What Is a Slipmat? A Beginner's Guide

A slipmat is the felt disc that sits between your record and the turntable platter. That’s it. That’s the whole thing. If you’ve ever lifted a record off and seen a round mat underneath, you’ve already met one.

But there’s a bit more to it than “round felt thing,” and if you’ve landed here you probably want the actual answer. So here’s the plain version, no jargon, the way you’d explain it to a mate over a beer.

What a slipmat actually does

Three things, mostly.

It grips the record. A good mat has a bit of texture and weight to it, so the record sits still and spins true instead of sliding around on a bare platter.

It protects the record and the platter. Vinyl is soft. A bare metal or hard plastic platter can mark the underside of a record over time. The mat is the cushion in between.

It sets the height and feel. The mat lifts the record a touch and changes how it sits. A thicker felt mat has a warmer, more planted feel. A thinner one sits lower. Neither is wrong, they just feel different.

The name “slipmat” comes from DJ culture, where the felt lets a DJ hold the record still while the platter keeps spinning underneath, so they can cue and scratch. For most of us at home we want the opposite, a mat that grips and stays put. Felt does both jobs depending on the platter underneath, which is part of why it’s the classic choice.

Do I need a slipmat?

Do you need a slipmat? Yes. You need five. One on the deck, a couple spare, one for the second turntable you keep telling yourself you won’t buy, and one still in the wrapper because it’s too good to use.

Here’s why even one earns its keep. A record shouldn’t ride on a bare platter. You want something soft in between, and a mat is that something. A good felt one grips the record so it spins true instead of sliding about, cushions the vinyl from the platter underneath, and warms up under the needle the way wool does in the sun.

Odds are you’ve already got one, the thin rubbery job that came in the box. It does the bare minimum and not a scrap more. Swapping it for a proper felt mat is one of the cheapest, easiest changes you can make to how your setup feels. You drop a record on a good one and you feel it straight away. It sits, it grips, it stays put.

It’s a small upgrade, the kind that’s easy to skip and lovely once it’s done. Which is also why it makes such a good gift. Most people won’t buy a better mat for themselves, and they should.

Felt or cork?

The two common types you’ll run into:

• Felt. The classic. Warm, grippy, a bit of give. Comes in every colour and pattern under the sun. Our Signature Mat is felt, thick, and heavier than it looks.
• Cork. Firmer and flatter than felt, with a natural look. Some people reckon cork tightens up the sound a touch. It’s more about feel and taste than night-and-day difference. See the cork mat if that’s your lean.

There’s no right answer. Felt is the friendly default. Cork is for the person who wants to fiddle and compare.

What size do I get?

Match the size to your records and platter.

• 12 inch is the standard for a full-size turntable and LPs. If in doubt, this is the one.
• 7 inch is for singles and smaller decks, or just as a neat option for a 45s collection. We make a 7 inch mat for exactly that.

The short version

A slipmat is the felt disc under your record. It grips, it protects, it sets the feel. You probably have one already, and a better one is a small, satisfying upgrade. Felt for warmth and grip, cork for a firmer flat feel, 12 inch unless you’re spinning singles.

If you’re shopping for a record-loving dad rather than yourself, a good mat is one of the easiest wins going. Have a look at the gift guide for vinyl dads, or just go feel out a mat or two over in the slipmats.

Mats off to you for reading this far.