Best Inside Door Mats for Hardwood Floors Review [Feb. 2023]

So are you looking for the top-rated inside door mats for hardwood floors?

Well, you won’t be able to find it without understanding what it does in the first place. 

It’s a given fact that like an entry door mat, the inside door mat exists to protect the boundary area of your floor that divides the interior from the exterior; it protects specifically hardwood floors from damage-inducing agents like moisture, mud, soil, dust, snow, and a lot more tougher stuff. 

It’s also important to note at this point that it’s not like rugs and carpets because it’s built to be tougher to resist tough situations. 

Now, you understand why the inside door mat works and how it works. You can only pick the best one as far your knowledge can go. 


Lucky for you, that’s what this article is all about. 

If you read and enjoy this article to the last letter, you will learn the following points:

  • The best-reviewed inside door mats in the market today
  • How to pick and buy the best inside door mat products for your home
  • How to use the inside door mat
  • And a lot more…

So what are we waiting for: let’s begin sweeping the list!

Inside Door Mats

10 Best Inside Door Mats for Hardwood Floors: A Review

Here are our 10 best inside door mats for hardwood floor:

Notrax Arrow Trax Entrance Mat 3′ X 4′ Charcoal (Top Pick)

Earning the top pick title on our list, this entrance or inside door mat for hardwood floor by the Notrax brand exceeds expectations with its needle-punched yarn woven body. Yet, it never ceases to surprise a lot of users. 

The ultimate edge of this no. 1 Notrax Arrow Trax Entrance Mat is its functionality. Resembling a good-looking and attractive deep charcoal design, it beautifies the home while maintaining a tough-end job of trapping dirt from footwears upon contact. 

Unlike other regular mats, it does not require the person to repeatedly brush off his/her footwear over it. With one step on top of the mat, it sucks out the dirt into its yarn; it does it all by utilizing two simple mechanisms: gravity and kinetic energy. 


Kinetic energy is also present in yarn. Yarn has got the special properties to some sort of magnet in all forms of dirt. 

Moreover, thanks to its 38 oz per square yard of face weight and 80 +/- 4 mils of backing thickness, you won’t have to put the effort of having to fit your feet into the mat. It’s simply just wide and thick enough to accomodate you two other persons. 

It’s so wide that you might be led to wonder how it saves space. Well, we’ve got the +/- 4 mils to answer for that. This backing thickness feature is just so crazy genius that you won’t even notice the mat occupying a space before your door. Add in its deep charcoal color that blends in any shade and you’ve got a perfect setup.

Other features of the product include a professional responsiveness to heavy traffic areas, a tough treatment on pet dirt, and easy-to-clean configuration, and a lot more. 

This entry mat boasts of a needle-punched yarn per square yard body that’s sustainable for the next 10 years’ use or longer. Finally, it’s also bound to surprise users with a high-absorbent, and easy-to clean fiber pad. 

This product has been around for a decade now, but it never ceases to surprise us.  Thus, it’s right to earn “top pick” on our list. 

Lastly, the product is perfect for hardwood floor and other floor types because of its temperature-neutralizing effect underneath. 

Pros

  • Best for hardwood floors; works on all floor types
  • Heavy duty w/ a perfectly flat surface
  • Low maintenance
  • Durable vinyl material
  • Sustainable
  • Made of yarn
  • High-absorbent; quick-trapping
  • Sufficient width and thickness

Cons

  • Might easily emit smell when not thoroughly dried
  • Takes time to dry up
Inside Door Mats

Why you should buy it

The Notrax Arrow Trax Entrance Mat is designed for convenience, high-functionality, sustainability, and efficiency. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t put it as number one on your list of the inside door mats for hardwood floors.

Notrax Arrow Trax Entrance Mat (Premium Pick)

One can bring out a lot of reasons why the Notrax Arrow Tax Entrance Map is our premium pick. But if there’s one thing that stands out from these reasons — that has got to be its durability. 

