Their primary function is to protect the dinner table from water marks, Table Runner food stains or heat damage. Chair Pad They also serve as decoration, especially placemats made from lace or silk, etc. In restaurants they can be used to advertise menu items, specials, and local businesses. They may also have games for children.

Higher end placemats, made from vinyl or leather, are used by hotels and organizations for meetings as they allow for easier writing, provide an area to lean comfortably and place objects on the table with minimal noise during meetings.

Contemporary opinion on the usefulness of placemats is mixed. Cloth placemats are commonly considered to be unnecessary and their upkeep irritating, as unlike the surface of a table which can be easily cleaned, a messy placemat must be run through the washer and drier before it can be used again. Moreover, paper and plastic placemats have been deemed a wasteful,unsustainable, and unsightly substitute by luminaries in the fields of renewable resources and domestic decor.