An office chair is a real danger to your beloved and stunning hardwood floors. If you’re concerned that the chair will cause scratching, scuffs, and damage to the floor, it’s time that you start searching for a protective mat. But how do you choose the best chair mats for your hardwood floors?
If you want to see which mat will best fit your needs, keep reading for the detailed reviews and our buying guide. You’ll also find a short buyer’s guide to help you sort out your priorities before shopping.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: MuArts Crystal Clear Heavy Duty Hard Chair Mat
- Best Budget: SHAREWIN Chair Mat
- Best Transparent Mat: AiBOB Office Mat For Hardwood Floor
- Best Basic: Amazon Basics Vinyl Chair Mat
- Best Black Design: Lesonic Office Chair Mat For Hardwood and Tile Floor
Hardwood Floor Chair Mat Buying Advice
Best Overall: MuArts Crystal Clear Heavy Duty Hard Chair Mat
Key Features:
- Available in a single size: 35” x 47”
- Thickness: 0.2”
- Rectangular shape without a lip
- Made of plexiglass material
- Transparent color
Pros:
- Suitable for hardwood floors and carpets
- Thick, durable design that will last a long time
- Non-toxic material that can withstand up to 1,200 lbs. of pressure
- Non-slippery and scratch-resistant
- 12-month warranty and lifetime technical support
Cons:
- This is not a flexible mat, so it can’t be folded or curled
- You might find it hard to store
- It’s costlier than the other products
Only sold on Amazon
Let’s start with our top pick, the MuArts Crystal Clear Heavy Duty Hard Chair Mat. The first thing that made us want to buy this product instantly is the thickness and the heavy-duty nature thousands of customers have been praising. We had to check it out, and it turns out that it’s as good as described, and maybe even better.
Key Features
- Available in a single size: 35” x 47”
- Thickness: 0.2”
- Rectangular shape without a lip
- Made of plexiglass material
- Transparent color
This is the only mat on the list that works on hardwood floors and carpets. All the other products get slippery when placed on a carpet, but this one doesn’t. We felt very safe using my chair constantly because it doesn’t scratch and stays put on the floor, no matter how much you move.
Since there is no such thing as a perfect product, we wanted to point out a tiny drawback that we noticed about the MuArts Crystal Clear mat. This is not a flexible design, meaning that you can’t fold it or curl it. This made it a little hard for us to store it since it had to lay flat and takes a lot of space.
Yes, the MuArts Crystal Clear mat will cost you a little more, but this is the most durable and heavy-duty mat we’ve seen so far. It’s the best overall product that didn’t damage our floors, can be used under heavy chairs and desks, and has outstanding stability.
- Eco-Friendly: Yes
- Lip: No
- Textured: No
Best Budget: SHAREWIN Chair Mat
Key Features:
- Available in three sizes: 47” x 36”, 47” x 47”, 47” x 59”
- Thickness: 0.06”
- Rectangular shape with a lip
- Made of PVC fabric
- Transparent color
Pros:
- Most affordable purchase
- Slip and scratch-resistant surface
- Made of a safe PVC material without polyvinyl chloride, or BPA
- Frosting on top for easy chair movement and improved grip
- Very easy to clean
Cons:
- The corners tend to roll
- It’s not best for heavy-duty furniture
The SHAREWIN chair mat is the runner-up and the best budget design. The fact that it costs less than the other products doesn’t mean you’ll get a lower quality product. In fact, we were surprised by the durability, excellent grip, and effortless chair movement.
This mat has a frosted surface that provides an excellent grip between the chair and the mat. We always felt safe rolling our chair and never noticed it slipping while on the mat. It’s also great for fighting fatigue because it helps you maintain a proper posture.
The mat’s thickness is similar to other products listed but lower than the MuArts mat’s thickness. We used it in the home office, and it didn’t slip or scratch. However, if you have a heavy desk and chair, we would recommend the top pick.
Everyone who needs an affordable mat for their home office should look at this one. Although it’s not the most suitable for heavy furniture, it will protect your home’s hardwood, laminate, tile, stone, and concrete floors from damage.
- Eco-Friendly: Yes
- Lip: Yes
- Textured: Yes
Best Transparent Mat: AiBOB Office Mat For Hardwood Floor
Key Features:
- Available in two sizes: 36”x48” and 45”x53”
- Thickness: 0.06”
- Made of polyethylene material
- Rectangular shape with a lip
- Transparent color
Pros:
- It’s made of 100% pure polyethylene without phthalates and BPA
- The surface texture provides extra grip so your chair moves effortlessly on the mat
- 100% 60-days return
- Features a lip in the front of the design to protect the area under the desk
Cons:
- Has an unpleasant smell during the first few weeks
- The mat can curl because of the low thickness
The AiBOB Office Chair Mat is the second most affordable purchase on this list, with two available sizing options and an excellent surface grip.
