Waterhog Floor Mat

Waterhog Inlay Logo Mats put your logo into the proven Waterhog bi-level mat rather than on top of it. The inlay is the difference: the area that will carry the logo is cut out of the mat and the colors are hand-laid into the cut-out like a jigsaw, so the logo becomes part of the surface and wears with it. It's the most precise of our Waterhog branding options, which is why it leads our indoor logo mats for a sharp, lasting brand at the door.

Under the logo, it's a full Waterhog. The bi-level surface scrapes dirt and moisture off shoes and traps them below shoe level so they don't track inside, and the raised water-dam border holds moisture on the mat — up to about 1.5 gallons per square yard — keeping it off your floors. Most of the dirt inside a building arrives on foot traffic, per ISSA, and that bi-level scrape-and-trap design is built to handle the load.

It's made to keep its look. Reinforced rubber nubs hold the pile up so it resists crushing under traffic, and the solution-dyed fabric resists fading, so both the mat and the inlaid logo stay sharp longer. It runs on a 68-mil SBR rubber backing in smooth or universal-cleated, with beveled edges for a safe floor-to-mat transition, and it's certified high-traction by the NFSI. The rubber backing also carries 20% post-consumer recycled content from car tires.

It's built for branding at commercial entrances — hotels, retail, restaurants, offices, schools and universities, and commercial buildings — and it's rated for indoor and outdoor use. There are 19 colors to work from, with a choice of a classic rubber border or a fashion fabric border, and it's made to order in sizes up to 6' x 20'. Because the nubs and solution-dyeing slow both crushing and fading, it holds appearance for years; replace it when the inlaid logo finally dulls or the surface packs down in the main traffic path.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the logo made, and will it wear off?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

It's an inlay, not a print. The logo area is cut out of the mat and the colored sections are hand-laid into the cut-out like a jigsaw, so the logo is built into the surface rather than coated on top — there's no print layer to scuff away. The fabric is solution-dyed, which means color runs through the fiber and resists fading. Between the inlay construction and the solution-dyeing, the logo holds up about as well as the mat itself does, which is the point of choosing this one for branding.

What colors and border options are available?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

There are 19 colors to build the logo and field from, plus a choice of border: a classic rubber border for a clean, utilitarian edge, or a fashion fabric border when you want the surround to feel more finished. Because the inlay is hand-laid in distinct color sections, it suits bold, well-defined logos and lettering — text at least 3 inches tall, lines at least 3/8 inch — rather than fine gradients or tiny detail. Send us your artwork and brand colors and we'll lay out how it translates into the inlay and confirm the color match before production.

How well does it handle dirt and water?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

This is where the Waterhog construction earns its name. The bi-level surface scrapes dirt and moisture off shoes and drops it below shoe level, so it's held in the mat instead of tracking across your floors, and the raised water-dam border keeps moisture on the mat — up to roughly 1.5 gallons of water per square yard. That makes it a strong performer at a busy or wet entrance, not just a branded mat. Lifting it periodically so the floor underneath dries keeps it working at its best.

Can it go outside, and is it slip-safe?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

Yes on both. It's rated for indoor and outdoor commercial entrances, and the solution-dyed fabric resists fading outdoors. On safety, it has beveled edges that give a safe transition from floor to mat instead of a trip lip, and it's certified high-traction by the NFSI, so it holds grip as people come through. The 68-mil SBR rubber backing — smooth or universal-cleated — keeps it planted; choose cleated for hard floors where you want extra grip underneath.

By Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing, Mats Inc.

Waterhog Carpet Tiles take the dirt-and-moisture control of a Waterhog mat and turn it into a modular system you can scale across a whole entrance. Instead of one mat at one door, you lay tiles to cover large lobbies, wide vestibules, odd-shaped areas, and recessed matwells. They're part of the Waterhog entrance mat family, built for the spots a single mat can't reach.

What Waterhog Carpet Tiles Do Before Dirt Reaches Your Floor

The job is the same as any Waterhog surface: take the grit and water off shoes before either reaches your floor. Each tile has a bi-level surface — raised nubs scrape debris and moisture off the sole and hold it in the channels below shoe level, so it stays in the tile instead of tracking deeper into the building.

The difference is reach. A single mat covers one doorway; a tile system covers the whole walk-off zone, which matters at big entrances where people take many steps inside before they're on clean floor. The more of that path you cover, the less dirt and water make it past the entry.

