ENTRANCE MAT TYPES COMPARED

Aluminum, spaghetti, soft PVC and tire pattern mats side by side

ENTRANCE MAT TYPES: WHICH ONE FITS YOUR DOOR?

There are four main entrance mat types at Matrium: aluminum entrance matting, spaghetti mats, soft PVC logo mats and heavy duty tire pattern PVC mats. Aluminum is the architectural choice, spaghetti and tire pattern mats scrape dirt, and soft PVC mats absorb moisture and show logos best. All four are made to measure.

By Matrium | Last updated: 31 October 2026

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WHY ENTRANCE MAT TYPES MATTER

Choosing between entrance mat types is a question of the door, the traffic and the look. An outdoor door needs a scraper, a vestibule needs a brush or a coil mat, and a lobby needs an absorbent, attractive surface. Many projects combine two or three entrance mat types in one entrance zone. Every Matrium system can be made in any size and colour, carries your logo at no extra charge and starts from a single piece.

ENTRANCE MAT TYPES SIDE BY SIDE

The table summarises how the four entrance mat types differ, using the details published on each product page. Scroll sideways on a phone to see every column.

	Aluminum	Spaghetti	Soft PVC	Tire pattern
Structure	6063-T6 aluminum frame with interchangeable inserts	PVC coils with an open-loop texture	Plush solution-dyed nylon 6.6 surface	Flexible PVC and polypropylene with a scraping texture
Best place	Lobbies and vestibules where a permanent fit is wanted	Main doors of shops, offices, schools, clinics and public buildings	Interior entrances, lobbies and reception areas	Outdoors or the first vestibule
Backing and grip	R13 slip resistance, as stated on the Aluminum page	Solid or spiked anti-slip backing	Non-slip nitrile rubber backing	High-friction non-slip backing
Cleaning	Rolls back on hinges; inserts vacuumed or pressure washed	Shake and hose down; air-dries quickly	Vacuum regularly; machine washable	Rolls up; hand wash or low-pressure rinse with mild detergent
Fitting	Recessed or surface-mounted	Loose lay or recessed pit	Loose-lay or recessed	Surface-mounted or loose lay
Depth on product page	10 to 22 mm	10 to 20 mm	7 to 12 mm	8 to 10 mm
Logo	No extra charge	No extra charge	No extra charge, high-definition printing	No extra charge

ENTRANCE MAT TYPES BY SECTOR

Matrium’s own guidance links each sector to the entrance mat types that suit it best. Use the cards as a starting point, then ask our team to compare options for your doors.

HOSPITALITY

The First Impression.
Hotels and resorts usually choose aluminum entrance matting at the lobby, with a scraper mat outside. These entrance mat types give a refined look that lasts.

EXPLORE GALLERY

Create a lasting impression and protect your multi-tenant building’s high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom corporate and retail plaza entrance mats.

Create a welcoming, professional first impression and safeguard high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom branded logo mats for healthcare facilities.

Enhance your entrance and safeguard high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom branded blue logo mats, tailored for distinctive corporate and retail properties.

Deliver world-class hospitality and safeguard high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom branded hotel logo mats, engineered for luxury entrances.

Welcome travelers and safeguard high-traffic floors with Matrium’s heavy-duty custom logo mats, designed for airport terminals and transportation hubs.

HEALTHCARE

Uncompromising Hygiene.
Hospitals and clinics need slip resistance, hygiene and smooth rolling for trolleys and wheelchairs, so they favour aluminum frames with brush and carpet inserts among the entrance mat types.

EXPLORE GALLERY

Honor public service and protect high-traffic floors with Matrium’s heavy-duty custom logo mats, designed for municipal and emergency facilities.

Establish a professional, hygienic first impression and protect high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom healthcare logo mats for medical facilities.

Establish a welcoming, professional first impression and protect high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom branded logo mats for healthcare facilities.

Create a reassuring, professional first impression and protect high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom branded healthcare logo mats.

Promote a clean, professional standard and safeguard high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom branded healthcare logo mats.

Establish a professional, hygienic first impression and protect high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom branded healthcare logo mats for medical facilities.

RETAIL

Branding That Lasts.
Shopping malls and supermarkets use spaghetti mats or soft PVC logo mats at many entrances, repeating the brand everywhere.

EXPLORE GALLERY

Create a striking first impression and safeguard high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom corporate and retail plaza logo mats.

Elevate your storefront and safeguard high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom branded luxury retail logo mats.

Enhance your storefront and safeguard high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom branded blue logo mats, tailored for luxury retail properties.

