Do you know what feeling is second best to a life-changing shower? Stepping onto a plush, soft bath mat afterward.
I’m no textile expert (don’t worry, I spoke with a real one), but I am particularly picky about the fabrics in my bathroom. From my hand towels to my bath towel, I have high expectations for the quality and functionality of the pieces in my washroom.
I typically prefer a bath mat that is akin to a pillow; soft and receptive. So, in my testing for our Ranked series, I carefully put nine bath mats to the test against the following criteria, scoring them on a scale of 1-5 (1 being the worst, 5 being the best):
- Absorbency: How well did it soak up water? Was I left with a puddle on my bathroom floor?
- Drying time: How long did it take for the mat to feel good as new? How dry did the mat feel after sitting for 20 minutes? Could I accidentally step on it a few minutes later while wearing socks and not be grossed out?
- Ease of cleaning: Can I throw it in the washer and dryer and it remain unscathed? Do I need to do anything special to adequately clean non-fabric, stone-style options?
I also considered other factors such as grip, feel and thickness — because no one wants to step (and potentially slip) on a bath mat that feels as hard as the floor beneath it. Plus, I tapped experts on what to actually look for in a bath mat and how to care for them after a few showers.
What to look for in a bath mat
To my surprise, I found out that synthetic fibers are actually better to look for versus natural ones when shopping for a bath mat.
Textile expert Deborah Young calls polyester a “chameleon” fabric, since you can craft it to mimic other fabrics and still get that hydrophobic (water-repellant) quality. She says these synthetic fabrics tend to be quick to dry and are more durable than others. However, some cotton bath mats can also be made with a wicking finish that helps it to dry faster, she adds.
“I think you want it to be hydrophobic [water-repellant], not particularly absorbent, so it doesn’t hold on to water,” textile expert Deborah Young says. “I think the number one criteria is wicking, which means it takes the water to the surface for evaporation quickly.”
Best overall bath mat
Sutera Stone Bath Mat
Absorbency: 5/5 | Drying time: 5/5 | Ease of cleaning: 3/5 | Overall average score: 4.33/5
Absorbency: This one takes the cake in the absorbency department. This stone bath mat (made of diatomaceous earth) drinks up shower water in an instant. No matter how many times I stepped out on it, I knew my floor wouldn’t see a splash. It was honestly pretty cool to witness — I truly have no idea where all of the water goes.
Drying time: This bath mat dried just as quickly as it absorbed water. This is because the water spreads through the mat and then evaporates, per the brand. It never felt soggy or had that mildewy smell that typically comes with fabric that’s left wet for too long. After 20 minutes had passed, my footprints had practically disappeared and the stone didn’t feel too wet. I could step on it with socks and not be repulsed by it.
Ease of cleaning: This mat functions so well, I really haven’t had the need to clean it yet. Since there are some grooves on it, visible dust is easy to spot, but it’s just as easy to brush off. It also comes with a piece of sandpaper for cleaning for more intense stains.
TL;DR: This one is perfect for anyone who’s a germaphobe (like me). It dries quickly, doesn’t smell and would probably do well in a high-traffic home. It also comes with a rubber pad to place between the mat and the floor so it doesn’t slide around. While I’m usually partial to a softer, more plush bath mat, there was no denying how well this one performed in my tests. However, if you prefer a soft bath mat, this probably isn’t for you.
More bath mats, tested by the author
Best fuzzy bath mat:
Absorbency: 4/5 | Drying time: 4/5 | Ease of cleaning: 5/5 | Overall average score: 4.3/5
Absorbency: I was pleasantly surprised by how well this mat drank up shower water. I actually was drawn to the texture of this one the most (though I must admit I’m a little biased as I’ve only ever owned bath mats like this one). It was soft and plush and held onto water well without it getting gross and weird.
Drying time: It’s not diatomaceous earth, but this mat dried relatively quickly. I stepped on it and wasn’t appalled by how much water was left on it. It also doesn’t get matted easily, which can occur with this type of fabric.
