Yoga mats come in a range of sizes from 64 inches long to 84 inches long. If you are buying your first yoga mat, then there are a few things to consider to ensure your yoga mat is the perfect fit for you, rather than buying the ‘standard’ mat size and regretting your decision later.
Here we will look at the different sizes of yoga mats widely available and who they are best suited to.
A standard yoga mat will measure 24 inches in width; their length will vary at 65″, 68″, 72″, 80″, and 84″; a yoga depth typically come at 3mm, 4mm, and 5mm+.
Yoga Mat Width
24 inches
The standard width measurement of a yoga mat is 24 inches, which equates to 2 feet. It is unlikely you will find many yoga mats which have a different width measurement to this unless you opt for a custom-made yoga mat of a specific size.
24 inches is considered to be the ideal width measurement for yoga mats because it is big enough to accommodate poses where feet should be set at hip-width distance, yet it is not so big that it will be cumbersome to carry or take up too much space when laid on the floor in a yoga studio.
For poses where you need to extend your feet to further than hip distance, you would turn to the side and use the length of the yoga mat rather than the width.
Yoga Mat Length
The ideal length of the yoga mat for you will be determined by your height. You should be able to lay down on your mat with the mat supporting both the back of your head and the heels of your feet, so at the very least, the mat should have a length that is equal to your height.
To give you a little wiggle room so that you don’t find yourself hanging over the end of your mat, it is best to choose a yoga mat that is 3 inches longer than your height.
For example, if you are 5 feet and 9 inches tall, which is the equivalent of 69 inches, you should opt for the 72-inch long yoga mat, which will give you 3 inches of extra space when laying down. The additional 3 inches will mean that you aren’t pushing the boundaries of your yoga mat and can make you feel more comfortable.
Many people who practice yoga recommend buying the largest mat you can afford because it is always better to have too much space than too little space.
64 inches
The smallest standard size of yoga mat available is 64 inches in length, which equates to a little over 5 feet. This size of mat is compact, which will be useful if you attend busy yoga sessions where you struggle to find a space; however, the smaller length of this mat really means that it is most suitable for people who are 5 feet or less in height.
68 inches
This is another size of yoga mat that is widely available, with a length that equates to 5 feet and 8 inches. This mat can work for anybody with a height of 5 feet and 8 inches or less, though ideally, you will be 5 feet and 5 inches or less to use this mat so that you have 3 inches of extra space to work with. As the average woman has a height of 5 feet and 3 inches, this mat would be perfectly suitable for much of the female population.
72 inches
This is the most common length of yoga mat because it is a size that will work for the vast majority of people. At 72 inches long, this mat measures the equivalent of 6 feet in length. Yoga can be practiced by men, women, and children, but it is far more popular among women across English-speaking countries.
As the average height of women is 5 feet and 3 inches, this yoga mat is very generous, offering an additional 9 inches of space for the average woman. Being so long, this mat will also be a good size for taller people, including men who have an average height of 5 feet and 9 inches.
80 inches
Yoga mats that are bigger than 72 inches, such as these yoga mats measuring 80 inches, are considered ‘over-sized’ or ‘extra-long.’ In feet, this mat would measure 6 feet and 8 inches in length, which is quite a bit bigger than the height measurement of most men and women. However, if you are tall, then this length of yoga mat will be well suited to you.
84 inches
This is the longest size of yoga mat available as standard, and it measures 7 feet long. This is a good choice of yoga mat if you are tall, but beware that it is obviously going to take up more space on the floor, which might be an issue at a busy yoga class.
Longer yoga mats also use more material which makes them heavier to carry when they are rolled up. If you are only using your yoga mat at home, then the amount of floor space it takes up and the weight of it should not cause any issues.
Yoga Mat Depth
The depth of a yoga mat needs to be just right to provide a comfortable amount of cushioning without being so deep that it can affect your balance.
3mm
Yoga mats start at a depth of 3mm. This will be a suitable amount of cushioning for people who don’t have any joint issues.
4mm
If you have back or knee pain, then a mat with a thickness of 4mm will offer you more comfort. 4mm is considered the sweet spot for yoga mats because it is thick enough to give you comfortable padding, but it won’t negatively impact balance.
5mm+
Yoga mats that are 5mm or thicker will be heavier to carry, and they can make balance difficult, as the extra padding can throw balance off, a little like trying to balance on a mattress. However, some people prefer the comfort that these mats offer.
