Best Dog Food Mat: Five Mats Compared by Size and Edges

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A dog food mat is worth buying for what it catches and how it cleans, so this best dog food mat guide compares five mats on the figures their listings state: size, edge height, waterproof and non-slip wording, and washing. The five are Hoki Found, HICOOI, TCULOSD, Amazon Basics and GORILLA GRIP, the same five in our research file. The listings disagree on size, edge height and wording, so each table below shows the figure next to the listing that gives it. The sources we opened cover food bowls, not mats, so every mat claim here is attributed to the listing that makes it.

Quick answer

• Choose by edge height first. The listings give 0.75 inch for HICOOI, 0.27 inch for TCULOSD and 1/8 inch for GORILLA GRIP. Hoki Found and Amazon Basics describe raised edges without a figure.
• Four of the five listings use the word waterproof, and four describe a slip-resistant surface. TCULOSD uses neither word and describes a high-grip texture instead.
• The largest surface is HICOOI at 36 by 24 inches. Hoki Found and TCULOSD name a dishwasher or washing machine; the other three listings say nothing of the kind.
• The sources we opened say to wash food bowls after each meal with hot, soapy water. They do not cover mats, so no mat here is credited with keeping pests or bacteria away.

What the bowl sources say about washing

A mat sits under the bowl, so the bowl washing rules are the closest guidance available. The American Kennel Club’s bowl article says daily washing is the goal: “Ideally, you should wash your dog’s food and water bowls daily to avoid the accumulation of food residue and biofilm.” It adds that “it’s best to wash your dog’s bowl after each meal with hot soapy water.”

For hand washing, the same article says: “If you hand wash your dog’s bowl, you may want to disinfect the bowl once a week using bleach diluted with water. Let the bowls soak for 10 minutes and rinse thoroughly.” For food that has dried on, it suggests: “If food particles are stuck to the bowl, try soaking it in hot soapy water for 10 to 15 minutes.” For a dishwasher, it says to “make sure the bowl is dishwasher-safe and use a high heat setting to kill bacteria.”

The ASPCA’s general dog care page sets the same habit in one line: “Clean, fresh water should be available at all times, and be sure to wash food and water dishes frequently.”

The most detailed source is a 2022 study in PLOS ONE with authors from North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Its researchers swabbed the food bowls of 68 dogs, belonging to 50 owners, and surveyed the owners. Recruitment came from “local veterinary practices, social media, and university veterinary school staff and faculty,” which points to a convenience sample rather than a random one.

The study reports that “a minority, less than 5%, of respondents” knew that FDA pet food handling guidelines existed. Its table lists “Wash pet food dish with soap and hot water after each use” as an FDA recommendation, and it reports that “12% reported washing their dish at least once daily.”

For the bowls themselves, the authors report “a decrease of 1.5 units on the log scale” in aerobic plate counts after “a hot water wash or dishwasher” compared with “a cold/lukewarm water wash.” The data were examined on a log10 scale, so a drop of 1.5 units means the count falls to 10 to the power of minus 1.5, or about 3 percent of its starting value. The authors conclude that “bacterial contamination is impacted by dish washing protocols.” They also report that “only 8% of Group A and B respondents reported likely to adhere to all of the instructed protocols long-term.” The study measured bowls, not mats.

If your dog eats fast, the fast-eating dog bowls comparison covers bowls for fast eaters. For spills at the water bowl, see the no-spill water bowl guide. Bowls that slow eating are a separate decision, and the dog food bowl that slows eating guide covers that choice.

How we chose

The research file behind this post lists five Amazon listings, one from each brand: Hoki Found, HICOOI, TCULOSD, Amazon Basics and GORILLA GRIP. It was checked on 2026-10-22 and records each listing’s title, bullets and specifications. We did not add or drop products, so the five are the whole comparison.

The file does not record the rest of the search results, so we cannot say how many mats were considered or why others were left out. This guide does not rank the five. It sets out the figures each listing states and leaves the choice to the reader.

Three listings name a manufacturer other than the name in the title: LEVAKO for Hoki Found, YITOUU for HICOOI, and Hills Point Industries, LLC for GORILLA GRIP. We keep the title names and note the difference in the last section.

Each table uses the figure a listing states. Where a listing gives nothing, the table says “not stated”. Areas are calculated as length times width.