Exactly alike our first product, only that it bears a gray color and an ultra-expensive, high-quality border. Like most mats under the Notrax brand, it features a strong vinyl backing. 

But aside from its border, how much does it differ from our top pick Notrax product?

The Notrax Arrow Trax Entrance Mat provides a more subtle feel along highly visible parts of the home like door entrances, kitchen counters, living rooms, etc. Boosted by its deep grey look, it merges into various existing decors. 

Another edge it holds from most Notrax mats is its stronger scraping capacity that does not require motion or directional pressure. 


Water retention by this best doormat is generally high. Its low-maintenance design, needle-punched yarn, and sustainable material makes it an overall superior premium pick. 

Pros

  • Durable vinyl material
  • Perfectly flat
  • Ultra-expensive, high-quality border
  • Sufficient width & thickness
  • Made of yarn
  • Best for hardwood floors and other floor types
  • Subtle decor feel
  • Stronger scraping capacity
  • Easy to clean & maintain
  • Overall sustainable material

Cons

  • Takes time to dry up
  • Might emit smell when not thoroughly dried
Inside Door Mats

Why you should buy:

Durable, tight, and efficient– this product deserves to be placed particularly on old hardwood floors.

Gorilla Grip Original Indoor Durable Chenille Doormat (Best Value)

An impressive choice for comfort and convenience, this Gorilla Grip Original Indoor Durable Chenille Doormat does its job without feeling serious on-the-job. And, this entry mat is the most affordable item on our list!

For the first time in the indoor mat industry, a low-key door mat for hardwood floors rocked hard with strong moist and dirt retention. Even with all these ensured, it maintains a good amount of grace and comfort. 

The Gorilla Grip Original Indoor Durable Chenille Doormat ranks with the utmost door mat reputation in the industry today. Designed to be safe for all usages, it truly grips like a powerful gorilla.


But how safe is the mat? 

For one thing — it does not slip. It feels like being glued on the floor. It should be safe with kids and pets around. It also feels very soft on bare feet because of its plush pile. Underneath, it’s got an extra-strong gorilla-held backing. 

With a thick top layer, the Gorilla Grip Original Indoor Durable Chenille Doormat captures even the most minute dirt, dust or debris. It doesn’t let anything pass without some trapping action. 

The product is highly-absorbent with especially-refined fiber series that release moisture out. Meaning, it does not hold moisture long so that it leaks out moisture 10 hours after having absorbed it. This relates to why some owners place a layer of clothing underneath it to absorb its released moisture. 

Maintaining this durable piece of art is fly. It does not take an arm’s effort to toss it for machine wash and dry. 

Ultimately, this product is just perfect for hardwood floor and other floor types because of rich plush – a high-quality yarn-distributed pad that allows heat and cold to escape. 

Without a doubt, this ranks among the best inside door mats for hardwood floors.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Strong gorilla grip from below
  • Does not move around easily
  • Quick dirt trap action
  • High retention for dirt and moisture; automatically releases moisture after 10 hours
  • Soft plush feel on bare feet
  • Strong backing
  • Best for hardwood floor and other floor types
  • Super safe for home with kids and pets
  • Can be machine-washed & dried 


Cons

  • Can get too heavy when wet
  • Too thick for door entrance placement
  • Requires additional cloth layer or padding underneath for support
Inside Door Mats

Why you should buy it:

Even with a strong grip, the Gorilla Grip Original Indoor Durable Chenille Doormat entry mat resists attention especially amidst varying interior decors. But, it sure got a super-strong grip, it’s almost ingrained on the floor. 

Durable Corporation Entrance Mat 

It’s hard for this top inside door mat for hardwood floor not to be tagged durable given the name of its brand. Indeed, it is. But, it surely is more than that: it impresses with a trustworthy rubber wipe-off action. 

Durable. Sustainable. Effective. These factors land the Durable Corporation Entrance Mat number four on our list. 

But you just can’t help it really. 