Why a Modular Tile System

Each tile is a 30 oz/yd² solution-dyed PET surface — a heavy face that scrapes hard and wears well — needle-punched and bonded to a 100-mil (quarter-inch) universal cleated SBR rubber backing. The color is dyed through the fiber, so it resists staining and won't fade or rot, the PET is made from at least 90% recycled plastic, and reinforced rubber nubs keep the pile from crushing flat under traffic.

The real advantage is the format. Tiles let you cover large or oddly shaped areas a rectangular mat can't fit, drop into recessed matwells for a flush floor, and — when one tile wears or gets damaged — be swapped out one at a time instead of pulling up the whole floor. They come in three patterns, so the field reads as a finished floor, not a patchwork.

Where It Belongs — and What It Isn't

Tiles are the answer for scale and shape: building lobbies, wide vestibules, transition zones, and recessed matwells where you need continuous walk-off across a big footprint, indoors or out. You can surface-mount them on an existing floor or set them into a recess for a flush, built-in look.

What they aren't is the simplest fix for a single door. Tiles are installed with adhesive, so for one entrance that just needs a mat you can drop down and pick up, a bordered Waterhog mat is the easier call. Tiles earn their place when the area is large, recessed, or shaped in a way a single mat can't cover cleanly.

Three Things to Check Before You Spec It

First, decide surface or recessed. Tiles can sit on top of an existing floor or drop into a matwell for a flush finish — and either way they're set with a solvent-free adhesive, so the subfloor needs to be clean and sound before install.

Second, measure the whole area, not just the doorway. The point of tiles is continuous coverage, so map the full walk-off zone to work out tile count and layout. On a surface install where the edge is exposed, an optional vinyl nosing gives a finished, trip-safe border around the field.

Third, choose the pattern and color for the space. The tiles come in diamond, diagonal, and geometric patterns and a range of colors, so the floor can look designed rather than purely functional. As with any entrance surface, mid-tone and darker colors hide everyday soil between cleanings better than light ones.

Why Mats Inc.

A tile floor is as much about layout as product, and that's where we come in. We'll help you work out tile count, pattern layout, and whether surface or recessed install fits your space, then spec the nosing and adhesive to match. Because tiles replace one at a time, the floor is easy to keep looking right for years — and every order is backed by our one-year limited warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do Waterhog Carpet Tiles work?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

Each tile has the same bi-level Waterhog surface you'd find on the mats — raised nubs that scrape grit and moisture off shoes, with recessed channels that hold it below shoe level so it doesn't track across the floor. The difference is the format: instead of one bordered mat, you're laying a field of tiles that carry the walk-off surface across a whole area. The 30-ounce solution-dyed PET face does the scraping and wiping, and the cleated rubber backing keeps each tile planted. Together they turn a large entrance into one continuous dirt-and-water trap.

How durable are the tiles, and what happens when one wears out?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

They're built for heavy commercial traffic. The face is a 30-ounce solution-dyed PET — color dyed through the fiber, so it resists stains and won't fade or rot — over a 100-mil (quarter-inch) cleated SBR backing, and reinforced rubber nubs keep the pile from crushing flat, which is what usually wears a surface out. The big practical advantage is that tiles are individually replaceable: if one section takes damage or heavy wear, you swap that tile instead of pulling up the whole floor. Kept clean, a tile floor holds up for years, and Mats Inc. backs every order with a one-year limited warranty.

How are the tiles installed, and can they go outdoors?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

Tiles can be surface-mounted on an existing floor or set into a recessed matwell for a flush, built-in finish, and they work indoors or out. Either way they're installed with a solvent-free adhesive, so the subfloor should be clean, dry, and sound first. For a surface install where the edge of the field is exposed, an optional vinyl nosing gives a finished, trip-safe border. If you tell us the area and whether it's surface or recessed, we'll spec the adhesive and nosing along with the tiles.

What patterns do the tiles come in?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Three: diamond, diagonal, and geometric. All of them use the same bi-level Waterhog surface, so the choice is about the look of the finished floor rather than performance. A diamond or diagonal layout reads as more decorative and works well in lobbies and front entries that are part of the first impression, while the geometric pattern gives a cleaner, more uniform field. Across a large area, the pattern is a big part of whether the floor looks designed or purely utilitarian.