Create a welcoming, engaging first impression and protect high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom branded logo mats for schools and learning centers.

Elevate your storefront and protect high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom branded grey logo mats, designed for luxury retail properties.

Elevate your storefront and protect high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom branded grey logo mats, designed for international retail properties.

CORPORATE

Professional Identity.
Banks and offices often choose soft PVC logo mats inside the door, where the high-definition print reproduces fine lines and corporate colours.

EXPLORE GALLERY

Command attention and protect your high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom red corporate headquarters logo mats, engineered for maximum durability and visual impact.

Elevate your corporate lobby and protect high-traffic interior flooring with Matrium’s heavy-duty commercial entrance mats, designed for uncompromising durability and style.

Elevate your commercial trade center or retail facility with a bespoke green Matrium logo mat, engineered for high-traffic durability and striking brand visibility.

Project absolute professionalism and reinforce your corporate brand identity while safeguarding high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom corporate logo mats.

Make a bold, unforgettable statement and safeguard high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom red commercial logo mats, tailored for prestigious corporate entrances.

Project absolute sophistication and safeguard high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom corporate logo mats, tailored specifically for modern global enterprises.

RESIDENTIAL

Crafted Luxury.
Apartment lobbies can mix entrance mat types in custom sizes, for example a tire pattern mat at the street door and a soft PVC mat inside.

EXPLORE GALLERY

Create a prestigious first impression and safeguard high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom corporate logo mats, tailored specifically for luxury commercial properties.

Elevate your luxury residential property entrance and safeguard high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom commercial logo mats.

Elevate your residential lobby and safeguard high-traffic floors with Matrium’s custom branded dark grey logo mats, designed for luxury apartment buildings.

ENTRANCE MAT TYPES VERSUS A BARE FLOOR

Any of the four entrance mat types is better than a bare doorway, because the first job of a mat is to keep dirt and water out of the building. OSHA’s general requirements for walking-working surfaces call for floors to be kept clean and, to the extent feasible, dry (29 CFR 1910.22).

Scraping only
A scraper mat removes coarse dirt but may not dry soles, so a single scraper is rarely the whole answer.

Absorbing only
A plush mat dries soles but should not meet heavy dirt first, so place it behind a scraper.

Looks only
A branded mat that cannot be cleaned easily loses its logo quickly.

Three zones
Matrium’s guide describes an outside scraper, a vestibule with brushes or coils, and a lobby with an absorbent surface.

Five or six steps
As a guide, five or six steps of matting remove most of the dirt carried by visitors.

Compare before you order
The free design service can show more than one system on your own entrance.

HOW TO PICK BETWEEN ENTRANCE MAT TYPES

Start with the door, then consider the traffic, then the look. Outdoors, choose a scraper such as the tire pattern or spaghetti mat. In the vestibule, choose brushes or coils. In the lobby, choose an absorbent surface such as carpet inserts or a soft PVC logo mat. The entrance matting systems page explains each of the four entrance mat types in detail.

Entrance mat types: quick answer

Aluminum: the architectural choice, recessed or surface-mounted, with carpet, rubber or brush inserts.
Spaghetti: open PVC coils that let dirt, sand and water fall below the walking surface.
Soft PVC: a plush surface that absorbs moisture and shows logos in high definition.
Tire pattern: the toughest scraper for the outdoor door, in flexible PVC, used in warehouses, workshops and car dealerships.

Every project starts with a free design: send a photo of the entrance, the size and your logo through our free custom entrance mat design service. Matrium is part of The Momentum Holding, operating in 27 countries with manufacturing excellence since 1978. To discuss your project, visit the contact page or write to [email protected].

Entrance mat types: frequently asked questions

What are the main entrance mat types?

Matrium makes four entrance mat types: aluminum entrance matting, spaghetti mats, soft PVC logo mats and heavy duty tire pattern PVC mats. Each is made to order in any size and colour.

Which entrance mat type is best outdoors?

Tire pattern mats are used outdoors or in the first vestibule, where they scrape the heaviest dirt. Spaghetti mats use a UV-resistant PVC suited to indoor and outdoor use.

Which entrance mat type shows a logo best?

Soft PVC logo mats reproduce fine lines, gradients and corporate colours in high definition. All four entrance mat types can carry your logo at no extra charge.

Can I combine entrance mat types?

Yes. Many projects combine two or three types in one entrance zone, for example a tire pattern mat outside, an aluminum mat in the vestibule and a soft PVC logo mat in the lobby.