Pull into your site, wind out the awning and arrange the chairs, and the space outside your van starts to feel like another room. What decides how well that room works is the mat underfoot. A well chosen camping and caravan mat gives you a clean, comfortable floor for shoes, pets, camp chairs and long afternoons outdoors. If the mat extends past the awning edge, roof runoff can land on the surface, and extra chairs can quickly make the space feel crowded.
Getting the size right matters because caravan awnings vary widely in length and projection, sites slope and shift, and the choice of mat widths looks broad at first glance. The process underneath is simple: measure your awning footprint, keep the mat inside that footprint with breathing room at the edges, then compare sizes such as 4m x 2.4m and 5m x 2.4m against your two measurements. Affordable Camping Mats is Australia's number one supplier of mats to the caravan and camping industry, and this guide shares the sizing process behind the range. Keep it open beside the full Camping and Caravan Mats range while you measure, and you will order with confidence.
Measure Your Awning Footprint Before You Browse
Resist the urge to start with the catalogue. Start with a tape measure at your van, because two numbers drive every good decision that follows: the width of your covered area and how far it projects outward.
- Measure the width along the van wall. Run the tape from one end of the awning to the other where it mounts to the van. Note the figure in metres.
- Measure the projection. Run the tape from the van wall straight out to the front edge of the awning fabric. This tells you how deep your covered floor can be.
- Note the obstacles. Record where the entry door swings, where support posts or guy ropes land, and where a privacy screen or annexe wall would sit. These pinch points shrink the usable floor.
- Choose a mat that sits inside the footprint. We suggest keeping every mat edge within the awning edge with a margin to spare. Compare your two measurements against the size you are considering and keep the mat inside the measured floor.
Write both measurements down before you compare products. A size that fits inside your notes is easier to lay flat and peg without sprawling past the awning edge.
Caravan Mat Sizes from Compact to Full Width
The camping and caravan range runs from compact door-zone formats through to generous 6m widths, giving you options to compare against your two measurements. Three widely listed sizes across the range are 4m x 2.4m, 5m x 2.4m and 6m x 2.4m. Work through the ladder below from compact to full width and stop where your two measurements point.
Compact 2m Mats for Entries and Smaller Setups
If your priority is a tidy zone at the entry door, a compact mat around 2m wide can be worth comparing. Sizes in this band include:
- 2m x 1.4m and 2m x 2m
- 1.4m x 2.0m and 2.0m x 2.5m for tight sites
These formats can suit a smaller covered area. Compare a 2m camping mat against your compact area and your chair and table footprint before deciding.
3m Mats for Mid-Size Setups
The 3m band is the versatile middle ground:
- 3m x 1.8m, 3m x 2m, 3m x 2.4m
- 3m x 3.0m square
For example, you could compare 3m x 1.8m against your width and projection notes, checking ropes and posts at the sides. If your projection measurement runs deeper, 3m x 2.4m gives you extra covered depth.
Larger Awnings and Annexes: 4m, 5m and 6m Options
For larger covered areas, compare these formats against your two measurements:
- 4m x 2.4m
- 5m x 2.4m, which gives around 5m of covered width for an annexe setup
- 6m x 2.4m, which gives a 6m run of cover along a long awning
Picture your gear within each measured outline, leaving space to walk past the door, posts and guy ropes. If you are considering 5m annexe matting, start with the full 5m x 2.4m footprint rather than the length alone. Likewise, check both dimensions of a 6m x 2.4m caravan awning mat against your available floor area. The 4m, 5m and 6m recycled outdoor mats come with 6 eyelets, so peg down all 6 in windy conditions (more on pegging below).
Extra Depth for Awnings That Project Further
Some awnings reach further from the van wall. Check the depth of your chosen mat against your projection measurement before deciding.
- Annexe Floor Matting in dark green rubber: 3.0m x 2.5m, 4.0m x 2.5m and 5.0m x 2.5m. This separate rubber matting option has a 2.5m width that easily cuts to size and includes a storage bag. For full specifications, follow the instructions supplied with that product.
- Recycled outdoor mats: 6m x 3m to compare where your projection measurement runs deep, and 2.4m x 2.4m square, which could suit nooks where a rectangle would waste space.
Check the depth of the size you shortlist against your measured coverage for chairs, a cool bag or a pet bed. Favourite patterns such as Free Camping and Kangaroo Outback carry the same 4m, 5m and 6m widths, so you can compare sizes within one pattern as your van or travel style changes.