What colors are available, and which should I choose?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

There are 7 colors to choose from. For a busy entrance, a mid-tone or darker color is the practical pick — it hides the everyday soil that shows up between cleanings and keeps a large tile floor looking intentional, where a light color would show every footprint. Because you're often covering a sizable area, the color sets the tone for the whole entrance, so it's worth matching it to the space and the traffic rather than just a brand swatch. We can confirm the current options for your chosen pattern.

Can the tiles fit an odd-shaped or recessed entrance?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

That's exactly what they're for. Because it's a modular system, you can lay tiles to cover wide, long, or irregular areas that a rectangular mat would leave gapped, and drop them into a recessed matwell for a flush floor. You can plan the layout around the real footprint of the space — around columns, corners, and doorways — so the walk-off zone stays continuous instead of a single mat marooned in the middle. Send us the dimensions and shape and we'll help map the layout.

By Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO, Mats Inc.

The Waterhog Diamond is the version of the mat you reach for when the entrance is on display. It does the same dirt-and-water work as the rest of the Waterhog entrance mat line, but with a diamond surface pattern and a heavier face that give it a more finished look at the door. It's the step up for lobbies and front entries where you want the mat to look as intentional as it performs.

What a Waterhog Diamond Mat Does Before Dirt Reaches Your Floor

The job of any entrance mat is to take the dirt and water off shoes before either reaches your floor. The Diamond does that with a bi-level surface: raised nubs scrape grit and moisture off the sole and drop it into the channels below shoe level, where it stays instead of tracking inside.

The diamond layout adds something the square pattern doesn't — it scrapes from every direction, so it catches feet approaching the door from any angle. The raised water-dam border then holds the moisture on the mat, up to 1.5 gallons per square yard, keeping the floor past it dry and safer underfoot.

Why the Heavier Diamond Construction Holds Up

The surface is a 30 oz/yd² solution-dyed PET fiber — a heavier face than the standard Waterhog line, which means more material doing the scraping and a denser, more substantial feel underfoot. Solution-dyed means the color runs through the fiber, so it resists staining and won't fade or rot, and the PET is made from at least 90% recycled plastic.

Reinforced rubber nubs keep that heavier pile from crushing flat, which is what protects both the look and the scrape over time. Underneath is a 78-mil SBR rubber backing — with 20% recycled rubber — in smooth or cleated form, with beveled edges for a safe step onto the mat and NFSI-certified high-traction underfoot.

Where It Belongs — and What It Isn't

The Diamond earns its place at entrances that are part of the first impression — hotel and office lobbies, retail entries, restaurants, and healthcare reception areas — and at wide doorways where people come in from several directions. Indoors or out, it pairs strong scraping with a look that reads more finished than a utilitarian mat.

What it isn't is the cheapest way to cover a back door. The heavier face and diamond pattern are an upgrade you choose for appearance and feel; if a service entrance just needs to catch grit and nobody's looking at it, the standard square Waterhog does that job without the step up. The Diamond is for when the entrance is meant to be seen.

Three Things to Check Before You Spec It

First, match the backing to the floor. Smooth backing is for hard floors like tile, stone, and sealed concrete; cleated backing is made to sit on carpet without shifting. The wrong one is how a mat creeps or ripples underfoot.

Second, plan the size around the walking path and the backing rules. It takes several steps to wipe shoes clean, so cover the real path, not just the threshold. Mats up to 40 feet come with either backing; longer runs come in smooth backing only, which matters for long lobby or corridor layouts.

Third, choose the border and color for the setting. The classic rubber border is the more rugged, weather-ready edge; the fashion fabric border gives a softer, more finished surround for indoor lobbies. Since the diamond look is the reason to choose this mat, pick a color that suits the space and hides everyday soil between cleanings.

Why Mats Inc.

The Diamond is the mat we point to when the entrance has to look good and still do the work — but it isn't the right answer for every door, and that's the part we help with. We'll tell you honestly when the heavier diamond face earns its place and when the standard square Waterhog would do the same job, then spec the size, backing, and border to fit. Every order is backed by our one-year limited warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the diamond pattern trap dirt and water?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

The mat has a bi-level surface — raised nubs with recessed channels between them. The nubs scrape grit and moisture off your shoes, and it drops into the channels below shoe level, so it stays in the mat instead of getting tracked across the floor. The diamond layout adds multi-directional scraping: where a square pattern works best with traffic moving straight across, the diamond catches shoes approaching from any angle, which helps at busy or wide entrances. A raised water-dam border around the edge holds the moisture in — up to 1.5 gallons per square yard.

