Winter brings snow and it can become a challenge to keep your walkways clear and safe. Snow accumulation can transform doorsteps and driveways into hazardous zones, leading to dangerous slips and falls.
Shoveling snow is a back-breaking task most of us should avoid. Enter snow-melting mats. These melting mats offer a hassle-free way to melt snow quickly, making sure your pathways are safe and accessible.
As their popularity grows, choosing the right one becomes crucial. Being a Canadian, I have curated a list of the best snow melting mats I have seen first hand at my house, friends and relatives homes, and also commercial locations! Lets take a look at the best snow melting mats below.
1. HeatTrak Heated Snow Melting Walkway Mat
HeatTrak is known to manufacture some of the best snow melting mats, and this HeatTrak Walkway Mat has everything you are looking for. The most important thing to look for in a snow mat is to make sure that it is non-slippery and this one checks the list for that.
It can independently be connected to walkways and stairways of your residence, and its customized thermoplastic material makes it fair well in terms of durability. However, there is one heads up for you and that is, it requires 120-volt power unit to operate. I recommend an exterior weatherproof outlet cover when plugging in these mats.
Key Features
- Melts up to 2-inches snow per hour
- Measurement of 20×60 inches making it ideal for residential use
- Made using customized thermoplastic material
- Power Cord sold separately – find here
2. Cozy Products ICE-SNOW Ice-Away Heated Snow Melting Mat
This Cozy ICE-SNOW melting mat is another amazing solution for you to combat bundles of snow outside your house. It can ideally be placed outside all winters long for you to enjoy winters with comfort. This is a melting mat that competes to be the best snow melting mat on the market. It is a convenient size and it has a sturdy design with long-lasting rubber materials. In terms of build quality, this mat is completely waterproof, and it is designed for heavy-duty usage so you can use it worry-free throughout the season. By purchasing this mat, you can bid farewell to the constant stress of shoveling and salting in front of your door, each mat will always keep your surroundings snow-free.
Key Features
- 35 x 33 x 0.5 inches dimensions.
- Highly durable and designed with reinforced rubber.
- Perfect to avoid slipping hazards due to non-slip design.
3. RHS Snow Melting Mat
I have been recommending the RHS Snow Melting Mats for years.
Having used the RHS mat through a harsh winter, the peace of mind that comes with one of these high-quality mats is amazing. Whenever snow begins to fall, it works to keep my walkways safe and free from snow/ice buildup, melting up to two inches per hour.
The herringbone design not only looks nice to the eye, it also adds a layer of slip resistance when walking on it.
Pros
- Creates a reliably ice-free surface
- Eco-friendly alternative to chemical melters
- Attractive herringbone design enhances safety
Cons
- May trip old electrical breakers
- Durability may be a concern over multiple seasons
- The cord’s connection to the mat is known to wear over long use
4. Toriexon Heated Walkway Mat
I believe this Toriexon mat is a solid choice for keeping walkways clear of snow due to its high-quality materials and design.
Walking out to a snow-free path, we realize how convenient life is with the Toriexon snow melting mat laid out. The 30 by 48 inches of high-quality rubber material effortlessly takes care of the overnight snowfall, making our morning routine hassle-free. After experiencing the mat’s performance firsthand, it’s apparent that the melting rate is ideal for lighter snow, clearing up the path in no time.
However, during a particularly heavy snowstorm, the mat didn’t perform as well as I hoped. It managed lighter layers well enough, but struggled to keep up with the heavy, wet snow that piled up quickly. This limitation is something to bear in mind, especially if you live in an area known for such conditions.
Pros
- Efficient snow melting rate for light snowfall
- Easy to roll up and store when not in use
- Possibility to link multiple mats to cover larger areas
Cons
- May struggle with heavy, wet snow
- Odor upon unpacking which requires outdoor airing
- No built-in method to secure the mat to the ground
5. Riakrum Heated Snow Melting Mats
I think the Riakrum snow melting mats are a reliable choice for maintaining clear and safe walkways to and from your house during the winter months.
After receiving the Riakrum mats, their setup was a breeze, honestly. Rolling them out over my icy walkway, their size made a significant coverage. They plugged right into our 110-volt socket, and the rest was taken care of, removing the hassle of manual snow clearing!
Pros
- Effortless installation with plug-and-play simplicity
- Multipurpose utility for various outdoor areas
- Effective at preventing snow accumulation with a fast melt rate
Cons
- The surface could benefit from improved traction
- Occasional tripping of GFI outlets reported
- Potential issues with water ingress
6. SnowMeltz 25 Square Foot Heated Driveway
Snowmeltz 25 is also ideal snow melting mat for not only the driveway but also asphalt, concrete, and pavers. What’s truly unique about this snow melting mat is that it comes along with a jumper kit, and it covers 25 square feet. If installed correctly and professionally these style mats are known to be the best snow melting mats for longevity. You can easily roll this mat out and configure it in numerous different shapes. Moreover, it also sports an automatic activator that can sense temperature and moisture and goes up to 30 amps.
