The Best Bathroom Rugs and Bath Mats (2024)

The research

  • Why you should trust us
  • How we picked and tested
  • IKEA Toftbo Mat
  • Lands’ End Supima Cotton Non-skid Bath Rug
  • Pottery Barn Classic Organic Loop Bath Mat
  • Sasawashi Bath Mat
  • Frontgate Resort Bath Mat
  • Cold Picnic Bathmat
  • Anthropologie Misona Bath Mat
  • Other bath mats worth considering
  • The competition

Why you should trust us

As a staff writer on Wirecutter’s home decor team, I spend most of my working hours trying to help you make your home a more comfortable, cozy, and functional space. I’ve previously written about how to organize a small bathroom and how often you should wash bath mats.

The Best Bathroom Rugs and Bath Mats (1)

For this guide:

  • I tested 21 bath mats while taking about 50 showers.
  • Like all Wirecutter journalists, I review and test products with complete editorial independence. I’m never made aware of any business implications of my editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards.

How we picked and tested

For this guide, I prioritized both function and form: A bath mat is a design item, after all, but it also needs to dry your feet, clean easily, and be somewhat durable. After scouring major and minor retailers for their bath mat offerings, as well as reading through hundreds of buyer reviews and media coverage, I found 47 bath mats that seemed promising. From those, I narrowed the list down to 21 by singling out the mats that I thought would look best in different styles of bathrooms—a mix of understated neutrals, pretty patterns, and unique designs.

I then tested those 21 mats over the course of about 50 showers, each time considering how absorbent the bath mats felt, how quickly they dried, whether they got dirty easily, and whether they shifted too readily as I entered and exited the tub. I also stood on each mat while brushing my teeth, taking note of how they felt under my feet, how much they shifted while I moved, and their overall aesthetic. And of course, I washed and dried all the mats according to their care instructions, taking close-up photos before and after washing to assess wear.

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IKEA Toftbo Mat

The Best Bathroom Rugs and Bath Mats (2)

IKEA Toftbo Bath Mat

Inexpensive and durable

This is the most affordable of all the mats we tested, yet it’s also impressively durable—even after three years of daily use, it looks brand-new. But it slips around easily.

Buying Options

$8 from IKEA

How it feels: It’s decently plump and cushioned, but it can take a bit 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 there’s not much I’d change about it—several Wirecutter staffers have been using theirs for years too, and they report that it still holds up great.

The price simply can’t be beat. The Toftbo is the least expensive bath mat among all of our picks, as well as among all those we tested. It’s also one of the most affordable—yet still good-looking—mats we’ve seen anywhere online or in stores.

It’s super durable. I’ve been using the Toftbo mat for three years, and my old gray mat looks just as vibrant and thick as the new pink one I ordered to test for this guide. Somehow, even after getting stepped on daily and washed weekly, this thing won’t break down.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

  • It tends to slip around on tile. Depending on the kind of floor you have, the Toftbo mat may move around, as it did on my smooth tile. IKEA suggests putting a nonslip mat underneath it. Wirecutter’s editor of home-decor coverage says her Toftbo mats stay put on her textured tile floor, so it just depends on your floor.
  • The Toftbo is ubiquitous. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but if you prefer unique decor, note that this mat appears in a lot of apartments. Several staffers own it, and I have distinct memories of standing on it at many a college house party.

Color options: five (beige, gray, pink, white, teal-and-white stripes; can vary seasonally)
Sizes: 20 inches by 31 inches; in some colors, 24 inches by 47 inches
Material: 100% polyester
Care: machine-wash warm, normal cycle; tumble-dry

Lands’ End Supima Cotton Non-skid Bath Rug

The Best Bathroom Rugs and Bath Mats (4)

Lands’ End Cotton Non-skid Bath Rug

A no-budge mat that means business

Unlike most mats that claim to be nonskid, this mat actually stays put, and it looks cute doing so. But it collects a lot of dust.