Ease of cleaning: This is your standard bath mat; you can throw it in the washing machine but be sure to let it air dry because of the rubber backing. After a wash, it definitely needs more than 20 minutes to air dry, so keep that in mind.
TL;DR: This one is for the people (me) who like a soft, fuzzy bath mat with a near memory foam-like feel that won’t turn into a sopping rag after a few showers.
Best budget-friendly bath mat:
Absorbency: 4/5 | Drying time: 4/5 | Ease of cleaning: 4/5 | Overall average score: 4/5
Absorbency: I tried this one early on in my rounds of testing and used it consistently until it was time to try the Sutera mat. It is pretty absorbent, which I would expect from Gorilla Grip. I was surprised by how quickly it soaked up water. It wasn’t as quick as Sutera, but it was noticeably fast.
Drying time: On busy mornings after a shower, I’ve been able to step on this mat 20 minutes later and not be greeted with wet socks. I’m not sure how it all works, but this one earned points with me for somehow maintaining its fuzzy feel and fast drying capabilities.
Ease of cleaning: No gimmicks with this one; you can just toss it in the wash, let it air dry and then go about your day. You can put it in the dryer, but you might wear out the rubber backing faster that way.
TL;DR: This isn’t the most plush-feeling mat, but it’s effective.
Best lightweight bath mats:
Absorbency: 3/5 | Drying time: 4/5 | Ease of cleaning: 5/5 | Overall average score: 4/5
Absorbency: When I took this mat out of the packaging, I immediately thought it felt just like a towel. So expect it to be absorbent as a towel that you would use after a shower or bath. That’s not a bad thing — it drinks up water like an athlete on a hot day.
Drying time: Similar to your typical bath towel, this mat dries quickly. While it dries fast enough in its place on the floor, you can probably hang it on a rack to expedite the process.
Ease of cleaning: You can toss this right into the washer and dryer. Just make sure to dry it on a low setting so it doesn’t shrink (it is made from cotton, after all).
TL;DR: This bath mat comes in a bundle of two for less than $25, which is great for anyone looking to save or who has multiple bathrooms. It dries quickly and is similar in thickness to a typical bath towel.
Best bath mat for small spaces:
Absorbency: 4/5 | Drying time: 3/5 | Ease of cleaning: 5/5 | Overall average score: 4/5
Absorbency: I was pleased with how absorbent this mat is, especially for the price. Water didn’t really linger and it was hard to actually see any droplets on the surface since it absorbed relatively quickly.
Drying time: I found that water hung out in this rug for longer than I’d like. After 20 minutes had passed, I was frustrated that I couldn’t fold the mat and put it away because it was still wet. It’s so small, I was expecting it to dry quickly.
Ease of cleaning: This mat can be washed in the washing machine but must be air-dried. I wouldn’t take any chances on putting it in the dryer — it’s so small, it would likely shrink.
TL;DR: This is a tiny-but-relatively-mighty bath mat that will get the job done in a small space.
Most aesthetically pleasing bath mat:
Absorbency: 5/5 | Drying time: 2/5 | Ease of cleaning: 4/5 | Overall average score: 3.67/5
Absorbency: When water fell on this mat, it was like it fell through a force shield. It didn’t puddle up, it just fell right through the mat — and stayed there. The only visible sign of wetness was that the mat turned a slightly darker shade of brown (and you could feel that it was wet if you touched it). It was a satisfying watch!
Drying time: This is where this beautiful mat fell short for me. After 20 minutes, the mat was still relatively damp. If I stepped on it, I was coming out with wet socks. While it’s a little hard to see in the photos, water droplets were still quite visible to the naked eye IRL.
Ease of cleaning: This bath mat is easy to care for — you can toss it in the washer and dryer and go about your day. The only thing to note is that it is quite large, so you’ll want to make sure you don’t overload your washing machine.
TL;DR: This is a gorgeous bath mat and worth the splurge if you care about both aesthetics and functionality.
