What Shore Hardness Is Best for Silicone Pet Bowls and Lick Mats?
Understanding Shore Hardness (Shore A Scale): Shore hardness is a durometer rating of material stiffness. On the Shore A scale (0–100), 0A is extremely soft (marshmallow‑like) and 100A is very hard (skate‑wheel stiff). A durometer presses into the cured silicone: more penetration means a lower Shore number (softer), less penetration means higher Shore (firmer). High‑quality food‑grade silicone for pet products typically spans roughly Shore 20A to 70A. In fact, most pet‑safe silicone elastomers fall in the broad 30–70A range. This mid-range covers everything from very floppy feeding mats to semi-rigid bowls. (For reference, a pencil eraser is about 30A, and a hard skateboard wheel is ~75A.)
Typical Hardness for Bowls and Lick Mats: In practice, silicone slow‑feeder bowls and lick mats use a medium Shore A durometer to balance stability with flexibility. A common rule of thumb is around 50A (±10) for a sturdy bowl. For example, one industry guide notes that a silicone slow‑feeder bowl “needs a balance” – stiff enough to hold its maze patterns yet flexible enough to demold – and so around Shore A 50 is typically chosen. Similarly, a trade‑publication for custom pet parts points out that a puppy chew toy might be ~30A soft, “whereas a dish might be Shore A 50 (firmer)”. In other words, many adult dog bowls or feeding mats use mid‑range silicone (about 40–60A), while very soft silicones (~30A) are reserved for gentle puppy toys and extremely firm silicones (60–80A) are for power‑chewers.
~40A (Very Soft): Feels quite rubbery and squeezable, like a puppy chew toy. A silicone at ~40A bends easily and is gentle on teeth, but it will tear more easily if overstretched or bitten. In a bowl or mat, 40A silicone would hug surfaces well (good for suction cups or sticky mats) but may collapse or puncture if thin. (Use when flexibility is paramount and loads are light.)
~50A (Medium/Firm): The “sweet spot” for many pet dishes and enrichment products. At 50A the material holds its shape under use but still has some give. Bowls and lick mats at this hardness are durable yet pliable. A 50A mat can flex under a pet’s tongue or child’s hands, but it won’t flop over like a very soft rubber would. (Industry examples confirm ~50A as a typical durometer for adult dog bowls and treat mats.)
~60A (Firm): Quite stiff and puncture‑resistant. A 60A silicone bowl or mat resists deformation under heavy pressure, making it durable for large or boisterous dogs. However, it will be less flexible and more rubbery‑hard to the touch. Using 60A may make fine details (like intricate grooves) harder to fill or demold, and if a pet chews it, the surface can feel hard. (Use when maximum durability is needed and flexibility can be sacrificed.)
Silicone slow‑feeder bowls often have raised ridges or maze patterns. These bowls are usually molded at a medium hardness (~50A) so they hold their shape but still flex slightly for easy demolding.
As this suggests, softer silicone (e.g. Shore ~30–40A) makes a bowl or mat extremely pliable and tacky – ideal for suction cups and gripping surfaces – but risks tearing or collapsing. A stiffer 50–60A part is rock‑solid in shape but provides a firmer bite sensation for pets. Grip and Suction: Notice that many lick mats and bowls use suction attachments on the bottom. Those suction cups themselves are often made of very soft silicone (around 30A) so they can form a tight seal. The main bowl or mat, however, sits at a slightly higher hardness (40–50A) to retain structure. If the entire mat were 60A, it might not conform well to surfaces; if it were 30A, the whole thing would be too floppy to stand up. In practice, designers mix these functions by using e.g. a 50A base with 30A cups, or by molding rings and feet in softer durometers.
