We Subjected 5 Top Garage Floor Tiles to a Week of Abuse to Find the Toughest

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 DIY project. Durable garage flooring tiles can support 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. 

But with so many options, finding the right one can be a challenge. We chose five of the top garage flooring models and set them up in our own garage, then ran them through a week’s worth of abuse, subjecting them to truck tires, spilled motor oil, power tools, and heavy equipment. When the week came to a close, the RaceDeck Diamond Plate Garage Flooring Tile, with its durable surface, attractive look, and tool-less installation, proved to be the best of the bunch. 

As an alternative to garage floor paint, garage tiles come in a variety of materials, from durable PVC plastic to soft foam, and in various colors and tread patterns. This guide will examine the vital factors to consider when shopping for the best garage tiles while reviewing some of the top options on the market. 

1. BEST OVERALL: RaceDeck Diamond Plate Garage Flooring Tile
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2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: IncStores Nitro Interlocking Garage Floor Tiles
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3. BEST RUBBER: American Floor Mats Heavy-Duty Rubber Flooring
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4. BEST RIGID: GarageTrac Diamond, Durable Interlocking Modular Tile
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5. BEST SLATTED:Swisstrax Vented Interlocking Garage Floor Tile
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Garage Floor Tiles Comparison Chart

Our Top Picks

The list below includes some of the top garage tile brands on the market. It includes different garage floor tile designs, including 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 garage flooring systems below will upgrade a garage workshop. 

Best Overall

RaceDeck Diamond Plate Garage Flooring Tile

See It

What We Like

• Easy to install click-lock design
• Numerous colors to choose from
• Durable high-grade plastic construction

What We Don’t Like

• One of pricier garage tile flooring options out there

Specs

• Material Polypropylene plastic
• Installation Click-lock
• Size 12 inches square

Our Ratings: Installation 4/5; Durability 4.5/5; Ease of Cleaning 5/5; Value 3.5/5 

The durability, range of colors, and ease of use of these flooring tiles from RaceDeck make them the best all-around option for garages. With their simple toolless click-lock installation design, it’s easy to put down a whole floor in a two-car garage in just a few hours. RaceDeck also comes in the broadest range of colors of any flooring tiles we came across (18 if purchasing directly from RaceDeck), so there are plenty of options when it comes to customizing the look of the garage flooring. 

While we didn’t come close to testing RaceDeck’s 80,000-pound weight capacity, we did subject it to a week of supporting our 5,500-pound Toyota Tundra, during which the tiles remained firmly locked together. We also set up a worktable on the tiles while conducting a series of power tool tests for another guide, during which sawdust, chunks of 2×4 and random drill bits rained down on it. None of it put a scratch in the tiles, and the only damage we were able to inflict on them was a small dent when we dropped a 3-pound sledge hammer from waist level. 

RaceDeck’s tiles are also easy to clean. Wiping up our motor oil spill was painless, using just a rag and dab of dish soap to cut the oil. Our only real gripe with RaceDeck is how much it costs. At $4.75 per square foot, the price tag makes covering an average 20-by-20-foot garage an expensive endeavor. 

What our tester says: “I love how easy RaceDeck is to install and how much of a beating it can take without showing any wear.” —Tony Carrick, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the RaceDeck Diamond Plated Garage Flooring Tile at Amazon or RaceDeck.

Best Bang For The Buck

IncStores Nitro Interlocking Garage Floor Tiles

See It

What We Like

• Cost about half the price of other floor tiles
• Come in eight colors and three patterns
• Easy to install interlocking design

What We Don’t Like

• Very loud when walking on them

Specs

• Material Polypropylene plastic
• Installation Click-lock
• Size 12 inches square

Our Ratings: Installation 5/5; Durability 4/5; Ease of Cleaning 4.5/5; Value 4.5/5 

IncStores Nitro garage floor tiles are rugged, easy to install, and offer a broad range of color options. Perhaps best of all, they cost a fraction of other garage tiles. 

As with other polypropylene garage tiles, Nitro tiles use an interlocking, snap-together design that makes installation quick and easy. We had 25 square feet of tile down in minutes. Though the Nitro garage tiles are limited to eight color options, they do come in multiple styles, including coin, diamond, and vented. Nitro tiles also have a glossier reflective finish than other tiles we tested, which should appeal to those looking to add some flair to their garage. 

