Best Yoga Mats and Blocks for 2026: Top Picks Ranked

This is a UK-focused buyer's guide to the best yoga mats and blocks for 2026, written for home yogis, studio teachers and beginners building their first kit. You will get six honest mat and block pairings, a breakdown of cork vs EVA foam vs bamboo, a UK sizing guide for standard 4 x 6 x 9 inch blocks, and a simple beginner home practice that uses a mat and two blocks together.

TL;DR

Most yoga teachers in the UK recommend buying a mat and two blocks from day one, not just a mat. Blocks shorten the floor for tight hips, hamstrings and shoulders so beginners can hold poses with proper alignment.
The standard UK block size is 9 x 6 x 4 inches (roughly 23 x 15 x 10 cm). Anything smaller is a travel block, anything larger is a bolster.
Materials matter. Cork is grippy and dense, EVA foam is light and cheap, bamboo is dense and premium. Pick on weight, grip and budget, not looks.
Our pick for most UK home practitioners is the flexa.fit Premium Yoga Mat 8mm paired with two cork blocks from a trusted brand like Manduka or Yogamatters.
Free UK delivery on flexa.fit applies with no minimum spend. Use code MEGLIO10 for 10% off your first order.

Why buy yoga mats and blocks together as a set

A yoga mat alone is fine if you only do gentle hatha or restorative classes. The minute you start vinyasa, ashtanga, hot yoga, or any kind of structured beginner programme, you need blocks. Blocks bring the floor up to meet you in poses like Triangle, Half Moon, Pyramid and Bridge, which is the difference between a forced shape and a properly held one. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is clear that keeping active with safe, well-supported movement matters more than chasing the deepest stretch. Blocks make that possible.

The NHS still rates yoga as one of the best low-impact ways to build strength and ease back pain (NHS guide to yoga), and the British Heart Foundation flags it as a great gateway into staying active for over-50s. Both stress that good form beats deep range every time. Two blocks, used properly, are how beginners get good form.

How we ranked these yoga mats and blocks bundles

We looked at six things that actually matter when you put a mat and a pair of blocks side by side: grip on dry and damp surfaces, cushioning under bony knees and elbows, edge stability on hard floors, block density (does it hold weight without compressing), block weight (heavy cork is a workout to carry), and total bundle price after UK delivery. We also cross-referenced independent UK reviews and the wider Yoga Journal style guides on prop use.

The best yoga mats and blocks pairings for 2026

1. flexa.fit Premium Yoga Mat 8mm + two cork blocks (UK starter pick)

flexa.fit Premium Yoga Mat 8mm in cream and teal, paired with two cork yoga blocks for a UK home practice starter kit

This is the bundle we would build for most UK home yogis in 2026. The flexa.fit Premium Yoga Mat 8mm is a cushioned UK-direct mat at £24.99, thick enough to spare your knees in low lunges and dense enough that it does not bottom out on a hard wooden floor. Pair it with two standard 9 x 6 x 4 inch cork blocks (from Manduka, Yogamatters or Lululemon, all reviewed below) and you have a complete beginner kit for around £55 to £75 depending on the block brand. The mat ships from a UK warehouse with free delivery and no minimum spend.

Honest note on blocks: flexa.fit does not yet stock its own yoga blocks, so the recommendation here is to use the flexa.fit mat as your base layer and pair it with a cork block set from one of the brands below. That is genuinely what we tell people who ask. Cork has the best grip and density for the price.

Pros: 8mm cushioning is kinder than a standard 5mm mat, tactile top side grips dry and damp, UK warehouse means next-day delivery, MEGLIO10 cuts another 10% off.
Cons: no in-house block to bundle with, so you buy blocks separately, mat is one size only.
Verdict: the best mat half of a UK yoga starter kit. Pair with two cork blocks (see entries 2 to 4 below) for a complete setup.
Price: £24.99 mat, £25 to £50 for a pair of cork blocks. Total bundle £50 to £75.
Where to buy in the UK: direct at flexa.fit/products/yoga-mat-pro, free UK delivery, no minimum spend.

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2. Manduka PRO 6mm + Manduka Cork Yoga Block bundle

If money is no object, this is the premium pairing. The Manduka PRO is a 6mm closed-cell PVC mat that lasts a decade with normal use, and the brand's cork block is the benchmark every other cork block gets measured against. Density is exceptional, edges are bevelled rather than sharp, and the grip is properly tactile.

UK pricing is steep. The PRO is around £105 to £125 through Yogamatters and Amazon UK, and the Manduka cork block is around £20 to £25 per block (you want two).

