Needle Rib Matting is a low-profile, linear-ribbed entrance mat built for lighter-traffic doors — side entrances, small storefronts, boutiques, and interior thresholds that see foot traffic but not a flood of it. The close ribbed surface wipes moisture off shoes and holds it on the mat, so a smaller entrance stays cleaner and the floor past it stays drier.

What Needle Rib Matting Does Before Water Reaches Your Floor

Even a quiet entrance lets dirt and water 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 a lighter-traffic door is what keeps that moisture from spreading onto the floor just past it.

Needle Rib leans on moisture. The linear ribbed surface scrapes off light grit and, more importantly, pulls water off shoes and holds it in the mat — it's a strong moisture-retaining mat first and a light scraper second. The vinyl backing keeps that trapped water off the floor underneath rather than letting it bleed through.

Why a Ribbed Needle-Punched Surface, and Why This One

The surface is a needle-punched blend of polypropylene and polyester fiber, made with 50% recycled PET content. The linear rib runs the length of the mat, which is what gives it its action — shoes cross the ribs and leave moisture behind in the channels. The fiber is quick-drying and fade-resistant, so it dries between uses and keeps its color.

Underneath is a DINP-free PVC vinyl backing that holds the mat to the floor and protects it from the moisture the mat collects. This is a lighter-duty construction than a heavy bi-level rubber mat — which is the point. It's matched to lighter traffic, where a heavyweight mat would be more than the door needs.

Where It Belongs (and Where It Doesn't)

This mat is for interior, light-traffic spots — small businesses, boutiques, side and secondary entrances, back offices, and similar doors that don't take a constant stream of people. It's also certified high-traction by the National Floor Safety Institute, so a smaller entry still gets a safe, slip-resistant surface.

Where it's the wrong call is a busy main entrance or any outdoor spot. Put a light-traffic mat under heavy footfall and the surface crushes and saturates fast, and it stops doing its job; outdoors it isn't built for weather at all. For a high-traffic front door, step up to a heavier bi-level mat, and keep Needle Rib for the lighter doors it's sized for.

Three Things to Check Before You Spec It

Three things decide whether Needle Rib fits your entrance.

First, the traffic. This is a light-traffic mat — right for a side door or a small shop, wrong for a main lobby that sees hundreds of people a day. Match the mat to the footfall, or a busier door will wear it down before its time.

Second, the size and shape. It comes in standard sizes from 2'×3' up to 6'×10', plus 60-foot rolls cut to length — but only in standard widths, with no custom width cuts. Plan around the standard widths, and size the length to cover the steps it takes to dry a sole.

Third, the floor and the finish. The vinyl backing suits hard floors and low carpet and protects the surface beneath from trapped moisture. If the mat will sit out in the open rather than wall-to-wall, order edged ends, since standard rolls ship without edging unless you ask.

Why Mats Inc.

Mats Inc. has specified commercial matting since 1964, so when a door doesn't need a heavyweight mat, we'll tell you — and point you to the one that's actually sized for the traffic instead of putting more mat at the door than the spot calls for. We help you match construction to footfall, pick sizes that fit, and set up a matting plan across a building's doors. For the rest of the indoor range, see our all indoor entrance mats.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the ribbed surface clean shoes?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

The surface is a linear ribbed fiber — rows of raised ribs running the length of the mat. As someone walks across, the ribs scrape light grit off the shoe and, more importantly, the fiber pulls moisture off the sole and holds it in the channels between the ribs. It's built to retain water rather than just push it around, so a wet shoe leaves most of its moisture on the mat. The vinyl backing then keeps that water off the floor underneath instead of letting it soak through.

How much traffic can it take?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

It's rated for light traffic — think a side entrance, a small shop, or a back-office door, not a main lobby. In the right spot it holds up well for years; in the wrong one it wears out fast. A light-traffic mat under heavy footfall crushes flat and saturates, and once it does that it stops scraping and holding water and just sits there wet.

So the honest answer is that durability here is about matching the mat to the door. Kept to the lighter traffic it's made for, and cleaned regularly, it keeps working and protecting the floor. Pushed past that, it gives up early.

Can I use it outdoors or at a busy main entrance?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

Neither is a good fit. Needle Rib is an interior, light-traffic mat — it isn't built for weather, so outdoor use is out, and a busy main entrance will overwhelm it. The better setup is to use it where it belongs — a quieter interior door — and put a heavier bi-level mat at the high-traffic front entrance and a coarse scraper outside. Matching each door to the right mat keeps more dirt and water off your floors than stretching one light mat past what it's made for.

What sizes can I get, and can it be cut to fit?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

It comes in standard sizes from 2'×3' up to 6'×10', and in 60-foot rolls that can be cut to length. The one limit is width: there are no custom width cuts, so you work within the standard widths rather than a made-to-measure size.

Size the length to cover the steps it takes to dry a sole, not just the doorway. And if the mat will sit out in the open rather than wall-to-wall, ask for edged ends — standard rolls ship without edging unless you specify it.

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

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

It has a simple, low-profile linear-rib look — clean and unobtrusive rather than decorative, which suits a small shop or a quiet interior door where you want the mat to blend into the space. There are four colors: Blue, Brown, Charcoal, and Gray. The darker tones like Charcoal and Brown hide tracked-in dirt better between cleanings, which helps a lighter-traffic mat keep looking tidy without constant attention.

Can I get it in a custom size or with a logo?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Not really, on either count. There are no custom width cuts — you choose from standard widths, with rolls cut to length — and this is a plain ribbed mat, not a logo or printed construction. If you need a branded mat for the same kind of entrance, that's a different product — a logo mat — and we can point you to one. For a simple, clean mat that holds moisture at a lighter-traffic door, Needle Rib does that job without the extras.

By Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO, Mats Inc.

Berber Logo Mats put your logo at the door on a looped berber surface — a tight, low-profile weave with a subtle hobnail texture that reads as upscale rather than promotional. The logo is digitally printed in high definition, so the artwork stays crisp, and the same tight weave that holds the print also scrapes dirt and moisture off shoes before either reaches your floor.

