How to Measure for a Custom Mat
Measuring for a custom mat takes five minutes and a tape measure. This guide covers the two numbers you need, how we define them, and the special cases — recessed pits and low door clearance — that trip people up.
Length vs. width: how we define them
- Length = front to back — the depth of the mat, the direction you walk across it. Maximum 6 ft (72″).
- Width = side to side — usually the longer side, running along the door. Maximum 44 ft (528″), or 33 ft (396″) in 1 1/4″.
So a classic 18″ × 30″ doormat is length 1 ft 6″, width 2 ft 6″. On the configurator you select feet and inches from dropdowns in half-inch steps, and the price updates instantly.
Surface-mounted mats (sitting on the floor)
- Width: measure the door opening and add 2–6″ on each side so the mat frames the doorway.
- Length: 24″ minimum; 30–36″ if people walk through without pausing.
- Door clearance: if the door swings over the mat, measure the gap under the fully open door (a stack of coins or a ruler on edge works). Choose a thickness comfortably below that gap.
Recessed entries (mat wells)
- Measure the opening itself, not the old mat.
- Take the width at three points and the length (front to back) at both ends — wells are often slightly out of square. Use the smallest of each.
- Order about 1/4″ less than the smallest measurement in each direction, so the mat drops in and lifts out for cleaning.
- Match thickness to the pit depth; between sizes, round up — coir compresses slightly underfoot.
More detail in the recessed entry mat guide.
Choosing thickness
| Thickness | $/sq ft | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2″ | $10.00 | Tight door clearance, interior doorways |
| 5/8″ | $11.00 | Typical residential entries |
| 3/4″ | $12.00 | The default — solid underfoot, fits most doors |
| 1″ | $13.00 | Heavy traffic, 1″ recessed wells |
| 1 1/4″ | $14.00 | Commercial entrances, deep mat wells |
Worked examples
- Single front door: 36″ door + margin → length 2 ft, width 3 ft 6″ at 3/4″ = 7 sq ft × $12.00 = $84.00.
- Classic 18″ × 30″ replacement: length 1 ft 6″, width 2 ft 6″ at 3/4″ = $45.00.
- Recessed well measuring 24 1/4″ × 48 1/2″, 1″ deep: order length 2 ft 0″, width 4 ft 0 1/2″, 1″ thick → about 8.1 sq ft × $13.00 = $105.09.
Pricing is computed on your exact dimensions (area in square feet × the rate for your thickness, rounded to the cent) — the configurator shows the price as you select.
Before you order
- Measure twice. Custom cuts may be returned within 30 days under our custom-order return policy, with a 15% restocking fee plus return shipping.
- Orders ship from our Pennsylvania warehouse within 1 business day.
- Unsure about an odd opening or an unusual installation? Contact us with your measurements and we'll check them with you.