Is the heavier face actually more durable?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

The face is a 30-ounce solution-dyed PET fiber, heavier than the standard Waterhog line, so there's more material taking the abuse before it shows wear. The color is dyed through the fiber, so it resists staining and won't fade or rot, and reinforced rubber nubs keep the pile from crushing flat — the thing that usually makes a mat look tired. The 78-mil SBR backing resists curling and cracking through temperature changes. Kept clean and sized right, it holds up for years in a busy entrance, and Mats Inc. backs every order with a one-year limited warranty.

Can I use it outside, and which backing should I pick?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

Yes — it's an indoor/outdoor mat, so it works at exterior entries as well as indoor lobbies, and it isn't bothered by salt or ice melt. The backing is the choice that matters: smooth backing for hard floors like tile, stone, or sealed concrete, and cleated backing for carpet, where the cleats keep it from sliding. One thing to plan for on long runs — mats up to 40 feet come with either backing, but anything longer comes in smooth backing only. Tell us the floor and the length and we'll match it.

Why choose the diamond pattern over the standard square?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

It comes down to the look. The classic Waterhog uses a square "waffle" pattern; the Diamond uses a diamond layout that reads as more finished and less utilitarian, which is why it's the usual pick for entrances people actually notice — lobbies, reception areas, hotel and retail entries. The performance is in the same family, so you're really choosing the diamond for its appearance and the heavier, more substantial feel it gives the doorway. If the look of the entrance matters, the diamond is the more polished choice.

What colors does it come in, and how do I choose?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

It comes in a range of colors with a choice of classic rubber or fashion fabric border, so you can tune it to the space. The practical advice is the same for any entrance mat: a mid-tone or darker color hides everyday soil between cleanings and keeps the mat looking intentional, while very light shades show dirt quickly in a high-traffic doorway. Since the diamond pattern is the reason to choose this mat, pick a color that lets the look land while staying realistic about traffic. We can confirm the current color options for the size you need.

When is the heavier 30-ounce Diamond worth it over a standard mat?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

When the entrance is on display and gets real traffic. The heavier face and diamond pattern are an upgrade you choose for appearance and a more substantial feel, so they make the most sense at front entries, lobbies, and wide doorways where the mat is part of the first impression and catches feet from several directions. For a back door or service entrance where nobody's looking and the job is just to grab grit, a standard square Waterhog does that with less fuss. We're happy to help you draw that line for each doorway.

By Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing, Mats Inc.

Waterhog Eco Premier Mats put a heavy-duty bi-level Waterhog surface at the door, with a diamond-pattern face that scrapes grit and pulls water off shoes from any direction. The raised pattern traps dirt and moisture below the walking surface so it isn't tracked deeper inside, and a rubber-reinforced face keeps the mat doing that for years instead of crushing flat under traffic.

What a Waterhog Eco Premier Mat Stops Before It Reaches Your Floor

Most of the dirt and water in a building comes in on shoes. ISSA field data shows a building takes on up to 12 times more dirt during wet weather, and it takes six to eight steps to walk a sole dry. A mat at the entrance is what decides whether that grit and moisture get caught — or get ground into the floor past the door.

The Waterhog surface is bi-level: raised ridges scrape grit and water off shoes, and recessed channels hold both below the walking surface so they aren't picked back up. A raised water-dam border rings the mat and keeps what it collects — up to 1.5 gallons of water per square yard — on the mat instead of spreading toward your floor.

Why the Diamond Waterhog Surface, and Why This One

The face is solution-dyed PET fiber, 24 ounces per square yard, made from at least 90% recycled content reclaimed from plastic bottles. The diamond pattern gives it multi-directional bite — it scrapes just as well whether foot or cart traffic crosses it straight on or at an angle, which is how traffic actually moves through a wide doorway.

What keeps it working is the rubber reinforcement molded through the raised pattern. It stops the pile from crushing flat under steady traffic, and a crushed mat is the usual reason an entrance mat gets pulled early — once it lies down it stops scraping and starts looking worn. The solution-dyed fiber also resists staining and won't fade or rot, so it keeps its color and grip.

Underneath is a 78-mil SBR rubber backing with 20% recycled tire content, in a universal cleated version for carpet or a smooth version for hard floors. Beveled edges ease the step on and off. You choose a classic rubber border for a tougher, more utilitarian edge, or a fashion fabric border that color-matches the mat for a cleaner, more finished look.

