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No matter how much you love cooking, standing over the stove for hours can cause serious aches and pains. However, an often overlooked pain relief tool is an anti-fatigue mat. Almost every restaurant kitchen has a large version of one. They are the secret to success for chefs who spend hours on their feet each day. When paired with a comfortable pair of kitchen shoes, the best anti-fatigue pads can make long hours, such as cooking, less painful.
We tested 16 rugs in our kitchens, then used the best rugs for everyday cooking for six months to make sure they last. Keep reading to learn about the best anti-fatigue kitchen rugs that will add comfort, support, and color to your kitchen floor.
Available in a variety of sizes and colours, this durable and easy-to-clean rug is perfect for any kitchen space.
Comfort and customizability make this the best kitchen mat we’ve ever tested. Even after six months of daily use in our test kitchen, it still looks and feels brand new. Made from high-density support foam with a textured rubber outer layer for traction, the material rinses well in the sink, and no flour or molasses stuck to it in our tests.
Early in our testing, we noticed that our heels were pressing into the mat more easily than the forefoot, which helps with proper posture but feels odd. After a few hours of use, however, the foam held up much more evenly—and stayed that way throughout our long-term testing, with no dents, stains, or scratches.
We tested the Gorilla Grip 32-by-20-inch mat, which is a good choice if you spend most of your time stationary. But the same design is available in seven sizes to fit any kitchen layout, from a 17-by-24-inch size perfect for a studio apartment to a 70-by-24-inch bench size ideal for a long kitchen. Choose from more than a dozen colors and patterns to match your foam kitchen mat with your favorite cookware set. In our testing, the price was about average for a mat of this size, but keep in mind that not all colors are priced equally.
The NewLife Kitchen Mat by GelPro has a more luxurious feel than competitors and is reasonably priced. When we tested it in our kitchen, it felt like we were standing on a cloud, thanks to the unique material that is as soft as memory foam but doesn’t compress. When we stepped on it, it didn’t leave a mark. The only thing the NewLife didn’t do well in our tests was cleanup: spilled molasses couldn’t be washed away with plain water and required vigorous scrubbing to remove it completely.
Designed for long-term use by cooks, cashiers, and anyone who is on their feet all day and needs a mat to relieve back pain or other ailments, this commercial-grade kitchen mat is suitable for almost any home situation. If you suffer from hip and knee pain when standing on bare floors, this kitchen mat is the perfect choice to help you get back to grips with a stove full of boiling pots. This kitchen mat is available in four colors and five sizes.
This mat is easy to clean, has good cushioning and non-slip texture on the top and bottom.
It may be one of the thinnest kitchen mats we tested, but this basic kitchen mat is made of a thick material that provides good support for our feet and legs. While not as resilient as more expensive models, the Amazon Basics Kitchen Mat is almost as effective at preventing fatigue as other thicker mats.
This kitchen mat is made from a single piece of foam with a woven texture on top to prevent slipping (it feels great on bare feet) and another non-slip pattern on the bottom to keep the mat in place on the floor. In our cleaning tests, it was easy enough to wipe or rinse, and we didn’t notice any issues with stains or damage during our six-month long-term testing.
Our biggest gripe is the lack of choice. The Amazon Basics Anti-Fatigue Kitchen Rug is only available in one size and only in brown and black. But if the 36 x 20-inch size fits your space and you’re happy with the basic color, this foam rug is perfect for you.
This durable mat provides long-lasting, reliable support and is available in a variety of colors and patterns.
Comfortable without being soft, this kangaroo mat is one of the most durable and supportive kitchen mats we’ve tested. During testing, our feet felt supported from heel to toe. The dense foam distributes weight evenly, but not everyone will appreciate its firmness, especially those who frequently cook barefoot. But if you prefer a firmer mat, this option is easy on your hips and knees and will maintain its firmness. Even after six months of use, we found no signs of “breaking in.”
We also like that this case comes in 14 color options. If you’re looking for a marble-patterned kitchen mat, this is your chance. The main drawback we found was the diamond pattern on the mat; it attracted food particles during testing, requiring extra wiping or vacuuming.
In our testing, the Gorilla Grip Anti-Fatigue Cushioned Comfort Pad stood out for its comfort while standing for hours, as well as its resistance to stains and odors. We recommend the Amazon Basics Anti-Fatigue Pad, as it has excellent non-slip traction and is easy to clean.
We tested 16 anti-fatigue floor mats and compared them side by side in our test kitchen. We analyzed each mat’s durability and design features and subjected them to a series of specific tests. Most of the mats we tested come in a variety of sizes, but for the sake of fair comparison, we used the most common size of 32 x 20 inches (or as close to it as possible) during our testing.
