How to Choose a Door Mat: Size, Material and Fun Designs

Your door mat is the first thing guests see and the first line of defense against dirt. Here is how to choose one from our huge collection of door mats.

What size door mat?

A door mat should be about 80 percent of the width of your door or wider. For a standard 36 inch front door, a mat around 30 inches wide works well. Double doors look best with a wider mat or two mats side by side. Make sure the door can open freely over the mat.

Pick a material

• Coir: Made from natural coconut fiber, coir is stiff and scrapes dirt and mud off shoes very effectively. It is the classic choice for printed welcome mats.
• Rubber-backed coir: Adds grip and keeps the mat in place on porches and steps.
• Woven and synthetic mats: Softer and easy to clean, good for covered entries and mudrooms.

Have fun with the design

Door mats are a low-cost way to show your personality. Choose a witty quote, a seasonal design, a pet-themed mat or a personalized family name. Swap mats with the seasons for an easy curb appeal update.

Layer it

A popular look is to layer a printed coir mat on top of a larger striped or plaid outdoor rug. The bigger rug frames the door and the coir mat does the scraping.

Care tips

• Shake or beat the mat outside regularly to remove dirt.
• Vacuum or brush it with a stiff brush.
• Spot clean with mild soap and water, then let it dry completely in the air.
• Keep coir mats in covered areas when possible; they last longer when they can dry out between rains.

Inside the door, add an entry rug or runner to catch what the door mat misses. Shop all door mats.

Shop the picks

• Handwoven Coco Doormats - 1.5" Thick: A 1.5-inch-thick handwoven natural coir mat recommended for indoor or fully covered outdoor areas.
• Shades of Sea - Blue Coir Doormat: Natural coir with layered blue waves, offered in standard, oversized and extra-long sizes for wide or double doors.
• Nature Lover Pine Cone Coir Doormat: A black pine cone on natural coir, available as a thick all-coir mat or a thinner rubber-backed version for door clearance.
• Home View - Black Coir Doormat: A thinner rubber-backed coir mat with a simple house outline, in standard and extra-long sizes.
• Welcome To Maaa House: A sheep-themed coir mat with a vinyl backing for a fun front-door welcome.

For a softer landing just inside, pair your mat with a washable rug, and see Outdoor & Patio for porch decor. Related: How to Choose a Runner Rug and our outdoor rug buying guide.