WHAT ARE EARTHING MATS AND HOW DO YOU USE THEM?  

Earthing mats -also known as grounding mats- are flat, conductive devices that you sit, stand or recline on when indoors in order to absorb Earth’s natural electron flow. As substitutes for being barefoot outdoors, Earthing mats are especially useful when it’s prohibitively cold, hot or rainy outside. They can also help you achieve your desired grounding time when your ability to ground outdoors is limited. Having an Earthing mat at home and/or work can help you stay connected to Earth’s energy or frequency, and ultimately access grounding benefits.

If you’re new to indoor grounding, we’ve posted some common questions with answers below. Alternately, skip directly to the grounding mats we recommend for home and office use>.

  • Grounding, also known as Earthing, is the process of connecting to Earth’s natural electron flow, or “heartbeat,” which is also known as the Schumann resonance (about 7.83 Hz). Being barefoot on a natural Earth surface like sand, rock or grass is an ideal way to ground, but you can also ground indoors using a grounding mat or other device which connects to Earth energy via the ground port of an electrical outlet.

  • Made with conductive materials, grounding/Earthing mats plug into grounding ports of electrical outlets to deliver ground energy into body parts in contact with them. Learn more below>

  • The same as grounding barefoot on a natural Earth surface for an equivalent amount of time…Feeling more energetic, relaxed, rested and calm, sleeping better, healing from wounds and recovering from viral illnesses faster, and experiencing less pain. This is because grounding has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body and helps regulate autonomic nervous system activity and even some hormonal activity. Research also indicates it can bring about cardiovascular benefits.

  • We recommend the Earthing Universal Mat, which is 12.5” x 29.” You can place it under your desk and put your feet on it - bare or with cotton socks; grounding socks are best. Some people prefer to use the Universal mat under a keyboard or laptop and ground by resting their hands atop the mat while typing. And some even like to sit on this versatile mat. Since you get two mats in each kit, you can try a combination of approaches, or keep one mat at home and one at work.

    If you work in a larger office and have the space and privacy to lay down or stretch while at work, the Earthing Yoga Mat (26” x 71”) is ideal to have on hand. Lunchtime catnap, anyone?

  • For sleep, we recommend Earthing Mattress Covers, Pillow Covers and Sleep Mats - you can learn about each of these, as well as grounding sheets, on our Grounding Sleep Systems page.

    If you’re new to grounding and not yet ready to invest in a mattress cover, you can try sleeping grounded atop one or two of the Universal (12.5” x 29”) Earthing mats - four come in each kit. These mats are thicker and more rubbery than the very thin and lightweight grounding sleep mats and mattress covers, but will allow you to test out sleeping on a grounding device to see if you experience improvements in your sleep, health and/or well-being.

    The Universal Mat Kits is a great grounder for your feet and/or rear when sitting on the couch or chairs at home; you can also place one under your feet to ground when cooking or washing dishes in your kitchen, and for grounded teeth brushing in your bathroom. The Universal grounding mat is also ideal for use under your desk or table when online or working on a computer.

    The Earthing Yoga Mat (26” x 71”) is one of our personal favorites…you can use it not only for grounded stretching, strengthening, yoga, aerobics, or meditation, but to stand on in the kitchen to prepare food, wash dishes, etc.

  • Earthing, or grounding indoors, can certainly be a challenge…There aren’t many surfaces in our homes and workplaces that will allow Earth’s natural electron flow to pass through the ground below and into our feet.

    Wood and vinyl flooring will block, or insulate you from, natural earth energy. So will carpeting. Tile flooring may be a decent indoor grounding option, but only if the tile is both unpainted and unsealed. Same goes for an unpainted, unsealed concrete or stone surface, upon which you could stand barefoot or in socks (grounding socks will be most conductive).

    If your bathroom has metal (not PVC/plastic) pipes, you can ground by taking a shower or bath. A bath in unfiltered tap water or water with minerals added is a good option, especially if you touch a metal part with your hands or feet while bathing (that metal part must be connected to a metal pipe in the ground though). Same goes for doing the dishes, if the piping is all metal from the ground up.

    For maximum grounding time, we recommend also using one of the mats below.

If you’re looking for Earthing sleep mats and grounding mattress pads/covers, you can find them on this Grounding Sleep Systems page.

TELL ME HOW TO GROUND INDOORS WITH EARTHING MATS….

WHAT IS THE UNIVERSAL EARTHING MAT?

Earthing Universal grounding mat for office and home use

Universal Mat for grounding indoors

Comfortable, durable, and versatile, the Earthing Universal Mat is a 12.5-inch by 29-inch (32 x 72.7 cm) conductive mat you stand, sit or lay on. This bestselling grounding mat, which comes as a kit containing four equal-size mats, offers numerous ways to ground indoors:

  • Feet can be placed on mat to absorb Earth energy while sitting at home or work - in a chair or on the couch.

