Make Your Own RV Step Rugs for About $12

After our first season of RVing, I couldn’t believe how much dirt was coming in the trailer. That was until my husband decided we should get some stair covers. The problem was they wanted $20 for a cover. With two steps, it would cost us $40 for rugs.

I’m sure they fit well and are easy to put on, but there was no way I was paying that much for something I felt was a luxury. That is when I hit up the dollar store and ended up creating DIY RV Step Covers for $12.

DIY RV Step Cover

The concept is simple. I needed to find a way to secure a rug to a step on a vehicle that is exposed to the elements and traveling down the highway at 70 mph. What I did not expect was how easy they were to make. Here is how you make them.

Supplies

• 1–2 inexpensive floor mats (Dollar Store; check size before buying)
• Grommet kit, containing 20 grommets
• Duct tape
• Rope (paracord or similar)
• Rubber mallet
• Ball peen or regular hammer

The grommet kit was the most expensive purchase, but it ended up being the best kit I’ve ever had. The rest of the supplies are at the dollar store or maybe around your house already. They sell duct tape, rope, and the most important part, the mats. Before buying a mat, measure your step. Steps are typically 19 inches or 23 inches long. Many dollar stores sell a 23 x 15 inch mat, which is perfect and gives full coverage.

How to make the DIY RV Step Cover

Cut mat to fit

Lay out your mat on a hard surface. Cut it to size if it doesn’t already fit the length of your step. Add a layer of duct tape on the outside edge to prevent fraying if you cut it.

Add a layer of tape to the area where you plan to put the grommets. This gives it a little extra support.

Adding grommet holes

Some RV steps have a curve, while others are straight. If you have a straight step, you’ll only need 3 holes on each side. If you have a curved step, I recommend 5 holes. This gives the mat more points of contact to tighten around the curve.

Make five grommet holes along the edge of the mat. Leave a half-inch to one-inch space between the hole and the edge. I folded the mat in half and eyeballed where to put the matching holes.

You don’t have to be perfect, but try to keep them aligned so the mat stays flat when secured to the step.

Adding the grommets

The grommet kit I purchased had a cutting tool included. Because of the thickness of the material, I recommend making sure you have a cutting tool.

A grommet tool is simple to use. To make your cut with the tool provided, determine the hole location and put the wood block behind the mat. Place the cutting tool over it.

Using a ball peen hammer, strike the cutting piece, rotate it a quarter turn, and hit it again. You can use a regular hammer too. It should only take a few hits to cut through the material, depending on the thickness of the mat.

You’ll know you’re through when you tap the wood underneath.

After you’ve cut all the holes, assemble the grommets. Turn the mat upside down and assemble the parts per the instructions.

The top piece of the grommet fits into the anvil tool, while the bottom sits in a curved metal holder so it doesn’t flatten while hammering. Put the two pieces together.

Using a hammer or rubber mallet, strike the center of the tool. A couple of hits should be sufficient.

Lacing up your steps

After getting all your grommets in, lay a mat over your step. Cut a length of rope, about 2.5 times the length of the step. Start with the bottom step, if you have one, and flip it over. This makes it easier to lace up and tie off.

Now comes the fun part. Lace up the step, similar to a shoelace. Once it’s laced, start pulling the ropes tight to account for any curve in your step. Then tie it off.

I tied it in a knot, then tied again a few more times for extra security. Flip the step over to see your work.

If your step doesn’t flip over (like the top step), put the mat underneath the step and lace the top. Keep everything as loose as possible, then rotate the mat around the step.

Because the steps already have slip-resistant grips, it will take a little more maneuvering. Keep the laces loose at first. Then tighten and tie off.

Be careful to keep the mat centered on the step. If the mat isn’t flat near the edges, it may not fold up properly. Commercial mats run about an inch smaller than the step to prevent this.

Avoid thick mats; they can prevent the stairs from folding up. Because of the slight curve to my steps, the rugs had a wrinkle at first. After a few trips, the rugs adjust and lay flat.

Weather tip: If you camp in wet or snowy areas, use rubber-backed outdoor mats. They dry faster, add grip, and help keep slush out of the trailer.

How do they hold up?

These DIY step covers have been going strong for 4+ years now, and as of 2025 they’re still solid. The laces haven’t needed any adjustments. If you want an inexpensive alternative to RV step covers, give this a try.

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