The mat’s surface is textured to provide that stability and grip, ensuring safety for the users. This is a transparent mat that you’ll barely notice and will blend right in with the floors. There are two sizing options to choose from, and it comes only in a rectangular shape with a lip.
This is not the thickest mat on the list; however, it is pretty durable and tough. we’ve been using it for a while now and still haven’t noticed any scratches or damage. One of the things we loved the most is that the material is eco-friendly, without phthalates and BPA.
After opening the packaging, the first thing we noticed was the slight chemical smell of the mat. Although the brand states that their product is odorless, there was still a smell that took a few weeks to disappear. Since the thickness is only 0.06”, the mat can curl, so be careful how and where you store it.
If you have a heavy desk and a heavy-duty chair, we recommend opting for a thicker mat, such as our top pick. This is a flexible product with good durability, but heavy objects require a thicker product. Let’s not forget that the maintenance process is as easy as it gets; a quick wipe, and you’re done.
Our research indicates that this is one of the most affordable purchases, perfect for people who don’t want to splurge a lot on a mat but want one made of eco-friendly, safe materials with a decent surface grip. If you’re going to protect your laminate, hardwood, tile, vinyl, concrete, linoleum floors from damage, this mat will stay put and help you move around freely and safely.
Best Basic: Amazon Basics Vinyl Chair Mat
Key Features:
- Available in three sizes: 35” x 47”, 45” x 53”, 47” x 59”
- Thickness: 0.07”
- Rectangular shape without a lip
- Made of vinyl and plastic fabric
- Transparent color
Pros:
- Free of phthalates, lead, tin, and cadmium
- Ergonomic glide surface that promotes easy movement and proper posture
- Resistant to scuffs
- Slip-resistant material to keep you safe
- One-year limited Amazon Basics warranty
- Doesn’t have an unpleasant smell
Cons:
- The design doesn’t feature a lip
- Comes rolled up, so you have to weigh it down with heavy items and wait before it’s flat
Only sold on Amazon
The Amazon Basics Vinyl Chair mat is another great find that we couldn’t help but test. The first thing that caught our attention is the excellent selection of sizes and the decent thickness. What’s even more critical, the mat arrived odorless, so we didn’t have to deal with an unpleasant smell.
Although the mat’s surface is not textured, we noticed that our chair moved effortlessly and safely. The grip of the product is great, both between the floor and the mat and between the mat and the chair. You don’t have to be afraid that it will move and slip off your floors, because your chair will stay put without a doubt.
The Amazon Basics Vinyl Chair mat arrived rolled up for easier and safer transport. It took us a few days of waiting before we could place it under our desk since we had to weigh it down with books to make it flat again. After those two or three days, the mat’s edges haven’t uncurled.
This is a mat that we would highly recommend to someone looking for a decent thickness for their home office and that needs a more size-inclusive product.
- Eco-Friendly: Yes
- Lip: No
- Textured: No
Best Black Design: Lesonic Office Chair Mat For Hardwood Floor
Key Features:
- Available in a single size: 47” x 35”
- Thickness: 1/8”
- Rectangular shape without a lip and curved edges
- Made of polyethene fabric
- Black color
Pros:
- PVC and phthalate-free, free of tin, lead, and other harmful, toxic materials
- Made of recyclable materials
- A multi-purpose mat
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with a warranty
- No lip
The Office Chair mat by Lesonic is a gorgeous, elegant black design in a rectangular shape without a mat. This is the only mat of this kind on the list, and it comes in a single size.
The edges of this product are curved to improve grip and stability. At first, we thought they would only cause problems by rolling up; however, the mat always stayed put on the floor, and the edges didn’t pose a problem.
This product is made of pure polyethene fabric, without phthalates, PVC, lead, tin, and other toxic chemicals. It’s produced using recyclable materials and didn’t have an unpleasant smell upon arrival.
If you’re looking for a cozy, comfy black mat for your office, this is our favorite. Although we thought it wouldn’t be durable, this product exceeded our expectations and is still scuff-free.
