Yoga equipment purchasing patterns range from low-cost, occasional buying to sustained investment in mats and props. The Global Yoga Survey 2021 found that 51.3% of respondents spent US$0.01–US$50.00 per month on yoga equipment, while 8.7% spent more than US$50.00. Market research also points to a large and expanding category: Grand View Research valued the global yoga mat market at US$13.6 billion in 2023 and estimated US$15.1 billion for 2026.
Contents
- Spending on equipment and practice
- Mat materials and formats
- Props and accessories
- Market size and forecasts
- Retail channels and home practice
- U.S. exercise-equipment spending benchmark
- Buyer profile and practice frequency
Spending on equipment and practice
The 2021 Global Yoga Survey provides a direct view of monthly equipment spending. More than half of respondents, 51.3%, reported spending between US$0.01 and US$50.00 per month on yoga equipment. A smaller but meaningful group, 8.7%, spent more than US$50.00 per month. These figures describe survey respondents’ reported monthly spending in 2021; they are not a current household spending estimate.
Overall yoga-practice spending was broader than equipment alone. It included classes, online courses or videos, retreats, and events. In that wider measure, 31.0% of respondents reported spending US$0 per month. The distinction matters when interpreting purchasing behavior: equipment spending can occur even when a person reports no monthly spending on the wider practice category, and the survey’s equipment figures should not be treated as a complete measure of all yoga-related costs.
| Reported monthly amount or category | Share of Global Yoga Survey respondents | Measurement period |
|---|---|---|
| US$0.01–US$50.00 on yoga equipment | 51.3% | 2021 |
| More than US$50.00 on yoga equipment | 8.7% | 2021 |
| US$0 on overall yoga practice | 31.0% | 2021 |
Source: The Global Yoga Survey 2021 | How And Why People Practice Yoga.
Mat materials and formats
Synthetic materials were the leading preference among respondents who used yoga mats. In the 2021 Global Yoga Survey, 68.1% preferred synthetic materials such as PVC, TPE, or rubber. Natural materials such as hemp, jute, or cork were preferred by 11.5%. Another 5.7% selected other mat materials, while 14.4% did not know which material their mat used.
The survey also captured a format preference rather than only a material preference. An extra-wide or thick mat was preferred by 13.6% of respondents who used yoga mats. This is a separate measure from material choice, so it should not be added to the material percentages as though all figures described one mutually exclusive list.
The material pattern in the survey is consistent with the commercial importance of PVC. Grand View Research reported that PVC mats represented 38.9% of global yoga-mat-market revenue in 2023. The same market report forecast the rubber yoga mat segment to grow at a 4.8% compound annual growth rate from 2024 through 2030. Those market figures measure revenue and forecast growth, whereas the survey figures measure respondent preferences in 2021; the two sources answer different questions.
| Mat-related measure | Result | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Synthetic-material preference among mat users | 68.1% | 2021 survey |
| Natural-material preference among mat users | 11.5% | 2021 survey |
| Extra-wide or thick mat preference | 13.6% | 2021 survey |
| PVC share of global mat-market revenue | 38.9% | 2023 |
| Rubber mat segment forecast CAGR | 4.8% | 2024–2030 forecast |
Source: The Global Yoga Survey 2021 and Yoga Mat Market Size, Share & Trends Report, 2024-2030.
Props and accessories
Props were common among the surveyed yoga practitioners. The Global Yoga Survey found that 66.4% of respondents used props during practice. Among respondents who used props, blocks were the most frequently reported item at 90.8%, followed by straps at 77.4%. Bolsters were used by 34.7% of prop users.
Less common accessory categories still appeared in the survey. Gloves, shoes, or socks were used by 10.0% of respondents who used props. Other prop types accounted for 8.1%, while slings were used by 2.5% and benches by 2.0%. These percentages are conditional: they describe the mix among prop users, not the share of all survey respondents.
The results suggest that purchasing interest is concentrated in practical support equipment. Blocks and straps were reported much more often than specialized items such as slings or benches. However, the survey does not measure purchase frequency, average prices, replacement cycles, or brand selection, so usage prevalence should not be presented as a direct sales ranking.
| Prop or accessory | Share among respondents who used props | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Blocks | 90.8% | 2021 |
| Straps | 77.4% | 2021 |
| Bolsters | 34.7% | 2021 |
| Gloves, shoes, or socks | 10.0% | 2021 |
| Other prop types | 8.1% | 2021 |
| Slings | 2.5% | 2021 |
| Benches | 2.0% | 2021 |
Source: The Global Yoga Survey 2021 | How And Why People Practice Yoga.