What a Berber Logo Mat Does Before Your Brand Looks Tired at the Door

A logo mat is doing two jobs from the moment someone walks up: it shows your brand and it protects the floor. 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 that catches that grit keeps your entrance clean — and keeps the logo from sitting in a smear of tracked-in dirt.

The looped berber weave is tight enough to scrape and hold dirt and moisture, so the floor past the mat stays cleaner and the logo stays legible instead of muddy. That matters because a worn or grimy logo mat does the opposite of its job — it makes the brand look neglected at the exact spot where a visitor forms a first impression.

Why Berber Loop, and Why This One

The surface is needle-punched PET fiber, about 44 ounces per square yard, made with at least 80% recycled content reclaimed from plastic bottles. The loop-pile berber has a smooth, even face, which is what lets the logo print crisply — the artwork is built up in layers of color and matched to a standard palette of 56 colors, so edges and lettering stay sharp.

Berber's tight weave is the durable part. It stands up to heavy foot traffic without the surface breaking down, and the hobnail texture gives it an upscale look that plain printed mats miss. The fiber is naturally stain- and fade-resistant, so the logo holds its color through regular cleaning rather than washing out after a season.

Underneath is an SBR rubber backing that contains 20% recycled tire content and keeps the mat in place to cut slipping. You can spec a universal cleated backing for carpet or a smooth backing for hard floors, and the whole mat sits low — easy to clean by vacuuming or hosing off, and low enough not to catch a door swing.

Where It Belongs (and Where It Doesn't)

This is a branding mat for indoor and covered-outdoor entries — lobbies, front desks, storefronts, building entrances, and anywhere you want a company logo greeting people as they arrive. As premium carpet logo mats go, the berber loop is on the upscale end, and it works equally well as commercial rugs with logo inside reception areas and retail floors.

What it is not is a full-sun outdoor mat. The print fades in direct sunlight, so it belongs under a canopy, an overhang, a vestibule, or indoors — not exposed on an open sidewalk. It's also a branding mat that catches dirt and moisture, not an aggressive scraper for mud and gravel; keep the heaviest debris to a coarse outdoor mat and let the berber handle the finish and the logo.

Three Things to Check Before You Spec It

Three things decide whether a berber logo mat is the right call.

First, the light. The print fades in direct sun, so this mat is for covered or indoor spots only. If your entrance faces open sky for hours a day, a different construction will hold its color better — be honest about the exposure before you commit the logo to it.

Second, the artwork. Logos print best with text at least 1.5 inches tall and lines no thinner than a quarter inch, and very fine detail or pale backgrounds don't translate well — light colors also show dirt faster. Simple, bold artwork in darker or neutral tones reads cleanly and stays looking sharp.

Third, the floor and the size. Choose a cleated backing for carpet or a smooth one for hard floors, and size the mat to the traffic, not just the doorway — aim to cover the six-to-eight steps it takes to dry a sole. Standard sizes run up to 6'×12', with custom lengths to 20 feet.

Why Mats Inc.

Mats Inc. has specified commercial matting since 1964, so when you're putting your brand on the floor, you're working with people who know which logo construction survives your specific entrance — and which will fade or flatten in it. We help you set up the artwork inside the print limits, pick the backing for your floor, and size the run so the mat protects as well as it presents. For the rest of the range, start with our commercial entrance mats.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the logo actually printed, and will it stay sharp?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

The logo is built up in layers of color on the smooth berber surface and matched to a standard palette of 56 colors. That layering is what gives the high-definition look — crisp edges and clean lettering — as long as the artwork respects the print limits: text at least 1.5 inches tall, lines no thinner than a quarter inch, and no fine tints or transparencies. Bold, simple artwork holds up best. The fiber is naturally stain- and fade-resistant, so the print stays sharp through regular cleaning rather than washing out.

How well does it hold up to heavy traffic?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

The tight berber weave is the durable part — it's built to take heavy foot traffic without the surface breaking down, and the hobnail loop holds its texture rather than crushing flat the way a softer pile would. A mat that mats down stops scraping and starts looking worn, so that crush resistance is what keeps both the logo and the floor protection working.

The one thing that shortens its life is sunlight: the print fades in direct sun, so a covered or indoor spot is essential. Used under cover and cleaned regularly — vacuumed, or hosed off and hung to dry — it holds its look for years.

Can I put it outside?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

Only under cover. Berber logo mats are made for indoor and covered-outdoor entries — under a canopy, in a vestibule, or inside a lobby. They're not built for full sun, because the print fades when it's exposed directly, and they're branding mats rather than coarse scrapers for mud and gravel. The best setup outdoors is a rugged scraper mat first to take the heavy debris, with the berber logo mat just inside or under the overhang where it stays clean, dry, and out of direct light.

What sizes can I get?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Standard sizes run from 2'×3' up to 6'×12', and custom lengths are available in standard widths up to 20 feet — useful for a wide storefront entry or a long lobby walkway.

Size it to the traffic, not just the door opening. Aim to cover the six-to-eight steps it takes to dry a sole, so the mat protects the floor and shows the logo at full size rather than getting walked past in a stride or two.

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

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

It has an upscale, low-profile look — the looped berber weave with a subtle hobnail texture reads as refined rather than promotional, which suits a polished lobby or reception area. There are 56 standard colors to build the logo and background from, so you can match a brand palette closely. One tip: skip very light background colors, since pale tones show tracked-in dirt faster — darker or neutral backgrounds keep the mat looking clean longer between cleanings.

Can it match our exact brand colors, and what artwork works best?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Colors are matched to a standard 56-color palette rather than exact PMS values, so it's a close brand match within that range rather than a precise ink match — worth knowing if your brand standard is strict. For artwork, bold logos and clear lettering reproduce beautifully; very fine detail, thin lines, gradients, and transparencies don't translate well to the woven surface. Send us your logo and we'll tell you straight whether it'll read well at mat scale or needs a small adjustment first.

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

Rely-On Olefin Matting

Rely-On Olefin Matting offers a practical and economical solution for floor protection in light-traffic areas. Made from durable olefin carpet fibers, this matting is designed to capture dirt and moisture, helping to maintain a clean and safe environment. Its low-profile design allows for easy placement in entryways, lobbies, and other indoor spaces.