Check the Awning to Mat Size Guide
Once you hold your two measurements, compare them against the brand's own reference. The answer to "What size mat should I buy?" in our FAQs links the Awning to Mat Size Guide diagram, which shows which sizes are suitable for different awning lengths. Open that answer beside your notes and find the guide entry closest to your awning length. If your measurements fall between two entries, you may prefer the smaller size so the mat rests inside the footprint rather than past the edge. The diagram complements your tape measure rather than replacing it, because no two sites pitch identically and your notes capture your van, not an average van.
Match the Mat to the Ground Beneath It
Caravan parks present three familiar surfaces. The benefit comes first: you step onto a tidy, comfortable surface instead of bare earth. For the recycled outdoor mats, the feature behind it is a tight weave that preserves the ground underneath while still allowing air circulation. That grass-friendly feature is worth weighing up on parks where you stay several nights.
- Grass. For the recycled outdoor mats, the tight weave allows air circulation, which helps protect the grass beneath. Position the mat, allow the edges to relax onto the lawn, and enjoy an easy to clean surface underfoot.
- Dirt and dust. For the recycled outdoor mats, the mat forms a barrier against dirt, stones and insects, while the weave still allows sand to sift straight through instead of collecting on the surface. This can help keep shoes and the van interior cleaner, and the surface hoses clean.
- Gravel. The mat gives you a defined floor over gravel rather than bare stones. Before laying the mat, clear rocks, roots and other sharp objects from the area, and lift rather than drag furniture across the surface. The recycled outdoor mats are UV protected, waterproof, mould-resistant and double stitched. The non-slip and easy to clean surface suits regular outdoor use. Designed for Australian conditions, these are practical floors for the way we travel here.
Peg Your Mat for Windy Afternoons
A large mat under an awning can catch the breeze, so pegging deserves the same attention as sizing. The rule from our care guidance is plain for the recycled outdoor mats: the 4m, 5m and 6m mats come with 6 eyelets, so peg down all 6 in windy conditions to help the mat sit flat in the breeze. Use appropriate screw-in mat pegs for the eyelets, such as the purpose-built options in our pegs and ropes collection, and screw lightly to the ground. Do not over-tighten the screws into the eyelets or you may damage the fixings.
Living on the Mat: Comfort, Cleaning and Eco Credentials
Size gets you in the door; daily liveability makes you glad you chose well. The recycled outdoor mats at Affordable Camping Mats are ethically manufactured from recycled polypropylene, which gives lightweight handling with durable service.
The reversible design on the recycled outdoor mats multiplies your styling options, with a reverse colour on each side giving two looks in one. Flip the mat to match your mood or coordinate with the van. Each recycled outdoor mat also includes a storage bag, making pack up and transportation a breeze, with care instructions included.
Cleaning could hardly be simpler. Hose the surface down with water and allow it to air dry, using mild detergent and a soft brush for stubborn dirt. Always ensure the mat is completely dry before storage to prevent mould. The non-slip and easy to clean surface suits everyday family use.
Behind the practicality sits a meaningful environmental story. Our polypropylene recycled mats are made from recyclable material consisting of plastics that were destined for landfills, such as food containers, shopping bags and discarded bottles. When melted together, they create a durable mat that is UV stabilised for maximum strength and long-term durability. Choosing recycled materials gives you that comfort with a lighter footprint, and you can read more in our recycled mats collection. The recycled outdoor mats are certified by the Caravan Industry Association of Australia.
Care and Folding That Protect the Weave
A little routine care keeps your recycled polypropylene mat looking its best. Do not hang the mat up or drape it over a fence or clothesline. The polytubes are rigid when new and may move apart slightly over time; you can apply warm water when rigid and massage the strands to sit correctly back in place. For folding and storage, follow our care instructions, which include a folding diagram. Fold to fit the storage bag and ensure the mat is completely dry before storage. For the separate rubber Annexe Floor Matting, follow the instructions supplied with that product.
Find Your Fit and Enjoy the Outdoor Room
You now hold the complete method: measure width and projection, keep the mat inside the awning footprint, select from the ladder between compact 2m formats and generous 6m widths, confirm against the Awning to Mat Size Guide, then peg, live on and care for your choice. Affordable Camping Mats is Australian owned and operated, and our mats are designed for Australian conditions. When you feel ready, revisit your two measurements one last time and choose the size that honours them. If you also take the same mat to the beach, our companion guide on choosing a sand-free beach mat size for family days by the water covers that decision in the same step by step way. And when questions linger about an unusual awning or a tricky site, please contact us for advice. We will help you find the mat that turns your awning into the best room of the van.
