Snow and ice accumulation outside your house isn't just inconvenient—it's dangerous. The best heated outdoor mats will help you melt away risks.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
Historic winter storms have left neighborhoods buried in snow, lakefront homes encased in ice and motorists stranded for hours. Even a slight dusting of snow on a sidewalk can quickly turn slick, creating a real danger of slipping and falling. It’s a concern for everyone, but especially for older individuals, people with mobility issues, wobbly little kids and pets. In your arsenal of snow removal tools, here’s a secret weapon to consider: Heated outdoor mats.
These mats cover a surface—whether it’s a driveway, sidewalk or other walkway—and generate enough heat to melt ice and snow. They come in different sizes, and some are even made for stairs. While you still might want to break out the snowblower to move large areas of snow, heated snow mats are a genius snow and ice removal hack that doesn’t involve any shoveling. A genius idea, right?
“Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths among older Americans. Hazardous conditions caused by snow and ice contribute to these incidents,” says Jonathan Ames, Lead Landscape Designer and snow-clearing expert at BACQYARD. “Heated mats are effective in melting snow before it turns into ice, which helps reduce the risk. Safety organizations report that over one million slips and falls occur each year in the United States, emphasizing the importance of prevention.”
Here’s a look at some of the best heated outdoor mats for every kind of use outside your home.
During my testing of the best heated outdoor mats, I appreciated the plug-and-go simplicity of the Cozy Products Ice Away Snow Melt Mat. The indoor/outdoor mat is the perfect size to keep your home and entryways free from snow and ice. Made with heavy-duty materials and a strong grip, this mat is both non-slip and has the perfect texture to get all the snow off your boots before walking in the house.
It’s the perfect spot for kids to quickly warm their feet after sledding or building a snowman, or for adults like me, to warm their feet after early morning walks with the dog. Speaking of animals, my dog Brodie has now claimed this mat as his new favorite spot to lay in the winter. After using it for a few weeks, I love the flexibility to prevent snow on my porch, or bringing it inside to have a place to warm my cold feet after a long day at work.
For price to quality ratio, this is a solid winner. When it comes to mistakes to avoid when removing snow, you won’t have to think twice about this pick. The no-maintenance design is durable and features anti-slip rubber for secure footing.
Pros
Cons
Can’t connect to other mats
We consider the Toriexon Snow Melting Mat a solid starter pick—a relatively modest investment that can help you decide whether a heated snow mat is the right choice to add to your home heating system. This simple plug-in model can connect multiple mats to create a customized snow-melting system. It’s made from non-slip rubber and melts up to 2 inches of snow per hour.
This mat was a close runner-up for our best overall pick. It’s a fantastic budget-friendly option that gets hot quickly and connects to other Toriexon mats. If I had a longer pathway to cover, this would be my go-to. I love that it has a lower profile than some of the other mats, but still ensures non-slip features and a lot of heat to keep your spaces clear of snow and ice.
Pros
Cons
No grommets to secure the mat
From trusted outdoor heated mat brand HeatTrak, the HeatTrak Snow-Melting Stair Mat is designed for residential use and specially sized for stairs. It’s made of heavy-duty slip-proof thermoplastic so you won’t stumble (even if you’re rocking the best snow boots). It also comes with grommets for the option to tie it down. The power unit, which is sold separately, powers up to five connected mats.
This mat feels very heavy-duty and is lighter than other stair options I tested. Unfortunately, the power unit is sold separately so I wasn’t able to test the heating component yet. The sizing fit my stairs perfectly, so I’m patiently waiting for Amazon to make another visit to my home.
Pros
Cons
Power unit sold separately
If you’ve been looking into homesteading, but only have a balcony porch to work with, look no further than the Dirt Genius Hydrofarm Heat Mat. This heavy-duty mat made of construction-grade materials is the perfect addition to your porch or greenhouse garden. It’s the perfect size to place two standard trays end to end, allowing you to increase the growth success of seedlings and cuttings to keep your plants warm in the chilly months.
As someone looking to start my “gardening era,” I am so excited to report back on this mat in a few months to see if I can (finally) successfully start growing herbs, tomatoes and other vegetables from seed. In the meantime, all my cuttings seem quite happy on their new mat.
Pros
Cons
No off switch or timing element
