Matunion
"Ground mats for sale" covers several different products. The same 4×8 ft footprint can be a 12.7 mm HDPE mat for a landscaper, a 25 mm UHMWPE mat for a tracked rig, or a timber mat for a wetland job. The gap is not a discount; it reflects material, thickness, weight and test basis.
Matunion supplies HDPE and UHMWPE ground protection mats. This guide is written for procurement teams comparing quotes: what moves the price, how to normalize FOB and landed cost, which costs are usually missing, and how to spot a quote that will not survive delivery.
Use it on our quote as well. The goal is not the lowest number on the page; it is the lowest cost per square meter that meets the load, the ground and the duration.
Ground Mats for Sale: What Drives the Price
Five variables move the price before freight: material grade, thickness, size, order volume and customization. A sixth, delivery terms, moves the number you actually pay.
Material and thickness
HDPE is the standard material for temporary ground protection. Matunion uses virgin HDPE as standard, with a UV package and a double-sided diamond tread. UHMWPE is the premium grade, with higher impact and abrasion resistance and a higher material cost.
Thickness is the second lever. A 12.7 mm HDPE mat is the common starting point; thicker sheet uses more resin, weighs more and costs more. UHMWPE is typically supplied at 15, 18, 20 or 25 mm. The right thickness depends on load, subgrade and passes, not on a catalogue headline.
Recycled resin is not automatically a problem, but undisclosed content is: it can change stiffness, impact strength and UV life.
The label "heavy duty ground mats" is not a specification. Ask for thickness, weight per mat, load basis and test method. Those four answers separate a heavy-duty product from a heavy-duty adjective.
| Grade / option | Typical thickness | Standard size | Weight per mat | Static load claim | Typical fit | Cost position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDPE standard | 12.7 mm | 4×8 ft (1220×2440 mm) | 38–42 kg | Confirm for the exact thickness | General site access, events, utilities, rubber-tired plant | Base |
| HDPE, thicker or custom | Custom | 4×8 to 2×4 ft, plus custom | Varies with thickness | Confirm for the exact thickness | Heavier plant, longer projects, softer ground | Mid |
| UHMWPE | 15 / 18 / 20 / 25 mm | 4×8 ft (1220×2440 mm) | 55–75 kg | Confirm for the exact thickness | Tracked equipment, abrasive ground, saturated or cold sites | Premium |
| Custom format | Custom | Custom size, color, logo, serial number | Varies | Confirm per drawing | OEM, fleet marking, special layouts | Premium plus setup |
Static load capacity depends on thickness, size and ground conditions. Matunion does not publish a universal tonnage rating: confirm the rating for the exact thickness and size in writing. Dynamic loads, soft ground and poor installation reduce capacity.
Size and weight
The 4×8 ft mat is the industry workhorse. At 1220×2440 mm it covers 2.98 m², weighs 38–42 kg at 12.7 mm, has six handholds, and can be positioned by two workers in under 60 seconds.
Smaller mats are easier to carry but create more joints per square meter. More joints mean more connectors, more installation time and more places for mud to pump through. Larger mats reduce joint count but need mechanical handling.
Ground protection mat sizes are usually quoted in feet, with metric equivalents. The table below converts the main standard sizes and shows nominal coverage. Actual coverage is lower once overlaps and cuts are included.
| Nominal size | Dimensions (mm) | Nominal coverage (m²) | Mats per 100 m² (nominal) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4×8 ft | 1220×2440 | 2.98 | 34 | Main access roads, plant crossings |
| 3×8 ft | 910×2440 | 2.22 | 45 | Narrow routes, pedestrian and light plant |
| 2×8 ft | 610×2440 | 1.49 | 67 | Footpaths, edge strips |
| 3×6 ft | 910×1830 | 1.67 | 60 | Tight layouts, turning areas |
| 2×4 ft | 610×1220 | 0.74 | 135 | Repairs, infill, manual handling |
| Custom | On drawing | On drawing | On drawing | OEM and special layouts |
Coverage is nominal, before overlaps and cuts. The 4×8 ft weight is for 12.7 mm HDPE ground protection mats; confirm weight for other sizes and thicknesses.
