I was surpised by how thick and sturdy these are. I was unsure if I like them because I am used to fabric placemats that aren't so thick. They have a cork bottom, but it didn't make it slide any less than the fabric placemats. In fact, because they are so rigid they actually slid more than the fabric placemats because they worked more like a slide rather than being anchored down by a plate. The thickness would be a great advantage if you have a table that has a surface that is easily damaged by hot plates, because this provides a substantial barrier. The rigidness of it means it holds it shape and lays flat. Wipe these off immediately, because I did not see that a water glass had splashed onto the placemat and the surface did swell slightly because it was not addressed immediately. I am happy with these placemats, just be prepared for them to function a little differently from a fabric placemat.