A placemat is a protective covering you put on a table where someone will eat. Placemats sit underneath plates, silverware, and glasses during meals. They protect the table from spills, heat from hot dishes, and scratches from utensils.

Placemats come in many materials: cloth, plastic, paper, woven straw, or cork. Some families use fancy cloth placemats for special dinners, while restaurants often use paper placemats that kids can color on while waiting for food. A woven placemat might protect a wooden table from a hot bowl of soup, while a plastic one wipes clean easily after messy meals.

Unlike a tablecloth that covers the entire table, each person gets their own placemat, creating an individual dining space. Think of it as marking out your own spot at the table. Some placemats are purely practical, but others have designs, maps, or educational information printed on them. Placemats for young children sometimes show where the plate, fork, and spoon should go, helping them learn proper table setting.