Rank 1Best for structured drills
Perfect Practice Putting Mat
Lines, distance marks and a ball return, in three lengths.
Check priceThe 6 best putting mats for practicing at home, matched to the room and the golfer
The best putting mat is the one that stays rolled out: it fits the room, lies flat and rolls like a green.
No brand pays for a place on our lists. How we make money
Mats from 8 ft to 15 ft 6 in
On this page
Three putting mats to start with
Most homes do well with one of these. All six are compared in the table below.
Rank 1
Rank 2Most green-like roll
PrimePutt Putting Mat
Dense turf with three recessed, regulation-width cups.
Check price
Rank 3Best for games and friendly competition
PUTTR Smart Putting Green
App games, stats and online matches for golfers who like a contest.
Check priceAll six putting mats by size, speed and cup
The makers' own figures. Speeds are Stimpmeter numbers and move with the floor; "Not stated" means the maker gives none.
| Pick and who it suits | Length | Stated speed | Cup and return | Store |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfect PracticePractices most days, likes a routine | 8 ft, 9 ft 6 in or 15 ft 6 in | 10 to 14 | Two small holes, magnetized ramp return | Check price |
| PrimePuttWants it to feel like the club's green | 9 or 12 ft | 9 to 11 | Three regulation-width cups, no return | Check price |
| PUTTRLoves gadgets and a friendly match | 12 ft | 11 | Tracked hole, ball return | Check price |
 WellPutt 13ftWorks on aim and pace, packs light | 13 ft | 10 to 11.5 | No hole, no return | Check price |
 BirdieBallHas a basement or a spare room | To order | Not stated | Up to 3 holes plus a high-back cup | Check price |
 SKLZ Accelerator ProNew to golf, or short on space | 9 ft | Not stated | Upslope cup, gravity return | Check price |
How these golf putting mats made the list
We gave more weight to problems reviewers found after weeks of use than to first impressions. Read how we pick
3 to 6
reviews per pick
Long-form reviews and roundups of each mat.
1
source for specs
The maker's own page, even when a retailer disagrees.
5
things weighed
Roll, length, cup and return, markings, lay-flat.
0
lab tests or paid spots
Likes and gripes sum up several reviews, never one reviewer.
The five things we weigh
Roll and stated speed
A true roll at a pace close to a green, stated as a Stimpmeter number.
Length against the room
Long enough for the putts that cost strokes, short enough to stay out.
Cup and ball return
Recessed regulation-width cups feel most real; the ramp is what owners argue about most.
Alignment marks and feedback
Lines, speed zones or app tracking that show what went wrong on a miss.
Lay-flat and storage
Creases spoil the roll; weight and backing decide whether it gets used on a weeknight.
The 6 best putting mats, pick by pick
Drawings show the kind of mat, not the product. Specs come from each maker's page; likes and gripes sum up its reviews.
Rank 1
Best for structured drills
Perfect Practice Putting Mat (V5)
- Gift it to:
- a golfer who practices most days and likes a routine.
- Think twice if:
- they want putts to drop into a full-size cup.
- 3 lengths, 8 to 15.5 ft
- Stimp 10 to 14
- Magnetized ball return
- Left-handed edition
Likes
- A far truer roll than thin entry-level mats
- Lines give each session a plan; the return keeps balls in reach
- The small practice hole makes a real cup look bigger
Gripes
- The ramp-up cup doesn't behave like a real hole, the main complaint in reviews
- Needs time to lie flat (about a day in one review); some report creases
- Several reviewers find the turf carpet-like and the mat narrower than rivals
Every spec from the maker
Specs for the Standard edition; the Compact and Extra Long are also listed.
- Lengths
- Compact 8 ft · Standard 9 ft 6 in · Extra Long 15 ft 6 in
- Stated speed
- 10 to 14 on the Stimpmeter, by floor
- Holes
- 2.56 in and 3.35 in practice holes; the Compact has the precision-size hole
- Ball return
- Magnetized auto return, wooden-finish ramp
- Markings
- Printed alignment lines and distance guides
- Left-handed
- A left-handed Standard (V4) edition is listed
Rank 2
Most green-like roll
PrimePutt Putting Mat
- Gift it to:
- a golfer who cares about feel and has a spot where it can stay down.
- Think twice if:
- it has to move between rooms or up the stairs often.
