Guide/Education
How to choose an entrance mat for a school in Australia
A school entrance mat has to cope with hundreds of students at the bell, muddy ovals and daily cleaning. Put a crush-proof Waterhog Classic at external doors, a launderable Entry Plush inside classrooms and admin, and Superguard or a PrintPlush logo mat at the main entry. This guide covers sizes, slip ratings and budgets.
Reviewed and updated October 2026
School entrance mats compared
Prices include GST and are the smallest standard size. Education buyers can request a free sample box and quote.
| Mat | Material | Best for | Standard sizes | Price (incl GST) | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterhog Classic Mat | Rubber, Polypropylene | External doors, covered walkways, oval access | 600mm x 900mm, 900mm x 1500mm, 900mm x 1200mm and more | from $97 | Stocked sizes dispatch fast |
| Entry Plush Mat | Carpet / Nylon | Classrooms, admin, library and hallway runners | 600mm x 850mm, 850mm x 1200mm, 850mm x 1500mm and more | from $82 | Stocked sizes fast; made to order 4 weeks |
| Superguard Entrance Mat | Vinyl / PVC, Polypropylene | Main entries and reception, colour choice, custom sizes | 600mm x 900mm, 850mm x 1200mm, 850mm x 1500mm and more | from $189 | Stocked sizes dispatch fast |
| Super Brush Mat | Vinyl / PVC, Polypropylene | Budget heavy-duty scraping at trade and workshop doors | 600mm x 900mm, 900mm x 1500mm, 1200mm x 1800mm and more | from $72 | Stocked sizes dispatch fast |
| PrintPlush Logo Mat | Nitrile Rubber, Carpet / Nylon | Branded front entrance with the school crest | 450mm x 700mm, 600mm x 850mm, 850mm x 1150mm and more | from $119 | 4 weeks after proof approval |
| Safewalk Mat - Black | Nitrile Rubber, Rubber | Canteen, science and wet area floors | 600mm x 900mm, 910mm x 1520mm, 910mm x 2950mm | from $35 | Stocked sizes dispatch fast |
Matting zone by zone
Covered walkways and external doors
Use a scraper with drainage that will not crush under constant traffic. The Waterhog Classic is certified slip resistant and its rubber nubs stand up to thousands of footfalls a day.
Classroom and corridor doors
Choose a flat, machine-washable wiper so cleaners can rotate mats. The Entry Plush lays flat, is solution dyed so it will not fade, and is heat resistant.
Main entrance and reception
Specify Superguard for face weight and colour, or a PrintPlush logo mat with the crest and motto. Both can be made to measure for double doors.
How to choose school entrance matting
- Size for the bell. Four to six footfalls on matting is the rule, but a school door moves a class in 20 seconds, so full-width runners outperform doormats. Measure the opening and specify made to measure.
- Specify slip resistance. Ask for tested products. The Waterhog Classic is NFSI certified; ARCHIMAT recessed matting is AS 4586 P5. Avoid loose rugs and curled edges.
- Plan for cleaning. Entry Plush is machine washable; Waterhog and Super Brush hose down. Buy a spare set for high-traffic doors so one set can be cleaned while the other is down.
- Use colour to hide soil. Charcoal and flecked faces hide red dirt and sand better than black. Superguard comes in charcoal, black and camel.
- Protect special rooms. Science labs and canteens need wet area and anti-fatigue mats such as the Safewalk; gyms need rubber flooring, see our gym flooring guide.
- Budget by door, not by mat. List every external door, rank by traffic, and spend on the top five first. We can supply a mixed quote across the ranges.
Government and education purchasing
The Mat Group supplies schools, TAFEs and universities across Australia with australian and new zealand warehousing for fast dispatch, professional installation managed end to end, and 12-month warranties. Education buyers can request a free sample box or onsite visit, and bulk orders of ten or more mats attract trade pricing through our wholesale page.
Browse the full education matting collection, which is organised by area: entrance and reception, classroom and lecture theatre, gymnasium and pool, science lab and workshop, kitchen and canteen.
Why buy from The Mat Group
30+ years in matting
Supplying commercial, industrial and residential matting since 1990, with Australian and New Zealand warehousing for fast dispatch.
Free samples and site measure
Order free samples on most products, or book a free site measure and quote for a commercial project.
Price beat guarantee and installation
Professional installation managed end to end. Our price beat guarantee applies to like-for-like quotes.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the best entrance mat for a school?
Use a Waterhog Classic at external doors for crush-proof scraping, an Entry Plush inside classrooms because it is flat and machine washable, and Superguard or a PrintPlush logo mat at the main entrance for presentation and face weight.
How big should a school entrance mat be?
Cover the full door width and allow four to six footfalls of length. For double doors that usually means a made to measure runner rather than standard doormats.
Are school mats slip resistant?
The Waterhog Classic is certified slip resistant by the National Floor Safety Institute and ARCHIMAT recessed matting is tested to AS 4586 P5. Flat, low-profile edging on the Entry Plush and Dirt Stopper reduces trip risk.
Can we put the school crest on a mat?
Yes. PrintPlush logo mats print up to 25 colours with PMS matching, and a free digital proof is emailed within 48 hours of artwork upload. Allow four weeks from payment and proof approval.
Do you offer education pricing?
Yes. Orders of ten or more mats qualify for trade pricing, education buyers can request a free sample box or onsite visit, and we quote supply and installation together for whole-campus projects.
Need help choosing?
Tell us about the space and our team will recommend the right matting and send sizes and prices.
