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Best Car Floor Mats

Updated April 2023
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
WeatherTech Trim-to-Fit AVM Front and Rear Universal Mats
WeatherTech
Trim-to-Fit AVM Front and Rear Universal Mats
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Premium Option
Bottom Line

Expensive, but might be the best choice if you have a car that needs custom-fit floor mats.

Pros

Easy to trim, catches dirt and liquids well, and will last for life of your car.

Cons

Only come in 2 colors. More expensive than most competing brands.

Best Bang for the Buck
Amazon Basics Universal Car Floor Mats
Amazon Basics
Universal Car Floor Mats
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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

A great product that has nice features at a decent price point.

Pros

The rubber material is weatherproof and easy to clean even when they are really dirty. Textured material allows your feet to have grip even when wet. Able to be trimmed.

Cons

The mats can have a strong odor when they first arrive.

Motor Trend Heavy Duty All-Weather Maximum Protection Car Floor Mat
Motor Trend
Heavy Duty All-Weather Maximum Protection Car Floor Mat
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Trusted Brand
Bottom Line

A great option for those looking for something that is very durable.

Pros

The bottom side is made to dig into the carpet to prevent sliding. Does not have a noxious odor. Grooves help funnel dirt and water into the channels. Easy to clean.

Cons

Only available in 2 colors. Might not fit your vehicle and trimming is not recommended.

Motor Trend Odorless Rubber Floor Mats & Liners
Motor Trend
Odorless Rubber Floor Mats & Liners
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Customer Favorite
Bottom Line

Adjustable, high-quality water- and stain-resistant floor mats.

Pros

Made with safe material so you won’t worry about toxins. Ridgeline design prevents slips. High-quality material to minimize usual wear and tear. You can also trim with scissors to fit your vehicle.

Cons

Mats smell when you first get them, but the smell will go away after some use.

Husky Liners Universal Floor Mats
Husky Liners
Universal Floor Mats
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Durable & Rugged
Bottom Line

A well-designed product that is easy to trim to fit any vehicle.

Pros

Comes with posts that can be fitted to the carpet of your flooring to keep mats from sliding. Ridged walls keep mud and other debris from sliding off of the mat.

Cons

While they are meant to be cut down, the material makes it rather difficult to accomplish.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

30
Models
Considered
60
Consumers
Consulted
20
Hours
Researched
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Buying guide for best car floor mats

When you buy a new or used car, you probably promise yourself you’ll keep it clean inside and out. Whether you detail your sedan regularly, or you have kids and dogs that spill food and track muddy prints into the SUV, protecting the floor with mats is a smart idea. Keeping the interior floor clean will help maintain the resale value of the car down the line, too.

Car floor mats protect the carpeting against random spills, mud, snow, and whatever else you might track into the vehicle. The mats are easily removed for cleaning or replacement, all while keeping the car’s original floor looking great. These products are available in multiple configurations and price points, so it pays to understand the differences.

At BestReviews, we’re ready to help. We’ve prepared this shopping guide with tips and advice so you can find the best car floor mats for your vehicle.

Content Image
Car floor mats provide UV protection for the vehicle’s floor, keeping the sun from fading the carpet over time.

Car floor mat features to consider

When purchasing car floor mats, it’s important to understand exactly what you’re getting for your money.

Sets

  • Two mats: If you only need two mats because you’re replacing the two in the back that the kids destroyed, this type of set is great. But make sure you don’t inadvertently buy a two-mat set when you really need four mats.

  • Four mats: This is the most common floor mat set: two mats for the front and two for the back.

  • Five mats: Some sets include a large fifth mat that protects the back of an SUV or the trunk of a car.
     

Carpet vs. rubber

  • Carpet: A carpeted floor mat looks nicer than a rubber floor mat, and it provides a bit of cushioning for your feet. However, if you live in an area where you regularly track snow and mud into your vehicle, carpet is tougher to clean than rubber. Most higher-end carpet floor mats have a rubber base with a plush carpet top. However, some cheaper carpet mats have no rubber backing, which means liquids can soak right through.