When it comes to protecting all types of flooring, it just exceeds expectations. From its ramped edge, heavy-duty rubber construction, added fingers for stronger dirt-trapping performance, to its overall wipe-off agility — the product is simply a genius laid against the doorstep. 

The Durable Corporation Entrance Mat, like the Gorilla Grip Original Indoor Durable Chenille Doormat, stays in place and doesn’t move around. Thanks to its stable backing, it delivers on highly traffic areas. 

Considered now a classic, this product by the Durable brand has never faltered in terms of quality. Not even once. People have been using it for 20 years now, and it still feels new.

With a mere once-a-month rinsing, the Gorilla Grip Original Indoor Durable Chenille best doormat is sure to serve your floor down to its core. 

Pros

  • Effective rubber finger tips for quick dirt wipe off
  • Effortless design
  • Highly durable, sustainable & effective
  • Can last for years; most durable floor mat on our list
  • Ramped edge for safety
  • Heavy-duty rubber construction 
  • Best for all floor types
  • Best for heavy-traffic areas

Cons

  • Not great for pet hair and litter
  • Might emit smell when not thoroughly dried
  • Reacts to strong floor cleaning solutions

Why you should buy it:

The Durable Corporation Entrance Mat is a professional, trustworthy, and classic floor mat for all floor types. It’s the most durable indoor mats for hardwood floors on our list. 

Notrax Polynib Entrance Mat 

Another Notrax winner, the Notrax Polynib Entrance Mat impresses as an easy-to-use, pet-friendly and sustainable floor mat. And, it’s great for all floor types. 

Even when possessing almost the same qualities from that of several Notrax products, the Notrax Polynib Entrance Mat manages to make its own mark in the list of the most trusted hardwood floor protectors. 


Not only is this entry mat product great for all floor types, it has a special property which enriches the surface quality of particularly hardwood floors. Armoured with vinyl backing and a super-strong yarn quality, it effectively sucks in dirt, stores it and breaks it apart. 


This special ability makes the Notrax Polynib Entrance Mat stand out from the rest of the Notrax products on our list. 

This Notrax mat is unusually light, so it’s easy to move around and use. Because of its strong basal grip, it doesn’t slide off, providing a safe environment for kids and pets. 

At other times the mat feels too light that it loses a necessary feeling of padded support to bare feet. But if you are fine with a less thick mat, this should be okay. 

Pros

  • Long-lasting quality
  • Easy-to-use
  • Kid and pet-friendly
  • Great for all floor types (most particularly hardwood floors)
  • High-quality yarn 
  • Strong vinyl backing
  • Easy to clean and maintain 
  • Strong basal grip

Cons

  • Not good in holding litter 
  • Takes time to dry up
  • Might emit smell when not thoroughly dried

Why you should buy it:

The Notrax Polynib Entrance Mat proves that quality isn’t expensive unlike most inside door mats for hardwood floors. That quality goes a long way even to the point of prolonging the hardwood floor’s condition.

Notrax Heritage Rib Entrance Mat 

With the Notrax Heritage Rib Entrance Mat around, you won’t have to regularly clean your hardwood floor anymore. This Notrax entrance and inside door mat holds dust, soil, mud, water, and even snow in place to keep them from spreading over the hardwood floor. 

This latest inside door mat for hardwood floor and/or entrance door mat implies that the Notrex brand truly is number one in the market today. And. it doesn’t run out of great products. In fact, it continues even at this point to produce more high-quality outputs. 

If one is to draw a line between the Notrax Heritage Rib Entrance Mat and the rest of the Notrax items, one should start with weight. This product is, so far, the heaviest mat in the basket ever.

The heavy-weight package of course, comes with a vital purpose. 

Its main function is to facilitate extra-strong scraping for all footwear textures and nooks. Regardless of being in a heavily-traffic corner or not, the mat would perfectly integrate on the feel.

