The 6 Best-Tested Heated Outdoor Mats To Melt Snow & Ice 2024

By Morgan Chaney

Updated on Oct. 15, 2024

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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Few things are worse than having snow sliding off your roof and onto your head. Luckily, H&G Lifestyles Snow Melting Roof Mats are the perfect solution to ensure the snow melts before it has the chance to ruin your day. These mats are equipped with self-regulating heating elements, which means they automatically adjust their temperature based on the surrounding conditions, saving energy and minimizing the risk of damage to your roof and gutters.

Another bonus: You don’t have to break out the snowblower or ladder to clear your roof. Unfortunately, we’ve only seen a small snow flurry in my area, so I haven’t been able to see the true power of these mats. I might send these to my sister in Colorado and have her update how they worked after a true snowstorm.

Pros

Cons

Pricey if you’re looking to cover your full roof

Heated mats typically warm up quickly and maintain a consistent temperature using 90 to 190 watts of power, reaching over 40 degrees above ambient air. Many mats operate around 40 watts per square foot, making them effective for melting snow and ice on rooftops, walkways and driveways.

Outdoor heated mats are built for tough winters, harsh weather and heavy-duty use year after year. Many are crafted from weather-resistant materials like rubber, PVC or thermoplastic, designed to withstand freezing temperatures and heavy foot traffic. This durability allows the mats to be left out throughout winter and used continuously if needed.

Heated outdoor mats use just 90 to 190 watts, making them far more energy-efficient than space heaters, which use thousands of watts. Running a heated mat costs around $0.15 per hour, while space heaters can cost up to $3.60 per hour. To maximize efficiency, install thermostats or timers or choose mats with automatic shutoff features, ensuring they only operate when needed.

The size of an outdoor heated mat significantly impacts its effectiveness in melting ice or removing snow. Smaller mats work well under door mats, front porches or small walkways. However, larger systems can be linked to cover long driveways or rooftops, making them versatile for various needs.

Many outdoor heated mats are easy to install by placing them where needed and plugging them in. However, linking multiple mats can be more complex and require professional help, such as an electrician, to ensure proper installation and optimal performance.

If you hate shoveling snow or have physical limitations that make it difficult, snow-melting mats are a valuable investment. These mats not only prevent slips and falls on icy surfaces, but many also feature rough or non-slip surfaces, automatic shutoff functions and waterproof designs to ensure reliable operation and prevent malfunctions.

Heated mats typically cost between $50 and $350, depending on size, material and heating power. Larger mats naturally come at a higher cost. While using them continuously on high power may slightly affect your energy bill, they are generally more cost-effective than other heating methods.

Many outdoor heated mats also come with limited or lifetime warranties, offering coverage for minor repairs or full replacements in case of malfunction or damage.

For those looking to prevent icy buildup without manual effort, heated mats can be synchronized with other snow removal systems or smart home setups. Smart homes can automate outlets to power the mats at specific times, like overnight or early morning, ensuring driveways and walkways are clear of ice when needed.

Alternatively, many high-end mats come with built-in timers, allowing users to set them to operate for a specific period instead of running continuously, further enhancing energy efficiency.

As a long-time homeowner and designated clutz of the friend group, I’ve tried everything to avoid letting my Ring camera catch another embarrassing incident of me slipping down the stairs. While I live in North Carolina now, I was born and raised in Missouri, where we get an average of 16 inches of snow, and I’ve lived through at least two “snowpocalypse” events and more deep freezes than I can count. I’m always looking for ways to keep my house safe in bad weather, and searching for the best product (and deals) is my favorite pastime.

We consulted Jonathan Ames, lead landscape designer and snow-clearing expert at BACQYARD. Ames specializes in heated outdoor mats for winter safety. With over a decade of experience, he expertly integrates these mats into landscape designs for efficient snow and ice management, ensuring outdoor spaces remain usable and safe year-round.

Alexandra Mantella, Content Updates Editor at Family Handyman, updated and contributed research to this piece. She has over five years of experience in product testing, research and commerce writing. Previously, she served as a commerce content update editor at Bob Vila.

We started our search for the best heated outdoor mats by researching 12 different top-selling models, and we tested half of those options. That’s right; I used every single one of the heated outdoor mats on this list to tell you how they perform in real-life inclement weather. We judged our picks based on size, how hot each mat gets, ease of use and overall value. This list is comprised of our absolute favorites. Our testing was conducted over two months, leading us to the best heated outdoor mats.

The average heated outdoor mat uses 90 to 190 watts of electricity, depending on size. In some states, this costs about $0.15 per hour.

You can leave outdoor heated mats on for extended periods, especially on concrete or stone surfaces. However, if not needed continuously, turning them off conserves energy and maintains their performance. For indoor use, it’s better to turn them off to protect your flooring.

Heated mats are suitable for stone, cement or flat ground but should not be used on wooden surfaces, as high temperatures may cause burning or scorching.