But keep in mind this is no ordinary outdoor melting mat, this must be installed in concrete, asphalt, or underneath pavers, yes you heard that correctly. This is a radiant in-ground heating mat that heats from under your top surface. It is much harder to set up compared to other above-ground mats on this list. I recommend a professional to provide a guide on how to set up properly or hire them to do the job, this depends on your handyman skills.
Key Features
- Complies all the safety standards as it is ETL Listed
- Operational power of 37 watts/sqft
- Easy to configure and roll out, but difficult to install in unexperienced
7. HeatTrak Residential Snow-Melting Stair Mat
HeatTrak is back on the list with another amazing HeatTrak Residential Snow Melting Stair Mat. Although it is particularly designed for stairs, it can still be interconnected to other walkway mats. The material used to build this mat is thermoplastic so it can hold the ground in terms of durability as well. You can expect this mat to melt around 2 inches of snow per hour, and you can leave it outside throughout winters without any worries. Similar to the other snow melting mat, this one also requires 120-volt power that is sold separately.
Key Features
- Measurement of 10 x 48 inches making it ideal especially for the stairs
- Quickly melts snow at a speed of up to 2 inches per hour
- Durable design that enables you to leave it outside throughout the winter
8. Summerstep Snow Melting Heated Door Mat
Just as the name of this snow melting mat suggests, it can make the outdoor area of your house look like its summertime. The Summerstep snow melting doormat comes in a rectangular shape 2×3 feet and rocks a durable rubber exterior. The dark black color of this mat gives your outdoor area a sophisticated look. In terms of height, it measures up to around 0.35 inches. The tacky and anti-slip rubber is perfect to prevent people for slipping and falling.
Key Features
- Dimensions of 2×3 ft
- Connectable with other snow melting mats around the house
- Durable rubber exterior ideal for long-term use
9. Summerstep Home Snow Melting 5’x2′ Heated Walkway Mat
Last on our list is the Summerstep Home Snow Melting Mat. With this mat, you can make it through the snowy weather in a breeze and keep the surrounding environment clean throughout the season. This snow mat is ideal to help in keeping your path safe and clear and what’s more is that its 5 feet length and 2 feet wide. This makes it one of the largest mats on this list. In terms of thickness, this mat stands at around 0.35 inches. All in all, if you want to go for a choice that you cannot go wrong with, then this mat is going to perfectly align with your requirements.
Many users purchase this mat for a large front and/or back entrance, many use them on wheelchair ramps for easy access in and out of a property.
Key Features
- 5 feet long and 2 feet wide
- Anti-slip and durable rubber build for long-term use
- Requires 120volt power to operate
Why Use Heated Snow-Melting Mats?
Of course, these mats are used to prevent slippery walkways for people to walk in and ot of their homes, sheds, detached garages, and many other possible locations. These mats can be used in the most creative ways, the reason I have knowledge about them is that during the winter my family enjoyed using the hot tub, but after 20 plus cm of snow it made it difficult to make our way 10 feet out the door. I found these connectable heated mats online and ordered them as a family gift. We plug them in and made a quick snow-free path to our hot tub. It makes the winter outdoor experience so much easier.
After learning about them I had decided to get my grandparents some for their front walkway and backyard walkway, this would help them to their vehicle much easier and safer. I know to shovel and throwing salts to melt snow and ice can be a hard job, this product really makes winter easier for them.
Lastly, I researched these products online to find the best snow melting mats to make a list for people to find exactly what I was once searching for. I have read real owners saying they purchased these mats for their elderly dogs for easy access up and downstairs. There are so many reasons to buy these snow-melting mats, I know they can be expensive but they are totally worth it in so many ways.
Final Thoughts
Even those who love snow dread the idea of winters. The reason behind that is the majority of their time goes into shoveling and cleaning their outdoor area. It can without a doubt be a huge hassle and require a great deal of effort. One small investment can not only help you stay relaxed throughout the season but also, enable you to make sure that you and your loved ones stay safe. Choosing the best snow melting mats can provide you with an efficient solution to clean bundles of snow that accumulates outside your house.
This is why, we hope after going through our list of snow and ice melting outdoor mats, you will be able to find the option to suit your needs so you can enjoy your winters without any worries. Each one of these mats has its own list of pros and cons but with a little research, you can find what you’re looking for.
Jamie is the founder of The Backyard Pros. When he was 15 years old he started working at a garden centre helping people buy plants, gardening products, and lawn care products. He has real estate experience and he is a home owner. Jamie loves backyard projects, refinishing furniture, and enjoys sharing his knowledge online.
A note to be aware of: we purchased a heated driveway mat from Amazon a couple of months ago and just opened it now because it just snowed. It never occurred to us that it would not come with anything to plug into the house outlet and it’s difficult to figure out what plug will fit because it doesn’t have a brand name. We now ordered a different size one that the picture shows with a plug and cord and are hoping the two mats will connect.
That’s good to know, thanks for sharing!