Best and Worst Surfaces to do Earthing

Did you know that not all surfaces will ground you? Grounding, or earthing, means touching the Earth so that your body can absorb the Earth’s natural electric charge.

However, whether you actually get grounded depends on what you’re standing or walking on. Some surfaces let the Earth’s electrons through easily, while others block them. In this article, we’ll explore the difference between conductive surfaces that allow grounding and insulating surfaces that prevent it.

Understanding this will help you choose the best spots to kick off your shoes and get the full benefits of earthing.

Conductive vs. Insulating Surfaces

Conductive surfaces are materials that let electricity flow freely. To ground yourself, you need to be in contact with a conductive surface that’s connected to the Earth. When you stand barefoot on a conductive material, electrons from the Earth can travel into your body, helping to stabilise your body’s electrical environment. In contrast, insulating surfaces resist electrical flow – they act like barriers between you and the Earth, so grounding won’t happen effectively through them.

The science is simple: conductive materials have loosely held electrons that can move, while insulators have tightly bound electrons that don’t move around. Our bodies are good conductors (since we have a high water content and charged ions), so if we give electrons a path from Earth to us, they will flow.

But if something non-conductive is in the way (like rubber or dry wood), that flow is stopped. Researchers have observed that when people are electrically connected to Earth, their bodies show changes like reduced voltage and shifts in physiological markers, whereas people isolated by insulators show no such changes (Sokal & Sokal, 2012). In short, to enjoy grounding, you must be touching the Earth through a conductive medium.

Best Surfaces for Grounding

If you want to practice earthing, seek out surfaces that conduct the Earth’s energy well. Here are some of the best natural and manmade surfaces for grounding:

1. Wet Grass or Soil: Lush grass, especially when damp with dew or after rain, is fantastic for grounding. Both the moisture and the living plant material conduct electrons. Standing or walking barefoot on moist soil in your garden or a park will also ground you quickly. The thin layer of water helps create a direct electrical connection with your skin.
2. Wet Sand (Beach): If you’ve ever walked on a beach near the water, you were grounding on one of the most effective surfaces. Wet sand is rich in minerals (like salt at the ocean) and holds water, making it highly conductive. The combination of salt and moisture means electrons from the Earth’s surface can freely flow into your body. This is why grounding is so potent at the beach – the environment naturally maximizes conductivity.
3. Concrete (Unsealed): Concrete is made from cement, water, and mineral components, and it can conduct electricity – but only if it’s directly on the ground and not sealed with paint or epoxy. Unpainted, unsealed concrete floors or slabs (like a basement floor or a sidewalk) that sit on the Earth will ground you when you stand or sit on them with skin contact. Concrete holds some moisture, which aids conductivity. Note that if concrete is elevated (like on a second story) or has a vapor barrier underneath, it might not ground you because it isn’t truly connected to the Earth’s bulk charge.
4. Natural Bodies of Water: Lakes, rivers, and the ocean are all connected directly to the Earth and full of mineral-rich water. Immersing yourself in these (or even just dipping your feet) is a sure way to get grounded. Water is an excellent conductor, and water in nature is usually loaded with ions (electrically charged particles) that enhance conductivity further. Swimming or wading provides full-body grounding and can be very refreshing.
5. Bare Earth and Mud: Simply touching bare earth (plain ground) works, too. Digging your hands in a garden bed or sitting on the ground will connect you. If the earth is muddy or wet, it’s even better. Mud between your toes might be messy, but it’s a fun way to get grounded with a strong connection due to the high moisture content.

Surfaces That Won’t Ground You

On the other hand, some common surfaces are insulators that stop the flow of the Earth’s energy. When you’re on these materials, you remain electrically disconnected from the Earth, meaning no grounding effect.

Here are surfaces and materials that do not ground you:

