9 Best Mudroom Rugs Under $70
9 products compared · Prices checked Nov 11
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Amazon prices as of Nov 11, 10:15 PM ET, subject to change. DetailsA flat, washable rug with a busy pattern hides a whole winter of boots, and a good 3x5 like that costs about $38.
At a glance
| # | Pick | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  KOZYFLY Woven Cotton Entryway Rug, 3x5 | about $38 | Best overall |
| 2 |  SAFAVIEH Braided Indoor/Outdoor Rug, 3x5 | about $52 | Best farmhouse look |
| 3 |  GORILLA GRIP SoakSTOPPER Mud Mat, 48x30 | about $40 | Best for muddy dogs |
| 4 |  Lahome Oriental Washable Runner, 2x8 | about $50 | Best mudroom runner |
| 5 |  Nourison Home Horizon Indoor/Outdoor Rug, 3x5 | about $30 | Best sisal look |
| 6 |  SAFAVIEH Courtyard Herringbone Rug, 2'7" x 5' | about $23 | Best under $25 |
| 7 |  Waterproof Loop Pile Runner Rug, 2x8 | about $34 | Best waterproof runner |
| 8 |  nuLOOM SpinClean Brielle Washable Rug, 3x5 | about $65 | Best vintage look |
| 9 |  IOHOUZE Woven Washable Rug, 2x3 | about $26 | Best for a tiny entry |
KOZYFLY Woven Cotton Entryway Rug, 3x5
This is the rug I'd put down first in almost any mudroom. It's braided cotton in a mix of beige, tan and deep brown, so dried mud and salt blend into the weave instead of sitting on top. At 3 by 5 feet it covers the spot where everyone stands to kick off shoes. The rubber back holds on wood and vinyl, and when it gets grim you shake it out or run it through a gentle cold wash. Two things to know. Cotton can shrink a little in the wash, so skip the dryer. And the edges are a touch thicker than the middle, which can catch a door with very little clearance.
SAFAVIEH Braided Indoor/Outdoor Rug, 3x5
The classic mudroom rug is a braided one, and Safavieh's is the version that survives real use. It's hand-braided polypropylene in rust and mixed colors, with a quarter-inch pile, so water sits on the surface and dries fast instead of soaking in. It can live just inside the back door or out on a covered porch. It's machine washable, but a 3x5 wants a big front-load machine, so a laundromat run once a season is the honest plan. Add a pad under it on tile.
GORILLA GRIP SoakSTOPPER Mud Mat, 48x30
If the mud in your house comes in on four legs, get this one. Thick chenille fingers soak up water and wipe paws as the dog walks across, and the 48 by 30 inch size gives a big dog two or three steps on it, which is where the cleaning happens. The charcoal color forgives a lot. The catch is the pile: it's plush, so it lives in front of the door, not where the door swings. Machine wash it often and it keeps working.
Lahome Oriental Washable Runner, 2x8
Many mudrooms are really a hallway: a strip between the garage door and the kitchen. For that, a 2x8 runner beats a 3x5, and this one looks like a faded vintage rug from a flea market. The faded pattern is the trick, because a little dirt just looks like more age. It's ultra thin with a TPE rubber back, so it won't trip anyone carrying groceries, and it's light enough to stuff in a home washer. Want it in a calmer color? The Lahome line comes in blues and greys too.
Nourison Home Horizon Indoor/Outdoor Rug, 3x5
Love the look of sisal but not the way it stains? This is the stand-in. It's a natural beige chevron with a subtle high-low pile, made mostly of polypropylene, so it reads like woven fiber and cleans like plastic. Wipe it, vacuum it, or take it outside and hose it down. It's thin and has no grip of its own, so plan on a rug pad. For about $30 it's the one I'd get for a light, coastal or farmhouse entry.
SAFAVIEH Courtyard Herringbone Rug, 2'7" x 5'
The cheapest good rug here. Dark green and beige in a tight herringbone, power-loomed polypropylene, quarter-inch pile. It's made for patios, which is exactly why it works by a back door: rain drains through, it dries flat, and mud rinses off with a hose. The size is really 2'7" by 5', a bit narrower than a true 3x5, so measure if you're covering a wide door. Next to the Nourison at #5 it's the darker, harder-wearing choice.
Waterproof Loop Pile Runner Rug, 2x8
Most washable rugs let water through to the floor underneath. This runner doesn't. The surface is a dense loop pile in black and grey melange, and the back is waterproof with a silicone grip, so a puddle from wet boots stays on top until you wipe it. At 0.32 inches it clears most doors. Dogs like it too, since the loops give their paws traction on slick floors. It's polyester, plain to look at, and machine washable.
nuLOOM SpinClean Brielle Washable Rug, 3x5
When the mudroom opens right into the kitchen or the living room, you might want something that looks like a real rug. The Brielle is a faded grey and ivory oriental with a low pile and a non-slip back, from nuLOOM's machine washable line. Gentle cycle, cold water, hang it to dry. Ivory shows mud faster than brown, so this is for a cleaner entry or a house that takes shoes off at the door. It's the priciest pick, and the prettiest.
IOHOUZE Woven Washable Rug, 2x3
Not every mudroom is a room. If yours is two feet of floor by the side door, a 2x3 is the right size, and this woven cotton blend one looks better than a doormat inside. It's 0.16 inches thick with a rubber back and a slightly raised edge, so check that your door clears about half an inch. Machine wash it and expect a little shrinkage. Want more cover? Pair it with the runner at #4 down the hall.
