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Chair mats may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about office comfort. However, using and rolling your office chair daily will probably lead to floor damage, regardless of whether you work on hardwood or carpet. The average worker can move their chair up to 300 times per day, so you can imagine the kind of scuffs a hardwood floor can undertake in the long run.
That’s when a chair mat comes in — the best office chair mats to protect your flooring type from the chair’s rolling casters.
The fact that chair mats come in different sizes, materials, and types can make choosing the best one quite a task, therefore, we’ve decided to prepare a buying guide to show you the 8 best office chair mats currently available.
The 8 Best Office Chair Mats:
- AiBOB Office Chair Mat: Best chair mat for hardwood floor
- Amazon Basics Office Carpet Chair Mat: Best chair mat for carpet
- Kuyal Office Chair Mat: Chair mat with anti-slip coating
- Dartry Office Chair Mat Best price for value ratio
- BesWin Office Chair Mat: Most flexible mat
- Azadx Clear Office Chair Mat: Keeps the chair quiet
- Seteol Home Office Chair Mat: Multiple shapes available
- Crablux Office Desk Chair Mat: Cheapest chair mat
Why are these the best solutions? Before compiling our list of the best chair mats for your office, we’ve carefully analyzed, tested, and reviewed all the products featured on this buying guide. All of them offer unique characteristics that’ll hopefully turn out to be just what your office floor needed. To find all the information on these specific chair mats and how to choose the best option available, keep on reading!
Table of Contents
The first chair mat we’d recommend is the AiBOB clear chair mat, made of Polyethylene and specifically suited for hardwood flooring. Hardwood, tile, laminate, vinyl, concrete, and linoleum floors are all protected by the this mat; however, you should avoid using it on carpet as the product was designed for hard floors only.
The unique texture featured on the mat’s surface allows the chair to roll easily, reducing the risk of physical fatigue at the end of your shift, but, at the same time, it provides the casters enough grip to avoid skidding.
Thanks to the mat’s solid and sturdy surface, the casters will roll with ease, without leaving indentations or sinking in the mat.
The product is available in two sizes, 36” X 48” or 45” X 53”, which only show a slight difference in price between them.
Lastly, the manufacturer advises to let the mat adjust to room temperature before unrolling and, when you do unroll it, it might take several hours for it to lay completely flat.
KEY FEATURES:
- Polyethylen
- Textured surface
- Smooth edge
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Dimensions: 36 X 48 inches
- Weight: 4.19 lbs
PROS:
- Suited for many kinds of hardwood flooring
- Transparent
- Solid and sturdy
- Two sizes available
CONS:
- It might take a while to flatten completely
This polycarbonate chair mat for carpets designed by Amazon Basics made it to the top of our list thanks to its high-quality material, its durability, and its ability to protect low pile carpets from any possible damage caused by the casters of your office chair. We recommend it as the best chair mat for carpet.
More specifically, the mat includes an easy glide rolling surface that won’t curl nor flex when used on carpets over 1/2″ thick. To make sure the mat stays firmly anchored in place even when the chair is moving, the producer added cleats to the bottom that’ll effectively grip the carpet.
Depending on your preference and the size of your workspace, Amazon Basics offers chair mats of three size: 35 X 47 inches, 47 X 53 inches, and 47 X 59 inches. In addition, the mat comes in two shapes, a perfectly rectangular one, or one with a lip for higher carpet protection where your feet would be positioned.
Lastly, although this chair mat works very well for low pile carpets, it’s not advised for medium or high pile ones.
KEY FEATURES:
- Polycarbonate material
- Cleated bottom
- Rectangular
- Transparent
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Dimensions: 35 X 47 inches
- Weight: 7.55 lbs
PROS:
- Great quality
- Rigid and durable
- Easy glide surface
- Different sizes and shapes available
CONS:
- Not suited for medium or high pile carpets
Kuyal has designed a chair mat specifically made to be used on hardwood floors that offers protection against the scratches or marks an office chair might leave on the floor. This mat come in two different sizes, a 30×48 inches one, which is slightly cheaper, and a 36×48 inches one. Both options are rectangular and made of PVC, not to mention the mats are ergonomically designed to offer ease of movement when sliding the chair.
To prevent the mat from slipping, Kuyal has added a layer of anti-slip coating on the underside, therefore the item will have a strong grip on hard floors such as vinyl, stone, tile, wood, laminate and concrete. In any case, the use of this mat should only be limited to hard floors since it’s not designed to work on a carpeted floor.
As a last note, the mat is transparent and it’ll easily fit in with your office design, however, since it comes rolled in a box, it might take some time to get it to lay flat.