Order volume and customization
Volume changes unit cost through line time, setup, packaging and container fill. A standard black 4×8 ft mat is the lowest-cost format; custom color, logo, size or serial number adds setup and separate packing.
Matunion quotes a minimum order of 30 pieces for standard mats and 50–100 pieces for custom work. Custom samples typically take 5–7 days; standard stock is typically 7–15 days and custom production 15–25 days. These are typical figures and must be confirmed in the quotation.
Customization is worth paying for when it solves a real problem: fleet identification, theft deterrence, a layout that avoids cutting on site, or a client color standard. It is not worth paying for when a standard mat fits.
Price Benchmarks and Cost Breakdown
A benchmark is only useful when the basis is the same. Published "from" prices are often per mat, ex-works, standard black, thinnest sheet, without connectors, packaging or freight. Matunion does not publish a price list here: resin, freight, duty and exchange rates move, and a number without a date, specification and Incoterm is misleading. What we can publish is the cost structure, so you can test any quote.
Resin, labor, packaging and freight
Resin is usually the largest part of the ground mats cost stack. It scales with weight per square meter, so thickness and density matter more than the number of mats; a thin and a thick mat can share a footprint and use very different amounts of material.
Labor and energy cover extrusion, cooling, cutting, CNC work, handle fitting and quality checks. Packaging covers pallets, edge protection, strapping and moisture control. Freight covers inland transport, port handling and the ocean leg.
This table is the cost-driver checklist we use when two quotes for the same nominal size do not match.
| Cost element | What moves it | What to put in the RFQ |
|---|---|---|
| Resin grade | Virgin versus recycled, UV package, color masterbatch | Grade, recycled content, UV requirement, data sheet |
| Thickness and weight | Kilograms per square meter, line speed, cooling | Thickness with tolerance, weight per mat |
| Size and pattern | Cutting, tread, handholds, edge finish | Drawing, dimensions, tread, handhold count |
| Connectors and anchors | Joint count, pin type, accessory quantity | Connector type and quantity per joint |
| Packaging | Pallets, edge protection, strapping, stack height | Packing list, stack plan, container plan |
| Ocean freight and insurance | Route, volume, Incoterm, season | CIF port, freight validity |
| Duty and clearance | HS code, destination rules, importer of record | Who clears, who pays duty and port charges |
FOB vs landed cost
A ground mats FOB price covers the product on board at the named port with export clearance. It excludes ocean freight, insurance, import duty, destination port charges and inland delivery. CIF adds freight and insurance to the destination port; DDP adds duty and delivery, usually with the seller as importer of record.
The ground mats landed cost is the number that matters for budget approval. Build it in this order:
- Product cost at the agreed specification, including packaging and connectors.
- Inland transport to the FOB port.
- Ocean freight and insurance.
- Duty, taxes and customs clearance.
- Port charges, demurrage risk and inland delivery.
- Unloading, storage and installation labor.
Ask every supplier for the FOB price and the CIF price separately, with the same specification, quantity, port and validity period. If one supplier will only quote a single "landed" number, you cannot see which line is moving.
Incoterms allocate risk as well as cost. Under FOB, risk passes on board; under CIF, the seller arranges freight and insurance but risk still passes at the shipment port; under DDP, the seller carries more. Matunion quotes FOB Qingdao, Shanghai or Ningbo as standard, with CIF and DDP on request and EXW by agreement. See the full shipping and delivery terms.
20ft/40HQ math
Ground mats container loading is driven by volume and weight. For 12.7 mm HDPE, a 20ft container typically holds 300–320 mats and a 40ft about 550–580. The exact count depends on size, thickness, packaging and stacking.
| Container | Approximate 12.7 mm HDPE mats | Freight per mat | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft | 300–320 | Ocean freight ÷ mats loaded | Port and road weight limits |
| 40ft | 550–580 | Ocean freight ÷ mats loaded | A lower per-mat freight can disappear in inland costs |
Freight per mat equals total freight and fixed charges divided by the mats actually loaded. The trap is comparing a 40ft per-mat figure with a 20ft one that excludes different inland, port or unloading costs. Compare delivered cost per square meter.
Hidden Costs
The quote that looks lower can lose on costs that never appear on the first page. Budget them before you compare suppliers.