  • Hands or elbows can rest on mat at a table or desk (for example, under a laptop or keyboard).

  • Lay on it to target specific areas like the low back or ankles; makes a great sleep system substitute while traveling.

  • You can use it to test how you’d feel sleeping grounded before purchasing an Earthing Sleep System.

  • Stand on it while preparing food or washing dishes in the kitchen.

The Universal Mat Kit includes: 4 Universal Mats, 4 coil cords, 2 U.S. outlet checkers and 4 U.S. safety adaptors…so you can conveniently keep one at home and one at work, or give one to a friend or family member!

EARTHING MATS FOR YOGA, MEDITATION, WORKING OUT AND MORE

Yes, you can now take your yoga or meditation practice to a new level of relaxation and mind-body harmony with Earthing’s grounded yoga mat!

From the warrior trio and downward dog, to tree, eagle and mountain pose, you can breathe into your favorite poses while absorbing natural Earth energy through a densely cushioned (3.5 mm) Earthing Yoga Mat.

This yoga mat is meant for indoor use and works like a Universal Mat or Sleep Mat/Cover. You snap the magnetic ground cord to the yoga mat and plug it into the ground port (third hole) of your electrical outlet (you can also plug it into an outside outlet that is grounded). The top layer is fully conductive because it is made of non-toxic polyurethane infused with conductive carbon. It is phthalate-free, vinal-free and helps absorb sweat.

Ready to enhance your flow with the Earth’s energetic “heartbeat”?

Grounding yoga mat by Earthing

Earthing Yoga Mat - 26” x 71”

Our Grounded Yoga Mat Review

“There’s a reason the Earthing Yoga Mat is listed first in our Holiday Gift Guide: Top 10 Grounding Gifts…It’s awesome!

I (Marchann) bought this grounded yoga mat for myself, only to have my kids and pets hijack it. We collectively use it for stretching, yoga, dance, acrobatics, strength training and even chi exercises, and I’ve felt more relaxed and energized than usual when on it, and knowing this, I’m more motivated to do yoga more often.

Although it’s not grippy like traditional yoga mats, the Earthing Yoga Mat isn’t slippery either. Thankfully, its smooth surface is easy to clean with a damp cloth - something we need to do often with so many feet and paws on this grounded mat!

For yoga or fitness enthusiasts, this grounded yoga mat can make a game-changing addition to your exercise or rec room.”

-Marchann Sinatra Blake

*Disclosure: This page contains Amazon and other affiliate links. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn commissions. Your support facilitates our research in the Earthing/Grounding and wellness space, which we'll continue to share with you. We only recommend products we use ourselves and have found to be effective!

HOW ABOUT GROUNDING WHILE SITTING DOWN?

Although Earthing no longer offers a chair mat kit, they’ve got something even better which you can sit back and relax in comfort on…a Portable Grounding Chair! This grounding chair helps you stay connected and enjoying all the benefits of grounding indoors while you work or play. The Earthing Chair connects you to the Earth’s energy through your wall’s grounding port.

Set it up anywhere for some quiet reflection time, a comfy TV or reading spot, or game night around the coffee table.

When used with a Ground Rod (instead of the plug-in coil cord it comes with), this cushioned grounding chair can even be enjoyed outdoors at spectator events on the lawn or bleachers. It’s designed for portability with a convenient travel strap.

Easy to set up and easy to fold, Earthing’s Grounding Chair also has a detachable lumbar support pillow for back or hip support.

 

THIS GROUNDING CHAIR KIT INCLUDES:

  • 1 Large Portable Grounding Chair

    • Height: 24 inches

    • Length: 30 inches

    • Width: 18 inches

  • 1 Detachable Lumbar Support Pillow

  • 1 U.S. Outlet Checker

  • 1 Coil Cord

  • 1 U.S. Safety Adapter  

HOW TO USE YOUR EARTHING MAT & COVER VIDEO

HOW DO EARTHING MATS WORK?

Earthing Universal, Chair, Auto Seat and Yoga mats contain carbon in their top layers, and carbon is conductive of electricity. When your skin or feet (bare or in grounding socks) make direct contact with the top layer of an Earthing mat, the carbon in that mat conducts the Earth’s natural, electromagnetic energy into the part of your body that touches the mat.

Where does the Earth’s energy come from? The ground port of an electrical outlet. Most homes built after the 1950’s are grounded with a ground wire to prevent electrical short circuiting and resulting electrical fires or shocks.

electrical outlets with and without ground ports

If your home or office is grounded, the electrical outlets will have three holes; ungrounded homes have outlets with just two slots to plug into. The lower center hole is the ground port, which connects to the wire which grounds your home.

When you plug a grounding mat into the ground port of an electrical outlet, you connect it to the Earth’s natural, electromagnetic energy, which is conducted through your home’s ground wire. You are not tapping into the electricity of your home. All Earthing products which plug into a grounding port utilize this means of conducting Earth energy into your body.