Key Features of Rely-On Olefin Matting

• Durable Olefin Fibers: Made from tough olefin fibers, this matting is built to handle light foot traffic while effectively trapping dirt and moisture.
• Moisture Absorption: The olefin carpet fiber quickly absorb moisture, keeping floors dry and reducing the risk of slips and falls.
• Low-Profile Design: The slim design ensures easy placement in doorways and prevents tripping hazards, making it ideal for entryways and lobbies.
• Easy to Clean: Designed for minimal maintenance, this matting can be vacuumed or shaken out to remove debris, ensuring it remains functional and attractive.
• Cost-Effective Solution: A budget-friendly choice for maintaining cleanliness in indoor spaces without compromising on quality or performance.
• Versatile Applications: Perfect for use in offices, commercial buildings, or residential settings where light traffic is expected.

Perfect for Light-Traffic Areas

Rely-On Olefin Matting is the ideal choice for keeping light-traffic areas clean, dry, and safe. Its durable construction and moisture-absorbing capabilities make it a reliable and cost-effective option for maintaining floor cleanliness in various indoor environments.

Wonder Pro Matting is a plush, cut-pile olefin entrance mat made to soak up water and fine dust at the door, in a deep range of colors. Where some entrance mats scrape coarse grit, this one is built to wipe shoes clean and hold moisture and fine dirt — pulling it off the sole and keeping it on the mat, so a medium-traffic interior stays cleaner and drier past the threshold.

What Wonder Pro Matting Does Before Water and Dust Reach Your Floor

Most of what dirties an interior floor comes in on shoes — not just mud, but fine dust and moisture you don't always see. 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 door is where that gets caught before it spreads onto the floor.

Wonder Pro is built for the fine stuff. The plush cut-pile olefin face holds water and fine dirt rather than letting it pass through — it retains about 60% more liquid and fine dust than a standard mat — and a vinyl backing acts as a moisture barrier, keeping what the mat collects off the floor underneath instead of soaking through to it.

Why a Plush Olefin Surface, and Why This One

The face is cut-pile olefin — a dense, soft polypropylene pile that behaves like carpet and holds moisture deep in the fibers. That plush surface is what lets it pull moisture from shoes: a sole sinks slightly into the pile and leaves water and fine dust behind. The olefin resists fading, staining, mold, and mildew, so it keeps its look and doesn't turn musty as it works.

Underneath is a DINP-free PVC vinyl backing that doubles as a moisture barrier — it grips the floor and stops the water the mat holds from reaching the surface below. This mat holds moisture and fine dust rather than scraping coarse grit: it's rated for medium interior traffic and tuned for the fine stuff, not for knocking heavy mud off boots.

It also comes in a deep set of colors — Black, Castellan Red, Charcoal, Marlin Blue, Pebble Brown, and Walnut — so the mat can match a lobby or reception scheme rather than just sit there in standard gray. The colors are part of the point: this is the entrance mat for spots where the floor is on show.

Where It Belongs (and Where It Doesn't)

This is an interior, medium-traffic mat for spaces where appearance and a clean, dry floor both matter — office building lobbies, small retail floors, banks, churches, motels, and reception areas. It shines a few steps inside the door, finishing the job of drying shoes and catching the fine dust a coarse mat misses.

Where it's the wrong call is outdoors or against heavy mud and grit. As a plush mat it isn't built to scrape coarse debris or take the weather, and a flood of mud would clog the pile. The right setup is a scraper outside or at the first door, with Wonder Pro inside to finish the job — and to look good doing it.

Three Things to Check Before You Spec It

Three things decide whether Wonder Pro fits your entrance.

First, where it sits. Wonder Pro is a moisture-and-dust mat for the interior, after coarse debris is mostly off. If it's the only mat facing a muddy or gritty entrance, it'll load up faster than it can handle; paired with a scraper ahead of it, it does its job for years.

Second, the size. It comes in standard sizes from 2'×3' up to 6'×10', plus rolls and custom sizes up to 11'9" wide — useful for a wide lobby run or an odd opening. Size it to cover the steps it takes to dry a sole, not just the doorway.

Third, the color and the look. With six colors to choose from, pick a tone that fits the space and hides traffic — darker shades like Charcoal and Walnut stay looking clean longer between cleanings, while a color like Marlin Blue or Castellan Red can pick up a brand or interior accent.

Why Mats Inc.

Mats Inc. has specified commercial matting since 1964, so when the floor at your entrance is on display, we help you choose a mat that protects it and looks right doing it — matching the surface, size, and color to the space and the traffic. We'll also tell you when a spot needs a coarse scraper ahead of a plush mat like this rather than the plush mat alone. For the rest of the indoor range, see our all indoor entrance mats.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a plush mat hold dirt and water?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

It's the opposite approach to a hard scraper. The face is a dense cut-pile olefin — a soft, carpet-like pile — and when a shoe presses into it, water and fine dust transfer off the sole and settle down between the fibers, where they stay instead of being tracked on. The pile holds about 60% more liquid and fine dirt than a standard mat. Underneath, a vinyl backing works as a moisture barrier, so the water the mat collects stays in the pile and off the floor below.

How much traffic can it handle, and what wears it out?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

It's rated for medium interior traffic — office lobbies, retail floors, reception areas, and similar spaces. In those spots it holds up for years, and the olefin resists fading, staining, mold, and mildew, so it keeps its look and doesn't turn musty as it absorbs moisture.

What wears it out early is the wrong job. A plush pile clogs and mats down if it's left to face heavy mud and grit alone, or placed where far more traffic crosses it than it's rated for. Keep it to medium interior traffic, with coarse debris handled ahead of it, and it lasts.

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

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

Keep it indoors. Wonder Pro is built for interior medium traffic — it isn't made for weather or for scraping heavy outdoor grit, so an exposed exterior door will wear it down fast. Inside, it's the mat that finishes drying shoes a few steps in. To clean it, vacuum regularly and extract or hose it off when it's heavily soiled, then let it dry fully before it goes back down — the olefin resists mold and mildew, but any mat works best dry.

