Buying guides

Where to Put Bath Mats: Sizes and Layouts for Every Bathroom

Where bath mats should go, what size to choose and how to lay them out in a small bathroom, a double vanity or a bathroom with a tub, with measurements you can use.

By Mattona™ Team Updated Sep 29, 2026 4 min read

Mattona™ guide cover: where bath mats should go, with two gray mats by a vanity and shower

Quick answer

Put your largest mat where you step out of the shower or tub, a smaller mat centered in front of the sink, and a U-shaped mat around the toilet base. Keep every mat clear of the door and walkways, lay them flat without overlapping, and measure the floor first.

The three wet zones of a bathroom

Almost every bathroom has three spots where the floor gets wet or cold: the shower or tub exit, where most water lands; the sink, where you stand every morning and night; and the toilet. Start with the exit, because that’s where a mat does the most work.

Infographic: three bath mat layouts, for a shower and sink, a double vanity and a small bathroom, plus three rules: center mats on the fixture, keep doors and walkways clear, and never overlap mats. — Three common layouts, and three rules that work in any bathroom.

What size bath mat do you need?

Where	Common size	Mattona™ piece
Shower or tub exit	About 50 × 80 cm (20 × 32 in)	Bath mat, 81 × 50 cm (31.9 × 19.7 in)
In front of the sink	About 40 × 60 cm (16 × 24 in)	Floor mat, 60 × 43 cm (23.6 × 16.9 in)
Around the toilet	U-shaped contour mat	U-shaped mat, 60 × 50 cm (23.6 × 19.7 in)
Double vanity	A long runner, or two mats	Two floor mats, one per sink

For the shower or tub exit, pick a mat at least as wide as the step-out area, so your first steps land on it. At the sink, a mat roughly the width of the basin area is plenty.

Layouts that work

Shower and a single sink

One larger mat at the shower door and one smaller mat centered on the sink. If the toilet is close by, a U-shaped mat completes the set.

Tub and a double vanity

Put the largest mat alongside the tub where you step out. For the vanity, use a long runner or two mats, one per sink, with a small gap between them.

Small bathroom

Use fewer, smaller mats, and put the one you most need at the shower exit. Keep the door swing clear: a mat that catches the door gets pushed out of place and can curl.

Separate toilet room

A U-shaped mat alone is often enough. Check that it doesn’t catch the door. Here’s how to check the fit.

Placement rules for any bathroom

Center the mat on the fixture: the sink, or the shower opening.
Keep doors and walkways clear. Open every door that swings over the floor and make sure it clears the mat.
Keep mats flat and apart. Leave a small gap between mats so edges can’t overlap or curl.
Keep fabric mats outside the shower. Inside the tub or shower, use a suction mat or non-slip strips.
Use a clean, dry floor. A non-slip backing grips best on a clean, dry surface.

How to measure

Stand where you step out of the shower and note where your feet land. That’s the center of your bath mat.
Measure the free floor in front of the sink and the toilet, wall to wall or to the nearest cabinet.
Open the door fully and measure how far it swings into the room.
Compare with the sizes above. The Mattona™ 3-piece set covers all three zones, and the single rectangular mat comes in two sizes.

More on the set itself: where each piece of a 3-piece set goes.