Market size and forecasts
Grand View Research estimated the global yoga mat market at US$15.1 billion in 2026, after reporting a US$13.6 billion valuation for 2023. It forecast the market to reach US$17.4 billion in 2030, with a 3.6% CAGR for 2024–2030. These are market-level estimates and forecasts, not totals of the individual spending reported by survey respondents.
Geography also shapes the market picture. North America held 41.8% of global yoga-mat-market revenue in 2023. The Asia-Pacific yoga mat market was forecast to grow at a 5.0% CAGR from 2024 through 2030. Because the first figure is a regional revenue share and the second is a forecast growth rate, they should not be interpreted as equivalent measures of current demand.
Yoga accessories form a related but separately reported category. Research and Markets valued the yoga accessories market at US$4.5 billion in 2026 and forecast an 8.8% CAGR from 2025 through 2034. Its forecast put the market at US$8.7 billion in 2034. The accessories figures should be kept distinct from the yoga mat estimates because the supplied sources report them as separate markets.
| Market measure | Value or forecast | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Global yoga mat market value | US$13.6 billion | 2023 |
| Global yoga mat market estimate | US$15.1 billion | 2026 estimate |
| Global yoga mat market forecast | US$17.4 billion | 2030 forecast |
| Yoga accessories market value | US$4.5 billion | 2026 |
| Yoga accessories market forecast | US$8.7 billion | 2034 forecast |
Sources: Yoga Mat Market Size, Share & Trends Report, 2024-2030 and Yoga Accessories Market Outlook 2026-2034: Market Share, and Growth Analysis.
Retail channels and home practice
Specialty stores held 46.4% of yoga-mat-market revenue by distribution channel in 2023, according to Grand View Research. Online yoga-mat channels were forecast to grow at a 4.1% CAGR from 2024 through 2030. The channel data indicates the continuing importance of specialist retail alongside projected online expansion, but it does not identify the share of individual survey respondents who bought equipment online.
Home practice was widespread in the 2021 Global Yoga Survey. A total of 85.0% of respondents practiced yoga at home for at least some sessions. Among those who practiced at home, 71.7% cited convenience as a reason and 46.1% cited lower cost. These motivations provide context for equipment purchasing: a home setting can make a mat or basic prop useful across repeated sessions, while the survey does not establish what each respondent purchased.
Digital services were also prominent. Overall, 79.6% of respondents practiced at home using an online, streaming, or television-based service. Among respondents who used online services, 78.1% used YouTube to guide yoga practice and 43.6% used other free services. Studio practice remained part of the mix, with 41.3% of respondents practicing yoga at a studio.
Source: The Global Yoga Survey 2021 | How And Why People Practice Yoga and Yoga Mat Market Size, Share & Trends Report, 2024-2030.
U.S. exercise-equipment spending benchmark
Bureau of Labor Statistics data provides a broader U.S. benchmark for athletic gear, game tables, and exercise equipment. It is not yoga-specific and should not be used as a direct estimate of yoga-equipment spending. The reported average expenditure per U.S. consumer unit ranged from US$36.33 in 2013 to US$111.80 in 2021. The share of consumer units reporting spending ranged from 1.6% to 2.1% across the listed years.
| Year | Average spending per consumer unit | Consumer units reporting spending |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | US$36.33 | 1.7% |
| 2014 | US$48.86 | 1.8% |
| 2015 | US$42.74 | 1.9% |
| 2016 | US$45.75 | 1.7% |
| 2017 | US$55.97 | 2.1% |
| 2018 | US$49.01 | 1.7% |
| 2019 | US$41.30 | 1.6% |
| 2020 | US$54.53 | 1.7% |
| 2021 | US$111.80 | 1.6% |
The category is broader than yoga and covers only consumer units reporting this type of spending. It therefore works best as historical context for U.S. exercise-equipment purchasing, with the measurement year kept explicit.
Source: Consumer expenditures for athletic gear, game tables, and exercise equipment doubled in 2021.
Buyer profile and practice frequency
The 2021 survey describes a frequently practicing respondent base. Overall, 66.5% of respondents practiced yoga three or more times per week. Within the reported weekly frequencies, 21.6% practiced three times per week, 13.2% four times, 12.1% five times, 5.4% six times, and 14.2% every day.
Frequent practice can provide context for interest in durable mats and reusable props, but the supplied figures do not establish a causal relationship between practice frequency and purchasing. They also do not report how often equipment was replaced or how much frequent practitioners spent. The safest interpretation is descriptive: a substantial share of surveyed respondents practiced often, while equipment spending and product choice varied across the group.
Source: The Global Yoga Survey 2021 | How And Why People Practice Yoga.