By Tony Carrick | Updated Jan 27, 2023 9:59 AM
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Garage floor tiles make a garage floor safer and tougher while also improving its aesthetics, so that a home workshop becomes a more inviting place to spend a weekend, working on a car or the latest home improvement project. This durable flooring is capable of supporting the weight of a car while holding up to the abuse of rolling tool chests and heavy power tools. Most garage floor tiles can typically be installed in just a few hours. They come in a variety of materials, ranging from durable PVC plastic to soft foam, in various colors and tread patterns. With so many options, finding the right one can be a challenge. This guide will examine the factors that are vital to consider when shopping for the best garage tiles while reviewing some of the top options on the market.
In selecting the floor tiles for our list, we considered several important factors. Since a floor tile needs to hold up to extreme conditions, durability ranked high. With that in mind, we only chose floor tiles that could endure the weight of a vehicle as well as the heavy machinery and tools one would commonly find in a home workshop. Garage tiles also need to resist staining from water, oil, gas, and other chemicals that might come into contact with them, so we only chose products that were water resistant. Installation was also key. We chose floor tiles that are easy to install and require no special tools or expertise. Since the cost of garage floor tile can vary considerably, we selected options that suit a variety of budgets.
The list below includes some of the top garage tiles on the market. It includes rigid floor tiles that offer excellent durability as well as foam and rubber tiles that add cushioning to a hard garage floor. Any of the floor tiles below will upgrade a garage floor.
Rugged construction, easy installation, and a broad range of color options make this set of ⅜-inch-thick rigid plastic tiles from IncStores one of the best options for garage floor tile. Consisting of polypropylene, these tiles can hold up against the weight of cars and heavy tool carts while also resisting harsh cleaners, oils, and other solvents.
The tiles are easy to install, thanks to their interlocking, snap-together design. They come in three different styles—coin, diamond, and vented—and numerous color options, including blue, black, orange, and red, all of which can be mixed and matched to create a custom design. One gripe regarding these floor tiles: the edge pieces that create a finished look are sold separately.
Get the IncStores garage floor tiles at Amazon.
Though they may lack the durability of higher-priced options, these foam tiles from BeMaxx are a great budget option for tiling a garage floor. They consist of ½-inch-thick EVA foam rubber. With its foam consistency, the tiles flex, creating soft cushioning that makes the floor more comfortable for knees and feet.
These tiles also have the added benefit of providing insulation and sound dampening. The mats install easily with interlocking edges. And, since each mat is waterproof, they’re easy to clean. Each pack comes with a set of eighteen 12½-inch- by-12½-inch mats with edge pieces for a total coverage of 18 square feet.
Get the BeMaxx garage floor tiles at Amazon.
Those who love the outdoors in all weather but hate cleanup can benefit from the RaceDeck free-flow self-draining garage floor tile. These uniquely designed nonslip tiles are made with polypropylene and plastic to withstand multiple tires, power equipment, and tools, while the free-flow design allows for airflow and drainage to prevent slips, falls, and pooling water.
These tiles are easy to install with a patented interlocking design that has a multilevel understructure for absorbing impacts and ample weight. Simply snap the pieces together to fit any garage space. Plus, this pick comes in five different colorways to add a pop of color or a neutral shade to the garage floor.
Get the RaceDeck garage floor tiles at Amazon.
This set of tiles from GarageTrac can stand up to all kinds of abuse, making it an excellent option for home mechanics. It consists of hard polypropylene plastic interlocking tiles that can withstand heavy loads and resist oil, gas, and other fluids commonly spilled on a garage floor. The bottom of each tile is channeled to allow air and moisture to pass out of the tile, preventing mildew and mold growth. The diamond-top texture adds traction to the floor, helping to prevent slips and falls.
Installation requires no tools. Simply snap each tile together, then add finish pieces on the edges for a streamlined look. Each ½-inch-thick tile measures 12 inches by 12 inches.
Get the GarageTrac garage floor tiles at Amazon.