KEY FEATURES:
- PVC material
· Anti-slip coating - Rectangular
- Two sizes
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Dimensions: 36×48 inches
- Weight: 3.97lbs
PROS:
- Works on many types of hardwood flooring
- Transparent
- Durable material
- Allows the chair to slide easily
CONS:
- Making it lay flat completely might take some time
Hardwood, concrete, laminate, stone, vinyl and tile, this PVC chair mat from Dartry can offer durable protection to most kinds of hardwood floors and it’s specifically made to prevent the movement of the casters from ruining or scratching the floor.
The Dartry mat comes in only one size (35”x47”) and it’s completely transparent, meaning you’ll barely notice it laying on your office floor. Mats for hardwood floors don’t usually have studs to keep them anchored on the surface, instead, chair mats just like this one have frosting on the bottom to make them anti-slip. Once again, the textured surface helps make gliding smoother without suffering any dents caused by the casters. In addition, the price is also very good.
As a downside, the mat will have to be kept in a warm environment for a few hours preferably with some weight on it, before it’ll lay completely flat. Moreover, the Dartry mat should only be used on hardwood floors as it won’t work on carpets.
KEY FEATURES:
- PVC material
- Anti-slip frosting
- Rectangular
- Suited for hardwood floors
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Dimensions: 35 X 47 inches
- Weight: 4.4 lbs
PROS:
- Great price for value ratio
- Transparent
- Sturdy and hard enough not to be damaged by the casters
- Works on many types of hard floors
- Textured surface
CONS:
- The mat can take hours to lay flat completely
With three sizes available, 48”x30”, 48”x36”, and 48”x60”, BesWin offers clear chair mats for hardwood floors that fit most work environments. In order to keep the mat firmly in place, a layer of anti-slide coating has been applied to the underside of the mat, making it have a tight grip on hardwood flooring but, at the same time, making it impossible to use on carpet floors.
The product is made of PVC, a material which makes the mat very flexible so that it can withstand a standard use without cracking, scratching or breaking. Furthermore, the BesWin mats are ergonomically designed with a textured surface to provide a greater ease of movement to reduce leg fatigue as you push the office chair.
With an affordable price for the smallest size, this mat offers a relatively cheap solution, however you should also be aware that its maximum capacity is 250lbs, including the weight of the chair as well as that of the user.
KEY FEATURES:
- PVC material
- Textured surface
- Anti-slide coating
- Rectangular
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Dimensions: 48×36 inches
- Weight: 3.54
PROS:
- Good price
- Transparent mat for all décors
- Three sizes available
- Suited for many types of hardwood flooring
CONS:
- Not made to handle more than 250lbs
The transparent office chair mat from Azadx is made using heavy-duty PVC that is hard to break or crack. Its sturdiness makes it a good option to protect most types of hardwood flooring, and its easy glide surface is designed to facilitate movement while you work.
The mat is around 1/8 of an inch thick and the casters of the chair aren’t likely to sink in, even after prolonged use. Moreover, we’ve noticed this mat keeps the rolling wheels quiet, successfully reducing the sound they make as the chair moves.
The manufacturer offers two options in terms of mat shape and size, the first one measures 36×48 inches and has the same shape of the mats we’ve previously described on our list, which is rectangular with a lip to go under the desk, the second solution is a slightly more expensive 48×59 inches mat fully rectangular (without the lip).
Although we’ve found the Azadx mat to be a good option to protect your floor, we’ve also noticed it might take even a week to get the product to lay flat as it is shipped while rolled tightly.
KEY FEATURES:
- PVC material
- Rectangular
- 1/8 inches thick
- Textured surface
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Dimensions: 36 X 48 inches
- Weight: 3.97 lbs
PROS:
- Sturdy and durable mat
- Comes in two sizes and shapes
- Transparent
- Reduces the sound of the rolling casters
CONS:
- Getting it to lay flat can take up to a week
Seteol has designed multiple office chair mats in two different sizes and shapes. For a fair price, you can purchase a 30×48 inches mat, either with lip or without lip, or a 36×48 inches one if you need a bigger mat to cover more floor.
As for the majority of the other chair mats for hardwood flooring we’ve analyzed in this product review, this mat is also made of transparent PVC, built to last and withstand the weight of most office chairs without letting the wheels sink in.
The mat is shipped rolled up in a box, which means it’ll need a few days to flatten out completely if you put some weight on it. But, other than this detail, the Seteol mat does a good job in protecting most types of hardwood flooring, from tile and laminate to stone.
KEY FEATURES:
- PVC material
- Rectangular
- Available with or without lip
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Dimensions: 36×48 inches
- Weight: 5.54 lbs
PROS:
- Good price
- Different sizes and shapes available
- Sturdy and durable
- Transparent
CONS:
- It’ll take a few days to lay flat completely
First of all, Crablux is a brand known for making good office chair mats for both carpets and for hardwood floors. With an affordable price, this chair mat is the cheapest option on our list, but it still offers quite a few good characteristics if you wish to protect most kinds of hardwood flooring without spending too much money.