This product is also uniquely thick to accommodate strong suction. If you’re a bit concerned about its thickness, don’t be, because its edges are ramped so you don’t trip over or slip from it. 

Apart from this feature, this product is a solid addition to your cleaning routine as it holds dirt for you. That proves to be another wonder ensured by its super-thick and heavy package. 

Is it difficult to move around. Unfortunately, yes. It can be quite heavy. You can rest assured though, that the entry mat won’t be impossible to move around. 

Pros

  • Heavy and thick for optimum cleaning and scraping
  • Okay for both heavy traffic and non-traffic areas
  • Strong dirt scraping and trapping performance
  • Long-lasting
  • Best for all floor types 
  • Integral to various home decors
  • Safe for kids and pets
  • High retention action

Cons

  • Takes time to dry up
  • Might emit smell
  • Might incur molds
  • Can be too heavy to move around

Why you should buy it:

The Notrax Heritage Rib Entrance Mat is not only heavy from the looks and feel, it’s also a premium heavy-duty material for hardwood floor cleaning and maintenance success. 

House, Home and More Indoor Outdoor Double-Ribbed Carpet Runner 

The House, Home and More Indoor Outdoor Double-Ribbed Carpet Runner is a true winner when it comes to fulfilling both indoor and outdoor needs.

Almost resembling a carpet, the House, Home and More Indoor Outdoor Double-Ribbed Carpet Runner is as thick as it can get. Moreover, it’s a runner that is good for plastering layouts and long walking support. 

Eventually an all-weather polypropylene carpet, this extensive mat is designed to not only last long, but also resist tough weather conditions. Protecting all floor types, it works particularly more gentle on hardwood floors like most of the inside door mats for hardwood floors featured on our list. 

Put it on a wet surface and it still will be safe for kids, pets and the entire family. You thank its double-ribbed surface and skid-resistant rubber for that. 


Stepping on the mat with bare feet doesn’t feel cheap. That is, because it’s rubber hass good grippings, texture and composition. As high-quality as it can go, it shouldn’t react to any chemical in contact. In fact, it’s the first on this list that guarantees zero-smell despite moisture whatsoever. 

The next best thing about the House, Home and More Indoor Outdoor Double-Ribbed Carpet Runner perhaps, is its versatility (outdoor-indoor all-weather resistance). 

Pros

  • Multi-dimensional options
  • Skid-resistant
  • All-weather resistant; made from polypropylene carpet
  • Double-ribbed surface
  • High retention capacity
  • Best for outdoor and indoor use
  • Zero-smell and mess
  • Runner design
  • Safe for the family
  • Great on all floor types

Cons

  • Difficult to move 
  • Takes time to dry up
  • Absorbs stains
  • Color fades through time
  • Takes much storage space

Why you should buy it:

The House, Home and More Indoor Outdoor Double-Ribbed Carpet Runner has everything you can ask for of a carpet, a runner and a floor mat. Its versatility to resist both indoor and outdoor tough weather is just awesome.   

Notrax Heritage Rib Entrance Mat 

Resembling the common items recently released by the Notrax brand, the Notrax Heritage Rib Entrance Mat comes with an adjusted size and a deeper charcoal effect. 

The Notrax Heritage Rib Entrance Mat is very much alike the rest of the items featured under the Notrax brand release series. The only difference it makes is a deeper charcoal effect, an added size, and a thicker vinyl backing. 

What happens with a thicker vinyl backing?


There’s a simple consequence to this: the Notrax Heritage Rib Entrance Mat gets a higher resistance to molding. In addition, this makes it the only Notrax item that’s okay for outdoor use. 

Are there disadvantages to a thicker vinyl? 

Yes there are. But rest assured, they’re not that dramatically concerning unlike some of the inside door mats for hardwood floors. Some of these so-called “side-effects” have to do with the mat height affecting the traffic of the door, the backing’s tendency to trap moisture, and the surface’s rough feel. Outside these issues, the product should be perfect. 

