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A chair mat is a multifunctional product, giving your office chair a smooth surface to glide over and protecting your floor from scuffing in a home office. We at The This Old House Team researched the best chair mats on Amazon and created a buyer’s guide to help you make an informed purchasing decision. Here are our top mat recommendations.
Top 5 Chair Mats
- Best Overall: MuArts Crystal Clear Heavy-Duty Chair Mat
- Best Heavy-Duty: Gorilla Grip Office Chair Mat
- Best Mat for Offices: Sillamate Office Chair Mats
- Best Oversized Mat: Dimex Clear Rectangle Office Chair Mat
- Best Value Mat: OFM ESS Collection Chair Mat
Compare Top Chair Mats
| Product | Dimensions | Primary Material | Spikes for Carpet | Multiple Sizes | Has Lip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MuArts Crystal Clear Heavy-Duty Chair Mat | 35 x 47 inches | Not listed | No | Yes | No |
| Gorilla Grip Office Chair Mat | 36 x 48 inches | Polyethylene terephthalate | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sillamate Office Chair Mats | 36 x 48 inches | Polyethylene terephthalate | Yes | No | Yes |
| Dimex Clear Rectangle Office Chair Mat | 46 x 60 inches | Vinyl | Yes | Yes | No |
| OFM ESS Collection Chair Mat | 36 x 48 inches | Polyurethane | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Product | Dimensions | Primary Material | Spikes for Carpet | Multiple Sizes | Has Lip |
Best Chair Mat for Hard Floors
MuArts Crystal Clear Heavy-Duty Chair Mat
- $67.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Made of a non-toxic, odorless material
✔ Can also be used on carpets
✔ Sold in multipacks, making ordering easy for larger offices
✘ Doesn’t have beveled or sloped edges
✘ Might slip if it’s used on carpet because it doesn’t have spikes
What Customers Are Saying
Happy customers we found said that the mat didn’t scratch or crack from day-to-day use. However, we did see some disappointed customers who were frustrated that it didn’t have spikes because that kept it from staying in place on carpet.
Best Heavy-Duty
Gorilla Grip Office Chair Mat
- $63.99
- $76.99
- 17% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Has double-layered protection that helps protect your carpet from markings
✔ Has a semi-transparent design
✔ Is resistant to chair wheel divots and indentations
✘ Has somewhat limited sizing options
✘ Some customers said this mat didn’t work well on thick carpets
What Customers Are Saying
We found that customers who gave this product a positive review liked that it was made from durable, sturdy materials and that it was easy to roll a chair on, while several others were pleased that it shipped flat instead of being rolled up upon arrival. However, we did note that some customers felt this mat was ineffective on thick carpets, and others experienced eventual cracks.
Best Chair Mat for Offices
Sillamate Office Chair Mats
- $56.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Has a lip to prevent office chairs from rolling over the mat
✔ Has a studded underside to keep it in place on carpet
✔ Odorless, nontoxic, BPA and phthalate-free
✘ The gripper backing may damage wood floors
✘ Only available in one size
What Customers Are Saying
Our team found that satisfied customers were happy with these mats, stating that they shipped flat and didn’t curl beneath their office chair. Several customers also thought the size of the mats were perfect. The neutral clear color of the mats also matched customers’ desk decor. However, we did note that some customers thought that the mats weren’t thick enough for regular household carpeting, and others thought that the mats weren’t rigid or sturdy enough.
Best Oversized Chair Mat
Dimex Clear Rectangle Office Chair Mat
- $69.98
- $79.99
- 13% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Made from BPA- and phthalate-free materials
✔ Undergoes humidity and temperature testing to ensure performance
✔ Has a smooth, stain-resistant surface
✘ Only works with low-pile carpet up to 0.25 inches high
✘ Doesn’t have a lip, limiting coverage under your desk
What Customers Are Saying
Many customers wrote that the Dimex Clear Rectangle Office Chair Mat was durable and affordable and protected their carpeted areas. However, we did see some dissatisfied customers who said that it was challenging to unroll because of its stiffness and that it indented their carpet after minimal use.
Best Value Chair Mat
OFM ESS Collection Chair Mat
- $39.53
- $59
- 33% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Has ramped edges that make it easy to slide your chair on and off it
✔ Features an extended lip for under-the-desk coverage
✔ Also available in a hard floor design without the spikes
✘ Not intended for use on hard floors
✘ Can take up to three days to flatten once it arrives because it’s shipped in a roll
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied customers appreciated this mat’s features that helped it grip their carpet. They also said that it was a good value for the money. Unhappy customers had difficulty unrolling the mat because it was stiff. However, some customers said that it became less rigid if they left it in the sun for a day or two.