- 3 x 9 ft or 3 x 12 ft
- 3 regulation-width cups
- Stimp 9 to 11
- Indoor and outdoor
Likes
- The surface reviewers rate closest to a real green
- Balls drop into recessed cups that hold several before you empty them
- The rubber backing lays flat again quickly
Gripes
- Thick turf makes it heavy and awkward to move (19 to 24 lb)
- No alignment lines printed on the surface
- Plays a little slower than the fastest mats on some floors
Every spec from the maker
- Sizes
- 3 x 9 ft (putts to 8 ft, 19 lb) · 3 x 12 ft (putts to 11 ft, 24 lb)
- Turf
- US-made nylon, about 1/2 in dense pile
- Stated speed
- 10 on a hard floor or low pile; 9 to 11 by floor
- Cups
- Three recessed, regulation width (4 1/4 in)
- Use
- Indoor and outdoor; bring the walnut backstop in
- Warranty
- 1 year on materials and workmanship
Rank 3
Best for games and friendly competition
PUTTR Smart Putting Green
- Gift it to:
- the gadget lover, or a household that likes a match after dinner.
- Think twice if:
- the room can't spare 12 ft, or they have no patience for app subscriptions.
- 12 ft green
- Stimp 11
- 100+ app games
- Tracks speed and entry
Likes
- Games and online matches keep practice going, reviewers say
- Set up and packed away in a minute or two
- Rolls true for a carpet-style mat
Gripes
- Full drills and deeper stats sit behind a membership
- One review calls the return noisy and awkward for left-handers
- Collects dust and hair; the end may not lie flat after rolling
Every spec from the maker
- Length
- 12 ft of green (width not stated by the maker)
- Stated speed
- 11 on the Stimpmeter
- Tracking
- Ball speed and where the ball enters the hole; no wearables
- App
- 100+ solo, head-to-head and online games; 27 tee positions from 3 to 11 ft
- Membership
- Drills, deeper stats and AI coaching in Puttr Club
- Storage
- Rolls out in seconds, stores in its box
Rank 4
Best for start line and speed control
WellPutt 13ft Performance Mat
- Gift it to:
- a golfer who three-putts from distance, or wants a long mat that's easy to carry.
- Think twice if:
- they want the sound of a ball dropping into a cup.
- 13 ft x 1.6 ft
- 6.83 lb
- Stimp 10 to 11.5
- No hole, by design
Likes
- Smooth, consistent roll, reviewers report
- The graphics give clear feedback on start line and putter-head alignment
- Light and quick to roll out; the app adds structure
Gripes
- Feedback comes from the graphics only
- Needs a flat floor; one end may need weighting at first
- No printed instructions in the box; the drills live in the app
Every spec from the maker
- Size
- 13 ft x 1.6 ft (4 m x 0.5 m)
- Weight
- 6.83 lb (3.1 kg), per the maker
- Stated speed
- 10 to 11.5 on the Stimpmeter
- Backing
- Latex underlayer that grips the floor
- Graphics
- Eye-position, putter-head, start-line and stroke aids; Good Zone and Bad Zone speed targets; two-way play
- App
- 54 exercises, iOS and Android
Rank 5
Best for a custom size and breaks
BirdieBall Custom Indoor Putting Green
- Gift it to:
- a household with a basement or spare room where a green can stay down.
- Think twice if:
- it must stay a surprise (you need the room's size to order), or they want turf feel.
- 2, 3 or 4 ft wide
- Length to order
- Up to 3 holes
- Breaks set with shims
Check priceMade to order on the maker's site
Likes
- Holds up to pets and toddlers, owners report
- Size and hole layout are chosen to fit the room
- Breaks can be built in with shims, unlike flat mats
Gripes
- Some reviewers find the foam surface unrealistic and too fast
- A reviewer of a large model saw compression where they usually stand
- One long-form reviewer found the cups too shallow for good feedback
Every spec from the maker
Specs for the Classic Depth green with the RollTech surface.
- Sizes
- 2, 3 or 4 ft wide; length to order (shown up to 14 ft)
- Surface
- Aerated foam with angled grass nubs, about 1/2 in
- Holes
- Up to 3 plus a high-back cup; a shim deepens a hole to 1 in
- Breaks
- Contour shims under the green
- Setup
- Foam sub-base, rolls up; assembly 5 to 10 minutes
- Care
- Indoor only; brush and spot-clean, don't vacuum
Rank 6
Best simple first mat
SKLZ Accelerator Pro
- Gift it to:
- a new golfer, a teenager who just caught the bug, or an office corner.
- Think twice if:
- they already own a mat: this is the most basic of the six.
- 9 ft x 16.25 in
- Gravity ball return
- Guides at 3, 5 and 7 ft
- 1-year warranty
Likes
- A consistent roll for an entry-level mat
- Light, rolls up for storage; the return needs no batteries
- Guides at set distances help a beginner build a routine
Gripes
- The steep slope to the cup may teach a too-firm stroke
- The thin mat and plastic return feel basic next to the others
Every spec from the maker
One reviewer puts its roll near 10 on the Stimpmeter; SKLZ states no figure.
