The best kitchen rugs are not only beautiful, but also comfortable to walk on. These options are perfect for your space — in more ways than one!
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While a kitchen mat may not be as pretty as the best kitchen rugs, a good kitchen mat will provide support and be made of a comfortable material that will keep pain to a minimum. For this reason, it’s worth keeping one near the sink and other frequently used food preparation surfaces. However, not all kitchen mats are designed to combat fatigue.
To find the best kitchen mat, our product testing team tested seven of the most popular kitchen mats. We spent two days in the product testing lab, spilling, standing, and walking. We also teamed up with the Taste of Home test kitchen to do an additional test, analyzing how comfortable each mat was after a few days of sitting on it. In the end, we found four of the best kitchen mats that provide joint support, ample traction, and the finishing touches to any home cook’s safe workspace.
Topping our list of the best kitchen rugs is the Abdulraheem Anti-Fatigue Rug from Wayfair, which is a top pick overall. It scored top marks across the board, especially for care, absorbency, and portability. The rug comes in four colors — cranberry, black, navy, and truffle — and two sizes. The smaller size is ideal for placing in front of the sink, while the larger size with a track is ideal for longer kitchens. Of the two sizes, we tested the smaller one.
The main components of the pad are polyurethane and foam, and the top layer has a matte finish, giving it the appearance of smooth leather. It’s very soft thanks to the foam middle layer, and the back feels spongy with a little texture for extra grip. What’s more, it was the easiest of all the mats we tested to clean. This layer washes off with a dry paper towel, although we did wipe the top layer with a damp cloth to reduce any residue.
“My feet feel great throughout the work day, so it’s great that this rug is comparable to our heavy-duty commercial rugs,” Maggie said. “Overall, it’s a nice rug. The softness is nice, and I think the color will suit a lot of kitchens.” Her only complaints are its length (which could easily be fixed by going up a size) and the slightly slippery bottom.
Despite this, our product testing team found this mat to be the most stable of all the PVC mats we tested on hardwood. It’s heavier, so it’s more durable and less likely to slip. The beveled edges also reduce the likelihood of tripping. It’s a great choice for regular use, whether you’re on your feet for long hours or just occasionally.
Want something that’s eco-friendly but still provides enough support to relieve foot pain? Made from the same material as the brand’s signature insoles, the Fulton Standing Mat is the perfect combination of comfort and aesthetics. This stylish and eco-friendly product is made from vegan cactus leather, giving it the look of premium deerskin without the high price tag or complicated care instructions. It also comes with a matching tea towel—super cute!
Our team found the vegan leather to be super easy to clean with a microfiber cloth and soapy water — and, amazingly, it didn’t leave any stains at all during our spill test. The interior is made of a cork-foam composite that’s slightly springy but not too soft to provide support. The most surprising feature (and our favorite) are the two suction cups on the bottom that keep it securely in place.
“I loved this mat the moment I stepped on it,” says Catherine. “My regular mats are soft and springy. While they feel nice, this mat is firm and supportive. I tend to get sore feet and back pain if I stand in one place for too long. I didn’t feel the fatigue and cramps that usually come with my legs at the end of the day.”
Some people may think that the best kitchen mat is a luxury, but we think it’s actually a kitchen essential that everyone should have. This two-piece set from KMAT is reasonably priced and provides much more support than a kitchen mat, making it great value for money.
Despite the low price, this set includes two waterproof mats in 11 colors and patterns to choose from. Like the more expensive options, spills are easy to wipe up with a damp cloth, and the stain-resistant material prevents leaks. With both smaller and larger mats, this set covers a significant amount of surface area, making it a great choice for larger kitchens. Not enough for two? Consider placing one in the laundry room or near your counter.
However, test kitchen team member Sarah Tramonte felt it was more suited to non-commercial use, as it didn’t provide her with enough support to stand for eight hours in the test kitchen. That’s not surprising, as it’s thinner than the other mats we tested — a tradeoff largely due to its lower price. She notes that it’s more suited to “home cooks who only cook for an hour or two a day.” Those who need the extra support might want to invest in a couple of mats for extra comfort and slip resistance.
However, for budget users, its performance is definitely commendable. After all, a thin kitchen mat is certainly better than no mat!
We’re obsessed with the current bamboo kitchen trend (hello, bamboo cutting board and stove covers!), and that love extends to kitchen mats, too. Despite the fact that the box arrived a little damaged (damage is inevitable during shipping, after all), the Anjishan Bamboo Mat is our favorite among the best bamboo kitchen mats. Of the two options we tested, this one offers better value for money and a more durable construction. Plus, it looks seriously chic and comes in a variety of sizes to suit both large and small kitchens.
