Food service matting is often mistaken for that used in an industrial environment, which is why it is often manufactured in custom colors, so it can be easily identified. These mats also often include rubber, an ideal feature for restaurants because rubber often provides more friction than vinyl.

Many food service mats are also perforated so that food drops through the mat, while others have beveled edges, removing what could be a slipping hazard. They also have rigid surfaces for slip resistance and are made of nitrol rubber to repel grease. Others options are grease resistant, which protects the mat from being corroded.

Additional options to food service mats promote safety. Some have suction cup backing to keep it in place, or edging that provides a non-slip surface that also acts as a scraper mat.

Food service matting is traditionally