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Turntable Platter Mats: 6 Types Explained & Which is Best

Different types of platter mats: Cork, rubber, leather and more.
  • January 26, 2024

Platter mats are a part of turntables that are used for a few reasons – friction, isolation, and protection. They’re made from a wide range of materials, from synthetics to felt, each with its strengths and weaknesses.

This guide assesses a selection of the most common platter mat types, explains the nuances of each, and identifies the best platter mat materials.

While it may seem like a minor detail, the type of platter mat you use can actually have a big impact on certain aspects of a turntable’s performance. Changing up your platter mat can help fix some issues and annoyances and helps to tune the sound of your deck.

Why do you need a turntable mat?

There are several reasons why platter mates are a part of turntables.

1) Friction Management

Different substances provide a range of friction levels. Depending on how you plan on using the turntable, you may want a platter mat with more or less friction.

In most standard listening situations, higher friction is better. This prevents the record from slipping on the platter mat, which causes interruptions in playback.

Alternatively, if you are DJing, you need a low-friction slipmat. This allows a range of vinyl djing techniques like cueing, jogging, scratching, and beatmatching.

2) Isolation and vibration control

The mechanics and motors of a turntable can be pretty noisy themselves and create a fair amount of vibration. This energy can be passed through the turntable and platter to the record, which is then picked up by the highly sensitive stylus. This results in noise interference which can disturb the listening experience.

Using a turntable mat reduces this interference by isolating the vinyl from the platter. The platter mat significantly weakens the vibrational energy, so it has a much less noticeable effect on the sound. Certain platter types are more effective at reducing vibrations than others.

3) Protect from scratches

The naked platter of a record player isn’t always a suitable surface to hold a record. While many are fine, others are not designed to be used without a platter mat. They may have sharp edges or just be made from inappropriate materials. Anything like this should be avoided and can easily scratch a record. Even just the raw texture of some materials is enough to create damage. Platter mats protect records from these kinds of events.

4) Sonic Characteristics

Hi-Fi enthusiasts and audiophiles have a keen ear for the nuances of sound quality. While it is relatively subtle, the type of mat used affects the sound. It’s mostly a matter of personal taste, but using the right kind of mat can get your turntable closer to your desired sound.

Learning the differences by ear can take a while, but some people swear by certain mat materials. The material’s physical properties affect how the record vibrates, thus changing the sound.

If you’re a stickler for a higher fidelity listening experience, pick the best platter mat for your setup.

Is a turntable mat necessary?

This depends on the design of the turntable’s platter. In any case, it’s advisable to use one.

If a platter uses a safe material like rubber or acrylic, you can get by without a platter mat. However, in most cases, if the platter is made for a substance that could damage your record, then you will definitely need a platter mat.

What are the different types of turntable mats?

This list explores the most common mat materials, looking at their benefits and best use cases. Each has unique characteristics, and some are more suited for certain turntable setup types.

Rubber platter mat

These low-cost mats offer a good amount of isolation and stability and are known for unique sonic characteristics due to their vibration absorption. They have the highest friction of all materials, helping to keep the record spinning without slipping.

These mats create a well-dampened, focused sound with clarity, accuracy, and isolation. Some audiophiles argue that rubber mats create too much isolation, which creates excessive dampening and killing vibrations.

The high friction also makes them inappropriate for DJ use, and these mats can, unfortunately, increase the amount of audible static in a record. Many attentive listeners will choose to upgrade over their factory-provided rubber mat.

Turntable with rubber turntable platter mat.

Pros

  • Highest friction and isolation
  • Deeper sound
  • High grip
  • Long-lasting
  • Best at controlling resonance.

Cons

  • Can increase static
  • Can be a real dust magnet (as a result)
  • Some say it creates excessive isolation.

My recommendation

Ywhomal Rubber Silicone mat

This is an affordable silicone platter mat with a decent level of isolation. The material encourages good reproduction of bass tones and holds the record firmly with no slippage. These are a good addition if your turntable only included a felt mat originally.

Felt / Wool slipmat

Slipmats made from wool and felt offer a safe scratch-free surface for your records. These are the type most commonly used by DJs, as they have very low friction, which is required for vinyl DJing techniques.

Unfortunately, most soft felt mats attract dust, dirt, and static, which is then prone to be passed onto any vinyl record you play. A felt mat also offers minimal sound isolation in comparison to thicker materials, so more motor noise gets picked up by the stylus.

Not all of these mats are made out of the same kind of felt, so you get different results across brands. Compared to cork and rubber mats, a felt mat has much less friction.

A felt slipmat.

Pros

  • Soft and frictionless
  • DJ-friendly
  • Low cost

Cons

  • Low isolation ability
  • High level of dust and static attraction.

My recommendation

Turntable Lab Reversible Felt mat

Cork Platter Mat

Cork platter mats have a retro appeal and are more aesthetically pleasing than most other mats. I really like the look of some cork platter mats. Besides the visual appeal, a cork mat offers a couple of advantages over standard felt mats and doesn’t cost much either.

Cork can provide a noticeable increase in sound quality by diminishing resonance and increasing stability. This creates a more focused sound with more definition and less blur.

A cork mat is also much less prone to static which results in a cleaner experience, although cork mats tend to wear out quicker than other types too.

Turntable with cork platter mat.