- Size
- 9 ft x 16.25 in, ball return included
- Surface
- True-roll carpet, 31% PET with polystyrene
- Other parts
- Latex, PVC and ABS
- Ball return
- Continuous gravity return, no batteries; upslope at the cup
- Markings
- Squaring and alignment guides at 3, 5 and 7 ft
- Warranty
- 1 year
Putting mat or indoor putting green?
Decide on two things: how wide a strip of floor you can give it, and real drops or structured drills.
Choose a putting mat
Narrow, rolls away, often a ramp cup and a ball return. Most homes need one.
Choose an indoor putting green
Wider, with several holes and breaks you set. Suits a basement, or a golfer who misses breaking putts.
What the stimp number on a putting mat means
Green speed as the USGA measures it: a ball rolls off a set ramp, and the distance in feet is the speed. Makers quote about 9 to 14.
Hard floor
The top of a maker's range: near 14 on Perfect Practice's own figures.
Low-pile carpet
Close to the headline number: PrimePutt states 10 here.
Thick carpet
The slow end of any range: near 10 for Perfect Practice.
Read the box number as a range for your room. More on green speed in our putting mats and indoor greens hub.
Sizing an indoor putting mat to the room
Measure the strip of floor you can keep clear. Leave room for the stroke and a backstop: the longest putt is shorter than the mat.
8 to 9 ft
Small apartment or office
Short mats that roll away after each session.
9 to 12 ft
Spare room or den
A mid-length mat that can stay down.
13 ft and up
Long hallway or basement
Lag putts from distance, or a green cut to size.
Tip: tape the mat's outline on the floor for a day. If you step around it, the mat will end up in a closet.
Giving a putting mat as a gift
A gift a golfer can use on a winter weeknight, if it fits the room. Five checks before you wrap one.
The room
Measure where it will go. A mat that blocks a hallway gets put away.
The floor
BirdieBall is indoor-only; PrimePutt can go outside too.
Left or right
Perfect Practice lists a left-handed Standard edition.
The gift tag
If it leans on an app or a membership (PUTTR, WellPutt), say so.
The first day
Tell them to unroll it and let it lie flat before the first session.
Putting mat mistakes that end in the closet
The same five come up again and again in reviews.
Buying by length alone
A longer mat sounds better until it doesn't fit the room.
Ignoring the floor
Read the stated speed against your floor, not the box.
Expecting break from a flat mat
Flat mats teach start line and pace. Breaks need a green you can shape.
Putting before it lies flat
Creases and curled ends push the ball off line.
Leaving it across a walkway. A mat's edge and a stray ball are easy to trip on. The CDC's fall-prevention checklist suggests keeping walkways clear, so roll it away or keep it along a wall.
Putting mat questions, answered
Are putting mats worth it?
For a golfer who will leave one rolled out, owners mostly say yes: short, frequent sessions are where a mat earns its place. The mats that end up in a closet were usually too long for the room or too slow to set up, so match the length to the floor you can keep clear.
Do putting mats help your putting?
Owners and long-form reviewers credit regular short sessions with a steadier start line and better pace, especially on mats with alignment lines, speed zones or app tracking. A flat mat cannot teach you to read breaks, so time on a real green still matters.
What is the best putting mat for home?
It depends on the room and the golfer: Perfect Practice for structured drills, PrimePutt for the most green-like roll, PUTTR for games, WellPutt for start line and speed, BirdieBall for a custom size with breaks, and SKLZ for a simple first mat.
How do you flatten a new putting mat?
Give it time: unroll it on a flat floor and leave it, about a day in one review. Perfect Practice says to pull its mat tight so the ball runs up the ramp smoothly, and a WellPutt review says one end may need weighting at first.
What does the stimp number on a putting mat mean?
It is green speed as measured with the USGA's Stimpmeter: a ball is released down a set ramp, and the distance it rolls, in feet, is the speed. Mat makers quote figures from about 9 to 14, and the floor under the mat changes it: hard floors run faster, thick carpet slower.
Putting mat or indoor putting green: which is better at home?
A mat is narrow, rolls away and often has a ramp cup and a ball return. An indoor putting green is wider, has recessed cups and can carry breaks. Pick by the width of the room and whether the golfer wants real drops or structured drills.
Start here
Our conclusion
For most homes, the Perfect Practice mat is the safest buy. Pick PrimePutt if real drops matter more than drills, and PUTTR for a golfer who needs a game to keep going.
Keep reading
All putting mat guides
More on putting mats and practice at home
Putting mats
6 drills
Gift guide
Training aids