Freight, duty and insurance
Ocean freight moves with fuel, capacity and season. A quote valid for seven days is an indication, not a budget. Ask for the validity period and surcharge policy.
Duty depends on the HS code, destination and importer of record. The same mat can be classified differently in different markets. Confirm the code with your customs broker and put it in the contract.
Insurance is usually a small percentage of the insured value, but the cover matters. A policy that excludes water damage or container leakage is weak cover for a product that will sit on a dock. Ask what is insured and who files the claim.
Inspection and warehousing
Third-party inspection adds a fee, travel and a production hold, but is usually worth it on a first container; the cost is small against a container of wrong-size or wrong-color mats.
Warehousing appears when delivery arrives before the site is ready. Mats need dry, level storage, and double handling adds forklift time, labor and damage risk. If the project has no laydown area, price storage before you order.
Replacement and return costs
Returns are expensive because mats are bulky. Return freight can exceed the value of a single mat, so suppliers often prefer a credit or replacement on the next order. That is acceptable if the claim process is written.
| Hidden cost | Typical trigger | How to control it |
|---|---|---|
| Freight surcharge | Fuel, peak season, route change | Fix validity and surcharge policy in the quote |
| Duty and clearance | HS code, importer of record, destination rules | Confirm code and Incoterm with a broker |
| Insurance gap | Exclusions for water or container damage | Read the cover, not just the premium |
| Inland delivery and unloading | Remote site, no forklift, access limits | Price delivery to site, not to port |
| Connectors and anchors | Joints, slopes, turns | Count accessories from the layout |
| Spare mats | Damage, cuts, losses | Agree a spare allowance with the supplier |
| Return or replacement freight | Defect claim, wrong specification | Write the claim and freight terms into the contract |
How to Compare Quotes
Quotes for ground mats for sale are rarely written on the same basis: per mat, per square meter, per kilogram, or with freight to an unrequested port. Normalize before you negotiate.
Ask for the same spec
Send every supplier the same RFQ with the same fields. A complete specification should include:
- Whether the resin is virgin or recycled.
- Thickness with tolerance and weight per mat.
- Length, width.
- Surface pattern and handhold count.
- Connector type and quantity.
- Color and whether there is a logo.
- Static or dynamic load requirement.
- Packaging, stack height and container loading plan.
- Incoterm, port, validity, lead time, MOQ and payment terms.
If a supplier cannot answer a field, write "not stated" rather than accepting a verbal answer. The gaps are where the price difference usually lives.
Ask for a production sample, not a hand-made one. Ask for a photo of a previous container loading.
Buyer FAQ
What is included in a ground protection mat quote?
A complete quote should state the thickness, size, weight, color, surface, handhold count, connector type and quantity, packaging, Incoterm, port, validity, lead time, MOQ and payment terms.
How do I compare FOB and landed cost?
Ask for FOB and CIF prices on the same specification, quantity and port. Add duty, clearance, port charges and inland delivery to get the landed cost. Use the same Incoterm and validity for every supplier, or you are comparing different risk transfers. The lowest FOB price is not always the lowest landed cost.
How do you connect ground protection mats?
Matunion mats use a U-Connector system with steel pins. Use at least two pins per joint on straight sections and three to four on slopes. Use four-way connectors at intersections. See the connector range.
What is the MOQ for custom ground protection mats?
The typical MOQ is 30 pieces for standard mats and 50–100 for custom sizes, colors or logos. Custom samples usually take 5–7 days; standard stock is typically 7–15 days and custom production 15–25 days after approval. Confirm MOQ, sample time and lead time in the quotation; peak season and Chinese New Year can extend the schedule.
Next Step
Send the specification, destination port and project duration. We will quote FOB and CIF separately, show the container loading plan and normalize the price by mat, square meter and kilogram. If HDPE fits, we will say so; if UHMWPE is the better choice, we will say that too.
CTA: Request a normalized quote · Request a production sample.
Reviewed by: Matunion Engineering Team
Last updated: 31 October 2026
How we researched this guide: We reviewed Matunion product data, client datasheets, SGS report references and current supplier listings. Load ratings depend on thickness, size and ground conditions and are confirmed in writing for the exact configuration; they are not independent laboratory results. Price figures are deliberately excluded; confirm costs with a current written quotation.