What is the difference between floor mats and floor liners?

You might think that these products are one and the same. They both sit on the floor of your vehicle’s interior with the goal of protecting it from the elements. While they may look somewhat similar by design, they actually are quite different and depending on your choice, can go a long way to ensuring your interior looks great for a long time to come.

Floor Mats: Pros and Cons

Auto floor mats, similar to floor liners, will keep snow, water and salt from damaging your vehicle’s interior. Floor mats can certainly get the job done—if you choose the right one. Buying a universal floor mat from a department store is not going to do it by a long shot; and can lead to several problems. One problem with buying a department store brand—they tend to shift underfoot; meaning that the protection of your vehicle’s floor is compromised. They can also bubble and shift to the point of causing pedal blockage.

That being said, buying a quality brand floor mat like the U-Guard 3D MAXpider Universal Floor Mat is an economical way to provide protection from the elements. Not only are they affordable, they have a Velcro anti-slip layer that adheres to the fabric of your vehicle’s interior.

What to look for when buying a floor mat

Get the best fitting mat you can find—and as we previously mentioned, make sure it can be securely attached to the vehicle’s floor. If buying a universal mat, try to find a one made of thicker (so that it can hold more dirt and water) and easy to clean material. The thinner the mat, the less likely it will stand the test of time.

Floor Liners: Pros and Cons

Floor Liners take protecting your interior to a whole new level. Liners have high lips to contain liquid and debris. Liners like the WeatherTech Digitalfit Floor Liner are custom-fitted to your make and model, ensuring the highest level of protection.

Floor liners are typically more expensive than floor mats, which may be seen as a drawback—but when you see the protection that a custom-fitted floor liner can provide your car truck or SUV, you’ll be glad you made the investment.

What to look for when buying floor liners

When you’re purchasing floor liners for your vehicle, choose one that has been designed to fit your vehicle like a glove. Technology has come a long way; companies like WeatherTech use digital lasers to get an exact measurement of each and every vehicle that they produce liners for, and that means maximum protection.

Also consider where you live and the line of work you’re in. In balmy Vancouver you may only need a set of high quality floor mats—in Quebec you may need the toughest floor liner available to protect your interior from winter’s worst storms . Working on a farm may put you in need of the deep ridges and reservoirs offered by floor liners, if you work in an office in the city, custom-fitted floor mats may be all you need. It’s really about matching your needs with the performance of the product.

A quick run-down of top brands: U-Guard, WeatherTech and Husky

U-Guard 3D MAXpider Floor Liner

Key Features:

• Custom fitted for your make and model
• Made from environmentally-friendly material
• Velcro anti-skid bottom layer to prevent sliding and pedal blockage

U-Guard 3D Maxpider Floor Mat in Black:

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U-Guard 3D Maxpider Floor Mat in Grey:

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WeatherTech Digitalfit Floor Liner

Key Features:

• Vehicles measured using digital lasers to ensure a consistently perfect fit
• Incorporate carefully placed channels to carry fluids and debris away from the driver
• Strong carpet adherence

WeatherTech FloorLiner™ DigitalFit® - Black:

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WeatherTech FloorLiner™ DigitalFit® - Gray:

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Husky WeatherBeater Floor Liners

Key Features:

• Laser cut technology used to ensure a perfect fit
• Crafted from an all-season rubberized thermo-plastic material
• Lifetime warranty against cracking or breaking

Husky Liners WeatherBeater - Black:

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Husky Liners WeatherBeater - Gray:

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Husky Liners WeatherBeater - Tan:

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