How Many Entrance Mats Does Your Business Need This Winter?

• October 27, 2026
• Mats
• STIVEN RAMÍREZ GÓMEZ

Short answer: Count every door customers or employees use, then plan for at least one mat per entrance that is long enough for several steps, plus a spare so you can swap one out when it is wet. Most small businesses need two to four mats. Larger buildings need more, depending on how many entrances and how much traffic they have.

There is no single number that fits every building. But you can get close in about fifteen minutes with a tape measure and a floor plan. Here is how.

Step 1: List every door that gets used

Walk the outside of your building and write down each door people actually use. Do not forget:

• Main customer entrance
• Staff or back-of-house door
• Loading dock or delivery door
• Side doors used by smokers or for deliveries
• Doors from a parking garage or a connecting hallway

Winter dirt follows people, so the doors you rarely think about still carry salt inside.

Step 2: Add a mat to each one, inside and sometimes outside

Every door in your list needs at least one mat inside. If the entrance has a vestibule, you can use two: one at the outer door and one at the inner door. Some businesses also place an outdoor scraper mat where the weather allows, so most of the snow stays outside.

Step 3: Measure the walk, not just the doorway

A mat the size of the doorway catches very little. Most of the cleaning happens as someone walks across the mat. Measure from the door straight into the building and decide how many steps should land on matting. Suppliers often suggest enough length for several steps, around 10 to 15 feet for busy entrances. Where you cannot fit that, use what you have and add a second mat.

Consider the width too. If two people walk in side by side, they should both be on the mat.

Step 4: Plan for the busiest day

Think about the worst day in winter: heavy snow and a full building. Where does water pool? Where do people stand to take off a coat? Where do they wait? Add matting there too, such as at a reception desk, a waiting area or a hallway turn.

Step 5: Add a spare

A mat full of slush does not clean shoes. If you rent mats, the usual setup is a weekly swap, so a clean one replaces the used one. If you own your mats, keep at least one spare per busy entrance so you can rotate while another dries.

A rough starting point

These are only starting points, not rules:

Your own layout can change this, so measure before you decide.

Where mats are not enough

Mats reduce what comes in, but they do not replace good floor care. OSHA’s walking and working surfaces rule expects floors to be clean and, as far as feasible, dry. Keep wet floor signs on hand and check the entrance during storms.

Frequently asked questions

How many mats does a small business need?
Usually two to four, covering the customer entrance, the staff entrance and a spare. The length of each mat matters as much as the number.

Should I put mats outside and inside?
When your entrance allows it, yes. An outdoor scraper mat takes off the worst of the snow, and an indoor mat catches the rest.

Is it cheaper to buy or to rent?
It depends on how many mats you need and who will clean and store them. Renting includes cleaning and replacement, which helps when you need more mats only in winter.

Get a count for your building

Specialty Mat can look at your entrances and recommend how many mats to use. We serve businesses across Chicago and the rest of Illinois and Indiana. See our mat rental service or request a free quote.