Dori Shevlen is a home design writer who writes about topics like scented candles, makeup mirrors, and her favorite popcorn maker.
After new testing, we added five new options: Ikea’s Toftbo, Sasawashi Bath Mat, Cold Picnic Pool Bath Mat, Pottery Barn’s Loop Bath Mat, and Anthropologie’s Misona Bath Mat.
A bath mat is small enough to fit in a basket, but it’s still a powerful decorative element: it will keep you from slipping in the bathtub, dry your feet, and ideally, make your entire bathroom look more aesthetically pleasing.
To help you find the right bath mat, I researched dozens of retailers, read hundreds of reviews, and tested 20 bath mats in my own bathroom. Here are seven bath mats that stand out from the crowd.
As a writer for Wirecutter’s Home Decor Team, I spend most of my workday helping you create a more comfortable, welcoming, and functional home. I’ve written about how to organize a small bathroom and how often you should wash your bath mat.
When writing this guide, I prioritized functionality over looks: A bath mat is a design element, after all, but it also needs to keep your feet dry, be easy to clean, and be durable. After scouring the selection of bath mats at major retailers and reading hundreds of customer reviews and media reports, I found 47 bath mats that looked great. Then I selected the mats that I thought would work best with different bathroom styles, narrowing the list down to 21 options—a mix of understated neutrals, pretty patterns, and unique designs.
I then tested the 21 bath mats in about 50 baths. Each test measured how well the bath mat absorbed water, how quickly it dried, how easily it got dirty, and how easy it was to get in and out of the bath. While cleaning, I also stood on each bath mat and noted how it felt under my feet, how much it moved with my movements, and how it looked overall. Of course, I also washed and dried each bath mat according to the care instructions, and took close-up before and after photos to assess wear.
It’s the most affordable of all the mats we tested, and it’s also very durable—even after three years of daily use, it’ll still look like new. But it can slip easily.
Feel: Quite fluffy and soft, but may take a little longer to dry in humid climates.
The IKEA Toftbo bath mat looks the same today as it did when I bought my first one in 2019, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it — several Wirecutter staffers have also been using their product for years, and they report that it still works great.
The prices are simply unbeatable. Toftbo is the cheapest of all the bath mats we selected and the cheapest of all the bath mats we tested. It is also one of the most affordable and beautiful bath mats we have seen online or in store.
It’s very durable. I’ve had Toftbo mats for three years now, and my old gray ones look just as vibrant and thick as the pink ones I ordered to test for this guide. Even with daily footsteps and weekly washes, this thing won’t break at all.
Color choices: Five (beige, gray, pink, white, turquoise, and white stripes; may vary seasonally) Dimensions: 20″ x 31″; some colors are 24″ x 47″ Material: 100% polyester Care: Machine wash warm on normal cycle; tumble dry
Unlike most rugs that are marketed as non-slip, this one actually stays firmly on the floor and looks cute. However, it can easily collect dust.
Wirecutter has recommended the Lands’ End Cotton Non-Slip Bath Mat since 2018, and after retesting it in 2024, I can confidently confirm that recommendation.
It’s not going anywhere, really. I tested three other non-slip mats, but this one was the only one that felt truly stable. It didn’t budge when I got out of the bath, all wet, and it didn’t budge when I brushed my teeth, which I always did (I always brushed my teeth in the middle of the night). And even after washing, the latex backing showed no signs of breaking down.
It comes in many shapes and sizes. This is true of many of the mats we recommend. But this mat is one of the few we found that has a contoured shape that will fit your toilet perfectly (if you so choose).
Color Options: Seven (blue, turquoise, beige, cream, white, navy, gray) Dimensions: 16 x 23 inches, 20 x 33 inches, 23 x 39 inches; White and Ivory: 23 x 59 inches, contoured to fit the toilet Material: 100% cotton, latex lining Care: Machine wash, tumble dry low
This classic rug is soft on both sides, so you can stay clean twice as long. But it easily attracts dust.
Feel: This mat is soft and thick, very comfortable to stand on, and dries quickly.
Unlike most floor mats, the Pottery Barn Classic Organic Loop Bath Mat is both practical and beautiful on both sides. One side is sheepskin, the other is terry. So if the used side looks a little dirty before washing, you can flip it over to the new side. The sheepskin side has a traditional soft and fluffy texture, while the terry side has a finer, rougher texture.
It offers some nice style options. Available in five sizes (including a round one) and about a dozen colors, this rug is the most versatile of our recommendations, so there’s a good chance you’ll find a style that’s perfect for your bathroom. Pottery Barn also sells matching towels.
It’s so comfortable. Made from 100% organic cotton, this mat is not only soft on both sides, but thick too. Your feet sink in a little bit, and it feels amazing.
Color Options: 13 (including white, pink, navy, gray, and beige) Dimensions: 17 x 24″, 21 x 34″, 27 x 45″, 24 x 64″, 34″ round Material: 100% cotton Care: Machine wash cold on gentle cycle, use non-chlorine bleach only if needed; tumble dry low, remove immediately
This Japanese paper and bamboo fiber mat has a nice matte texture that is reminiscent of nature. Although some people may not like the texture.
