Complete Buyer's Guide to Mats and Stair Treads

Choosing the right mat or stair tread is about more than just appearance — it impacts safety, cleanliness, comfort, and long-term flooring protection. This guide walks you through the main mat types, best options for common environments, and answers to the most frequently asked questions customers ask when shopping for commercial mats and flooring.

Quick Navigation

• 1. Main Types of Mats & Where They're Used
• 2. Best Mats by Space or Application
• 3. Horse Stall Mats & Equine Flooring
• 4. Stair Treads & Slip-Resistant Stair Solutions
• 5. Care, Cleaning & Replacement Tips
• 6. Frequently Asked Buying Questions

1. Main Types of Mats & Where They're Used

1.1 Entrance Mats & Carpeted Lobby Mats

Entrance mats are your first line of defense against dirt, moisture, and debris. For offices, schools, medical buildings, and retail stores, carpeted entrance mats help keep floors clean while creating a more polished, professional look.

Mats Inc. offers a full range of entrance mats and runners, including popular Waterhog styles that scrape dirt, hold moisture, and reduce slip hazards in busy entryways.

1.2 Custom Logo Mats

Custom logo mats combine branding and performance. They welcome visitors with your logo at the door while still doing the job of trapping dirt and moisture. They're ideal for lobbies, reception desks, and customer-facing areas.

Explore our full assortment of logo floor mats, including carpet logo mats, rubber logo mats, and high-definition printed logo mat options.

1.3 Anti-Fatigue Mats

Anti-fatigue mats are designed for people who stand for long periods — cashiers, production lines, assembly stations, shipping areas, and more. These mats provide cushioning underfoot to reduce leg, back, and joint fatigue.

Browse our anti-fatigue mats and runners for industrial, commercial, and retail environments.

1.4 Wet Area, Pool & Locker Room Mats

Wet area mats are made for environments with constant water and moisture: pools, spas, locker rooms, showers, and changing areas. They typically feature open-grid or perforated designs for drainage and slip resistance.

See our wet area mats for pool decks, locker rooms, and other wet environments.

1.5 Kitchen & Restaurant Mats

Commercial kitchen mats must check several boxes: grease resistance, slip resistance, drainage, and anti-fatigue comfort. These mats are used in back-of-house areas, dish pits, cook lines, bars, and food prep stations.

View our kitchen and restaurant mats designed to perform in wet, greasy, and high-traffic food service areas.

1.6 Rubber Runners & Industrial Aisle Mats

Rubber runner mats are long, narrow mats used for walkways, assembly lines, machine aisles, and production corridors. They help protect floors, improve traction, and can provide additional cushioning underfoot.

For long aisles, corridors, and warehouse walkways, explore our rubber runner mats.

1.7 Eco-Friendly & Recycled Mats

Many organizations now specify eco-friendly matting made from recycled rubber, recycled plastic bottles, or other sustainable materials. These options help support environmental goals without sacrificing performance.

View our collection of green and eco-friendly mats including recycled rubber and fiber options for entrances, gyms, and industrial spaces.

1.8 Temporary Road Mats & Ground Protection

Temporary road mats and ground protection mats are designed for construction sites, utility work, oilfield access, and events. They help protect turf and soil while providing stable access routes for vehicles and equipment.

Learn more about our temporary road mats for construction, utility, and industrial projects.

1.9 Gym & Weight Room Flooring

Gym flooring must absorb impact, protect concrete slabs, dampen noise, and grip under heavy loads and equipment. It's commonly used in commercial gyms, school weight rooms, training centers, and home gyms.

For lifting platforms, free weight zones, and fitness spaces, see our gym and weight room flooring.

2. Best Mats by Space or Application

2.1 Office Lobbies & Corporate Buildings

For office buildings and corporate environments, you're usually balancing aesthetics with performance. A typical entrance system includes:

• Scraper mat or exterior mat outside the door
• Carpeted entrance mat or Waterhog mat inside the vestibule
• Additional runners down main corridors or elevator lobbies

A great starting point is our entrance mats and runners and Waterhog mats.

