Guide/Education
Entrance matting for schools in New Zealand
A school entrance mat has to cope with a whole class at the bell, wet fields and daily cleaning. For New Zealand schools, including Christchurch, put a crush-proof Waterhog Classic at external doors, a launderable Entry Plush inside classrooms, and Superguard or a PrintPlush logo mat at the main entry.
Reviewed and updated October 2026
School entrance mats compared
Prices are the current from-price on our New Zealand store, including GST.
| Mat | Material | Best for | Standard sizes | Price (NZD incl GST) | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterhog Classic Mat | Rubber, Polypropylene | External doors, covered walkways, field access | 600mm x 900mm, 900mm x 1500mm, 900mm x 1200mm and more | from $106 | Stocked sizes dispatch fast |
| Entry Plush Mat | Carpet / Nylon | Classrooms, admin, library and corridor runners | 600mm x 850mm, 850mm x 1200mm, 850mm x 1500mm and more | from $89 | Stocked sizes fast; made to order 4 weeks |
| Superguard Entrance Mat | Vinyl / PVC, Polypropylene | Main entries and reception, custom sizes and tiles | 600mm x 900mm, 850mm x 1500mm, 1150mm x 1800mm and more | from $221 | Stocked sizes dispatch fast |
| Super Brush Mat | Vinyl / PVC, Polypropylene | Budget heavy-duty scraping at technology block doors | 600mm x 900mm, 900mm x 1500mm, 1200mm x 1800mm | from $78 | Stocked sizes dispatch fast |
| PrintPlush Logo Mat | Nitrile Rubber, Carpet / Nylon | Branded front entrance with the school crest | 450mm x 700mm, 600mm x 850mm, 850mm x 1150mm and more | from $138 | 4 weeks after proof approval |
| Safewalk Mat - Black | Nitrile Rubber, Rubber | Canteen, science and wet area floors | 600mm x 900mm, 910mm x 1520mm, 910mm x 2950mm | from $38 | Stocked sizes dispatch fast |
Matting zone by zone
Covered walkways and external doors
A scraper with drainage that will not crush under constant traffic. The Waterhog Classic is certified slip resistant and its rubber nubs stand up to thousands of footfalls a day.
Classroom and corridor doors
A flat, machine-washable wiper so cleaners can rotate mats. The Entry Plush lays flat, is solution dyed so it will not fade, and is heat resistant.
Main entrance and reception
Superguard for face weight and colour, or a PrintPlush logo mat with the crest. Both can be made to measure for double doors.
How to choose school entrance matting
- Size for the bell. Four to six footfalls of matting is the rule, and a school door moves a class in seconds, so full-width runners beat doormats. Measure the opening and order made to measure where needed.
- Specify slip resistance. Ask for tested products. The Waterhog Classic is NFSI certified. Avoid loose rugs and curled edges.
- Plan for cleaning. Entry Plush is machine washable; Waterhog and Super Brush hose down. A spare set for high-traffic doors keeps one down while one is cleaned.
- Use colour to hide soil. Charcoal faces hide mud and sand better than black.
- Protect special rooms. Science labs and canteens need wet area mats such as the Safewalk; gyms need rubber flooring, see our rubber gym matting guide.
- Budget by door. List every external door, rank by traffic, and spend on the busiest five first. We can quote a mixed order across ranges.
Buying for schools across New Zealand
The Mat Group NZ supplies schools, kura and tertiary campuses New Zealand wide with new zealand and australian warehousing for fast dispatch, 12-month warranties and trade pricing for ten or more mats through the wholesale portal. Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland schools can book a free site measure and quote, and professional installation can be arranged. Browse the education matting collection organised by area.
Why buy from The Mat Group NZ
30+ years in matting
Supplying commercial, industrial and residential matting since 1990, with New Zealand and Australian warehousing for fast dispatch.
Free samples and site measure
Order free samples on most products, or book a free site measure and quote for a commercial project.
Price beat guarantee and installation
Professional installation can be arranged. Our price beat guarantee applies to like-for-like quotes.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the best entrance mat for a school in New Zealand?
Use a Waterhog Classic at external doors for crush-proof scraping, an Entry Plush inside classrooms because it is flat and machine washable, and Superguard or a PrintPlush logo mat at the main entrance.
How big should a school entrance mat be?
Cover the full door width and allow four to six footfalls of length. For double doors that usually means a made to measure runner rather than standard doormats.
Are school mats slip resistant?
The Waterhog Classic is certified slip resistant by the National Floor Safety Institute, and flat low-profile edging on the Entry Plush reduces trip risk.
Can we put the school crest on a mat?
Yes. PrintPlush logo mats print up to 25 colours with PMS matching and a free digital proof within 48 hours. NZ logo mats are made from 700 x 450mm up to 6,000 x 2,000mm. Allow four weeks from payment and proof approval.
Do you offer school pricing in NZ?
Yes. Orders of ten or more mats qualify for trade pricing, free samples are available, and we quote supply and installation together for whole-campus projects.
Need help choosing?
Tell us about the space and our team will recommend the right matting and send sizes and prices.
