5 Best Chair Mats (2023 Guide)

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 Reviews 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 Mat for Hard Floors: MuArts Crystal Clear Heavy-Duty Chair Mat
• Best Heavy-Duty Mat: Amazon Basics Polycarbonate Heavy Duty 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

Best Chair Mat for Hard Floors

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 Chair Mat

Pros and Cons

✔ Lightly textured surface provides controlled chair movement
✔ Holds up to 500 pounds
✔ Impact-resistant and highly rigid

✘ Some customers said their chair mat moved around on carpet
✘ More expensive than some other options

What Customers Are Saying

Customers we found were thrilled with this chair mat’s performance on all carpets, even thick ones. Customers said that it felt sturdy and was flat right out of the box. However, we also saw that some customers noted the price point of this heavy-duty chair mat, stating that it was more expensive than other options.

Best Chair Mat for Offices

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

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

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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