The large size and numerous color choices of these floor tiles make them one of the best foam options for garage workshops. The tiles come in 23.5-inch-by-23.5-inch squares, so installing them goes faster than smaller 12-inch-by-12-inch tiles. Plus, with fewer seams, there’s less of a chance of the tiles pulling up or wearing at the connection points.
Installation is easy. Simply snap the ends of each tile together and use the small end piece to create a finished look around the perimeter. The 0.4-inch-thick high-density EVA foam creates a cushioned floor that makes long days in the workshop less punishing on the legs. Innhom sells these tiles in color combinations of all black, black and gray, or black and blue, allowing users to create a customized look. They come in packs of 12, 24, and 48 and include end borders.
Get the Innhom garage floor tiles at Amazon.
While these rubber floor mats may be designed with gyms in mind, they’re also tough enough to serve as garage flooring. Each tile consists of ⅜-inch-thick recycled rubber that’s durable enough to handle the weight of a vehicle yet soft enough to provide shock absorption for a workshop floor. The rubber also won’t tear as easily as foam, and the 24-inch-by-24-inch size means this flooring has fewer seams than smaller 12-inch-by-12-inch tiles.
The tiles’ larger size, coupled with their interlocking ends, makes it easy to install. And with five color options, this tile will coordinate with a variety of preferences. Each set comes with four tiles as well as a center, a border, and a corner tile for creating a finished look.
Get the American Floor Mats garage floor tiles at Amazon.
With its numerous color options, a design that makes it easy to install, and durable construction, this vinyl tile from Perfection Floor Tiles is a great option for garages that function as home workshops or simply as a place to park the family car. Each interlocking tile consists of 100 percent vinyl, making it hard enough to withstand the weight of vehicles. The tiles are also easy to clean thanks to their water-resistant smooth coating.
A diamond pattern on the tile’s surface adds traction for foot or vehicle traffic. Perfection Floor Tiles come in 10 color options, allowing the user to make it as sporty (orange, red, and blue) or as understated (black, gray, and brown) as they like. Each tile measures 20.5 inches by 20.5 inches, and the tiles come in a pack of eight.
Get the Perfection garage floor tiles at Lowe’s.
Garage floor tiles come in three different types. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each is crucial to selecting the right one for your purposes.
These hard floor tiles consist of PVC flooring plastic that’s strong enough to withstand the weight of a vehicle while resisting oil, grease, and other liquids and substances frequently found in a garage. Unlike softer materials, hard floor tiles can also endure the intense pressure created by a jack stand or floor jack holding up the weight of a vehicle, making them ideal for home mechanics. Rigid plastic floor tiles are the most expensive of the three options.
Flexible garage tiles consist of high-density foam or rubber. These floor tiles create a cushioned work surface that’s easier on the foot and knees than hard concrete or a rigid floor tile. This makes them a good option for garages that function as workshops. While they are durable enough to support the weight of a vehicle, they may not last as long as rigid materials. Although foam offers the best cushioning, it’s more likely to tear or rip under the weight of a metal jack or if a wheeled tool cart is rolled across it. Rubber, which is typically made from recycled tires, may not offer as much shock absorption, but it’s much more durable. It’s also significantly more expensive than foam.
Flexible and rigid garage floor tiles both use an interlocking design that connects the tiles to each other and holds them in place on the floor. Peel-and-stick tiles have an adhesive backing that attaches each individual tile to the garage floor. Since this design does not have interlocking edges, it creates a cleaner look than flexible or rigid garage tiles. These tiles consist of thin polyvinyl, so they don’t provide much shock absorption. They can also be tricky to install as each tile needs to be properly squared to the room while being installed to ensure all the tiles line up.
While the type of tile is a vital factor to consider when shopping for the right garage floor tile, other attributes are important as well, including size, durability, installation, and even appearance. Ahead, learn more about these and other crucial characteristics of garage floor tile.
Garage tiles generally come in either 12-by-12-inch squares or 24-by-24-inch squares. While the larger tiles may install more quickly than smaller ones, they can be less forgiving when squaring the new flooring to the room, especially for stick-on types that are difficult if not impossible to readjust once in place. The size of the tile can also create a different look depending on the style. Smaller squares that use a checkerboard pattern of alternating colors can create a busier look than larger squares. Larger tiles have fewer visible seams, creating a more streamlined look than smaller tiles.
