For anyone who has suffered a knee injury, or perhaps had an operation, a thick yoga mat alone just may not suffice. This 3-inch thick knee pad with memory foam can provide the protection you need, keeping your joints nice and cushioned when you’re in a kneeling position.

One shopper wrote that it’s made of “good quality memory foam” that “really helps take the pressure off,” and likes that it’s “lightweight and portable with the built in straps.” 

Buy from Amazon, $19.99

If you feel that thick yoga mats inhibit your balancing poses in yoga, but still wish that you had some sort of protection for your knees, look no further: Kinesis Yoga’s 1-inch knee pad cushion is just what you’re after. This eco-friendly pad comes in a breathable mesh bag that you can use for storage. Keep it to the side of your mat when it’s not in use, just as you would a yoga block, and slide it under your knees or other joints whenever necessary.