Most towel-like bath mat:
Absorbency: 4/5 | Drying time: 3/5 | Ease of cleaning: 4/5 | Overall average score: 3.67/5
Absorbency: I was quite impressed by how well these bath mats absorbed water. They have such a plush feel, I was expecting water to just sit on the top, but it absorbed quite nicely. Since the mat is made with Turkish cotton, though, I guess that’s not too shocking.
Drying time: This mat, similar to the House of Noa bath mat, was very absorbent but not great at letting water evaporate. I found that it held on to water more than I would like. Since I have such a small bathroom and the mat is fairly large, it was hard to avoid stepping on wet spots.
Ease of cleaning: Much like a thick towel, you can toss this mat in the washer and dryer (so long as you tumble dry on low). I would recommend erring on the side of caution and letting it air dry since it’s made from such a delicate fabric. I wouldn’t take a chance on letting it shrink in the dryer.
TL;DR: If you like a style that is closer to a towel than a rubber-backed rug, this is for you. It’s plush and absorbent and I wish they made a blanket out of this fabric.
How I tested bath mats
I took many, many showers over the course of two weeks in order to put nine bath mats to the test. I made sure to step out nearly soaking wet, especially on days where I would wash my hair. I dried myself per usual on the bath mat and then set a timer for 20 minutes, checking to see how wet or dry each one was by the end. I then laundered them accordingly, air drying ones with rubber backings and tossing standard cotton ones into the dryer.
Frequently asked questions
If you use it every day or your bath mat receives a lot of foot traffic, it’s probably best to wash it once a week.
“I think if you’re somebody who showers every day and there’s only one person in your house, you could probably get away with every two weeks,” laundry expert Patric Richardson, also known as “The Laundry Evangelist,” tells us.
Toss it in on a normal cycle with a little bit of oxygen bleach. “Oxygen bleach is safe. It’s not the same as chlorine bleach,” Richardson says. “Basically, in a weird way, when you mix it with water you’re creating hydrogen peroxide. It’s safe and it’s clean.”
Different fabrics may need different care, though.
“Cotton is the most versatile and can handle machine washing plus the dryer. Microfiber needs a gentle cycle and low-heat drying,” cleaning expert Becky Rapinchuk explains. “Memory foam should be spot-cleaned or hand-washed only, never the dryer. Bamboo and natural fibers often need gentle hand-washing and air drying. Rubber or latex-backed mats need a gentle wash and air drying to preserve the backing.”
Bath mats made from synthetic fibers will promote faster drying times, according to Young.
Rapinchuk advises replacing your bath mat "when you notice persistent odor or mildew that won’t come out with washing, visible wear or fraying, backing deterioration (cracking or curling) or generally every two years with regular use."
Why trust Shop TODAY?
Jillian Ortiz is the editorial operations manager at Shop TODAY. She has been with the team for five years, covering a wide range of topics, including how often to wash your jeans and the best ways to organize your laundry room.
Meet the experts
At Shop TODAY, our reporters interview a range of qualified sources and experts to capture a wide scope of perspectives on a given topic. We also make sure that all expert guidance and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
For this story, I consulted a textile expert and two cleaning experts for their expertise on choosing and maintaining the best bath mats:
- Deborah Young is a Los Angeles-based instructor, author and textile expert with more than 25 years of experience.
- Patric Richardson, also known as “The Laundry Evangelist,” is a laundry expert, host of The Laundry Guy on Discovery+ and the author of “Laundry Love.”
- Becky Rapinchuk is a cleaning expert and founder of Clean Mama.
How do you add Shop TODAY as a Preferred Source on Google?
Google’s new Preferred Sources feature allows users to manually select their favorite publishers and news outlets for a more customizable experience tailored directly to the reader. Once you’ve opted to receive our content, you’ll begin seeing more of our recent and trending articles displayed within your Top Stories news feed.
The easiest way to add us as a preferred source is to click here and type in “TODAY.com.” Once the box is checked and you’ve refreshed the page, Shop TODAY content will start appearing in your feed.
NuFace Fix Microwand
NuFace Fix Microwand