Feel: This thin mat has a pleasantly rough feel and is one of the fastest drying mats we’ve ever encountered.
Before writing this guide, I had never heard of Sasawashi. The Sasawashi bath mat was recommended to me by a colleague. But its unique look and powerful drying properties made me completely fall in love with it.
Scratch-resistant and absorbent. Unlike traditional cotton bath mats, this one is made of sasawashi (a blend of Japanese paper and bamboo fibers), which is dry, comfortable to walk on, and absorbs moisture well. In my experience, the Sasawashi mat stayed firmly in place even when I rubbed my feet back and forth to exfoliate my skin. I don’t believe in the grounding theory, but my boyfriend said this mat helped him reconnect with nature, too. As for that claim, it’s worth believing.
It won’t be easy to move. The non-slip polyester backing had enough grip to stay in place even when I moved my feet side to side across the mat. In fact, it’s the most slip-resistant mat we recommend, second only to Land’s End.
It stands the test of time. Like our picks from IKEA, Lands’ End, and Frontgate, this rug is made by skilled craftsmen who guarantee its durability. Katie Okamoto, sustainability editor at Wirecutter, says she’s been using and washing Sasawashi bath mats for more than five years, and they’re still in great shape. At worst, she says, some of the polyester backing might wear out, but otherwise the product looks and works just as well as new.
Color Options: Three (beige, brown, and gray) Dimensions: 18″ x 14″, 25.5″ x 18″, 30″ x 22″ Materials: Sasawashi fabric (paper and bamboo); polyester and polypropylene lining (non-slip surface); 100% acrylic trim Care: Machine wash in mesh bag (not included) with like colors; do not bleach or tumble dry
This longtime favorite is soft, plush, and stretchy like a plush towel. But it can slip off easily.
Feel: This incredibly soft, thick, luxurious towel is designed to let your feet sink into it in comfort. But if you move around a lot, the towel may move with you.
The Frontgate Resort Bath Mat has been a Wirecutter favorite for years, as our testers love how soft it is and how easy it is to clean. After trying it myself, I really liked it, too.
It’s soft, smooth, and stretchy. This 100% cotton rug is incredibly comfortable yet lies flat on the floor, fitting perfectly into even the smallest doorways. It’s flexible enough to hang over the bathtub to dry, and it’s still soft and comfortable to the touch after washing.
Built to last: Since Wirecutter first recommended this mat in 2019, several employees have used it, and they all say it remains durable and long-lasting even after years of use.
Matches almost any bathroom. This rug is available in 13 colors, so we can assume that it will perfectly match almost any color scheme. If you have Frontgate towels, which we recommend, you can also match them to the rugs.
Color Options: 13 (including terracotta, navy, gray, beige, and olive green) Dimensions: 21″ x 34″; 18″ x 24″ (available in select colors) Materials: 100% cotton Care: Machine wash cold, gentle cycle; tumble dry low
This rug has a beautiful design with a textured pattern that is eye-catching and very comfortable to walk on. Although some may find it expensive.
Feel: With its textured texture and super soft, dense cotton, this mat feels like a playground for your feet. However, it dries more slowly.
The stylish Cold Picnic bath mat is pretty enough to hang on the wall, but we prefer to stand on it in the bathroom.
This is truly a standout piece. This mat features an abstract design with vibrant colors and textured elements that make it truly special. We tested the Poolside design, but Cold Picnic has dozens of equally beautiful and attractive mat designs, including some cute butt and foot mats.
It’s actually a nice feeling to stand on. The different colored spots on this rug are at different heights, slightly different from the rest of the rug, giving it a slightly raised feel. Not only does this give the rug a unique look, but it also creates a luxurious feel underfoot. I like to dangle my feet between the two raised areas after a bath for a gentle massage. While the bottom of this rug isn’t as grippy as the Lands’ End Cotton Non-Slip Bath Rug or the Sasawashi Bath Rug, it’s still less prone to shifting than some of our other recommended rugs: It didn’t budge when I rubbed my foot against it, but I was able to get it to budge just by applying gentle pressure.
Color Options: 26 (including abstract patterns, legs, and butts) Size: 20″ x 30″ Material: 100% cotton; delicate non-slip coating on back Care: Machine wash separately in cold water on gentle cycle with mild detergent; tumble dry
The fine weave and elegant diamond pattern make this rug look more like a flat weave rug. However, its cushioning properties are not outstanding.
The Anthropologie Misona Bath Rug’s variegated texture creates a subtle diamond pattern that draws the eye without distracting from the action.
It has a delicate and romantic look. This flat weave rug impresses with its beautiful dyeing process and fine textured weave that forms a diamond pattern. It is a kind of “quiet luxury” in the bathroom.
It’s very discreet. Like the Sasawashi bath mat, it’s one of the flattest mats we tested. It should fit through all but the narrowest doorways. And thanks to its flexible, thin design, it can be rolled up tightly and stored as a placemat.
Colors: Seven (including pink, white, navy, and sage) Dimensions: 34 x 21 inches, 58 x 23 inches Material: 100% cotton Care: Machine wash; tumble dry low