How thick should playground safety mats and tiles be?

Thickness is determined entirely by the critical fall height your installation must accommodate. There is a direct relationship: higher fall protection requires thicker tiles to absorb greater deceleration forces on impact.

Guidelines suggest these approximate thicknesses: up to 1 metre fall height, approximately 30 mm; up to 1.5 metres, 40–50 mm; up to 2 metres, 65–80 mm; up to 3 metres, 90–100 mm. These are indicative ranges; your tile supplier's test certificate for each specific product will confirm the certified fall height at the actual thickness supplied.

Thicker tiles offer measurable advantages beyond impact protection. Greater material volume means slower wear under foot traffic; a 100 mm tile will perform longer than a 30 mm alternative in the same application. Conversely, thinner tiles suit lower-traffic areas or temporary installations but require more frequent inspection and eventual replacement.

The elastic substrate beneath—such as natural soil, sand, or composite matting—can improve comfort underfoot, but it does not count toward certified fall height. Testing per BS EN 1177 is conducted on a concrete test rig without underlying cushioning. On hard surfaces (tarmac, concrete, paving), the tile itself must deliver the entire protection; any substrate contribution is a bonus but not a factor in the rating.

When selecting thickness, prioritise the manufacturer's certified fall height figure. This is what matters legally and practically. WARCO tiles are tested and certified per BS EN 1177, and all fall height claims are based on verified testing rather than assumption or generalisation.