Nitro tiles are tough, though they didn’t match the durability of some of the pricier tiles we tested. They didn’t crack or bow under the weight of a 2½-ton pick-up truck, though we did register permanent scuff marks after we dragged a work table across it. Nitro tiles were also the noisiest. While all polypropylene tiles we tested produce a hollow creaking sound when walking over them, none cried out as loudly as the Nitro tiles. 

That said, IncStores Nitro garage tiles cost about half the price of other garage tiles and held up to all but our more extreme durability tests. So while we wouldn’t recommend them for busier workshops, they’re a great flooring option for less demanding garages.

Get the IncStores garage floor tiles at Amazon.

Best Rubber

American Floor Mats Heavy-Duty Rubber Flooring

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What We Like

• Very quiet when rolling or walking over them
• Easy to install interlocking design
• Durable heavy duty rubber

What We Don’t Like

• Expensive even when purchased in bulk
• Show footprints and tire tracks easily

Specs

• Material Rubber
• Installation Click-lock
• Size 24 inches square

Our Ratings: Installation 5/5; Durability 5/5; Ease of Cleaning 4/5; Value 3.5/5 

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 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 tiles’ larger size, coupled with their interlocking ends, made them easy to install. It takes a couple of hours to cover a two-car garage floor. 

With their solid rubber construction, we didn’t experience the hollow, creaking noise common among polypropylene tiles. In fact, they actually made our garage floor quieter. They also added a layer of cushioning that polypropylene tiles don’t offer, which our knees appreciated after a long day of work. This rubber flooring for garage spaces is also very durable, withstanding anything we drove or dragged over it, including heavy tools and workbenches. 

While we liked that durability, they were harder to keep clean. Walking or driving on the tiles with anything but clean shoe soles left noticeable footprints or tire tracks on their black surface. Cleaning those marks with a damp mop was easy enough, but those installing tiles to achieve a pristine-looking garage floor will spend a lot of time doing upkeep. The rubber tiles also have a distinct gym look, which may not appeal to everyone. Finally, they’re more expensive than other options at more than $5 a square foot. 

What our tester says: “The look isn’t for everyone, but you can’t argue with the tremendous durability and performance of these rubber floor tiles.” —Tony Carrick, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the American Floor Mats garage floor tiles at Amazon.

Best Rigid

GarageTrac Diamond, Durable Interlocking Modular Tile

See It

What We Like

• Easy to install interlocking design
• Durable construction resist scuffs and stains

What We Don’t Like

• Noisy when walking or driving over it

Specs

• Material Polypropylene plastic
• Installation Click-lock
• Size 12 inches square

Our Ratings: Installation 5/5; Durability 4/5; Ease of Cleaning 5/5; Value 4/5 

GarageTrac’s polypropylene plastic tiles performed very similarly to the other solid interlocking tiles we tested. The interlocking square tiles, which are 12 inches by 12 inches, install just as easily and hold up as well as other more expensive garage floor options. Since our garage doubles as a workshop, the tiles were subject to the feet of fold-out work benches, power tools, and scraps of lumber hitting the floor along with vehicle traffic. They endured all of this abuse without any visible signs of damage or wear. Only a 3-pound sledge hammer dropping from a height of 4 feet managed to put a dent in them. 

Along with being durable, these tiles were just as easy to clean as other polypropylene garage tiles with just the swipe of a damp rag enough to remove spilled motor oil. But while the tiles stayed firmly in place while driving over them, they were a bit noisy. Slight gaps or inconsistencies between the floor and tiles creates a tapping noise when they’re walked on.

GarageTrac tiles have a non-slip diamond surface, and they come in ten different color options, offering some variety to play with when designing a garage floor. It isn’t the cheapest polypropylene tile option out there, but it’s very reasonably priced given its excellent durability.

Get the GarageTrac garage floor tiles at Amazon.

Best Vented

Swisstrax Vented Interlocking Garage Floor Tile

See It

What We Like

• Slatted construction makes tiles very quiet to walk on
• Resists impacts even from heavy tools

What We Don’t Like

• Slats can collect direct and make clean-up difficult

Specs

• Material Polypropylene plastic
• Installation Click-lock
• Size 12 inches square

Our Ratings: Installation 5/5; Durability 5/5; Ease of Cleaning 3.5/5; Value 4/5 

With its slatted design, SwissTrax offers a quieter alternative to noisy solid polypropylene garage floor tiles. Since the slatted surface lays more evenly over the floor and doesn’t trap sound, the tiles are much quieter than the creaky polypropylene solid floor tiles we tested.

