What are cloth playmats? Fabric playmats explained – history, build & tips
Cloth playmats – playmats made of fabric – are having a comeback. Yet they're nothing new: the very first playmats for trading card games were made of cloth. Here's what makes a cloth playmat, how it came about and whether it suits you.
In short
- A cloth playmat is a fabric playmat without the thick rubber or foam layer of a classic rubber playmat.
- It is thinner and lighter and packs away small.
- The first playmats ever were cloth mats: made in 1994 by Khalsa-Brain Games from San Francisco, the company behind Spellground.
- Our cloth playmats from Spellground and Yggdrasil Materias come from the USA.
What is a cloth playmat?
A playmat protects your cards, gives you a clean, even playing surface and makes picking up cards easier. Most mats people know today are rubber playmats: a fabric surface on a rubber or foam layer several millimetres thick – much like a large mouse pad.
With a cloth playmat, the fabric is the focus. It is noticeably thinner, weighs less and feels more like a cloth on the table. How the back of a specific mat is built differs by maker and model – it's stated in each product description.
How did cloth playmats come about?
1993: A piece of cloth against sticky cards
When Magic: The Gathering came out in 1993, there were no playmats yet. People played straight on the table or on paper and cloths. Japji Khalsa, a Magic player from San Francisco, was bothered that his cards stuck to the tables. He bought a piece of cloth at a fabric store – and his friend Jeff Brain had the idea of printing artwork on it. That's how Khalsa-Brain Games was born.
1994: The world's first playmats
In February 1994 the two brought around 100 cloth mats to the DundraCon game convention. They had no idea whether there was even a market for such a thing – the mats sold out in one weekend. Each mat came with a booster of the Magic expansion Arabian Nights. These mats are considered the first playmats ever.
1996: Official Magic mats
The success didn't go unnoticed: Khalsa-Brain Games became the first official maker of Magic playmats and supplied the mats for the Magic World Championships from 1996 to 2001. Later the official licence went to Ultra Pro – and with it the rubber, mouse-pad-style mat took over that you'll find in almost every shop today.
Today: The comeback of the cloth mat
Khalsa Brain Games still exists: as a family business, the company keeps making its cloth mats under the name Spellground. They're a cult item in the old-school scene in particular, because they're light, last a long time and are made to be played on. Alongside them, new makers such as Yggdrasil Materias from the USA have reinterpreted the cloth mat – with their own designs and colourways.
Cloth vs. rubber playmat: the differences
| Criterion | Cloth playmat | Rubber playmat |
|---|---|---|
| Build | fabric, without a thick rubber layer | fabric surface on rubber/foam |
| Thickness & weight | thin and light | thicker, heavier |
| Feel when playing | more direct, like a cloth | cushioned |
| Transport | packs away small | rolled, ideally in a tube |
| Typical designs | makers' own designs, often plain and elegant | artwork, official Konami and event mats |
You'll find a detailed comparison in our guide Rubber or cloth playmat?
Who is a cloth playmat for?
- Players who travel light: if you take a backpack to locals, you'll appreciate a mat that hardly takes up any space.
- Old-school fans and collectors: Spellground mats are a piece of TCG history and popular with collectors.
- Anyone who likes it simple: many cloth mats go for calm colours and elegant designs instead of full-size artwork.
- Yu-Gi-Oh! players: Yu-Gi-Oh! cards are smaller than Magic or Pokémon cards (59 × 86 mm) – a cloth playmat has plenty of room for all zones.
Our cloth playmats
Spellground (Khalsa Brain Games, USA)
The mats from the inventors of the playmat. In our shop you'll find, for example, the Spellground x Player's Choice Dark Mages v7 – a collaboration edition with two magicians in a duel, approx. 61 × 61 cm. All models in the Spellground collection.
Yggdrasil Materias (USA)
Modern cloth mats from the USA in various series and colours – some colourways are exclusive to Jungcards. All models in the Cloth playmats (Yggdrasil) collection.
Care
Cloth mats are a little more delicate than rubber mats. Dab individual stains with a damp cloth and a little mild soap, then let the mat air-dry flat. We advise against the washing machine for printed mats. More in Cleaning & caring for your playmat.
Frequently asked questions about cloth playmats
What's the difference between a cloth and a rubber playmat?
A rubber playmat has a thick rubber or foam layer under the fabric surface, a cloth playmat doesn't. That makes the cloth mat thinner and lighter and the rubber mat more cushioned.
Who invented the playmat?
The cloth mats from Khalsa-Brain Games of San Francisco, sold at DundraCon in February 1994, are considered the first playmats. The company makes its mats today under the name Spellground.
Are cloth playmats suitable for Yu-Gi-Oh!?
Yes. Yu-Gi-Oh! cards are smaller than Magic or Pokémon cards, so you have plenty of space on a cloth mat. The size of each mat is in the product description.
Can I use a cloth playmat at a tournament?
Usually yes – according to our collection information our mats are tournament legal unless stated otherwise on the product. The exact rules are set by the organiser.
Where do your cloth playmats come from?
From the USA: Spellground by Khalsa Brain Games and the mats by Yggdrasil Materias. We ship them from Germany.