What sizes can I get, and can it be made to fit?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Standard sizes run from 2'×3' up to 6'×10', and it also comes in 60-foot rolls. If you need a custom size, it can be made up to 11'9" wide and 60 feet long — wide enough for a full lobby run or an unusual opening.

Size it to the traffic path, not just the door, so it covers the steps it takes to dry a sole. And if the mat will sit out in the open rather than wall-to-wall, ask for edged ends — standard rolls ship without edging unless you specify it.

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

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

It has a plush, carpet-like surface that looks more finished and softer underfoot than a hard ribbed or rubber mat — a good fit for a lobby, bank, church, or reception area where the entrance is on display. There are six colors: Black, Castellan Red, Charcoal, Marlin Blue, Pebble Brown, and Walnut. The colors resist fading and staining, and darker tones like Charcoal and Walnut keep looking clean longer between cleanings, while Castellan Red or Marlin Blue can pick up a brand or interior accent.

Can I match it to our space or get a custom size?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

On size, yes — custom dimensions up to 11'9" by 60 feet mean you can fit a wide entry or a specific footprint rather than settling for the nearest stock size. On color, the six-color range lets you tie the mat to an interior scheme or a brand palette.

If you want an actual printed logo at the door, that's a different construction — a logo mat — and we can point you to one. Wonder Pro itself is about a clean, colored, plush surface that protects the floor and looks the part, rather than carrying artwork.

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

Cross-Over Matting is a loop-pile entrance mat that scrapes debris and moisture off shoes at the door while starting to dry them — the middle step in a layered entrance setup, between the coarse mat outside and the absorbent mat inside. The looped olefin surface is abrasive enough to clean shoes and resilient enough to hold its look in steady commercial traffic.

What Cross-Over Matting Does Before Dirt and Water Reach Your Floor

Dirt and water come into a building on shoes — and one mat at the threshold usually can't catch all of it. 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. The most effective entrances use more than one mat to catch debris in stages.

Cross-Over is built to be the middle of that sequence. Its abrasive loop-pile surface scrapes off the grit and moisture a coarse outdoor mat leaves behind, and the sturdy olefin fibers begin drying the shoe before someone steps onto the floor or onto a softer absorbent mat further in. It's non-absorbent by design — it cleans the shoe and passes it along rather than soaking up and holding water.

Why a Loop-Pile Olefin Surface, and Why This One

The surface is a loop pile built from polypropylene ribbon yarn and continuous filament yarn — a combination that gives it an abrasive, hard-wearing texture rather than a soft plush one. That loop scrapes debris off the bottom of shoes and resists crushing, so it keeps its cleaning bite and its appearance instead of matting down into flat lanes under traffic.

The olefin fiber resists fading and crushing, which is what lets a loop-pile mat keep a tidy, finished look at a visible entrance over time. The loop construction reads richer than a flat ribbed mat, so it suits a lobby or front-of-house spot where appearance counts — while still doing real scraping work.

Underneath is a DINP-free PVC vinyl backing that grips the floor and protects it from whatever the mat scrapes off. It holds the mat flat on hard floors and low carpet, and at 5/16 inch the whole mat stays low enough not to catch a door swing or trip a foot at the edge.

Where It Belongs (and Where It Doesn't)

Cross-Over fits interior, medium-traffic entrances — convenience stores, restaurants, hotels, theaters, museums, and convention centers, where a steady stream of people crosses the threshold and the entrance is on view. It's certified high-traction by the National Floor Safety Institute, so it gives a safe surface where shoes arrive wet.

Where it falls short is as a building's only mat or as an outdoor scraper. It's the middle of a system, not the whole system: against heavy mud it wants a coarse scraper ahead of it, and because it's non-absorbent, a wet climate benefits from an absorbent mat inside it to finish the drying. Outdoors and in full weather, it isn't the right construction.

Three Things to Check Before You Spec It

Three things decide whether Cross-Over fits your entrance.

First, the rest of your matting. Cross-Over works best as the middle mat — a coarse scraper outside, this loop-pile mat at the door, and an absorbent mat inside. If it's going in alone, be honest about how much dirt and water it'll face, because one mat rarely catches it all.

Second, the size. Standard sizes run from 2'×3' up to 6'×10', and larger sizes over 6 feet — up to 11'9" — are made by seaming. Plan for that seam on the widest runs, and size the mat to cover the steps it takes to dry a sole, not just the doorway.

Third, the floor and the finish. The vinyl backing suits hard floors and low carpet and protects the surface beneath. If the mat will sit out in the open rather than wall-to-wall, order edged ends — standard rolls ship without edging unless you ask for it.

Why Mats Inc.

Mats Inc. has specified commercial entrance matting since 1964, so we don't just sell you a mat — we help you build the entrance. For a real front door we'll map the whole sequence, from the coarse scraper outside to the loop-pile mat at the threshold to the absorbent mat inside, and tell you where Cross-Over fits in yours. We match construction to traffic and size to the doorway. For the rest of the indoor range, see our all indoor entrance mats.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a loop-pile mat clean shoes?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

The surface is a loop pile made from polypropylene ribbon and filament yarn — a tough, slightly abrasive texture rather than a soft plush one. As a shoe crosses it, the loops scrape grit and surface moisture off the sole, and the olefin fibers start drying the shoe. It's non-absorbent on purpose: instead of soaking up and holding water like a plush mat, it cleans the shoe and passes it along, which is why it works best as one mat in a layered entrance rather than the only one.

Will it crush down or fade in a busy entrance?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

It's built to resist both. The loop-pile construction is crush-resistant, so it holds its texture instead of matting flat into shiny traffic lanes, and the olefin fiber resists fading, so the color stays even at a visible entrance. Those two things are what usually go first on a loop mat, and they're the ones this construction is made to hold.

It's rated for medium interior traffic — convenience stores, restaurants, hotels, and similar spots. Pushed past that, or left to face heavy mud alone, any loop mat loads up and wears faster, so the way to get years out of it is to keep it to medium traffic with coarser debris handled ahead of it.

Can I use it by itself, or outdoors?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

It's designed as the middle mat in a layered entrance, not a standalone or an outdoor mat. The best setup is a coarse scraper outside to take heavy debris, Cross-Over at the threshold to scrape off what's left and start drying, and an absorbent mat just inside to finish — because Cross-Over is non-absorbent, it doesn't hold much water on its own. Used alone at a busy or wet door, more gets past it than you'd want; outdoors, it isn't built for the weather.