Where It Belongs (and Where It Doesn't)

This is a workhorse entrance mat for indoor and outdoor commercial entries — hotel and office lobbies, retail and restaurant doors, healthcare entrances, schools, and similar high-traffic thresholds. The PET face is rated for indoor or outdoor use and isn't bothered by salt or ice melt, so it holds up at a real front door through the seasons. It's also certified high-traction by the National Floor Safety Institute.

Where it's less suited is the heaviest coarse-debris duty — a loading dock caked in mud and gravel, or a job-site door. It scrapes and holds a lot, but for that kind of punishment you'd put a coarse outdoor scraper first and let the Waterhog finish the job a step inside. As the main entrance mat for ordinary commercial traffic, though, it's built to be the one that does the work.

Three Things to Check Before You Spec It

Three things decide whether this is the right Waterhog for your door.

First, the floor under it. A universal cleated backing grips carpet and stops the mat creeping; a smooth backing is the one for tile, stone, polished concrete, or other hard floors, where cleats can rock. Match the backing to the surface or the mat will shift as people walk it.

Second, the size of the run. It comes in standard sizes from 2'×3' up to 6'×20', plus longer custom lengths. Size it to cover the six-to-eight steps it takes to dry a sole, not just the door opening — an undersized mat lets damp shoes finish the job on your floor and takes all the wear in one strip.

Third, the border. A classic rubber border is the more rugged, lower-maintenance edge for heavy or outdoor use; a fashion fabric border color-matches the mat for a more polished look indoors. Pick by how exposed the spot is and how much the appearance matters at that threshold.

Why Mats Inc.

Mats Inc. has specified commercial entrance matting since 1964, so when you're choosing a Waterhog for a specific door, you're working with people who match the surface, backing, and border to your floor and your traffic rather than reading a box. We help you size the run, pick the backing for your floor, and choose the border for the look you want — and we'll tell you when a coarser scraper belongs in front of it. For the rest of the indoor range, see our all indoor entrance mats.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the bi-level diamond surface work?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

It works on two levels. The raised diamond ridges scrape grit and water off the bottom of shoes, and the recessed channels between them hold what's scraped below the walking surface, so it isn't picked up again and tracked deeper inside. The diamond layout also means it scrapes from any direction — useful at a wide door where people cross at all angles. A raised water-dam border rings the mat and holds the moisture it collects, up to 1.5 gallons per square yard, keeping it on the mat instead of on your floor.

How long does it hold up, and what wears it out?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

In ordinary commercial traffic, expect years of service. The reason it lasts is the rubber reinforcement molded through the raised pattern — it keeps the pile from crushing flat. A crushed pile is what usually ends a mat's life: once it lies down it stops scraping and starts looking worn.

The 24-ounce solution-dyed PET face resists staining and won't fade or rot, so it holds its look indoors or out. What shortens its life early is the wrong backing for the floor, or sizing it too small so a narrow strip takes all the traffic.

Can I use it outside, and how do I clean it?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

Yes — the PET face is rated for indoor or outdoor use and isn't affected by salt or ice melt, so it works at a real exterior door through the seasons, or just inside one. The main limit is the heaviest coarse debris: against mud and gravel, put a rugged scraper first and let this mat finish the job. Cleaning is simple — vacuum regularly, and hose or extract it when it's heavily soiled, then hang it to dry before putting it back down.

What sizes can I get?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Standard sizes run from 2'×3' up to 6'×20', and longer custom lengths are available for a wide entry or a long walkway.

Size it to the traffic, not just the door. Aim to cover the six-to-eight steps it takes to dry a sole, so the mat protects the floor across the whole approach rather than getting walked past in a stride or two. For a busy entrance, lean toward the larger end.

What does it look like, and what colors are there?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

The diamond pattern gives it a more refined, finished look than a plain ribbed or waffle mat — it reads as upscale enough for a lobby while still being a serious working mat. There are 11 colors to match a building palette, and darker or neutral tones hide tracked-in dirt better between cleanings. Because the reinforced surface doesn't crush into shiny lanes, it keeps an even appearance across the whole mat instead of showing where everyone walks.

What's the difference between the classic and fashion border?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

The border changes both the look and the durability. A classic rubber border is the tougher, lower-maintenance edge — a good match for heavy traffic or outdoor exposure, where it takes abuse without showing it. A fashion fabric border color-matches the mat for a cleaner, more seamless look that suits a polished indoor entrance. Neither changes how the mat cleans shoes; it's about how rugged versus how finished you want the edge to look at that particular door.

By Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO, Mats Inc.