Pros: studio-grade mat, lifetime durability, cork blocks have the best density and edge quality in the category.
Cons: mat is heavy at ~3.2kg, takes weeks to break in, total bundle £145 to £175 is a lot for a beginner.
Verdict: the premium pick for serious practitioners who want a 10-year mat and won't compromise on blocks.
Price: £105 to £125 mat, £40 to £50 for two cork blocks. Total £145 to £175.
Where to buy in the UK: Manduka.com, Yogamatters and Amazon UK.

3. Yogamatters Sticky Yoga Mat + Yogamatters Cork Block bundle

Yogamatters is a UK-based yoga retailer with its own range. The Sticky Yoga Mat is a 6mm PVC entry-level mat, and the brand's cork blocks are standard 9 x 6 x 4 inch with rounded edges. The bundle is one of the more sensible mid-market options and ships fast from a UK warehouse.

UK pricing at Yogamatters.com sits around £22 to £28 for the Sticky Mat and around £14 to £18 per cork block. A starter set of mat plus two blocks costs roughly £55 to £65.

Pros: UK-based brand, fast UK delivery, cork blocks are good quality for the price, often discounted in bundles.
Cons: Sticky Mat is thinner than 8mm options, PVC top can feel slick once you sweat through.
Verdict: the best UK-direct mid-market bundle if you want everything from one retailer.
Price: bundle around £55 to £65.
Where to buy in the UK: Yogamatters direct.

4. Liforme Yoga Mat + cork block pair

The Liforme Yoga Mat is the gold standard for hot yoga grip. The patented alignment markings on the top side are useful for beginners learning where the feet should land in poses like Warrior II and Side Angle. Liforme does not make its own blocks in the UK at time of writing, so most buyers pair it with a cork block from Yogamatters or Manduka.

UK pricing at Liforme.com is £120 for the standard Original mat. Add £30 to £45 for a pair of cork blocks.

Pros: best-in-class grip when wet, alignment markings help beginners with form, eco-friendly natural rubber base, biodegradable.
Cons: expensive, mat surface scratches if blocks rest sharply on it for long sessions, no own-brand block.
Verdict: the hot-yoga pairing. Overkill for gentle hatha or restorative.
Price: £120 mat, £30 to £45 for two cork blocks. Total £150 to £165.
Where to buy in the UK: Liforme direct, with Manduka or Yogamatters blocks added separately.

5. Decathlon Kimjaly Comfort Yoga Mat + Kimjaly Yoga Brick bundle

If you want the cheapest credible mat-plus-blocks setup, Decathlon's in-house Kimjaly line is the answer. The Comfort Mat is a 8mm NBR foam mat (closer to a fitness mat in feel), and the Kimjaly yoga bricks are EVA foam at the standard 9 x 6 x 4 inch size. Quality is fine for the price, but neither is studio-grade.

UK pricing at Decathlon UK is around £15 for the Comfort Mat and £4 to £6 per brick. A full bundle is under £25, which is genuinely impressive for the money.

Pros: cheapest credible UK bundle, lightweight EVA blocks travel well, available for click-and-collect at most UK Decathlon stores.
Cons: NBR foam smells plasticky for the first week, blocks compress under weight in poses like Bridge, mat top can feel tacky in a bad way after a few months.
Verdict: the right pick if you are not sure you will stick with yoga and do not want to spend over £25.
Price: bundle under £25.
Where to buy in the UK: Decathlon UK, in-store or online.

6. Lululemon The Mat 5mm + Lift and Lengthen Yoga Block bundle

Lululemon's The Mat is the brand's flagship 5mm dual-layer mat with a polyurethane top side that grips harder as you sweat. The Lift and Lengthen Yoga Block is a recycled EVA foam block with rounded edges, in the same standard size as cork blocks. The branding is the main reason people buy this combo. The kit itself is competent rather than exceptional.

UK pricing at Lululemon is around £88 for the mat and £18 to £22 per block. A starter bundle of mat plus two blocks is roughly £124 to £132.

Pros: excellent wet grip, blocks are made from recycled materials, retail returns are easy in the UK.
Cons: 5mm feels thin if you are used to 8mm, you pay a significant brand premium, EVA blocks are less dense than cork.
Verdict: a competent bundle if you are already a Lululemon shopper. There are denser blocks and cheaper mats elsewhere.
Price: bundle £124 to £132.
Where to buy in the UK: Lululemon stores nationwide and Lululemon UK online.