  • Rubber: Rubber floor mats don’t offer a lot of style, but they’re durable and easy to clean. In addition, universal rubber floor mats can be trimmed to fit a particular space. Rubber mats often have grooves and channels that direct water away from your feet and a raised edge to keep water and dirt on the mat and off the carpet. Avoid using a silicone-based cleaner on rubber mats. It could leave the rubber surface slippery after it dries. Instead, use a water-based cleaner or just rinse the mats with water.
     

Custom vs. universal

  • Custom: Custom car floor mats are made to fit a particular model of vehicle, with the right size to fit the different floor areas of your car. These also fit perfectly around any odd shapes, such as wheel wells. These mats may also have connectors on the bottom that affix to mounting points on the vehicle’s floor. When aligned properly, the mats should fit these mounting points perfectly and remain in place. Mats that slide around or shift out of place can be hazardous.

    Some manufacturers refer to custom floor mats as custom liners. Liners usually have raised edges that hold liquids on the surface of the mat. A custom mat without raised edges might allow spills to leak onto the carpet.
     

  • Universal: Universal car floor mats are made to fit several different models of vehicles, meaning these mats aren’t made to perfectly fit your car model alone. These mats probably won’t have connectors to hold them in place. Look for universal mats with grooves or rubber nubs on the back. These features help the mat grip the car floor and keep the mat from slipping around.

    These mats should fit your vehicle’s floor area, but they probably won’t fit perfectly. Many universal floor mats are trimmable, so you can improve the fit. When trimming a mat, measure the area precisely for a good fit. An improperly trimmed mat won’t protect your floor, or it could bunch up and create a tripping hazard.

Car floor mat prices

If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to protect the floor of your vehicle, universal car floor mats are an affordable option. You can expect to pay from under $20 to $300 on car floor mats, depending on the number in the set, material, and whether they’re universal or custom.

Inexpensive: You can find universal car floor mats for less than $20 for a set of two or four. Most of these are rubber, but some are carpet with no rubber backing. The cheapest mats will rarely be carpet over rubber or have connectors to attach them to the floor. These inexpensive mats don’t have a lot of style, but you can sometimes can find them in colors other than gray or black.

Mid-range: You’ll pay from $20 to $60 for a set of four mid-priced car floor mats. These will usually be universal mats, although you might find a few custom mats in this price range. Mid-priced mats will be thicker and last longer than cheaper mats. Some have a carpet top over a rubber base, but most are rubber only.

Expensive: The most expensive car mats cost at least $60, and some can run as high as $300 for a set of four or five. These mats are custom fitted to your vehicle and connect to the floor. These have a thick rubber base, and they might have a carpet top with stylish designs.

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Choose car floor mats that fit your vehicle. Some mat sizes are specific to certain vehicle models.

FAQ

Q. What is the difference between a basic and a premium car floor mat?

A. Basic or budget car floor mats are likely similar to the mats that shipped with your car when it was new. Such mats are thin and usually made of rubber. A premium car floor mat has a thick rubber base and a nicely finished edge. Many premium mats have a thick carpet pile on the surface over the rubber. Premium car mats might also have raised edges that prevent liquids from spilling onto the floor.

Q. Do I really need car floor mats?

A. Having car floor mats in your vehicle makes it easier to clean the car. Rather than trying to clean the carpeting, you can remove the mats from the vehicle and wash them easily. This enables you to keep your vehicle looking nice, which will enhance its resale value down the road. Some custom car floor mats even look better than the interior of the car as configured at the factory, so you might increase the resale value with the right mats.

Q. What’s the best way to add some style to my car floor mats?

A. Some people like to choose carpet-topped mats or an interesting color of rubber for a bit of style. Most car floor mats are black or gray, but you can find some in bright colors like pink, too. Some mats even have logos or fun characters for a more personalized style. For the most part, car floor mats are practical and functional, but occasionally you can find some fun and interesting variations.

Q. Do all car floor mats smell weird?

A. Some cheaper mats might have a chemical odor when you first install them. This odor becomes more noticeable if the closed car sits in the sun for several hours. Sometimes, leaving the mats outside to air for a few days can dissipate the smell. Higher-quality car floor mats have less of an odor or no odor because they’re made of a treated rubber blend.

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