A custom-size mat should feel as though it belongs to the entrance. It needs to cover the intended walking area without catching a door, crossing an unsafe floor change or leaving an accidental-looking gap. A few careful measurements and clear photographs give us far more useful information than a single width and depth.
Decide where the mat will sit
First mark the intended footprint. A loose-laid mat sits on top of the finished floor and normally needs clear space around its edge. A recessed mat fits within a prepared well and must follow the internal dimensions and available depth closely. If the entrance has two doors, revolving doors or an airlock, sketch their movement and show the direction of travel.
Consider how visitors actually walk. A mat placed away from the natural route may look balanced in a plan but receive little footwear contact. The most useful depth usually follows the direction of travel, while the width should capture the realistic flow through the doorway.
Measure width and depth at several points
Use a rigid tape measure where possible. Record the width at the front, middle and back of the proposed area, then do the same for the depth on the left, centre and right. Existing walls, stone borders and metal frames can be slightly uneven. For a recess, the smallest measurement is especially important.
Write every dimension in centimetres and label it clearly. Avoid mixing millimetres, centimetres and metres in the same sketch. If the shape is irregular, divide it into simple rectangles or send a drawing with diagonal measurements. We can then identify where more information is needed.
Check the door clearance
Width and depth are not enough when a door opens over the mat. Measure the smallest vertical gap between the bottom of the door and the floor while moving the door through its full arc. Hinged doors can drop slightly as they open, and automatic seals may reduce the available clearance.
Photograph the threshold from the side and show any raised strip, brush seal or track. If the clearance is tight, a low-profile model may be necessary. Never assume that a standard thickness will fit simply because an older mat was present.
Measure a recessed mat well
For an existing recess, remove the old insert if possible and measure the clear internal width, depth and well depth. Check all four corners and look for adhesive, damaged screed or drainage points. The finished mat and any frame must work together, so include photographs of the perimeter and a close-up of the section.
If the recess is being built as part of a renovation, confirm dimensions only after the finished flooring and frame are installed. Drawings are useful for planning, but final site measurements reduce the risk created by construction tolerances.
Allow for edges and surrounding circulation
A surface-laid mat may have a rubber perimeter that is included in the overall size. Confirm whether your measurement describes the complete outside dimension or only the textile field. Keep accessible routes clear and avoid placing an edge where people turn sharply, where trolley wheels repeatedly cross at an angle or where a door threshold already changes level.
Take photographs that answer practical questions
Send one wide view from outside, one from inside and a side view of the threshold. Add close photographs of door tracks, recess edges and any unusual corner. Daylight photographs with the whole doorway visible are more informative than a close crop of the floor.
A simple measurement checklist
- three width measurements;
- three depth measurements;
- minimum door clearance;
- recess depth, if applicable;
- threshold and track positions;
- main walking direction;
- overall and close-up photographs;
- quantity and delivery location.
Send the measurements before finalising the artwork. Once the viable format is known, the logo can be positioned with suitable margins and the correct viewing direction. This sequence produces a cleaner design and a mat that works with the entrance rather than against it.