36 x 16 Inch Heating Surface
Size is the reason to pick this mat over a smaller one. The heated area measures 36 by 16 inches, which fits up to four quarter sheet pans at once, or a mix of casserole dishes, bowls and platters along a buffet line. That length matters more than it sounds: a single row of dishes is easier to serve from than a stacked or crowded table, and every dish gets its own patch of heat rather than overhanging the edge. The mat is 0.79 inches thick and weighs 5.4 pounds, so it lies flat and stays put under a full load, and a 71 inch detachable cord reaches an outlet from the middle of most tables. The flip side of the size is that it needs 36 inches of clear, heat-safe surface. On a kitchen island or a folding table that is easy; on a narrow counter beside a hob, measure before you buy. For a family meal of two or three dishes it is more mat than you need, but it can simply run with part of the surface empty.