Buying Options

$40 from Lands' End(small)

price may vary by color or style

How it feels: It’s soft and thick, and it is very absorbent. But it can take longer to dry.

Wirecutter has been recommending the Lands’ End Cotton Non-skid Bath Rug since as far back as 2018, and after retesting it in 2024, I can confidently back up that recommendation.

It really isn’t going anywhere. I tested three other nonslip mats, but this is the only one that truly stood its ground. It didn’t budge when I stepped out of the tub wet, nor when I did my typical toothbrush dance routine (I always get the zoomies around midnight). And even after this mat was washed, its latex backing showed no signs of disintegration.

It comes in many shapes and sizes. This is true of a lot of our mat picks. Yet this one is among very few mats we found that also come in a contour shape, to perfectly hug your toilet (if you so desire).

Flaws but not dealbreakers

  • Its soft cotton top tends to collect dirt and debris. Vacuuming or shaking out the mat eliminates the mess, but you may need to do this more often than with some of our other picks.
  • The latex backing may or may not be durable. A decent number of buyers have complained that after this mat was washed a few times, the latex disintegrated. In our long-term testing, we actually found it to be much more durable than the rubber backing on other, similar mats.

Color options: seven (blue, teal, beige, cream, white, navy, gray)
Sizes: 16 by 23 inches, 20 by 33 inches, 23 by 39 inches; white and ivory: 23 by 59 inches, and toilet-contour shape
Material: 100% cotton, latex backing
Care: machine-wash, tumble-dry low

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Pottery Barn Classic Organic Loop Bath Mat

The Best Bathroom Rugs and Bath Mats (6)

Pottery Barn Classic Organic Loop Bath Mat

Reversible and soft

Plush on both sides, this classic mat can go twice as long without a wash. But it is prone to attracting dust.

Buying Options

$33 from Pottery Barn

How it feels: This mat is plush and thick, so it’s comfortable to stand on, and it dries in good time.

Unlike most mats, the Pottery Barn Classic Organic Loop Bath Mat is functional and nice-looking on both sides. One is sheared, the other is looped. So before washing it, you can flip it to the fresh side if the used one starts looking a little dingy. The sheared side has a traditional soft and fluffy feel, whereas the looped side is more subtly pebbled.

It offers some nice style options. Available in five sizes (including round) and about a dozen colors, this mat is one of the most versatile of our picks, so you have the best chance of finding something that perfectly suits your bathroom. Pottery Barn also sells matching towels.

It’s awfully cozy. Made from 100% organic cotton, this mat isn’t just soft on both sides, it’s also thick. Your feet sink into it a little, which feels divine.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

  • It collects an impressive degree of dust and debris. Even more so than the Lands’ End mat, this one tends to collect lint and other debris. It happens on the tufted side more than on the looped one, but within just a couple of days, I’d notice visible lint and dust on its surface.
  • It’s thick. Maybe too thick? Its plush construction may prevent some doors from skimming over it. Before buying this mat, confirm that the lower edge of your door is at least a half-inch off the floor.

Color options: 13 (including white, pink, navy, gray, and beige)
Sizes: 17 by 24 inches, 21 by 34 inches, 27 by 45 inches, 24 by 64 inches, 34 inches round
Material: 100% cotton
Care: machine-wash cold gentle, non-chlorine bleach only when needed; tumble-dry low, remove promptly

Sasawashi Bath Mat

The Best Bathroom Rugs and Bath Mats (8)

Sasawashi Bath Mat

Papery luxury

Abrasive in a good way, this washi-paper and bamboo-fiber mat evokes nature. But some people may not like its texture.

Buying Options

$63 from Food52(medium)

$63 from Unison

May be out of stock

How it feels: Scratchy in a satisfying way, this thin mat is one of the quickest-drying ones we found.

Before writing this guide, I had never even heard of Sasawashi—the Sasawashi Bath Mat came recommended by a colleague. But its unique look and great drying powers made me a total convert.

