Coir (said “coy-er”) is the natural fibre found between the hard shell of a coconut and its outer skin. It's what gives traditional doormats their colour, their stiff bristles and their unmistakable texture.
Where coir comes from
Most of the world's coir is produced in India and Sri Lanka, where coconut palms are grown in huge numbers. Once the coconut is harvested, the husk would otherwise be waste. Instead, it's soaked to loosen the fibres, which are then separated, cleaned, dried and spun. Doormats use the coarse brown fibre from mature coconuts, which is the strongest kind.
Why coir makes such good doormats
- It scrapes. Coir fibres are stiff and springy, so they brush mud and grit off the soles of shoes instead of just smearing it around.
- It's hard-wearing. Coir is rich in lignin, the same substance that makes wood strong, so it stands up to plenty of boots.
- It likes to stay dry. As a natural fibre, coir swells, sheds and breaks down if it's left in the rain or standing water, so a coir mat is at its best indoors or in a covered porch.
- It's natural. It's a by-product of coconut farming and the fibre itself is biodegradable.
- It takes a design well. The dense, even pile holds printed lettering crisply, which is why personalised doormats are almost always coir.
Coir vs rubber vs synthetic mats
Rubber mats are hard-wearing but don't scrape as well and can look utilitarian. Synthetic fibre mats are soft and absorbent but don't scrape shoes clean. For a mat just inside your front door or in a covered porch that actually cleans shoes and looks the part, coir is still the best material there is.
Our coir doormats
Every mat we make is 60 × 40 cm, coir coconut fibre, with a non-slip black PVC backing so it doesn't slide about. Learn how to keep it clean, or design yours now.