If you are comparing commercial mat rental providers in the Chicago area, Cintas is probably on your list. It is one of the largest facility services companies in the country. Specialty Mat Services is a different kind of provider: a regional company based in Aurora, Illinois, focused on mats, mops, towels and restroom supplies for businesses across Illinois and Northwest Indiana.

This page compares the two on the points that affect your week-to-week experience, and gives you a list of questions to ask either company before you sign. We only state specifics about our own program. For anything about Cintas, we point you to what is publicly known and what you should confirm with them directly.

Specialty Mat vs. Cintas at a Glance

Specialty Mat Services Cintas
Company type Regional, independently run provider founded in Aurora, IL in 2004 National, publicly traded corporation headquartered in the Cincinnati, Ohio area
Service area 35+ cities across Illinois and Northwest Indiana Locations across the United States and Canada
Core focus Floor mats, mops, towels and restroom supplies Uniforms, mats, restroom supplies, first aid and safety, fire protection
Who answers the phone Our Aurora office, at 800-941-6287 Confirm with your local Cintas location
Upfront cost $0 to start a rental program Ask for this in writing
Typical weekly cost $20 to $35 per week for most small and mid-size facilities (5 to 8 mats) Quoted by account. Ask for an itemized quote
Quote turnaround Most businesses receive a custom quote within 24 hours Confirm with your local Cintas location

Cintas information reflects general, publicly available facts about the company. Program terms, pricing and service details vary by location and account, so confirm them with Cintas before deciding.

What Changes When Your Mat Provider Is Local

You Deal With the Same Office Every Time

Our office, plant and routes all run out of Aurora. When you call, you reach the team that schedules your route, so a missed mat, a billing question or a request for an extra delivery goes to someone who can act on it.

Routes Built Around Chicagoland Weather

We run 18+ weekly routes in one region. That is the whole business, so the schedule is planned around what Illinois and Indiana floors go through: road salt and slush in winter, heavy rain in spring. If your entrance needs more coverage for a few months, we adjust the program with you.

A Program Sized to Your Building

We serve 1,400+ active clients, and many are single-location businesses: restaurants, clinics, offices, retail shops and auto dealers. You do not need multiple sites or a large order to get a walk-through and a program built for your entrances. See the full range on our commercial mat rental page, including custom logo mats.

Mats Chosen for Floor Safety

Our core rental inventory includes mats certified by the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) for high traction in wet conditions. You can read more about our standards on the company page.

When Cintas May Be the Better Fit

A national provider makes sense in some situations, and it is worth being honest about them:

  • You have locations in many states and want one vendor and one agreement for all of them. We only serve Illinois and Northwest Indiana.
  • You want uniforms, first aid cabinets or fire protection from the same company. We do not offer those services.
  • Your corporate office already has a national purchasing agreement that your location is required to use.

If none of those apply and your facilities are in our service area, a regional provider is worth a quote.

7 Questions to Ask Any Mat Rental Provider

Ask us these. Ask Cintas and any other provider the same ones, and compare the answers in writing.

  1. What is the length of the agreement, and what happens at renewal?
  2. Can prices change during the term? If so, by how much and with what notice?
  3. Are there fees on the invoice beyond the weekly rental rate, such as service, environmental or fuel charges?
  4. What do you charge if a mat is lost or damaged?
  5. Will I have the same route driver each week?
  6. If a delivery is missed, who do I call, and how quickly is it corrected?
  7. Can I add or remove mats seasonally without rewriting the agreement?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Specialty Mat Services affiliated with Cintas?

No. Specialty Mat Services is an independent company based in Aurora, Illinois. Cintas is a registered trademark of Cintas Corporation, and we have no affiliation with them.

Which areas do you cover?

We serve more than 35 cities across the Chicago metro area, the surrounding Illinois suburbs and Northwest Indiana. Check the service area page for your city.

Do you offer more than mats?

Yes. Many clients combine mats with mop and towel rental and paper and restroom supplies on the same weekly route.

I have a provider now. How do I compare?

Send us a recent invoice or a list of the mats you have today. We will quote the same setup so you can compare line by line. Check your current agreement for its end date and notice period before you make a change.

Is renting better than buying mats outright?

It depends on how many mats you have and who would wash them. We break down the numbers in mat rental vs. buying.

Get a Local Quote to Compare

Tell us about your facility and we will send a custom quote, usually within 24 hours, with $0 upfront cost to start. Call 800-941-6287 or request your free quote online.