If you have an office with hardwood floors, you’ll want to choose the most suitable chair mat.
In this article, I’ll list my favorite office chair mats for hardwood floors, along with some practical advice for choosing one.
Best Glass Chair Mat
Vitrazza Glass Office Chair Mat
- Made of thick tempered glass
- 36x48” in size. Other sizes are available
- Appropriate for hardwood floor, tile, and high-pile carpet
- Maximum recommended weight of 1000 lbs
- Scratch resistant and easy to clean
This glass chair mat is perfect for hardwood floors. It has a stabil-a-dot bumper system that keeps the glass separated from the floor to prevent scratches and holds the mat in place.
It’s completely invisible and provides a very smooth glide. The chair mat also comes with a transferable lifetime warranty and a 30 day return policy.
Most customers have had an excellent experience with this glass chair mat. Durability is one of its top features and many are impressed by its value for money.
Pros
- Sturdy and durable
- 30 day return policy includes return shipment payment
- Excellent value for the money
Cons
- Dirt may gather underneath the mat
Best Heavy Duty Mat
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If you’re not sure about having a glass chair mat in your office, you can opt for a heavy duty plastic mat that’s also invisible and easy to clean.
This model is not made from toxic materials, it’s free from phthalate, BPA, and PVC. It’s also a very durable mat that was made in Germany with excellent quality control.
Most customer reviews are positive, with many people saying it’s sturdy, very easy to clean, and an excellent option for the price.
However, some people complained about minimal sliding in hardwood floors, so you may need to adjust the position from time to time.
Pros
- Does not crack or break
- Transparent alternative to tempered glass
- Made from eco-friendly PET
Cons
- Slides a bit in hardwood floors and may require readjusting
Best Polycarbonate Mat
Amazon Basics Polycarbonate Chair Mat
- Made of polycarbonate
- Transparent appearance and easy to clean
- Appropriate for hardwood floors
- Different sizes available
This Amazon Basics mat is made from durable polycarbonate and is free from lead, cadmium, tin, or phthalates. It has a scratch resistant material and stays flats in place.
You can find many sizes of this mat, but all of them are rectangular. Customer reviews are very positive and sturdiness is one of its top features.
The design is smooth on one side and textured on the other so you can even use it with the smooth side down on a hardwood floor.
However, you need to be careful when unboxing because it unrolls very fast after removing the plastic wrap.
Pros:
- Several sizes to choose from
- Textured side to provide better grip and stability to your chair wheels
- Stays in place without sliding or curling
Cons:
- Unrolls really fast
Best PVC Chair Mat
Ilyapa Office PVC Chair Mat
- Made of durable and slip resistant PVC
- 1 year warranty plus a free lifetime warranty when you register it online
- Easy to clean and transparent
- Comes in different sizes
These PVC mats are excellent for all types of hard floors, including hardwood. It comes in different sizes, some of which are rectangular as well as others with a small lip.
It offers invisible protection without dirt or discoloration and has a textured design that holds your wheels in place. Most people are very happy with the product they received.
According to reviews, maneuverability is one of its top features and it’s very firm but you must follow the instructions to flatten it as many had problems laying it flat on the floor.
Pros
- Several sizes to choose from
- Durable
- Stays in place without sliding
Cons
- It may take a while before the mat flattens smoothly on the floor
Most Stylish Chair Mat
Anji Mountain Rug'd Collection Chair Mat
- Different styles and sizes to choose from
- Made of polyester with a rectangular shape
- Appropriate for hardwood and carpeted floors
- Available in ¼” or ½” thick options
If you want to add some color to your hardwood floor, we recommend this mat. It comes in a wide variety of designs and you can choose between 2 colors and thickness options.
This chair mat stays in place with no sliding or skidding while providing a firm textured area where your chair wheels can roll without an issue.
Customer reviews are very positive, and sturdiness is one of its top features. It actually works like a carpet and chair mat at the same time.
One of the only complaints about it is the price. Still, most people agree that it is worth the money spent.
Pros
- Stylish, with a variety of designs to choose from
- Provides a firm grip to your chair wheels
- No sliding or skidding
Cons
- More expensive than other models
Other Recommended Mats
Floortex Polycarbonate Chair Mat
These polycarbonate mats come in a variety of sizes and can be bought with or without a lip. They’re all transparent and leave no smell.
They curl without a problem, plus the material is pet safe and free from PVC. Caster traction is also maximized with an embossed surface and it does not slide out of place.
Customers say that this mat is solid and high-quality. Sheerness is one of its top features. It’s also great for heavy individuals and won’t crack.
However, you may realize it’s a bit pricey compared to other polycarbonate models.
Mushyn Anti Fatigue Office Chair Mat
Along with having a chair mat surface, this model comes with a bonus. It has an anti fatigue mat in front of the chair space.
The size of the mat is 50×36”, and it’s made of PVC leather. The anti fatigue section has NBR foam, and it is made for hard surfaces such as hardwood or tile.
Customer reviews are overall favorable and comfort is one of its top features.
Happy customers say it’s a great option if you have a standing desk as it’s perfect for those who want to alternate between sitting and standing.
Sallous Upgraded Office Chair Mat
This model is made of polyester. It comes in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, plus protects your floor leaving no residue. It can also be unrolled without a problem.
It has a non-slip adhesive backing that comes into contact with the hardwood floor and sticks to it firmly. Thus, it shouldn’t slide or move out of position.
Customer reviews are very positive with many saying it has an excellent grip and an appropriate size. It’s perfect for hardwood floors and customers say it’s easy to clean.
However, it might not be a good idea to get one of these if you have pets that leave hair everywhere because it tends to accumulate on the rug like surface.
Gorilla Grip Premium Polycarbonate Chair Mat
This model can be bought with or without a lip at either 29×47” or 36×48”. It’s specifically made for hardwood floors and has a flip resistant backing to ensure it stays in place.
It’s also comfortable, transparent, easy to clean, and made of polycarbonate material. The mat has an impressive number of customer reviews, and most of them are positive.
Happy customers say that it is very sturdy and has a slightly rugged surface to facilitate the movement of your chair.
Most people who say that it doesn’t stay in place were trying to use the mat on a carpet instead of a hardwood floor.
Premium Tempered Glass Chair Mat
If you like tempered glass chair mats, this is another option to consider. It comes in only one size (36×46”), but the material is worth the price.
It also comes with a lifetime warranty for any manufacturing issues that may occur. This one’s appropriate for hardwood floors but also marble, and carpet.
Customers have reported an excellent experience overall, saying that it is very sturdy, transparent, and easy to clean.
However, you need to be careful depending on the type of chair you use as some of them may move when you’re trying to sit.
Things To Consider
Size & shape
Be sure to measure the space you have available for your mat. Otherwise, it may not fit under your desk and this will become a big problem.
You could opt for a mat with a lip if you want more mobility.
Thickness
You don’t need a very thick mat for hardwood floors. In most cases, 2.5 mm thick is enough for this purpose.
Grip
More important than its thickness is the mat grip.
In other words, the surface must adhere to the hardwood floor and provide traction to your chair wheels so they won’t move unexpectedly.
Material
The material is also important. You can go for cheaper materials such as vinyl or PVC, but those are usually very lightweight and may slide a bit.
Polycarbonate is typically transparent and very resistant. This type of material is more expensive and does not slide.
Tempered glass is very heavy, but also resistant. Make sure it has rubber dots to stay in place and avoid scratching your floor
Cleaning & maintenance
Mopping is usually enough to clean most types of mats, including those manufactured with tempered glass or polycarbonate.
You may need to use a soft cloth to clean the mat if it has a rugged surface or residue.