It’s scratchy and absorbent. Unlike traditional cotton bath mats, this one is made from Sasawashi (a blend of washi paper and bamboo fiber), which gives it a dry, gritty texture that is delightful to stand on and effective at absorbing water. In my experience, the Sasawashi mat stayed securely anchored, even as I scraped my feet back and forth on it for exfoliation. I do not believe in the theory of earthing, but my boyfriend says that this mat also helped him reconnect with nature. Take that for what you will.

It doesn’t budge easily. The nonslip polyester backing has enough grip that even when I shuffled my feet side to side on the mat, it stayed put. In fact, it was the most securely nonskid mat among our picks, after the Land’s End mat.

It stands the test of time. Like our picks from IKEA, Lands’ End, and Frontgate, this mat is another for which we have staff experience to vouch for its longevity. Katie Okamoto, Wirecutter’s editor of sustainability coverage, reports that she has been using and washing her Sasawashi Bath Mat for over five years, and it remains in great shape. At worst, she says, some of the polyester backing may have thinned out, but otherwise it looks like new and works just as well.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

  • You can’t throw it in the dryer. If you like to toss all your laundry in the dryer, this mat may not be for you. Because it’s made of paper and bamboo, high heat is not good for it. (Even though you’re not supposed to tumble-dry it, we did try doing that on low, and it turned out fine. However, the backing may just deteriorate faster. On the plus side, the mat does air-dry very quickly.)
  • It’s not cheap (and it comes in only three neutral colors). It’s one of the most expensive mats we tested, compared with mats of a similar size. The beige, brown, and gray colors are all pretty, but we wish there were more options.
  • The corners of the mat have a tendency to curl up, and it can crease if stored folded. Even though the corners flatten down within a day of the mat’s being laid out, they may occasionally curl. The mat can also stay creased if you store it folded. You can speed up the flattening process by weighing down the corners or by laying it flat to dry after pulling it out of the wash.

Color options: three (beige, brown, and gray)
Sizes: 18 inches by 14 inches, 25.5 inches by 18 inches, 30 by 22 inches
Material: Sasawashi fabric (paper and bamboo fibers); polyester and polypropylene backing fabric (with nonslip finish); 100% acrylic piping
Care: machine-wash in a mesh bag (not included) with similar colors; do not bleach or tumble-dry

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Frontgate Resort Bath Mat

The Best Bathroom Rugs and Bath Mats (10)

Frontgate Resort Bath Mat

Soft and pliable

This longtime favorite is deliciously soft and spongy, like a plush terry towel. But it’s prone to slipping.

Buying Options

$47 from Frontgate

How it feels: Your feet sink deliciously into this supersoft, dense luxe towel. But if you move around a lot, it can shift with you.

The Frontgate Resort Bath Mat has remained a Wirecutter favorite for years because our staff testers love its soft feel and easy care. And after testing it myself, I love it too.

It’s soft and pliant. This 100% cotton mat is ridiculously cozy, yet it still lies flat to the ground, low enough for even the smallest under-door spaces. It’s flexible enough that you can hang it over a bathtub to dry, and after washing, it feels just as plush to the touch.

It remains durable over years of use. Since Wirecutter first recommended this mat in 2019, several staffers have used it, and all report that it holds up great, even after years of use.

You can match it to nearly any bathroom. Because this mat comes in 13 colors, we can’t imagine a color scheme it wouldn’t work with. And if you have our recommended towels from Frontgate, you can coordinate your mat to match them.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

  • It’s prone to slipping. Because this mat is light and towel-like, and lacks a nonslip backing, it’s particularly prone to moving around. As we advise for our pick from IKEA, it would benefit from the addition of a nonslip mat, depending on the kind of floors you have.
  • It may take longer to dry. One of our long-term testers noted that they found this mat took a little longer to dry. I didn’t notice a difference, but I will be paying attention as I continue to test it over the long run.

