Can Hemp and Jute Rugs Be Used Outside?
By Ryan Shoun | Founder, Ochoco Rugs Perth | 14 Years Industry Experience
Updated July 2026
Hemp and jute rugs genuinely work well outdoors, in covered spaces like alfresco areas, verandas, and entrances. We keep hemp rugs at our own front and back entrances, and followed with a bit of care, they hold up exactly as expected.
This guide covers where hemp and jute perform best outdoors, what to keep in mind, and how they compare to a dedicated outdoor material if you need something for full sun exposure. For a broader overview of both materials, explore our Hemp & Jute Rug Material Guides. This guide is also part of our Outdoor Alfresco Rug Guides, covering everything from material choice to styling for outdoor spaces.
Why Hemp and Jute Work Well in Covered Outdoor Spaces
Hemp and jute are naturally durable, absorbent plant fibres, and in a covered outdoor setting, that combination genuinely works in their favour. Both can handle getting wet, the key is making sure they dry out properly afterward rather than being left damp.
In practice, this is straightforward. Cats leave surprises at our own front and back entrances more often than we'd like, and a hose handles it perfectly well. The rug just needs to be hung out somewhere in the sun to dry properly, rather than left flat on the ground, before it goes back down.
Where Hemp and Jute Rugs Work Best Outdoors
Covered and shaded outdoor spaces are genuinely the sweet spot for both materials, including:
- Alfresco areas and covered patios
- Verandas with overhead protection
- Entrances and porches
- Enclosed or partially covered balconies
Direct, prolonged sun exposure is the one condition worth avoiding. Hemp and jute will fade faster in full sun than a material like UV-stabilised polypropylene, so a shaded or covered spot keeps them looking their best for far longer.
Pool surrounds are worth a specific mention. We wouldn't recommend hemp or jute there, constant splashing and chlorine exposure will make the rug deteriorate faster and meaningfully increase the risk of mould, even if the area is covered. A customer can still make that choice, but it's worth going in with realistic expectations if that's the plan.
Choosing Between Hemp and Jute for Outdoor Spaces
The right choice for a covered outdoor space comes down to the same factors that apply indoors.
Hemp is the better choice for higher-traffic outdoor spots, like a busy front entrance, since its braided construction gives it more structural resilience over time. Jute suits a lower-traffic, more relaxed space, like a covered veranda that mostly just gets admired rather than walked across constantly.
For more detail on how the two compare more broadly, see our Hemp vs Jute Rugs guide.
What to Keep in Mind Outdoors
These are the questions that come up most often once a hemp or jute rug is actually living outside.
Drying Properly Is the Real Priority
The single most important habit is drying the rug out properly whenever it gets wet. Left damp for extended periods, hemp and jute can be prone to staining or mould over time, this matters far more than the moisture itself. For the specifics, see our How to Clean Hemp & Jute Rugs guide.
Shedding
Some shedding is normal for both materials, particularly when new, and settles down with regular use. Outdoors, it's also worth occasionally checking underneath the rug, sand and small debris can work their way through the weave over time. For the full picture, see our Do Hemp and Jute Rugs Shed? guide.
Pets and Children
An outdoor hemp or jute rug is a genuinely practical choice for a space that sees pets and children, particularly given how affordable both materials are if something does go wrong. For a closer look at how they perform specifically in that situation, see our Are Hemp and Jute Rugs Good With Pets and Children? guide.
Long-Term Wear
Placement matters just as much outdoors as it does indoors, a covered, high-traffic entrance will show wear sooner than a sheltered, low-traffic veranda. For more on how hemp and jute hold up over time, see our Are Hemp & Jute Rugs Durable? guide.
If You Need Something for Full Sun Exposure
Hemp and jute are genuinely well suited to covered outdoor spaces, but if a spot gets direct, prolonged sun exposure with no shade at all, a dedicated outdoor material like UV-stabilised polypropylene is a better fit. It's specifically engineered to resist the fading and degradation that comes with full sun, in a way natural fibres like hemp and jute simply aren't built for. Learn more in our What Is UV-Stabilised Polypropylene? guide.
Final Thoughts
Hemp and jute rugs genuinely hold up well outdoors, provided they're in a covered space and dried properly whenever they get wet. Get those two things right, and both materials perform exactly as expected for years.
If you'd like to learn more about either material, explore our Hemp & Jute Rug Material Guides, or explore our Outdoor Alfresco Rug Guides for more on choosing and styling a rug for outdoor spaces. If you're ready to browse available options, explore our Hemp and Jute Rugs collection.
Ryan Shoun is the founder of Ochoco Rugs Perth, with 7 years specialising in rugs and a further 7 years in home furniture and homewares. He personally sources and imports Ochoco's Afghan Kilim and Hand-Knotted Wool collections, and every product on the Ochoco website is individually selected by him. Read Ryan's full bio