Size, area and edge height

Mat	Listed size	Area	Edge height	Product thickness	First available
Hoki Found	19 x 12 inches (bullet)	228 sq in	not stated	not stated	November 9, 2016
HICOOI	36 x 24 inches	864 sq in	0.75 inch	0.75 inch	July 17, 2025
TCULOSD	34 x 22 inches	748 sq in	0.27 inch (bullet)	not stated	October 14, 2025
Amazon Basics	18.5 x 11.5 inches	212.75 sq in	not stated	0.28 inch	November 10, 2018
GORILLA GRIP	18.5 x 11.5 inches	212.75 sq in	1/8 inch (bullet)	0.13 inch	February 10, 2020

Hoki Found’s specifications show package size only (12.83 x 1.89 x 1.65 inches), so its 19 by 12 inch size comes from a bullet. TCULOSD’s specifications also show package size only.

The area formula is length times width. For HICOOI, 36 x 24 = 864 square inches. For the two 18.5 by 11.5 inch mats, 18.5 x 11.5 = 212.75 square inches. In centimetres, the HICOOI mat measures 91.4 by 61.0 cm, TCULOSD 86.4 by 55.9 cm, the two 18.5 by 11.5 inch mats 47.0 by 29.2 cm, and Hoki Found 48.3 by 30.5 cm, each inch figure multiplied by 2.54.

Three calculations follow from the table. HICOOI’s 864 square inches is 4.06 times the 212.75 square inches of the two smaller mats (864 divided by 212.75 = 4.06). The HICOOI edge of 0.75 inch is about 2.8 times the 0.27 inch TCULOSD lip (0.75 divided by 0.27 = 2.78), and about 5.8 times the 0.13 inch thickness of GORILLA GRIP (0.75 divided by 0.13 = 5.77).

TCULOSD’s bullet says its mat is “40% larger than standard mats,” but the listing does not name the standard mat. Length gives 34 divided by 18.5 = 1.84 times the 18.5 inch side, and area gives 748 divided by 212.75 = 3.52 times the area. Neither figure is 1.4, so the 40 percent claim does not match the listed sizes.

Waterproof, non-slip and washing wording

Mat	Waterproof wording	Slip wording	Washing or drying wording	Material wording
Hoki Found	“Waterproof” in the title and a bullet	“Anti-slip, Non skid”	“dishwasher safe”, “dries up quickly”	“Non-Toxic Silicone”, “BPA-free”
HICOOI	“Waterproof” in the title	“Non-Slip” and “grippy surface”	“wipes clean quickly”, “dries quickly”	“food-grade silicone”
TCULOSD	not stated	“high-grip texture” and “stays securely in place”	“can go directly into the washing machine”	“food-grade silicone”
Amazon Basics	“Waterproof” in the title and a bullet	“Anti-slip”	not stated	“silicone” in the title, “rubber-like” in a bullet
GORILLA GRIP	“100 percent waterproof silicone”	“slip resistant topside”	not stated	“food grade”, “BPA free silicone”

These are the listings’ words, not findings. Four of the five listings use the word waterproof: Hoki Found, HICOOI, Amazon Basics and GORILLA GRIP. Four describe a slip-resistant surface, with Hoki Found’s bullets saying “Anti-slip, Non skid” and HICOOI’s saying “Non-Slip”. TCULOSD uses neither word. Its bullets describe a dense, high-grip texture that the listing says “locks firmly onto tile, hardwood, and other floors.” None of the sources we opened covers a mat for waterproofing or grip, so this guide does not confirm either property.

Product picks

Each section below uses the figures in the research file. It gives who the mat suits, one strength, one limit and a skip-if line. Where a figure is missing, the section says so.

Hoki Found flexible silicone mat with a high lip

Hoki Found suits owners who want a flexible mat that the listing describes as “easily taken anywhere for travel.” Its strength is the edge: the bullets say its “Extra High raised outer lip prevents food, water and treats from spilling onto your clean floors.” Its limit is missing measurement. The bullets give a 19 by 12 inch size but no lip height in inches, and the specifications show package dimensions only. The specifications also name LEVAKO as manufacturer, while the title names Hoki Found. Skip it if you need a measured edge height or a mat larger than 19 by 12 inches.