Chair Mat Buying Guide
From thick carpet chair mats to office floors, it’s important to understand how each chair mat’s specifications impact its user experience. Here are four factors our team thinks are important to consider to help you sort through office chair mats online.
Intended Use
Not all office chair mats are designed for use on carpet and hard floors. Some chair mats come with a pronged underside that secures to carpeted flooring, providing a non-slip surface for rolling chairs. However, it’s not recommended for use on hardwood floors because the prongs could scratch the wood. Other models, including the MuArts Crystal Clear Heavy-Duty Chair Mat, don’t have the spikes, making them usable on hard or carpeted floors.
Mat Sizes
Office chair mats come in a variety of dimensions to suit your workspace. Each model is measured by its length and width, and these dimensions are used to calculate the mat’s square footage. For example, the Dimex Clear Rectangle Office Chair Mat measures 46 by 60 inches and covers around 19 square feet.
More compact models, such as the OFM ESS Collection Chair Mat, have smaller dimensions that cover around 12 square feet. This is just enough space to accommodate an average-sized office chair and often works well for compact home offices.
Price
Entry-level chair mats made of vinyl or thin PVC plastic can cost as little as $30 to $50. Thicker mats made of high-quality polycarbonate or tempered glass may cost upward of $100.
Prominence
Some office chairs, such as the OFM ESS Collection Chair Mat, have a lip that protrudes from the mat. This lip isn’t as wide as the rest of the mat, allowing it to fit in the cutout under your desk to extend your coverage.
Other Ways to Stop Your Chair from Sliding
If your office chair keeps sliding or moving around, there are several methods you can try to help keep it in place, in addition to using a chair mat. Here are some alternative ways to stop your office chair from sliding:
- Check the Casters: Inspect the casters on the chair to ensure they are in good condition. If they are worn out or damaged, consider replacing them with new casters suitable for your office floor surface. Look for casters specifically designed for hardwood, carpet, or other types of flooring.
- Used Rubberized Grip Pads: Rubberized grip pads designed for furniture are a good alternative to chair mats. Place these pads under the chair’s casters or the base of the chair to increase traction and stability.
- Carpet Tape or Hook-and-Loop Strips: Apply double-sided carpet tape or hook-and-loop strips to the chair’s casters or the chair’s base where it contacts the floor. This helps create a stronger grip to prevent your chair from sliding.
- Position the Chair Against a Wall: If possible, position your office chair against a wall or a sturdy piece of furniture to create additional stability. This provides extra support and prevents the chair from moving backward.
- Adjust the Chair Height: Ensure that your office chair is adjusted to the proper height for your workstation to keep you comfortable and well-positioned. When the chair is set at the correct height, your feet should comfortably rest on the floor, promoting better posture and stability.
- Lock the Tilt or Recline Mechanism: Many office chairs come with a tilt or recline feature. If your chair has this function, check if it has a lock or tension adjustment. Locking the tilt or recline mechanism can help stabilize the chair and prevent unwanted movement.
- Consider a Chair Stopper or Brake: Some accessories, such as chair stoppers or brakes, are specifically designed to prevent office chairs from sliding on smooth surfaces. These devices are placed under the chair’s wheels and provide additional grip and stability.
Chair Mat FAQ
Do I need an office chair mat?
You don’t need one, but they can enhance your office setup because they protect your floors and make moving your chair easy.
Should I use a chair mat on hardwood floors?
Because hardwood floors already have a smooth, flat surface, you can easily glide your chair across them. However, a mat can prevent the chair’s feet from damaging the wood.
What can I use instead of a chair mat?
If you don’t want to use a mat, you can purchase a standing desk to eliminate the need for a chair. You can also update the wheels on your office chair to rollerblade ones. These glide more smoothly across surfaces without damaging them.
How We Selected the Best Chair Mats
To provide our readers with the best recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of mats with a significant number of verified-buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: Through our years of experience, we’ve learned that listening to what others have to say is key to building accurate, well-rounded articles. To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we pared the list down further by comparing each model’s feature set and selecting the best-in-class options for a variety of buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
Why You Can Trust Us
This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIY-ers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content.
Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, from doorbell cameras and backyard fencing to pool vacuums and snow blowers.
Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.
Questions or Comments?
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