I have had my 2 Olfa mats for a great many years - still going great. Self-healing is the most important issue. It amazed me when I went to buy a larger one they all aren't self-healing. A friend had the large white one - it was too big for her house, I am able to store it between my sliding closet doors so she gave it to me since she does most of her cutting at my house - but the mat is not self- healing, so we use it when we are trimming the quilt or cutting batting and need a large area.