This post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own.
If there are rainy seasons in North Carolina, it’s usually the summer and winter. Summer is drenching thunderstorms and winter is just a steady drizzle on and off every other week. A coir, fabric or jute doormat is great if you want to show off some personality in the drier months. However, you need something more weather-resistant for people (and pets) to step on inside or out this time of year, especially with wet, dirty shoes or paws.
Argyle Door Mat Runner
An interior waterproof doormat is just a functional, practical, necessary piece of decor to protect the floors this time of year. Sure you can have it be a color that matches your room, but I just like it to match the floor. To me it’s not a design element, I just want it to blend in.
But the most essential part is that it does its job: it needs to handle the water, not slip around, and dry quickly for a potential part two the next day. Because when it rains, it often pours! So I wanted to check out what’s on the market right now to help you (and me!) find the best weatherproof indoor/outdoor doormats.
In case you love product tests as much as I do, check out the ones we’ve done on steam mops, nugget ice makers, knife sharpeners, can openers, and hair towel wraps!
The Test Methodology
We measured the size, calculating the surface area available, and weighed 10 rubber-backed door mats right out of the box. Then we poured increments of 1 cup of water onto them until we saw water visibly seeping out the sides. Using 8 oz/cup, we calculated the weight of water they could each handle. Then we left the mats to air dry in our office overnight and weighed them each again 24 hours later to see what percentage of water had evaporated. We also shuffled across the mats to see how slippery they were when wet.
The Results
In order of price (from least to most expensive):
Weight out of the box: 4.8 pounds
Size: 29.625″ x 17.625″
Surface area: 522.14″ ($0.02/square inch)
Backing: Slightly “smooth”/slightly textured rubber with no grippers
Slipperiness: Decently grippy on top when wet
Absorption breaking point: Not even 3 cups—it started crying a river to the sides
How much water evaporated after 24 hours: 23.8%
Size/color options: 1 size/1 color
Overall impressions: This was a disappointment…it couldn’t even handle our “minimum” water test. The water didn’t evaporate very quickly either. It claims to feature recycled polyester fibers on the facing and 100% recycled rubber backing. This is the cheapest mat at $0.02/square inch…and it feels like it.
Weight out of the box: 2.4 pounds
Size: 29″ x 17″
Surface area: 493″ ($0.03/square inch)
Backing: Large-size diamond grid grip pattern
Slipperiness: Decently grippy when wet
Absorption breaking point: 3 cups
How much water evaporated after 24 hours: 35.1%
Size/color options: 2 sizes/5 colors
Overall impressions: This one had the most reactions from the team: “She’s flooded! She’s a goner…” It looked cheap, like a grid of chair felt pads added to the top of a flat material. The water really pooled up on top and didn’t absorb very well, but it did dry relatively more quickly than some.
Weight out of the box: 2.4 pounds
Size: 33.25″ x 21.25″
Surface area: 706.6″ ($0.03/square inch)
Backing: Textured smooth rubber with fabric hem
Slipperiness: Sloshy water sound but decently grippy
Absorption breaking point: 3 cups
How much water evaporated after 24 hours: 33.3%
Size/color options: 7 sizes/6 colors (not all sizes have all colors available)
Overall impressions: I like the stripe on this one—it’s a little bit more aesthetic if you do want a mat that commands some attention. It did feel flimsy compared to the other mats, and it didn’t lay totally flat out of the box—there were creases visible. It wasn’t as slippery as I was worried it would be, though, and the range of color options is nice.
Weight out of the box: 1.6 pounds
Size: 29.25″ x 17.125″
Surface area: 500.9″ ($0.05/square inch)
Backing: Textured smooth rubber with fabric hem Slipperiness: Decently grippy when wet
Absorption breaking point: 3 cups
How much water evaporated after 24 hours: 48.39%
Size/color options: 7 sizes/4 colors
Overall impressions: Argh, it won’t lay flat right out of the box! And it feels a little flimsy. The water test produced almost a slick sheet of water on top that didn’t absorb right away. “She’s going overboard, folks!” But then ironically this mat actually looked kind of nice when wet? It flattened out more. It did dry pretty quickly: the next day it felt minimally wet and was back to its starting weight.
