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See why.The Best Anti-Fatigue Mats
These mats are designed to provide support for long stints at the sink, stove, or counter. Are their promises too good to be true?
Top Picks
What You Need To Know
We know what it’s like to spend long days on our feet preparing (and cleaning up after) delicious meals. Antifatigue mats promise to keep both casual and avid cooks pain-free, but only a few of them actually work well. Our favorite, the Williams Sonoma WellnessMat, is supportively firm yet plush, providing a solid, comfortable surface for long days in the kitchen. It’s durable and easy to clean, and its beveled edges and effective no-slip backing minimize the risk of tripping or slipping. We also named the ComfiLife Anti Fatigue Floor Mat as our Best Buy. It performs similarly, but its softer foam provides a little less support.
What You Need to Know
Every seasoned cook knows that some of the best recipes can call for hours of standing in the kitchen. The strain from spending those extended cooking shifts on our feet can build over time, heightening our risk of chronic pain, musculoskeletal disorders, and more. Antifatigue mats (or ergonomic mats) are designed to provide a supportive layer between our feet and the floor. According to Dr. Griffin Baum, a neurosurgeon and spine expert at New York City’s Lenox Hill Hospital and an assistant professor at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra University, antifatigue mats can reduce the negative impacts on our joints and spinal column caused by prolonged standing. The mats are also meant to encourage the muscles in our legs and feet to make microadjustments that stimulate blood flow and prevent blood from pooling in the lower body. These movements reduce the risk of leg swelling and cramps as well as more serious conditions such as blood clots.
All the mats we tested measured approximately 2 feet by 3 feet, and each of them was advertised as ¾ inch thick (more on that later). Though we know that every mat we tested was made mostly from polyurethane foam, we weren’t able to get much more information from manufacturers about additional materials. Some mats had textured surfaces, while some were entirely smooth. All had beveled edges and no-slip backings meant to reduce the potential for trips or stumbles, although they varied in effectiveness.
What to Look For
- Relatively Thick, Firm Foam: Every mat we tested was supposedly ¾ inch thick, but when measured their actual thicknesses varied. This difference may not sound like a lot, but it was noticeable. We liked mats that were thick enough to provide substantial support but not so thick that they felt like obstacles; our favorites measured around 0.70 inches thick. We also liked mats made with firm, relatively solid foam. These mats felt more supportive and didn’t “bottom out” (sag and compress so that we could feel...
Everything We Tested
Highly Recommended
- Comfort: 3 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 3 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 3 stars out of 3.
We loved that this mat was very flexible, which allowed it to lie flat instead of buckling or folding under our weight. Its gently sloping beveled edges gave it a low profile and kept us from tripping over it, and its moderate thickness and firm foam provided hours of consistent support. It was also heavier than any other model we tested; this, combined with its strong no-slip backing, ensured that it didn’t budge an inch. We also loved the feel of its smooth surface, which repelled stains and odors more effectively than the other mats we tested. While this mat didn’t feel sticky underfoot, its one weakness was a slight tendency to attract flour and dust, which was easily remedied with a simple sweep or scrub.
- Comfort: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 3 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 3 stars out of 3.
This model excelled in almost every test. We liked that its no-slip backing kept us from sliding around. Its beveled edges sloped gently down to the floor, which prevented us from tripping as we walked over it. We loved how flexible and cushy this mat was, and both traits helped it withstand regular use and additional durability testing. It was also fairly easy to scrub clean, although it did stain when we covered it with turmeric. This mat remained supportive for hours, but it was a touch too soft for some testers.
Recommended
- Comfort: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup: 2 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 2.5 stars out of 3.
This moderately thick mat was both plush and flexible, with a pleasant springiness that kept us comfortable for long periods of standing. It had a no-slip backing that gripped the floor well and prevented the mat from sliding around. Its low profile also successfully kept it flush with the floor, reducing the potential for tripping. Its smooth surface was easy to sweep and scrub clean, though its navy blue exterior did show more stains than other models we tested.
Recommended with reservations
- Comfort: 2 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 2 stars out of 3.
This mat did an impressive job repelling liquid and dry messes, and it didn’t stain as badly as some other models we tested. It also held up to our durability tests fairly well, though it did suffer a few punctures from our meat-tenderizing mallet. While it provided a fairly good level of support, its rigid construction caused it to buckle and its edges to fold up slightly when we stood in the center of the mat. The steep bevel on the edges, combined with the mat’s thickness, made it a tripping hazard for some testers.
- Comfort: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 2 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 2.5 stars out of 3.
We liked that this mat was durable and that its surface held up well to both long-term use and abuse testing. Its beveled edges tapered gradually, so it didn’t feel like a tripping hazard as we walked over it. We liked this mat’s design, one of dozens offered by the brand, but its light color stained badly and the mat retained odors during our cleaning tests. Most important, some testers found that this mat felt a little too thin and flimsy to provide sufficient support for extended periods of time.
Not Recommended
- Comfort: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 1 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 1.5 stars out of 3.
We were impressed by this mat’s fairly firm yet supportive structure, which held up and remained comfortable over time. It repelled stains and debris fairly well and was very easy to scrub clean. We liked that it was a bit longer than the other mats we tested, which allowed us more space at the counter. Its beveled edges kept us from tripping, but its no-slip backing was essentially a failure; the mat slid all over the place. Its surface also got slightly damaged in our durability testing.
- Comfort: 2 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 1 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 1.5 stars out of 3.
This mat felt simultaneously too thick and too soft. While it was initially comfortable, we found that it compressed over time and didn’t provide adequate support. It was also rigid and had a tendency to fold up slightly as we applied pressure. Its no-slip backing was mostly ineffective. The crosshatched pattern and sticky exterior also trapped and accumulated debris, making it hard to clean.
Reviews you can trust
Reviews you can trust
The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing. We stand behind our winners so much that we even put our seal of approval on them.
Chase Brightwell
Chase is an associate editor for ATK Reviews. He's an epidemiologist-turned-equipment tester and biscuit enthusiast.