Since a garage floor must endure 2-ton vehicles, spills from various chemicals and cleaners, and the weight of heavy power tools, not to mention extreme temperatures (the garage is not typically climate controlled), they must be durable. As such, a garage floor tile should be made of foam, recycled rubber, hard PVC plastic, or vinyl.
Just because a garage is a more utilitarian part of the house doesn’t mean it can’t have a little style. Floor tiles come in colors ranging from gray and black to bright orange and red to suit different style demands. Tiles also come in a variety of tread patterns, including coin and diamond patterns.
Garage floor tiles are designed to be easy to install. Most feature interlocking systems that allow the user to attach the pieces of tile together by hand with no need for a tool. Some interlocking floor tiles may require a simple hand tool, such as a rubber mallet, to connect the pieces. This makes it relatively easy to install an entire floor in just a few hours. Peel-and-stick tiles also offer toolless installation. Simply peel off the back and stick each tile to the floor. Peel-and-stick tiles do require a bit more precision, as the tile cannot be readjusted once it’s installed. Maintaining most garage floor tiles is relatively easy. Most have a water-resistant coating that makes it easy to wipe up spills. Cleaning typically only requires a damp mop and a common household floor cleaner.
Garage tiles are useful for more than just garages. They are an excellent way to finish a laundry room floor. Foam or rubber tiles are ideal for home gyms, as they protect the floor from heavy weights and machinery while providing a comfortable place to perform exercises. The foam surface also makes garage floor tiles ideal for children’s playrooms, protecting hardwood flooring from toys while providing a comfortable surface for a child to crawl upon.
Garage floor tiles improve both the form and the function of a standard cement garage floor. They create a finished look that makes a garage more inviting to spend time in, whether tinkering under the hood of a car or constructing a set of shelving. In addition to improving the aesthetics of a garage, floor tiling can also make a garage safer by adding tread that improves the traction on the floor, preventing slips and falls that can lead to injury. Foam and rubber floor tiles add a layer of cushioning that prevents damage to the floor or to a tool should it fall off a tool bench or slip out of one’s hand. These softer floor materials can also make long hours working in the garage easier on feet and knees.
If you’re wondering how to install floor tiles or how tiles compare to other garage flooring options, read on for this and other information in the answers to some commonly asked questions.
Both have their pros and cons. While garage floor coatings such as epoxy create a seamless hard shell that can last for decades, epoxy can be very tricky to install. Interlocking floor tiles are much easier to install and, like epoxy, offer a wide range of colors and textures; however, they don’t last as long as epoxy nor do they offer a seamless finished look.
To lay garage floor tiles, start in one of the front corners of the garage and work out from there, making sure the loops of the tile face toward the inner part of the garage. Run a row of tile along one wall and a row along the front of the garage door. This will ensure the rest of the tiles will be square to the room. Next, fill the remainder of the floor with tiles. Trim the tiles to fit against obstacles or the opposing wall.
Mix hot water with a household floor cleaner. Sweep the floor then mop it, changing out the soapy fluid frequently for best results. Do not apply too much water or it may leak below the tile to the cement floor below.
We do not recommend using ceramic tile as garage flooring. While ceramic tile may be suitable for a kitchen or a bathroom, it simply isn’t strong enough to endure the weight of a vehicle or the impact caused by heavy tools falling on it.
Bob Vila has been America’s Handyman since 1979. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series including “This Old House” and “Bob Vila’s Home Again,” he popularized and became synonymous with “do-it-yourself” home improvement.
Over the course of his decades-long career, Bob Vila has helped millions of people build, renovate, repair, and live better each day—a tradition that continues today with expert yet accessible home advice. The Bob Vila team distills need-to-know information into project tutorials, maintenance guides, tool 101s, and more. These home and garden experts then thoroughly research, vet, and recommend products that support homeowners, renters, DIYers, and professionals in their to-do lists.
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