When it comes to protecting your floors, keeping your space clean, and creating a great first impression, not all mats are created equal. You might be wondering: Do I really need both indoor and outdoor mats? The short answer, yes, and here’s why.
Each Mat Has a Unique Job
Think of floor mats like a team; each player has a specific role to keep the entire space safer, cleaner, and more professional. Using only one type of mat is like having a team with only one player on the field.
Outdoor Mats are your First Line of Defense
Outdoor mats are your shield against the elements. Placed right outside your door, their job is to scrape off heavy debris—like mud, snow, sand, salt, and moisture—before it even makes it inside.
Benefits of Outdoor Mats:
- Scrape off dirt and debris from shoes
- Reduce slip hazards before entering
- Minimize wear and tear on interior floors
- Help protect indoor mats from overload
- Weather-resistant and heavy-duty design
Popular options include Rubber Scraper Entrance Mats, Recessed Grill Mats, or coir/coco mats—each built tough to withstand the outdoors.
Indoor Mats for Trap, Absorb, Impress
Once inside, indoor mats trap the remaining moisture and fine dust, keeping your floors clean and safe. This second layer of protection is essential—especially in high-traffic areas like lobbies, hallways, or front desks.
Benefits of Indoor Mats:
- Absorb residual moisture from shoes
- Prevent slips on tile or hardwood floors
- Reinforce your branding with custom logo options
- Keep interior spaces looking clean and polished
- Reduce cleaning costs over time
Indoor mats are typically made from nylon, polypropylene, or carpet-like materials with rubber backing for grip and moisture resistance. Some of the Best Indoor mats are Premium Entrance Mats, Waterhog Entrance Mats, and Supreme Berber Inaly Logo Mats
Why You Really Need Both
Using both indoor and outdoor mats creates a matting system, a powerful two-step strategy to keep your business, school, office, or facility clean and safe.
Without both mats, here’s what can happen:
- Water and grime overload your indoor mat alone
- Increased slip risks during rain or snow
- More floor damage = higher repair costs
- More frequent cleaning = more labor expense
- Weakened first impression at your entrance
Pro Tip: 15 Feet = Full Protection
Industry experts recommend a total of 12–15 feet of matting at each entrance to effectively remove 80%+ of soil and moisture from shoes. This usually means 5 feet outside, 5 feet in the vestibule, and 5 feet inside.
Invest Now, Save Later
Your floors are one of the most expensive assets in your space. By investing in both indoor and outdoor mats, you’re not just protecting your floors—you’re protecting your brand, your customers, and your bottom line.
Need help choosing the right combination of mats? We’ve got you covered.
Contact Universal Floor Mats for a free consultation, mock-up, or quote.