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Aug 01, 2023

9 Best Bath Mats of 2022

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process. Bathroom upgrade time!

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Bathroom upgrade time! Whether you want a luxury mat or a multicolored rug, we have your floor covered.

Stepping out of a shower or bath and onto the bathroom floor while dripping wet can be uncomfortable and even dangerous if you happen to slip. You can always just throw an old towel on the floor to soak up water, but a quality bath mat can become a fixture in your bathroom: absorbing excess water, acting as a comfy cushion between you and the floor, and even serving as decor that complements your space.

At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we understand the importance of choosing a bath mat that's both functional and stylish, which is why we review and test them in our Textiles Lab. Our analysts recently evaluated more than 20 bath mats in the Lab for construction and then shared the mats with consumer testers, who tried them out in their homes. In all, we collected more than 200 data points for review, covering properties like how well the mats withstand washing, how quickly they dry, how absorptive they are, their level of softness and more. We used this information, along with our textiles knowledge, relevant expertise and reviews from online users when choosing our best bath mats.

Our top picks:

Keep reading to learn more about how we test bath mats — and get a helpful shopping guide. But first, here are our favorite bath mats. Looking for other ways to upgrade your bathroom? Check out these simple decorating ideas for bathrooms of all sizes.

When we reviewed this bath mat in the Lab, our analysts were impressed by the quality construction and plush surface. With 1.8-inch-long pile made from 100% long-staple cotton fiber, this bath mat is fuller and more luxurious than any of our other picks. One tester gave it perfect ratings for absorbency, sharing that it quickly soaks up water lingering from a shower, and described it as "luxuriously soft and fluffy." When our tester first laundered the bath mat at home, she noticed excessive linting (a.k.a. shed fibers) in the wash and felt that the bath mat lost some of its initial fullness, but she hasn't experienced as much linting with repeated washing. A nonslip coating covering the back helps prevent the bath mat, which received perfect scores from testers for staying in place, from sliding around. With 23 different color options and four sizes, there's a bath mat for almost every bathroom.

Nestwell's bath mat impressed our Lab analysts for feeling both silky and fluffy, which can be attributed to the polyester yarns. Our tester was also enthusiastic about the bath mat, describing it as "attractive and functional at a price that works!" A layer of rubber coats the back of the mat for added grip to prevent slipping, and it was given a high rating for "staying put" from our tester. The machine washable mat is also covered in a stain-resistant finish for easy care. Our tester had no complaints, but some reviewers noted shedding fibers both in and out of the wash. You can choose from 18 colors and four different sizes of mats, along with toilet lid toppers and contoured mats to fit around the toilet. It may not be our most affordable option, but we think the high quality is a great value for the price point, and you can choose a two- or three-piece set to cover even more ground — or put in different bathrooms.

This comfy bath mat is made with microfiber chenille material, which has a shaggy look and super-soft feel that our Lab analysts loved. More than 7,000 Amazon reviewers love this mat and agree it's worthy of a five-star rating, and it's Amazon's Choice for bath rugs. Reviewers praised the incredible absorbency, saying that it soaks up a lot of water after a shower. One reviewer raved, "No more wet footprints on my bathroom floor!" Other reviews mentioned the soft material that feels great under their feet. Know that it can take longer to dry because of the inner foam layer and absorbent yarns, and some reviewers have experienced the nonslip backing peeling in the wash.

Simply Essential's plush memory foam bath mat feels cloudlike beneath your feet. A tester shared that she was "obsessed" with the bath mat, describing the microfiber material and foam padding as "cozy" and "so beautifully soft!" This bath mat had the most substantial nonskid backing out of all of the mats we evaluated in the Lab too. One analyst noted, "The backing almost has a sticky feeling because the grip is so strong," and reviewers and our tester say it doesn't slip and slide around. Because it's filled with a thicker layer of memory foam, it can absorb quite a bit of water but will take a longer time to dry completely than cotton options. This pick is fully machine washable, but it's important to note that some reviewers noticed rippling in the outer fabric after washing.

Ruggable, a brand known for its machine washable rugs, recently launched a collection of bath mats in an impressive 38 fun colors, prints and patterns. The bath mat comes in two pieces that are simple to attach: an interchangeable cover and a cushiony bath mat pad that stick together with a Velcro-like grip. The thick pad is backed with latex to prevent slipping, and the cover is woven with quick-dry polyester fibers. To clean, you just pull off the lightweight cover, put it in the washer and reattach it to the pad once it's dry. There's only one size available, and it's much more expensive than any other bath mat we evaluated in the Lab, but once you purchase the pad, you're able to shop for the covers separately for a lower price.

This memory foam bath mat with more than 23,000 five-star reviews on Amazon is on the thinner side, with less padding than other mats we saw in the Lab, but that doesn't mean it isn't comfy. Our analysts still found the foam cushiony, and our tester gave it perfect ratings for softness. One tester shared that the mat is super absorbent, soaking up lots of water right after he steps out of the shower, and reviewers agree, with one adding it "absorbs water immediately." Plus, because there's less foam padding, the mat dries more quickly than other memory foam mats; a tester noted that he appreciates how fast the mat dries and that he doesn't have to worry about stepping on the mat and getting his feet wet long after his shower. According to reviewers and a tester, the nonslip backing on this mat doesn't keep it quite as secure as some of the others we tested, so you may still experience some sliding.