- Eco-Friendly: Yes
- Lip: No
- Textured: Yes
Side by Side Comparison
| Product | Our Rating | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
MuArts Crystal Clear Heavy Duty Hard Chair Mat View on Amazon –> Only sold on Amazon | Best Overall Overall: 4.6 | Available in a single size: 35” x 47” Thickness: 0.2” Rectangular shape without a lip Made of plexiglass material Transparent color |
SHAREWIN Chair Mat View on Amazon –> View on Wayfair –> | Best Budget Overall: 4.4 | Available in three sizes: 47” x 36”, 47” x 47”, 47” x 59” Thickness: 0.06” Rectangular shape with a lip Made of PVC fabric Transparent color |
AiBOB Office Mat For Hardwood Floor View on Amazon –> View on Unlimited Cellular –> | Best Transparent Mat Overall: 4.5 | Available in two sizes: 36”x48” and 45”x53” Thickness: 0.06” Made of polyethylene material Rectangular shape with a lip Transparent color |
Amazon Basics Vinyl Chair Mat View on Amazon –> Only Sold on Amazon | Best Basic Overall: 4.0 | Available in three sizes: 35” x 47”, 45” x 53”, 47” x 59” Thickness: 0.07” Rectangular shape without a lip Made of vinyl and plastic fabric Transparent color |
Lesonic Office Chair Mat For Hardwood Floor View on Amazon –> View on Walmart –> | Best Black Design Overall: 4.4 | Available in a single size: 47” x 35” Thickness: 1/8” Rectangular shape without a lip and curved edges Made of polyethene fabric Black color |
The Complete Hardwood Floor Chair Mat Buyer’s Guide
Size
Size is one of the main deciding factors to keep in your mind. If you know the dimensions of the space where you’ll place the chair, it will be much easier to pick a mat with the appropriate size.
The primary purpose of a chair mat is to protect your floors while you’re moving around with your chair. That’s why the mat you’ll get should be big enough to cover this area without your chair getting out and rolling on the beloved hardwood floors.
The product shouldn’t be too big either and get under furniture. You should also be able to move it around when needed. Most mat manufacturers offer several sizes of the same product, so it will be easier for you to find what works best.
Floor Type
Not all mats are meant for all floor types. When you read that a product was designed especially for hard floors, it means that it’s suitable for hardwood floors, laminate, concrete, vinyl, tile, linoleum.
But, if the product that you’re interested in states that it should only be used on hardwood floors, that’s what you should do. These mats are not safe for carpets because they tend to get slippery and potentially hazardous. Make sure you read the instructions and specifications well before purchasing.
Thickness
There is no doubt that thicker mats perform better. This is another factor that should influence your decision, especially if you have a heavy-duty chair that you use for many hours during the day.
Thicker mats are more durable and will create a thicker barrier between furniture and your floors. Thinner products are more likely to be replaced often, so find a mat that will be strong and thick enough to go through daily use without being damaged.
Shape
Most mats feature a rectangular shape. However, you might also encounter round designs or rectangular designs with a lip.
As long as the sizing is proper and the mat covers the area you need, you should be okay with any shape you choose. In general, round designs are more suitable for people who don’t move around too much, while square and rectangular designs are best for people who roll their chairs often.
Stability
Stability is essential. No one wants to end up on their floor after making a sudden move with the chair. When your mat offers an excellent grip, you won’t have to worry about it being slippery or not stable enough.
The main reason most mats come with a textured surface is for improved stability. This surface allows a bigger grip and will keep you safe no matter how often you move the chair around.
Material
These mats come in many different materials including glass, PVC, polycarbonate, polypropylene, fiber, timber, plastic, and more. Finding the right material is not only important for the durability of the product but also your health.
Polypropylene and polycarbonate are eco-friendly alternatives that don’t contain toxic ingredients and are much safer for your health. These materials usually don’t have that harsh chemical smell and show excellent durability.
FAQs
A quality mat shouldn’t move or slide on your hardwood floors. But, if yours does, there is no need to worry. There is a solution to every problem, so I’ll give you an idea of how to fix this one.
Since you don’t want to splurge on a new mat again, the simple solution is using double-sided tape. This tape works wonders on most floor types, including engineered hardwood floors, bamboo hardwood floors, laminate flooring, vinyl plank flooring, and more.
You should just pick any double-sided tape and add it to a few spots on the mat. Place the mat on the floor, and you’re ready to go. This should be enough to prevent the mat from moving on the floors, and you’ll feel much safer.
Why Do Chair Mats Have A Lip?
Some mats feature a regular rectangular shape, while others have an added lip in the front. This lip is an extension that should go under the desk.
The main reason why chair mats have a lip is to protect the floor under your desk since the chair wheels can also roll on that part of the hardwood floors. This happens when your body is right next to the edge of the desk and your chair is partially under the desk.
Although a lip is not essential, it will provide further protection, especially if you love rolling your chair all the way in under the desk.
Final Thoughts
Finding the best chair mat for hardwood flooring will be much easier now that you have these detailed reviews of five excellent products. Before you decide what to purchase, remember that a mat should be thick, stable, feature the right size for your needs, and be made of non-toxic materials.
The MuArts Crystal Clear Mat is our top pick. First of all, it’s the thickest, most durable mat that will last for many years. Secondly, it doesn’t slip and can be used on hardwood floors and carpets. Finally, this mat is an aesthetically pleasing product with a 12-month warranty.
If you have any comments or first-hand experiences with a chair mat for hardwood floors, please post them below or share your pictures via our social media.
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