TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) is a common material used in yoga mats, especially those at the cheaper end of the market.
Choosing between the TPE yoga mats can be difficult as many products make similar claims and there aren’t a huge number of well-known brands like Jade yoga, Lululemon, or Liforme offering this type of mat since it’s not very eco-friendly.
That’s why I’ve put together this guide to help anyone looking to find the best TPE mats for every budget and use case.
- Why Use a TPE Yoga Mat?
- Best TPE Yoga Mats
- Best Overall: Manduka X
- Runner Up: Heath Yoga
- Best for Beginners: H-Star
- Budget Pick: Ewedoos
- Best for Hot Yoga: Yoloha Original
- Most Spacious: Hatha Yoga (Extra Wide)
- Best Cushioning: Hatha Yoga (Extra Thick)
- Best Design: Pido
- Best for Tall People: CAMBIVO
- Comparison Chart
- Related Questions
Why Use a TPE Yoga Mat?
TPE is a good choice for yoga mat material if you’re looking for something that provides a good amount of cushioning for your knees whilst still being affordable.
Although TPE is still derived from non-sustainable sources, it’s considered to be a more environmentally friendly alternative to PVC.
This is because TPE yoga mats use fewer resources in production, can be recycled, and are biodegradable. Still, if you want a truly eco-friendly yoga mat, natural rubber or cotton are better options.
However, one of the other benefits of TPE is that it’s relatively lightweight when compared to equal-sized mats made with other materials and it’s latex-free which may be important to some yogi’s who react to the latex found in rubber mats.
Best TPE Yoga Mats
The best TPE yoga mats are:
- Best Overall: Manduka X
- Runner Up: Heath Yoga
- Best for Beginners: H-Star
- Budget Pick: Ewedoos
- Best for Hot Yoga: Yoloha Original
- Most Spacious: Hatha Yoga (Extra-Wide)
- Best Cushioning: Hatha Yoga (Extra-Thick)
- Best Design: Pido TPE Mat
- Best for Tall People: CAMBIVO
Keep reading for my full reviews of these recommendations where I’ve outlined the pros and cons for each mat.
At the end of this article is a full comparison table of the key specs including size, weight, and thickness.
Best Overall: Manduka X
Pros:
Cons:
If you’ve read my other articles on the best yoga mats, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of Manduka so it’s no surprise that I rate the Manduka X as the best TPE yoga mat.
This is just one product in their huge range of yoga mats from different materials and with different use cases. The Manduka X is a TPE mat designed for people who might want to use their mat for working out as well as yoga.
It’s 5mm thick which is one of the thinner TPE mats although about average for yoga mats overall. It’s got high-density cushioning which is great for your knees and has incredible grip, although this means that it’s slightly heavier than similar size/thickness mats.
It has a closed-cell structure which means it doesn’t absorb moisture, this means it is easy to clean and won’t absorb odors, but also means it you should use it with a towel or yoga rug on top if doing hot yoga or high-intensity exercise.
For a TPE mat, this is one of the most expensive, however, for a brand like Manduks, it’s an excellent price and a great way to get into their products without spending too much. Keep in mind that no carry strap is included like most of the other products here.
Runner Up: Heath Yoga
Pros:
Cons:
In a well-deserved runner-up spot is the Heath Yoga TPE mat. I like this one because it’s a great all-around mat that’s great for all levels of experience.
In terms of specs, it’s very similar to the Manduka X, although without the premium brand name the price is more affordable.
The mat is slightly thicker than the Manduka X in size, although the foam used isn’t as dense so there is slightly less cushioning. This means that there’s less knee support but it’s lighter to carry around so you’ll have to make the trade-off that works for you.
Heath yoga claim that their mat is longer and wider than regular mats but this is not true because the size 183cm x 66cm (72″ x 26″) is very typical for a TPE mat as you’ll see from the comparison table at the end of this article. Unlike the Manduka X, this one also comes with Velcro and a carrying strap for carrying around.
The mat emits an unpleasant smell at first, although this isn’t unusual and many mats do so, you just need to air them for a little while first.