When you order a grounding mat, Earthing with send you a kit that contains an Outlet Checker, Safety Adaptor, and a cord which you snap onto your grounding mat and plug the other end into a ground port.

To make sure the outlet you’re plugging into will connect you to Earth energy, plug the Outlet Checker into it. If both lights on the right hand side light up, you’re good to ground through it. If you see something else, test additional outlets until you find one that shows correct ground conductivity.

Earthing also recommends using the Safety Adaptor if you are plugging in two grounding devices into the same outlet, or if you otherwise need an adaptor - learn more at Earthing Institute.

If you do not have grounded outlets or prefer not to use the outlet, a simple Earthing® Ground Rod (see nearby slideshow) can be used.

Earthing also offers a Product Tester Kit, which you can purchase separately (it is not included with grounding mat kits). This kit will give you further proof that your Earthing Universal or Yoga mat effectively conducts Earth energy. After testing your outlet and plugging your mat or other Earthing device into the ground port, you firmly place the Tester onto the conductive surface of your grounding mat. Next, press down on the PRESS button. A solid green light indicates your product is conductive and will ground you.

WHAT CLOTHING CAN YOU WEAR ON AN EARTHING MAT?

We recommend direct skin contact, if possible, to achieve optimum effectiveness. You can achieve this when sitting or lying down by wearing shorts or a skirt, or by placing the mat under your shirt or waistband. If you are wearing a long sweater or sweatshirt, tuck it out of the way so you aren’t sitting on multiple layers of fabric. The less clothing between you and the grounding mat, the better. For mats that you stand or otherwise place your feet on, we recommend being on them barefoot or in grounding socks; depending on what they are made of, regular socks may not block the Earth energy, but they can dull it.

HOW DO YOU WASH AN EARTHING MAT?

Earthing mats can simply be wiped down with a damp cloth or warm, soapy cloth. Wipe down again with a clean wet cloth to remove any residual soap and air dry. If using detergent, make sure it is a gentle one; harsh cleaners, bleach and chemicals can diminish conductivity of grounding mats. 

IS THERE AN EARTHING MAT JUST FOR PETS?

Yes! Back by popular demand, Earthing now offers a grounded pet bed kit in three sizes:

  • Small (28” x 20” x 4”) - best for pets 1-31 lbs

  • Medium (36” x 24” x 4”) - best for pets 31-70 lbs

  • Large (44” x 28” x 6”) - best for pets 71+ lbs

This Pet Bed Cover Kit is made from the same proprietary Earthing Elite™material as Earthing’s Grounded Mattress Covers, which is a naturally antimicrobial, fluid-resistant, stain-resistant polyurethane and carbon blend. Vinyl-free and phthalate-free, this durable, conductive pet bed cover will safely ground your pets.

To use the cover, slide and zip it around your pet’s favorite bed, pillow, or blanket. You can also simply stuff it with any cozy material - whatever your pet likes best!

As an alternate solution for grounding your pets, Earthing also recommends using a grounded pillow cover or one of the grounding mats shown above to ground pets to Earth energy.

A cat or small dog, for example, could easily ground atop a Universal Mat, which is 12.5” x 29”. A larger dog may enjoy a grounded yoga mat, which is 26” x 71.”.

Earthing Pillow Covers are designed to zip around standard or king-size pillows, so they could also be used to encircle a small pet bed.

In our experience (with both cats and dogs), pets tend to want to spread out on the mats that we, ourselves use. Whether it’s your scent that attracts them, or they’re “claiming your territory,” your furry friends may also want to lay on it with you (this has been Marchann’s experience with the Earthing Yoga Mat and Mattress Cover).

We’ve found that most, but not all, pets will gravitate toward grounding devices. Hence, we recommend testing whether your pet likes to sit or lay on a grounding device you use before purchasing one specifically for them. You could place your grounding mat atop their bed, on a chair, or on the floor - wherever they would most likely curl up and ground on it - and see if they lay for a while on it.

Also - very importantly - some dogs and cats (again, in our experience) may chew through the cords that connect the grounding mats to the ground ports. While this won’t electrocute them (since they’re not biting into live wires), it will mean you need to purchase a replacement wire for your device. For pets that chew, we suggest placing their grounding mat as close to the wall as possible, then taping the cord to the wall all the way to the outlet. Alternately, you can use a cord cover (one of our readers suggested this option after finding success with it). These solutions should help keep their little jaws away from that tempting cord!

Maybe an Earthing® Sleep System or some Earthing® Patches and Wearables are better for you?

Page reviewed by Dr. Drew Sinatra, N.D.

Page last updated April 18, 2024.

Although all articles and content at Grounded.com containing health information are reviewed and fact checked by one or more members of our Medical Advisory Board, such information should not replace consultation or a visit with a qualified health professional. As such, we recommend that you consult with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about how grounding may impact your health; view medical disclaimer.

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