Pros

  • Unique appearance
  • Improved resonance control
  • Focused tone
  • Protective

Cons

  • Wears quicker
  • Can flake off onto the record
  • Do not limit stylus vibration.

My recommendation

Spin Pro Cork mat – This mat is a great choice for many situations and looks unique. Because it’s a light-colored mat, it makes colored vinyl look better too – if that’s something you like.

Acrylic platter or mat

Some turntables use an acrylic platter or mat, which is similar to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) –  the material records are made from.

Acrylic mats have a light effect on the resonance and vibrations of the stylus compared to softer materials. They have a clear, open sound, not too dampened but not unfocused. They have relatively low friction, too, so records can slide sometimes.

You can either get an acrylic platter or an acrylic mat (3mm thick) on top of a standard platter. If your turntable doesn’t have a VTA adjustment, an acrylic mat can be a good alternative to an acrylic platter, but the latter will likely have a bigger impact.

Acrylic platters are usually custom-made to suit specific turntables and require a little research to find.

Turntable with acrylic platter mat.

Pros

  • Strong sonic character
  • High level of resonance control
  • Good anti-static
  • Very low friction

Cons

  • Too little friction for some situations
  • A slippery surface that needs regular cleaning to avoid debris from damaging records
  • Upgrade platters need to be made specifically for a turntable model, and in some cases, the turntable requires an adjustable VTA (Vertical Tracking Angle) adjustment since an acrylic platter is usually thicker than the preinstalled one.

My recommendation

Acrylic Platter Mat

Leather platter mat

A less common material, leather is a relatively effective, albeit niche choice for a platter mat. There are rumors that they improve bass resonance, although definitive proof remains to be seen (or heard). It does have a slight dampening effect, like cork or felt, but not quite as much as rubber.

Leather platter mats are also one of the more visually appealing varieties and are often used more decoratively than technically. However, leather has relatively decent anti-static properties, which are slightly better than felt and wool.

These have the perfect visual style to match a retro Hi-Fi unit but tend to come at a higher price than other record platter mats.

A brown leather platter mat.

Pros

  • Sturdy
  • Cool aesthetic
  • Moderate dampening

Cons

  • Wears out quickly
  • Vegetarians/vegans won’t be a fan.

My recommendation

Premium Leather mat – A leather platter mat with two sides. One with thicker leather grain, the other being a softer suede. High quality, looks cool, and performs well.

Steel or metal mats

There are some unique platter mats made from sound-damped steel – which has unique properties useful for this task. These are on the niche end of the spectrum, so be prepared to pay a bit extra for this type of mat.

These offer fantastic resonance control and a lot of vibration absorption. This type of turntable mat is relatively specialist and isn’t worth it for most listeners.

Pros

  • Strong
  • Excellent vibration control

Cons

  • Needs proper setup
  • Expensive.

What is the best type of platter mat?

The answer to this question depends on how you plan on using your turntable. For DJs, a soft mat with little friction is best, something like wool or felt. You want a material that lets the record slide when you hold it down.

For audiophiles, acrylic platters are usually the best. They offer the best amount of dampening and stability and reduce unwanted noise. They keep the record firmly in place so it doesn’t slip.

My recommendations for platter mat types collected

Tip: Recalibrate your VTA when you change mats

After changing a platter mat, you may need to adjust your turntable’s VTA (Vertical Tracking Angle). Even the slightest change in mat height can have an effect if your turntable doesn’t have a VTA control, it’s not the end of the world, but a perfectly calibrated tracking angle is always preferred.

You may notice your records sounding brighter or darker. This is because the angle has changed slightly, interfering with the relationship between the stylus tip and the record grooves. Find more information on calibrating your turntable here → How to set up a turntable properly.

FAQs

Yes, turntable mats can make a difference in turntable performance. It depends on the type of turntable, as some already have platter mat-like compounds embedded into the platter. That being said, a platter mat would still have a difference.

You can even notice differences between the two different types of platter mats. Often you may want to replace the mat with a new turntable. Sometimes the stock platter mats are cheaply made and offer significantly reduced quality.

The notice is less obvious than other changes; for example, replacing a cartridge will have a much larger effect. One cartridge could have a much warmer sound than another etc. For more information on upgrading your cartridge, read this guide → How to change a turntable cartridge.

What kind of slipmat is best depends on how you plan on using the turntable and what sound style you are going for.

For DJs, the only choice is something soft like felt and wool. It’s debatable for audiophiles without a clear winner. The best one would be whatever helps enhance the quality of your turntable’s sound output. Most audiophiles favor mats that are firmer, like acrylic or cork. These tend to improve the reproduction of both low and high frequencies.

The best turntable platter mat for a glass platter is using no mat at all. 🙂

Both glass and acrylic platters are designed to carry a record without needing a mat in between. The one catch is that you should keep the platter clean to avoid dirt and dust build-up on your records.

The best kind of slipmat for DJs is either felt or wool. You need a soft, suitable material to hold the record while the platter keeps spinning. If you use anything with high friction, it will stop the platter, which makes it harder to mix.

Have any questions or feedback?

Leave a comment below and I’ll get right back to you!

Picture of Ed Lansink
Ed Lansink

I'm a passionate vinyl collector, analog fan, and lifetime enthusiast of most things audio.

On VinyliQ I help fellow vinyl collectors enjoy their hobby to the max, sharing my knowledge about and passion for vinyl.

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