What to look for in a mudroom rug
The best mudroom rugs share four traits:
- Flat or low pile. Under a quarter inch is ideal. Dirt sits on top where you can shake it off, the rug dries fast, and nobody trips over it with their arms full.
- A busy, darker pattern. Braids, stripes, herringbone and faded vintage prints hide mud and salt between washes. Solid cream is the giveaway of a rug that lives in a catalog.
- Washable or hose-able. Cotton and polyester go in the machine. Polypropylene rinses outside. Wool and jute stain and stay damp, so skip them here.
- A back that grips. Rubber, TPE or silicone, or a pad under it. Mudroom floors are tile, vinyl or slate, and those are the slipperiest.
Best washable mudroom rugs
If the rug is going to see real mud, washable is non-negotiable. The KOZYFLY at #1, the Lahome runner and the IOHOUZE 2x3 all fit a regular home washer. The Gorilla Grip mud mat does too, and it's the one you'll wash most. For more washable patterns and bigger sizes, see my affordable washable rugs.
Mudroom runners for a long entry
A runner is the right shape when the mudroom is a passage, like a garage entry, a laundry corridor or a back hall. Pick a length that leaves 6 to 12 inches of floor at each end, and keep it thin so a door or a cart can roll over it. The Lahome is the prettier one; the waterproof runner at #7 is the one that protects a wood floor. If your mudroom has steps up into the house, my stair runner picks carry the same idea up the stairs.
Indoor/outdoor rugs for the back door
Polypropylene indoor/outdoor rugs are the toughest choice for a mudroom that takes the worst of winter. They don't hold water, they don't mind salt, and a hose cleans them. The Safavieh Courtyard is the cheapest at about $23, the Nourison Horizon looks like sisal, and the Safavieh Braided gives you the farmhouse braid. All three like a rug pad indoors.
Mudroom rugs for dogs
A dog needs absorbency more than looks. Thick chenille like the SoakSTOPPER pulls water out of fur and paws as they walk. Put it right inside the door, then a flat rug or runner after it, so the second rug only sees what's left. If your dog slides on hard floors, the loop pile waterproof runner gives it grip.
What size rug for a mudroom?
A 3x5 is the most useful size: it covers the door and the spot where you stand to take off shoes. In a narrow entry, a 2x3 or a 2x5 fits without running into the bench or the boot tray. In a hall-shaped mudroom, a 2x6 or 2x8 runner is better than any rectangle. Leave a few inches of floor between the rug and the walls or cabinets so it looks placed, not crammed. The rug size calculator helps if you're stuck between two sizes.
How much to spend on a mudroom rug
About $23 to $30 buys a good indoor/outdoor 3x5 or a small 2x3. Around $35 to $40 gets you a washable braided rug, a waterproof runner or a real mud mat for dogs. At $50 to $65 you're paying for a longer runner, a brand-name braid or a vintage look. Past that, you're mostly paying for wool, and wool is the wrong fiber for a mudroom anyway.
How I picked
A mudroom rug comes down to three things: how flat it is, how it cleans, and how it hides dirt between cleanings. Get those right and a $30 rug outlasts a $150 one.
Skip pale solid colors, shag, wool and jute. Skip anything thick near a door that swings in. And if a rug has no backing at all, buy the pad with it.
FAQ
How much should I spend on a mudroom rug?
About $25 to $40 is plenty for most entries. All 9 picks here are under $70, and seven of them are under $50. The two that go over are the Safavieh Braided at about $52 and the nuLOOM Brielle at about $65.
What is the best rug for a mudroom?
A flat, washable rug with a dark or busy pattern and a gripping back. For most homes that's the KOZYFLY braided 3x5. With a dog, add the Gorilla Grip mud mat right inside the door.
What material is best for a mudroom rug?
Polypropylene and polyester for toughness and quick drying, cotton if you want something softer that goes in the washer. Avoid wool, jute and sisal, which hold water and stain.
Should you put a rug in a mudroom?
Yes. A rug catches the grit that scratches floors and the water that makes tile slippery. Without one, the dirt just moves a few feet further into the house. The trick is two layers: a doormat outside, a washable rug inside. For the outside half, see my doormat picks.
What color rug is best for a mudroom?
Mid to dark tones in a pattern: brown, rust, charcoal, navy or dark green, broken up by a braid, a stripe or a faded print. Dried mud is light brown and grey, so a rug with those colors already in it hides the most. Save cream and white for the rooms where shoes are off.
How do you keep a mudroom rug from sliding?
Pick one with a rubber, TPE or silicone back, or put a thin rug pad under it. On tile and vinyl, the pad is worth it even under a rubber back.
The verdict
Start with the KOZYFLY Woven Cotton Entryway Rug at about $38, right where everyone takes their shoes off. Got a dog? Put the GORILLA GRIP SoakSTOPPER Mud Mat in front of it for about $40. Long, narrow mudroom? Swap in the Lahome Oriental Washable Runner at about $50. And for the cheapest rug that still holds up, the SAFAVIEH Courtyard Herringbone Rug is about $23.
Affordable, never cheap-looking, and easy to throw in the wash.
The rug's down. Now make the rest of the entry work.
A mirror, a little light and a place for keys make a small entryway feel finished, and none of it needs a big budget.
See the full gallery: Small Entryway Ideas for Apartments
