How to Choose the Right Chair Mat

Choosing the correct chair mat for your office setup can be quite confusing, especially with all of the different materials, sizes and backing types available nowadays.

With this simple guide, we hope to break it down for you and make choosing the right chair mat a quick and stress-free process.

Why Chair Mats Matter

Rolling castor office chairs move repeatedly throughout the day, and over time the wheels can leave marks, wear down carpet fibres and scratch hard flooring surfaces. A quality chair mat creates a protective barrier between the floor and your chair, helping to extend the life of your flooring as well as provide ergonomic benefits.  

So, Where to Start?

The most important consideration when choosing a chair mat is the surface it will be used on.

For hard floor surfaces such as wood, laminate, or vinyl, a smooth back chair mat is the best option.

For carpeted floors, we recommend a gripper back chair mat as the pointed grippers help lock into the carpet fibres.

Choosing the correct backing helps secure your mat firmly in place, improving stability whilst you work.

How to Understand Carpet Pile Types

With carpeted floors, it is important to find out the depth of your carpet first to help determine the carpet pile type. There are in fact three types of carpet pile:

• Low pile
• Standard Pile
• Deep Pile

The depth of the carpet pile plays a major role in determining which chair mat will perform best for your office setup.

So, how do I find out the depth of my carpet, I hear you ask.

The answer is simple, by using a paperclip and measuring tape or ruler:

1. Unfold a paperclip so that one end forms a straight pin, then push this end through the carpet and underlay until it reaches the subfloor.
2. Hold a fingernail against the paperclip at the exact point where it meets the top surface of the carpet.
3. Carefully remove the paperclip and measure the distance from the tip of the pin to the point marked by your fingernail.

This measurement represents the combined depth of the carpet and underlay and will determine the carpet pile type:

• Low Pile – Up to 6mm
• Medium/Standard Pile – Up to 9mm
• Deep Pile – Over 9mm

How to Select the Right Size

The dimensions of your chair mat should complement your work area and movement patterns. A mat that is too small can restrict movement, while an oversized mat may take up unnecessary space.

Simply assess and measure your workspace, whilst making sure the mat fully covers your moment area.  

Choosing the Right Material

Chair mats are available in several materials, each offering different benefits.

• PVC – PVC chair mats are a popular and cost-effective choice. They provide reliable floor protection and are perfect for low pile type carpets and hard floors as well as low level usage
• Polycarbonate – Polycarbonate chair mats offer a more premium option with enhanced durability, making them a strong option for users seeking long-term usage as well as perfect for thicker carpets.

However, please note that PVC is NOT suitable for use on vinyl flooring. For these types of floor surfaces, we recommend polycarbonate as the better choice due to it compatible with vinyl as well as being safe to use with underfloor heating.

Key Questions Before Buying

Before purchasing a chair mat, consider the following:

1. What type of flooring do you have?
2. If you have carpet, how thick is it?
3. What size do I need?
4. What is the level of usage?

Finding the ideal chair mat doesn’t need to be a challenge. Answering these questions will help you quickly narrow down the options and choose the best chair mat to suit your workspace.