Noise output isn’t the only advantage. The slat surface also provides more traction than solid tiles, giving them superior slip resistance. Our testing also found SwissTrax to be more durable than solid polypropylene garage tiles. While other polypropylene tiles suffered scuffs and divots during our more extreme drop testing, Swisstrax didn’t register a mark even after we dropped a 3-pound sledgehammer on them from waist height. 

There are definite downsides to this design. The open slats allow things like dirt, sawdust, and oil to fall or drip through to the garage floor. While it was possible to suck out dry material using a shop vac, the process was somewhat tedious. Cleaning up spilled oil was also a challenge, requiring us to remove sections of tiles to reach the liquid. Still, if the garage isn’t prone to frequent messes, SwissTrax is an attractive and quieter alternative to the standard polypropylene garage flooring tiles. 

Get Swisstrax vented interlocking garage floor at Lowe’s.

Jump to Our Top Picks

How We Tested the Best Garage Floor Tiles

In order to determine which floor tiles could hold up to the rigors of a workshop garage, we subjected them to a gauntlet of durability tests. We began by assembling a 30-foot by 30-foot section of tile for each product, evaluating how easy it was to install. Then, over the course of a week, we drove over the tiles, parked on them, dropped heavy tools on them, dragged work tables across their surface, and splattered them with oil and other automobile fluids. When the week was through, we assessed the tiles for damage while also determining how well they remained intact and in place. Finally, we factored in that performance and durability alongside their price tag to determine their overall value. 

What to Consider When Choosing Garage Floor Tiles

While material 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 covering. 

Type

Garage floor tiles come in three different types. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each is crucial to selecting the right one for the project. 

Rigid Plastic 

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. This makes them ideal for home mechanics. Rigid plastic garage floor tiles are the most expensive of the three options. 

Flexible 

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 the friction of a wheeled tool rolling 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.

Peel and Stick

Flexible and rigid garage floor tiles both use an interlocking design that connects the tiles and holds them in place on the floor. Peel-and-stick tiles have an adhesive backing that attaches directly to the garage floor. Since this garage floor tile style does not have interlocking edges, it creates a cleaner look than flexible or rigid garage tiles. But 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 to ensure all the tiles line up, and on a garage floor this can be difficult. 

Size

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. 

Durability and Aesthetics

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), the tiles 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 tastes. Tiles also come in a variety of tread patterns, including coin and diamond patterns. 

Installation and Maintenance

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 garage floor 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. 

Versatility

Garage tiles are useful for more than just garages. They are an excellent way to finish a laundry room or basement 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. 

The Advantages of Using the Best Garage Floor Tiles

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 mats for garage floors 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. 

• Improves aesthetics
• Adds traction
• Certain types add a layer of cushioning 
• Protects the garage floor from damage
  

FAQs

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. 

Q. Are garage floor tiles better than epoxy?

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.

Q. How do I lay garage floor tiles?

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.

Q. How do I clean garage floor tiles?

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. 

Q. Can I put ceramic tile on a garage floor?

We do not recommend using ceramic tile or porcelain garage floor tiles​ as floor covering for garage floors. While ceramic tile may be suitable for a kitchen or a bathroom floor, it simply isn’t strong enough to endure the weight of a vehicle or the impact caused by heavy tools falling on it.

Q. How thick should garage floor tiles be?

A good polypropylene garage floor tile will be ⅝-inch thick (⅜-inch thick for rubber). This thickness gives the tile enough weight to sit flush to the floor and stay in place when working or driving over it. The thickness also ensures it can bear the weight of a vehicle without warping or cracking. 

Q. Can mold grow under garage tiles?

Garage floor tiles are designed to allow air to flow under the tiles, helping to dry any moisture that gets between them and the concrete floor, hence preventing mold growth. That said, excessive moisture trapped under the tiles can lead to mold growth, so garage floor tiles should only be used in dry environments. 

Meet the Tester

Tony Carrick is a freelance writer specializing in home improvement, landscaping, technology, home security, and design. His articles have been featured on such sites as Popular Mechanics, Futurism, SFGate, Pro Tools Review, and more. Tony has conducted rigorous product testing on everything from power tools to home security systems to backyard grills. With each review, his goal is to help readers determine whether a product meets their needs and if it is or isn’t worth its price tag.

 

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