A great bath mat makes an unpopular moment — stepping out of a warm shower or bath into a chilly bathroom — a little more pleasant by ensuring you have a plush, dry surface underfoot when you're toweling off.
We tested nine models for comfort, absorbency, and cleaning to find the best bath mats. Our top choice is the Brooklinen Bath Mat, which is easy to clean, stays in place, and comes in a range of attractive colors and sizes.
We also spoke with Jon Gholian, the founder of NYC-based cleaning company Cleany, to learn more about the best ways to care for your bath mats. Gholian also shared some tips and tricks to help guide you through the process of shopping for a bath mat.
Learn more about how Insider Reviews tests and researches home products.
Our picks for the best bath mats
Best overall: Brooklinen Bath Mat - See at Brooklinen
Best memory foam: Target Room Essentials Velveteen Memory Foam Bath Rug - See at Target
Best decorative: Society6 Bath Mat - See at Society6
Best budget: Toftbo Bath Mat - See at IKEA
Best overall
The Brooklinen Bath Mat is made of 100 percent cotton for a feel that is incredibly soft and absorbent.
- Absorbent, with a plush feel
- Comes in two sizes and many colors
- Great value
- Takes awhile to dry
- Lighter colors stain easily
The Brooklinen Bath Mat is made of 100% Turkish cotton, which makes it surprisingly plush despite its towel-like appearance. With its simple design and multi-color availability, the mat can complement a wide variety of bathroom decor styles. We like that it also comes in two different sizes to comfortably fit in a variety of bathrooms.
The mat performed extremely well during our absorbency tests and felt only slightly damp, even when multiple people used it after back-to-back showers. The mat did require more time in the dryer than other mats but remained in great shape after three runs through the washer and dryer. Best of all, this bath mat is typically priced between $25 and $30 (depending on if there's a sale), which makes it a great value for the quality.
Best memory foam
Target's Velveteen Memory Foam Bath Rug is made of comfortable memory foam that contours to your feet.
- Extremely soft and lightweight
- Non-slip backing
- Available in multiple sizes
- Not the best option for shared bathrooms
The Velveteen Memory Foam Bath Rug was by far the softest, most comfortable mat we tested. It's made of plush memory foam and topped with a soft, velvet-like fabric that makes it feel even cozier.
The mat worked well at absorbing water but repeatedly felt soaked and uncomfortable to stand on after being used for three showers in a row. Its PVC latex backing kept it in place even when it was extremely wet.
The mat washed well and kept its softness and plushness through multiple washes. I tried both air drying it and machine drying it, and it kept its shape with both methods.
Best decorative
Available in an endless assortment of designs, the Society6 Summer Fern/Simple Modern Watercolor Bath Mat is just one example of the designs available.
- Available in multiple designs
- Skid-proof backing
- Not the most absorbent
If you're looking to add a decorative statement piece to your bathroom, Society6's bath mats offer good quality and unique designs. Regardless of what design you choose, you'll get the same base bath mat: a plush, microfiber and memory foam mat with curved edges. Its bath mats were one of the few we tested that featured a non-slip backing that kept the mat in place.
After running three showers in a row during testing, the mat did feel uncomfortably soaked through, which means it may not be the best choice for shared bathrooms. However, even when the mat was extremely wet, the non-slip coating kept it from slipping and sliding.
Best budget
The fast-drying Ikea Toftbo Bath Mat is a great, inexpensive option for those who share a bathroom with multiple people.
- Great price
- Lightweight and durable
- Fast-drying and absorbent
- Prone to sliding on bathroom floor
- Unique design may not match all decor styles
For $8, it's hard to beat the price of Ikea's TOFTBO Bath Mat. This mat offers a unique feel due to its fluffy microfiber fabric, which provides great foot support. The mat performed the best in absorbency during testing and was fully dried after being run through a regular dryer cycle.
The mat is also extremely durable despite its unique construction and suffered no damage after three washes. While the mat performed well during absorbency tests, it lacks a non-slip backing and did move a small amount when stepped on. Ikea recommends using the STOPP anti-slip underlay to keep the mat firmly in place.
