Balcony flooring for renters: deck tiles, rugs and how many you need

Most apartment balconies are bare concrete, and most leases don't let you glue or nail anything down. Here are the balcony flooring options renters actually use, how much each one costs per square foot of effort, and how to measure so you order the right amount.

Option 1: interlocking deck tiles

Deck tiles are wood or composite slats fixed to a plastic grid. The grids click together, so you lay them like a puzzle and lift them out when you move. Water drains through the base, which matters on a balcony.

• Good for: making concrete feel like a deck, covering stains, warming up the look.
• Watch out for: drains in the floor. Leave the drain clear, or cut a tile so you can lift it.

Our acacia balcony floor tiles come 24 to a pack at 24 × 12 inches each, which covers 48 square feet.

Option 2: an outdoor rug

A polypropylene outdoor rug is the cheapest fix and the fastest to swap. It won't hide an uneven floor, and it holds water underneath after rain, so lift it to dry now and then.

Option 3: tiles plus a rug

On a bigger balcony, tile the seating area and put a small rug under the table. It defines the space without covering every inch.

How many deck tiles you need

1. Measure the width and depth of the floor in feet.
2. Multiply them to get square feet. A 5 × 8 ft balcony is 40 sq ft.
3. Divide by the area of one tile. A 24 × 12 in tile is 2 sq ft, so 40 sq ft needs 20 tiles.
4. Add 10% for cuts around posts and the door. That's 22 tiles, so one 24-pack.

Before you lay anything

• Check your lease or HOA rules. Most allow loose tiles and rugs, but ask.
• Sweep the slab and make sure water drains toward the drain.
• Start at the door and work outward so cut pieces end up at the railing, where they're less visible.
• Oil wood tiles every couple of months if they stay out all year.

Once the floor is done, see our small balcony furniture ideas and balcony furniture that lists the space each piece needs.