Best for Beginners: H-Star
Pros:
Cons:
I would recommend the H-star as a great TPE yoga mat for beginners because it has alignment lines (also known as guide lines) which can help you master your posture and alignment when you’re starting out.
Whilst several of the other mats shared here also have alignment lines, this one is superior because it also has 45-degree lines for positioning your heels in a standing position and spots to position your hands and feet when lying on your back.
If you want some tips on using alignment lines, check out this YouTube video.
The mat is 8mm thick which is above average for a TPE mat, but it’s still relatively lightweight which is one of the beauties of TPE as a material.
The H-Star mat does come with a carry strap, although it’s not big enough to fit over your shoulder which I find disappointing as that’s my favorite way to carry a mat.
Budget Pick: Ewedoos
Pros:
Cons:
If you’re looking for a cheap TPE yoga mat but still want something decent, then I have to recommend Ewedoos.
The mat shown here is their newer mat which has double cushioning and a more textured surface for better grip. However, it doesn’t have alignment lines like their previous mat which can still be found on sale here.
This mat is excellent on harder floors because the base is very textured so it prevents any slipping around on the floor.
There is a carry string included, although this often comes undone so you might want to invest in a bag or case. There are several options on the listing page to add a matching carry bag which I’d recommend.
Best for Hot Yoga: Yoloha Original
Pros:
Cons:
This next recommendation isn’t your typical TPE mat, it’s a cork yoga mat with a TPE base. All of the other mats shared here have a closed-cell design, this is very common for TPE and means that it doesn’t absorb water.
The benefit of this is that TPE is usually very easy to clean and doesn’t absorb odors, however, they can get slippy when wet which is a problem during hot yoga or Bikram yoga where you tend to sweat profusely.
This is where a cork surface can be advantageous because it becomes even gripper when wet, the opposite to TPE. The mat still provides an adequate amount of padding because of the TPE base, however, it isn’t as well cushioned as 100% TPE mats.
One of the other benefits of a cork yoga mat is that it is naturally antibacterial so it prevents any mold or mildew growing so it’s very easy to keep clean.
The mat is light for a 6mm mat at just 1.13kg (2.5lbs), however, the price might be a bit to swallow as it’s far more expensive than any others shared here.
Most Spacious: Hatha Yoga (Extra Wide)
Pros:
Cons:
If you like spacious yoga mats, then Hatha Yoga is a great brand to consider. Their TPE mats are much wider than the others in this review at 81cm (32”) so you will have plenty of room.
This is ideal during floor poses such as pigeon pose and the various modifications so that you can stay completely on the mat. However, my favorite reason for choosing an extra-wide mat is for yoga classes to make sure that nobody gets too close.
This mat is 6mm thick which is very standard for a TPE yoga mat and at just over 1kg (2.3lbs), it’s light enough to transport around to classes or when traveling.
Hatha Yoga are confident in the durability of their mats and offer a 30 day money-back guarantee if you’re unhappy with it.
Best Cushioning: Hatha Yoga (Extra Thick)
Pros:
Cons:
The next TPE yoga mat I recommend also comes from Hatha Yoga but it’s their extra-thick version.
At 13mm thick, this mat provides a lot of cushioning which is very helpful if you have sore knees or just want that extra support. You can now do away with those knee pads.
Similar to the previous Hatha Yoga mat, it’s also extra wide at 81cm (32”) so you’ll have lots of room for floor poses.
This extra thickness does come with its downsides, however, one of which is that it’s not particularly firm which will be most noticeable during standing yoga poses.
It’s also very bulky, weighing in at 2kg (4.5lbs) which is heavier than any of the others reviewed here. You won’t want to be carrying this around with you regularly so it’s better for use at home rather than taking to yoga classes.
Best Design: Pido
Pros:
Cons:
If you’re the kind of person that likes to stand out, Pido’s TPE mats will certainly get people talking. The designs on these mats are incredible and would look great in your home yoga studio or at classes.
There are 8 designs to choose from, but I personally like the late autumn (shown here) and thousand leaves designs as the pastel colors feel calming and gentle.