What sizes can I get?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Standard sizes run from 2'×3' up to 6'×10', and it comes in 60-foot rolls. Larger mats over 6 feet — up to 11'9" — are made by seaming panels together, so a wide lobby run is possible, just with a seam in it.

Size the mat to the traffic path, not only the door, so it covers the steps it takes to dry a sole. If it'll sit out in the open rather than wall-to-wall, ask for edged ends — standard rolls ship without edging unless you specify it.

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

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

The loop-pile surface has a richer, more textured look than a flat ribbed or rubber mat, which is why it suits a front-of-house entrance — a hotel lobby, a restaurant, a museum — where the floor is on display. It comes in two two-tone colors, Brown and Gray, both designed to blend with common interior schemes and hide tracked-in dirt between cleanings. The two-tone effect helps the mat read as finished rather than utilitarian while it does its work.

Can I get it in a custom size or with our logo?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

On size, yes within limits — beyond the standard sizes, widths over 6 feet up to 11'9" are made by seaming, so you can cover a wider entrance with a seam in the mat. On a logo, no: Cross-Over is a plain two-color loop mat, not a printed or logo construction. If you want branding at the door, that's a different product — a logo mat — and we can point you to one. For a clean, hard-wearing mat that looks the part at a front entrance, Cross-Over does that without the artwork.

By Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO, Mats Inc.

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.

Super Berber Matting is a dense berber entrance mat that does the two hardest jobs at a busy door at once: it scrapes grit off shoes and soaks up the moisture they carry. The needle-punch berber surface is solution-dyed in up to 40 colors, and a custom logo can be inlaid right into it — so it cleans the entrance and carries the brand in the same mat.

What Super Berber Does Before Dirt and Water Reach the Floor

At a busy entrance, dirt and water arrive on shoes — ISSA research shows the door is where most of a building's dirt comes in. Left to cross the threshold, that grit grinds at the floor and wet shoes leave a lobby slick. The dense berber pile catches both: it scrapes solids loose and holds moisture in the fiber, while the all-weather rubber backing keeps the mat planted, so the dirt and water stay on the mat, not the floor.

Why Solution-Dyed Berber, and Why This One

The mat is built from 100% solution-dyed polypropylene berber, needle-punched into a dense half-inch pile that weighs about 52 ounces per square yard. Solution-dyed means the color is locked into the fiber rather than printed on top, so it does not bleach or wear pale. The polypropylene is UV- and abrasion-resistant, which is what lets the mat hold its look under heavy traffic and sun.

Of the two jobs an entrance mat does, this one leans toward wiping — the deep pile is built to pull moisture and fine dirt off shoes and keep it there, with strong scraping behind it. An all-weather rubber backing grips the floor and stands up to wet conditions, so the mat works at an interior lobby or a covered outdoor entrance alike.

Where It Belongs, and What It Is Not

Super Berber fits heavy-traffic entrances where appearance counts as much as cleaning — office buildings, shops, lobbies, schools, airports, and sport concourses. It works indoors or at a covered outdoor entrance, and it sits in our range of moisture-control entrance matting as the absorbent option that traps water in the pile rather than channeling it away.

What it is not is a drainage grid or a heavy-mud scraper. It holds the moisture it collects, so where standing water has to drain off, an open grid mat is the better tool — and where shoes arrive caked in mud, a coarse scraper out front will spare the pile. Super Berber is the mat that finishes the job: wiping shoes clean and dry once the worst is knocked off.

Three Things to Check Before You Spec It

First, decide what the door mostly throws at it. If the entrance is about moisture and a clean, finished look, Super Berber is built for exactly that. If shoes arrive heavy with mud or grit, set a coarse scraper ahead of it so the berber handles the wiping rather than clogging with debris it was not meant to take alone.

Second, size it and pick the edge. It comes in standard mats up to four by fourteen feet, in rolls, or custom-cut to your dimensions — up to thirteen feet two inches wide and inlaid runs to a hundred feet. Borders can be heat-sealed, square-cut, or beveled, and custom shapes are on the table if the entrance calls for one.

Third, plan the logo and colors early. The logo is needle-punched into the pile from a palette of up to 40 colors, so it needs camera-ready artwork before a quote. One thing to know up front: this construction does not do exact PMS brand-color matching — you choose from the 40 — so check that your colors are covered before you commit.

Why Mats Inc.

We have specified entrance matting since 1964, and a logo mat only works if the artwork, the colors, and the size are right before it is made. We take your logo, match it to the available colors, confirm the size and border, and lay out the inlay — so the mat that arrives cleans the entrance and reads as your brand, not a near-miss. Send your artwork and we will start there.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Super Berber Matting made of?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

It is built from 100% solution-dyed polypropylene berber, needle-punched into a dense half-inch pile of about 52 ounces per square yard, over an all-weather rubber backing. Solution-dyed means the color runs through each fiber instead of sitting on the surface, so it resists fading and bleaching. The polypropylene is UV- and abrasion-resistant, which is what lets the mat keep its look under heavy traffic, indoors or at a covered outdoor entrance.

How much traffic can it take, and how well does it handle water?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

It is rated for heavy traffic, and wiping is its strong suit — the deep berber pile is built to pull moisture and fine dirt off shoes and hold it down in the fiber, away from the floor. The solution-dyed, UV- and abrasion-resistant construction keeps it from looking worn or faded as the traffic adds up. Like any pile mat, it performs best when it is vacuumed regularly and washed when it needs it, so the trapped soil does not pack down into the pile.

Is it a scraper or a wiper, and where should I place it?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

It does both, but it leans wiper — it is at its best absorbing moisture and fine grit rather than knocking off heavy mud. Place it where it covers the full walking path so shoes take several steps on it. If the entrance sees heavy mud or sand, put a coarse scraper mat outside the door first and let Super Berber do the wiping inside; that two-stage setup keeps the pile from clogging and keeps the floor beyond it clean and dry.