The product is completely transparent and made of durable, scratch resistant PVC. Moreover, it includes a textured surface that serves two purposes: the first one is to make gliding easier when you push the chair around with your legs and feet, effectively reducing fatigue on your lower body. The second reason is to keep the mat in place whenever the rolling chair moves.
However, as a negative note, many customers noticed the mat can be quite hard to unroll and lay flat.
KEY FEATURES:
- PVC material
- Textured surface
- Rectangular with lip
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Dimensions: 36×48 inches
- Weight: 4.21 lbs
PROS:
- Cheapest item on the list
- Scratch resistant mat
- Can be used on most hardwood floors
- Transparent
CONS:
- It can be hard to unroll and lay flat
Things To Consider Before Buying a Chair Mat
Buying a chair mat can seem as easy as choosing a simple transparent mat to put your office chair on as you work, however, making the right choice unfortunately isn’t always that simple. In order to purchase the right chair mat for your workspace, there are a few factors that need to be kept in mind. Here, we’ve summarized the main things to consider if you want to buy the perfect chair mat.
Should I purchase a chair mat for hardwood floors?
The answer to this question is yes if you intend on using it to protect hardwood floors. Tile, wood, laminate, concrete, stone, and many other types of hardwood flooring can be effectively protected by chair mats specifically made for these kinds of floors, therefore, before choosing an option, you should always make sure the mat you’re looking at is suited for these materials.
Can I use a chair mat for carpets on a hardwood floor?
Chair mats for carpets should only be used on medium or low pile carpets. Although they most likely won’t ruin your floors, using them on hardwood flooring isn’t functional mostly due to their anti-slip design that was developed for carpets specifically.
Can I use a chair mat for hardwood floor on carpets?
Chair mats designed to be used on hardwood floors should not be used on carpets. If you do, the casters will most likely sink in the mat, making it difficult to move and possibly even ruining the carpet.
What is the main difference between chair mats for carpets and chair mats for hardwood floors?
Basically, the main difference you can find between these types of products is that chair mats for carpets have a cleated underside that is specifically designed to have a nice grip on carpets and prevent the mat from slipping when you move the chair. Clearly, this feature used on hardwood floors won’t be as efficient.
Should I choose a mat with a textured surface?
Although there are some mats that are completely smooth, if you decide to purchase a mat with a textured surface instead, you’ll find that the design can make rolling and moving the chair around easier.
How can chair mats for hardwood floors be anti-slip?
Most mats for hardwood floors have a specific textured design on the bottom that helps the mat stay firmly in place even when the chair moves.
Is it important for the mat to be hard and sturdy?
A chair mat on hardwood floors should always be sturdy and resistant to prevent the wheels of the chair from sinking it. If the mat is too soft, then you’ll find moving the chair to be quite hard.
What is the difference between a mat with lip and one without?
Some mats are perfectly rectangular, while others also have a lip on the front which further protects the area where you rest your feet. The main difference is that mats with lip protect a slightly wider area.
The Benefits of an Office Chair Mat
Office chair mats are often overlooked, however, if you wish to protect the floor from eventual scratches caused by the wheels of an office chair, they are one of the best options available. Here are a few pros of buying a chair mat:
- Chair mats protect your floors from scratches or damages
- Chair mats for carpets can protect low and medium pile carpets
- Char mats for hardwood floors work on most types of hard flooring
- Most mats have a textured design that make sliding easier
- Office chair mats reduce leg fatigue when you push the chair
- Mats also protect you floors from spilled drinks or food stains
- There are chair mats for all price ranges
- A good chair mat still comes for an affordable price
- You can choose between mats with a lip and mats without
- Most mats are transparent and won’t clash with your office décor
- According to your needs and how big your workspace is, chair mats come in different sizes
Should I Buy an Office Chair Mat?
The answer to this question largely depends on whether you wish to protect your floor from the scratches office chair wheels can leave.
If you wish to do so, the mats we’ve described in this list are all good options to help you prevent your floor from getting ruined while you work, especially if you like to push and roll the chair around many times during the day. The first thing you should check when you decide to purchase a chair mat is whether the item you’re looking at is suited for hardwood floors or carpet, as it’s important to buy the right mat for your type of floor if you want it to work as it should.
Once you’ve established which type of mat you need, you’ll also need to consider factors such as how large you want the mat to be, if it includes a textured surface to make gliding easier, and if the mat is hard and sturdy to sustain the weight of the chair.
All the mats we’ve analyzed here are quite durable and offer interesting features, and we hope you’ll be able to find the chair mat that meets your needs on our list. If not, we still hope our product review can help you identify what you need to look for in a good office chair mat!
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