HICOOI 36 by 24 inch mat with raised edges and grooves

HICOOI suits owners who need the largest surface in this group, at 36 by 24 inches. Its strength is the edge. The listing gives 0.75 inch raised edges, and its grooves “guide spilled food and water into the collection area.” Its limit is weight and capacity. The specifications give 2.95 pounds, more than four times the 10.32 ounces listed for GORILLA GRIP, and no capacity figure is given for the grooves. The title says waterproof and the bullets say non-slip, with no further detail for either word. Skip it if you need a mat smaller than 36 by 24 inches.

TCULOSD 34 by 22 inch machine-washable silicone mat

TCULOSD suits owners who want a large silicone mat that the listing says can be washed in a machine: “it can go directly into the washing machine.” The listed size is 34 by 22 inches, with a 0.27 inch raised lip. Its limit is the wording. The bullets do not use the word waterproof, and they describe a high-grip texture rather than a non-slip claim. The “40% larger than standard mats” line does not match the listed sizes, as the size section shows. Skip it if you need the listing itself to say waterproof or non-slip.

Amazon Basics 18.5 by 11.5 inch anti-slip placemat

Amazon Basics suits owners who want one plain, standard-size placemat. The bullets say it “Fits 1 large bowl or 2 small bowls.” Its strength is the surface wording: the bullets describe a “Waterproof design” and an “Anti-slip rubber-like placemat,” and the title also says Waterproof and Non-Slip. Its limit is the material and the edge. The title says silicone, the first bullet says rubber-like, and the bullets give no height for the raised edges. Skip it if you need a raised edge with a stated height. The specifications also say the product “may originate from China or Cambodia.”

GORILLA GRIP 18.5 by 11.5 inch waterproof silicone mat

GORILLA GRIP suits owners who want the same size as Amazon Basics with stated edge and thickness figures: 1/8 inch raised edges and a 0.13 inch product thickness. Its strength is the waterproof wording, since the bullets say the mat is “100 percent waterproof silicone,” and its slip resistant topside has raised dots. Its limits are the award line and the edge. The bullets cite a “2025 Pet Innovation Award” without naming the award body, and the sources we opened do not cover it. The 1/8 inch edge is far lower than HICOOI’s 0.75 inch. Skip it if you need a tall edge to hold wet food or water.

Buying checklist

1. Measure the floor under the bowl first. The listings give no bowl dimensions. Amazon Basics says it “Fits 1 large bowl or 2 small bowls,” and TCULOSD says it “fits 2 large food and water bowls.”
2. Decide the edge height you need before you compare the rest. Only three listings state one: HICOOI at 0.75 inch, TCULOSD at 0.27 inch and GORILLA GRIP at 1/8 inch.
3. Read the title and bullets for the waterproof and non-slip words. Four listings use the waterproof word, and TCULOSD does not.
4. Read the washing line before you plan a dishwasher or washing machine cycle. Hoki Found says “dishwasher safe” and TCULOSD says it can go in the washing machine. The other three listings say neither.
5. Check the material name. Amazon Basics calls its mat silicone in the title and rubber-like in the first bullet.
6. Look over the mat every week for chips, cracks or worn edges. The AKC veterinary expert quoted in its article says to “keep an eye out for chips and cracks in these bowls, because bacteria can hide in the fissures.” That advice is about bowls, but it applies to any mat with grooves or edges.
7. Wash the bowl after each meal with hot soapy water, as the AKC advises, and wash the mat on the same routine if it sits under the bowl.
8. Use bleach only if the mat’s own care label allows it. The AKC weekly bleach soak is written for bowls.

Mistakes to avoid

• Reading a title as a finding. Four listings say waterproof in their own words. The word is the listing’s claim, and the sources we opened do not establish it for a mat.
• Buying TCULOSD for a waterproof or non-slip claim its bullets do not make.
• Assuming a mat keeps pests or bacteria away. The AKC says food residue on a bowl “can attract insects and other pests,” and the 2022 study measured bacteria on bowls. Neither statement says a mat prevents either problem.
• Skipping the washing routine because the mat is silicone. The AKC advises daily washing for bowls, and the 2022 study reports that only 12 percent of its owners washed their dish at least once daily.
• Treating the TCULOSD 40 percent line as a measurement. The listed sizes give 1.84 times the length or 3.52 times the area of the 18.5 by 11.5 inch mats, and neither is 1.4.
• Choosing by the edge alone. HICOOI has the tallest listed edge, but it is also the largest mat, and its listing gives no capacity figure for the grooves.