Can you inlay our logo, and how sharp will it look?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Yes — the logo is needle-punched right into the berber pile, not printed on top, so it wears in with the mat instead of scuffing off. It is one of the largest custom logo mats made, which gives a logo room to read cleanly at the door, and custom shapes are possible if you want the mat itself to follow a form. We do need camera-ready artwork before quoting, so the inlay is laid out accurately from the start.

What colors can we get, and can you match our exact brand color?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

There are up to 40 colors to build the base and the logo from, which covers most brand palettes. The one honest limit to flag: this construction does not offer exact PMS brand-color matching — you choose from the 40 standard colors rather than a custom-mixed shade. Because the colors are solution-dyed into the fiber, whatever you pick holds up without fading. Send your brand colors and we will confirm the closest matches before anything is made.

Will it still look professional after a season of heavy use?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

That is what the solution-dyed berber is for. With the color locked into the fiber and the polypropylene resisting UV and abrasion, the mat holds its appearance far better than a surface-printed mat, which tends to go pale and tired at a busy door. The berber texture reads clean and upscale rather than utilitarian, so it suits a lobby or storefront where the entrance is part of the first impression.

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

Coir Matting is natural coconut-coir fiber tufted onto a solid vinyl base — the original boot-scraping fiber, set on a backing that keeps what it catches off your floor. The stiff coir brushes grit and moisture off shoes at the door, while the vinyl base seals the underside so nothing leaks through to the floor below. It cuts cleanly to fit a recessed well or a vestibule.

What Coir Matting Does Before Grit Reaches the Floor

Coir has scraped boots clean for well over a century, and the reason is the fiber: stiff, dense, and naturally good at brushing grit and soaking up moisture off shoes. ISSA research shows the entrance is where most of a building's dirt arrives, so a mat that pulls it off early keeps it from grinding across the floor inside. The vinyl base does the other half of the job — it holds the dirt and water on the mat instead of letting it leak through to the floor underneath.

Why Coir on a Vinyl Base, and Why This One

The mat is natural coconut coir tufted into a heavy vinyl base, about five-eighths of an inch thick overall. The coir is the working surface: a tough natural fiber that brushes and holds dirt and moisture the way a synthetic mat cannot quite match. It is the fiber people picture at a welcoming front door, and it has been doing the job since coco mats first came to the States in the 1800s.

The vinyl base is what sets this apart from a plain woven coco mat. A woven-back mat lets water seep straight through to the floor; this one seals the underside, so the floor stays protected and dry beneath it. Because the fibers are locked into that base, the mat can be cut to any shape without unraveling — which is what makes it work in a recessed well.

Where It Belongs, and What It Is Not

Coir Matting is at its best in covered, contained spots — vestibules, lobbies, and recessed entrance wells at commercial and residential doors. It comes in six-foot-wide rolls cut to size, and for a large recess the pieces can be cut and fused so the seam barely shows. It sits in our range of moisture-control entrance matting as the natural-fiber option that traps grit and water on a sealed base.

What it is not is a fully-exposed outdoor mat or a drain-through grid. Coir is a natural fiber, so constant sun and rain wear it faster than a synthetic — it lasts far longer under cover. And the vinyl base means water does not drain through it; it holds moisture on top, so where a spot needs water to run away, an open grid mat is the right tool instead.

Three Things to Check Before You Spec It

First, check how exposed the spot is. Under a portico, in a vestibule, or recessed at a covered entrance, coir holds up well and looks the part. In an open doorway that takes direct sun and driving rain, it will wear and fade faster than a rubber or synthetic mat — so save coir for the sheltered entries and use something weatherproof where the elements hit.

Second, measure the opening, especially a recess. The matting comes in six-foot-wide rolls cut to your length, and custom shapes are workable because the fibers will not unravel at a cut edge. For a recess wider than a single piece, sections are cut and fused together so the joint is hard to spot. Send the well's dimensions and we will plan the layout.

Third, pick the color and expect a little shedding at first. It comes in natural, chocolate brown, and maroon, with printed designs available if you want a pattern. Like all coir, a new mat sheds some loose fiber for the first week or two — that is normal and settles down with a few vacuumings, not a defect.

Why Mats Inc.

We have specified entrance matting since 1964, and coir is a material we know how to place. We will match the thickness and color to the entrance, cut the roll to your recess, and fuse the seams so a large well reads as one clean mat — then point you to a weatherproof option instead if the spot is too exposed for natural fiber. Send the dimensions and we will lay it out.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Coir Matting made of?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

It is natural coconut-coir fiber tufted onto a heavy vinyl base, about five-eighths of an inch thick overall. Coir is the stiff, dense fiber from coconut husks — the classic boot-scraping material — and here it is locked into a solid vinyl backing rather than a woven one. That sealed base is the key difference from a plain woven coco mat: water and grit stay on the mat instead of leaking through to the floor underneath.

How long does coir last, and can it go outside?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

Coir is tough and scrapes well, but it is a natural fiber, so where it lives matters. Under cover — a vestibule, a portico, a recessed entry — it holds up and keeps its look for a good while. In a fully-exposed doorway taking direct sun and rain, it wears and fades faster than a synthetic or rubber mat, so those spots are better served by a weatherproof option. One normal quirk: a new coir mat sheds loose fiber for a week or two before it settles, which a few vacuumings clear up.

Can it fit a recessed mat well?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

Yes — that is one of its strengths. The matting comes in six-foot-wide rolls and cuts cleanly to any shape without unraveling, because the fibers are anchored into the vinyl base. For a recess wider than a single piece, sections are cut and fused together so the joining line is hard to see, and the whole thing sits down in the well at the right height. Send the recess dimensions and we will plan the cut.

What colors does it come in?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Three: natural, chocolate brown, and maroon. The natural tone is the warm, golden coir look most people picture at a front door, while the brown and maroon read a little richer and more finished. All three suit a traditional or hospitality entrance where you want the doorway to feel welcoming rather than industrial — coir has a warmth that synthetic mats do not quite have.

Can we get a custom size, shape, or a printed design?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Yes to all three. Because it is cut from wide rolls and the cut edges hold without unraveling, custom sizes and shapes are straightforward — useful for an odd-shaped recess or a wide entrance. Printed designs are also available if you want a pattern or motif on the coir rather than a plain field. Send your dimensions and what you have in mind, and we will confirm what works.