1. Asphalt and Plastic: Asphalt (the material of most roads and driveways) is made from petroleum-based tar and is not conductive. It actually behaves like a giant insulating layer. Similarly, hard plastic surfaces (such as the flooring in some houses or playground mats) won’t let you ground.
2. Rubber and Rubber-Soled Shoes: Rubber is an excellent insulator – that’s why electricians wear rubber gloves and shoes for protection. If you are barefoot on grass but put a piece of rubber (like a yoga mat or a rubber sandal) between your foot and the ground, you break the connection. Modern shoe soles are almost all made of rubber or synthetic materials that insulate. Wearing typical sneakers or flip-flops means you are not grounded, even if you’re on a conductive surface like grass. (Leather soles, however, can allow some grounding because leather can absorb moisture and become somewhat conductive.)
3. Dry Wood: Wood in its natural, moist state (like a living tree) can conduct minimally, but dry wood is an insulator. Sitting on a dry wooden bench, or standing on a deck made of wood planks, will not ground you. The same goes for laminate wood flooring – it usually has insulating coatings and lack of moisture. Unless the wood is very damp or treated with something conductive, it won’t pass the charge.
4. Vinyl and Carpet: Many indoor floors are covered with vinyl, linoleum, or synthetic carpet. These materials are insulators. Even though the concrete foundation of a house might be grounding, the flooring on top of it blocks the electron flow. That’s why you generally can’t ground yourself by standing barefoot inside on a vinyl floor or on a carpet over concrete – the floor coverings create a barrier.
5. Painted or Sealed Surfaces: A surface that might have been conductive (like concrete or metal) can become insulating if coated with certain paints, sealants, or finishes. For instance, wood or concrete covered with epoxy paint, or metal with a thick paint, will not ground you because the coating is an insulator. Always consider what is on the surface; a thin layer of non-conductive material is enough to stop grounding.

Tips for Grounding on Various Surfaces

When Outdoors

Aim to be on natural surfaces. Grass, earth, sand, and rock (if moist) are your best bet. If you’re in a park, find a grassy area and take off your shoes. At the beach or lake, go barefoot in the wet areas.

If you’re gardening, try kneeling or sitting so your hands touch the soil.

After Rain or Watering

Take advantage of moisture. You might normally be insulated on dry ground, but right after it rains, even dry soil becomes conductive. Puddles on concrete or wet dirt paths become opportunities for grounding. 

Some people even lightly water a patch of yard so they can sit with their feet on the damp ground for a stronger grounding effect.

In Urban Areas

If you don’t have a yard, look for unpainted concrete in contact with earth – for example, the base of a building or an outdoor concrete staircase. Many city parks have soil and grass areas perfect for barefoot walking.

Even concrete sidewalks can work if they’re directly on the ground (and not sealed), but grassy areas are more comfortable and usually not sealed.

Be Mindful of Barriers

Remember that a blanket or towel on the grass can insulate you. If you want to lie down on the lawn for grounding, it’s best to have at least some part of you touching grass or soil directly.

Similarly, dipping your hand in a lake while sitting on a wooden dock will ground it, but for complete grounding, it’s better to put your feet in the water or sit on the edge with your legs in the water, rather than on a dry towel.

Use Grounding Products on Insulators

If you need to be on an insulating surface (like inside your home on carpet or while seated at a desk), you can use our grounding mats or grounding bedsheets to connect you to an outlet’s ground or a ground rod.

These devices bring the Earth’s charge to you through a wire, bypassing the insulating floor. For example, a grounding mat on your office floor or a grounding sheet on your bed can let you be barefoot and grounded even if the building has insulating flooring. 

These products have been developed because modern living often keeps us off conductive ground. Experiments have shown that using such grounding systems indoors can mimic the effects of being outside barefoot (Chevalier et al., 2012).

Final Thoughts

In summary, grounding only works when your body has a direct line to the Earth’s electrical field. Natural surfaces that are moist or rich in minerals provide that connection; modern surfaces like asphalt, rubber, and plastic do not. By choosing the right surfaces – or using tools to bridge the gap – you can make grounding a part of your daily life.

Whether it’s a stroll on wet grass in the morning or relaxing on the beach, being mindful of where you stand will ensure you truly connect with Earth and enjoy the health benefits of earthing.

Research suggests that when grounding is effective, people experience things like improved sleep, reduced stress, and less inflammation, all from the simple act of reconnecting with our planet (Chevalier et al., 2012; Oschman et al., 2015). So kick off those shoes on a safe surface, and let the Earth energise you!

References

1. Chevalier, G., Sinatra, S. T., Oschman, J. L., Sokal, K., & Sokal, P. (2012). Earthing: Health implications of reconnecting the human body to the Earth’s surface electrons. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2012, 291541. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/291541
2. Sokal, K., & Sokal, P. (2012). Earthing the human organism influences bioelectrical processes. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 18(3), 229–234. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2010.0683
3. Oschman, J. L., Chevalier, G., & Brown, R. (2015). The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Journal of Inflammation Research, 8, 83–96. https://doi.org/10.2147/JIR.S69656