Balancing Softness vs. Durability: The Shore hardness governs a key trade-off: softer silicone is gentler (flexible, good underbite) but has lower tear strength, while harder silicone resists puncture but can feel rigid. Lower‑Shore mats feel very squishy and appealing to lick, but a puppy’s claws or repeated washing can abrade them quickly. Higher‑Shore mats hold their ridges and won’t flop, but they’re tougher to flex and (if chewed) can chip a tooth. In short, an overly soft silicone mat might shred after some use, whereas an overly firm one might not “stick” to surfaces or could become brittle over time. Designers must balance these factors. For example, one supplier advises that “soft silicones (lower Shore) are great for detailed, flexible needs; harder silicones (higher Shore) are better for tougher, more rigid needs”.
Silicone lick mats have textured grooves and sometimes suction zones. A slightly softer durometer (often ~40–50A) is used so the mat remains flexible and the suction cups seal well. Extremely hard silicone (60A+) in a mat would be very durable but much less able to conform or adhere.
In practice, we often find that Shore A 50 is the compromise that works best for bowls and mats – firm enough to last, yet soft enough for comfort and safe contact. For very gentle applications (e.g. senior pets or thin mats), we might go down to 40A. For very heavy duty bowls (for giant dogs or outdoor use), we could specify 60A for added sturdiness. By testing samples at different durometers, we ensure the final product meets the intended use-case.
Certifications and Material Safety
No matter the hardness, it’s critical to use food‑grade silicone that meets regulatory standards. All silicone for pet bowls and mats should be platinum‑cured and certified to FDA food-contact regulations (21 CFR 177.2600 in the US) and EU LFGB standards. These high-quality silicones are inherently BPA‑free, phthalate‑free, and hypoallergenic. In marketing, call-outs like “100% FDA food‑grade silicone” or “LFGB-certified” reassure retailers and customers of safety. Always ensure all pigments and additives in the silicone are likewise approved for food contact. (Our factory can provide certificates of compliance for every material batch.)
Molding, Demolding, and Product Lifespan
Shore hardness also affects manufacturing and longevity. In molding, lower-hardness silicones flow very well into fine details, which is great for deep grooves on a lick mat. Because they remain soft, these parts release from the mold more easily – the material can flex to pop out of undercuts. In contrast, very stiff compounds can require stronger ejectors or mold-release coatings (though we avoid harmful release agents on food parts). On lifespan: a correctly chosen durometer maximizes durability. Too soft a bowl may tear or deform under load (shortening its life), while too hard a part might become brittle or lose elasticity over many temperature cycles. In general, a medium-hardness silicone will yield the longest service life for a bowl or mat, since it resists tearing without excessive brittleness. We also run tensile and tear tests on new formulations to verify that a pet product won’t crack or permanently warp under normal use.
Partner with a Custom Silicone OEM for Hardness Expertise
As a silicone pet bowl manufacturer and custom lick mat supplier, we guide our clients through every step of material and hardness selection. Our engineers can perform durometer (Shore A) tests on prototypes to fine‑tune the softness. We offer services such as:
Hardness Testing & Selection: We sample different Shore A formulations so you can feel the difference. This ensures the final product (bowl, mat, etc.) has the ideal firmness for your target pet and use-case.
Mold Design & Tuning: We design custom molds with the right draft angles and ejection features for your chosen hardness. For example, we can integrate suction-cup cores or collapsible sections and adjust wall thickness for durability.
Food-Grade Material Compliance: As a food-grade silicone OEM, we supply platinum-cured silicone certified to FDA/LFGB standards. All our compounds are odorless, BPA‑free and pass stringent extractables tests. We also help you label the product (e.g. “100% FDA/LFGB food-grade silicone”) so customers know it’s safe.
Our full-service approach means you have one partner for prototype sampling, material guidance, mold making, and quality assurance. When you work with us, we ensure your custom pet bowls and mats are both well-designed and use the best Shore hardness for their function. Contact our team to discuss your project – we’ll test hardness options, fine-tune the formula, and deliver a final product that’s safe, durable, and perfectly tailored to your brand.
Hi, I am the author of this article. For the past 10 years or so, we have been dedicated to meeting the custom silicone product needs of our customers from over 50 countries and regions around the world.
If you have any questions, please contact us for a free, no-obligation quote.