What we could not verify

• Whether any of the five mats is waterproof or non-slip in use. The words come from the listings, and the sources we opened do not cover mats.
• The TCULOSD heat figure of 450°F (230°C). The bullets cite a laboratory result but name no laboratory.
• The TCULOSD “40% larger than standard mats” line, because the listing does not name the standard mat.
• The “2025 Pet Innovation Award” line on GORILLA GRIP, which names no award body.
• “Non-toxic” and BPA-free wording on Hoki Found and GORILLA GRIP, and “food-grade” wording on HICOOI, TCULOSD and GORILLA GRIP. The sources we opened do not cover silicone pet mats.
• The Hoki Found bullet calling its mat “A thicker brand than similar ones,” because the listing names no comparison set.
• The HICOOI “odor-free” wording.
• The lip height of the Hoki Found mat and the edge height of the Amazon Basics mat, which the listings do not state.
• The product thickness of the Hoki Found and TCULOSD mats, because their specifications give package size only.
• The manufacturer names. The specifications for Hoki Found say LEVAKO, HICOOI says YITOUU, and GORILLA GRIP says Hills Point Industries, LLC. Amazon Basics’ specification says the product “may originate from China or Cambodia.”
• The Amazon Basics material, which is silicone in the title and rubber-like in the first bullet.
• The bowl study’s sample, which recruited owners from local veterinary practices, social media and university veterinary school staff and faculty. It measured bowls, not mats.
• Whether any listed mat fits a particular bowl, since no bowl dimensions are given.

FAQ

Is a dog food mat waterproof?

Four of the five listings say so in their own words, and the listings name silicone or a rubber-like material. This guide treats the word as the listing’s claim. The sources we opened cover food bowls, not mats, so none of them confirms waterproofing for any mat here.

Do the sources show that a food mat keeps bacteria or pests away?

No. The AKC article says that “Food residue on your dog’s bowl can attract insects and other pests.” The 2022 study swabbed bowls for bacteria. Neither statement is about a mat, and this guide does not claim that any mat keeps pests or bacteria away.

How often should I wash a dog food mat?

The sources set no separate schedule for mats. For bowls, the AKC advises washing daily and after each meal with hot soapy water. If the mat sits under the bowl, the bowl routine is the nearest guidance, and the listing’s own care wording comes first.

Is silicone safe for a dog’s food mat?

The listings say so in their own words. Hoki Found and GORILLA GRIP say BPA-free, and HICOOI, TCULOSD and GORILLA GRIP say food-grade. The sources we opened do not cover silicone mats, so this guide does not confirm those claims. A torn or heavily worn mat should be replaced, whatever its material.

Can I put a dog food mat in the dishwasher or washing machine?

Only if the listing says so. Hoki Found’s bullets say “dishwasher safe,” and TCULOSD’s say the mat “can go directly into the washing machine.” The other three listings state neither. For bowls, the AKC says to confirm the bowl is dishwasher-safe and to use “a high heat setting to kill bacteria.”

Which mat fits a large dog’s bowls?

Start with the bowl footprint, because the listings give no bowl dimensions. HICOOI is the largest surface here at 36 by 24 inches, or 864 square inches. TCULOSD is 34 by 22 inches, or 748 square inches, and its bullets say it fits two large food and water bowls. Amazon Basics fits one large or two small bowls, according to its bullets.

Bottom line

Pick the mat by the edge you need first. HICOOI has the tallest listed edge at 0.75 inch, and TCULOSD has a machine-washable listing with a 0.27 inch lip. If the waterproof or non-slip wording decides the purchase, check the listing’s own words, because the sources we opened do not confirm either property for any mat. Wash the bowl after each meal with hot soapy water, and check the mat for cracks.

Sources

• AKC, “How Often Should You Wash Dog Bowls for Food and Water?”, opened 2026-10-22 with curl (HTTP 200): https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/wash-dog-bowl/
• ASPCA, “General Dog Care”, opened 2026-10-22 with curl (HTTP 200): https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
• PLoS One (2022), “Survey evaluation of dog owners’ feeding practices and dog bowls’ hygiene assessment in domestic settings”, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine authors, opened 2026-10-22 with curl from PubMed Central (HTTP 200): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8986020/