Printed Car Mats · 6 min read · October 21, 2026
Printed Car Mat Artwork Guide: How to Design a Set That Prints Well
A printed car mat set is four pieces in two shapes, and the artwork has to work on all of them. Here's how accessory brands and dealerships should brief printed car mat artwork: files, layout per piece, the heel pad, edge binding and the proof.
A design that looks great as one rectangle on a screen can fall apart across a car mat set. The front mats are tall and shaped, the rear mats are short and wide, a heel pad sits on the driver's side and a bound edge runs round every piece. Put a logo in the wrong place and it ends up under the driver's heel.
This printed car mat artwork guide is for aftermarket accessory brands, dealerships and promotional buyers. It covers the files to send, how to lay out each piece and what to check on the proof.
The short answer
Good printed car mat artwork starts from the mat shapes, not the design. Send vector logos and high-resolution images, plan a separate layout for the front pair and the rear pair, keep logos clear of the heel pad and edge binding, and approve the free digital proof before production.
Start with the mat shapes
Our universal printed car mats come in two sizes: front mats of 45×70 cm and rear mats of 33×45 cm. Custom-fit sets are cut to a template for a specific vehicle, so the outline changes with the model. Decide which you're making before anyone opens a design file. Our comparison of universal vs custom-fit printed car mats helps with that choice.
Then design on the real outlines. Ask for the template for your set, place the artwork on each piece and look at all four together. A pattern that runs off the curved top edge of a front mat behaves differently from one sitting on a plain rectangle.
Files to send for printed car mat artwork
Send logos as vector files so they stay sharp at any size, and send photos or illustrations at high resolution at the size they'll print. Outline the fonts or send them with the artwork. If you have brand colour references, include them, and tell us which element matters most when colours have to be adjusted for the mat face.
Laying out the front and rear mats
Treat the set as two designs that belong together:
- Front mats: the tall pieces people see first when the door opens. Put the main logo or the focal point of the design in the upper half, where it isn't covered by feet.
- Driver's mat: if the set has a heel pad, that area is covered and takes the most wear. Keep text and logos out of it.
- Rear mats: short and wide. A repeat of the pattern or a smaller logo works better than squeezing the front layout into a different shape.
- Edge binding: a bound edge runs round each mat. Keep important detail away from the edge, and pick a binding colour that frames the artwork.
Nylon or polyester: match the face to the artwork
The face material changes what the artwork can do. Polyester supports high-resolution printing, so it suits photographic designs and fine patterns. Nylon is light, flame-retardant and easy to clean, which suits everyday sets where a logo or bold graphic carries the design. Our guide to printed car mats for dealerships and accessory brands explains the trade-off in more detail.
Backing, heel pad and binding colour
The full-colour printed car floor mat set has a rubber or spike backing, a choice of edge binding colour and an optional heel pad. These choices affect the artwork, so make them before you finalise the layout, not after the proof.
Logos and rights
Only print logos and characters you have the rights to use. A dealership printing a manufacturer's badge, or a brand using licensed characters, should have permission in place before the order. The same rule applies to any floor mat; our custom logo floor mat artwork guide covers the general points.
Checking the proof
Every custom design is confirmed on a free digital proof before production. Check it like the person who will use the car: is the logo upright when the door opens, is anything important under the heel, do the front and rear mats look like one set? Then approve. Custom orders typically take 20–30 days after approval, plus shipping.
How to order
Send the vehicle fit (universal or custom), the face material, the backing, the binding colour, the quantity and your artwork. MOQ is confirmed in the quote. See the printed car mat range or send us your artwork.
FAQ
What file format is best for printed car mat artwork? Send logos as vector files and photos at high resolution at print size; fonts should be outlined or supplied.
What size are universal printed car mats? Our universal printed car mats have front mats of 45×70 cm and rear mats of 33×45 cm. Custom-fit mats are cut to a vehicle template.
Where should a logo go on a car mat? Put the logo in the upper half of the front mats and keep it out of the driver's heel pad area and away from the bound edge.
Can I print my own design on car mats? Yes. Printed car mats are made with your artwork, and the layout is confirmed on a free digital proof before production.
This article is general industry guidance. For advice on a specific project, contact our team.
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