After completing all other tests, we published the retail price of each mat to assess value for money. At the time of testing, the 16 mats ranged in price from $11 to $115, with an average price of $47. Although we only tested one mat model, the overall range of available sizes and colors was also taken into account when creating our rankings—the more options, the better.
If you want an anti-fatigue mat that you can simply stand on in one spot, such as in front of the stove or kitchen sink, a size around 32 x 20 inches will do. We chose this size for testing because most brands have this or a similar size. But mats come in a variety of sizes and shapes; your specific needs and kitchen layout may require a different size. Long strips of mats can cover the entire area of ​​a narrow kitchen. Instead of one large mat, you can place several smaller mats in front of stoves, sinks, and cooking areas in larger spaces.
Of course, size affects the price: the larger the rug, the higher the price. Before buying a rug, it would be useful to get out a tape measure and make sure that its size matches your expectations.
The height of the anti-fatigue mats we tested ranged from less than half an inch to more than an inch. The mats should be thick enough to absorb weight and reduce stress on your joints, but mats that are too tall can be dangerous. The more padding a pillow has, the thicker it is, so if you like this style, look for pillows with beveled edges on the outside. This will make you less likely to trip over it or stub your toe.
Foam, plastic, and rubber are common materials used to make the best anti-fatigue mats because they don’t absorb liquids and are easy to clean. High-density foam is generally firmer than memory foam, which is soft and springy but “remembers” its original shape once you get off the pad. There are many different types of materials that vary in how soft or firm they are.
The texture of the outer material also matters. Many rugs have a non-slip backing to prevent sliding on the floor and a patterned top to prevent your feet from slipping. This helps maintain stability, but textured rugs typically require more wiping and scrubbing to clean than completely smooth rugs.
In general, you should always consult the manufacturer’s instructions for detailed information on how to clean any kitchen item. However, most anti-fatigue mats can be wiped down with a damp sponge or kitchen towel and rinsed frequently in the sink. You can even take the mat outside and hose it down with a garden hose for effective cleaning.
Surprisingly, an anti-fatigue mat prevents you from standing completely still. The soft surface forces your body to constantly make small movements with your feet and legs to maintain stability. This improves blood flow, reduces pain, and prevents the joint from “locking.” Research has also shown that the best anti-fatigue mats can reduce lower back pain compared to standing on a bare floor. The soft material can also reduce the stress on your joints, making standing in front of a stove or sink more comfortable for people with back, knee, or foot pain.
Anti-fatigue pads are not designed for continuous use; they wear out over time and need to be replaced. This depends on how often they are used, but most household mats last between one and three years. If you notice that your mat has become flat or uneven, it may be time to replace it with a new one. Soft pads deflate over time and wear out faster than hard pads.
Most kitchen mats have a foam interior. Softness or firmness is a matter of personal preference; some types of foam are denser than others and provide different levels of support. Choosing the best material depends largely on personal preference and how dense or thick you want the foam to be, as well as your support needs. Choose mats with a rubber or plastic coating, as these are the easiest to keep clean in the kitchen. Some anti-fatigue mats do not have a protective outer layer and can absorb water, which is not good for the kitchen.
This resilient mat is ideal for those who want a thicker cushion under their feet, and we love its beveled edges. Unfortunately, the surface is difficult to clean, especially if it’s covered in sticky substances or flour. Rough fabrics can’t be cleaned with a simple sponge; you’ll have to scrub harder.
While this rug is stylish and comfortable, it can be a bit slippery on the floor. Also, all the available pattern options are light-colored and easily collect dust and stains, so I had to clean them frequently during testing. On top of that, it’s quite expensive.
This thick, durable, and comfortable mat rivals the Kangaroo mat on this list in performance and color options. However, it is a bit more expensive and doesn’t have as many design options.
The Vari provides excellent support, and its ribbed surface provides excellent grip. But it’s expensive, slipped on the floor during testing, and has a texture that’s difficult to clean. It’s more suitable for an office than a kitchen.
We don’t rule out any cushion based on price alone; the main issue we have with them is the lack of support. Some mats “sag” and compress so much that we can feel the floor underneath them, while others are so hard that they don’t help alleviate the problems that come with standing on bare floors. If a mat doesn’t make standing more comfortable, we wouldn’t recommend it. Others are good in terms of comfort, but their light color or ribbed texture makes them difficult to clean and maintain. Finally, sliding kitchen mats are a safety hazard and are therefore excluded from our list of the best options.