Aside from looking great, these mats also perform well. They are 7mm thick which provides a nice amount of padding and are the lightest of those shared here at just 0.8kg (1.8lbs) which means they are ideal for carrying to/from classes or even taking on vacation. Although you will need to roll it up as TPE isn’t great at being folded flat.
Unfortunately, this mat isn’t the most grippy so performance-wise it’s not perfect, however, that’s the compromise for such a stunning design.
Best for Tall People: CAMBIVO
Pros:
Cons:
Most TPE mats are around 180cm (71”) or less. Based on the general rule of thumb, this would be ideal for someone who is around 5’5” or 5’6”. If you’re taller but still want to be able to lie down on the mat for poses such as shavasana (or even for practicing the splits), then you’ll need a bigger mat.
This is where I recommend the CAMBIVO yoga mat. Again, it’s made from TPE, but it’s much longer at 213cm (84”) so it’s suitable for all sizes.
Despite its extra size, the mat still isn’t too heavy but you’ll need extra space for transporting it around. For best results, this mat is best used with the dotted surface on the floor and the swirl pattern as your yoga surface.
The downside to this mat is that many users have reported that it’s not overly durable so it may not last as long as the other mats shared here.
Comparison Chart
| Manduka X | Heath | H-Star | Ewedoos | Yoloha Original | Hatha Yoga Wide | Hatha Yoga Thick | Pido Yoga | CAMBIVO | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|
| Length | 180cm (71”) | 183cm (72") | 183cm (72") | 183cm (72") | S: 183cm (72") L: 203cm (80”) | 183cm (72") | 183cm (72") | 183cm (72") | 213cm (84”) |
| Width | 61cm (24") | 66cm (26”) | 61cm (24") | 61cm (24") | 66cm (26”) | 81cm (32”) | 81cm (32”) | 61cm (24") | 81cm (32”) |
| Weight | (1.7kg) 3.7lbs | 1.3kg (2.8lbs) | 1.1kg (2.5lbs) | 0.9kg (1.9lbs) | 1.1kg (2.5lbs) | 1kg (2.3lbs) | 2kg (4.5lbs) | 0.8kg (1.8lbs) | 1.2kg (2.7lbs) |
| Thickness | 5mm | 6mm | 8mm | 6mm | 6mm | 6mm | 13mm | 7mm | 6mm |
| Material | TPE | TPE | TPE | TPE | Cork, TPE | TPE | TPE | TPE | TPE |
| Price | $$ | $ | $ | $ | $$$ | $ | $$ | $ | $ |
| Where to Buy | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
Related Questions
What Size Yoga Mat Should I Get?
You should normally aim for a yoga mat that is about 15cm (6”) longer than you. This will allow you to practice all poses, including shavasana (corpse pose) whilst staying on the mat. However, it is still possible to use mats that are shorter than you, especially for standing yoga poses.
The standard thickness for a yoga mat is around 4-5mm thick, although typically TPE mats are thicker than this with the standard size around 6mm. Aim for a thinner and lighter mat if you travel with it frequently, or a thicker mat if you have sore knees.
See my full guide to choosing the right size yoga mat for more tips.
Is TPE a Good Material for Yoga Mats?
Yes, TPE is a good yoga mat material if you’re on a budget but still want something decent. However, they are not as eco-friendly as rubber mats and do not last as long as PVC mats.
Is TPE Safe?
Yes, TPE is considered to be a safe material because it is non-toxic and widely approved for food contact. In fact, it is used in many everyday items such as cutlery, tools, cups, and even in the medical industry.
How Long Do TPE Mats Last?
The lifespan of a TPE mat will depend upon how frequently you use it but is usually about 2-3 years. This is very similar to rubber mats although shorter than PVC mats which can last up to 10 years.
The YogaMad is founded by Mila, an avid yogini who is passionate about inspiring others to live their best lives while finding mind-body-soul balance. She has a background in business consulting but has left the corporate world in her quest to live out her dreams as a yoga nomad.