Weight out of the box: 2.6 pounds
Size: 29″ x 17″
Surface area: 493″ ($0.06/square inch)
Backing: Large-size diamond grid grip pattern
Slipperiness: Slightly slippery
Absorption breaking point: 3 cups
How much water evaporated after 24 hours: 33.3%
Size/color options: 6 sizes/7 colors
Overall impressions: This mat was actually a little slippery when wet, and really wasn’t living up to its name. I just was a little let down by this one—I had higher hopes.
Weight out of the box: 2 pounds
Size: 26.875″ x 18″
Surface area: 483.75″ ($0.07/square inch)
Backing: Medium-sized diamond grid grip pattern
Slipperiness: A little slippery on top when wet
Absorption breaking point: 3 cups and then it started to spill over the sides a little
How much water evaporated after 24 hours: 25.7%
Size/color options: 4 sizes/8 colors
Overall impressions: Nice light mat with a handsome diamond pattern on the front and a good sense of “grippiness” on the back so it won’t slide around. It did get a little bit slippery on top when wet. This one uses 90% recycled polyester on the rug.
Weight out of the box: 4 pounds
Size: 34.875″ x 22.875″
Surface area: 797.8″ ($0.06/square inch)
Backing: Medium-sized diamond grid grip pattern
Slipperiness: A little bit slippery on top when fully wet
Absorption breaking point:: 5 cups
How much water evaporated after 24 hours: 35.3%
Size/color options: 3 sizes/3 colors
Overall impressions: The front dots on this one were pretty tall, so you don’t really slosh in the water if it is drenched. It didn’t absorb quite as much as those in its “weight class” if you will, and it was a little bit slippery. It does feature 100% post-consumer recycled plastic on the rug and 20% recycled rubber on the back.
Weight out of the box: 4.2 pounds
Size: 34.875″ x 23″
Surface area: 802″ ($0.06/square inch)
Backing: Medium-sized diamond grid grip pattern
Slipperiness: Decently grippy on top when wet
Absorption breaking point: 6 cups
How much water evaporated after 24 hours: 33.3%
Size/color options: 7 sizes/8 colors
Overall impressions: The Orvis, Pottery Barn, L.L.Bean, Crate & Barrel, and Frontgate mats all had what seemed like the exact same rubber grip backing; They really only differed on the front pattern, sizes, and color options. And Orvis really impressed on the options at an accessible price point. I also liked that it used 100% recycled materials in the rug fibers and 20% recycled rubber in the backing.
Weight out of the box: 4 pounds
Size: 35.5″ x 23″
Surface area: 816.5″ ($0.07/square inch)
Backing: Medium-sized diamond grid grip pattern
Slipperiness: Decently grippy on top when wet
Absorption breaking point: 6 cups
How much water evaporated after 24 hours: 28.6%
Size/color options: 1 size/7 colors
Overall impressions: Loving the monogram that you can order with this one! Really makes it personalized. The size was great for a front door, and it looks more sophisticated than many utility mats. This one uses 100% recycled materials in the rug fibers and 25% recycled rubber backing. I’m eyeing this one for the mudroom entry!
Weight out of the box: 6.2 pounds
Size: 58.875″ x 22″
Surface area: 1295.25″ ($0.09/square inch)
Backing: Medium-sized diamond grid grip pattern
Slipperiness: Really grippy when wet
Absorption breaking point: 11 cups (not a typo…it was wild to watch)
How much water evaporated after 24 hours: 38.46%
Size/color options: 2 sizes/8 colors
Overall impressions: We tested the larger size ($119), and it is quite a substantial mat in terms of weight and size, so if you have double doors to your front or back entrance, this is your mat. It handled so much water without breaking a “sweat,” and was the most secure-feeling in terms of slipperiness when wet. Feels like it will last a long time! I think this is going right inside my front door this season.
The Top 3
Our top picks all performed really well, felt sturdy underfoot, and absorbed more water than average. It was evident that you get what you pay for—most of the lowest-performing mats were under $20. So if you need something to stand up to the rain and dirt, definitely consider one of these for inside or outside your door!
Best Waterproof Door Mat for Performance: Frontgate Water & Dirt Shield™ Argyle Door Mat
Best Waterproof Door Mat for Style: Pottery Barn Waterhog Squares Monogram Doormat
Best Waterproof Door Mat for Size/Color Options: Orvis Grid Recycled Water Trapper® Mat