Unfortunately, unless you live near an Ikea and can pick it up, you'll pay more in shipping than the cost of the bath mat. While we haven't tested it, the Target Room Essentials Everyday Chenille Bath Rug offers a similar design and price point, and is available at a larger number of stores or with less expensive shipping.
What to look for in a bath mat
In addition to researching and testing, we spoke with Jon Gholian, the founder of NYC-based cleaning company Cleany, for advice on what features and cleaning advice for bath mats.
Materials: Gholian recommends choosing cotton or bamboo over other materials. "Most people prefer the foam mat nowadays for comfort, but this takes longer to dry than cotton or bamboo," he said. He also recommends choosing a mat with an anti-slip backing, which will help keep the mat in place even if it gets soaked.
The best bath mat materials are mainly based on preference, but If you share a bathroom with multiple people, you'll want to purchase a mat made of absorbent materials with a quick drying time.
Size: The size of your bath mat should be based solely on the size of your bathtub or shower. You'll want to ensure that your mat covers the entire floor surface that you occupy when getting in or out of the shower. A mat that's too small will look awkward and will lead to wet floors, while an oversized mat may get bunched up. Keep a few inches of space between the bath mat and the wall.
Design and color: Choosing a bath mat style that complements your bathroom's decor is up to your personal preference. Retailers like Society6 offer a wide range of designs and colors if you're looking for a more colorful bath mat or bathroom rug. Other retailers such as Brooklinen, Target, and Ikea offer neutral-colored bath mats with simple designs that will fit well in most bathrooms. Regardless, you'll want to focus your shopping efforts on finding a bath mat that is well-made, comfortable, and affordable.
Bath rugs vs. bath mats: Bath mats typically have non-slip backings that help keep them in place. They're often made of absorbent material, like cotton, that dries quickly. A common size is 20 by 30 inches, so they fit in many washers and dryers.
By contrast, bath rugs come in several sizes and are usually thinner. Since they're not meant to absorb moisture, they may be made of slower-drying materials and lack a grippy backing. Instead of having a non-slip function, bath rugs are usually more decorative.
If you have a larger bathroom, you may prefer a runner that covers more floor space. Powder rooms without showers or tubs may also be a good choice for bathroom rugs because they won't get as soaked. However, these rugs will still get dirty. Choose a washable material and size that fits your laundry machines.
How we test bath mats
We put all nine bath mats through the same five tests:
Comfort: While using each mat as part of our normal showering routine, we observed how comfortable the material was to stand on.
Absorbency: We also noted how wet each mat felt after showering and if any mats became slippery and started sliding. Each mat was tested in a communal bathroom shared by three people who regularly took back-to-back showers.
Dry time: Every morning, we checked to see if each mat had completely dried overnight or if it was still wet.
Cleaning: We washed and dried every mat three times according to its care instructions and inspected each mat to see how it held up. We cleaned the wood mat three times with a wood-safe cleaner and then checked the mat for any signs of damage.
Durability: After regular use and multiple trips through the washing machine, we noted any damage that occurred over the testing period and ranked the mats accordingly.
Bath mat FAQs
How should you clean your bath mat? How often should you clean it?
Surprisingly, you should aim to wash your bath mat more frequently than many of us would think. Gholian strongly suggests washing your mat at least every two to three weeks but prefers to wash his bath mats weekly for the most thorough cleaning.
Of course, machine washing and drying can impact the longevity of your mat. If you'd like to keep your bath mats for longer, you can opt to hand wash them with a gentle detergent and hang them to dry. However, using a gentle wash and dry cycle will also work well.
You'll also want to pay close attention to each mat's care instructions (most mats are machine washable) and follow them closely. Many mat manufacturers discourage using strong detergents and cleaning aids such as fabric softener or bleach, which can ruin the mat completely.
Where should you put your bath mat?
People usually put bath mats in front of showers or tubs to help absorb water and to give themselves a less slippery place to step when after bathing. Bathroom rugs often work well in the center of the room or in front of vanities or sinks.
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