Choosing the right bath mat size seems straightforward, but getting it wrong can mean inadequate coverage, tripping hazards, or a mat that overwhelms your space. The perfect bath mat should provide complete protection where you need it while complementing your bathroom's proportions. This practical guide walks you through measuring your space, understanding standard sizes, and selecting the ideal bath mat dimensions for your specific bathroom layout.
Why Size Matters
Before diving into measurements, consider why size selection is important. A bath mat that's too small fails to catch all the water from a typical post-shower dry-off, leaving your floor wet and potentially slippery. You might find yourself stepping off the mat onto wet tilesâexactly the situation a bath mat should prevent.
Conversely, an oversized mat creates its own problems. It may interfere with door swings, crowd the space around the toilet, or create bunching and tripping hazards. An overly large mat in a small bathroom can also make the space feel cramped and cluttered.
The ideal mat covers the primary stepping area completely while leaving appropriate clearance around other fixtures and maintaining good visual proportion with your bathroom's overall size.
Your bath mat should be large enough that both feet land fully on it when stepping out of the shower or bath, but not so large that it interferes with other bathroom functions or movement.
Standard Bath Mat Sizes
Bath mats in Australia typically come in several standard sizes. Understanding these helps you narrow your options before measuring:
Small (40 x 60cm approximately)
Small mats suit compact bathrooms, powder rooms, or as secondary mats near sinks. They're adequate for stepping out of smaller shower stalls but may feel cramped outside a full bathtub. Small mats work well as accent pieces or in bathrooms where space is extremely limited.
Medium (50 x 80cm approximately)
This is the most popular size and suits the majority of Australian bathrooms. Medium mats provide comfortable coverage for stepping out of standard showers and bathtubs. They fit well in front of most vanities and leave adequate clearance in average-sized bathrooms.
Large (60 x 90cm and above)
Large mats are ideal for spacious bathrooms, generous ensuites, or situations where extended coverage is desired. They're excellent for large walk-in showers, double shower heads, or bathtubs where you might step out from different positions. Large mats make a statement but require adequate floor space.
Runner (120 x 45cm and similar)
Runner-style mats are long and narrow, designed for placement along double vanities or extended shower areas. They're also useful for covering the length of a bathtub or providing a path from shower to vanity. Runners can look elegant but require the right layout to suit.
Contoured and Specialty Shapes
Some mats come in contoured shapes designed to fit around toilet bases or curved bathtub edges. These maximize coverage in specific configurations. Circular and oval mats suit round vanity bowls or add visual interest in contemporary bathrooms.
Sizes vary between brandsâwhat one manufacturer calls "medium" might be another's "large." Always check specific dimensions before purchasing, don't rely on size labels alone.
Measuring Your Bathroom
With standard sizes in mind, it's time to measure your specific space. You'll need a tape measure and possibly a notepad to record measurements.
The Primary Stepping Area
Stand at the point where you exit your shower or bathtub. Note where both feet land during a normal step-out. This is your minimum coverage areaâyour mat must fully cover this space. Add a few centimetres around this footprint for a comfortable margin.
Consider how you dry off. Do you stand still, or do you shift your feet? If you typically take a step or two while towelling, your mat needs to accommodate this movement.
Checking for Obstacles
Identify anything that might interact with your bath mat:
- Door swings: Will the bathroom door or shower door swing over the mat area? If so, ensure the mat is thin enough not to interfere, or position it to avoid the door's path
- Cabinet doors and drawers: Can vanity doors and drawers open fully without catching on the mat?
- Toilet clearance: Is there adequate space between the mat and toilet for comfortable use and cleaning?
- Floor vents: Will the mat block any heating or cooling vents?
Recording Your Available Space
Measure the maximum dimensions available in your target area. Note the distance from the shower/tub edge to any obstacles like the toilet, vanity, or walls. This tells you the largest mat that will fit without causing problems.
For example, if you have 85cm from your tub edge to your toilet, a 90cm-long mat won't workâyou'll need something no larger than 80cm to allow a small gap for cleaning and aesthetics.
Selecting the Right Size
With your measurements in hand, you can now select an appropriate size. Consider these guidelines:
For Standard Showers
Most standalone shower stalls pair well with medium-sized mats (50 x 80cm range). The mat should extend far enough from the shower opening that you can take a step onto it, and wide enough to accommodate normal foot positioning.
For Bathtubs
Bathtubs often warrant larger mats because you might exit from different positions along the tub's length. A large mat (60 x 90cm or larger) provides flexibility. For very long bathtubs, consider a runner that spans most of the tub's length.
For Walk-In Showers
Large walk-in showers often have no curb or threshold, meaning water can spread further. Large mats or even multiple mats may be appropriate. Consider where water typically flows and ensure coverage extends to catch it.
For Double Vanities
Runner mats work excellently along double vanities, providing coverage for both sink areas. Alternatively, two smaller mats placed at each sink can look tidy while allowing individual adjustment.
Proportion and Aesthetics
Beyond pure functionality, visual proportion matters. A bath mat that functions well but looks awkwardly sized detracts from your bathroom's appearance.
Room Size Guidelines
In very small bathrooms (under 4 square metres), stick with small to medium mats to avoid overwhelming the space. Medium-sized bathrooms (4-7 square metres) can accommodate medium to large mats depending on layout. Generous bathrooms (over 7 square metres) can support large mats or even multiple mats without looking crowded.
Visual Balance
The mat should look intentional, not lost in the space or jammed in. Leave visible floor space around the matâ5-10cm clearance from walls and fixtures typically looks most balanced. If your mat touches walls or bunches against fixtures, it's probably too large for the space.
Coordinating Multiple Mats
Some bathrooms benefit from multiple matsâone at the shower/tub and another at the vanity, for example. If using multiple mats, they should either match exactly or be intentionally different (coordinating colours in different sizes). Slightly different shades of the "same" colour look like a mistake rather than a design choice.
If you're unsure about size, lay towels or newspaper on your bathroom floor in the dimensions you're considering. Step back and evaluate how the "mat" looks in the space before purchasing.
Special Considerations
Households with Children
Children tend to splash and drip more water across a wider area. Consider sizing up from what you might choose for an adult-only household. Also ensure mat edges don't create tripping hazards for small feet.
Households with Seniors
For elderly users, generous coverage reduces the risk of stepping onto slippery tiles. However, ensure the mat lies completely flat without any turned-up edges that could catch shuffling feet. A larger, low-profile mat is safer than a smaller, plush one.
Rental Properties
If you're renting, you can't modify the bathroom but can optimise mat selection. Measure carefully to work with the existing layout, and choose mats that won't leave marks on floors or block fixtures.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right bath mat size requires balancing coverage needs, space constraints, and aesthetics. Take time to measure properly, understand your household's usage patterns, and consider how the mat will look in your bathroom's overall design.
When in doubt, slightly larger is usually better than slightly smallerâyou can always position a larger mat to suit, but a too-small mat can't be stretched to provide adequate coverage. Just ensure you're not so large that you create new problems with door swings, cleaning access, or visual crowding.
Armed with proper measurements and an understanding of standard sizes, you can confidently select a bath mat that provides excellent coverage, enhances safety, and complements your bathroom beautifully.