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A non-slip mat for tremors and weak grip is a flexible sheet, usually silicone or a rubber-like material, that sits under a plate, bowl or cup and grips both the table and the dish. Because it holds the dish still, you can scoop, cut or lift with one hand without chasing the plate across the table. It’s one of the cheapest adaptive aids to try, and it works with the dishes you already own.
I looked at listings from the main sellers of daily living aids and picked five that handle different jobs, from a full table mat to a cup holder. Prices are what I saw when I checked. A couple of items had long shipping times, so read the notes on each.
The 5 Best Non-Slip Mats for Tremors, Parkinson’s and Weak Grip
1. Tenura Non-Slip Rectangular Table Mat: Best All-Round Table Mat
- Price: About $22.95 at MaxiAids for the standard mat; a larger 17.75 by 15 inch version was about $54 at another seller
- Material: The larger version is listed as 100 percent silicone, latex-free, dishwasher safe, and made in the USA
- Best for: A dining table where plates, bowls, cups and cutlery all need to stay put
Silicone mats hold the dish steady, protect the table from heat and moisture, and can go through the dishwasher. The listing for the larger size also suggests using it under appliances and cutting boards.
Limitations: It works only on smooth, dry surfaces. MaxiAids doesn’t list the size of its standard mat in the category view, so check before you order, and the larger version showed no stock when I looked.
2. Dycem Non-Slip Placemat (Yellow): Best Compact Placemat
- Price: About $14.95
- Size: 10 by 7.25 inches, bright yellow, latex-free
- Best for: A single place setting, a tray or a bedside table
Dycem is the brand most often named for this job, and the Parkinson’s Foundation’s mealtime guidance specifically mentions Dycem under a plate or bowl to keep it from sliding. The bright yellow also makes a plate easier to find on the table for people with low vision.
Limitations: The listing says it can be washed but gives no care instructions, and it has no reviews yet.
3. Tenura Extreme Non-Slip Tray Liner Mat: Best Extra-Tacky Grip
- Price: About $19.95
- Size: 7.87 by 7.87 inches (20 by 20 cm), translucent green
- Best for: Trays, walkers, cars and anywhere surfaces move or tilt
It’s much tackier than a normal mat. The listing says it sticks to the surface and holds plates, bowls and cups on trays, walking aids, cars and boats, and it peels off without leaving residue. Washing it in warm water restores the grip.
Limitations: The grip disappears when it’s wet, until it dries, and MaxiAids listed it as shipping in 3 to 7 weeks. It’s also small, so it holds one dish at a time.
4. Tenura Cup Holder (Silicone): Best for Spill-Prone Drinks
- Price: About $14.95
- Size: About 90 mm across and 35 mm high, in silicone
- Best for: People with a tremor or unsteady grip who spill hot drinks
It grips most cups to create a non-slip base, and it stays on the cup. The page says it’s latex-free and easy to clean with warm, soapy water. It also claims an antimicrobial treatment, which is the manufacturer’s statement.
Limitations: “Most” cup types isn’t every cup, the page doesn’t say whether it’s dishwasher safe, and MaxiAids listed it as shipping in 3 to 7 weeks.
5. Non-Slip Grip Mat, 12 by 15 Inch Roll: Best Budget Option
- Price: About $3.99
- Material: Rubberized, in a 12 by 15 inch piece
- Best for: Trying the idea cheaply, or covering a spot where a dish tends to slide
At under four dollars, it costs less than most single cups of coffee, and the listing says it works as a placemat. It’s a low-risk way to find out whether a mat helps before you buy a branded one.
Limitations: The listing says little beyond “rubberized,” with no care instructions or heat information, so it’s best for dry, everyday use.
How to Choose a Non-Slip Mat
Match the mat to the problem. A table mat suits the whole meal, a tray liner suits moving surfaces, and a cup holder suits a spilled drink. Many people end up with one of each.
Check the surface. Silicone and Dycem-style mats grip smooth, dry surfaces best. Wet or greasy tables reduce the grip on most of them.
Think about washing. Silicone mats can go in the dishwasher, while the tacky tray liner needs warm water to restore its grip, so read the care notes.
Know the premium option. Dycem also sells larger pads, such as a 10 by 14 inch blue pad I saw for about $62.69, which can be cut to size for the shape you need. It costs much more than the smaller mats here.
Pair it with other aids. The Parkinson’s Foundation’s mealtime guide suggests built-up or weighted utensils, plate guards, adaptive cutting boards and a non-slip material such as Dycem under the plate. Our guides to suction bowls and plates for Parkinson’s and tremors and weighted two-handled mugs cover more of the same table.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dycem used for?
Dycem is a non-slip material sold as rolls, pads and placemats. People put it under plates, bowls and cups, jars, phones and tools to keep them from sliding on a table, tray or counter.
What is the best non-slip mat for tremors?
A silicone or Dycem-style table mat under the plate and bowl is a common choice. A cup holder adds grip around the cup itself, and a tacky tray liner works on trays and moving surfaces.
Can non-slip mats go in the dishwasher?
Some can. Silicone mats are often dishwasher safe, but extra-tacky liners and Dycem-style pads usually need washing in warm, soapy water, so check the care instructions for the one you buy.
Do non-slip mats work on wet surfaces?
Generally not well. Most work best on smooth, dry surfaces, and some, like extra-tacky liners, temporarily lose their grip when wet and regain it once dry.
Final Thoughts
A table mat and a cup holder cover most mealtime spills, and the placemat and tray liner handle trays and tight spaces. If you aren’t sure whether a mat will help, try the inexpensive rubberized roll first and add a branded mat once you know what works.
Prices, sizes and shipping times can change, so check the current listing before you order.