7. Gaiam Essentials Yoga Mat + Gaiam Yoga Block pair

Gaiam's Essentials bundle is the entry-level option you will see most often on Amazon UK. The Essentials Mat is a 6mm PVC mat with a basic carry strap, and Gaiam's standard yoga blocks are EVA foam in either a 4 inch or a 3 inch thickness (go for the 4 inch). Honest verdict: it is the cheapest brand-name bundle you can trust.

UK pricing through Amazon UK and Argos is around £18 to £25 for the mat and £10 to £15 per block. Full bundle around £40 to £55.

Pros: recognisable brand, cheap enough to test the waters, available with next-day Prime delivery.
Cons: 6mm mat grip drops off when wet, EVA blocks compress more than cork in load-bearing poses, prints fade after a year.
Verdict: the supermarket-aisle bundle. Fine for beginners, replaceable in 12 to 18 months.
Price: bundle £40 to £55.
Where to buy in the UK: Amazon UK, Argos, occasionally Sports Direct.

Cork vs EVA foam vs bamboo: which yoga block material wins

This is the question every beginner asks and most buying guides skim. Here is the honest comparison.

Cork. Dense, grippy, eco-friendly, gets better with use. The downside is weight: a pair of cork blocks weighs roughly 1.4 to 1.8 kg. Cork is the right choice if you sweat in class or you want one set that lasts five-plus years. Manduka and Yogamatters are the UK benchmarks.
EVA foam. Light (250 to 350g per block), cheap, easy to wipe down, and the most common material under £20. Compresses under heavy load (Bridge, supported Shoulder Stand) so you feel the floor more than with cork. Fine for most beginners and ideal for travel. Decathlon Kimjaly, Gaiam and Lululemon are EVA-based.
Bamboo. Premium, dense, attractive, and unusual in UK retail. Bamboo blocks are heavier than cork (1.6 to 2.0 kg per pair) and pricier (£35 to £55 per block). They do not absorb sweat like cork, which some practitioners prefer for restorative work. Less common in mainstream UK stores, mostly found via specialist yoga retailers and direct-import sites.

For most UK home yogis, cork is the right answer. For a child, traveller, or anyone with shoulder limitations who finds heavy blocks awkward, EVA foam is the practical choice.

Yoga block sizing guide (UK standard)

UK yoga block sizing is more consistent than mat sizing because props are mostly imported from US-led brands using the same dimensions. Here is what you actually need to know.

Standard: 9 x 6 x 4 inches (~23 x 15 x 10 cm). This is the right size for the vast majority of adults and the format you will find in studios across the UK. Buy this unless you have a specific reason not to.
Slim / 3-inch: 9 x 6 x 3 inches. Useful if you have small hands or a shorter wingspan and you want the block to nest under your shoulders comfortably in Bridge. Less common, often only available from Yogamatters and Manduka.
Travel: 7 x 5 x 3 inches. Lighter, packable, but compromises stability in standing poses. Buy as a second pair if you fly often, not as your only set.
Egg / D-shaped: rounded blocks for restorative and yin work. Specialist purchase. Buy only after you have a flat-block set and you know you practise yin regularly.

One firm rule from teachers we trust: always buy two blocks, never one. Most beginner sequences (Pyramid, Side Angle, Half Moon, supported Bridge) need a pair. A single block is half a kit.

A simple beginner home practice using mat and two blocks

If you are buying a mat and blocks for the first time, here is a 20-minute home routine that puts your kit to work straight away. Hold each pose for 5 to 8 deep breaths. The order is built to warm hips and shoulders first, then move into longer holds.

Child's Pose on a block. Place one block on the mat under your forehead. Sit back onto your heels, fold forward, rest the head on the block. Two minutes. Settles the breath.
Cat-Cow. Hands on the mat, knees hip-width. Five rounds. No blocks needed.
Downward Dog with blocks under the hands. Set both blocks at the front of the mat on the medium height (6 inch face up). Hands on the blocks. Lifts the floor by 15 cm so tight hamstrings and shoulders can lengthen without forcing the heels down. Five breaths.
Triangle Pose (Trikonasana) with a block. Step the right foot back, turn it 90 degrees out. Reach the left hand down to a block placed inside the front foot on its tallest height (9 inch face up). Right arm reaches up. Five breaths each side.
Pyramid (Parsvottanasana) with two blocks. One block either side of the front foot. Hands rest on the blocks. Lengthen the spine forward. Five breaths each side.
Supported Bridge. Lie on your back, feet hip-width on the mat. Lift the hips, slide a block under your sacrum on the medium height. Arms by your sides. Two minutes. The block holds the weight so the spine can release.
Reclined Twist with a block. Lying on your back, hug the right knee in, drop it across to the left side onto a block on its lowest height (4 inch face up). Right arm out wide. Five breaths each side.
Savasana. Final rest on the mat, blocks set aside. Five minutes.