Does it look right at a nicer entrance?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

It does, in the right setting. Coir reads natural and classic — the brushy texture and warm tone are exactly what people associate with a welcoming, well-kept doorway, which is why it suits hospitality, retail, and residential entries. It is less the look for a sleek modern lobby, where a finished synthetic or grid mat fits better, but for a traditional or warm entrance under cover, coir looks the part.

By Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO, Mats Inc.

• For thorough shoe cleaning, nothing can match a cocoa mat.
• This heavy duty mat has a "one way" absorbing action that holds up to 2 gallons of water per square yard.
• It won't release moisture when walked on.
• Easily cleaned by turning it upside down and sharply rapping with a broom handle.
• 1 1/2" thick.

The Classic Waterhog is the mat most people picture when they think "Waterhog" — the original bi-level scraper built to handle a busy door and keep what's outside from ending up on your floor. It's the workhorse of the line: dependable dirt and moisture control, indoors or out, in a surface made to take real daily traffic. Part of the broader Waterhog entrance mat family, the Classic is the default pick for primary entrances.

What a Waterhog Mat Does Before Dirt Reaches Your Floor

Most of the dirt in a building walks in through the front door. ISSA data shows up to 12 times more dirt enters during wet weather, and it takes six to eight footsteps for someone to wipe their shoes clean. The Classic Waterhog is built to catch that in those first steps inside.

The bi-level surface does the work. Raised ridges scrape grit and moisture off shoes and drop it down between them, below shoe level, where it stays put instead of tracking inside. The water-dam border holds the moisture on the mat — up to 1.5 gallons of water per square yard — so the floor past the door stays dry and safer underfoot.

Why the Bi-Level Construction Holds Up

The surface is a 24 oz/yd² solution-dyed PET fiber, made from at least 90% recycled plastic. Solution-dyed means the color goes all the way through the fiber, so it resists staining and won't fade or rot — it dries fast and keeps its look through repeated cleanings. The waffle pattern's reinforced rubber nubs are what stop the pile from crushing flat, which is how a cheaper mat loses its scrape and starts to look tired.

Under that sits a 78-mil SBR rubber backing — with about 20% recycled rubber from car tires — that grips the floor and resists curling and cracking through temperature swings. Beveled edges give a safe step up onto the mat, and the surface is certified high-traction by the National Floor Safety Institute. It's made in the USA.

Where It Belongs — and What It Isn't

The Classic earns its place at primary entrances that see steady traffic all day — office lobbies, storefronts, schools, restaurants, healthcare entries, and busy homes. It works indoors and out, which is why it's the one mat that covers most doorways without much fuss. Pick smooth backing for hard floors and cleated backing for carpet.

What it isn't is a decorative accent or a logo mat. The Classic is the plain performance surface — bold, even color and a square scraping pattern, not custom artwork or fine print. If a space needs branding at the door, that's a different build; the Classic is for when the job is simply to keep the floor clean and dry.

Three Things to Check Before You Spec It

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

Second, size the mat to the walking path, not just the door. Because it takes several steps to wipe shoes clean, a mat that's too short lets grit past it. The Classic comes in standard sizes through 6 by 20 feet and custom lengths up to 60 feet, so you can cover the real path.

Third, choose the border for the job. The classic rubber border is the tougher, more weather-ready edge — the better call for outdoor or high-abuse entrances. The fashion fabric border gives a softer, more finished look for indoor lobbies. Both use the same surface and colors, so it's really about wear and setting.

Why Mats Inc.

The Classic Waterhog is the mat we reach for most, because it solves the common problem — a busy door tracking dirt and water inside — without overcomplicating it. Our job is getting the details right for your space: the backing for your floor, the size for your traffic, and the border and color for where it sits. We specify rather than install, and every order is backed by our one-year limited warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a Waterhog mat better at trapping dirt than a regular doormat?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

It's the bi-level surface. Instead of one flat layer, the Classic Waterhog has raised ridges with channels between them. The ridges scrape grit and water off your shoes, and the low channels catch it and hold it below shoe level — so it stays in the mat instead of getting carried in on the next step. A water-dam border around the edge keeps the moisture from running off, holding up to 1.5 gallons of water per square yard. A standard doormat just sits there and gets walked over; this one actively pulls the dirt down and keeps it.

How durable is it, and how long should it last?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

It's built to take daily commercial traffic. The surface is a 24-ounce solution-dyed PET fiber — the color runs through the fiber, so it resists stains and won't fade or rot — and reinforced rubber nubs keep the pile from crushing flat, which is what usually wears a mat out. 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; what ends a mat early is usually an undersized one taking abuse, or grit left to grind in. Mats Inc. backs every order with a one-year limited warranty.

Can I use it outdoors, and which backing should I choose?

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 foyers. The backing is the choice that matters: pick smooth backing for hard floors like tile, stone, or sealed concrete, and cleated backing for carpet, where the cleats keep it from sliding. For a fully exposed outdoor spot, the classic rubber border holds up better than the fabric one against weather. If you're not sure, tell us where it's going and we'll point you to the right pairing.

What colors does the Classic Waterhog come in?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

There are 11 colors, from neutrals like Charcoal, Medium Grey, and Bluestone to richer tones like Navy, Evergreen, Bordeaux, and Red/Black. For a busy entrance, a mid-tone or darker color is the practical choice — it hides everyday soil between cleanings and still looks intentional at the door, while lighter shades show dirt faster. Solid Red is offered in 3- and 4-foot widths. Whatever you pick, the color is dyed through the fiber, so it stays true instead of washing out over time.

What's the difference between the rubber and fashion borders?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

It comes down to look and setting. The classic rubber border is the more rugged edge — clean, utilitarian, and the better pick for outdoor or high-abuse entrances. The fashion fabric border wraps the mat in a softer, more finished surround, which suits indoor lobbies and reception areas where the entrance is part of the first impression. Both use the same bi-level Waterhog surface and the same colors underneath, so you're really choosing the frame, not the performance.

