The history of floor mats or doormats is not at all thrilling, but it does hold a special position, to say the least. One cannot imagine a workplace or a dwelling without doormats. It is an irreplaceable object which has been throughout our journey of growing up.
During the early Mesopotamian civilization, the mats were made of woven grass, which kept the dirt and grease outside the accommodation. The closest kin of contemporary doormats surely dates back to 1800 England, when rugs, mats, and carpets became extremely essential components of a household.
Looking for doormats but feeling skeptical about the sizes and material? Here is a complete guide that will ensure a perfect purchase.
Standard Doormat Sizes
Doormats come in a wide range and various sizes, which can be confusing at times. Standard doormat size is a relative term and varies depending on door sizes and entrance access. Ideally, it should cover 80% of the doorway. Having said that, the standard sizes ranges 24″ by 18″ and 47″ by 22″ for double doors.
Smaller doormats are an excellent choice for single doors, whereas bigger doormats are necessary for double doors or doors with sidelights. The weight also varies depending on the area of placement. For example, heavy doormats are mostly preferred outside, while lighter ones can be used inside the house as well.
- Width-
As we mentioned earlier, doormat sizes vary according to the measurements of the front doors. The doormat should cover 80% of the door width to prevent side-stepping. For single doors, the standard doormat size stands at 18 by 30 inches. But this size greatly varies according to the width of a door.
- Clearance-
This is the area or the space between the door and the doormat. This needs to be measured in order to retain from pinching and pushing the doormat to one side while swinging open the door. If the space is little, a doormat on the thinner side is mostly preferred. As we know that, thickness does not ensure the best quality, which has to be kept in mind while purchasing a doormat.
- Length-
The length has to play a key factor when it comes to purchasing a brand new doormat. The length should ideally fit both feet of a person at the same time. This ensures the proper removal of dust. It should also not block the hinges of the door while open. This might again cause small accidents if there are children in a home.
- Thickness-
As discussed earlier, the thickness should be measured properly before buying a doormat. If the thickness is more, then there are high chances of the door getting stuck while closing and opening, and it may even get crumpled. This will not help in serving the ultimate purpose of the doormat.
Watch Standard Doormat Width & Length Size Chart With Rug Shape Measurements Illustration
What Is The Average Size of a Doormat?
Doormats vary in sizes and can be customized as well. Typically an average size doormat is 18″ by 30″.
What is the ideal size of a front doormat?
Standard size of a front door is approximately 3 feet wide, which means the doormat should be nearly 24″ wide, depending upon the preference. A wider double door with sidelights should have a doormat with a width of 47″ or more to look broader and aligned with the sider trim.
Doormat Sizes in a Nutshell
Standard Doormat size in cm | Size 40×60 cm |
layered doormat Size Combination | 18X30 And 2X3 |
Welcome Mat Size | 24″ by 18″ |
Best material for outdoor doormat | Coir fiber and rubber Made Doormats |
Doormat Sizes Explained in charts:
The sizes of doormats available in the market are explained below in detail:
Standard Doormat Measurements |
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Standard | Double Door | Mini | Large | |
Width | 18 | 47 | 24 | 36 |
Length | 24 | 22 | 16 | 24 |
Half-circle or semi-circle doormats are small and compact. They look classy with different designs and patterns. They are a breath of fresh air when one gets bored of the common circle, oval and rectangular shapes. They give a traditional feel to the home decor. These doormats are perfect for indoors as well as for single doors. The standard size of a semi-circle doormat is given below:
Standard Half Circle Doormat Measurements |
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Standard | Double Door | Extra Large | Large | |
Width/Height At Tallest Part | 15-17” | 60” | 42-48” | 24” |
Length/Diameter | 27-30” | 32” | 24” | 36” |
What are the Different Types/Styles of Door Mats and How to pick the right one for your room type or theme?
Doormats come in a wide array of shapes and sizes, having various functionalities depending upon the place of usage. It also depends upon the origin and cultures practiced by different countries.
For example, Japan and most of the other eastern countries prefer grass as the principal material. Whereas in Hindu countries, dwarf palm, bamboo, straw, coconut palm, etc., serve as the main components for doormats.
Doormats also vary according to their place of use and the purpose it serves. For example, non-slippery and absorbent mats are used for bathroom and poolside, whereas straw, nylon, rubber and aluminum mats can be used at entrances. They help to scrape off dirt and grease from the soles of the shoes easily. Now, let us find out the different types of doormats usually found in the market:
Scraper mats-
Scraper mats are mainly used outside the main entrance of the house. These are created in such a way that they help to keep dirt or debris outside.
Interior mats-
These mats are typically used for the interiors of a household or office building. These are made of a bit softer material like natural or synthetic fiber, polypropylene, cotton, etc., which makes them sturdy enough to last a few months or even more. As interior mats do not get affected by sun or dirt, they last longer in terms of damage.
These mats also have a safe backing or foundation of rubber or latex that prevents a person from slipping off and falling. They can also be placed near wet floors.
Indoor/ outdoor Doormats-
As the name suggests, these mats can be placed outside as well as inside. These are sturdy enough to take sun damage over time, along with dust and debris. These also have various colors and patterns available, which can be adjusted with the decoration of a house.
Decorative mats-
These mats can be used both outside as well as inside, depending on their material and durability. The unique feature of these mats is their decorations. They might have the family name and initials, messages, logos, cartoons, flowers or other abstract designs that look good when they compliment the surroundings.