2.2 Restaurants, Bars & Food Service

Food service environments require mats that can handle grease, spills, and constant foot traffic while providing comfort to employees on long shifts. Typical placements include cook lines, dish rooms, bar areas, and handwashing stations.

Start with kitchen mats for anti-fatigue and drainage, and consider anti-slip tapes and coatings for ramps, stairs, and transitional areas.

2.3 Warehouses, Manufacturing & Industrial Facilities

Industrial environments demand durability, traction, and often chemical or oil resistance. Mats may be used at workstations, inspection lines, CNC machines, or packing tables.

• Anti-fatigue mats for standing workstations
• Rubber runners in traffic aisles
• Anti-slip tapes and coatings on ramps, steps, and platforms

Explore industrial anti-fatigue mats and rubber runners for these applications.

2.4 Schools, Gyms & Athletic Facilities

Schools and athletic spaces typically require entrance mats, hallway runners, gym flooring, and specialty surfaces for weight rooms and multipurpose zones.

For impact and noise control in athletic settings, see our gym flooring and pair it with entrance mats at main entries and student access doors.

3. Horse Stall Mats & Equine Flooring

Horse stall mats are a high-importance category with strong search demand, and they play a critical role in the health, comfort, and safety of your animals. Quality stall mats help cushion hooves and joints, reduce bedding usage, improve drainage, and make daily cleaning much easier.

Mats Inc. offers heavy-duty horse stall mats designed specifically for barns, stalls, wash racks, grooming areas, and aisle ways. These mats are built to withstand hoof traffic, urine, manure, and frequent cleaning.

3.1 Key Benefits of Horse Stall Mats

• Comfort for Horses: Thick, resilient rubber helps absorb impact and reduce stress on joints, ligaments, and hooves.
• Improved Hygiene: Properly fit stall mats help prevent urine from soaking into the subfloor, making stalls easier to sanitize.
• Reduced Bedding Costs: With a cushioned, stable surface underfoot, many barns can reduce overall bedding depth and replacement frequency.
• Better Drainage & Traction: Textured surfaces and tight seams help provide secure footing and direct moisture where it belongs.

3.2 Where to Use Stall Mats & Rubber Pavers

Common equine and agricultural applications include:

• Horse stalls and foaling stalls
• Barn aisles and cross-tie areas
• Wash bays and grooming bays
• Tack rooms and feed rooms
• Walkways from barn to paddock

For outdoor paths, barn entry areas, and surrounding walkways, you can also combine stall mats with rubber pavers to create safe, slip-resistant footing for both horses and people.

4. Stair Treads & Slip-Resistant Stair Solutions

Stair treads and risers are essential wherever stairs see frequent use: schools, hospitals, plants, multifamily buildings, and office stair towers. They help reduce slips and falls while protecting stair edges from chipping and wear.

Mats Inc. carries a broad selection of stair treads, risers, landing tiles, and adhesives in rubber and vinyl, including options with abrasive or ribbed nosings for extra traction.

4.1 When to Choose Rubber vs. Vinyl Stair Treads

• Rubber stair treads: Best for heavy-traffic commercial and industrial applications where slip resistance and durability are top priorities.
• Vinyl stair treads: Good for light-to-medium traffic, budget-conscious projects, or where a specific aesthetic is desired.

5. Care, Cleaning & Replacement Tips

5.1 Daily & Weekly Cleaning

• Vacuum or sweep loose dirt and debris from carpet and rubber mats.
• For rubber and vinyl surfaces, mop with a neutral pH cleaner as needed.
• For wet area and kitchen mats, periodically lift, hose off, and allow to dry fully.

5.2 When to Replace Your Mats

• When edges are curled or cracked, creating trip hazards.
• When the mat surface is permanently crushed, worn smooth, or no longer traps dirt or moisture effectively.
• When backing has deteriorated and no longer grips the floor.

In high-traffic commercial entrances, replacing or rotating mats on a planned schedule can help maintain consistent performance and appearance.

6. Frequently Asked Buying Questions