Buyer guide/Matting materials
Commercial Matting Materials Compared
Commercial matting comes down to a handful of core materials: nylon and polypropylene wiper textiles, rubber scraper and anti-fatigue mats, combined rubber and textile mats, natural coir, carpet tile, and aluminium recessed grilles. Each suits a different zone, so this guide compares strengths, weaknesses and best use.
Start with the zone, not the material
The right material follows the job the mat has to do. Most sites need a combination across the entry sequence.
Outside and threshold
The first zone lifts grit, gravel and heavy soil off shoes. This is the domain of rubber scraper mats and aluminium grilles built to take abrasive dirt without wearing smooth.
Just inside the door
The second zone dries the shoe and traps fine dust and moisture in a dense textile pile. Nylon and polypropylene wiper mats do the finishing work before foot traffic reaches your floor.
Where people stand
Behind counters, benches and workstations the priority shifts to underfoot support and slip resistance rather than soil capture, which is where anti-fatigue and safety matting belong.
Read the entry sequence first, then choose materials for each stage. A single mat rarely does everything well, and specifying by zone is the fastest way to a floor that stays clean, dry and safe. For the full entry approach see our commercial entrance mats range.
Textile wiper mats: nylon and polypropylene
The workhorse materials for the wiping zone, with different price and performance positions.
Nylon. A premium synthetic fibre with excellent moisture absorption, colour retention and a resilient pile that springs back under sustained foot traffic. It holds appearance well in busy foyers and is the usual choice where the mat is on show and needs to look sharp.
Polypropylene. A hard-wearing, non-absorbent fibre that channels water rather than soaking it up, resists staining and fades slowly in sunlight. It is a practical, lower-cost wiper option and copes well with damp and outdoor-adjacent positions.
- Nylon strengths. High absorbency, strong colour depth, plush appearance and good crush recovery in heavy traffic.
- Nylon weaknesses. Costs more than polypropylene and, being absorbent, needs regular cleaning to keep it performing.
- Polypropylene strengths. Stain and fade resistant, quick to shed water, easy to maintain and hard wearing for the outlay.
- Polypropylene weaknesses. Lower moisture absorbency and a firmer, less luxurious feel underfoot than nylon.
- Best use. Nylon for front-of-house foyers and reception; polypropylene for high-traffic, budget-conscious or damp entry points.
Rubber matting: scraper, anti-fatigue and combined
Rubber does the heavy lifting where grit, water and long standing hours are the problem.
Rubber scraper mats. A tough, moulded rubber surface with raised nubs, bars or a grid pattern that dislodges heavy soil and lets debris fall below the tread. Built for the harshest first line of defence at exterior doors, loading areas and industrial thresholds.
Rubber anti-fatigue mats. A cushioned rubber or foam-cored construction that eases the strain of standing on hard floors. The material is chosen for compression recovery and grip rather than soil capture, supporting comfort and safety at fixed workstations.
Combined rubber and textile. A durable rubber base or border paired with a textile insert, giving you scraping and wiping in one mat. The rubber handles the grit and holds the mat flat, while the textile finishes the drying.
- Rubber strengths. Extremely durable, slip resistant, lies flat, and shrugs off water, oil and abrasive dirt.
- Rubber weaknesses. Heavier to handle, minimal fine-dust wiping on its own, and plain rubber offers no soft textile finish.
- Combined strengths. Two jobs in one mat with a stable, non-curling base and a smart textile face.
- Best use. Scraper rubber outside and at service entries; anti-fatigue rubber at counters and benches; combined mats at busy single-door entries.
Browse the ranges that fit each of these roles: rubber scraper and safety matting, anti-fatigue standing comfort mats, and slip-focused safety mats.
Natural coir, carpet tile and aluminium grille
Three specialist materials that fill the gaps around the mainstream textile and rubber options.
Coir. A natural coconut fibre with a coarse, bristly texture that scrapes and wipes at the same time. It has a classic, understated look that suits traditional and heritage entries, and is often used in recessed matwells.
Carpet tile. Modular textile tiles laid across an entry or floor area, letting you replace worn or soiled sections rather than a whole mat. Useful for large foyers and where a continuous, integrated floor look is wanted.
Aluminium and recessed grille. An engineered aluminium frame with textile, rubber or brush inserts, set into a recess so the top sits flush with the finished floor. It is the premium entrance solution for high-traffic public buildings and delivers heavy scraping capacity with an architectural finish.
- Coir. Strengths: natural appearance, effective coarse scrape. Weaknesses: sheds fibre, less suited to constant wet exposure. Best use: sheltered traditional entries and matwells.
- Carpet tile. Strengths: replaceable sections, seamless coverage of large areas. Weaknesses: less aggressive scraping, best kept to lower-soil interior zones. Best use: expansive foyers and transition areas.
