Gym Wall Padding: Sizes, Types & How Many Panels You Need
Buying Guide
Wall padding protects athletes who run, fall or get thrown into a wall. In a wrestling room, a basketball gym or a home training space, it is the cheapest injury prevention you can buy. This guide shows how to pick the right panel and how many you need.
How high should wall padding go?
- Wrestling rooms: pad every wall around the mat to about 6 feet high. The NFHS points to 2" padding up to 6 ft as good practice.
- Basketball and volleyball gyms: pad the end walls behind the baskets and any wall within the run-off zone, usually 6 ft.
- Home gyms and garages: 4–5 ft is often enough for striking and grappling drills.
Panel types
| Type | How it mounts | Best for | UMA price from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood-backed panels (AK Athletics) | Screwed or hung on the wall, 2 ft wide, 4–8 ft tall | Schools, clubs, permanent rooms | $102 (2'×4') |
| Century wall pads | Screw-secured, 2'×4' and 2'×6', made in Oklahoma | Budget projects | $74 (2'×4') |
| Easy Stick panels (AK Athletics) | Adhesive, no drilling | Rentals, garages, home gyms | $116 (4'×2') |
Most indoor panels are 2 inches thick. Wood backing adds about 1/2–3/4 inch.
How many panels do you need?
- Measure the length of each wall you want to pad, in feet.
- Subtract doors and openings.
- Divide by 2 (panel width) and round up.
- Pick the height: 6 ft for wrestling, 4–5 ft for home use.
Example: a 30 ft × 30 ft wrestling room with one 3 ft door has 117 ft of wall. 117 ÷ 2 = 58.5 → 59 panels of 2'×6'.
Columns, I-beams and corners
Wall panels do not cover posts. Use pole pads, four-sided column pads or I-beam pads sized to the post. See our guide to I-beam and column padding.
Mats and wall pads in one order
UMA Supply combines mats and padding from AK Athletics, Century and Greatmats in one quote. Send your room size and we will count panels, column pads and mats for you.
FAQ
- Do I need fire-rated padding? Many schools require it. AK Athletics wood-backed panels use Class A fire-rated vinyl.
- Can I mount pads on cinder block? Yes — wood-backed panels are screwed into block or studs; adhesive panels need a smooth, clean surface.
- How long does shipping take? It depends on the brand and quantity; your quote shows the exact cost and time.