Recessed Entry Mats
A recessed entry — a mat well or sunken pit built into the floor — is the cleanest-looking way to install an entrance mat. But it only works when the mat fits the opening and sits flush with the surrounding floor. We cut natural coco coir mats to your exact pit dimensions, in five thicknesses from 1/2″ to 1 1/4″, so the fit looks built-in.
Custom-cut coir mats are available up to a maximum 6 ft deep and a maximum 33 ft wide.
Build your recessed entry mat →
Measuring a recessed entry
- Measure the opening, not the old mat. Old mats shrink, curl, and wear — measure the pit itself.
- Measure in several places. Take the width at the left, center, and right of the opening, and the depth (front to back) at both ends. Mat wells are often slightly out of square; use the smallest measurement in each direction.
- Allow a small clearance. Order about 1/4″ less than the smallest opening measurement in each direction. Coir is a dense natural fiber — a small gap makes the mat easy to drop in and lift out for cleaning, and it visually disappears.
- Measure the recess depth. That tells you which thickness to order (below).
Which side is "length" and which is "width", with worked examples, is in our measuring guide.
Choosing thickness for a recessed pit
| Recess depth | Recommended mat |
|---|---|
| 1/2″ deep | 1/2″ mat — sits flush |
| 5/8″ deep | 5/8″ mat — sits flush |
| 3/4″ deep | 3/4″ mat — sits flush |
| 1″ deep | 1″ mat — sits flush |
| 1 1/4″ deep | 1 1/4″ mat — sits flush |
Match the mat thickness to the recess depth for a flush fit. If your pit depth falls between sizes, go with the next thickness up: coir compresses slightly underfoot and wears down a little over its life, so standing a touch proud is better than starting below the floor line.
The 1 1/4″ thickness suits deep, older mat wells.
Why coir for recessed entries
- It scrapes. Stiff natural coco fiber pulls dirt, grit and snow off shoes.
- It stays put. The recess holds the mat captive, and the non-slip vinyl backing keeps it from creeping inside the pit.
- It looks right. A flush natural-fiber mat looks like part of the entrance, not an accessory.
Frequently asked questions
My mat well is out of square. What do I do?
Use the smallest width and smallest depth measurement, less about 1/4″ each. The dense coir edge hides minor irregularities. For openings that are badly out of square, contact us before ordering.
Should the mat be exactly the size of the opening?
No — order about 1/4″ under the opening in each direction so the mat drops in and lifts out easily.
What if my recess is shallower than 1/2″?
Consider our low clearance coco entry mat, made for tight door clearances.
How fast will it ship?
Orders leave our Pennsylvania warehouse within 2–3 business days. Custom sizes may be returned within 30 days under our custom-order return policy; a 15% restocking fee plus return shipping applies.