- Aluminium grille. Strengths: outstanding durability, flush safe finish, very high traffic capacity. Weaknesses: needs a recessed matwell and is the top of the range. Best use: airports, foyers, hospitals and civic buildings.
The full comparison table
A side-by-side view of every core material, what it is, and where it earns its place.
| Material | What it is | Strengths | Weaknesses | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nylon wiper | Premium absorbent synthetic pile textile | High absorbency, strong colour, plush look, good crush recovery | Higher cost, needs regular cleaning | Front-of-house foyers and reception |
| Polypropylene wiper | Non-absorbent, hard-wearing synthetic fibre | Stain and fade resistant, sheds water, easy care, good value | Lower absorbency, firmer feel | High-traffic and damp entry points |
| Rubber scraper | Moulded rubber with nubs, bars or grid | Very durable, lifts heavy grit, slip resistant, lies flat | Heavy, little fine-dust wiping alone | Exterior doors, loading and industrial thresholds |
| Rubber anti-fatigue | Cushioned rubber or foam-cored standing mat | Underfoot support, grip, compression recovery | Not for soil capture at entries | Counters, benches and fixed workstations |
| Combined rubber + textile | Rubber base or border with a textile insert | Scrapes and wipes in one, stable non-curling base | Bulkier, mid to upper cost | Busy single-door entries |
| Coir | Natural coarse coconut fibre | Effective coarse scrape, classic natural look | Sheds fibre, dislikes constant wet | Sheltered traditional entries and matwells |
| Carpet tile | Modular textile floor tiles | Replace worn sections, seamless large-area cover | Milder scraping, keep to interior zones | Large foyers and transition areas |
| Aluminium / recessed grille | Aluminium frame with textile, rubber or brush inserts | Outstanding durability, flush safe finish, very high capacity | Needs a recessed matwell, premium tier | Airports, civic buildings and hospitals |
Costs depend on size, material, grade and any custom requirement, and made-to-order options are priced individually. Tell us the site and we will match a material to it and provide a quote.
How to specify the right mat
A short checklist to pin down material before you order.
- Map the zones. Identify where you need scraping, wiping and standing comfort, then assign a material to each.
- Read the exposure. Sheltered interior, covered threshold or fully exposed outdoor changes whether coir, textile or rubber is the safe pick.
- Weigh the traffic. Heavier and dirtier footfall pushes you toward rubber, combined mats and aluminium grilles over lighter textile options.
- Check the fixing. Surface-laid mats suit most sites, while flush aluminium grilles need a recessed matwell built into the floor.
- Plan the cleaning. Absorbent nylon and coir need a regular routine; polypropylene and rubber are more forgiving between cleans.
- Confirm sizing. Made-to-measure mats cover the true traffic path, and we can supply and install NZ-wide once the material is set.
Not sure which surface performs best in your space. Order free samples to feel the materials in person, or contact us and we will help you specify.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best material for a commercial entrance mat?
There is no single best material because a good entrance uses more than one. Rubber scraper mats or aluminium grilles handle grit at the threshold, then nylon or polypropylene wiper mats dry the shoe just inside. Combined rubber and textile mats do both in one mat for smaller single-door entries.
What is the difference between nylon and polypropylene matting?
Nylon is a premium absorbent fibre with rich colour, a plush pile and strong recovery under traffic, so it suits front-of-house foyers. Polypropylene is non-absorbent, stain and fade resistant, easy to maintain and better value, which makes it a practical choice for high-traffic or damp positions.
Which mat material is best for wet or slippery areas?
Rubber is the go-to for wet and slip-prone zones because it grips, sheds water and lies flat. For dedicated slip resistance look at our safety mats, and for the entry itself pair a rubber scraper with an absorbent textile wiper so moisture is trapped before it reaches your floor.
Do anti-fatigue mats use a different material to entrance mats?
Yes. Anti-fatigue mats use a cushioned rubber or foam-cored construction chosen for underfoot support and compression recovery rather than soil capture. They belong where people stand for long periods, such as counters and workstations, not at the door where scraping and wiping matter most.
Can you supply and install matting across New Zealand?
Yes. We supply and deliver commercial matting NZ-wide, and professional installation can be arranged when you need it. Made-to-measure sizing means the mat covers the true traffic path, and every order is backed by our price-beat guarantee.
How much does commercial matting cost?
Cost depends on the size, material, grade and any custom requirement, and made-to-order mats are priced individually. Tell us the zone, the exposure and the traffic level and we will recommend a material and request a quote for you.
Match the right material to your site
Tell us your entry, exposure and traffic. We supply and deliver matting NZ-wide, backed by our price-beat guarantee.
