The Two-Mat System: How an Outdoor Scraper Mat and Indoor Wiper Mat Trap Dirt at Your Door

A two-mat system is the most effective way to trap dirt at the door — before it reaches your floors. The system uses two mats working together: an outdoor scraper mat that knocks off coarse dirt and mud, and an indoor wiper mat that absorbs the fine dust and moisture the scraper missed. Together they can trap up to 85% of incoming dirt.

See it in action

Watch a 2-minute walkthrough of how a two-mat system protects your floors, reduces cleaning costs, and creates a more professional entrance.

How the two-mat system works

The two-mat system has two parts working together. Each mat does a different job. When both are sized and placed correctly, you stop about 85% of incoming dirt from ever reaching your floors.

Step 1 — The outdoor scraper mat

The outdoor scraper mat sits in front of the door. Its aggressive textured surface traps coarse dirt, mud, snow, and debris from shoes before anyone steps inside.
The two most effective outdoor scraper mats are the WaterHog Impressions and the SuperScrape Impressions. Both can be printed with your business logo. For a larger outdoor area, we use the Piazza style mat.

Step 2 — The indoor wiper mat

The indoor wiper mat sits just inside the door. It catches the fine dirt and moisture that get past the scraper, keeping your floors clean and dry.
The most popular indoor wiper mats are DigiPrint HD and Piazza. Both can be printed with your business logo for a branded interior entrance.

Why the two-mat system works so well

Iowa State University research found that a properly sized two-mat system traps about 85% of incoming dirt — far more than a single mat alone. The key is that each mat does a different job. The scraper handles the heavy debris outside; the wiper handles the fine dust and moisture inside.
A single mat traps about 60–70% of incoming dirt. Adding the second mat brings that up to roughly 85%.

Two-mat system sizing

For the system to work, both mats need to be sized correctly:

• The outdoor scraper should be at least 6 feet long (8–10 feet for high-traffic doors)
• The indoor wiper should be at least 4×6 feet
• Both should extend 12–18 inches beyond the door frame on each side

See our Mat Size Guide for full sizing details.

Get a two-mat system for your entrance

Send us your door dimensions and logo and we’ll recommend the right two-mat system for your space. Free 24-hour design proof. No minimums. Made in the USA since 1987.

Ready to install a two-mat system at your entrance? Send us your door dimensions and logo for a free 24-hour design proof. Made in the USA since 1987.