What Size Entry Mat is Right for You?

In business, size matters.But as a small business owner, you know that bigger is better isn’t always true. With limited resources and tighter budgets, you’ve got to remain focused on finding the most ideal size. You want to have a logo mat thats visible but not overkill, inhabit a workspace thats adequate but not too large, and offer discounts that will attract customers without bankrupting the business. In other words, you need to be like Goldilocks, with everything just right for your needs

The same logic applies to what size entry mat is needed for your small business. Something too big is overly costly and cumbersome; but a mat thats too small wont keep your floors clean and moisture free. So what is the perfect-sized entry mat for you?Ultimate Mats is here with tips to decide on the proper size of a front door mat for your space, foot traffic and environment. Our entryway rug ideas are based on consultations with experts who know exactly what a good mat can do for a business.

Selecting Mat Width

Heres the first rule of thumb when choosing a floor mat: it should have a width that is equal to or greater than 80 percent of the width of your front door. So if you have a standard exterior door thats three feet in width, your mat should be at least 28.8 inches wide. But if your entry features double doors, you’re likely looking at a width of six feet, which would mean that your mat should be at least 4 feet, 9.6 inches wide. So be sure to measure the width of your entry door; any mat thats too narrow may not provide enough surface area for customers to easily step onto it when walking into your business.

Entryway Rug Length

Now that you’ve established the width of your entry mat, its time to figure out its length. Ideally, you want your mat to easily allow each person walking over it to step on it twice (once for each foot). After all, its pointless to clean one shoe when the other likely has just as much dirt and moisture on it; and you don’t want customers to have to stutter step in order to clean both feet on the mat. While gaits vary by person, a length of at least four feet should be adequate to accomplish your two-step goal. But if your business parking lot is unpaved, you might want to opt for a longer mat to allow customers to take three or four steps to remove the dirt, mud, and soils from their footwear. If your outside landing or indoor foyer isn’t long enough to fit this size mat, you might add a second entry rug on either side to catch the extra debris.

Check Your Door Clearance

The only other measurement that you need to worry about when choosing an entry mat is the the clearance underneath your door. If you have an entry threshold, this probably wont be an issue. But if the space between the floor and the bottom of your door is smaller that the thickness of your mat, the door will stick or stop when you try to swing it open over the mat. Of course, you can always position your entry mat on the opposite side of the door from where the hinges are to avoid this problem.

Other Considerations

Outside of the specific size of your entryway, the biggest thing to think about is foot traffic. For doorways with low or even medium amounts of traffic, you can probably get away with something close to the minimum size. However, in high-traffic areas, you will want as big a doormat as you can fit. Smaller mats will “fill up” quicker and require more frequent cleaning as result of so many people stepping on them.

Choose the Right Size Mats Every Time

Ultimate Mats has a huge selection of entry mats which range in size from 18-by-27 inches to 6-by-20 feet. They even make custom sizes for businesses who have unique entry door needs. In addition, customers can choose from several non-rectangular shapes, and can even have their business name or logo printed on their entry mat as well. So if you need a durable, attractive floor mat thats just the right size, contact the helpful staff at Ultimate Mats today!