Color options: 13 (including terra cotta, navy, gray, beige, and olive green)
Sizes: 21 by 34 inches; 17 by 24 inches in select colors
Material: 100% cotton
Care: machine-wash cold on gentle cycle; tumble-dry low

Cold Picnic Bathmat

The Best Bathroom Rugs and Bath Mats (12)

Cold Picnic Poolside Bathmat

A unique look with a unique feel

With an artistic design and raised graphic elements, this mat is a statement piece that’s a pleasure to stand on. But some people may find it pricey.

Buying Options

$70 from Cold Picnic

How it feels: With raised elements and super-soft, thick cotton, this mat feels like a playground for your feet. It dries on the slower side, though.

The stylish Cold Picnic Bathmat is pretty enough to hang on the wall, but we love standing on it in the bathroom instead.

It’s a real statement piece. The abstract design of this mat, with its bold colors and raised elements, makes it feel extra special. We tested the Poolside design, but Cold Picnic has several-dozen mat designs that are just as beautiful and eye-catching, including even a few cute butt and feet mats.

It’s a delight to stand on. The different-colored patches on this mat are looped at a different height than the rest of the mat, giving them slight elevation. That not only lends the mat its unique look but also creates a sumptuous feeling underfoot. I liked to rock my feet between the two heights for a gentle post-shower massage. Though this mat is not as grippy on the bottom as the Lands’ End Cotton Non-skid Bath Rug or the Sasawashi Bath Mat, it still shifts less than our other picks—it didn’t budge while I rubbed my feet around on it, but I could push it with minor effort.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

  • It’s pricey. It’s the most expensive of our picks—you pay about $20 to $30 more for this mat than for any of our other picks.
  • It comes in only one size. But at least it gives you a lot of design options.
  • Some people will not enjoy the raised components. My boyfriend, for example, hated standing on them. But if you’re the type of person who likes walking down cobblestone pathways, we think you’ll like it.

Color choices: 26 (including abstract patterns, feet, and butts)
Size: 20" x 30"
Material: 100% cotton; subtle grippy nonslip coating on the back
Care: machine-wash individually on cold/delicate cycle with a gentle detergent; machine-dry

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Anthropologie Misona Bath Mat

The Best Bathroom Rugs and Bath Mats (14)

Anthropologie Misona Bath Mat

Simple but fancy

With its subtle weave variation and elegant diamond pattern, this mat looks more like a flatwoven rug. However, it isn’t especially cushioned.

Buying Options

$58 from Anthropologie

The variegated texture of the Anthropologie Misona Bath Mat creates a subtle diamond pattern that commands attention but avoids distraction.

It offers a subtle, romantic look. This flatwoven mat looks impressive, thanks to beautiful dye work and a subtle textured weave that forms a diamond pattern. It feels like the bathroom equivalent of “quiet luxury.”

It has a low profile. Along with the Sasawashi Bath Mat, this is one of the flattest mats we tested. It should pass under all but the narrowest doorways, and it rolls up tightly like a placemat for storage, thanks to its pliable, thin construction.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

  • It’s a bit pricier than our other picks. Many of our mat picks of similar size are about $20 to $30 less.
  • It is not cushiony. It feels flat, and you can feel your floor through it. So it’s a poor choice for someone who spends a lot of time standing in their bathroom or has achy joints.
  • It shifts around easily on the floor. Like our picks from IKEA and Frontgate, this mat could benefit from a nonslip pad (depending on your floor). It moved around on my slick tile floors.

Colors: seven (including pink, white, navy, and sage)
Size: 34 by 21 inches, 58 by 23 inches
Material: 100% cotton
Care: machine-wash; tumble-dry low

Other bath mats worth considering

If you want a uniquely patterned mat and aren’t too concerned about absorbency: The multicolored, abstract Quiet Town Tam Bath Rug was one of the prettiest we tested. Handwoven in India, it has chubby, high-pile loops that feel great to stand on, and it’s available in several designs and color combos. It’s made from recycled plastic bottles, and though we love the sustainability angle, that may be why it isn’t especially absorbent. (I had to pad around a bit before my feet dried.) For that reason, the Tam Bath Rug is best suited for a half-bath, where it doesn’t get too much water exposure. Quiet Town has other bath rugs in different materials, such as cotton, but we haven’t tested them yet.