For more sequencing ideas, our yoga poses for lower back pain relief guide and the 10-minute morning mobility routine both build well on a mat and two blocks. For sizing the mat itself, our yoga mat thickness guide walks through 4mm to 10mm and what each suits.

How much should a yoga mats and blocks bundle cost in the UK in 2026

You can spend anywhere from £25 to £200 on a starter kit. Here are sensible bands based on how often you practise.

Under £40: Decathlon Kimjaly mat plus EVA foam bricks, or Gaiam Essentials plus Gaiam blocks. Right band for once-a-week casual practice.
£50 to £80: flexa.fit Premium Yoga Mat 8mm plus a pair of mid-tier cork blocks from Yogamatters. The sweet spot for two-to-four sessions a week.
£120 to £180: Lululemon, Liforme or Manduka mat plus premium cork blocks. For daily practitioners or anyone teaching part-time.
£200-plus: Manduka PRO plus Manduka cork blocks plus a bolster and strap. Studio-grade kit that lasts a decade.

Our wider best yoga mats 2026 ranked guide compares the mat side in more detail, and the how to choose a yoga mat walk-through covers thickness, material and grip in detail.

FAQs

Do I really need blocks if I already have a yoga mat?

Yes, if you are a beginner or you have tight hamstrings, hips or shoulders. Blocks bring the floor up to meet you so you can hold poses like Triangle, Pyramid and Half Moon with proper alignment instead of forcing the shape. Most UK teachers we know consider a pair of blocks the most useful second piece of yoga kit you can buy after the mat, ahead of a strap or bolster.

What size of yoga block should I buy?

For most UK adults, the standard 9 x 6 x 4 inch block (about 23 x 15 x 10 cm) is the right answer. It is the size you will find in studios and the size most teachers cue from. The slim 3 inch version suits smaller hands or shoulder-mobility work. Travel blocks are smaller again but less stable in standing balances, so they are best as a second pair, not your only set.

Are cork yoga blocks worth the extra money over EVA foam?

For regular practitioners, yes. Cork is denser, grippier and more eco-friendly than EVA foam, and it holds shape under load in poses like Bridge and supported Shoulder Stand. EVA foam compresses, which makes it feel less stable. For occasional or casual practice, EVA is fine and significantly cheaper. If you plan to practise more than twice a week, the cork upgrade is genuinely worth £15 to £30 more.

How many yoga blocks do I need?

Two. Always two. A single block is half a kit because most beginner sequences (Pyramid, Side Angle, supported Bridge, reclined twists) need a pair. Some restorative practices use three or four, but that is an upgrade for later. For a starter bundle, buy a pair from the start.

Can I use a yoga block instead of a bolster?

Sometimes. A block stacked on its tall side can replace a bolster for short holds in restorative poses, but it is firmer and less forgiving than a proper bolster. If you do a lot of yin or restorative yoga, a bolster is the better second prop after blocks. For occasional restorative work, two blocks can substitute. The flexa.fit yoga and pilates collection covers the wider kit list.

What's the best yoga mats and blocks combination for hot yoga?

A high-grip rubber-topped mat like the Liforme Yoga Mat or the Manduka PROlite, paired with cork blocks. Cork is the right material for hot yoga blocks because it grips your sweaty hands better than EVA foam and does not absorb sweat the way bamboo can. Avoid the cheapest PVC mats and EVA blocks for hot yoga because both turn slick once you start sweating.

Where can I buy yoga mats and blocks in the UK with next-day delivery?

The fastest options are flexa.fit (mats only, UK warehouse, free delivery with no minimum spend), Yogamatters, Amazon UK (Manduka, Liforme, Gaiam, Lululemon all available), Lululemon stores nationwide, and Decathlon UK with click-and-collect. Use code MEGLIO10 at the flexa.fit checkout for 10% off your first order.

The bottom line

For most UK home yogis in 2026, the right yoga mats and blocks bundle is the flexa.fit Premium Yoga Mat 8mm paired with two cork blocks from Yogamatters or Manduka, total spend £50 to £75. For hot yoga, swap the mat for a Liforme. For studio teachers, go Manduka PRO with Manduka cork blocks. For first-timers testing the waters, the Decathlon Kimjaly bundle under £25 is the sensible no-regrets pick. Buy a pair of blocks, not one. Buy cork if you practise more than twice a week. Buy what you will actually use, not what looks best on Instagram.