This bath mat from Annie Selke is far from boring and comes in 15 colorful striped and geometric patterns to bring life to your bathroom. One tester raved that she "love[s] the colors and feel of the rug," adding that it's "in style and fun!" When we evaluated this mat in the Lab, we noticed that the pile is on the shorter side at just half an inch thick, and our tester wished there was a little more padding but still said it felt great under her feet. The bath mat is made of 100% long-staple cotton, known for being higher quality and softer than shorter cotton fibers. Cotton fibers are inherently absorbent and soak up moisture easily. One of our testers gave it a high rating for absorbency and also shared that, because it's on the thinner side, it dries fairly quickly.

With tassel fringe ends and a decorative woven design, this bath mat is sure to help elevate the look of your bathroom. It's the thinnest bath mat that we evaluated — the pile height is just 0.25 inches — so if you prefer a plush and cushiony feel for your bath mat, this one may not be for you. Because the bath mat is so thin, both of our testers said it dried very quickly after use. There's no nonslip backing, so it's prone to moving around the floor. One tester who washed the bath mat at home shared that there was no fiber shedding or linting in the wash and no noticeable signs of shrinkage or wear, adding that it "looks like it did when [she] first got it."

Similar to the construction of a hand towel, this hotel-style bath mat from Crate & Barrel is made of 100% Turkish cotton terrycloth fabric. It absorbs plenty of moisture, just like a standard towel would, thanks to the cotton fibers and yarn loops covering the fabric's surface. One analyst who tried out this bath mat was impressed by how quickly it dried, sharing that it doesn't take long at all for it to fully dry when she hangs it over her shower rod. Although this style of mat isn't traditional or for everyone because it's essentially a towel with no extras or padding, it's an easy-to-care-for and low-maintenance option that can be thrown into the wash and dried with no worries about peeling coatings or shedding lint.

Textiles Lab analysts at the Good Housekeeping Institute evaluate bath mats both in the Lab and with consumer testers. For this test, our experts researched dozens of bath mats from popular brands and retailers before deciding which ones to test. We collected more than 20 bath mats, first checking them out in the Lab and then sharing them with consumer testers. Through this evaluation, we gathered over 200 data points for analysis. Here's what we considered:

✔️ Construction: In the Lab, our analysts examined each bath mat for design and construction properties, including nonslip backing, weave type, fiber content, padding, seams and more.

✔️ Consumer tests: The majority of our evaluation took place with consumer testers who were able to try out the bath mats in their own homes and provide real-user feedback about their experiences. Testers considered factors like how absorbent the bath mats were, how quickly they dried, their size, their softness level and their overall appearance. Testers shared any feedback from laundering too. They were also able to provide commentary about what they specifically liked and disliked about the bath mats and shared if they preferred the bath mat they tested over the one they already owned.

When you're shopping for your next bath mat, here are a few things to keep in mind:

✔️ Fiber type: Many of our bath mat picks are made with cotton, a natural fiber type. Cotton is very absorbent, making it perfect for a bath mat, because it will soak up excess moisture from your body as you step on it to dry off. Our testers love the plush, soft feel of natural fibers like cotton. Synthetic fibers like polyester, on the other hand, are less absorbent but often dry more quickly; they're easy to care for too. Brushed synthetic microfibers are also commonly used for bath mats and are typically soft, fuzzy and quick to dry.

✔️ Fabric construction: The fabric construction of a bath mat can drastically impact the performance, feel and overall look.

✔️ Backing: If you don't want your bath mat to slip and slide around your bathroom floor, you may want to consider a mat with nonslip or skid-resistant backing. Nonslip bath mats with a rubber or latex backing tend to have a stronger grip, securing the bath mat in place. There are also bath mats treated with nonslip coatings, but the gripping properties could potentially wear off with extended use and washing. You can always purchase a separate backing, like this one from Amazon, to lay underneath your bath mat for added security.

✔️ Care: Some bath mats are easier to care for than others. Cotton bath mats tend to be machine washable but may need to be hung to dry to prevent shrinkage. Bath mats made with synthetic fibers are easy to care for and can usually be machine washed and dried, at least at a low temperature. Be careful: Foams and nonslip backings may crumble or peel when agitated in the wash, and pile can shed, so we recommend following the manufacturer-provided care instructions (usually located on the care label or in the online product description) when cleaning your bath mat.

Amanda Constantine is a home and apparel reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she regularly covers and evaluates home goods of all kinds, including towels, curtains, bedding and bath mats. For this article, she worked with dozens of bath mat brands to coordinate testing for best-selling bath mats and new 2022 releases. She carried out evaluations in the Lab and also coordinated with consumer testers, collecting more than 200 data points covering bath mat construction and performance properties for analysis and using this data to choose the best bath mats.

Amanda (she/her) researches and reports on products in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab, ranging from clothing and accessories to home furnishings. She holds undergraduate degrees in apparel merchandising and product development and advertising and marketing communications, as well as a master of science degree in consumer sciences from The Ohio State University. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, Amanda was a lecturer for the fashion and retail studies program at Ohio State, where she taught fashion and textiles courses.

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