One can best address these by moving the mat somewhere far from door traffic, regularly tapping the mat to dry its base, and just not minding its surface feel. 

After all, it’s surface is not intended for solely providing comfort to the soles of your feet. It’s main job is to scrape off dirt. And, that’s what it does exactly with a heavy, or shall we say, rough hand. 

Pros

  • Thicker vinyl backing
  • Deeper charcoal effect
  • Adjusted size
  • Best for hardwood floors and other floor types
  • Long-lasting
  • Safe for kids and pets

Cons

  • Might get in the way of the door traffic
  • Might easily emit smell when not thoroughly dried
  • Takes time to dry up
  • Rough surface feel
  • Traps moisture

Why you should buy it:

The promising Notrax Heritage Rib Entrance Mat proves to be a practical mat for both outdoor and indoor use. Its thicker backing, adjusted size, and deeper charcoal color are just bonus features to its library of greatness. 

Notrax Sani-Trax Plus Disinfectant Mat 

The Notrax Sani-Trax Plus Disinfectant Mat’s edge from the rest is of the inside door mats for hardwood floors featured in this list is its tougher scrubber concentrated on hard shoe textures. It’s also a champion when it comes to durability. 

The Notrax Sani-Trax Plus Disinfectant Mat’s extended border, suction caps in the underside, and its overall built just makes it the perfect cleaning and maintenance tool for hardwood floors particularly. 

It’s also great on all floor types, by the way. 

The product has the strongest scrubber action compared to the rest of the Notrex items. That explains why it’s seller did not use scraper, but scrubber. Given this, it’s especially tough on shoes and boots. 

Does it work on other footwears too?

It’s tough on them too, but not as tough as shoes and boots. Due to its perfect cleaning action, it’s been used by other people as a room sanitation support. 

Just take a look at its suction cups. No other floor mats of this command can deliver with such sophistication. It’s really built for tough action, hence the long-lasting package. 

On the other hand, the ultimate problem that affects a buyer’s decision when picking the product is its cheap color, un-leveled flatness and a tendency to trap moisture. Thus, it can be quite a maintenance at certain times. 

Pros

  • Extended borders
  • Long-lasting
  • Strong basal grip
  • Extended border
  • Tough scrubber
  • Best for shoes and boots
  • Great for hardwood floors

Cons

  • Cheap color
  • Un-leveled flatness
  • Tendency to trap moisture
  • Might emit smell when not dry
  • Not good in holding litter

Why you should buy it:

The Notrax Sani-Trax Plus Disinfectant Mat is the only one of its kind among the inside door mats for hardwood floors that has a tough scrubber. If you’re into a 100% tough mat material, then you’ll find this product a fit choice. 

Notrax Carpeted Entrance Mat 

This amazing Notrax mat functions more as a carpet than a mat. Meaning, it’s beauty against all floor type backdrops is just unrivaled. 

Blessed with an incredible matting system, the Notrax Carpeted Entrance Mat amazingly dries up on its own. And, this only means one thing. You don’t have to continually dry it up or clean it every time. Down-time in floor maintenance. 


The product works with a special non-slip vinyl that matches the hardwood floor perfectly. With a 22 oz per square yard face weight, the mat wraps around smoothly on the hardwood floor. 

What about its cleaning ability? 

Well, there’s a good reason why we’re placing it in the 10th position. If we are to rate its scraping style, we’d end up with 6/10. Still, not bad!

Resembling more as a carpet, the Notrax Carpeted Entrance Mat honestly proves to be the most beautiful among the items by Notrax.

Experts recommend placing it on heavy traffic doorways as it has strong gripping and of course, an astounding beauty great for welcoming visitors and guests. 