Many companies even provide customized versions of decorative mats where one has to choose what he wants to showcase on that particular mat.
Drainage mats-
These mats are typically made for drainage purposes and have numerous holes in them, which are arranged in the shape of some pattern or decorations whatsoever. These mats are the best choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and balconies where washing and spilling usually occur. Any liquid or dirt that falls on the surface finds its way through the holes, which keeps the mat surface clean and easy to wash.
Drainage mats are usually made of heavy-duty rubber, which has holes in them, making drainage easy. They are also grease and dirt-resistant which makes them an excellent choice in areas that are prone to dirt and grease.
Anti-static doormats-
These mats are mostly used in offices or rooms with electronic gadgets such as computers, printers, etc. They are usually made of foam vinyl which reduces muscle strain and prevents damage via electrical shock. These are mostly for commercial places like offices, hospitals, airports, and schools.
Anti-fatigue mats-
These mats are specially designed to take the extra weight of a body and eliminate muscle strain altogether. If a job requires 8 hours of standing without much limb movement, these mats provide extra comfort that might even reduce the pressure on the lower body, making it bearable and less painful.
Carpet mats-
These are mostly found in warehouses and factories where a lot of grime and dust gets transported throughout the place. To prevent such circumstances, these come in handy. These mats are dense, non-straining, and can be cleaned easily with a vacuum or hose. They are also made to last long, which is just a cherry on top.
Car mats-
Car mats are a must to prevent the insides of a car from getting dirty. Car mats also have hard, coarse bristles to scrape off the dirt from the feet. They are mostly made of rubber or polypropylene. The car mats usually do not have any different themes or patterns to choose from.
In order to buy a doormat, one needs to make up his mind regarding the placement of the mat and the purpose that it might serve. There is no need to invest in expensive doormats as they should be changed after every six months.
If the mat is to be placed outdoors, heavy material with a slip-resistant grip and coarse bristles are a perfect choice. The outdoor mats should also be quite absorbent in order to remove moisture from the soles of the shoes.
For the living area, the doormat should complement the decoration and should be lightweight. It can be of any shape and size.
Doormats for bathrooms and kitchens should have holes in them to ensure proper drainage of food and water if spilled on it. They should be water-resistant and easy to clean.
Layered Doormat Ideal Size Combination:
Layer doormat is the latest trend, and there are a lot of people who started using a double-layered doormat. It beautifies the appearance along with keeping the openings more tidy and clean.
If you are planning to use a layered doormat for your front door. It’s extremely crucial to consider that they all need to fit the width of your front door. You can’t just choose any size for the base layer and pair it with a 2×3 rug – you need to layer two of them. In addition to the width, the size of your door should be equal to or larger than the rug you choose.
30″ x 50″ outdoor rug is the ideal choice for the base layer any proportional top layer would look just fine with that.
Alternatively, for a wide door, one can consider a 18×30 doormat which would be perfect. The same goes for a 2×3 rug on the bottom. Larger front doors require a larger rug combination.
Once you finalize the sizing, it’s time to play with appearance and color combination for layered two-tiered doormats. Choose a neutral color for the bottom layer. Then, choose the best matching color for the top layer, and you can also use accessories and paint. There are many different options available for layered doormat colors and patterns. Feel free to experiment and see which combination complements the most your door openings.
Circular Doormats VS Rectangular Doormats
Circular doormats are not much larger than rectangular ones when compared simultaneously. The rectangular ones cover a decent volume of the ground because of the structure, whereas the circular ones lack the edges giving an illusion of fullness and roundness focusing on the middle portion of the ground.
The fundamental difference between inside or outside Doormats:
Inside mats are different in material and durability when compared to outside mats. They endure less harshness and hence last longer if taken proper care of. There are three basic differences that can be pointed out effortlessly.
Weather-proofing-
Outdoor mats have to withstand high temperatures in extreme climatic regions. They mostly endure long hours under the sun, rain, and snowfall, which is kept in mind while designing the mat. They should also hold the colors intact and not wash away in the rain. So, fade-resistant ones are better options outdoors.
On the other hand, indoor mats do not go under such extremities, which in turn, extends the longevity of these mats. They come in various color and design options to choose from.
Surface-design-
The upper surface of an outdoor mat should be designed in such a way that scraping off dirt and grease becomes hassle-free for the guest. Their bristles should have pointed tips scattered in every possible direction to ensure the clean removal of dirt from every nook and corner of one’s shoes effortlessly.
Indoor mats do not require heavy bristles. They have softer surfaces, typically made for soles of feet and not shoes. These are handy and can be washed frequently.
Toughness-
The staying power is very important when it comes to outdoor mats. As discussed earlier, they endure a lot which requires toughness on the part of the material used. They should maintain high durability and have resistance power to endure all the harshness that mother nature has to offer.
On the other hand, indoor mats only require strong gripping power so that they do not cause unnecessary accidents. Toughness is not a mandatory criteria that one sees while purchasing indoor mats.
Size-
The size of an outside doormat must cover 2/3rd of the area outside the main entrance to make sure guests do not side-step them while entering. They are mostly preferred rectangular in shape, covering the entire sole of an average-sized shoe.
Inside doormats can be of any shape and size and can be colorful as well depending upon the choice of the person.