Can I get it in a custom size to fit my entrance?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Yes. Beyond the standard sizes, the Classic is made to order in 3-, 4-, and 6-foot widths in whole-foot lengths up to 60 feet, so you can match the mat to the actual opening and walking path rather than settling for the closest stock size. That's especially useful for wide entries, long runners down a corridor, or covering the full stretch where people walk in. Send us the dimensions of the space and how it's used, and we'll help you land on a size and layout that fits.

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.

The Waterhog Elite Herringbone is a bi-level entrance mat built to pull dirt and water off shoes and keep them off your floor. Raised nubs scrape debris and moisture down below foot level, while a raised water-dam border around the edge holds the runoff on the mat instead of letting it spread onto the floor. The herringbone face gives it an upscale look right at the door.

What the Waterhog Elite Herringbone Does Before Water Reaches Your Floor

Most of a building's dirt and water walks in on shoes at the entrance — ISSA research puts the bulk of it right at the door. This mat's bi-level surface scrapes that grit and moisture off and drops it below the level your shoe touches, so it stays in the mat instead of riding onto the floor. A raised water-dam border around the edge keeps the trapped water from running off, which is what stops a slick spot from forming at the threshold.

Why Recycled PET and a Bi-Level Face, and Why This One

The face is solution-dyed PET — a polyester made from recycled plastic drink bottles, at least 90% recycled content — woven into a dense herringbone at about 30 ounces per square yard. Solution-dyed means the color is locked into the fiber, so it resists staining and will not fade or rot. The raised nubs that do the scraping are reinforced with rubber, so the pile does not crush flat under steady traffic.

Underneath, the SBR rubber backing — a synthetic rubber — contains about 20% recycled rubber from car tires, and comes in a smooth or a cleated version. The mat is certified high-traction by the National Floor Safety Institute, and beveled edges ease the step up onto it. The water-dam border holds up to 1.5 gallons of water per square yard before it overflows.

Where It Belongs, and What It Is Not

This is an entrance mat for the front of the building — lobbies, office and retail entries, hotels, and restaurants, indoors or out — where you want both performance and a finished look. The herringbone face and recycled build earn it a place in our range of water-capture entrance matting, where the job is holding tracked-in water on the mat and off the floor.

What it is not is a mat for a kitchen or a fuel or service bay — the PET fiber should not sit in areas exposed to animal fats or petroleum, which break it down. It is also a single stage: it traps a lot, but in a downpour or very heavy traffic, pairing it with a second mat just inside keeps the floor beyond it dry.

Three Things to Check Before You Spec It

First, choose the border. The classic border is rubber — rugged, and the better pick for an exposed outdoor or high-abuse entrance. The fashion border is fabric, wrapped in the same recycled material as the face, for a more finished look in a lobby or retail space. Both come in a range of seven colors, so you can match the mat to the floor or the décor.

Second, match the backing to the floor. The cleated backing grips a carpeted surface and resists shifting, while the smooth backing sits flat on hard floors like tile or stone. Picking the wrong one is the usual reason a mat creeps or wrinkles underfoot.

Third, size it to the entrance. It comes in a range of standard sizes and can be made to order in whole-foot lengths up to sixty feet, for a long approach or a wide doorway. Aim for enough length that a person takes several steps across the mat — that is what gives the nubs the chance to clean the whole sole.

Why Mats Inc.

We have specified entrance matting since 1964, and a performance mat like this only pays off when it is matched to the entrance. We will help you weigh the classic border against the fashion border, pick the backing for your floor, choose from the seven colors, and size it to the doorway so it traps what it should. Tell us the entrance and we will spec it to fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Waterhog Elite Herringbone made of?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

The face is solution-dyed PET — a polyester woven from recycled plastic drink bottles, at least 90 percent recycled content — set in a herringbone pattern at about 30 ounces per square yard. The raised nubs that do the scraping are reinforced with rubber so the pile will not crush flat under traffic. Underneath is an SBR rubber backing, a synthetic rubber, made with about 20 percent recycled rubber from car tires. That recycled content may also count toward LEED credits, depending on the rating version and the project.

How much water does it hold, and how slip-safe is it?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

The raised water-dam border around the edge holds up to 1.5 gallons of water per square yard before it overflows, which keeps tracked-in rain and snowmelt on the mat instead of pooling on your floor. The surface is certified high-traction by the National Floor Safety Institute, and the beveled edges give a safe transition from the floor up onto the mat. Because the PET is solution-dyed, it resists staining and will not fade or rot, and it stands up to salt and ice melt without breaking down — useful through a hard winter.

Should I get smooth or cleated backing, and where can I use it?

Answered by Dustin Thompson, Owner & CEO

The cleated backing grips a carpeted floor and resists shifting; the smooth backing lays flat on hard surfaces like tile or stone — match it to whatever the mat will sit on. The mat works indoors or out at an entrance. The one place to avoid is anywhere exposed to animal fats, like a commercial kitchen, or to petroleum products, since those break down the PET fiber over time.

What sizes does it come in?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

It comes in a range of standard sizes for typical doorways, and it can be made to order in whole-foot lengths up to sixty feet — handy for a long entry approach or a wide double-door opening. The thing to aim for is enough length that someone takes several steps across the mat, because that is what lets the nubs clean the whole sole rather than just clipping it. Send the opening dimensions and the walking path, and we will point you to the right size.

What colors and border styles are available?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

There are seven colors to choose from, and two border styles. The classic border is rubber — clean and rugged, the usual pick for an outdoor or heavy-duty entrance. The fashion border is fabric, wrapped in the same recycled material as the face, for a softer, more finished edge that suits a lobby or retail floor. The herringbone face pattern gives either version an upscale look, rather than the plain appearance of a basic utility mat.

Will it look right at a customer-facing entrance?

Answered by Jinna Hopson, Vice President of Marketing

Yes — the herringbone pattern and the fabric fashion border are what set this mat apart from a plain entrance mat, so it reads as intentional in an office lobby, a hotel, a restaurant, or a retail entry. If the entrance is more exposed or takes rougher use, the rubber classic border holds up better outdoors while still looking finished. Either way, you get a mat that performs like a workhorse but does not look like one.

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