Pros

  • Long-lasting
  • Strong vinyl backing; certified non-slip
  • Easy to use
  • Kid and pet-friendly
  • Beautiful carpet style
  • Perfect on all floor types

Cons

  • Lacks scraping power
  • Takes time to dry up
  • Might smell bad when not completely dry
  • Not good in holding water
  • Too thick for door traffic
  • High maintenance

Why you should buy it:

The Notrax Carpeted Entrance Mat, compared to the other inside door mats for hardwood floors is a luxury item. It’s a beautiful mat-carpet that protects hardwood flooring quality while merging at best with all floor types possible. 

All these top inside door mats for hardwood floors are difficult to post in stores. Thus, you will need to learn our 2023 buying guide to ensure that. 

A 2023 Buying Guide for Inside Door Mats for Hardwood Floor

Here’s our 2023 buying guide for inside door mats for hardwood floors:

Size 

Size really does matter in the business of securing the perfect  door mats in your home. 

Firstly, the main purpose of putting a mat is to protect the floor from dirt but at the same time, securing traffic. If the size of the mat is too large, it can eventually block the entrances to the door. 

If it’s too small that two sets of feet don’t fit, then it should feel awkward when one scrubs his/her feet or footwear over the mat’s surface. Apparently, the standard size of a mat should accommodate two sets of feet at the same time. 

On the other hand, if there’s more room after placing 3 sets of feet on it, then it should be too big. Unless you’re going for a carpet, this should not be a good idea. 

Indoor/Outdoor Type

Always consider what the mat is for — indoor or outdoor. Some have both. In this case, wed; best root for the dual mat. 

You might have to consider an important procedure when using a dual-purpose mat though. Eventually, you can’t just suddenly put an outdoor mat inside without thoroughly rinsing or sanitizing it. That should be out of the question. 

So in terms of washing and drying, the mat’s quick-dry ability really does matter. Thus, mats made of rubber usually pass this round.

But there are also mats made of yarn that easily dries up. Always be looking out for these mats with such quality. 

Grip

For inside door mats for hardwood floors, gripping does matter a lot. It secures safety. That proves most true especially against hardwood floors. Hardwood floors are known to be slippery. They almost always add up in the recipe for disaster involving pets, kids, and even elders.

If the hardwood floor is disastrous in itself, a floor mat is the time bomb. Thus, you need to seriously consider the grip factor of your floor mat. Some strong mats have double-ribbed edges and skid-resistant surfaces. But all of these would stand pale without a strong basal grip. 

Always be conscious of buying ones with not only strong grips, but also strong backing quality. 

Have you learned what needs to be learned?

Check out our FAQs to clarify some points full-on…

FAQs

  1. Can I use a doormat outside?

Not all doormats are built to resist outdoor weather and factors. Purchase the ones with dual functionality (for outdoor and indoor use). 

  1. Can inside door mats for hardwood floors enhance the floor’s quality?

Yes. Some door mats, not all, possess sophisticated technology that provides minerals for enhancing the hardwood floor quality. 

  1. Do rubber inside door mats damage the hardwood floor?

No. They shouldn’t as long as you maintain them by drying them up whenever moisture inevitably occurs. 

Continue reading to hear our conclusion…

You may also love to read How to Keep Rug Pads from Curling Up

Conclusion

In our search for the best inside door mats for hardwood floors, we eventually structured an honest and in-depth review of the 10 products marking their territories this year.

Our ranking revealed top 3 products with 2 by the Notrax brand and one by the Durable Chenille. 

Our top pick title sees the Notrax Arrow Trax Entrance Mat 3′ X 4′ Charcoal, premium pick has the Notrax Arrow Trax Entrance Mat, and lastly, the best value position has Gorilla Grip Original Indoor Durable Chenille Doormat.

Thes top 3 products currently bear, either advertently or inadvertently, the properties indicated in our 2023 buying guide: size, indoor-outdoor type, and grip. 

We also learned from this review of the inside door mats for hardwood floors that door mats are designed to last longer than expected.

What about you, what have you learned. We’d like to know. Do comment below to share your thoughts.  

Are you looking for some comfortable and convenient door mat, read our 10 best inside door mats for hardwood floors 2023 review today!