If you want a plush and pliable mat with a low profile: The Parachute Classic Turkish Cotton Tub Mat is similar to our pick from Frontgate; both mats are soft, highly absorbent, and a little prone to slipping. However, the Parachute mat typically costs about 10 dollars more.

If you want a spa vibe: The natural-wood construction of the Tosaryu Hinoki Bath Mat looked serene, and its grooved, matte top was not at all slippery (unlike the Toilettree wooden bath mat, which felt like inviting death). However, it can move around on some tile floors, so keep that in mind, depending on what kind of floor you have.

If absorbency is your number-one priority: The Wall Qmer Diatomaceous Earth Bath Stone Mat might be a good bet. Readers have been asking Wirecutter to test an option made with diatomaceous earth (a sand-like material made from the fossilized shell of an ancient form of algae and used in supplements and home products). In a home with lots of shower traffic, a diatomaceous-earth mat does absorb water quite efficiently. Although the two we tested performed nearly identically, this model from Wall Qmer is way cheaper than the Dorai Bath Stone Mat. If you choose either of them, place a nonslip mat under the stone; if your flooring is anything less than 100% flat, the mat will rattle underfoot.

If you want a low-pile towel-like option: The Brooklinen Bath Mat was pretty and absorbent, held up well in the wash, and felt nice to stand on, but it tended to shift around on my tile easily. It isn’t a bad option, but the Frontgate Resort Bath Matperformed a little better.

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The competition

Anthropologie’s Tufted Octavia Bath Mat looks beautiful but failed to hold up in the wash as well as I expected. For a mat at this price, even with a novelty leopard print, I wanted more. If you’re particularly fond of this look, I advise going to Urban Outfitters, which offers mats of similar quality and vibes but at a lower price.

Brooklinen’s Tufted Bath Rug felt soft to stand on, and it was a good water absorber, but keeping it looking nice was difficult. It started balding after a spin in the washer and dryer, and its fluffy, long-tufted pile got matted down easily. If you have your heart set on a high-pile option, a better choice is the Lands’ End mat, which also has a high pile but is cheaper, more durable, and better at staying put.

The Dorai Bath Stone Mat was one of two diatomaceous-stone mats we tested, and it was indeed a good water absorber. But it was three times more expensive than the Wall Qmer matand didn’t perform any better. It also has a cheesy-looking logo on top that diminishes the aesthetic.

The Parachute Soft Rib Tub Mat felt lovely and plush to stand on, but it was prone to shifting on tile, and many threads came apart when we machine-washed it according to instructions. Quality that low is not worth the higher price tag.

I thought that the Piglet in Bed Cotton Bath Mat was absolutely adorable, like most of its products. However, unless you want to buy one specifically to match the company’s towel set, it isn’t a standout choice, since it didn’t perform any better than an old towel but costs more.

Target’s Casaluna Textured Bath Mat felt and looked fine but got torn apart in the wash. If you’re seeking a budget mat, the IKEA Toftbois cheaper and offers far better quality.

Home Depot’s wooden Toilettree Bamboo Bath Mat, a pick in an early version of this guide, proved quite hazardous for me, as the slick wood became an accident trap when paired with wet feet. Although not everyone experienced this issue, including this guide’s previous author, we don’t think it’s worth the risk.

Urban Outfitters’s Sardine Bath Mat is very cute—I mean, very cute. But after we washed and dried it, one of the sardines’ eyes lost some threads, which doesn’t give me much confidence in its long-term performance. Still, if you want a fun mat at a moderate price and aren’t expecting it to last for years and years, this is a good option.

Like the sardine mat, the Urban Outfitters Tiger Bath Mat fell apart too easily in the wash, with many fibers disconnecting and threads loosening. A lot of online reviewers complain about this fact and still report loving their mat, though, so it may be a good option if you don’t plan to wash it often or don’t mind its relatively early demise.

This article was edited by Daniela Gorny and Joanne Chen.

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