What is Entrance Matting? The Complete UK Buyer's Guide 2026

Entrance matting is specialist floor matting installed at building entrances and thresholds to capture dirt, moisture and debris from footwear before it enters a building. It reduces cleaning costs, protects interior floors from premature wear, and — critically — prevents slip accidents caused by wet, contaminated floors. Entrance mats are typically made from rubber, coir, nylon, or vinyl.

This guide explains what entrance matting is, which types you need, UK sizing guidance, and how to select the right mat for your building or workplace.

What Does Entrance Matting Do?

The primary job of entrance matting is soil and moisture management at the building threshold. Research from the British Cleaning Council shows that up to 80% of trackable dirt and moisture enters buildings on people's feet — the right entrance mat system captures the majority of this contamination at the door.

Key functions of entrance matting:

• Dirt capture: Removes soil, grit and debris from shoe soles.
• Moisture absorption: Draws water from wet shoes to prevent interior wet floor slip hazards.
• Floor protection: Prevents grit acting as an abrasive on polished, vinyl or tiled floors.
• Safety compliance: Supports HSE Workplace Regulations 1992 slip prevention requirements.
• Cleaning cost reduction: Studies show effective entrance systems reduce interior cleaning frequency by up to 30%.

Types of Entrance Matting

Scraper Mats

Scraper mats have a coarse, abrasive or ribbed surface that physically removes heavy mud, gravel and debris from shoe soles. They are typically placed outside the door — at the point of first contact. Common materials include:

• Rubber ribbed mats — heavy-duty, weatherproof, suitable for external use
• Metal grate mats — industrial use, high-traffic thresholds
• Coir mats — natural fibre, light scraping action, best for residential use

Wiper / Absorber Mats

Wiper mats are placed inside the entrance, after the scraper zone. They have an absorbent surface designed to soak up residual moisture and trap fine dust particles. Materials include nylon pile, polypropylene, and microfibre composites.

Combination Entrance Mats

Combination mats feature both scraping and wiping zones in a single mat — a coarser outer perimeter and an absorbent interior pile. They are the most practical solution for most commercial entrances where space is limited.

Recessed Well Mats

In new-build commercial developments, entrance mats are often recessed into a floor well so the mat surface sits flush with the surrounding floor, eliminating trip hazards. Standard recess depths are 12mm for pile mats and 22mm for heavy-duty entrance systems.

UK Entrance Mat Sizing Guide

The general rule is that a person should take at least 3 steps on the entrance mat. Each step removes approximately 30% of remaining contamination — three steps removes around 80% in total.

Is Entrance Matting a Legal Requirement?

Entrance matting is not explicitly named in UK legislation, but the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require employers to keep floors free from substances, objects, and conditions that could cause slipping or tripping. The HSE recommends entrance matting as a key preventive control measure for wet floor slip risk.

In practice, the absence of adequate entrance matting at a wet floor slip-incident site can be interpreted as a failure of duty of care — particularly in commercial premises. Public liability insurance claims often cite inadequate entrance matting as a contributing factor.

Rubber Entrance Matting vs Other Types

Frequently Asked Questions

What is entrance matting?

Entrance matting is specialist floor matting installed at building entrances and thresholds to capture dirt, moisture and debris from footwear before it enters a building. It reduces cleaning costs, protects interior floors and prevents slip accidents caused by wet floors.

How wide should entrance matting be?

Entrance matting should span the full width of the doorway with a minimum depth of 1.2 metres (ideally 1.8m) in the direction of travel. This ensures visitors take at least 3 steps on the mat, removing approximately 80% of trackable dirt.

What is the difference between scraper and wiper entrance mats?

Scraper mats have a coarse surface to dislodge heavy mud and debris from shoe soles. Wiper mats have an absorbent surface to trap moisture and fine dust. For maximum effectiveness, use a scraper mat outside the door and a wiper mat inside.

How often should entrance matting be cleaned?

Entrance mats should be vacuumed or shaken daily in high-traffic buildings, and wet-cleaned weekly. In wet weather or winter, more frequent cleaning is needed as saturated mats stop trapping moisture and can themselves become a slip hazard.

Is entrance matting a legal requirement in the UK?

Entrance matting is not explicitly mandated by law, but the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require employers to keep floors free from slip and trip hazards. Entrance matting is widely recommended by the HSE as a key control measure for wet floor slip risk.

Shop Entrance Matting at Rubberco

Browse our full range of commercial and residential entrance matting — rubber ribbed mats, combination entrance systems and cut-to-size rolls with free UK delivery.

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