This rug is made up of bamboo strips, which gives it an organic look. We like these strips because the rug can be folded in half for easy storage. The bottom of the rug is also non-slip, thanks to a layer of soft felt and small ridges of non-slip rubber distributed across the surface. We like the use of felt, which prevents scratches and other damage to the floor. It holds well and only moves when pressed hard.
Bamboo slats are waterproof and provide extra protection for your kitchen floor. The gaps between the slats are rubberized to prevent moisture from penetrating. One downside is that dust and dirt can get between the slats, making the mat more difficult to clean than a PVC mat. However, if you lay the mat flat, any stains that seep into the cracks will go unnoticed.
For a bamboo kitchen mat, this one is a very good option. We also expect it to last longer than some of the PVC mats we tested. Overall, we found this mat to be a good value for the money and perfect for those who prefer a more eco-friendly, organic aesthetic.
Whether you spend hours preparing a family meal or washing dishes by hand, pain is an unpleasant consequence of spending long periods of time in the kitchen. With hard floors and uncomfortable shoes (does anyone else cook barefoot at home?), completely eliminating foot fatigue seems impossible for those of us who love to cut cookies. However, there is always a solution. The best kitchen mats are like clouds and can help ease the pain.
The first thing to consider before purchasing any product is whether to choose a kitchen rug or kitchen mat. “Rugs can be considered the easiest to clean because they can be washed immediately after a spill,” says design expert Susan Serra. However, she continues, rugs may not be the best choice for those who want authentic materials and style to complement their kitchen design.
On the other hand, rugs are usually more comfortable and provide more support than thin kitchen rugs. This is a great option for those who spend a lot of time at the sink, washing dishes, or preparing complex meals that take several hours to prepare.
Another important factor is size and placement. “Look carefully at where the kitchen rug will be placed, such as in front of the stove or sink, and choose a size that leaves a few steps on either side of the center,” advises Susan. While longer rugs can cover more floor space, they can also look a little bulky and unsightly. Plus, Susan warns, “Rugs that are narrow, long, and thick can easily become a tripping hazard.”
Our team has three years of experience testing and evaluating everything from the best coffee subscription to the best flower delivery service. We take our testing seriously and only recommend products we love, regardless of popularity or brand.
For this article, we also interviewed Susan Serra, CKD, CAPS, president of Susan Serra Associates, Inc., a kitchen and dining room design firm. She is also the founder of Scandinavian Made, a store that sells new and used hand-knotted Swedish rugs. Susan is an award-winning kitchen designer who has been designing kitchens since 1986.
To find the best kitchen mats, we tested seven kitchen mats from seven different brands, focusing on top-selling, well-reviewed items. We tested each mat for the following features:
To go beyond the product list and get a full picture of how each product performs, we brought all seven mats into our testing lab. Our product testing team conducts a comprehensive analysis of each kitchen mat, rigorously testing mats in each category. They enlisted the help of the Taste of Home test kitchen team to double-check the comfort and pain relief claims.
The testing included a number of hands-on lab tasks, but the following tests stood out: checking whether the carpets had wrinkles when they arrived (and how easily they could be smoothed out); how well each carpet absorbed (or repelled) a quarter cup of water spilled on it; a pass/fail test for how slippery the carpet was; whether each carpet met the recommended care instructions after we rubbed it with yogurt, oil, and dust; and whether it provided additional comfort over long periods of standing compared to hard floors.
During the two-day testing period, three of our candidates did not meet our standards, but four scored highly across the board. These four products made it onto our list of the best kitchen rugs. Each product is slightly different, so it’s safe to say that there’s something for everyone on this list. Or even better? You can rest assured that each product will perform as expected. Thanks, testing team!
Some people prefer a thicker, springier mat. However, for others, thicker pads can actually increase the pressure on the foot. Susan noted that if you’re not sure how thick a mat you need, try out a few different types and brands. This will help you find the most comfortable cushion that’s not too bouncy.
Most kitchen rugs have a memory foam backing. Natural materials like bamboo provide a soft, organic feel, but may not be the best choice for those who consider themselves a bit of a messy kitchen hand. Susan agrees, noting that “rug materials that are easy to clean are the best choice for the kitchen.” Most rubber or foam rugs are easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth and last a little longer.
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